130 ARRESTED FOR SMOKING IN PUBLIC PLACES Kathmandu, 27 June: Police arrested 130 persons in a sudden operation for smoking in public places Wednesday. Those were arrested were arrested after detention for several hours. Smoking was banned in public places one year ago but rules were not strictly enforced—not even in parliament. Those arrested were released after they signed a commitment not to smoke again in public. Nnnn WB $ 40M TO TACKLE MALNUTRITION Kathmandu, 27 June: World Bank (WB) has approved US$ 40 million grant and loans to Nepal for tackle malnutrition and help the most vulnerable populations m especially children. The money will fund the Sunaula Hazar Din project or 1,000 days project , the WB said. “If not addressed during the first few years of life, under nourishment can cause permanent disability in children, loss of height during adolescence, poor grades in school, increase in school drop-outs and reduction in life-time earnings,” the statement quoted Albertus Voetberg, WB Task Team Leader for the project, as saying. Nnnn CASES FILED AGAINST SIX FIRMS, INCLUDING GAS COMPANY Kathmandu, 27 June:: The Department of Quality Control and Measurement, Zonal Office, Janakpur has filed lawsuits against six commercial firms, including Nobel Gas Company in line with the Consumers Protection Act-2052 BS, RSS reports from Janakpurdham. The case was registered against the Nobel Gas Company Pvt. Ltd based in Nakatamijh, Dhanusha after it was found selling under-weight gas cylinders with expired date. Among other commercial firms facing the lawsuits are Janakpur-based Raghupati Misthanna Bhandar, Chandan Misthhanna Bhandar, Panchamaya Misthhanna Bhandar, Shiva Chat House and Kalpana Store for selling inedible and sub-standard foodstuffs. The legal provision is that if the defendants are proved to be guilty, they would be sentenced jail for three years or penalized Rs. 50,000 or subjected to both the actions as per the Consumers Protection Act-2052 BS. nnnn