Chinese held at TIA

KATHMANDU: Police at the Tribhuvan International Airport on Tuesday arrested a Chinese national, Huwang Da, who was allegedly trying to smuggle 7.5 kg of the precious herb Yarshagumba to Hongkong. According to police, Da was scheduled to take off on a Nepal Airlines flight on Tuesday afternoon. Police caught him with the Yarshagumba in regular checking at the departure section of the TIA. He was arrested as he didn’t have any legal documents allowing him to take the Yarshagumba with him, police said. — HNS

‘Woman abducted’

GAIGHAT: Kirant workers’ party cadres allegedly abducted a woman from Udayapur district’s Beltar bazaar on Wednesday morning. Fifty-two- year-old Sham Kumari Rai, spouse of Birendra Bahadur Rai, a district education office Udayapur’s school teacher, was abducted by five party cadres, said family sources. — HNS

Bullet lodged in rhino

RATNANAGAR: A bullet shot at a rhino by poachers in Barandabhar forest area of Chitwan district two weeks ago has not been taken out yet. The rhino which got shot in its thigh is now in Tikauli forest area, according to the Chitwan National Park. Treatment has been delayed because the four doctors posted in the National Park are on leave, said the Assistant Protection Officer of the National Park, Meghanath Kafle. — RSS

Chinese delegation

KATHMANDU: A delegation from China led by Ai Ping, general director of the central committee of the international department, Communist Party of China, met the general secretary of the Nepali Congress, Ram Chandra Poudel, on Wednesday. Extensive discussions were held on the contemporary political situation, the government-Maoist talks and lasting peace. NC said in a press release that discussions were held on deepening the cordial relations between the political parties, the governments and the people of the two countries. — RSS

Japan aid to UNHCR

KATHMANDU: Japan on Wednesday provided $2 million to UNHCR Nepal, boosting the refugee agency’s ability to provide continued protection and assistance to the Bhutanese refugees living in camps in eastern Nepal. UNHCR representative in Nepal, Abraham Abraham, said, “We thank the Government and people of Japan for the generous contribution to UNHCR’s activities in Nepal.” — HNS

Strike hits life in east

ITAHARI: Life came to a halt in the Eastern Region on Wednesday as truckers and tractor owners staged a protest against the hike in the prices of sand, stones and gravel. They accused DDC, Forest Office and Vat Office of hiking price through an unfair collaboration with contractors. — RSS