Mugling gets guests

MUGLING: Hotel entrepreneurs in Mugling Bazaar are experiencing a surprise thesedays as more people visit Mugling. They attribute the change to improving security situation. Earlier, their business was hit hard by the Maoists insurgency. There are altogether 40 hotels and restaurants. The daily business of hotels used to stand at around Rs 0.3 million to Rs 0.4 million. They have also provided jobs to over 200 workers directly. “Hotel business is doing good due to an improvement in security situation” proprietor of Three Sister Hotel and Restaurant, Tej Bahadur Sherchan said. — RSS

Japan’s trade surplus

TOKYO: Japan’s trade surplus shrank in October for the seventh consecutive month, missing expectations as high oil prices continued to swell the value of imports. The trade surplus declined by almost 30 per cent from a year earlier to $6.9 billion. Exports rose by eight per cent while imports surged almost by 18 per cent. — AFP

Vietnam’s growth dips

ROME: Economic growth in Vietnam was reduced by 0.5 per cent in 2004 as a result of an outbreak of bird flu there that has killed 41 people in the last two years ago. Since December 2003, bird flu has killed 41 people and we have had to slaughter 47 million birds which has lead to a loss of 0.5 per cent of GDP in 2004. 80 million birds had been vaccinated against the virus in last two months. — AFP