Resume work, say workers:

KATHMANDU: Labourers and employees of the Udayapur Cement Factory Ltd have

appealed to all the concerned authorities to take initiatives for resuming the operations of the cement factory. They have stated that the closure of the factory for an indefinite period has had a direct impact on their livelihood. — RSS

gtz aid for road building:

RUKUM: Construction work on the 34-km Salabang-Kada motorway in the remote mountainous district of Rukum has started with the financial and technical assistance of gtz. Thousands of people in the area will be benefited from the road after its completion. — RSS

Registrations cancelled:

DANG: Registrations of 199 small and medium scale industries in Dang has been cancelled in the fiscal year 2004-05 after they failed to renew their validity at the district small and cottage industries development committee. The industries whose validation was annulled include rice mills, saw mills and small industries related to agriculture, livestock and handicrafts. — RSS

Japan’s trade surplus rises:

TOKYO: Japan’s trade surplus in January plunged by 59.9 per cent from a year earlier to $1.9 billion, the finance ministry said on Wednesday. — AFP

Pledge to limit deficit:

MANILA: After its sovereign credit rating took a double hit this year due to rising debt, the Philippines on Wednesday pledged to limit its 2005 national budget deficit to $3.28 billion, or 3.4 per cent of the GDP. — AFP

Boeing sells Kansas plant:

WICHITA: Boeing Co is selling its commercial aircraft plants in Kansas and Oklahoma to a Canadian-based investment group, part of the aerospace giant’s strategy to focus on design and final assembly. Onex Corp agreed to buy Boeing’s commercial aircraft facility in Wichita. — AP