Insurgency no excuse”:

KATHMANDU: Prof Bakul H Dholakia, director at Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, cautioned the country’s businessmen and industrialists against making the ongoing insurgency and instability an excuse for deteriorating economy. Dholakia said so in a talk programme on ‘ globalisation and managerial challenges’ organised by Apex College in the capital on Wednesday. He also said that no country in the world could keep itself aloof from globalisation and stressed on the need of Nepal to reap the benefits from globalisation phenomenon. — HNS

Seminar to foster exports:

KATHMANDU: Ministry of industry, commerce and supplies and the US Embassy in Nepal are organising a two-day seminar on ‘ opportunities for Nepalese exports through US GSP facilitation.’ The two day long seminar is being organised in collaboration with Nepal Chamber of Commerce and Nepal-USA Chamber of Commence. — HNS

Transportation halted:

SINDHULI: Transportation has come to halt on Bardibas-Sindhuli section of the BP Highway. Transport entrepreneurs closed the highway for an indefinite period after Maoists torched a passenger bus at Misthan road section on Tuesday. Obstruction in transportation has affected thousands of people going to and from Sindhuli. — RSS

Action against traders:

BIRATNAGAR: Action has been taken against 274 dealers and retailers on charges of using faulty measuring devices informed the quality control and metrology regional office, Biratnagar. The businessmen were found involved in cheating customers by using wrong measuring instruments in course of searches conducted at different markets of Eastern Region by the office. — RSS

Shortage of kerosene felt:

RUKUM: People in Rukum district have not received kerosene on concession. They are forced to pay Rs 115 for a litre of kerosene after electricity supply was halted because of the blockade. It is hard to get even a drop of kerosene although some 2,000 litres are in stock in the district, said sellers and consumers. The concerned organisations should do something to solve the problem. Meanwhile, electricity supply from Syarpudaha general hydroelectric centre in Rukum has stopped completely. — RSS

Row over oil refinery:

JAIPUR: The Rajasthan government has said that a proposed refinery based on oil finds in the state should not be shifted to Punjab. Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje said the central government’s decision to move the Hindustan Petroleum Corp Ltd (HPCL) refinery to Bhatinda was against her state. “The refinery will get Rajasthan an investment of Rs 60-80 billion (IC),” Raje said in a statement on Tuesday. At least 10,000 people would get jobs, she added.

Auto production falls:

TOKYO: Production of cars, trucks and buses in Japan fell on year for the first time in two months in December, declining 3.3 per cent to 791,055 vehicles, an industry group said on Wednesday. Meanwhile, domestic vehicle demand in December totaled 449,547 vehicles, up 3.2 per cent on year, the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association said.— AP