NBBL launches ABBS

KATHMANDU: Nepal Bangladesh Bank Limited (NBBL) has started Any Branch Banking System (ABBS) facility for money collection and payment, in an attempt to provide varied services to its costumers. According to a press statement issued here, the bank which has been providing services to the consumers from its 17 branches in five development regions of

the country had introduced ABBS to further facilitate the consumers in this competitive environment. — HNS

Trekkers on rise

POKHARA: Number of foreign tourists going for trekking in the Annapurna region has increased recently. 50 to 60 foreigners daily go trekking through Beshishahar of Lamjung and Manang. Meanwhile, Manang DDC has stated that its attention has been drawn towards a news item that tourists along the Annapurna route had been left in the lurch because of the strike and blockade by Maoists and made it clear that no untoward incident has occurred in the area. — RSS

Agro-tools distributed

BHOJPUR: District agriculture development office has distributed agriculture tools and equipment to all farmers’ group in the district free of cost. According to the office, the groups received bee hives, seeds and other agro-tools that were provided in coordination with local non-government organisations. Likewise, the office has also been providing other essential goods to the farmers at 25 per cent concession. — RSS

Bee keeping training ends

DOLAKHA: A three-day long bee keeping training for the poor farmers under the auspices of Community Environment Education and Peoples Awareness Rural Development Organisation (CEPARD) concluded here. Suk Ram Forest Consumers group participated in the training, which was organised by Nepal Swiss community forest project and district agriculture development office. The participants of the training were provided with bee hives at free of cost. — RSS

Vietnam prez in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Vietnamese president Tran Duc Luong arrived here on Wednesday for talks with Pakistani leaders on strengthening economic and commercial ties. During his three-day long visit, the first by a Vietnamese leader to Pakistan, Luong will hold talks with president Pervez Musharraf and prime minister Zafarullah Jamali. The talks will focus on efforts to strengthen bilateral ties, especially in economic and commercial fields. Luong is accompanied by ministers for foreign affairs, trade, science and technology, and a strong business delegation. Musharraf visited Hanoi in May 2001. — AFP

Vietnam Airlines, JAL JV

HANOI: Vietnam Airlines will begin twice-weekly flights between Hanoi and Osaka this weekend in a codeshare arrangement with Japan Airlines (JAL). The inaugural flight would leave Osaka on Sunday. The same route would also be available every Thursday. The return Hanoi-Osaka leg will operate on Mondays and Fridays. — AFP