New FHAN team

KATHMANDU: Federation of Handicraft Association of Nepal (FHAN) elected its new working committee for the next two-year term during its 29th annual general meeting in the valley. Vikas Ratna Dhyakwa was elected president unanimously while Kiran Kumar Dangol, Dharmaraj Shakya, Hari Bahadur Karki and Hem Ratna Shakya won as vice-presidents in various categories. — HNS

LaCie Bonanza Offer

KATHMANDU: LaCie mobile has offered various schemes for its different mobile set models. According to the new offer, LaCie 160GB Mobile USB Drive (with VAT) costs Rs 6,800, LaCie 320GB Mobile USB Drive (with VAT) costs Rs 8,000 and LaCie 500GB Desktop Drive (with VAT costs 9,500. They all come with one-year warranty and the new price lasts till stock remains, said the company. — HNS

Sajiwan cultivation

DANG: Sajiwan, which is used to produce alternative energy, is being cultivated in Dang district. Farmers are cultivating the crop on over seven bighas of land in Purandhara VDC-4. They said they started farming Sajiwan as it is a cash crop and does not need irrigation. Besides, the cultivation practice is much easier than for other crops, they said. Mansuta Community Forest also has planted Sajiwan on four bighas of land at the initiative of Nabajyoti Women’s Group. Oil extracted from Sajiwan seeds is used as a source of energy. — RSS

Regulators shut bank

WASHINGTON: Regulators have shut down banks in California, Maryland and Minnesota, pushing to 84 the number of bank failures this year amid the soured economy and rising loan defaults. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. said it has taken over the three banks: Affinity Bank, based in California, Baltimore’-Bradford Bank and Mainstreet Bank, based in Forest Lake, Minnesota. — AP