Tourist arrivals rise

BHADRAPUR: The number of tourists coming to Nepal via Kakarvitta has increased by 25 per cent in 2007 in comparison to last two years. According to the immigration office, 17,098 tourists entered Nepal via this point in 2007. The number was 14,392 in 2005 and 14,986 in 2006. Chief of the immigration office Madan Kumar Rai said almost all the tourists entering Nepal via Kakarvitta were third-country tourists and only negligible number of Indian tourists entered Nepal through this point. — RSS

Trade unions hailed

LALITPUR: Minister for Labour and Transport Management Ramesh Lekhak said Nepali trade unions are more competent and accountable to the people. He — while inaugurating South Asian Regional Conference organised to discuss how to include the issues of youth, women and drinking water in the trade union campaign by the Public Service International South Asia — stressed that they should raise voices not only for its rights but for the entire people. — RSS

UAE’s oil dependency

DUBAI: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) will have 70 per cent of its GDP generated from real estate and financial services by 2010, reducing depe-ndence on hydrocarbon sectors. — HNS