Biz bodies’ mourning

KATHMANDU: FNCCI, NCC and CNI issuing press release have mourned the sudden demise of industrialist Hulaschand Golchha on Friday. “The private sector is grief-stricken,” states the release adding that his contribution to the economic development of Nepal in industrialisation will be long remembered. The industrial bodies have prayed for the eternal peace of the departed soul in the release extending heartfelt condolences to members of the bereaved family. — HNS

Farmers’ suicide rises

NEW DELHI: Around 11,500 farmers have committed suicide in different parts of India in the last six years, most of them due to their inability to pay debts, says a new study that indicates the problem is bigger than what has been reported so far. The study, carried out by a conglomerate of voluntary groups called the National Social Watch Coalition, states that at least 11,387 farmers have committed suicide between 2001 and 2006. The situation has gone from bad to worse in several states, it points out. — HNS

China’s protest

Beijing: China has protested to the US over its ‘unacceptable’ blockade of fish and shrimp imports, a government website reported today. Li Changjiang, head of the control, quarantine and inspection authority, urged Washington to settle the dispute, which follows rows over Chinese tyres, pet food, toothpaste and cosmetics, as soon as possible. — AFP

Nestle wins approval

BRUSSELS: The world’s biggest food and beverage company Nestle has won conditional approval from the EU to buy the nutrition business of pharmaceutical giant Novartis. The EC, the EU antitrust watchdog, had said earlier that the proposed transaction could significantly impede competition in the markets for hea-lthcare nutrition delivered to patients via tubes in France and Spain. — Xinhua