Lakhapati Dhamaka

KATHMANDU: Pashupati Cements Pvt Ltd, the manufacturer of Gorkha cement, launched a scheme ‘Lakhapati Dhamaka’. Under the scheme, every buyer of 20 bags of Gorkha cement will get a scratch coupon that may have up to Rs 100,000 worth super dhamaka gift or cash and dhamaka offer worth Rs 10,000. Other prizes include gift ranging between Rs 50 and Rs 1000. — HNS

Ramechhap fair starts

RAMECHHAP: A two-day long industrial, forest and agriculture fair kicked off at Manthali, Ramechhap, on Monday. Sabitri Bogati Pathak, MP and Niranjan Baral, joint secretary at the ministry of industry, commerce and supplies jointly inaugurated the fair. More than 100 items of agriculture, domestic and industrial products are displayed in the fair, which has been organised to encourage local producers and entrepreneurs. — RSS

ADB loans Vietnam

HANOI: The ADB said on Tuesday it would lend Vietnam $30 million to help modernise agricultural science and technology in the country, a major exporter of rice and other farm goods. The loan and an additional $10 million from Vietnam’s government will fund research and training, new laboratory equipment in some institutes and education and information services for farmers. — AFP

German jobless rate

WIESBADEN: The German economy, the biggest in the 13-country eurozone, created a total of 258,000 new jobs in 2006, raising the number of people in paid employment by 0.7 per cent to an annual average of 39.1 million. It was the strongest increase in employment since 2000 and brought the German employment total up to a level last seen in 2002. — AFP