China, Japan gas row :

BEIJING: China Wednesday accused Japan of “generating new conflicts” in a drawn-out battle over oil and gas exploration near disputed waters in the East China Sea. “China’s oil and gas exploration on its own continental shelf in the East China Sea is a normal exploration activity. It is beyond reproach,” foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang said in a statement on the ministry’s website. — AFP

Oil prices rebound :

LONDON: World oil prices rebounded above $70 per barrel Wednesday on the eve of a UN deadline for Iran to suspend nuclear enrichment operations or face the threat of sanctions. New York’s main contract, light sweet crude for delivery in October, clim-bed 47 cents to 70.18 dollars per barrel in electronic deals before the official opening of the US market. — AFP

MBL’s on-line service :

KATHMANDU: Machhapuchhre Bank Ltd (MBL) has started online bill payment service for Nepal Telecom post-paid cellular mobile phone users. The mobile phone users can make their payment through any of MBL branch offices, which the bank will transfer directly to Telecom’s account online. The service is also available 365 days through the bank’s extended evening counter, states a press release issued today. — HNS

‘Resume air services’ :

BAGLUNG: People here have demanded resumption of operations in Balewa airport. As the airport has been out of operation for the past 12 years, many attractive tourist destinations here are lying unknown to the outside world. The closure of airport for years has affected economic development of the region. As a result, lack of movement of goods and people in the region has affected trade, especially the apple business in Mustang. The airport is turning into a grazing ground as it has remained out of operation for years. — RSS