Embassy holds meet:

KATHMANDU: The Royal Nepalese Embassy, Washington DC, organised an interaction with office bearers of the Nepalese Americans Council (NAC) and non-resident Nepalis (NRNs).Representatives and office bearers of various organisations of Nepalis from different states of the US and Canada took part in the programme. Participants discussed the facilities to be made available to the NRNs and their contribution to Nepal and its people. Speaking on the occasion Nepalese ambassador Kedar Bhakta Shrestha requested the participants to assist in the field of tourism, investment, trade, employment and education. Shrestha also hosted a dinner party in honour of the participating office bearers and representatives. — RSS

Fund for tsunami-hit:

KATHMANDU: The Reiyukai Nepal’s 11th branch has collected a total of Rs 25,268 through a fund raising rally it conducted on Sunday for providing humanitarian aid to the tsunami victims, it was stated.

According to general secretary of the fund raising sub-committee, Dipak Gajurel, the fund will be handed over to the people through the Reiyukai Eurasia. Some 783 students representing various schools participated in the fund programme. — RSS

Blood donation camp:

BHAKTAPUR: A total of 37 persons took part in an open blood donation programme organised at the Sacred Academy School here on Tuesday. The programme was organised with technical assistance from the blood transfusion service center, Bhaktapur. — RSS

Book of essays released:

KATHMANDU: Chairman of Press Council Nepal, Mathawar Singh Basnet, released ‘Dear Narendra’, a collection of letters and essays by litterateur Indira Prasai, amid a function held here on Monday. The book contains 19 essays and a few letters. Critic Thakur Parajuli and chairman of the Federation of Nepalese Journalists, Tara Nath Dahal, spoke on the occasion. — RSS

Abduction condemned:

KATHMANDU: Communist Party of Nepal-UML has condemned the abduction of the party Narayani zonal coordination committee member and outgoing vice-chairman of Chitwan DDC, Jagannath Thapaliya, by the Maoists from his house on Monday. Requesting the Maoists to release Thapaliya at the earliest, the party has called upon human rights organisations to make efforts to free Thapaliya. — RSS

Motorway opened:

BHAKTAPUR: Comedian Hari Bansha Acharya inaugurated the Chiranjivi motorway of Jhaukhel VDC in Bhaktapur district amid a function held on Monday. The road spanning two km was constructed jointly by the Ramjanaki temple and the local people, it is said. — RSS

Nagarjun annual award:

KATHMANDU: The Nagarjun Literary Foundation, which is active in promoting and developing Nepali literature and culture, has founded the ‘Nagarjun Annual Award’. The award will be conferred on one of the members of the foundation every year with a view to encouraging them on creative writing. The award carries a purse of Rs 5,000 and a commendation letter. — RSS