UN rights official’s visit

KATHMANDU:

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Louise Arbour, will make a first-hand assessment of rights situation here when she visits the country from January 23 to 26, said a press statement issued by UN Information Centre here on Thursday. Arbour is scheduled to meet senior officials of the government, the judiciary and the military to discuss rights situation. — HNS

Greetings to Muslims

KATHMANDU:

Nepal Muslim Ettehad Organisation (NMEO) on Thursday extended greetings to all the Muslims on the occasion of their great festival ‘Idul Joha’ which is being celebrated from January 21 to 23. The organisation has also urged both the warring parties to end the conflict through peace talks. Wishing for religious harmony, goodwill and national unity, it wished the Hajji pilgrims for a successful journey. — HNS

Govt, UNHRC sign MoU

KATHMANDU:

The government and the office of the high commissioner of the United Nations Human Rights Commission (UNHRC) in Geneva signed a letter of understanding recently concerning providing assistance to the National Human Rights Commission including technical assistance. The government is confident that the assistance will help make the commission capable and strong, it is stated by the office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers Human Rights Promotion Centre. — RSS

Khadka calls on Hasimoto

KATHMANDU:

Home Minister Purna Bahadur Khadka paid a courtesy call on Riyutaro Hasimoto, chairman of Japan-Nepal all-party parliamentary committee and ex-prime minister of Japan at Kobe, Japan on Wednesday. According to the Royal Nepal Embassy in Tokyo, ex-prime minister Hashimoto accepted an invitation to visit Nepal. Both the leaders exchanged views on terrorist activities taking place in Nepal and hardships and loss of life and property caused to the

Nepali people. — RSS

Amendments in rules

KATHMANDU:

The government has made second amendment to the Local Self-Governance Regulations and the first amendment to the Local Body (Financial Administration) Regulations. A press release issued by the Ministry of Local Development on Thursday states that the amendment would effect provisions in the regulations for efforts toward incorporating novel concepts in tax administration. — RSS

Additional portfolio

KATHMANDU:

Minister for Local Development Yubaraj Gyawali will, on recommendation of the Prime Minister, look after Ministry of Labour and Transport Management in the absence of Raghuji Pant who left for Qatar. Minister for Physical Planning and Works Prakashman Singh will look after the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation also in the absence Dipkumar Upadhyaya who left for Germany. — RSS