Eatery catches fire

LALITPUR: Property worth five lakh rupees was destroyed when a fire broke out on the second floor of the Namaste Restaurant in Pulchowk on Friday, the police said, adding that the police and the restaurant staff doused the fire within half-an-hour. The fire broke out after a gas cylinder exploded. — HNS

NSP meet on Monday

KATHMANDU: The National Working Committee of the Nepal Sadbhawana Party will hold a meeting at the Party’s central office in Shantinagar, Kathmandu, on Monday, party sources said, adding that current political situation will be discussed at the meeting. — RSS

Delegation returns

KATHMANDU: The Speaker, Taranath Ranabhat, and other members of the Nepali delegation returned from Geneva after taking part in the 113th conference of the Inter Parliamentary Union. Senior officials of the Parliament Secretariat received them at the Tribhuvan International Airport. — RSS

Envoy appointed

KATHMANDU: The King has appointed the Nepali ambassador to Egypt, Dr Rambhakta PB Thakur, as the Nepali ambassador to Lebanan and Tunisia also, the Press Secretariat of the King said on Friday. — RSS

Gen Thapa’s tour

KATHMANDU: Chief of Army Staff General Pyar Jung Thapa, who is on a week-long official visit to China, called on Jia Qinglin, Chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) in Beijing on Friday morning. During the meet, discussion was held on matters of bilateral interest and mutual cooperation, according to a press release from the Royal Nepalese Embassy in Beijing. The same afternoon, Thapa called on General Cao Gangchuan, vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), and State Councilor and Defence Minister of China. Thapa also met General Liang Guanglie, Chief of General Staff of PLA and exchanged views on strengthening cooperation between the RNA and the People’s Liberation Army. — RSS

New working panel

KATHMANDU: General gathering of Yadu Prasad Mishra Memorial Foundation held recently has constituted an 11-member new working committee with senior litterateur Janak Prasad Humagain as the chairman. Vice-chairmen, general secretary, secretary and treasurer of the committee are Ganga Prasad Upreti and Jivendra Dev Giri, Hem Nath Paudel, Mohan Duwal and Bhola Bahardar, respectively. The foundation has started works on the construction of a memorial museum and erection of the statue of late poet Yadu Prasad Mishra at Sirutar VDC-7, Somlingtar, the birthplace of the late poet. — RSS

Discussions held

KATHMANDU: Secretary at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies Bharat Bahadur Thapa, has emphasised the need of sustainable development of confectionery industry, as there is ample probability for its export at the time when Nepal has been active in the field of international trade. Confectionery occupation could be a good source of income and play a crucial role in strengthening national economy, he said at a discussion on “Quality of Confectionery and Promotion of Awareness” held here on Thursday. — RSS

Nepal-Norway talks

KATHMANDU: Emphasis has been laid on the need of concrete strategies for the extension of bilateral trade and joint investment between Nepal and Norway. It was emphasised in course of a talk between Chairman of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Chandi Raj Dhakal and Norwegian Ambassador to Nepal Tore Toreng here on Thursday. Discussions were held on the matter of joint investment in the field of rural hydro-electricity and tourism in Nepal on the occasion, the Federation has said. — RSS

Enrolment drive

KATHMANDU: An agreement was reached here on Friday between the Social Welfare Council, the Italian development cooperation agency CCS Italy and the Centre for Cooperation and Development Nepal (CCS Nepal) on running the ‘Children to School’ programme for a period of three years. Under the agreement, financial assistance totalling Rs 7,890,000 will be made available over a three-year period for running various programmes concerning children’s development and education in Thulo Porsel, Sarmathali, Pokhari, Naryanthan, Bolde Pediche, Mechhe Pouwa and Chapakori VDCs in Kavre. — RSS