25 houses looted:

RAUTAHAT: An armed gang of dacoits looted goods worth Rs 500,000 from 25 houses of four VDCs of the district on Tuesday. According to Rautahat district police office, one gang was responsible for the looting of houses at Suruatha, Badaharwa, Basantpur and Chandiha VDCs. The gang of 20-25 looters swooped down at around midnight and looted the houses of different persons including Nawal Kishor Chaudhary, Bhagyanarayan Singh, Mahesh Shah, Jogindar Teli and Ram Ekwal Shah of Badharwa VDC. Security forces have been mobilised to

hunt down the dacoits, SP Kesh Bahadur Shahi said. — HNS

Three students held:

KATHMANDU: Three students, including former central committee member of the Nepal Students’ Union (NSU), Deepak Adhikary, were arrested from the Tri-Chandra College premises on Wednesday. According to Gagan Thapa, former general secretary of the NSU, Sherum Karki, Kailash Shrestha, and former central member of the NSU, Deepak Adhikary, were arrested from the premises. He added that students organised protest programmes in major colleges of the valley, including Padma Kanya, Patan, Shankar Dev, Ratna Rajya, Nepal Law and Baneswor campuses. — HNS

UNWO’s programme:

KATHMANDU: The United Nations Women’s Organisation (UNWO) of Nepal organised a programme to mark the 95th International Women’s Day. Inaugurating it, social worker Kamal Rana said, “Women have successfully taken up challenges and proved themselves.” She added though women in Nepal women did not have to fight for their right in politics, there are many fields where they are still struggling and political right alone does not uplift women and secure other rights. Amendment of civil codes and Acts have legally improved their status, there are many more that need to be amended, she added. UNICEF project officer Anjali Pradhan said women and children are the most vulnerbale in the present situation. — HNS

Trial FM broadcast in east:

ILAM: Radio Nepal has started trial broadcast on 100 Megahertz for eastern Nepal after setting up an FM sub-station at Aitabare of Ilam district. Radio Nepal started airing programmes through FM frequencies from the sub-station as part of its objective to extend its transmission throughout the nation. Radio Nepal can now be listened clearly in the eastern region and parts of Darjeeling and Sikkim of India following the establishment of the sub-station. — RSS

Centenarian felicitated:

MUSTANG: The 95th Women’s Day was marked in Mustang district by organising various programmes. A procession passed round the district headquarters under the auspices of different women’s organisations. At a separate function, CDO Krishna Prasad Gyawali, felicitated a 100-year-old local woman Lhesangmo Thakali. — RSS

Stone quarries on decline:

MYAGDI: Stone quarries in Rumko are on the decline because of lack of publicity, proper maintenance and transport facilities. The quarries located 11 kosh west of district headquarters, Beni, supply stones to Beni, Baglung, Pokhara, Gulmi and Arghakhan-chi, but this supply is now dwindling. The quarries which employ 50 workers produce 1,500 cubits of paving stone a day but the stones produced are not finding a market. The quarries also produce chips. — RSS

APF training ends:

KATHMANDU: A group of Armed Police Force (APF) personnel were given certificates today for successfully completing their training including those on field craft, battle craft, minor tactics, and counter emergency. Additional Inspector General of the Department of Human Resources, APF headquarters, Rohit Thapa, gave the certificates during a function organised at the APF Guheshwori Battalion, Duwakot, Bhaktapur. — HNS