US envoy in town

KATHMANDU: James Francis Moriarty, ambassador designate of the US to Nepal, arrived here on Monday to take up his assignment. He was received at the Tribhuvan International Airport by ADC to the king and deputy chief of protocol. — RSS

SAARC award panel meets

KATHMANDU: South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Award Selection Committee’s meeting was held at SAARC Secretariat on Monday. The meeting discussed about the nomination of people, who had applied for different SAARC awards in various sectors in the region. The decision of meeting will be forwarded to the SAARC Council of Foreign Ministers which will finalise the nomination. Meanwhile, SAARC ministerial-level meeting is scheduled to be held in Pakistan on July 20 and 21. — HNS

Unidentified gang kills 1

JANAKPURDHAM: A tempo driver was killed and another critically injured when an unidentified gang of three opened indiscriminate firing at a tempo stand near Aurahi Chowk on Mahendra Highway in Mahottari district on Monday. Bhola Khadka, 25 of Bardibas-7 was shot at while he was in his tempo. He died while he was being taken to hospital. Shanti Ghimire, 31, of Bardibas-9 was shot at his testicles. He is undergoing treatment at Janakpur hospital. Hospital sources said he is in critical condition. — HNS

Healthcare seminar ends

KATHMANDU: The third national seminar and South Asian symposium on Healthcare Management 2004 concluded here on Monday. The symposium, which is first of its kind, was organised by the National Open College in association with the Healthcare Management Students’ Society of Nepal. The seminar was organised with an aim to promoting professional management practices necessary for effective healthcare. Experts from Nepal, India and Pakistan had participated the programme. -- HNS

Bhairahawa mayor quits

BHAIRAHAWA: Majority of the government appointed office bearers of Siddarthanagar Municipality including mayor Sagar Pratap Rana have resigned from their posts. Among the ward chairmen resigning together with the mayor Rana are Rajesh Dhakal, Chhedi Lal Srivastav, Santosh Rayamajhi, Harish Kshetri, Chandra Shekhar Pande, Dilip Yadav and others, it is learnt. — RSS

Scribes’ panel formed

DANG: A gathering of Rukumeli people, who have been residing in Dang and are involved in journalism, founded an institution Sisne Media Centre, Dang, on Saturday. The institution aims at organising all the media persons from Rukum working in Dang and encouraging the fresh journalists to the profession. Writer Hasta Bahadur KC heads the nine-member working committee of the institution. — RSS

Suspension bridge built

NAWALPARASI: A 70-metre-long suspension bridge has been constructed over Phulmadi khola in Jaubari village of Nawalparasi district at a total cost of Rs 800,000 of the ministry of local development. The bridge is said to benefit about 500 households of the areas, it is said. — RSS

Training on making oven

TAPLEJUNG: A four day improved oven construction training concluded under the auspices of Kanchanjanga Conservation Area Project, Taplejung that has been running various programmes for the protection and development of biodiversity in the district for the last few years. The training aimed at reducing the consumption of firewood and protect environment through the means of improved smokeless oven in rural areas. — RSS