House okays NRN Bill

KATHMANDU: The Parliament on Monday unanimously passed the Non-Resident Nepalis Bill-2007. Minister for Foreign Affairs Sahana Pradhan had tabled the Bill, saying that the government had been facing problems related to the NRNs, including investment issues. — HNS

US envoy meets FM

KATHMANDU: US ambassador to Nepal, Nancy J Powell, met Minister for Foreign Affairs, Sahana Pradhan, at Shital Niwas on Monday. Issues pertaining to bilateral relations were discussed in the meeting. — HNS

Maoist held

Gaighat: Police on Monday arrested the former section commander of the Maoists, Yuba Raj Acharya, on the charge of extorting money from businessmen and civilians. He was arrested from a hotel in Gaighat following a complaint lodged by locals, DSP Mohan Bahadur Khadka said. — HNS

Indian grant for hostel

Kathmandu: India is providing a grant assistance of Rs 30 million for a women’s hostel in Kathmandu. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed on Monday by the embassy of India and the Kathmandu DDC and the Nepal Charkha Pracharak Gandhi-Tulsi Smarak Mahaguthi, Gothatar, in this regard, an Indian Embassy release said. The grant will be utilised in building a hostel at the Mahaguthi for destitute women, who are being provided with vocational trainings there. — HNS