ONCE-OVER

Appeal for help :

Hetauda: Four Nepali nationals, who were released from the Basra jail of Iraq two days ago, have appealed to the government to assist them to return Nepal. The appeal was made by Suman Lama while talking over telephone with his mother Kanchhi Mapa Lama, a resident of Padampokhari-1 of Makwanpur district, after his return in Kuwait, mother Lama said. They are unable to return home due to the lack of money. The Iraq police had arrested Ram Kumar Rai of Damak, Ishwor Basnet of Dolakha, Krishna Bahadur Mahat of Pokhara along with Suman before two months for importing outdated goods in Iraq. They were sent to Iraq by a Kuwaiti company.— RSS

Ambulances gifted :

Birgunj: The Office of the Consulate of India, Birgunj, provided ambulances and a school bus to three different organisations. The Kalaiya municipality, Bara, and the Nepal Netra Jyoti Sangh, Malangawa, received one ambulance each and the Gajendra Narayan Singh Pratisthan Gaurab School received a school bus. Indian Consular General C. Gururaj Rao handed over the keys of the ambulances and a bus along with necessary documents to the concerned amidst a programme organised by the Office here on Wednesday. — RSS

Drug addicts arrested :

Dharan: Three drug abusers were arrested while they were using heroine here on Thursday. Regional Police Office Dharan said those arrested were Arjun Limbu, Sukra Limbu and Raju Rai of Dharan municipality. Action will be taken against them under the Act of Drug Sale & Distribution and Addiction. — RSS

Cash looted :

Dhangadi: An unidentified group of four looters robbed a bank draft of Rs 800,000 and cash amount Rs 200,000 from the manager of Pathak Hardware on Thursday morning. The robbers fled the scene after they attacked Manager Arjun Thakurathi and snatched the bag containing the draft and cash said proprietor of the Hardware Raghu Nath Pathak. Manager Thakurathi sustained head injury. He is undergoing treatment in Seti zone hospital. — RSS

Additional portfolio :

Kathmandu: The Prime Minister has assigned Finance Minister Dr. Ram Sharan Mahat to look after the portfolio of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies in absence of Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Hridayesh Tripathy who left here for Assam of India on August 23 in connection with his personal business. This is stated by the Office of the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers, on Friday. — RSS

NT slashes tariff :

KATHMANDU: Nepal Telecom (NT) on Friday slashed the existing tariff in landline (basic) as well as post-paid and pre-paid mobile telephone services. According to the new provisions, calls made within all the districts of a zone from a landline telephone will now cost Re one per minute. The tariff for STD calls made from post-paid and pre-paid mobile phones distributed by Nepal Telecom has been fixed at Rs two per minute including in the business hour. However, telephone calls to mobile telephones run by Spice Nepal Network would cost an additional Rs one per minute for calls made from basic telephone and Rs 1.50 per minute for calls made from mobile phone. Nepal Telecom said the new tariff would be effective from August 31. — RSS

Book launched :

KATHMANDU: Swatantra Mantabya Yaatra, a book penned by human rights activist and leader of the civil society, Krishna Pahadi, was launched here on Friday. The book highlights the writer’s personal and political life, his faith and integrity, and his trips to foreign countries. — RSS

One missing :

BARA: Family members of Binod Nepal Telecom, of Bariyarpur, on Friday accused the Maoists of spiriting him away. Binod was hurt in course of staging a rally against Maoist district secretary, Jameen, on Thursday. Siyaram Nepal Telecom, brother of Binod, issued a release on Friday, saying the whereabouts of Binod were unknown. — HNS