Gold price soars

The price of gold in Nepali market reached to a record high level Friday, traders said.

According to the Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the price of gold went up by Rs 130 to Rs 9,990 per 10 grams on Friday. The gold market had opened at Rs 9,860 per 10 grams last Sunday.

The increase in the price of oil in the international market has affected the price of gold in Nepal, the Association said.
nepalnews.com by Aug 21 04

SLC supplementary results out

The Controller of Examination on Friday evening publish the result of the School Leaving Certificate (SLC)  supplementary exams.

The total number of students who passed the exams stands at 63,516 while the pass percentage is 77.12 percent. 82,356 students sat for the examinations across the country.

The results of the SLC supplementary exams are posted on the website www.moe.gov.np of the ministry of education. nepalnews.com pd Aug 21 04

Insurgents in Iraq take 12 Nepali hostages

Islamic insurgents in Iraq said Friday that they had kidnapped 12 Nepalis  hostages on Thursday, a news agency said. The news was posted on a Islamic website Friday, according to the AFP. 

The Islamic insurgents have accused Nepalis for helping ‘United States crusader forces to fight Islam’, the AFP said, citing the Islamic website. The news however, has not yet been independently verified.

“A group of heroic mujahedeen (Islamic fighters) managed on the night of August 19-20 to take 12 people affiliated with a Nepali company captive,” said the statement signed by the military command of the Army of Ansar al-Sunna, according to the AFP. 

The statement did not say where the 12 were abducted but the group promised to publish their pictures shortly ‘so that they will serve as a lesson to others’, it is reported.

Meanwhile, government officials in the Nepali capital, Kathmandu, have said they don't have information about the said abduction.

The US had requested Nepal government to send its troops to Iraq for peacekeeping purposes but the government has not yet accepted the request. nepalnews.com pd Aug 21 04

Price of fruits, vegetable goes up due to `blockade'

Price of most fresh vegetables and fruits has gone up in the Kathmandu market due to Maoist-imposed 'blockade' on the third day Friday.

According to Kalimati Fruit and Vegetable Market Development Board (KFVMDB), the largest wholesale market of fruits and vegetables in the capital, the price of most of the vegetable and fruit items has shot up over the last 24 hours.

The wholesale price of tomato (small) has gone up from Rs 18 per kg to Rs 28 per kg, that of red potato from Rs 13 per kg to Rs 14 per kg, that of dry onion from Rs 12 per kg  to Rs 13 per kg and that of spinach leaf from Rs 20 per kg to Rs 22 per kg, the Board said.

Deputy director at the Board, Arjun Aryal, told Nepalnews that supply of fruits and vegetables has gone down by 50 percent over the last two days. He, however, said there may not be a big shortage of fresh vegetables as nearby districts of Kathmandu supply as much as 60 percent of the total vegetable consumption of the capital valley. Rest of the supplies comes from southern terai and India.

Up to 450 metric tones of  vegetables and fruits worth Rs 8.5 million used to be sold at the Kalimati market during normal days, Mr. Aryal said. nepalnews.com by Aug 20 04

Related News
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Standard Chartered procures additional shares in SCNBL

Standard Chartered Nepal Bank Limited (SCNBL) has turned into the first Nepali bank with the largest foreign investment after the Standard Chartered Group of Britain bought additional 25 percent of its shares.   

The Standard Chartered Group now owns 75 percent of the SCNBL. Some six thousand individuals own the rest of the shares. 

According to Sujit Mundul, chief executive of the SCNBL, the move would send a positive message about Nepal’s economy in the international market. “More foreign investment has come to Nepal at a sensitive time. This is a positive signal,” said Mundul.

Thanks to remittance sent by the Nepalis working abroad, among others, the banking sector is one of the thriving sectors in the country's economy despite the overall economic hardships and low growth rate. nepalnews.com by Aug 20 04

UK calls upon Maoists to withdraw 'blockade'

The British government has called upon the CPN (Maoist) to withdraw its on-going 'blockade' of the Nepali capital.

Talking to reporters in Kathmandu on Friday, special representative of the British government to Nepal, Sir Jeffrey James, called upon the Maoists to stop these kinds of activities, saying that the poor people of Nepal suffer the most due to such blockades. 

"We are very concerned in view of the threats to businesses and general people of Nepal," he said. Responding to a question, Sir Jeffrey said, "We see no role for ourselves in the Nepalese peace process. We are trying to lend political and diplomatic support to encourage both sides to come to the table of negotiations." 

He also called upon all sides in the Nepali conflict to look for practical measures to build confidence and create the right climate for a successful peace process. "We hope that all constitutional forces, including those not represented in the government at present, will work together to resolve the conflict and, ultimately, to restore parliamentary democracy through free and fair elections," he said.

There is still serious concern at evidence of widespread violations of human rights by the security forces, said Sir Jeffrey James. He said there was increasing recognition on the government side that human rights observance was a very important issue. "We recognise that progress has been made but there is a long way to go," he added. 

Sir Jeffrey had arrived in Kathmandu Saturday on a week-long visit. He met Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and other senior officials and discussed issues including the Maoist insurgency. 

It is Sir Jeffrey's sixth visit to Nepal after his appointment in February 2002 'to help co-ordinate British government support for peace, stability and development in Nepal as well as that of Nepal's international partners.' nepalnews.com by Aug 20 04

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Maoists murder Ilam Red Cross chief

Armed Maoists murdered chief of the Nepal Red Cross Society, Ilam chapter, Til Bahadur Limbu, sources told Nepalnews.

A local leader of the Nepali Congress (NC), Limbu was abducted on Thursday last week and murdered in Danabari of Ilam district on Wednesday, NC source told Nepalnews. The Maoists accused Limbu of spying against them. 

Meanwhile, the NC central office issuing a press release on Friday, has urged the rebels to immediately stop such barbaric activities. nepalnews.com pd Aug 20 04

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Govt assures full security to people, businesses

The government said it would provide adequate security and make arrangements to ensure smooth supply of essential goods into the capital valley.

Talking to reporters after a two-hour long special meeting of the cabinet Friday, the government’s spokesman and Minister for Information and Communications,  Dr. Mohammed Mohsin, said the govt’s attention has been drawn towards the so-called blockade imposed by the Maoists. 

"We appeal to the people, industrialists and transport operators not to succumb to the politics of pressure. The security has been kept on high alert. The govt will provide compensation if any damage is caused to private sector while providing essential services to the people," Mohsin said.

The minister said the govt wants peace but will not bow to any kind of pressure from the rebels. He said the govt will make public whereabouts of the Maoist trade union members who have allegedly disappeared within one month. 

“The government will provide whatever security is needed to the multi-national corporations. But we can’t force them to open their industries," he added. nepalnews.com by Aug. 20 04

Related News
- ‘Special’ cabinet meeting today
- Govt declares security alert
- DPM Adhikari calls upon Maoists to withdraw their 'blockade'
- Maoists impose `blockade' of Kathmandu, security tightened
- Transport affected due to blockade, officials claim `there will be no shortage’

Policeman shot, minor explosion in Kathmandu

A policeman on duty in front of the Land Revenue Office at Dillibazar in Kathmandu was shot at by suspected Maoists at 9:40AM Friday morning, police said. 

The policeman, Top Bahadur Budhathoki, was seriously injured and is undergoing treatment at the Bir Hospital. 

A bomb was also exploded at the same venue. Nobody was injured in the explosion, police said. 

Today is the third day of the Kathmandu valley 'blockade' called by the Maoists. nepalnews.com by/pd Aug 20 04 

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Taekwondo ace Sangina leaves for Athens

Taekwondo ace Sangina Vaidhya has left for Athens to participate in the Olympics Friday morning.

Sangina, whose opponent is yet to be decided, will participate in the Olympics on August 26. There are 16 players in her category (under 49-kg). 

Writing exclusively to The Himalayan Times, Sangina said, “I am being strong, not nervous and I am hopeful that I will be back with a medal….” Sangina has further requested Nepalis to see her fight on television and support her on Thursday (August 26).

Vaidhya’s coach, Master Kwan, is also accompanying her. nepalnews.com pd Aug 20 04

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