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SPOTLIGHT Family wishesh for good health and long life to King Gyanendra on his 61st auspicious birthday |
THE WORLD BANK (WB) HAS SIGNED an emission reductions purchase agreement (ERPA) with the Alternative Energy Promotion Centre (AEPC) for continued implementation of the Nepal Hydro Power project on Sunday. According to the WB statement, more than 142,000 households will benefit from this long-awaited electricity project. This carbon offset project complements the ongoing World Bank Power Development Project to provide increased access to electricity for people living in rural areas. It is anticipated that by 2011, 15,000 kW will have been installed. The generating capacity of these plants will vary from five to 500 kW. Micro-hydro plants are installed for local communities by pre-qualified private companies that receive subsidy and credit support as well as technical assistance. Most of the plants will be managed by the communities themselves. The project developer, AEPC will sell a total of 191,000 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent in emission reductions until 2012 to the Community Development Carbon Fund, managed by the World Bank. There is the possibility to increase the volume of certified emission reductions by at least an additional 100,000 tons, the WB said.
THE US SENATE HAS CONFIRMED THE NOMINATION of Nancy Powell as the next US ambassador to Nepal. "Nancy J. Powell, of Iowa, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Career Minister, was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on June 28, 2007 to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to Nepal," states a press release by American Center in Kathmandu. Powell most recently served as the National Intelligence Officer for South Asia at the National Intelligence Council. Prior to this, she served as the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs at the Department of State. Earlier in her career, she served as the Ambassador to the countries of Pakistan, Ghana and Uganda. She will replace James F. Moriarty, who departs in July after serving as U.S. Ambassador to Nepal for three years.
A NEPALI CONTRACTOR AND AN AMERICAN were killed in a suicide bombing carried out by Taliban insurgents in Afghan capital Kabul on Thursday (June 28). The blast in eastern Kabul killed a Nepali contractor and an American in addition to the bomber, Associated Press said quoting Gen. Ali Shah Paktiawal, head of criminal investigations for Kabul police. Three other American contractors and two Afghans were wounded in the incident.
REPRESENTATIVE OF THE UNITED NATIONS High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Nepal, Abraham Abraham, on Thursday (June 28) appreciated the country's "humanitarian response and contributions and ardent efforts" in finding permanent solutions to the protracted Bhutanese refugee crisis. He, however, said that despite Nepal's ratification of most of the UN conventions on human rights, the country has not acceded to the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, nor to its 1967 Protocol. "It is my hope that the parliamentarians may consider acceding to the 1951 Convention at the earliest possible, joining the 146 nations already State Parties to the Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol," he said. Launching the two handbooks -- "Nationality and Statelessness," and "International Refugee Law: A Handbook for Parliamentarians" -- in Singha Durbar, he said the "Long March" started by the Bhutanese refugees was a "legitimate right." He, however, said that such rights should not "jeopardize" the safety and security of the refugees and the people.
THE ALL NEPAL FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION (ANFA) faced another hiccup when five "A" Division Clubs refused to play "A" Division League demanding amendments in the ANFA bylaws and creation of financially sound environment for the clubs.
Last week, five Clubs; Carlsberg MMC, RCT, Sankata Club, Boys Union Club, Machhindra Energizer FC, informed media that they will not play the "A" Division League unless their demands are met. Indraman Tuladhar (Sankata president), Bodh Bahadur Raut (former BUC president), Sunil Kapali (Machhindra president), Bijay Manandhar (RCT president) and Chhiring Lopsang Gurung (MMC coach) representing their clubs said, "The controversies in the ANFA in the past months have darkened future of Nepalese Football and we can't see good football-playing-environment in such situation". ANFA is under pressure in the recent days after the Joint Struggle Committee demanded ANFA President Ganesh Thapa's resignation and amendment in ANFA bylaws.
NEPALIS PURCHASE DRUGS WORTH over Rs 9 billion in a year, reveals a report, adding that domestic industries supply 35 percent of drugs needed. "Nepali citizens spent Rs 9.061 billion in the year 2005-2006. Out of the drugs, consumed here in Nepal, 35 percent was supplied by domestic industries, while the rest was supplied by public and private sectors," Kumod Kumar Kafle, president of Pharmaceutical Horizon of Nepal (PHON), said at an interaction on drugs consumption. Kafle said that the drug consumption rate decreased by 8 percent last year in comparison to the previous year. According to the report, allopathic drugs worth Rs 4.984 billion in retail value were sold through private importers. Ayurvedic/ Unani drugs worth Rs 347 million, veterinary drugs worth Rs 201 million and homeopathic drugs worth Rs 4 million were sold through private importers. "Drugs worth Rs 889 million were imported by the government, UN agencies, INGOs or NGOs," he said. According to the report, domestic industries sold allopathic drugs worth Rs 3 billion 187 million in retail value, while drugs worth Rs 5.103 billion were imported through different custom points. In addition, antibiotics comprised about 30 percent of drugs consumed here, he said, adding that, among drugs manufactured by domestic industries, amoxicilin was the top-selling drug.
