BRIEFS (Spotlight Weekly)

His Majesty King Birendra receiving the letters of credence from Thai ambassador.

"HELP ONE POUND A MONTH Fund for Nepal," an initiative of Nepalis living in Britain, handed over a cheque for Rs 80,000 to Co-Head Master of Saraswoti higher secondary school in Dolpa amidst a function in the capital recently. The sum will be utilized to construct the first ever librabry building in the remote northrn district. Similarly, the Fund also made available a check for Rs 80,000 to Dr. Sharad Onta of Public Health Concern Trust as a token of support. Chaired by Rabindra Mishra, a producer with BBC Nepali Service in London, the Fund has already collected 2200 pounds over the last one year. The initiative will continue its support in the sector of education and health in Nepal, Nepal Coordination Committee of the Fund said.

HARVARD PROFESSOR AND CHAIRMAN of the Commission on Macroeconomics and Health constituted by the World Health Organization, Prof. Jeffrey Sachs has said that the Commission has collected substantial evidence showing that improved health of the population contributes to higher economic growth and poverty alleviation. It is now working intensively to determine the most effective policies for governments and the international community to improve the health of the population, and thereby contribute to improved human well being and foster economic growth, he said. The Commission will prepare its first report for the 53rd World Helath Assemby meeting in Geneva next month.

THE FIRST MEETING OF the proposed South Asian Human Development Network (HDNet) kicked off here last week. Creation of the HDNet was proposed during a conference on population and poverty in October last year in Canada. The follow up meeting being organized in Kathmandu aims at determining the goals, objectives, processes, structures of the network and formulate a work plan as well, organizers said. The meeting is jointly organized by South Asia Partnership-Nepal and Institute for Integrated Development Studies.

THE GOVERNMENT HAS RAISED compensation given to families of police personnel "killed on active duty" by 50 percent. The decision has come at a time Maoist rebels are targeting police as part of their four-year-old "people's war." Nearly 160 policemen have been killed so far during Maoist attacks. According to the recent decision, the families of policemen killed while in duty will receive Rs 750,000 up from Rs 500,000 announced earlier. The children of policemen killed will also receive scholarships to continue their education on the basis of their grade in the school or colleges. Similarly, the striking forces in six Maoist affected districts will also receive additional monthly allowance of Rs 2,000 each. The government's decision is seen as a measure to boost the morale of the policemen. The government has already decided to set up a 15,000-strong 'Armed Security Force' to counter the insurgent activities in the country.

THE CABINET MEETING LAST WEEK has dissolved three committees saying that they had turned into 'recruiting grounds' for ruling party workers. The council of ministers has dissolved the Youth Self-Help Program, Youth Mobilization Committee and Employment Promotion Committee. A formal announcement to this effect is yet to be made. The previous K. P. Bhattarai government had appointed anti-G. P. Koirala Nepali Congress workers in these committees at the last leg of its tenure. The Youth Self Help Program had already appointed member secretaries in all 75 districts of the country without any job specification. Meanwhile, sacked member secretaries have, in a press meet, alleged Prime Minister Koirala of being biased toward his own party workers.

A ROYAL NEPAL ARMY HELICOPTER flying toward Jomsom-Surkhet in mid-western Nepal had to be force-landed near Begnas lake in Pokhara on Monday morning after sudden engine failure. All four aboard the Russian-built chopper escaped safe. Civil Aviation officials in Pokhara had recommended

force-landing to the chopper. The crew and army personnel in the chopper were later airlifted to the capital.

NEPAL BANK OF CEYLON Ltd., a joint venture company, is issuing public shares in the near future, a press release issued by the Bank said on Friday. According to the Bank, the Bank has appointed NIDC Capital Markets Ltd, Nepal Sri Lanka Merchant Bank Ltd. and Citizen Investment Fund as its issue mangers, to issue 150 million rupees equivalent public share. Established in 1997, total deposits with the Bank amount to Rs 2.27 billion and lending stand at Rs 1.86 billion.

COLGATE-PALMOLIVE- NEPAL Ltd., a leading private sector company, has said it has started producing Colgate Dental Cream and Colgate Tooth Powder for the local market of Nepal. The Company had commenced production of dental cream and tooth powder in July 1998 mainly for export purposes. The state-of-the-art factory of the company, that sprawls over 85,000 sq. ft., is located at Hetauda Industrial Estate in central Nepal.

THE GOVERNMENT HAS DECIDED to provide cash rewards to people who tip off the police regarding terrorist and other illegal activities. The Cabinet meeting on Monday approved the Home Ministry's proposal to award up to Rs 100,000 to anyone giving reliable information regarding terrorist activities, drug trafficking and smuggling. Similarly, the government has also decided to provide up to Rs 50,000 to anyone who tips off the police about terrorist activities. The informants will continue to receive their 'commission' in case of tipping off in smuggling related cases.

Green Nepal Party Chief Kuber Sharma along with his senior colleague Badri Khatiwada has left for Brisbane, Australia to attend the Asia-Pacific Greens Workshop at the invitation of Australian Green Party. It may be recalled here that a few months back Australian Green Party Senator Bob Brown has visited Kathmandu. Borwn and Sharma had discussed matters of mutual interest and Brown had hinted to send this invitation. Brown was also very much impressed by Green Nepal Party's activities and has promised all kind of cooperation. In this regard it is still heartening for the supporters of Green Nepal Party to know that some Scandinavian countries have offered active cooperation to GNP. GNP's drives against rampant corruption have made positive impacts on international Greens. GNP is planning to play an active role in the International Meeting of the Green Parties to be held in Canberra, Australia in 2001. Green Nepal Party is the only Green Party in this region