Briefs (Spotlight Weekly)

King Gyanendra addressing the third batch of Shree Barda bahadur Battalion of the Royal Nepal Army prior to their departure to Sierra Leone for peace-keeping operation

KING GYANENDRA, who is also the supreme commander of the Royal Nepalese Army (RNA), has said the RNA men have a double responsibility on their shoulders to fulfill their duty and responsibility in foreign land while at the same time undertaking the important task of spreading the glory and fame of the motherland, RSS news agency reported. Addressing the third batch of the Shree Barda Bahadur Battalion peace-keeping force at the Birendra Peace Operations Training Center at Panchkhal, Kavre on Friday, King Gyanendra said the RNA soldiers were dedicating themselves in the pious task of maintaining peace and order not only in the foreign lands but also within the country.

KING GYANENDRA HAS, in accordance with the Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal 1990 and upon the advice and consent of the Council of ministers, promulgated the 'Medical Sciences National Academy Ordinance- 2059 B. S., the 'Public Service (implementation follow-up and inspection) Ordinance- 2059 and the Royal Household Expenditure Management (first amendment) Ordinance 2059 B. S.

THE NARAYANHITI ROYAL Palace announced Monday that the wedding ceremony of Princess Prerana is to be solemnized with the Raj Bahadur Singh, son of Nava Raj Bahadur Singha and Mrs. Usha Devi Singh early next year (January 22 and 23) in the capital. Singh holds M. S. from University of California in computer science. Similarly, the wedding of Princess Sheetashma, daughter of late Prekshya Rajya Laxmi and Dhirendra Shah, with Abinash Shah, son of Arjun Jung Shah and Asha Rajya Laxmi Shah, will be solemnized on March 5 and 6 next year at Jeevan Kunj, Maharajgunj, the press secretariat to HM the King announced last Wednesday.

TWO DAYS AFTER ANNOUNCING hike in petrol and LP Gas, the government has constituted a high-level committee to recommend ways to do away with irregularities at the state-owned monopoly, Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC). The four-member committee, led by former Justice at the Supreme Court Top Bahadur Singh, has Harendra Bahadur Shrestha of Consumer Forum of Nepal, Rohini Thapaliya of Nepal Automobile Dealers Association, Tarananda Pradhan and Rameswor Prasad Khanal of the Office of the Auditor General as its members. The committee will submit its report to the government within the next 15 days on the issues including making arrangements for simplified supply of the petroleum products within the country.

THE GOVERNMENT OF† the Federal Republic of Germany has agreed to provide grant assistance worth Rs 197 million for the implementation of the neighborhood support program in the mid-Marsyangdi hydropower project that is under construction. As per the agreement, the German assistance will be utilized exclusively for the financing of various employment generating investment measures in the surrounding areas of the middle Marsyangdi project construction site in Lamjung district, the Finance Ministry said. The German government also provided grant assistance worth Rs 100 million under the German emergency fund for the rehabilitation of local government buildings in Achham, Doti, Dadeldhura and Darchula districts and hospitals and health posts in Achham and Bardiya districts.

WITH TOURIST ARRIVAL registering continuous fall over the last few years, the tourism entrepreneurs have urged the government what they said "breathing space." In a meeting with Water Resources minister Dipak Gyawali, a delegation of the Hotel Association of Nepal (HAN) urged the government to extend the deadline for paying electricity bills from 90 days to 180 days for the hotels. During their meeting with assistance minister for culture, tourism and civil aviation Ravi Bhakta Shrestha, HAN delegates urged the government to revise loan payment schedules, provide refinancing, do away with royalties and improve the condition of the national flag carrier, RNAC, among others.

PRIVATE AND BOARDING Schools' Organization of Nepal (PABSON) has asked the government and others to solve the ongoing crisis in the country in the wake of the 'educational strike for uncertain period' called by the sister organization of the Maoist rebels beginning December 9. The meeting also discussed educational, financial, social and mental effect of the past strikes to assess the possible effects of upcoming strike. The meeting reached to a conclusion that the government should start dialogue with the rebels to end the violent situation. PABSON has appealed parents, teachers and political associations of students to put forth the effort to solve the problem. PABSON has also apprised Minister for Education and Sports, Devi Prasad Ojha, along with other high level officials of the possible fallout of the proposed† strike.

HOURS AFTER LONDON† High Court ruled in favor of three ex-Gurkha war veterans, a former British Gurkha soldier living in Wales, U. K., has lost his fight to claim equal pay and pension from the British Army, reports said quoting BBC. The tribunal ruled it had no jurisdiction to hear his complaints because Thapa had served most of his 15-yuear army career in the jungles of Belize in Central America. Had Thapa won the case, it could have cost the British government two billion pounds and opened doors for similar actions by ex-Gurkha servicemen and widows.