BRIEFS (Spotlight Weekly)

THE FIFTH ROUND OF trade talks between Nepal and India will take place in Kathmandu from February 18, Indian news reports said Friday. Nepali officials are, however, yet to confirm the report. The talks will focus on the renewal of trade treaty between the two neighbors that is to expire early next month. Talks will also include Indian allegation of dumping and surge in export of some Nepalese goods exported to India. They include vanaspati ghee, acrylic yarn, zinc oxide, and copper wire, among others. Four rounds of official level talks have already concluded but without any agreements. The present treaty, valid until December 5, 2001, was granted an extension of three months until March 5, 2002, as the two sides were unable to conclude the discussions.

DESPITE SPECTACULAR performance in the earlier games, Nepal lost to Zimbabwe by 137 runs at the final of Under-19 Cricket Plate Championship at Lincoln, New Zealand Friday. Batting first Zimbabwe made 247 for 1 in their allotted 50 over. Zimbabwean team then dismissed Nepal cheaply for just 110 runs in 35.4 overs. With the defeat, Nepal ended its 6 match winning streak that included defeat of two-test playing nations, Pakistan and Bangladesh.

CHAIRMAN OF THE National Human Rights Commission Nain Bahadur Khatri said the know how to use human rights instruments in seeking remedies from the UN treaty bodies is yet to develop in Nepal. He added that Nepalese courts, though slowly and gradually, had started applying international instruments in providing justice to the victims in the cases brought before them. Nepal has already ratified 16 international human rights instruments and a number of protocols attached to them. NHRC member Sushil Pyakurel said though Nepal had ratified most of the human rights treaties, the recommendations and comments made by the NHRC have not been used so far for the compliance to the state-party obligations.

ROYAL NEPALESE ARMY personnel rescued eight tourists stranded at Lukla airport in Solukhumbu districtógateway to the Mt. Everest, last week. The tourists, including two Swiss, two British, an American and one each from Taiwan, Brazil and France, were stranded, as there were no flights to or from Lukla after Maoist insurgents had attacked at the airport control tower. The tourists have appreciated the army's assistance, reports said.

THE INT'L DEVELOPMENT Association, a lending arm of the World Bank, and the International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD) have agreed to provide over Rs. 3.2 billion in the form of credit and technical grant assistance to Nepal for telecommunication reforms and poverty alleviation programs. According to the Finance Ministry, as per the agreement, the World Bank will provide Nepal with credit assistance of SDR 17.5 million (About Rs. 1.73 billion) for the implementation of Telecommunication Sector Reforms Project. The project will assist to implement the government's telecommunications policy and serve as a credible platform from which Nepal can undertake key sector reform initiative. Under another agreement, the IFAD has agreed to provide loan assistance of SDR 15.6 million (about Rs. 1.56 billion) for the implementation of Western Upland Poverty Alleviation Project. The project will cover 11 upland districts including Humla, Jumla, Mugu, Kalikot. Dolpa. Dailekh and Jajarkot, which have high incidence of poverty, low human development and deprivation. Two separate agreements to this effect were signed at the Ministry last week.

LEADERS OF 13 OPPOSITION parties, including the main opposition CPN-UML, have urged the government not to extend the state of emergency in the country for another three months. In a meeting on Sunday, the opposition leaders criticized the government for what they said not being able to restore law and order in the country even after the mobilization of the army. They also discussed issues including massive arrest of journalists, violation of press freedom and Maoist violence. The government has to present its decision to impose nationwide emergency in the upcoming winter session of the parliament for its approval.

INT'L TRACHOMA Initiative (ITI) and BBC World Service Trust have joined hands to control trachoma, one of the major causes of blindness in Nepal. The first national survey on eye health in 1981 revealed that trachoma is clustered geographically, with the highest prevalence in the far-western regions of terai, with the highest prevalence among Tharu community. ITI is supporting Nepal Netra Jyoti Sangh, a national NGO, in expanding blindness prevention services all over the country. The BBC World Service Trust is supporting the program through development of an innovative communications strategy. The program will also include donation of more than US$25 million worth medicine from the pharmaceutical giant, Pfizer. Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba launched the program amidst a function here last week.

BRITISH AMBASSADOR TO NEPAL Ronald Peter Nash has expressed his great sadness at the death of Her Royal Highness Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon. A condolence book for HRH Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon, will be open at the British Embassy from Tuesday (12th February) till Friday (15th February), according to a press release by the Embassy.