Briefs (Spotlight Weekly)

PEMBA DORJE SHERPA OF DOLAKHA district has set the world record by successfully completing the ascent of Mount Everest in 12 hours 45 minutes. He broke the record set by Babuchhiri Sherpa, who had completed the climb in 16 hours three years ago.

THE WORLD BANK HAS APPROVED 75.6 million US dollar credit to Nepal for the Power Development Project aimed at meeting the energy needs of the country. According to it press release on Friday (May 23), the soft loan was approved by the bank's board of directors' meeting on May 22 in Washington. The bank expects the loan to support Nepal's efforts to expand access by strengthening partnerships with the private sector and local communities. The project is the first major investment by the bank in the hydropower sector since the cancellation of the proposed Arun III project in 1995. The new project will increase access to electricity in rural areas connecting 47,000 more households.

KEN NOGUCHI, A JAPANESE CLIMBER, and his Everest-Lhotse Clean Up Campaign 2003 team returned to capital with 2400 kgs of rubbish on Friday (May 23). Along with a number of Sherpa climbers, Noguchi's team consisted of 1 Korean and 7 Japanese. Noguchi has been organizing similar campaigns since 1996. This time Noguchi's team cleaned up areas from third camp to south col in the Everest region.

THE VETERAN EDUCATIONIST SATYA Narayan Bahadur Shrestha died at the age of 87 of lung cancer on Friday (May 23). Shrestha, the founder principle of Adarsha Vidya Mandir (AVM) Higher Secondary School, is one of the most noted educationist in the country. Before he established a number of schools, Shrestha involved in democratic struggle of 2007 B.S. (1950 AD). Prime minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand conveyed deep condolence on Shrestha's demise.

AFTER THE FORMATION OF Media Society, an umbrella organization of leading Nepalese publishers, members of society have said that they would work united-ly against foreign investment in media sector. In the first meeting of society held on Friday, the participants said that foreign investment in media would be against national interest. Mahendra Sherchan of Rajdhani daily is the president of society. Kailash Sirohiya of Kantipur Publications is the first vice president and Pashupati Murarka of Nepal Samacharpatra is the second vice president of society.

THE OFFICIALS OF AHURA — a Bhutanese human rights group — has condemned the decision taken at the recent 14th ministerial meeting in Kathmandu to segregate Bhutanese refugees in four categories. It has described the day the decision was taken as "black day". The group has also urged UNHCR to immediately intervene. "It is the black day in the history of South Asia, international norms and principles," stated Ratan Gajmer, chief of the group, in a press release.

SOON AFTER IT RAISED OBSTACLES in the exports of Vanaspati ghee, the Indian government has decided to obstruct the export of Nepali beer by raising its excise duty by 75 percent against the spirit of bilateral trade treaty. Earlier, the beer attracted only 16 percent excise. The new provisions would make Nepali beer quite costly in the Indian market. The export of Nepali beer though not substantial has been growing impressively. In the fiscal year 2057/58, beers worth Rs 59.9 million were exported. This rose by 83 percent in the fiscal year 2058/59. The officials of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies are reported to have taken serious note of this development and are in touch with their Indian counterparts to resolve the issue.

THE NUMBER OF CUSTOMERS wanting to own mobile phones shot up after the Nepal Telecommunication Corporation (NTC) recently decided to cut the cost of installing, deposit as well as monthly tariff. In a few days after the decision, the number of customers of mobile service increased by 1500. The NTC had last week decided to cut the deposit by Rs 5000, installation cost by Rs 2000 and tariff cost by 10 percent. It had also announced free incoming calls in lean hours from 8 pm till 8 am.

DUE TO PRESSURE TACTICS by the student wing of the Maoists, 19 missionary schools like St. Xavier's and St. Mary's have threatened that they would be forced to close down beginning Friday (May 21). Around 50,000 students study in various missionary schools, which are operating in the country as per the agreement with the government since 1951. The missionary schools have been praised for their quality education. Father Lawrence, principal of St. Xavier's said that missionary schools would have to close down and leave Nepal if the current pressure tactics continued. The Maoist students have currently closed down the accounts section and principal's office in these schools demanding they bring their fees down.