GOOD MOrning for Health : People taking morning walk around Bankali.

India ‘unbothered’ by dashed Tendulkar bid

Melbourne, Dec 27 Sachin Tendulkar will have to wait a little longer for his 100th international century after he was dismissed in the last over of the day, having given India a strong start to its first innings on Tuesday’s second day of the first test against Australia. Tendulkar, who has been stuck on 99 centuries since March, was bowled by Peter Siddle for 73 to leave India on 214-3 at stumps in reply to Australia’s first-innings 333. The wicket ended a 117-run partnership between Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid that put India in command. "That really set us in a strong position going into day three, but that one wicket at the end means we’ll have rebuild all over again before the second new ball," Indian offspinner Ravichandran Ashwin said. "We’ll have to stick our heads out and bat really well." The Melbourne Cricket Ground crowd of over 50,000 rose to their feet as Tendulkar walked from the ground. "It’s unfortunate he didn’t get his 100, but his batting performance today really put us out of pressure," Ashwin said. "We’re very happy." The 38-year-old Tendulkar rarely looked troubled by the Australian bowling attack as he reached his 50 off 55 balls with six boundaries and a six, yet was finally beaten by a fine ball from Siddle which swung back between bat and pad. Dravid scored a cautious, but nonetheless impressive, half century off 137 balls and will resume the third day on 68 with night watchman Ishant Sharma yet to score. "Its important that tomorrow morning we shut that scoreboard down a bit," Australia wicketkeeper Brad Haddin said. "If we can do that we’ll create chances and give ourselves the best opportunity to get into that middle order." Dravid received a reprieve while on 67 when he was bowled by Siddle (1-53), only for umpire Marias Erasmus rule him not out due to a no ball. Haddin said he noticed a lift in Siddle’s intensity after the decision. "It actually felt like he did come through five (kph)) quicker after that. And he showed a bit of character to come back after what happened and get Tendulkar late in the day." Dravid and Virender Sehwag had set up a strong platform for India’s innings with a 75-run partnership after opener Gautam Gambhir (3) went early, playing an ill-judged shot outside off stump and being caught by Brad Haddin off the bowling of Ben Hilfenhaus (1-50). Sehwag played aggressively against a tight Australian bowling attack. He was dropped by Mike Hussey in the gully while on 11, hit a lofted shot which mid-on David Warner just failed to reach as he brought up his half century, and was given another life on 58 when he edged a James Pattinson ball that Haddin couldn’t glove. He finally went when he dragged a Pattinson (1-35) ball onto his stumps. Australia resumed on day two at 277-6 and the tailenders managed to eke out another 55 runs despite overnight batsmen Haddin and Siddle falling early. Haddin (27) added just six runs to his overnight score before edging a Zaheer Khan ball to Sehwag in the gully. His wicket ended a dangerous 72-run, seventh-wicket stand with Siddle that saw off the new ball late Monday and steadied the Australian innings after a middle-order collapse. Siddle went soon after, caught behind off the bowling of Khan for an important 41. Hilfenhaus made 19 with three boundaries before lofting an Ashwin delivery to the waiting hands of Virat Kohli at long-on. Nathan Lyon was bowled around the legs by fellow-spinner Ashwin for 6 to end Australia’s innings. Australia opener and top-scorer Ed Cowan was replaced by substitute fielder Dan Christian for most of the day while he received treatment for a sore back. He is expected to be fit Wednesday. Despite overnight showers, the MCG was bathed in sunshine Tuesday, which combined with a strong breeze to offer a firmer, batting-friendly wicket. "Probably we got the better conditions in this game," Ashwin said. "Yesterday the clouds never really opened up and the wicket was a bit two-paced and it was topping and seaming."

Historical monuments in dire strought

Kathmandu, Dec. 27 Dozens of historical monuments and sites across the nation have been facing serious risk owing to a lack of proper maintenance and timely repair, a report of the Department of Archeology (DoA) revealed. Shortage of funds has made the task to give facelift to the historical and archeologically important monuments across the nation, the report added. There are different bodies such as the Ministry of Culture and Department of Archeology responsible for preservation, renovation, reconstruction of historical, archeologically significant palaces and temples. However, lack of required funds posed a constraint to carry out all works each year. The government had allocated only Rs. 30 million for DoA for the renovation of three main temples- Muktinath, Manakamana and Ram Mandir. The amount was not sufficient for managing the beauty of historical sites for round the year, said Manju Singh Bhandari (Thapa), officer of DoA. "Renovation or reconstruction process of temples can not complete within stipulated time due to the lack of budget," she said. It takes more time to finish the temple renovation works because of failure of receiving budget in time. Likewise, the reconstruction works of temples has become expensive as the works related to construction of old historical temples and sites requires the used of carved wooden stone and block items. The skilled labourers too have become a rarity, which further delay the completion of renovation works. The report showed that the historical and archeological monuments of Dadheldura have fallen in more grave risk. Dailekh and Achhan district’s historical inns and other things are reached in dilapidated condition, informed. Ram Bahadur Kuwor, Chief of DoA, said that there are more than 50 monuments but the budget- about Rs.30, 000 per monument is not sufficient. It takes long time to renovate the temple due to lack of sufficient budget, he said. DoA has been hardily able to preserve all monuments. DoA had categorised all monuments into three parts. Highly historical sites dating back to the Lichhavi and Mall eras are grouped in first category. Similarly, sited that dated back to 1903 B.S. are categorised in second group and other monuments are placed in third category.

Japanese assistance for maternal, child health

Kathmandu, Dec. 27 The Government of Japan has decided to extend financial assistance of 470,807 US Dollars; equivalent to approximately 40,381,116 Nepalese Rupees to AMDA Multisectoral and Integrated Development Services (AMDA-MINDS) under the Grant Assistance for Japanese NGO Projects Scheme of the Government of Japan in Japan’s FY 2011. AMDA-MINDS will implement the Project for Improving Maternal and Child Health through Promoting Capacity Development at four Village Development Committees (VDCs) in Rupandehi District. The Grant Contract relating this project was signed and exchanged Tuesday between Kunio Takahashi, ambassador of Japan to Nepal, and Maiko Kobayashi, Country Director, AMDA- MINDS Nepal Office. To enhance the outcomes from the former project and expand their activities to other communities, AMDA-MINDS will utilize the grant exclusively to promote capacity development at four VDCs in Rupandehi District, namely, Mainahiya, Hatti Bangaai, Kamahariya, and Dhamauli. Under the new project, all 36 communities in the four VDCs will be covered and provided with maternal and child care services such as various health workshops, capacity building assistance and access to community funds for emergency purposes. In addition, AMDA-MINDS will support to develop solidarity between local people and health administration bodies in Rupandehi District, read a statement by the Japanese embassy. Speaking at the function, the Japanese ambassador expressed his belief that this project, as one of Japan’s contributions to Nepal, would benefit rural communities in Rupandehi and contribute to improve women and children’s health condition, could further strengthen the friendly and cordial relationship between Japan and Nepal.

Businessman killed in Sarlahi

Sarlahi, Dec. 27 A businessman has been shot by unidentified men in a group at Barahathawa of Sarlahi district on Monday night. Two men in a motor cycle fired in Antosh Das, who left home after having dinner at a hotel at around 8.15 last night. Das, 32, of Hajariya VDC, sustained bullet injuries in his right arm, police said. He is undergoing treatment in Birgunj. Police is investigating into the murder attempt on the businessman. The businessmen called a bandha in Barahathawa bazaar on Tuesday, protesting against the incident.

MC8 fails to give way out for Doha pact, LDCs’ hope dashed

Geneva, Dec 27, With the failure to draw any conclusion on Doha Development Round in the Eighth Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organisation held in Geneva this month, many doubts have been raised as to whether the concept of multilateral trading system would be materialized. As long as the Doha Development Agenda remains inconclusive, the hope of LDCs to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) would be in limbo. Even Pascal Lamy Director General of World Trade Organisation (WTO) admitted that "the multilateral trading system is at a crossroads." He hinted that if the MC8 fails to derive any ‘way out’ for the Doha Development Round, further progress in multilateral trading system would be in trouble. Many LDCs during the Ministerial Conference (MC8) echoed their voice for robust international support measures to address their complex development challenges. But at the end of the three day conference, no concrete result was derived. WTO Director General Lamy while talking to journalists said ‘plurilateralism’ among the member nations could jeopardize the future of multilateral mechanism which in the can dampen the sprit of the WTO. However, he said that the 8th Ministerial Conference (MC8) has radiated some hopes to promote multilateralism. Talking about the future of the DDA, he said "we must hammer out solutions to address the issues". The success of DDA depends much on how members show their interests to push forward the issues relating to multi-lateral agreement. Differences in opinion among the LDCs would trigger isolationism. He urged WTO members to strike a common consensus for the success of the agenda. If we put the issues aside, that will affect the economy of every single nation. Chairman of the WTO Olusegun Olutoyin Aganga, termed the MC8 a success, but there is a need of common efforts. However, experts, government representatives gathered in Geneva termed the conference not as a ‘failure’, but ‘inconclusive’. If the DDA continues to linger, the target of least Developed Countries (LDCs) to meet Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015 would be a far cry. What happens if the multilateral trading system withers away? Experts say the gap between rich and poor would further widen. But the concern raised by some of the LDCs in the WTO Ministerial Conference cannot be ignored. They put forth their views that ‘even within the multilateral trading system, there should be a mechanism of promoting LDCs product in the developed countries’ market. No LDCs can compete with the product of developed nations. Besides, the issues raised by LDCs should be given due importance, they emphasised. It is to be noted that the least developed countries (LDCs) have declared that they are unlikely to meet ‘many’ Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015 because of growing resource gaps. The LDCs announced this at the Fifth High-Level Dialogue on the theme ‘the Monterrey Consensus and Doha Declaration on Financing for Development: Status of implementation and tasks Ahead" that was held in New York early this month. The LDCs pinned much hope on MC8 saying that it would reach a first step Doha Round Outcome. LDCs had stated that if the Doha Round remains inconclusive, it is imperative that the provisions of the WTO Hong Kong Ministerial Declaration concerning Duty Free and Quota Free (DFQF) provisions, particularly through necessary waver to accelerating LDC services exports, preferential and more favorable treatment to services and service-suppliers and the elimination of trade distorting support measure for cotton must be implemented as early harvest. The World Economic Outlook recently published by the IMF characterised the world economy in terms of ‘sluggish growth and rising risks’ Failure of the round could lead to fragmentation of the global trading system and a weakening of the WTO and multilateralism. The continuation of such an impasse is, therefore not at the interests of the international community as a whole and the LDCs in particular. As one of the members of the LDCs, Minister for Commerce and Supplies Lekh Raj Bhatta had also highlighted Nepal’s concern about the much ‘prolonged impasse in the Doha Development Round. He had asserted that the leading nations should work through a multilateral process for a balanced, ambitious and specific outcome with clarity and precision on its development contents. The concern showed by other LDCs also prove that Russia’s entry into the WTO would spur the multilateral trading system. Economists here say that the failure to draw any conclusion on DDA would pose a dire effect on the LDCs, including Nepal.

Govt to provide Rs 1.5B to NOC

Kathmandu, Dec. 27, The government Tuesday decided to provide Rs 1.5 billion to the Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) to ease the supply of the petroleum products in the nation. Similarly, the government also decided to provide Rs 25,000 each to the families of those died in the cold-wave in the Terai. The meeting of the Council of Ministers held at Singha Durbar decided that the amount would be provided to the families of the cold-wave victims through District Natural Disaster Rescue committees. The government directed the local administrations for making necessary arrangement to control the damages caused by cold-wave. The meeting also decided to provide Rs 1 million to the family of Manbir Sunar, who was killed on the charge of intruding the kitchen of so-called upper caste in Kalikot district. Talking to media persons, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Narayankaji Shrestha said that the government also decided to carry out a special campaign to create awareness against the untouchability by forming a special mechanism at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), The government also decided to provide Rs 10 million to construct the building of Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ). The cabinet meeting decided to appoint Umeshchandra Jha and Prachandaraj Pradhan as the chairman and Vice-chairman of Nepal Law Commission, respectively. Similarly, the government has relieved chairman of Nepal Railway Suresh Yadav, Administrator of the Employees’ Provident Fund Ramesh Kumar Bhattarai and Director of Institute of Foreign Affairs Tika Jung Thapa of their posts. The government also decided to form a three-member taskforce under the coordination of lawmaker Devi Khadka for Prison Reforms Committee. Director of Department of Prison Management was appointed the member-secretary of the taskforce. Ramesh Kumar Shrestha, Sunil Ranjan Singh and Bhagawati Chaudhary are the other members of the taskforce. The taskforce has been given a two-month time to submit report. It will prepare a report by studying the infrastructure of prison houses, open-jail and study the recommendations given by the committees. The government appointed Vice-Chancellor of Tribhuvan University Prof Dr Hira Bahadur Maharjan, Vice-Chancellor of Purbanchal University Maheshwor Man Shrestha and others as the members of the University Grant Commission. The government has decided to promote Acting Secretary of the Ministry of Law, Bheshraj Sharma. The meeting also approved the resignation tendered by Dr. Sudha Sharma, Secretary at the Ministry of Health and Population.