Ebola vaccine to trial next month, may be ready by 2015: UN

Clinical trials of a preventative vaccine for the Ebola virus made by British pharma company GlaxoSmithKline may begin next month and made available by 2015, the World Health Organization said on Saturday.

“We are targeting September for the start of clinical trials, first in the United States and certainly in African countries, since that’s where we have the cases,” Jean-Marie Okwo Bele, the WHO’s head of vaccines and immunisation, told French radio.He said he was optimistic about making the vaccine commercially available. “We think that if we start in September, we could already have results by the end of the year.
“And since this is an emergency, we can put emergency procedures in place … so that we can have a vaccine available by 2015.”

There is currently no available cure or vaccine for Ebola, a virus that causes severe fever and, in the worst cases, unstoppable bleeding.

It has claimed close to 1,000 lives in the latest epidemic to spread across west Africa this year. Fatality rates can approach 90 percent, although the latest outbreak has killed around 55 to 60 percent of those infected.

Several vaccines are being tested, and a treatment made by San Diego-based Mapp Biopharmaceutical, ZMapp, has shown promising results on monkeys and may have been effective in treating two Americans recently infected in Africa.

AFP

Nepali trader opens Jewellery corner in Rockdale

A Nepali business man has opened up a jewellery shop in in South Rockdale of Sydney.

Nepali trader Bikram Bishwokarma has started the silver and golden jewellery shop- Buddha Jewelers.

Nepalese traditional and modern ornaments will be available at the shop. The shop which is inaugurated in the run up to the Nepali Hindu women’s greatest festival Teej also offers a huge discount on the ornaments during the festival.

Mahendra Oli, the chairman of NRNA Australia has inaugurated the shop amid a program on Sunday.

Speaking at the program, Oli said every Nepali should promote the business invested by a fellow Nepali.

Bishwokarma who hailed from Myagdi district of Nepal has been living in Australia for the last 17 years.

Don chariko Girld Friend in Teaching hospital

Rapti floods enter Banke village

BANKE, AUG 10 - The Rapti river has destroyed an under-construction embankment on Friday and started flooding the nearby Tepari village. Locals said the settlement had been at risk after the embankment was destroyed. “We were hopeful that the settlement would be secure with the construction of the embankment, but it gave way before the floods,” said local Ramesh Yadav.

“As the water has started entering the village, we fear that we have to leave our houses and run this year too,” Yadav said. The water from the river has been eroding land at Chauferi village and now moving towards the Tepari village.

“As the river has been eroding the land, we fear the whole settlement will be swept away in case of a major flood,” said Ramarti Bahun, a local resident, stressing that the entire settlement was at risk of being swept away if preventive measures were not put in place immediately.

Meanwhile, the local administration has pledged to help construct temporary embankments after being informed by the locals of the situation. While the river has been eroding the land continuously, locals alleged that the embankment was swept away due to poor quality of work.

The Citizen’s Embankment Programme had allocated Rs 47.9 million for the construction of a dam and the embankment spanning seven metres. “Even the work has been left incomplete and the water is also directed straight towards the settlement,” said Asharam Maurya, chairperson of the Rapti River Inundation Victims’ Struggle Committee, stating that the government was to blame partly for the consequences. The embankment programme was supposed to relieve the locals who have been facing inundation and land erosion for years.

Meanwhile, local representative of the embankment construction company, Ram Kumar Bahun said they had not been able to complete the work due to the lack of stones. Approximately 10,000 people residing in settlements along the river have been affected by the erosion each year while hundreds have been rendered landless.

‘UML’s demand for Prez re-endorsement logical’

KATHMANDU, AUG 10 - Nepali Congress (NC) leader Arjun Narsingh KC has said the CPN-UML’s demand that the president and vice-president should be re-endorsed by the new Constituent Assembly is logical.

He said the seven-point agreement, which includes re-endorsement of the president and his deputy by the new CA, was forged with the CPN-UML prior to the formation of the current coalition government. “It was our mistake to sign such an agreement,” said the NC leader, speaking at a programme in the Capital on Sunday. “Now we have no choice but to implement the seven-point agreement.”

Saying that the current government led by NC President Sushil Koirala was functioning slowly, he accused the NC ministers of being self-willed.  However, he said the demand for change of guard in government was not realistic.  “The current government’s alternative should not be sought until the promulgation of new constitution,” said KC. “The constitution will not be drafted this time as well if such demands were are forth.”

The NC leader drew the attention of the party towards the term of the party office bearers elected by the 12th General Convention which is ending on September 21.

Likewise, Rastriya Prajatantra Party Chairman Pashupati Sumsher Rana also said it would not be appropriate to change the government until the promulgation of the new constitution.

Actor Shrestha's body to arrive tomorrow

KATHMANDU, AUG 10 - The body of Nepali cine actor Shree Krishna Shrestha, who passed away while undergoing treatment in New Delhi this morning, will be brought to Nepal tomorrow.

Shrestha, 47, was undergoing treatment at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in the Indian Capital for pneumonia. He was declared dead at around 5 in the morning. Shrestha had married actress Sweta Khadka just a month ago.

His body will be brought to Kathmandu tomorrow morning and kept for final tributes at Nepal Academy premises in Kamaladi, said film director Aakash Adhikari.

The latest film by the newly married couple Shrestha and Adhikari titled 'Kohinoor' is currently being screened across the country. It was released last Friday.

Meanwhile, Minister for Information and Communications Minendra Rijal has paid heartfelt tributes to actor Shrestha, while describing his demise as an irreparable loss to the Nepali film sector.

Shrestha made his debut in film industry with the movie 'Bhumari' 25 years ago.  Popular for his dancing and acting skills, Shrestha featured in many successful movies namely Maiti, Aafno Manche, Gorkhali, A Mero Hajur, Sukha Dukha, Kaha Bhetiyela, among others.