KATHMANDU: The government's policies and programmes for the upcoming fiscal year 2081-82 BS (2024-25) have been endorsed by the…
KATHMANDU: The government's policies and programmes for the upcoming fiscal year 2081-82 BS (2024-25) have been endorsed by the…
KATHMANDU: Adverse weather affected flights at the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) on…
PARIS: Last year's northern hemisphere summer was the hottest in 2,000 years, according to a new study published recently in the journal…
KATHMANDU: Nepal's outstanding public debt has reached almost Rs 2,400 billion, marking a rise of Rs 98 billion in the last 10 months of the current fiscal year alone, according to the Public Debt Management Office…
KATHMANDU: A meeting of the top leaders of major political parties held at the Prime Minister's residence, Baluwatar, on Saturday discussed finalizing the terms of reference of the parliamentary probe committee on irregularities of…
A total of 14 traditional border trade points connected with northern neighbor China, including Kimathangka in Sankhuwasabha, resumed operations on…
MANGALBARE: The local government of Ilam is organizing an international tea festival in Ilam, often referred to as "the tea capital" of Nepal.…
KATHMANDU: A new sub-variant of the Omicron variant of coronavirus has been found in…
KATHMANDU: Promoting the multi-hazard early warning system is estimated to cost around Rs 81.40 billion (US$ 614…
BIRGUNJ: Stakeholders have emphasized that the country’s transport infrastructure should be comprehensively improved to enhance foreign trade…
KATHMANDU: THAI Airways International, the national flag carrier of Thailand, on Thursday made an official announcement about the resumption of its direct flights to…
KATHMANDU: A Kenyan climber has died close to Everest's summit and his Nepali guide has gone missing, according to a news report published on Thursday by AFP citing a tourism official, taking this season's toll on the world's highest mountain to at least…
TAPLEJUNG: The construction of the Tamor-Mewa Hydropower Project with a capacity of 128 megawatts has started.…
KATHMANDU: Phunjo Lama smashed the record for the fastest ascent of Mount Everest by a woman, conquering the world's highest mountain in 14 hours and 31 minutes on…
The Birgunj Metropolitan City has spent Rs 1.74 billion during the first 10 months of the current fiscal year. The metropolitan city stated that it spent 52.7 percent of its budget in the first 10 months of the current fiscal year 2080/081…
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', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">KATHMANDU: The government's policies and programmes for the upcoming fiscal year 2081-82 BS (2024-25) have been endorsed by the parliament. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif""> A meeting of the House of Representatives (HoR) on Sunday endorsed a proposal put forth by Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal seeking the endorsement of the policies and programmes. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The prime minister proposed to the lower house to initiate discussions on the policies and the programmes for the fiscal year 2081-82 BS (2024-25) presented by the President before the joint sitting of both houses of the Federal Parliament on May 14. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Before the session passed the proposal, the prime minister responded to the queries raised during the discussions on the fresh policies and programmes. The lower house shall meet again at 4:00 pm on May 28. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-26', 'modified' => '2024-05-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20808', 'image' => '20240526030347______________________________1716710488642.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-26 15:01:40', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21080', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Adverse Weather Affects TIA Air Service for 15 Minutes ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'KATHMANDU: Adverse weather affected flights at the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) on Sunday.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">KATHMANDU: Adverse weather affected flights at the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) on Sunday. According to the TIA office, flights towards both domestic and international sectors were disrupted for 15 minutes (from 11:30 am to 11:45 am) due to visibility issues on Sunday. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">TIA Spokesperson, Subash Jha, said rain forced them to suspend the flights for 15 minutes. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Now, the flights have resumed. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The weather is generally cloudy in the Kathmandu Valley since Sunday morning. Various parts of the valley has been witnessing light rainfall. The Meteorological Forecasting Division informed that rainfall is taking place in different parts of the country due to the impact of local winds. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-26', 'modified' => '2024-05-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20807', 'image' => '20240526025839_20210626025244_DOmestic flights.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-26 14:58:02', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21079', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Summer of 2023 was the Hottest in 2,000 Years: Study', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'PARIS: Last year's northern hemisphere summer was the hottest in 2,000 years, according to a new study published recently in the journal Nature.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">PARIS: Last year's northern hemisphere summer was the hottest in 2,000 years, according to a new study published recently in the journal Nature.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Scientists say 2023 was the hottest year globally since records began in 1850, AFP reported. According to the news agency, the study indicates human-caused climate change pushed northern summer highs well beyond anything seen in two millennia. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">"We shouldn't be surprised," the study's lead author Jan Esper told AFP.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">"For me it's just the continuation of what we started by releasing greenhouse gases" that cause global warming, said Esper, a professor of climatology at Germany's Johannes Gutenberg University.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Scientists used tree-ring data from sites across the northern hemisphere to estimate global temperatures between the first century AD and 1850, before the advent of modern observational instruments.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The conservative estimate found that 2023 was at least 0.5 degrees Celsius hotter than the warmest northern hemisphere summer of that period in AD246.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Otherwise, it was 1.19 degrees warmer.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Study co-author Max Torbenson told reporters that 25 of the last 28 years exceeded the summer highs of AD246 -- the hottest year before modern temperature records began.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">By contrast the coolest summer of that 2,000-year period was nearly four degrees below 2023 summer temperatures in the northern hemisphere due to a major volcanic eruption.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Scientists say volcanic activity could bring about cooler conditions in future as they did in the past, but that ultimately humanity's release of greenhouse gases would keep trapping heat in the atmosphere.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">In 1992, an eruption the previous year helped soften the impact of the El Nino weather system, which warms the Pacific Ocean and can bring hotter global conditions.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">After the effect subsided, temperatures soared in 1998, which the study noted was one of the warmest summers after 2023 and 2016 respectively -- both also El Nino years.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Esper said the only way to curb rising temperatures was to immediately start cutting emissions and "the longer we wait, the more difficult and expensive it will be".</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">- Health risks -</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">A separate study published on Tuesday warned that higher temperatures and ageing populations would see tens of millions of older people being exposed to dangerous heat extremes by 2050.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Already 14 percent of elderly people are exposed to days exceeding 37.5 degrees, which can aggravate health conditions and even lead to death, said the study in the journal Nature Communications.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">That number is expected to climb to 23 percent by the middle of the century, the study said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">"Different countries in the world are facing similar issues... but the level of preparedness, the adaptive capacity of people and of society is different," the study's lead author Giacomo Falchetta told AFP.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Europe has systems in place to support people during heatwaves but faces considerable change as one of the fastest warming regions on Earth, said Falchetta of the Euro-Mediterranean Center on Climate Change.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The share of elderly people in Africa and Asia is set to grow dramatically though populations in poorer regions lack access to sufficient clean water or healthcare to cope with heat extremes, Falchetta said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">"It raises questions of inequality around the world in terms of how governments and regions are equipped to cope with this," he said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">While 2050 appears far off, Falchetta said people as young as 40 today would be among those vulnerable to future heatwaves.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Ageing populations cannot be avoided but "reducing emissions can really reduce to some extent the heat exposure that will be felt", he said. -- AFP</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-26', 'modified' => '2024-05-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20806', 'image' => '20240526014744_istockphoto-1323823418-612x612.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-26 13:47:13', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21077', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal’s Public Debt Rises to Rs 2400 Billion', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'KATHMANDU: Nepal's outstanding public debt has reached almost Rs 2,400 billion, marking a rise of Rs 98 billion in the last 10 months of the current fiscal year alone, according to the Public Debt Management Office (PDMO).', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">KATHMANDU: Nepal's outstanding public debt has reached almost Rs 2,400 billion, marking a rise of Rs 98 billion in the last 10 months of the current fiscal year alone, according to the Public Debt Management Office (PDMO).</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">At the beginning of the current fiscal year, the country’s public debt stood at Rs 2,299 billion. The PDMO reported that public debt now accounts for 42.02 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP).</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">In the last month, the country’s public debt increased by Rs 11.64 billion.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Of the total debt, internal debt accounts for 20.76 percent of the GDP, while foreign debt constitutes 21.26 percent.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The report updated by the PDMO mentions that the government collected a total of Rs 264.63 billion in loans until mid-May, while it was able to pay off Rs 166.55 billion in principal during the review period.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Similarly, of the total loan raised by the government, internal loans amounted to Rs 191 billion, while foreign loans accounted for Rs 73.63 billion.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-26', 'modified' => '2024-05-26', 'keywords' => 'Nepal, public, debt, GDP, rises', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20805', 'image' => '20240526111749_20231201023735_public debt.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-26 11:16:56', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21078', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Top Leaders Reach Closer to Finalizing Terms of Reference ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'KATHMANDU: A meeting of the top leaders of major political parties held at the Prime Minister's residence, Baluwatar, on Saturday discussed finalizing the terms of reference of the parliamentary probe committee on irregularities of cooperatives. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">KATHMANDU: A meeting of the top leaders of major political parties held at the Prime Minister's residence, Baluwatar, on Saturday discussed finalizing the terms of reference of the parliamentary probe committee on irregularities of cooperatives. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The meeting agreed that the top leaders would forge consensus on the formation of parliamentary committee on the misappropriation and embezzlement of cooperatives funds. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Padam Giri informed that the taskforce comprising representatives of major political parties has come closer to consensus to end the deadlock in both the Houses of the federal parliament. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Talking to media persons, he said, "We have yet to agree to the final point to give an outlet to the current stalemate. We are comprehensively presenting the discussions held in the taskforce meeting before the top leaders. The meeting of the taskforce remained crucial in reaching an amicable solution to the contentious issue." </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to Minister Giri, representatives of the main opposition, Nepali Congress, in the taskforce meeting had reiterated their demand to clearly mention the names of certain individuals and office-bearers while forming the probe committee on cooperatives irregularities. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"We have come closer to a consensus. The meeting agreed that there is no need to mention the names of the individuals involved in the scam. Those involved in irregularities will be known after the investigation focusing on the problematic cooperatives," he said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The meeting agreed that the inquiry committee will focus on the names of the companies and co-operatives rather than individuals. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"The cooperatives’ funds have been embezzled which is no doubt unlawful. Let us mention the names of the companies and cooperatives from where people's deposited funds were siphoned off. Let us put forward the probe keeping such cooperatives in the center. The meeting discussed to form a probe committee with such terms of reference," the minister briefed. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">An agreement was reached a week ago to form an inquiry committee after the main opposition Nepali Congress disrupted the House proceedings demanding the formation of a parliamentary inquiry committee into the embezzlement of cooperative funds. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Despite the agreement, the deadlock continues as the committee's mandate has not been finalized. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-26', 'modified' => '2024-05-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20804', 'image' => '20240526115607_Parliament RSS 800.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-26 11:55:31', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21076', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '14 Border Trade Points, Including Kimathangka, Resume Operations', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'A total of 14 traditional border trade points connected with northern neighbor China, including Kimathangka in Sankhuwasabha, resumed operations on Saturday.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">May 25: A total of 14 traditional border trade points connected with northern neighbor China, including Kimathangka in Sankhuwasabha, resumed operations on Saturday.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The Chinese government had closed various border checkpoints in 2076 BS due to fears of the COVID-19 pandemic. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Narayan Kaji Shrestha and Vice President of the Tibet Autonomous Region Silang Nima jointly announced the resumption of all 14 trade points along the Nepal-China border, including Kimathangka, at an event organized in Chhentang, China.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">DPM Shrestha informed that the operation of the traditional border transit points has been officially resumed. He stated that seven checkpoints started operations on Saturday, while the remaining seven will reopen soon.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Shrestha further shared that the reopening of the 14 trade points, including Kimathangka, was the result of continuous diplomatic efforts by the government.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The DPM mentioned that the agreement to resume the traditional trade points was reached during his official visit to China last March. DPM Shrestha was accompanied by the Chief Minister of Koshi Province, Hikmat Kumar Karki, joint secretaries from the Ministries of Home and Foreign Affairs, the Chief District Officer, and the chief of the district security agency on this occasion.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Locals of Bhotkhola were elated after the reopening of the Kimathangka border point. In the past, local residents used to import food from nearby Chinese markets via the trade point.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The customs office was established in 2035 BS in Kimathangka. After the decade-long armed conflict in the country, the border customs office at Hatia in Bhotkhola was shifted to Khandbari in 2057 BS. The Kimathangka point is 162 km from the district headquarters, Khandbari. (RSS)</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-26', 'modified' => '2024-05-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20803', 'image' => '20240526063651_collage (10).jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-26 06:34:58', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21075', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Ilam to Host International Tea Festival on June 8-10 ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'MANGALBARE: The local government of Ilam is organizing an international tea festival in Ilam, often referred to as "the tea capital" of Nepal. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">MANGALBARE: The local government of Ilam is organizing an international tea festival in Ilam, often referred to as "the tea capital" of Nepal. According to the state-owned RSS, the event will take place from June 8 to 10 in Ilam Bazar.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Kedar Thapa, the mayor of Ilam Municipality, told RSS that the festival aims to promote Nepali tea globally. He added that the event will feature participation of tea industrialists, tea farmers, entrepreneurs, and international tea enthusiasts.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"We are organizing the international tea festival under the municipality's leadership to address the issue of tea farmers and traders being forced to sell their produce at lower prices due to inadequate publicity. Despite Nepal's tea being considered organic and of high quality, it lacks sufficient exposure," RSS quoted Mayor Thapa as saying. He added that increasing the export of Nepal-grown tea could significantly boost foreign currency earnings.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to Mayor Thapa, the objective of the festival is to promote the market of Nepali tea and encourage more farmers to engage in tea cultivation. He expressed confidence that the festival will enhance the international marketing of Nepali tea.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-24', 'modified' => '2024-05-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20802', 'image' => '20240524073600_20200703014705_Tea estate.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-24 19:35:21', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21074', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'New Sub-Variant of Omicron Virus Confirmed in Nepal ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'KATHMANDU: A new sub-variant of the Omicron variant of coronavirus has been found in Nepal.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">KATHMANDU: A new sub-variant of the Omicron variant of coronavirus has been found in Nepal. The National Public Health Laboratory (NPHL)'s information officer Krishna Prasad Jaisi said that the 'KP 1', 'KP 2', 'KP 3' and 'KP 4' sub-variants were confirmed through a gene-sequencing done on the samples collected from 42 persons infected by coronavirus. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to him, the gene sequencing was carried out by collecting samples from the infected persons from all seven provinces in April and May. Among them, the 'KP 1' sub-variant of the Omicron virus was found in 12 samples, the 'KP 2' sub-variant in 17 samples, 'KP 3' and the 'KP 4' sub-variants in one sample each. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"This is not a new variant. It is the sub-variant of the Omicron variant. It is only given new name," Jaisi added. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Spokesman at the Ministry of Health and Population, Dr Prakash Budhathoki said that the 'KP' variant is not contagious. "The 'KP' variant is not much infectious. It has no much impact," he added. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, Omicron (JN 1) has been found in seven samples and the Omicron (BA 2) in two samples out of 42 samples tested in the NPHL. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-24', 'modified' => '2024-05-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20801', 'image' => '20240524072829_20200423093051_22_111.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-24 19:27:56', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21073', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Multi-Hazard Early Warning System to Cost Rs 81 Billion', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'KATHMANDU: Promoting the multi-hazard early warning system is estimated to cost around Rs 81.40 billion (US$ 614 million).', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">KATHMANDU: Promoting the multi-hazard early warning system is estimated to cost around Rs 81.40 billion (US$ 614 million). This amount is required to implement the government’s strategy to integrate the multi-hazard early warning system with the goal of minimizing the potential loss of property due to various disasters and making the early warning system effective. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) has said preparations are being made to organize the multi-disaster early warning system. As per the preliminary estimate of NDRRMA, the it will cost more than Rs 81 billion to update the system. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the NDRRMA, preparations are being made to promote a multi-disaster early warning system with the goal of providing early warning of future disasters and assisting in increasing the response capacity to reduce potential risks. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Despite the development of early warning system in Nepal related to floods, landslides there is no provision for early warning of other natural disasters in Nepal. For the first time, the government is starting preparations with the goal of enhancing disaster response capacity by installing early warning system on multi-disaster scenarios. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Anil Pokharel, the executive head of the NDRRMA, informed that the estimated cost for the next seven years will be Rs 81 billion. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"</span><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">There are numerous examples of saving lives and preventing the loss of millions in property due to the development of flood forecasting system in Nepal</span><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">. But the effective system for getting prior information about natural disasters such as landslides, lightning, forest fires, floods, cold waves, avalanches, windstorms, hailstorms, and air pollution has not been developed so far," he said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">“Since the loss of property is increasing due to these disasters, we have aimed to develop an early warning system to reduce the possible damage caused by such multi-catastrophic events,” he said, adding that discussions are being held with stakeholders for the development of a multi-disaster early warning system with the goal of reducing the human and economic losses caused by all kinds of disasters. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The NDRRMA chief informed that the information collected from the multi-source information system will be provided in the local language so that it could be understood by the general public. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-24', 'modified' => '2024-05-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20800', 'image' => '20240524015851_NDRRMA_20230114150029.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-24 13:58:11', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21072', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Effective Transportation is the Foundation of Competitive Business: Stakeholders', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'BIRGUNJ: Stakeholders have emphasized that the country’s transport infrastructure should be comprehensively improved to enhance foreign trade competitiveness.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">BIRGUNJ: Stakeholders have emphasized that the country’s transport infrastructure should be comprehensively improved to enhance foreign trade competitiveness. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Speaking at the 'Nepal-India Multimodal Logistics and Connectivity Summit-2024,' organized by the Madhes Province chapter of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry in collaboration with the Chamber of Commerce India and the Nepal-India Chamber of Commerce and Industry, stakeholders discussed ways to make Nepal's foreign trade more effective through improved Nepal-India trade and transportation between Nepal and India.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Panellists highlighted the need for infrastructure reform and a review of the Nepal-India Trade and Transit Treaty. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Ishwarraj Paudel, Nepal’s Consul General in Kolkata, India, stated that treaties, agreements, and understandings related to Nepal's foreign trade should be effectively implemented. He mentioned that the government is revising bilateral, regional, and multilateral agreements related to foreign trade as needed.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Two-thirds of Nepal's trade is with India, which is both the main export market for Nepal and the country’s major source of foreign imports. Paudel noted that trade relations with India are particularly significant. In the current fiscal year 2080/81, Nepal imported goods worth Rs 1300 billion, with Rs 800.15 billion coming from India alone. Out of Rs 126 billion in exports, Rs 86 billion were exported to India.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Paudel also pointed out that the Tajpur sea port, being built in West Bengal by India's Adani Group and expected to be operational by 2025, could be more useful for Nepal. The port is located 880 km from Birgunj, Nepal's main customs point. Currently, Nepal uses Kolkata, Haldiya, and Visakhapatnam ports for trade with third countries.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Indian Consul General Devi Sahay Meena in Birgunj said that India is working to improve infrastructure at the border crossings with Nepal to facilitate trade. Infrastructure such as integrated check posts (ICPs), ports, railways, and roads in border areas have been improved to facilitate trade. Meena mentioned that India has granted duty-free entry and concessions to certain products to promote exports from Nepal.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Ashok Kumar Temani, president of the Madhes Province chapter of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, emphasized the need to improve the infrastructure and efficient operation of customs, dry ports, and ICPs to facilitate trade. He also suggested installing X-ray machines at all checkpoints to control illegal trade. Temani called for all Indian ports to be accessible for Nepal’s use, noting that this would provide both sea access for Nepal and business for Indian ports, making port operations faster and more economical.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Ashish Gajurel, executive director of the Nepal Intermodal Transport Development Committee, stated that the government is committed to multimodal transportation. Besides the dry ports at Birgunj, Chobhar, and Tatopani, plans are underway to open a dry port in Rasuwa by July 2025. Gajurel noted that inter-governmental discussions for a port in Dodhara Chandani are progressing, and work on the Nepalgunj Integrated Checkpoint (ICP) is 35 percent complete. Progress has also been made in Bhairahawa, and dusty cargo management has started at the Birgunj dry port. Discussions with the private sector for operating trains at the Biratnagar ICP are ongoing, and the government plans to create logistics hubs in all seven provinces.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Sushil Bhatt, Chief Executive Officer of the Investment Board Nepal, stated that transformational plans in the transport and infrastructure sectors are progressing. He mentioned that a detailed feasibility study of the Seti Reservoir project is being conducted, with a report expected by September.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Abhishek Chaudhary, president of the Nepal-India Chamber of Commerce and Industry Birgunj, called for the effective implementation of trade and transit agreements and policies between Nepal and India, highlighting the need for improved transportation infrastructure to promote investment.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-24', 'modified' => '2024-05-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20799', 'image' => '20240524014730_cb92b112.jpeg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-24 13:46:56', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21071', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'THAI Airways Announces Relaunch of Direct Flights to Nepal', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'KATHMANDU: THAI Airways International, the national flag carrier of Thailand, on Thursday made an official announcement about the resumption of its direct flights to Nepal.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">KATHMANDU: THAI Airways International, the national flag carrier of Thailand, on Thursday made an official announcement about the resumption of its direct flights to Nepal. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Issuing a statement on Thursday, THAI Airways said it had commenced its service to Nepal in 1968 through a flight from Bangkok to Kathmandu via Calcutta.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">This half-a-century-long journey of connecting Nepal to the world, and bringing the world to Nepal came to a halt in March 2022 due to the COVID pandemic, the company added. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The halt was lifted on October 29, 2023 by appointing Society International Travel Services as the General Sales Agent in Nepal but the announcement was made only on Thursday.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Within one and half months of resuming flights in Nepal, the response to THAI Airways from Nepal was so good that the company decided to start the second daily flight on December 15 last year, said the company. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Khun Wit Kitchathorn, Director of Sales at THAI Airways International said, “THAI Airways International is honored to announce the relaunch of our direct service between Kathmandu and Bangkok. This significant milestone marks our enduring commitment to reconnecting Nepal with Thailand and the broader world. Since we first began our service to Nepal in 1968, our journey has been one of fostering cultural and economic exchanges, and we are delighted to resume this vital link.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Currently, THAI Airways operates Airbus 320, (narrow-body aircraft) in Nepal. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">THAI Airways currently operates Airbus 320 narrow body aircraft, 777 aircraft, Dreamliner 787, and Airbus 350 aircraft in more than 60 destinations. These aircraft are known for offering comfortable seating configurations and in-flight entertainment options, added the statement. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the airliner, customers can install THAI Airways’ mobile application to find convenient flights, and get access to the Royal Orchid Plus (ROP) services.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The statement added that THAI airways has a total of 73 active aircraft with an average utilization of 12.8 hours per day. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Rabi Chandra Singh, Executive Chairman of Society International Travel Services and the Group Chairman of the RR Group of Companies, stated, “We are thrilled to resume our direct flights from Kathmandu to Bangkok. Nepal has always been a popular destination for travelers seeking cultural immersion and breathtaking natural beauty. This relaunch signifies our commitment to providing seamless and enjoyable travel experiences for passengers flying between Nepal and Thailand.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">THAI Airways further said that the relaunch of direct service in Nepal is a commitment to strengthening its presence in the South Asian region. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“The airline looks forward to welcoming more Nepali travelers with the warmth of Thai hospitality,” the statement added.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-24', 'modified' => '2024-05-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20798', 'image' => '20240524122825_c1_2798470_240524110409.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-24 12:27:46', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21070', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Another Climber Dies on Everest, Sherpa Guide Missing', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'KATHMANDU: A Kenyan climber has died close to Everest's summit and his Nepali guide has gone missing, according to a news report published on Thursday by AFP citing a tourism official, taking this season's toll on the world's highest mountain to at least three.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">KATHMANDU: A Kenyan climber has died close to Everest's summit and his Nepali guide has gone missing, according to a news report published on Thursday by AFP citing a tourism official, taking this season's toll on the world's highest mountain to at least three.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Joshua Cheruiyot Kirui, 40, and his Nepali guide Nawang Sherpa, 44, went out of contact Wednesday morning, and a search team was deployed on the 8,849-metre (29,032-foot) high mountain, the news agency reported.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"The team have found the Kenyan climber dead between the summit and the Hillary Step, but his guide is still missing," Khim Lal Gautam, chief of the tourism's department field office at the base camp, told AFP.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Search parties also continue to look for a 40-year-old British climber and 21-year-old Nepali guide who have been missing since Tuesday morning after an ice fall collapsed as they descended from Everest's peak.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">On Monday, a Romanian climber died in his tent during a bid to scale Lhotse, the fourth-highest mountain in the world, added AFP. Everest and Lhotse share the same route until diverting at around 7,200 metres.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Earlier this month, two Mongolian climbers went missing after reaching Everest's summit and were later found dead.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">AFP further reported that two more climbers, one French and one Nepali, have died this season on Makalu, the world's fifth-highest peak.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Nepal has issued more than 900 permits for its mountains this year, including 419 for Everest, earning more than $5 million in royalties.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the news agency, more than 500 climbers and their guides have already reached the summit of Everest after a rope-fixing team reached the peak last month.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">This year, China also reopened the Tibetan route to foreigners for the first time since closing it in 2020 because of the pandemic.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Nepal is home to eight of the world's 10 highest peaks and welcomes hundreds of adventurers each spring, when temperatures are warm and winds typically calm, added the news report.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“Last year, more than 600 climbers made it to the summit of Everest, but it was also the deadliest season on the mountain, with 18 fatalities.”</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-24', 'modified' => '2024-05-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20797', 'image' => '20240524115916_20230517093316_122208-01-02.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-24 11:58:28', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21069', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Construction of Tamor-Mewa Hydel Project Begins ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'TAPLEJUNG: The construction of the Tamor-Mewa Hydropower Project with a capacity of 128 megawatts has started. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">TAPLEJUNG: The construction of the Tamor-Mewa Hydropower Project with a capacity of 128 megawatts has started. The project promoted by Spark Hydroelectric Company Limited is expected to be completed in four years. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Constituent Assembly Member Sanchapal Maden and the company's chairman Bhanendra Kumar Limbu laid the foundation stone of the project on Thursday. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The project site is located in Aathrai Tribeni Rural Municipality and Phungling Municipality in Taplejung district. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">On the occasion, the Mayor of Phungling Municipality, Amir Maden, said the development of the project will contribute to the development endeavours of the district. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"Development of the electricity project in the district is expected to pave the way for economic prosperity. The projects also provide shares to the local residents," he added. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Mayor Maden urged the promoters to accord priority to the locals in employment and ensure corporate social responsibility in the project site. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The total cost of the project is estimated to be Rs 24.32 billion. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-24', 'modified' => '2024-05-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20796', 'image' => '20240524103754_hydro.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-24 10:37:02', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21068', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Phunjo Lama Smashes Women's Record for Fastest Ascent of Everest', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'KATHMANDU: Phunjo Lama smashed the record for the fastest ascent of Mount Everest by a woman, conquering the world's highest mountain in 14 hours and 31 minutes on Thursday.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">KATHMANDU: Phunjo Lama smashed the record for the fastest ascent of Mount Everest by a woman, conquering the world's highest mountain in 14 hours and 31 minutes on Thursday.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to AFP, climbers usually take days to reach the top of the 8,849-metre (29,000-foot) mountain, spending nights on its different camps to rest and acclimatise. But Lama, who is in her thirties, shaved more than 11 hours off the previous best that had stood since 2021. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"She started (from the base camp) at 15:52 on May 22, summited 6:23 am May 23," Khim Lal Gautam, chief of the tourism's department field office at the base camp, told AFP.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Earlier this month, when Lama was still at base camp, she said in a post on Facebook that she was "100 percent sure" she would reach the top of "the Mother Goddess".</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">In 2018, Lama clinched the record for the fastest ascent by a woman by climbing Everest in 39 hours and six minutes, AFP reported.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">That record was broken in 2021 by Ada Tsang Yin-hung from Hong Kong, who conquered the mountain in 25 hours and 50 minutes.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Nepali climber Lhakpa Gelu Sherpa holds the record for the fastest ascent of Everest, reaching the summit in 10 hours and 56 minutes in 2003.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to AFP, Lama is also a guide and helicopter long-line rescuer -- a job that entails flying in while dangling from a rope to help extract injured climbers when the terrain is too dangerous for aircraft to come in close or land.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">She has climbed some of the highest peaks in the world, including Manaslu and Cho Oyu, both also in the Himalayas.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"She is very courageous and determined... and trained hard for her summit," AFP quoted fellow woman mountaineer Maya Sherpa as saying.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"Her record is an inspiration for other Nepali female climbers."</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">More than 500 climbers and their guides have already reached the summit of Everest this year after a rope-fixing team reached the peak last month, according to the news report published by AFP.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Nepal is home to eight of the world's 10 highest peaks and welcomes hundreds of adventurers each spring, when temperatures are warm and winds typically calm, it added.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“Last year, more than 600 climbers made it to the summit of Everest, but it was also the deadliest season on the mountain, with 18 fatalities.”</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-24', 'modified' => '2024-05-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20795', 'image' => '20240524100201_phunjjo.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-24 09:57:15', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21067', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Birgunj Metropolis Posts Growth in Capital Expenditure', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'The Birgunj Metropolitan City has spent Rs 1.74 billion during the first 10 months of the current fiscal year. The metropolitan city stated that it spent 52.7 percent of its budget in the first 10 months of the current fiscal year 2080/081 BS.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">May 24: The Birgunj Metropolitan City has spent Rs 1.74 billion during the first 10 months of the current fiscal year. The metropolitan city stated that it spent 52.7 percent of its budget in the first 10 months of the current fiscal year 2080/081 BS.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The total amount spent on capital expenditure is higher compared to the last fiscal year. The total budget allocated for the current fiscal year is Rs 3.46 billion. So far, the metropolitan city has spent Rs 1.34 billion on current expenditure and Rs 392.2 million on capital expenditure.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The metropolitan city also stated that revenue collection was not as estimated, but capital expenditure has slightly improved. The city collected Rs 398 million in revenue during the first 10 months of the current fiscal year. (RSS) </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-24', 'modified' => '2024-05-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20794', 'image' => '20240524084143_collage (9).jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-24 08:40:27', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = falseinclude - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 60 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
Warning (2): simplexml_load_file() [<a href='http://php.net/function.simplexml-load-file'>function.simplexml-load-file</a>]: I/O warning : failed to load external entity "" [APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 60]file not found!Code Context// $file = 'http://aabhiyan:QUVLg8Wzs2F7G9N7@nepalstock.com.np/api/indexdata.xml';if(!$xml = simplexml_load_file($file)){$viewFile = '/var/www/html/newbusinessage.com/app/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'articles' => array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ) ), 'current_user' => null, 'logged_in' => false ) $articles = array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21081', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government’s Policies and Programmes Endorsed ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'KATHMANDU: The government's policies and programmes for the upcoming fiscal year 2081-82 BS (2024-25) have been endorsed by the parliament. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">KATHMANDU: The government's policies and programmes for the upcoming fiscal year 2081-82 BS (2024-25) have been endorsed by the parliament. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif""> A meeting of the House of Representatives (HoR) on Sunday endorsed a proposal put forth by Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal seeking the endorsement of the policies and programmes. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The prime minister proposed to the lower house to initiate discussions on the policies and the programmes for the fiscal year 2081-82 BS (2024-25) presented by the President before the joint sitting of both houses of the Federal Parliament on May 14. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Before the session passed the proposal, the prime minister responded to the queries raised during the discussions on the fresh policies and programmes. The lower house shall meet again at 4:00 pm on May 28. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-26', 'modified' => '2024-05-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20808', 'image' => '20240526030347______________________________1716710488642.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-26 15:01:40', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21080', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Adverse Weather Affects TIA Air Service for 15 Minutes ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'KATHMANDU: Adverse weather affected flights at the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) on Sunday.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">KATHMANDU: Adverse weather affected flights at the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) on Sunday. According to the TIA office, flights towards both domestic and international sectors were disrupted for 15 minutes (from 11:30 am to 11:45 am) due to visibility issues on Sunday. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">TIA Spokesperson, Subash Jha, said rain forced them to suspend the flights for 15 minutes. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Now, the flights have resumed. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The weather is generally cloudy in the Kathmandu Valley since Sunday morning. Various parts of the valley has been witnessing light rainfall. The Meteorological Forecasting Division informed that rainfall is taking place in different parts of the country due to the impact of local winds. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-26', 'modified' => '2024-05-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20807', 'image' => '20240526025839_20210626025244_DOmestic flights.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-26 14:58:02', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21079', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Summer of 2023 was the Hottest in 2,000 Years: Study', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'PARIS: Last year's northern hemisphere summer was the hottest in 2,000 years, according to a new study published recently in the journal Nature.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">PARIS: Last year's northern hemisphere summer was the hottest in 2,000 years, according to a new study published recently in the journal Nature.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Scientists say 2023 was the hottest year globally since records began in 1850, AFP reported. According to the news agency, the study indicates human-caused climate change pushed northern summer highs well beyond anything seen in two millennia. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">"We shouldn't be surprised," the study's lead author Jan Esper told AFP.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">"For me it's just the continuation of what we started by releasing greenhouse gases" that cause global warming, said Esper, a professor of climatology at Germany's Johannes Gutenberg University.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Scientists used tree-ring data from sites across the northern hemisphere to estimate global temperatures between the first century AD and 1850, before the advent of modern observational instruments.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The conservative estimate found that 2023 was at least 0.5 degrees Celsius hotter than the warmest northern hemisphere summer of that period in AD246.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Otherwise, it was 1.19 degrees warmer.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Study co-author Max Torbenson told reporters that 25 of the last 28 years exceeded the summer highs of AD246 -- the hottest year before modern temperature records began.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">By contrast the coolest summer of that 2,000-year period was nearly four degrees below 2023 summer temperatures in the northern hemisphere due to a major volcanic eruption.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Scientists say volcanic activity could bring about cooler conditions in future as they did in the past, but that ultimately humanity's release of greenhouse gases would keep trapping heat in the atmosphere.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">In 1992, an eruption the previous year helped soften the impact of the El Nino weather system, which warms the Pacific Ocean and can bring hotter global conditions.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">After the effect subsided, temperatures soared in 1998, which the study noted was one of the warmest summers after 2023 and 2016 respectively -- both also El Nino years.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Esper said the only way to curb rising temperatures was to immediately start cutting emissions and "the longer we wait, the more difficult and expensive it will be".</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">- Health risks -</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">A separate study published on Tuesday warned that higher temperatures and ageing populations would see tens of millions of older people being exposed to dangerous heat extremes by 2050.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Already 14 percent of elderly people are exposed to days exceeding 37.5 degrees, which can aggravate health conditions and even lead to death, said the study in the journal Nature Communications.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">That number is expected to climb to 23 percent by the middle of the century, the study said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">"Different countries in the world are facing similar issues... but the level of preparedness, the adaptive capacity of people and of society is different," the study's lead author Giacomo Falchetta told AFP.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Europe has systems in place to support people during heatwaves but faces considerable change as one of the fastest warming regions on Earth, said Falchetta of the Euro-Mediterranean Center on Climate Change.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The share of elderly people in Africa and Asia is set to grow dramatically though populations in poorer regions lack access to sufficient clean water or healthcare to cope with heat extremes, Falchetta said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">"It raises questions of inequality around the world in terms of how governments and regions are equipped to cope with this," he said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">While 2050 appears far off, Falchetta said people as young as 40 today would be among those vulnerable to future heatwaves.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Ageing populations cannot be avoided but "reducing emissions can really reduce to some extent the heat exposure that will be felt", he said. -- AFP</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-26', 'modified' => '2024-05-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20806', 'image' => '20240526014744_istockphoto-1323823418-612x612.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-26 13:47:13', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21077', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal’s Public Debt Rises to Rs 2400 Billion', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'KATHMANDU: Nepal's outstanding public debt has reached almost Rs 2,400 billion, marking a rise of Rs 98 billion in the last 10 months of the current fiscal year alone, according to the Public Debt Management Office (PDMO).', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">KATHMANDU: Nepal's outstanding public debt has reached almost Rs 2,400 billion, marking a rise of Rs 98 billion in the last 10 months of the current fiscal year alone, according to the Public Debt Management Office (PDMO).</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">At the beginning of the current fiscal year, the country’s public debt stood at Rs 2,299 billion. The PDMO reported that public debt now accounts for 42.02 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP).</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">In the last month, the country’s public debt increased by Rs 11.64 billion.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Of the total debt, internal debt accounts for 20.76 percent of the GDP, while foreign debt constitutes 21.26 percent.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The report updated by the PDMO mentions that the government collected a total of Rs 264.63 billion in loans until mid-May, while it was able to pay off Rs 166.55 billion in principal during the review period.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Similarly, of the total loan raised by the government, internal loans amounted to Rs 191 billion, while foreign loans accounted for Rs 73.63 billion.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-26', 'modified' => '2024-05-26', 'keywords' => 'Nepal, public, debt, GDP, rises', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20805', 'image' => '20240526111749_20231201023735_public debt.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-26 11:16:56', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21078', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Top Leaders Reach Closer to Finalizing Terms of Reference ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'KATHMANDU: A meeting of the top leaders of major political parties held at the Prime Minister's residence, Baluwatar, on Saturday discussed finalizing the terms of reference of the parliamentary probe committee on irregularities of cooperatives. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">KATHMANDU: A meeting of the top leaders of major political parties held at the Prime Minister's residence, Baluwatar, on Saturday discussed finalizing the terms of reference of the parliamentary probe committee on irregularities of cooperatives. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The meeting agreed that the top leaders would forge consensus on the formation of parliamentary committee on the misappropriation and embezzlement of cooperatives funds. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Padam Giri informed that the taskforce comprising representatives of major political parties has come closer to consensus to end the deadlock in both the Houses of the federal parliament. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Talking to media persons, he said, "We have yet to agree to the final point to give an outlet to the current stalemate. We are comprehensively presenting the discussions held in the taskforce meeting before the top leaders. The meeting of the taskforce remained crucial in reaching an amicable solution to the contentious issue." </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to Minister Giri, representatives of the main opposition, Nepali Congress, in the taskforce meeting had reiterated their demand to clearly mention the names of certain individuals and office-bearers while forming the probe committee on cooperatives irregularities. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"We have come closer to a consensus. The meeting agreed that there is no need to mention the names of the individuals involved in the scam. Those involved in irregularities will be known after the investigation focusing on the problematic cooperatives," he said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The meeting agreed that the inquiry committee will focus on the names of the companies and co-operatives rather than individuals. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"The cooperatives’ funds have been embezzled which is no doubt unlawful. Let us mention the names of the companies and cooperatives from where people's deposited funds were siphoned off. Let us put forward the probe keeping such cooperatives in the center. The meeting discussed to form a probe committee with such terms of reference," the minister briefed. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">An agreement was reached a week ago to form an inquiry committee after the main opposition Nepali Congress disrupted the House proceedings demanding the formation of a parliamentary inquiry committee into the embezzlement of cooperative funds. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Despite the agreement, the deadlock continues as the committee's mandate has not been finalized. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-26', 'modified' => '2024-05-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20804', 'image' => '20240526115607_Parliament RSS 800.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-26 11:55:31', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21076', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '14 Border Trade Points, Including Kimathangka, Resume Operations', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'A total of 14 traditional border trade points connected with northern neighbor China, including Kimathangka in Sankhuwasabha, resumed operations on Saturday.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">May 25: A total of 14 traditional border trade points connected with northern neighbor China, including Kimathangka in Sankhuwasabha, resumed operations on Saturday.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The Chinese government had closed various border checkpoints in 2076 BS due to fears of the COVID-19 pandemic. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Narayan Kaji Shrestha and Vice President of the Tibet Autonomous Region Silang Nima jointly announced the resumption of all 14 trade points along the Nepal-China border, including Kimathangka, at an event organized in Chhentang, China.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">DPM Shrestha informed that the operation of the traditional border transit points has been officially resumed. He stated that seven checkpoints started operations on Saturday, while the remaining seven will reopen soon.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Shrestha further shared that the reopening of the 14 trade points, including Kimathangka, was the result of continuous diplomatic efforts by the government.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The DPM mentioned that the agreement to resume the traditional trade points was reached during his official visit to China last March. DPM Shrestha was accompanied by the Chief Minister of Koshi Province, Hikmat Kumar Karki, joint secretaries from the Ministries of Home and Foreign Affairs, the Chief District Officer, and the chief of the district security agency on this occasion.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Locals of Bhotkhola were elated after the reopening of the Kimathangka border point. In the past, local residents used to import food from nearby Chinese markets via the trade point.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The customs office was established in 2035 BS in Kimathangka. After the decade-long armed conflict in the country, the border customs office at Hatia in Bhotkhola was shifted to Khandbari in 2057 BS. The Kimathangka point is 162 km from the district headquarters, Khandbari. (RSS)</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-26', 'modified' => '2024-05-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20803', 'image' => '20240526063651_collage (10).jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-26 06:34:58', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21075', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Ilam to Host International Tea Festival on June 8-10 ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'MANGALBARE: The local government of Ilam is organizing an international tea festival in Ilam, often referred to as "the tea capital" of Nepal. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">MANGALBARE: The local government of Ilam is organizing an international tea festival in Ilam, often referred to as "the tea capital" of Nepal. According to the state-owned RSS, the event will take place from June 8 to 10 in Ilam Bazar.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Kedar Thapa, the mayor of Ilam Municipality, told RSS that the festival aims to promote Nepali tea globally. He added that the event will feature participation of tea industrialists, tea farmers, entrepreneurs, and international tea enthusiasts.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"We are organizing the international tea festival under the municipality's leadership to address the issue of tea farmers and traders being forced to sell their produce at lower prices due to inadequate publicity. Despite Nepal's tea being considered organic and of high quality, it lacks sufficient exposure," RSS quoted Mayor Thapa as saying. He added that increasing the export of Nepal-grown tea could significantly boost foreign currency earnings.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to Mayor Thapa, the objective of the festival is to promote the market of Nepali tea and encourage more farmers to engage in tea cultivation. He expressed confidence that the festival will enhance the international marketing of Nepali tea.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-24', 'modified' => '2024-05-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20802', 'image' => '20240524073600_20200703014705_Tea estate.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-24 19:35:21', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21074', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'New Sub-Variant of Omicron Virus Confirmed in Nepal ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'KATHMANDU: A new sub-variant of the Omicron variant of coronavirus has been found in Nepal.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">KATHMANDU: A new sub-variant of the Omicron variant of coronavirus has been found in Nepal. The National Public Health Laboratory (NPHL)'s information officer Krishna Prasad Jaisi said that the 'KP 1', 'KP 2', 'KP 3' and 'KP 4' sub-variants were confirmed through a gene-sequencing done on the samples collected from 42 persons infected by coronavirus. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to him, the gene sequencing was carried out by collecting samples from the infected persons from all seven provinces in April and May. Among them, the 'KP 1' sub-variant of the Omicron virus was found in 12 samples, the 'KP 2' sub-variant in 17 samples, 'KP 3' and the 'KP 4' sub-variants in one sample each. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"This is not a new variant. It is the sub-variant of the Omicron variant. It is only given new name," Jaisi added. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Spokesman at the Ministry of Health and Population, Dr Prakash Budhathoki said that the 'KP' variant is not contagious. "The 'KP' variant is not much infectious. It has no much impact," he added. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, Omicron (JN 1) has been found in seven samples and the Omicron (BA 2) in two samples out of 42 samples tested in the NPHL. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-24', 'modified' => '2024-05-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20801', 'image' => '20240524072829_20200423093051_22_111.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-24 19:27:56', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21073', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Multi-Hazard Early Warning System to Cost Rs 81 Billion', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'KATHMANDU: Promoting the multi-hazard early warning system is estimated to cost around Rs 81.40 billion (US$ 614 million).', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">KATHMANDU: Promoting the multi-hazard early warning system is estimated to cost around Rs 81.40 billion (US$ 614 million). This amount is required to implement the government’s strategy to integrate the multi-hazard early warning system with the goal of minimizing the potential loss of property due to various disasters and making the early warning system effective. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) has said preparations are being made to organize the multi-disaster early warning system. As per the preliminary estimate of NDRRMA, the it will cost more than Rs 81 billion to update the system. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the NDRRMA, preparations are being made to promote a multi-disaster early warning system with the goal of providing early warning of future disasters and assisting in increasing the response capacity to reduce potential risks. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Despite the development of early warning system in Nepal related to floods, landslides there is no provision for early warning of other natural disasters in Nepal. For the first time, the government is starting preparations with the goal of enhancing disaster response capacity by installing early warning system on multi-disaster scenarios. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Anil Pokharel, the executive head of the NDRRMA, informed that the estimated cost for the next seven years will be Rs 81 billion. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"</span><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">There are numerous examples of saving lives and preventing the loss of millions in property due to the development of flood forecasting system in Nepal</span><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">. But the effective system for getting prior information about natural disasters such as landslides, lightning, forest fires, floods, cold waves, avalanches, windstorms, hailstorms, and air pollution has not been developed so far," he said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">“Since the loss of property is increasing due to these disasters, we have aimed to develop an early warning system to reduce the possible damage caused by such multi-catastrophic events,” he said, adding that discussions are being held with stakeholders for the development of a multi-disaster early warning system with the goal of reducing the human and economic losses caused by all kinds of disasters. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The NDRRMA chief informed that the information collected from the multi-source information system will be provided in the local language so that it could be understood by the general public. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-24', 'modified' => '2024-05-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20800', 'image' => '20240524015851_NDRRMA_20230114150029.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-24 13:58:11', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21072', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Effective Transportation is the Foundation of Competitive Business: Stakeholders', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'BIRGUNJ: Stakeholders have emphasized that the country’s transport infrastructure should be comprehensively improved to enhance foreign trade competitiveness.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">BIRGUNJ: Stakeholders have emphasized that the country’s transport infrastructure should be comprehensively improved to enhance foreign trade competitiveness. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Speaking at the 'Nepal-India Multimodal Logistics and Connectivity Summit-2024,' organized by the Madhes Province chapter of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry in collaboration with the Chamber of Commerce India and the Nepal-India Chamber of Commerce and Industry, stakeholders discussed ways to make Nepal's foreign trade more effective through improved Nepal-India trade and transportation between Nepal and India.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Panellists highlighted the need for infrastructure reform and a review of the Nepal-India Trade and Transit Treaty. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Ishwarraj Paudel, Nepal’s Consul General in Kolkata, India, stated that treaties, agreements, and understandings related to Nepal's foreign trade should be effectively implemented. He mentioned that the government is revising bilateral, regional, and multilateral agreements related to foreign trade as needed.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Two-thirds of Nepal's trade is with India, which is both the main export market for Nepal and the country’s major source of foreign imports. Paudel noted that trade relations with India are particularly significant. In the current fiscal year 2080/81, Nepal imported goods worth Rs 1300 billion, with Rs 800.15 billion coming from India alone. Out of Rs 126 billion in exports, Rs 86 billion were exported to India.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Paudel also pointed out that the Tajpur sea port, being built in West Bengal by India's Adani Group and expected to be operational by 2025, could be more useful for Nepal. The port is located 880 km from Birgunj, Nepal's main customs point. Currently, Nepal uses Kolkata, Haldiya, and Visakhapatnam ports for trade with third countries.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Indian Consul General Devi Sahay Meena in Birgunj said that India is working to improve infrastructure at the border crossings with Nepal to facilitate trade. Infrastructure such as integrated check posts (ICPs), ports, railways, and roads in border areas have been improved to facilitate trade. Meena mentioned that India has granted duty-free entry and concessions to certain products to promote exports from Nepal.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Ashok Kumar Temani, president of the Madhes Province chapter of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, emphasized the need to improve the infrastructure and efficient operation of customs, dry ports, and ICPs to facilitate trade. He also suggested installing X-ray machines at all checkpoints to control illegal trade. Temani called for all Indian ports to be accessible for Nepal’s use, noting that this would provide both sea access for Nepal and business for Indian ports, making port operations faster and more economical.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Ashish Gajurel, executive director of the Nepal Intermodal Transport Development Committee, stated that the government is committed to multimodal transportation. Besides the dry ports at Birgunj, Chobhar, and Tatopani, plans are underway to open a dry port in Rasuwa by July 2025. Gajurel noted that inter-governmental discussions for a port in Dodhara Chandani are progressing, and work on the Nepalgunj Integrated Checkpoint (ICP) is 35 percent complete. Progress has also been made in Bhairahawa, and dusty cargo management has started at the Birgunj dry port. Discussions with the private sector for operating trains at the Biratnagar ICP are ongoing, and the government plans to create logistics hubs in all seven provinces.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Sushil Bhatt, Chief Executive Officer of the Investment Board Nepal, stated that transformational plans in the transport and infrastructure sectors are progressing. He mentioned that a detailed feasibility study of the Seti Reservoir project is being conducted, with a report expected by September.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Abhishek Chaudhary, president of the Nepal-India Chamber of Commerce and Industry Birgunj, called for the effective implementation of trade and transit agreements and policies between Nepal and India, highlighting the need for improved transportation infrastructure to promote investment.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-24', 'modified' => '2024-05-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20799', 'image' => '20240524014730_cb92b112.jpeg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-24 13:46:56', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21071', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'THAI Airways Announces Relaunch of Direct Flights to Nepal', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'KATHMANDU: THAI Airways International, the national flag carrier of Thailand, on Thursday made an official announcement about the resumption of its direct flights to Nepal.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">KATHMANDU: THAI Airways International, the national flag carrier of Thailand, on Thursday made an official announcement about the resumption of its direct flights to Nepal. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Issuing a statement on Thursday, THAI Airways said it had commenced its service to Nepal in 1968 through a flight from Bangkok to Kathmandu via Calcutta.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">This half-a-century-long journey of connecting Nepal to the world, and bringing the world to Nepal came to a halt in March 2022 due to the COVID pandemic, the company added. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The halt was lifted on October 29, 2023 by appointing Society International Travel Services as the General Sales Agent in Nepal but the announcement was made only on Thursday.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Within one and half months of resuming flights in Nepal, the response to THAI Airways from Nepal was so good that the company decided to start the second daily flight on December 15 last year, said the company. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Khun Wit Kitchathorn, Director of Sales at THAI Airways International said, “THAI Airways International is honored to announce the relaunch of our direct service between Kathmandu and Bangkok. This significant milestone marks our enduring commitment to reconnecting Nepal with Thailand and the broader world. Since we first began our service to Nepal in 1968, our journey has been one of fostering cultural and economic exchanges, and we are delighted to resume this vital link.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Currently, THAI Airways operates Airbus 320, (narrow-body aircraft) in Nepal. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">THAI Airways currently operates Airbus 320 narrow body aircraft, 777 aircraft, Dreamliner 787, and Airbus 350 aircraft in more than 60 destinations. These aircraft are known for offering comfortable seating configurations and in-flight entertainment options, added the statement. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the airliner, customers can install THAI Airways’ mobile application to find convenient flights, and get access to the Royal Orchid Plus (ROP) services.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The statement added that THAI airways has a total of 73 active aircraft with an average utilization of 12.8 hours per day. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Rabi Chandra Singh, Executive Chairman of Society International Travel Services and the Group Chairman of the RR Group of Companies, stated, “We are thrilled to resume our direct flights from Kathmandu to Bangkok. Nepal has always been a popular destination for travelers seeking cultural immersion and breathtaking natural beauty. This relaunch signifies our commitment to providing seamless and enjoyable travel experiences for passengers flying between Nepal and Thailand.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">THAI Airways further said that the relaunch of direct service in Nepal is a commitment to strengthening its presence in the South Asian region. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“The airline looks forward to welcoming more Nepali travelers with the warmth of Thai hospitality,” the statement added.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-24', 'modified' => '2024-05-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20798', 'image' => '20240524122825_c1_2798470_240524110409.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-24 12:27:46', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21070', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Another Climber Dies on Everest, Sherpa Guide Missing', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'KATHMANDU: A Kenyan climber has died close to Everest's summit and his Nepali guide has gone missing, according to a news report published on Thursday by AFP citing a tourism official, taking this season's toll on the world's highest mountain to at least three.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">KATHMANDU: A Kenyan climber has died close to Everest's summit and his Nepali guide has gone missing, according to a news report published on Thursday by AFP citing a tourism official, taking this season's toll on the world's highest mountain to at least three.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Joshua Cheruiyot Kirui, 40, and his Nepali guide Nawang Sherpa, 44, went out of contact Wednesday morning, and a search team was deployed on the 8,849-metre (29,032-foot) high mountain, the news agency reported.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"The team have found the Kenyan climber dead between the summit and the Hillary Step, but his guide is still missing," Khim Lal Gautam, chief of the tourism's department field office at the base camp, told AFP.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Search parties also continue to look for a 40-year-old British climber and 21-year-old Nepali guide who have been missing since Tuesday morning after an ice fall collapsed as they descended from Everest's peak.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">On Monday, a Romanian climber died in his tent during a bid to scale Lhotse, the fourth-highest mountain in the world, added AFP. Everest and Lhotse share the same route until diverting at around 7,200 metres.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Earlier this month, two Mongolian climbers went missing after reaching Everest's summit and were later found dead.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">AFP further reported that two more climbers, one French and one Nepali, have died this season on Makalu, the world's fifth-highest peak.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Nepal has issued more than 900 permits for its mountains this year, including 419 for Everest, earning more than $5 million in royalties.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the news agency, more than 500 climbers and their guides have already reached the summit of Everest after a rope-fixing team reached the peak last month.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">This year, China also reopened the Tibetan route to foreigners for the first time since closing it in 2020 because of the pandemic.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Nepal is home to eight of the world's 10 highest peaks and welcomes hundreds of adventurers each spring, when temperatures are warm and winds typically calm, added the news report.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“Last year, more than 600 climbers made it to the summit of Everest, but it was also the deadliest season on the mountain, with 18 fatalities.”</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-24', 'modified' => '2024-05-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20797', 'image' => '20240524115916_20230517093316_122208-01-02.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-24 11:58:28', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21069', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Construction of Tamor-Mewa Hydel Project Begins ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'TAPLEJUNG: The construction of the Tamor-Mewa Hydropower Project with a capacity of 128 megawatts has started. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">TAPLEJUNG: The construction of the Tamor-Mewa Hydropower Project with a capacity of 128 megawatts has started. The project promoted by Spark Hydroelectric Company Limited is expected to be completed in four years. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Constituent Assembly Member Sanchapal Maden and the company's chairman Bhanendra Kumar Limbu laid the foundation stone of the project on Thursday. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The project site is located in Aathrai Tribeni Rural Municipality and Phungling Municipality in Taplejung district. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">On the occasion, the Mayor of Phungling Municipality, Amir Maden, said the development of the project will contribute to the development endeavours of the district. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"Development of the electricity project in the district is expected to pave the way for economic prosperity. The projects also provide shares to the local residents," he added. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Mayor Maden urged the promoters to accord priority to the locals in employment and ensure corporate social responsibility in the project site. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The total cost of the project is estimated to be Rs 24.32 billion. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-24', 'modified' => '2024-05-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20796', 'image' => '20240524103754_hydro.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-24 10:37:02', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21068', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Phunjo Lama Smashes Women's Record for Fastest Ascent of Everest', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'KATHMANDU: Phunjo Lama smashed the record for the fastest ascent of Mount Everest by a woman, conquering the world's highest mountain in 14 hours and 31 minutes on Thursday.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">KATHMANDU: Phunjo Lama smashed the record for the fastest ascent of Mount Everest by a woman, conquering the world's highest mountain in 14 hours and 31 minutes on Thursday.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to AFP, climbers usually take days to reach the top of the 8,849-metre (29,000-foot) mountain, spending nights on its different camps to rest and acclimatise. But Lama, who is in her thirties, shaved more than 11 hours off the previous best that had stood since 2021. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"She started (from the base camp) at 15:52 on May 22, summited 6:23 am May 23," Khim Lal Gautam, chief of the tourism's department field office at the base camp, told AFP.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Earlier this month, when Lama was still at base camp, she said in a post on Facebook that she was "100 percent sure" she would reach the top of "the Mother Goddess".</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">In 2018, Lama clinched the record for the fastest ascent by a woman by climbing Everest in 39 hours and six minutes, AFP reported.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">That record was broken in 2021 by Ada Tsang Yin-hung from Hong Kong, who conquered the mountain in 25 hours and 50 minutes.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Nepali climber Lhakpa Gelu Sherpa holds the record for the fastest ascent of Everest, reaching the summit in 10 hours and 56 minutes in 2003.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to AFP, Lama is also a guide and helicopter long-line rescuer -- a job that entails flying in while dangling from a rope to help extract injured climbers when the terrain is too dangerous for aircraft to come in close or land.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">She has climbed some of the highest peaks in the world, including Manaslu and Cho Oyu, both also in the Himalayas.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"She is very courageous and determined... and trained hard for her summit," AFP quoted fellow woman mountaineer Maya Sherpa as saying.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"Her record is an inspiration for other Nepali female climbers."</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">More than 500 climbers and their guides have already reached the summit of Everest this year after a rope-fixing team reached the peak last month, according to the news report published by AFP.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Nepal is home to eight of the world's 10 highest peaks and welcomes hundreds of adventurers each spring, when temperatures are warm and winds typically calm, it added.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“Last year, more than 600 climbers made it to the summit of Everest, but it was also the deadliest season on the mountain, with 18 fatalities.”</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-24', 'modified' => '2024-05-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20795', 'image' => '20240524100201_phunjjo.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-24 09:57:15', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21067', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Birgunj Metropolis Posts Growth in Capital Expenditure', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'The Birgunj Metropolitan City has spent Rs 1.74 billion during the first 10 months of the current fiscal year. The metropolitan city stated that it spent 52.7 percent of its budget in the first 10 months of the current fiscal year 2080/081 BS.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">May 24: The Birgunj Metropolitan City has spent Rs 1.74 billion during the first 10 months of the current fiscal year. The metropolitan city stated that it spent 52.7 percent of its budget in the first 10 months of the current fiscal year 2080/081 BS.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The total amount spent on capital expenditure is higher compared to the last fiscal year. The total budget allocated for the current fiscal year is Rs 3.46 billion. So far, the metropolitan city has spent Rs 1.34 billion on current expenditure and Rs 392.2 million on capital expenditure.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The metropolitan city also stated that revenue collection was not as estimated, but capital expenditure has slightly improved. The city collected Rs 398 million in revenue during the first 10 months of the current fiscal year. (RSS) </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-24', 'modified' => '2024-05-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20794', 'image' => '20240524084143_collage (9).jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-24 08:40:27', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = falsesimplexml_load_file - [internal], line ?? include - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 60 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
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', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">KATHMANDU: The government's policies and programmes for the upcoming fiscal year 2081-82 BS (2024-25) have been endorsed by the parliament. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif""> A meeting of the House of Representatives (HoR) on Sunday endorsed a proposal put forth by Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal seeking the endorsement of the policies and programmes. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The prime minister proposed to the lower house to initiate discussions on the policies and the programmes for the fiscal year 2081-82 BS (2024-25) presented by the President before the joint sitting of both houses of the Federal Parliament on May 14. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Before the session passed the proposal, the prime minister responded to the queries raised during the discussions on the fresh policies and programmes. The lower house shall meet again at 4:00 pm on May 28. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-26', 'modified' => '2024-05-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20808', 'image' => '20240526030347______________________________1716710488642.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-26 15:01:40', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21080', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Adverse Weather Affects TIA Air Service for 15 Minutes ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'KATHMANDU: Adverse weather affected flights at the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) on Sunday.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">KATHMANDU: Adverse weather affected flights at the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) on Sunday. According to the TIA office, flights towards both domestic and international sectors were disrupted for 15 minutes (from 11:30 am to 11:45 am) due to visibility issues on Sunday. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">TIA Spokesperson, Subash Jha, said rain forced them to suspend the flights for 15 minutes. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Now, the flights have resumed. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The weather is generally cloudy in the Kathmandu Valley since Sunday morning. Various parts of the valley has been witnessing light rainfall. The Meteorological Forecasting Division informed that rainfall is taking place in different parts of the country due to the impact of local winds. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-26', 'modified' => '2024-05-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20807', 'image' => '20240526025839_20210626025244_DOmestic flights.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-26 14:58:02', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21079', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Summer of 2023 was the Hottest in 2,000 Years: Study', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'PARIS: Last year's northern hemisphere summer was the hottest in 2,000 years, according to a new study published recently in the journal Nature.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">PARIS: Last year's northern hemisphere summer was the hottest in 2,000 years, according to a new study published recently in the journal Nature.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Scientists say 2023 was the hottest year globally since records began in 1850, AFP reported. According to the news agency, the study indicates human-caused climate change pushed northern summer highs well beyond anything seen in two millennia. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">"We shouldn't be surprised," the study's lead author Jan Esper told AFP.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">"For me it's just the continuation of what we started by releasing greenhouse gases" that cause global warming, said Esper, a professor of climatology at Germany's Johannes Gutenberg University.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Scientists used tree-ring data from sites across the northern hemisphere to estimate global temperatures between the first century AD and 1850, before the advent of modern observational instruments.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The conservative estimate found that 2023 was at least 0.5 degrees Celsius hotter than the warmest northern hemisphere summer of that period in AD246.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Otherwise, it was 1.19 degrees warmer.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Study co-author Max Torbenson told reporters that 25 of the last 28 years exceeded the summer highs of AD246 -- the hottest year before modern temperature records began.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">By contrast the coolest summer of that 2,000-year period was nearly four degrees below 2023 summer temperatures in the northern hemisphere due to a major volcanic eruption.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Scientists say volcanic activity could bring about cooler conditions in future as they did in the past, but that ultimately humanity's release of greenhouse gases would keep trapping heat in the atmosphere.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">In 1992, an eruption the previous year helped soften the impact of the El Nino weather system, which warms the Pacific Ocean and can bring hotter global conditions.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">After the effect subsided, temperatures soared in 1998, which the study noted was one of the warmest summers after 2023 and 2016 respectively -- both also El Nino years.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Esper said the only way to curb rising temperatures was to immediately start cutting emissions and "the longer we wait, the more difficult and expensive it will be".</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">- Health risks -</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">A separate study published on Tuesday warned that higher temperatures and ageing populations would see tens of millions of older people being exposed to dangerous heat extremes by 2050.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Already 14 percent of elderly people are exposed to days exceeding 37.5 degrees, which can aggravate health conditions and even lead to death, said the study in the journal Nature Communications.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">That number is expected to climb to 23 percent by the middle of the century, the study said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">"Different countries in the world are facing similar issues... but the level of preparedness, the adaptive capacity of people and of society is different," the study's lead author Giacomo Falchetta told AFP.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Europe has systems in place to support people during heatwaves but faces considerable change as one of the fastest warming regions on Earth, said Falchetta of the Euro-Mediterranean Center on Climate Change.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The share of elderly people in Africa and Asia is set to grow dramatically though populations in poorer regions lack access to sufficient clean water or healthcare to cope with heat extremes, Falchetta said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">"It raises questions of inequality around the world in terms of how governments and regions are equipped to cope with this," he said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">While 2050 appears far off, Falchetta said people as young as 40 today would be among those vulnerable to future heatwaves.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Ageing populations cannot be avoided but "reducing emissions can really reduce to some extent the heat exposure that will be felt", he said. -- AFP</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-26', 'modified' => '2024-05-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20806', 'image' => '20240526014744_istockphoto-1323823418-612x612.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-26 13:47:13', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21077', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal’s Public Debt Rises to Rs 2400 Billion', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'KATHMANDU: Nepal's outstanding public debt has reached almost Rs 2,400 billion, marking a rise of Rs 98 billion in the last 10 months of the current fiscal year alone, according to the Public Debt Management Office (PDMO).', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">KATHMANDU: Nepal's outstanding public debt has reached almost Rs 2,400 billion, marking a rise of Rs 98 billion in the last 10 months of the current fiscal year alone, according to the Public Debt Management Office (PDMO).</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">At the beginning of the current fiscal year, the country’s public debt stood at Rs 2,299 billion. The PDMO reported that public debt now accounts for 42.02 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP).</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">In the last month, the country’s public debt increased by Rs 11.64 billion.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Of the total debt, internal debt accounts for 20.76 percent of the GDP, while foreign debt constitutes 21.26 percent.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The report updated by the PDMO mentions that the government collected a total of Rs 264.63 billion in loans until mid-May, while it was able to pay off Rs 166.55 billion in principal during the review period.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Similarly, of the total loan raised by the government, internal loans amounted to Rs 191 billion, while foreign loans accounted for Rs 73.63 billion.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-26', 'modified' => '2024-05-26', 'keywords' => 'Nepal, public, debt, GDP, rises', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20805', 'image' => '20240526111749_20231201023735_public debt.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-26 11:16:56', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21078', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Top Leaders Reach Closer to Finalizing Terms of Reference ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'KATHMANDU: A meeting of the top leaders of major political parties held at the Prime Minister's residence, Baluwatar, on Saturday discussed finalizing the terms of reference of the parliamentary probe committee on irregularities of cooperatives. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">KATHMANDU: A meeting of the top leaders of major political parties held at the Prime Minister's residence, Baluwatar, on Saturday discussed finalizing the terms of reference of the parliamentary probe committee on irregularities of cooperatives. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The meeting agreed that the top leaders would forge consensus on the formation of parliamentary committee on the misappropriation and embezzlement of cooperatives funds. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Padam Giri informed that the taskforce comprising representatives of major political parties has come closer to consensus to end the deadlock in both the Houses of the federal parliament. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Talking to media persons, he said, "We have yet to agree to the final point to give an outlet to the current stalemate. We are comprehensively presenting the discussions held in the taskforce meeting before the top leaders. The meeting of the taskforce remained crucial in reaching an amicable solution to the contentious issue." </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to Minister Giri, representatives of the main opposition, Nepali Congress, in the taskforce meeting had reiterated their demand to clearly mention the names of certain individuals and office-bearers while forming the probe committee on cooperatives irregularities. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"We have come closer to a consensus. The meeting agreed that there is no need to mention the names of the individuals involved in the scam. Those involved in irregularities will be known after the investigation focusing on the problematic cooperatives," he said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The meeting agreed that the inquiry committee will focus on the names of the companies and co-operatives rather than individuals. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"The cooperatives’ funds have been embezzled which is no doubt unlawful. Let us mention the names of the companies and cooperatives from where people's deposited funds were siphoned off. Let us put forward the probe keeping such cooperatives in the center. The meeting discussed to form a probe committee with such terms of reference," the minister briefed. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">An agreement was reached a week ago to form an inquiry committee after the main opposition Nepali Congress disrupted the House proceedings demanding the formation of a parliamentary inquiry committee into the embezzlement of cooperative funds. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Despite the agreement, the deadlock continues as the committee's mandate has not been finalized. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-26', 'modified' => '2024-05-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20804', 'image' => '20240526115607_Parliament RSS 800.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-26 11:55:31', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21076', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '14 Border Trade Points, Including Kimathangka, Resume Operations', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'A total of 14 traditional border trade points connected with northern neighbor China, including Kimathangka in Sankhuwasabha, resumed operations on Saturday.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">May 25: A total of 14 traditional border trade points connected with northern neighbor China, including Kimathangka in Sankhuwasabha, resumed operations on Saturday.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The Chinese government had closed various border checkpoints in 2076 BS due to fears of the COVID-19 pandemic. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Narayan Kaji Shrestha and Vice President of the Tibet Autonomous Region Silang Nima jointly announced the resumption of all 14 trade points along the Nepal-China border, including Kimathangka, at an event organized in Chhentang, China.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">DPM Shrestha informed that the operation of the traditional border transit points has been officially resumed. He stated that seven checkpoints started operations on Saturday, while the remaining seven will reopen soon.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Shrestha further shared that the reopening of the 14 trade points, including Kimathangka, was the result of continuous diplomatic efforts by the government.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The DPM mentioned that the agreement to resume the traditional trade points was reached during his official visit to China last March. DPM Shrestha was accompanied by the Chief Minister of Koshi Province, Hikmat Kumar Karki, joint secretaries from the Ministries of Home and Foreign Affairs, the Chief District Officer, and the chief of the district security agency on this occasion.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Locals of Bhotkhola were elated after the reopening of the Kimathangka border point. In the past, local residents used to import food from nearby Chinese markets via the trade point.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The customs office was established in 2035 BS in Kimathangka. After the decade-long armed conflict in the country, the border customs office at Hatia in Bhotkhola was shifted to Khandbari in 2057 BS. The Kimathangka point is 162 km from the district headquarters, Khandbari. (RSS)</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-26', 'modified' => '2024-05-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20803', 'image' => '20240526063651_collage (10).jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-26 06:34:58', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21075', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Ilam to Host International Tea Festival on June 8-10 ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'MANGALBARE: The local government of Ilam is organizing an international tea festival in Ilam, often referred to as "the tea capital" of Nepal. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">MANGALBARE: The local government of Ilam is organizing an international tea festival in Ilam, often referred to as "the tea capital" of Nepal. According to the state-owned RSS, the event will take place from June 8 to 10 in Ilam Bazar.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Kedar Thapa, the mayor of Ilam Municipality, told RSS that the festival aims to promote Nepali tea globally. He added that the event will feature participation of tea industrialists, tea farmers, entrepreneurs, and international tea enthusiasts.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"We are organizing the international tea festival under the municipality's leadership to address the issue of tea farmers and traders being forced to sell their produce at lower prices due to inadequate publicity. Despite Nepal's tea being considered organic and of high quality, it lacks sufficient exposure," RSS quoted Mayor Thapa as saying. He added that increasing the export of Nepal-grown tea could significantly boost foreign currency earnings.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to Mayor Thapa, the objective of the festival is to promote the market of Nepali tea and encourage more farmers to engage in tea cultivation. He expressed confidence that the festival will enhance the international marketing of Nepali tea.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-24', 'modified' => '2024-05-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20802', 'image' => '20240524073600_20200703014705_Tea estate.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-24 19:35:21', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21074', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'New Sub-Variant of Omicron Virus Confirmed in Nepal ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'KATHMANDU: A new sub-variant of the Omicron variant of coronavirus has been found in Nepal.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">KATHMANDU: A new sub-variant of the Omicron variant of coronavirus has been found in Nepal. The National Public Health Laboratory (NPHL)'s information officer Krishna Prasad Jaisi said that the 'KP 1', 'KP 2', 'KP 3' and 'KP 4' sub-variants were confirmed through a gene-sequencing done on the samples collected from 42 persons infected by coronavirus. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to him, the gene sequencing was carried out by collecting samples from the infected persons from all seven provinces in April and May. Among them, the 'KP 1' sub-variant of the Omicron virus was found in 12 samples, the 'KP 2' sub-variant in 17 samples, 'KP 3' and the 'KP 4' sub-variants in one sample each. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"This is not a new variant. It is the sub-variant of the Omicron variant. It is only given new name," Jaisi added. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Spokesman at the Ministry of Health and Population, Dr Prakash Budhathoki said that the 'KP' variant is not contagious. "The 'KP' variant is not much infectious. It has no much impact," he added. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, Omicron (JN 1) has been found in seven samples and the Omicron (BA 2) in two samples out of 42 samples tested in the NPHL. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-24', 'modified' => '2024-05-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20801', 'image' => '20240524072829_20200423093051_22_111.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-24 19:27:56', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21073', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Multi-Hazard Early Warning System to Cost Rs 81 Billion', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'KATHMANDU: Promoting the multi-hazard early warning system is estimated to cost around Rs 81.40 billion (US$ 614 million).', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">KATHMANDU: Promoting the multi-hazard early warning system is estimated to cost around Rs 81.40 billion (US$ 614 million). This amount is required to implement the government’s strategy to integrate the multi-hazard early warning system with the goal of minimizing the potential loss of property due to various disasters and making the early warning system effective. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) has said preparations are being made to organize the multi-disaster early warning system. As per the preliminary estimate of NDRRMA, the it will cost more than Rs 81 billion to update the system. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the NDRRMA, preparations are being made to promote a multi-disaster early warning system with the goal of providing early warning of future disasters and assisting in increasing the response capacity to reduce potential risks. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Despite the development of early warning system in Nepal related to floods, landslides there is no provision for early warning of other natural disasters in Nepal. For the first time, the government is starting preparations with the goal of enhancing disaster response capacity by installing early warning system on multi-disaster scenarios. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Anil Pokharel, the executive head of the NDRRMA, informed that the estimated cost for the next seven years will be Rs 81 billion. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"</span><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">There are numerous examples of saving lives and preventing the loss of millions in property due to the development of flood forecasting system in Nepal</span><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">. But the effective system for getting prior information about natural disasters such as landslides, lightning, forest fires, floods, cold waves, avalanches, windstorms, hailstorms, and air pollution has not been developed so far," he said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">“Since the loss of property is increasing due to these disasters, we have aimed to develop an early warning system to reduce the possible damage caused by such multi-catastrophic events,” he said, adding that discussions are being held with stakeholders for the development of a multi-disaster early warning system with the goal of reducing the human and economic losses caused by all kinds of disasters. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The NDRRMA chief informed that the information collected from the multi-source information system will be provided in the local language so that it could be understood by the general public. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-24', 'modified' => '2024-05-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20800', 'image' => '20240524015851_NDRRMA_20230114150029.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-24 13:58:11', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21072', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Effective Transportation is the Foundation of Competitive Business: Stakeholders', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'BIRGUNJ: Stakeholders have emphasized that the country’s transport infrastructure should be comprehensively improved to enhance foreign trade competitiveness.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">BIRGUNJ: Stakeholders have emphasized that the country’s transport infrastructure should be comprehensively improved to enhance foreign trade competitiveness. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Speaking at the 'Nepal-India Multimodal Logistics and Connectivity Summit-2024,' organized by the Madhes Province chapter of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry in collaboration with the Chamber of Commerce India and the Nepal-India Chamber of Commerce and Industry, stakeholders discussed ways to make Nepal's foreign trade more effective through improved Nepal-India trade and transportation between Nepal and India.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Panellists highlighted the need for infrastructure reform and a review of the Nepal-India Trade and Transit Treaty. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Ishwarraj Paudel, Nepal’s Consul General in Kolkata, India, stated that treaties, agreements, and understandings related to Nepal's foreign trade should be effectively implemented. He mentioned that the government is revising bilateral, regional, and multilateral agreements related to foreign trade as needed.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Two-thirds of Nepal's trade is with India, which is both the main export market for Nepal and the country’s major source of foreign imports. Paudel noted that trade relations with India are particularly significant. In the current fiscal year 2080/81, Nepal imported goods worth Rs 1300 billion, with Rs 800.15 billion coming from India alone. Out of Rs 126 billion in exports, Rs 86 billion were exported to India.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Paudel also pointed out that the Tajpur sea port, being built in West Bengal by India's Adani Group and expected to be operational by 2025, could be more useful for Nepal. The port is located 880 km from Birgunj, Nepal's main customs point. Currently, Nepal uses Kolkata, Haldiya, and Visakhapatnam ports for trade with third countries.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Indian Consul General Devi Sahay Meena in Birgunj said that India is working to improve infrastructure at the border crossings with Nepal to facilitate trade. Infrastructure such as integrated check posts (ICPs), ports, railways, and roads in border areas have been improved to facilitate trade. Meena mentioned that India has granted duty-free entry and concessions to certain products to promote exports from Nepal.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Ashok Kumar Temani, president of the Madhes Province chapter of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, emphasized the need to improve the infrastructure and efficient operation of customs, dry ports, and ICPs to facilitate trade. He also suggested installing X-ray machines at all checkpoints to control illegal trade. Temani called for all Indian ports to be accessible for Nepal’s use, noting that this would provide both sea access for Nepal and business for Indian ports, making port operations faster and more economical.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Ashish Gajurel, executive director of the Nepal Intermodal Transport Development Committee, stated that the government is committed to multimodal transportation. Besides the dry ports at Birgunj, Chobhar, and Tatopani, plans are underway to open a dry port in Rasuwa by July 2025. Gajurel noted that inter-governmental discussions for a port in Dodhara Chandani are progressing, and work on the Nepalgunj Integrated Checkpoint (ICP) is 35 percent complete. Progress has also been made in Bhairahawa, and dusty cargo management has started at the Birgunj dry port. Discussions with the private sector for operating trains at the Biratnagar ICP are ongoing, and the government plans to create logistics hubs in all seven provinces.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Sushil Bhatt, Chief Executive Officer of the Investment Board Nepal, stated that transformational plans in the transport and infrastructure sectors are progressing. He mentioned that a detailed feasibility study of the Seti Reservoir project is being conducted, with a report expected by September.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Abhishek Chaudhary, president of the Nepal-India Chamber of Commerce and Industry Birgunj, called for the effective implementation of trade and transit agreements and policies between Nepal and India, highlighting the need for improved transportation infrastructure to promote investment.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-24', 'modified' => '2024-05-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20799', 'image' => '20240524014730_cb92b112.jpeg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-24 13:46:56', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21071', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'THAI Airways Announces Relaunch of Direct Flights to Nepal', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'KATHMANDU: THAI Airways International, the national flag carrier of Thailand, on Thursday made an official announcement about the resumption of its direct flights to Nepal.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">KATHMANDU: THAI Airways International, the national flag carrier of Thailand, on Thursday made an official announcement about the resumption of its direct flights to Nepal. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Issuing a statement on Thursday, THAI Airways said it had commenced its service to Nepal in 1968 through a flight from Bangkok to Kathmandu via Calcutta.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">This half-a-century-long journey of connecting Nepal to the world, and bringing the world to Nepal came to a halt in March 2022 due to the COVID pandemic, the company added. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The halt was lifted on October 29, 2023 by appointing Society International Travel Services as the General Sales Agent in Nepal but the announcement was made only on Thursday.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Within one and half months of resuming flights in Nepal, the response to THAI Airways from Nepal was so good that the company decided to start the second daily flight on December 15 last year, said the company. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Khun Wit Kitchathorn, Director of Sales at THAI Airways International said, “THAI Airways International is honored to announce the relaunch of our direct service between Kathmandu and Bangkok. This significant milestone marks our enduring commitment to reconnecting Nepal with Thailand and the broader world. Since we first began our service to Nepal in 1968, our journey has been one of fostering cultural and economic exchanges, and we are delighted to resume this vital link.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Currently, THAI Airways operates Airbus 320, (narrow-body aircraft) in Nepal. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">THAI Airways currently operates Airbus 320 narrow body aircraft, 777 aircraft, Dreamliner 787, and Airbus 350 aircraft in more than 60 destinations. These aircraft are known for offering comfortable seating configurations and in-flight entertainment options, added the statement. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the airliner, customers can install THAI Airways’ mobile application to find convenient flights, and get access to the Royal Orchid Plus (ROP) services.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The statement added that THAI airways has a total of 73 active aircraft with an average utilization of 12.8 hours per day. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Rabi Chandra Singh, Executive Chairman of Society International Travel Services and the Group Chairman of the RR Group of Companies, stated, “We are thrilled to resume our direct flights from Kathmandu to Bangkok. Nepal has always been a popular destination for travelers seeking cultural immersion and breathtaking natural beauty. This relaunch signifies our commitment to providing seamless and enjoyable travel experiences for passengers flying between Nepal and Thailand.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">THAI Airways further said that the relaunch of direct service in Nepal is a commitment to strengthening its presence in the South Asian region. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“The airline looks forward to welcoming more Nepali travelers with the warmth of Thai hospitality,” the statement added.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-24', 'modified' => '2024-05-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20798', 'image' => '20240524122825_c1_2798470_240524110409.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-24 12:27:46', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21070', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Another Climber Dies on Everest, Sherpa Guide Missing', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'KATHMANDU: A Kenyan climber has died close to Everest's summit and his Nepali guide has gone missing, according to a news report published on Thursday by AFP citing a tourism official, taking this season's toll on the world's highest mountain to at least three.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">KATHMANDU: A Kenyan climber has died close to Everest's summit and his Nepali guide has gone missing, according to a news report published on Thursday by AFP citing a tourism official, taking this season's toll on the world's highest mountain to at least three.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Joshua Cheruiyot Kirui, 40, and his Nepali guide Nawang Sherpa, 44, went out of contact Wednesday morning, and a search team was deployed on the 8,849-metre (29,032-foot) high mountain, the news agency reported.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"The team have found the Kenyan climber dead between the summit and the Hillary Step, but his guide is still missing," Khim Lal Gautam, chief of the tourism's department field office at the base camp, told AFP.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Search parties also continue to look for a 40-year-old British climber and 21-year-old Nepali guide who have been missing since Tuesday morning after an ice fall collapsed as they descended from Everest's peak.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">On Monday, a Romanian climber died in his tent during a bid to scale Lhotse, the fourth-highest mountain in the world, added AFP. Everest and Lhotse share the same route until diverting at around 7,200 metres.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Earlier this month, two Mongolian climbers went missing after reaching Everest's summit and were later found dead.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">AFP further reported that two more climbers, one French and one Nepali, have died this season on Makalu, the world's fifth-highest peak.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Nepal has issued more than 900 permits for its mountains this year, including 419 for Everest, earning more than $5 million in royalties.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the news agency, more than 500 climbers and their guides have already reached the summit of Everest after a rope-fixing team reached the peak last month.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">This year, China also reopened the Tibetan route to foreigners for the first time since closing it in 2020 because of the pandemic.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Nepal is home to eight of the world's 10 highest peaks and welcomes hundreds of adventurers each spring, when temperatures are warm and winds typically calm, added the news report.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“Last year, more than 600 climbers made it to the summit of Everest, but it was also the deadliest season on the mountain, with 18 fatalities.”</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-24', 'modified' => '2024-05-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20797', 'image' => '20240524115916_20230517093316_122208-01-02.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-24 11:58:28', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21069', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Construction of Tamor-Mewa Hydel Project Begins ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'TAPLEJUNG: The construction of the Tamor-Mewa Hydropower Project with a capacity of 128 megawatts has started. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">TAPLEJUNG: The construction of the Tamor-Mewa Hydropower Project with a capacity of 128 megawatts has started. The project promoted by Spark Hydroelectric Company Limited is expected to be completed in four years. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Constituent Assembly Member Sanchapal Maden and the company's chairman Bhanendra Kumar Limbu laid the foundation stone of the project on Thursday. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The project site is located in Aathrai Tribeni Rural Municipality and Phungling Municipality in Taplejung district. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">On the occasion, the Mayor of Phungling Municipality, Amir Maden, said the development of the project will contribute to the development endeavours of the district. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"Development of the electricity project in the district is expected to pave the way for economic prosperity. The projects also provide shares to the local residents," he added. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Mayor Maden urged the promoters to accord priority to the locals in employment and ensure corporate social responsibility in the project site. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The total cost of the project is estimated to be Rs 24.32 billion. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-24', 'modified' => '2024-05-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20796', 'image' => '20240524103754_hydro.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-24 10:37:02', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21068', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Phunjo Lama Smashes Women's Record for Fastest Ascent of Everest', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'KATHMANDU: Phunjo Lama smashed the record for the fastest ascent of Mount Everest by a woman, conquering the world's highest mountain in 14 hours and 31 minutes on Thursday.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">KATHMANDU: Phunjo Lama smashed the record for the fastest ascent of Mount Everest by a woman, conquering the world's highest mountain in 14 hours and 31 minutes on Thursday.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to AFP, climbers usually take days to reach the top of the 8,849-metre (29,000-foot) mountain, spending nights on its different camps to rest and acclimatise. But Lama, who is in her thirties, shaved more than 11 hours off the previous best that had stood since 2021. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"She started (from the base camp) at 15:52 on May 22, summited 6:23 am May 23," Khim Lal Gautam, chief of the tourism's department field office at the base camp, told AFP.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Earlier this month, when Lama was still at base camp, she said in a post on Facebook that she was "100 percent sure" she would reach the top of "the Mother Goddess".</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">In 2018, Lama clinched the record for the fastest ascent by a woman by climbing Everest in 39 hours and six minutes, AFP reported.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">That record was broken in 2021 by Ada Tsang Yin-hung from Hong Kong, who conquered the mountain in 25 hours and 50 minutes.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Nepali climber Lhakpa Gelu Sherpa holds the record for the fastest ascent of Everest, reaching the summit in 10 hours and 56 minutes in 2003.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to AFP, Lama is also a guide and helicopter long-line rescuer -- a job that entails flying in while dangling from a rope to help extract injured climbers when the terrain is too dangerous for aircraft to come in close or land.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">She has climbed some of the highest peaks in the world, including Manaslu and Cho Oyu, both also in the Himalayas.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"She is very courageous and determined... and trained hard for her summit," AFP quoted fellow woman mountaineer Maya Sherpa as saying.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"Her record is an inspiration for other Nepali female climbers."</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">More than 500 climbers and their guides have already reached the summit of Everest this year after a rope-fixing team reached the peak last month, according to the news report published by AFP.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Nepal is home to eight of the world's 10 highest peaks and welcomes hundreds of adventurers each spring, when temperatures are warm and winds typically calm, it added.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“Last year, more than 600 climbers made it to the summit of Everest, but it was also the deadliest season on the mountain, with 18 fatalities.”</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-24', 'modified' => '2024-05-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20795', 'image' => '20240524100201_phunjjo.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-24 09:57:15', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21067', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Birgunj Metropolis Posts Growth in Capital Expenditure', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'The Birgunj Metropolitan City has spent Rs 1.74 billion during the first 10 months of the current fiscal year. The metropolitan city stated that it spent 52.7 percent of its budget in the first 10 months of the current fiscal year 2080/081 BS.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">May 24: The Birgunj Metropolitan City has spent Rs 1.74 billion during the first 10 months of the current fiscal year. The metropolitan city stated that it spent 52.7 percent of its budget in the first 10 months of the current fiscal year 2080/081 BS.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The total amount spent on capital expenditure is higher compared to the last fiscal year. The total budget allocated for the current fiscal year is Rs 3.46 billion. So far, the metropolitan city has spent Rs 1.34 billion on current expenditure and Rs 392.2 million on capital expenditure.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The metropolitan city also stated that revenue collection was not as estimated, but capital expenditure has slightly improved. The city collected Rs 398 million in revenue during the first 10 months of the current fiscal year. (RSS) </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-24', 'modified' => '2024-05-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20794', 'image' => '20240524084143_collage (9).jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-24 08:40:27', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = false $xml = falseinclude - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 133 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
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', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">KATHMANDU: The government's policies and programmes for the upcoming fiscal year 2081-82 BS (2024-25) have been endorsed by the parliament. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif""> A meeting of the House of Representatives (HoR) on Sunday endorsed a proposal put forth by Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal seeking the endorsement of the policies and programmes. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The prime minister proposed to the lower house to initiate discussions on the policies and the programmes for the fiscal year 2081-82 BS (2024-25) presented by the President before the joint sitting of both houses of the Federal Parliament on May 14. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Before the session passed the proposal, the prime minister responded to the queries raised during the discussions on the fresh policies and programmes. The lower house shall meet again at 4:00 pm on May 28. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-26', 'modified' => '2024-05-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20808', 'image' => '20240526030347______________________________1716710488642.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-26 15:01:40', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21080', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Adverse Weather Affects TIA Air Service for 15 Minutes ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'KATHMANDU: Adverse weather affected flights at the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) on Sunday.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">KATHMANDU: Adverse weather affected flights at the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) on Sunday. According to the TIA office, flights towards both domestic and international sectors were disrupted for 15 minutes (from 11:30 am to 11:45 am) due to visibility issues on Sunday. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">TIA Spokesperson, Subash Jha, said rain forced them to suspend the flights for 15 minutes. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Now, the flights have resumed. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The weather is generally cloudy in the Kathmandu Valley since Sunday morning. Various parts of the valley has been witnessing light rainfall. The Meteorological Forecasting Division informed that rainfall is taking place in different parts of the country due to the impact of local winds. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-26', 'modified' => '2024-05-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20807', 'image' => '20240526025839_20210626025244_DOmestic flights.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-26 14:58:02', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21079', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Summer of 2023 was the Hottest in 2,000 Years: Study', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'PARIS: Last year's northern hemisphere summer was the hottest in 2,000 years, according to a new study published recently in the journal Nature.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">PARIS: Last year's northern hemisphere summer was the hottest in 2,000 years, according to a new study published recently in the journal Nature.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Scientists say 2023 was the hottest year globally since records began in 1850, AFP reported. According to the news agency, the study indicates human-caused climate change pushed northern summer highs well beyond anything seen in two millennia. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">"We shouldn't be surprised," the study's lead author Jan Esper told AFP.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">"For me it's just the continuation of what we started by releasing greenhouse gases" that cause global warming, said Esper, a professor of climatology at Germany's Johannes Gutenberg University.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Scientists used tree-ring data from sites across the northern hemisphere to estimate global temperatures between the first century AD and 1850, before the advent of modern observational instruments.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The conservative estimate found that 2023 was at least 0.5 degrees Celsius hotter than the warmest northern hemisphere summer of that period in AD246.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Otherwise, it was 1.19 degrees warmer.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Study co-author Max Torbenson told reporters that 25 of the last 28 years exceeded the summer highs of AD246 -- the hottest year before modern temperature records began.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">By contrast the coolest summer of that 2,000-year period was nearly four degrees below 2023 summer temperatures in the northern hemisphere due to a major volcanic eruption.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Scientists say volcanic activity could bring about cooler conditions in future as they did in the past, but that ultimately humanity's release of greenhouse gases would keep trapping heat in the atmosphere.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">In 1992, an eruption the previous year helped soften the impact of the El Nino weather system, which warms the Pacific Ocean and can bring hotter global conditions.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">After the effect subsided, temperatures soared in 1998, which the study noted was one of the warmest summers after 2023 and 2016 respectively -- both also El Nino years.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Esper said the only way to curb rising temperatures was to immediately start cutting emissions and "the longer we wait, the more difficult and expensive it will be".</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">- Health risks -</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">A separate study published on Tuesday warned that higher temperatures and ageing populations would see tens of millions of older people being exposed to dangerous heat extremes by 2050.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Already 14 percent of elderly people are exposed to days exceeding 37.5 degrees, which can aggravate health conditions and even lead to death, said the study in the journal Nature Communications.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">That number is expected to climb to 23 percent by the middle of the century, the study said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">"Different countries in the world are facing similar issues... but the level of preparedness, the adaptive capacity of people and of society is different," the study's lead author Giacomo Falchetta told AFP.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Europe has systems in place to support people during heatwaves but faces considerable change as one of the fastest warming regions on Earth, said Falchetta of the Euro-Mediterranean Center on Climate Change.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The share of elderly people in Africa and Asia is set to grow dramatically though populations in poorer regions lack access to sufficient clean water or healthcare to cope with heat extremes, Falchetta said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">"It raises questions of inequality around the world in terms of how governments and regions are equipped to cope with this," he said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">While 2050 appears far off, Falchetta said people as young as 40 today would be among those vulnerable to future heatwaves.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Ageing populations cannot be avoided but "reducing emissions can really reduce to some extent the heat exposure that will be felt", he said. -- AFP</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-26', 'modified' => '2024-05-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20806', 'image' => '20240526014744_istockphoto-1323823418-612x612.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-26 13:47:13', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21077', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal’s Public Debt Rises to Rs 2400 Billion', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'KATHMANDU: Nepal's outstanding public debt has reached almost Rs 2,400 billion, marking a rise of Rs 98 billion in the last 10 months of the current fiscal year alone, according to the Public Debt Management Office (PDMO).', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">KATHMANDU: Nepal's outstanding public debt has reached almost Rs 2,400 billion, marking a rise of Rs 98 billion in the last 10 months of the current fiscal year alone, according to the Public Debt Management Office (PDMO).</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">At the beginning of the current fiscal year, the country’s public debt stood at Rs 2,299 billion. The PDMO reported that public debt now accounts for 42.02 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP).</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">In the last month, the country’s public debt increased by Rs 11.64 billion.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Of the total debt, internal debt accounts for 20.76 percent of the GDP, while foreign debt constitutes 21.26 percent.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The report updated by the PDMO mentions that the government collected a total of Rs 264.63 billion in loans until mid-May, while it was able to pay off Rs 166.55 billion in principal during the review period.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Similarly, of the total loan raised by the government, internal loans amounted to Rs 191 billion, while foreign loans accounted for Rs 73.63 billion.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-26', 'modified' => '2024-05-26', 'keywords' => 'Nepal, public, debt, GDP, rises', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20805', 'image' => '20240526111749_20231201023735_public debt.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-26 11:16:56', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21078', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Top Leaders Reach Closer to Finalizing Terms of Reference ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'KATHMANDU: A meeting of the top leaders of major political parties held at the Prime Minister's residence, Baluwatar, on Saturday discussed finalizing the terms of reference of the parliamentary probe committee on irregularities of cooperatives. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">KATHMANDU: A meeting of the top leaders of major political parties held at the Prime Minister's residence, Baluwatar, on Saturday discussed finalizing the terms of reference of the parliamentary probe committee on irregularities of cooperatives. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The meeting agreed that the top leaders would forge consensus on the formation of parliamentary committee on the misappropriation and embezzlement of cooperatives funds. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Padam Giri informed that the taskforce comprising representatives of major political parties has come closer to consensus to end the deadlock in both the Houses of the federal parliament. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Talking to media persons, he said, "We have yet to agree to the final point to give an outlet to the current stalemate. We are comprehensively presenting the discussions held in the taskforce meeting before the top leaders. The meeting of the taskforce remained crucial in reaching an amicable solution to the contentious issue." </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to Minister Giri, representatives of the main opposition, Nepali Congress, in the taskforce meeting had reiterated their demand to clearly mention the names of certain individuals and office-bearers while forming the probe committee on cooperatives irregularities. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"We have come closer to a consensus. The meeting agreed that there is no need to mention the names of the individuals involved in the scam. Those involved in irregularities will be known after the investigation focusing on the problematic cooperatives," he said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The meeting agreed that the inquiry committee will focus on the names of the companies and co-operatives rather than individuals. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"The cooperatives’ funds have been embezzled which is no doubt unlawful. Let us mention the names of the companies and cooperatives from where people's deposited funds were siphoned off. Let us put forward the probe keeping such cooperatives in the center. The meeting discussed to form a probe committee with such terms of reference," the minister briefed. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">An agreement was reached a week ago to form an inquiry committee after the main opposition Nepali Congress disrupted the House proceedings demanding the formation of a parliamentary inquiry committee into the embezzlement of cooperative funds. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Despite the agreement, the deadlock continues as the committee's mandate has not been finalized. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-26', 'modified' => '2024-05-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20804', 'image' => '20240526115607_Parliament RSS 800.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-26 11:55:31', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21076', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '14 Border Trade Points, Including Kimathangka, Resume Operations', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'A total of 14 traditional border trade points connected with northern neighbor China, including Kimathangka in Sankhuwasabha, resumed operations on Saturday.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">May 25: A total of 14 traditional border trade points connected with northern neighbor China, including Kimathangka in Sankhuwasabha, resumed operations on Saturday.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The Chinese government had closed various border checkpoints in 2076 BS due to fears of the COVID-19 pandemic. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Narayan Kaji Shrestha and Vice President of the Tibet Autonomous Region Silang Nima jointly announced the resumption of all 14 trade points along the Nepal-China border, including Kimathangka, at an event organized in Chhentang, China.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">DPM Shrestha informed that the operation of the traditional border transit points has been officially resumed. He stated that seven checkpoints started operations on Saturday, while the remaining seven will reopen soon.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Shrestha further shared that the reopening of the 14 trade points, including Kimathangka, was the result of continuous diplomatic efforts by the government.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The DPM mentioned that the agreement to resume the traditional trade points was reached during his official visit to China last March. DPM Shrestha was accompanied by the Chief Minister of Koshi Province, Hikmat Kumar Karki, joint secretaries from the Ministries of Home and Foreign Affairs, the Chief District Officer, and the chief of the district security agency on this occasion.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Locals of Bhotkhola were elated after the reopening of the Kimathangka border point. In the past, local residents used to import food from nearby Chinese markets via the trade point.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The customs office was established in 2035 BS in Kimathangka. After the decade-long armed conflict in the country, the border customs office at Hatia in Bhotkhola was shifted to Khandbari in 2057 BS. The Kimathangka point is 162 km from the district headquarters, Khandbari. (RSS)</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-26', 'modified' => '2024-05-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20803', 'image' => '20240526063651_collage (10).jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-26 06:34:58', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21075', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Ilam to Host International Tea Festival on June 8-10 ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'MANGALBARE: The local government of Ilam is organizing an international tea festival in Ilam, often referred to as "the tea capital" of Nepal. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">MANGALBARE: The local government of Ilam is organizing an international tea festival in Ilam, often referred to as "the tea capital" of Nepal. According to the state-owned RSS, the event will take place from June 8 to 10 in Ilam Bazar.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Kedar Thapa, the mayor of Ilam Municipality, told RSS that the festival aims to promote Nepali tea globally. He added that the event will feature participation of tea industrialists, tea farmers, entrepreneurs, and international tea enthusiasts.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"We are organizing the international tea festival under the municipality's leadership to address the issue of tea farmers and traders being forced to sell their produce at lower prices due to inadequate publicity. Despite Nepal's tea being considered organic and of high quality, it lacks sufficient exposure," RSS quoted Mayor Thapa as saying. He added that increasing the export of Nepal-grown tea could significantly boost foreign currency earnings.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to Mayor Thapa, the objective of the festival is to promote the market of Nepali tea and encourage more farmers to engage in tea cultivation. He expressed confidence that the festival will enhance the international marketing of Nepali tea.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-24', 'modified' => '2024-05-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20802', 'image' => '20240524073600_20200703014705_Tea estate.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-24 19:35:21', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21074', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'New Sub-Variant of Omicron Virus Confirmed in Nepal ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'KATHMANDU: A new sub-variant of the Omicron variant of coronavirus has been found in Nepal.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">KATHMANDU: A new sub-variant of the Omicron variant of coronavirus has been found in Nepal. The National Public Health Laboratory (NPHL)'s information officer Krishna Prasad Jaisi said that the 'KP 1', 'KP 2', 'KP 3' and 'KP 4' sub-variants were confirmed through a gene-sequencing done on the samples collected from 42 persons infected by coronavirus. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to him, the gene sequencing was carried out by collecting samples from the infected persons from all seven provinces in April and May. Among them, the 'KP 1' sub-variant of the Omicron virus was found in 12 samples, the 'KP 2' sub-variant in 17 samples, 'KP 3' and the 'KP 4' sub-variants in one sample each. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"This is not a new variant. It is the sub-variant of the Omicron variant. It is only given new name," Jaisi added. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Spokesman at the Ministry of Health and Population, Dr Prakash Budhathoki said that the 'KP' variant is not contagious. "The 'KP' variant is not much infectious. It has no much impact," he added. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, Omicron (JN 1) has been found in seven samples and the Omicron (BA 2) in two samples out of 42 samples tested in the NPHL. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-24', 'modified' => '2024-05-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20801', 'image' => '20240524072829_20200423093051_22_111.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-24 19:27:56', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21073', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Multi-Hazard Early Warning System to Cost Rs 81 Billion', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'KATHMANDU: Promoting the multi-hazard early warning system is estimated to cost around Rs 81.40 billion (US$ 614 million).', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">KATHMANDU: Promoting the multi-hazard early warning system is estimated to cost around Rs 81.40 billion (US$ 614 million). This amount is required to implement the government’s strategy to integrate the multi-hazard early warning system with the goal of minimizing the potential loss of property due to various disasters and making the early warning system effective. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) has said preparations are being made to organize the multi-disaster early warning system. As per the preliminary estimate of NDRRMA, the it will cost more than Rs 81 billion to update the system. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the NDRRMA, preparations are being made to promote a multi-disaster early warning system with the goal of providing early warning of future disasters and assisting in increasing the response capacity to reduce potential risks. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Despite the development of early warning system in Nepal related to floods, landslides there is no provision for early warning of other natural disasters in Nepal. For the first time, the government is starting preparations with the goal of enhancing disaster response capacity by installing early warning system on multi-disaster scenarios. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Anil Pokharel, the executive head of the NDRRMA, informed that the estimated cost for the next seven years will be Rs 81 billion. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"</span><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"">There are numerous examples of saving lives and preventing the loss of millions in property due to the development of flood forecasting system in Nepal</span><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">. But the effective system for getting prior information about natural disasters such as landslides, lightning, forest fires, floods, cold waves, avalanches, windstorms, hailstorms, and air pollution has not been developed so far," he said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">“Since the loss of property is increasing due to these disasters, we have aimed to develop an early warning system to reduce the possible damage caused by such multi-catastrophic events,” he said, adding that discussions are being held with stakeholders for the development of a multi-disaster early warning system with the goal of reducing the human and economic losses caused by all kinds of disasters. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The NDRRMA chief informed that the information collected from the multi-source information system will be provided in the local language so that it could be understood by the general public. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-24', 'modified' => '2024-05-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20800', 'image' => '20240524015851_NDRRMA_20230114150029.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-24 13:58:11', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21072', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Effective Transportation is the Foundation of Competitive Business: Stakeholders', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'BIRGUNJ: Stakeholders have emphasized that the country’s transport infrastructure should be comprehensively improved to enhance foreign trade competitiveness.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">BIRGUNJ: Stakeholders have emphasized that the country’s transport infrastructure should be comprehensively improved to enhance foreign trade competitiveness. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Speaking at the 'Nepal-India Multimodal Logistics and Connectivity Summit-2024,' organized by the Madhes Province chapter of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry in collaboration with the Chamber of Commerce India and the Nepal-India Chamber of Commerce and Industry, stakeholders discussed ways to make Nepal's foreign trade more effective through improved Nepal-India trade and transportation between Nepal and India.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Panellists highlighted the need for infrastructure reform and a review of the Nepal-India Trade and Transit Treaty. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Ishwarraj Paudel, Nepal’s Consul General in Kolkata, India, stated that treaties, agreements, and understandings related to Nepal's foreign trade should be effectively implemented. He mentioned that the government is revising bilateral, regional, and multilateral agreements related to foreign trade as needed.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Two-thirds of Nepal's trade is with India, which is both the main export market for Nepal and the country’s major source of foreign imports. Paudel noted that trade relations with India are particularly significant. In the current fiscal year 2080/81, Nepal imported goods worth Rs 1300 billion, with Rs 800.15 billion coming from India alone. Out of Rs 126 billion in exports, Rs 86 billion were exported to India.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Paudel also pointed out that the Tajpur sea port, being built in West Bengal by India's Adani Group and expected to be operational by 2025, could be more useful for Nepal. The port is located 880 km from Birgunj, Nepal's main customs point. Currently, Nepal uses Kolkata, Haldiya, and Visakhapatnam ports for trade with third countries.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Indian Consul General Devi Sahay Meena in Birgunj said that India is working to improve infrastructure at the border crossings with Nepal to facilitate trade. Infrastructure such as integrated check posts (ICPs), ports, railways, and roads in border areas have been improved to facilitate trade. Meena mentioned that India has granted duty-free entry and concessions to certain products to promote exports from Nepal.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Ashok Kumar Temani, president of the Madhes Province chapter of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, emphasized the need to improve the infrastructure and efficient operation of customs, dry ports, and ICPs to facilitate trade. He also suggested installing X-ray machines at all checkpoints to control illegal trade. Temani called for all Indian ports to be accessible for Nepal’s use, noting that this would provide both sea access for Nepal and business for Indian ports, making port operations faster and more economical.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Ashish Gajurel, executive director of the Nepal Intermodal Transport Development Committee, stated that the government is committed to multimodal transportation. Besides the dry ports at Birgunj, Chobhar, and Tatopani, plans are underway to open a dry port in Rasuwa by July 2025. Gajurel noted that inter-governmental discussions for a port in Dodhara Chandani are progressing, and work on the Nepalgunj Integrated Checkpoint (ICP) is 35 percent complete. Progress has also been made in Bhairahawa, and dusty cargo management has started at the Birgunj dry port. Discussions with the private sector for operating trains at the Biratnagar ICP are ongoing, and the government plans to create logistics hubs in all seven provinces.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Sushil Bhatt, Chief Executive Officer of the Investment Board Nepal, stated that transformational plans in the transport and infrastructure sectors are progressing. He mentioned that a detailed feasibility study of the Seti Reservoir project is being conducted, with a report expected by September.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Abhishek Chaudhary, president of the Nepal-India Chamber of Commerce and Industry Birgunj, called for the effective implementation of trade and transit agreements and policies between Nepal and India, highlighting the need for improved transportation infrastructure to promote investment.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-24', 'modified' => '2024-05-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20799', 'image' => '20240524014730_cb92b112.jpeg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-24 13:46:56', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21071', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'THAI Airways Announces Relaunch of Direct Flights to Nepal', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'KATHMANDU: THAI Airways International, the national flag carrier of Thailand, on Thursday made an official announcement about the resumption of its direct flights to Nepal.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">KATHMANDU: THAI Airways International, the national flag carrier of Thailand, on Thursday made an official announcement about the resumption of its direct flights to Nepal. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Issuing a statement on Thursday, THAI Airways said it had commenced its service to Nepal in 1968 through a flight from Bangkok to Kathmandu via Calcutta.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">This half-a-century-long journey of connecting Nepal to the world, and bringing the world to Nepal came to a halt in March 2022 due to the COVID pandemic, the company added. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The halt was lifted on October 29, 2023 by appointing Society International Travel Services as the General Sales Agent in Nepal but the announcement was made only on Thursday.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Within one and half months of resuming flights in Nepal, the response to THAI Airways from Nepal was so good that the company decided to start the second daily flight on December 15 last year, said the company. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Khun Wit Kitchathorn, Director of Sales at THAI Airways International said, “THAI Airways International is honored to announce the relaunch of our direct service between Kathmandu and Bangkok. This significant milestone marks our enduring commitment to reconnecting Nepal with Thailand and the broader world. Since we first began our service to Nepal in 1968, our journey has been one of fostering cultural and economic exchanges, and we are delighted to resume this vital link.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Currently, THAI Airways operates Airbus 320, (narrow-body aircraft) in Nepal. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">THAI Airways currently operates Airbus 320 narrow body aircraft, 777 aircraft, Dreamliner 787, and Airbus 350 aircraft in more than 60 destinations. These aircraft are known for offering comfortable seating configurations and in-flight entertainment options, added the statement. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the airliner, customers can install THAI Airways’ mobile application to find convenient flights, and get access to the Royal Orchid Plus (ROP) services.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The statement added that THAI airways has a total of 73 active aircraft with an average utilization of 12.8 hours per day. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Rabi Chandra Singh, Executive Chairman of Society International Travel Services and the Group Chairman of the RR Group of Companies, stated, “We are thrilled to resume our direct flights from Kathmandu to Bangkok. Nepal has always been a popular destination for travelers seeking cultural immersion and breathtaking natural beauty. This relaunch signifies our commitment to providing seamless and enjoyable travel experiences for passengers flying between Nepal and Thailand.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">THAI Airways further said that the relaunch of direct service in Nepal is a commitment to strengthening its presence in the South Asian region. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“The airline looks forward to welcoming more Nepali travelers with the warmth of Thai hospitality,” the statement added.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-24', 'modified' => '2024-05-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20798', 'image' => '20240524122825_c1_2798470_240524110409.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-24 12:27:46', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21070', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Another Climber Dies on Everest, Sherpa Guide Missing', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'KATHMANDU: A Kenyan climber has died close to Everest's summit and his Nepali guide has gone missing, according to a news report published on Thursday by AFP citing a tourism official, taking this season's toll on the world's highest mountain to at least three.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">KATHMANDU: A Kenyan climber has died close to Everest's summit and his Nepali guide has gone missing, according to a news report published on Thursday by AFP citing a tourism official, taking this season's toll on the world's highest mountain to at least three.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Joshua Cheruiyot Kirui, 40, and his Nepali guide Nawang Sherpa, 44, went out of contact Wednesday morning, and a search team was deployed on the 8,849-metre (29,032-foot) high mountain, the news agency reported.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"The team have found the Kenyan climber dead between the summit and the Hillary Step, but his guide is still missing," Khim Lal Gautam, chief of the tourism's department field office at the base camp, told AFP.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Search parties also continue to look for a 40-year-old British climber and 21-year-old Nepali guide who have been missing since Tuesday morning after an ice fall collapsed as they descended from Everest's peak.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">On Monday, a Romanian climber died in his tent during a bid to scale Lhotse, the fourth-highest mountain in the world, added AFP. Everest and Lhotse share the same route until diverting at around 7,200 metres.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Earlier this month, two Mongolian climbers went missing after reaching Everest's summit and were later found dead.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">AFP further reported that two more climbers, one French and one Nepali, have died this season on Makalu, the world's fifth-highest peak.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Nepal has issued more than 900 permits for its mountains this year, including 419 for Everest, earning more than $5 million in royalties.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the news agency, more than 500 climbers and their guides have already reached the summit of Everest after a rope-fixing team reached the peak last month.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">This year, China also reopened the Tibetan route to foreigners for the first time since closing it in 2020 because of the pandemic.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Nepal is home to eight of the world's 10 highest peaks and welcomes hundreds of adventurers each spring, when temperatures are warm and winds typically calm, added the news report.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“Last year, more than 600 climbers made it to the summit of Everest, but it was also the deadliest season on the mountain, with 18 fatalities.”</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-24', 'modified' => '2024-05-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20797', 'image' => '20240524115916_20230517093316_122208-01-02.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-24 11:58:28', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21069', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Construction of Tamor-Mewa Hydel Project Begins ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'TAPLEJUNG: The construction of the Tamor-Mewa Hydropower Project with a capacity of 128 megawatts has started. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">TAPLEJUNG: The construction of the Tamor-Mewa Hydropower Project with a capacity of 128 megawatts has started. The project promoted by Spark Hydroelectric Company Limited is expected to be completed in four years. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Constituent Assembly Member Sanchapal Maden and the company's chairman Bhanendra Kumar Limbu laid the foundation stone of the project on Thursday. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The project site is located in Aathrai Tribeni Rural Municipality and Phungling Municipality in Taplejung district. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">On the occasion, the Mayor of Phungling Municipality, Amir Maden, said the development of the project will contribute to the development endeavours of the district. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"Development of the electricity project in the district is expected to pave the way for economic prosperity. The projects also provide shares to the local residents," he added. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Mayor Maden urged the promoters to accord priority to the locals in employment and ensure corporate social responsibility in the project site. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The total cost of the project is estimated to be Rs 24.32 billion. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-24', 'modified' => '2024-05-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20796', 'image' => '20240524103754_hydro.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-24 10:37:02', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21068', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Phunjo Lama Smashes Women's Record for Fastest Ascent of Everest', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'KATHMANDU: Phunjo Lama smashed the record for the fastest ascent of Mount Everest by a woman, conquering the world's highest mountain in 14 hours and 31 minutes on Thursday.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">KATHMANDU: Phunjo Lama smashed the record for the fastest ascent of Mount Everest by a woman, conquering the world's highest mountain in 14 hours and 31 minutes on Thursday.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to AFP, climbers usually take days to reach the top of the 8,849-metre (29,000-foot) mountain, spending nights on its different camps to rest and acclimatise. But Lama, who is in her thirties, shaved more than 11 hours off the previous best that had stood since 2021. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"She started (from the base camp) at 15:52 on May 22, summited 6:23 am May 23," Khim Lal Gautam, chief of the tourism's department field office at the base camp, told AFP.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Earlier this month, when Lama was still at base camp, she said in a post on Facebook that she was "100 percent sure" she would reach the top of "the Mother Goddess".</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">In 2018, Lama clinched the record for the fastest ascent by a woman by climbing Everest in 39 hours and six minutes, AFP reported.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">That record was broken in 2021 by Ada Tsang Yin-hung from Hong Kong, who conquered the mountain in 25 hours and 50 minutes.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Nepali climber Lhakpa Gelu Sherpa holds the record for the fastest ascent of Everest, reaching the summit in 10 hours and 56 minutes in 2003.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to AFP, Lama is also a guide and helicopter long-line rescuer -- a job that entails flying in while dangling from a rope to help extract injured climbers when the terrain is too dangerous for aircraft to come in close or land.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">She has climbed some of the highest peaks in the world, including Manaslu and Cho Oyu, both also in the Himalayas.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"She is very courageous and determined... and trained hard for her summit," AFP quoted fellow woman mountaineer Maya Sherpa as saying.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"Her record is an inspiration for other Nepali female climbers."</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">More than 500 climbers and their guides have already reached the summit of Everest this year after a rope-fixing team reached the peak last month, according to the news report published by AFP.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Nepal is home to eight of the world's 10 highest peaks and welcomes hundreds of adventurers each spring, when temperatures are warm and winds typically calm, it added.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“Last year, more than 600 climbers made it to the summit of Everest, but it was also the deadliest season on the mountain, with 18 fatalities.”</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-24', 'modified' => '2024-05-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20795', 'image' => '20240524100201_phunjjo.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-24 09:57:15', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21067', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Birgunj Metropolis Posts Growth in Capital Expenditure', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'The Birgunj Metropolitan City has spent Rs 1.74 billion during the first 10 months of the current fiscal year. The metropolitan city stated that it spent 52.7 percent of its budget in the first 10 months of the current fiscal year 2080/081 BS.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">May 24: The Birgunj Metropolitan City has spent Rs 1.74 billion during the first 10 months of the current fiscal year. The metropolitan city stated that it spent 52.7 percent of its budget in the first 10 months of the current fiscal year 2080/081 BS.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The total amount spent on capital expenditure is higher compared to the last fiscal year. The total budget allocated for the current fiscal year is Rs 3.46 billion. So far, the metropolitan city has spent Rs 1.34 billion on current expenditure and Rs 392.2 million on capital expenditure.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The metropolitan city also stated that revenue collection was not as estimated, but capital expenditure has slightly improved. The city collected Rs 398 million in revenue during the first 10 months of the current fiscal year. (RSS) </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-24', 'modified' => '2024-05-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20794', 'image' => '20240524084143_collage (9).jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-24 08:40:27', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = false $xml = falsesimplexml_load_file - [internal], line ?? include - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 133 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
| Currency | Unit |
Buy | Sell |
| U.S. Dollar | 1 | 121.23 | 121.83 |
| European Euro | 1 | 131.65 | 132.31 |
| UK Pound Sterling | 1 | 142.47 | 143.18 |
| Swiss Franc | 1 | 124.29 | 124.90 |
| Australian Dollar | 1 | 71.69 | 72.05 |
| Canadian Dollar | 1 | 83.90 | 84.32 |
| Japanese Yen | 10 | 10.94 | 11.00 |
| Chinese Yuan | 1 | 17.17 | 17.26 |
| Saudi Arabian Riyal | 1 | 32.27 | 32.43 |
| UAE Dirham | 1 | 33.01 | 33.17 |
| Malaysian Ringgit | 1 | 27.36 | 27.50 |
| South Korean Won | 100 | 9.77 | 9.82 |
Update: 2020-03-25 | Source: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB)
| Fine Gold | 1 tola | 77000.00 |
| Tejabi Gold | 1 tola | 76700.00 |
| Silver | 1 tola | 720.00 |
Update : 2020-03-25
Source: Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers' Association
| Petrol | 1 Liter | 106.00 |
| Diesel | 1 Liter | 95.00 |
| Kerosene | 1 Liter | 95.00 |
| LP Gas | 1 Cylinder | 1375.00 |
Update : 2020-03-25
