NEWS

Government to Avail Covid-19 Vaccine Free of Cost: Finance Minister

Dec 20, 2020 0 2 minutes 1 seconds to read

December 20: Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel has said that the government is working on providing the coronavirus vaccine free of cost to all the citizens of Nepal on priority…

Arrival of Visitors through International Flights drops Significantly

Dec 20, 2020 0 2 minutes 55 seconds to read

December 20: The arrival of visitors to Nepal reduced significantly in the first nine months of 2020 due to Covid-19 pandemic.…

Shree Ram Sugar Mills ‘Starts’ Clearing Dues of Farmers

Dec 20, 2020 0 1 minutes 52 seconds to read

December 20: Shree Ram Sugar Mills Limited, Rautahat has started depositing the due amount in the accounts of sugarcane farmers.…

Government Unveils Integrated Policy on Water Resources for the First Time

Dec 18, 2020 0 2 minutes 43 seconds to read

December 18: The Government of Nepal has for the first time unveiled the National Water Resources Policy 2077.…

Nepal Risks Losing MCC Grant

Dec 18, 2020 0 3 minutes 11 seconds to read

December 18: The government faces risk of losing US grant under the Millennium Challenge Corporation due to its…

United States Willing to Provide Technical Assistance under Preferential Trade Agreement

Dec 18, 2020 0 3 minutes 15 seconds to read

December 18: The United States has expressed willingness to provide further technical assistance to Nepal to increase trade and investment under the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) between the two countries to promote preferential…

Government Lifts Odd-Even Rule for Vehicles

Dec 18, 2020 0 2 minutes 53 seconds to read

December 18: The government has lifted the odd-even rule for operating vehicles in Kathmandu Valley effective from Friday (December 18).…

Shipping Companies using Unauthorized Agents

Dec 17, 2020 0 2 minutes 10 seconds to read

December 17: Indian transport companies have been found working as agents of shipping companies without…

Government’s Able to Spend 30 Percent of Total Budget in 5 Months

Dec 17, 2020 0 3 minutes 24 seconds to read

December 17: The government had announced a budget of Rs 1.474 trillion for the current fiscal year 2020/21 with the objective of achieving 7 percent economic…

Sugarcane Farmers Warn of Hunger Strike

Dec 17, 2020 0 2 minutes 4 seconds to read

December 17: Sugarcane farmers, who have been protesting in Kathmandu since four days to recover their due payment from sugar mills, have now warned to go on a hunger strike if they do not receive their…

Deposit Collection, Flow of Loans Improving: NBA

Dec 16, 2020 0 2 minutes 43 seconds to read

December 16: Deposit collection of commercial banks has improved in the past one month. The flow of loan has also increased, according to Nepal Bankers Association…

Detailed Study Report of 4 Major Projects Submitted to IBN

Dec 17, 2020 0 2 minutes 5 seconds to read

December 17: Developers of four major infrastructure projects facilitated by the Investment Board of Nepal (IBN) have submitted a detailed study report of the projects to the…

Large Sum of Project Money is Taken by Foreign Consultants

Dec 16, 2020 0 2 minutes 46 seconds to read

December 16: The Department of Roads has been hiring consultants for detailed study despite having 27 technical experts at its disposal working in the department’s Project Directorate…

Arresting Defaulting Sugar Mill Owners is not the Solution to the Problem: Sugarcane Farmers

Dec 16, 2020 0 2 minutes 59 seconds to read

December 16: The agitating sugarcane farmers who have arrived in the capital seeking government support for the release of their due payment from sugar factories have said arresting the factory owners will not resolve their payment…

New Ordinance Further Divides the Ruling Party

Dec 16, 2020 0 1 minutes 56 seconds to read

December 16: The internal dispute within the ruling Nepal Communist Party has taken a new twist.…

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No Laughing Matter

The Sweet Rewards of Power

By Madan Lamsal

. . .
read more »

NEPSE

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			'id' => '12828',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Government to Avail Covid-19 Vaccine Free of Cost: Finance Minister',
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			'summary' => 'December 20: Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel has said that the government is working on providing the coronavirus vaccine free of cost to all the citizens of Nepal on priority basis.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">December 20: Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel has said that the government is working on providing the coronavirus vaccine free of cost to all the citizens of Nepal on priority basis.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">In a meeting with the representatives of the Society of Economic Journalists of Nepal (SEJON), Finance Minister Poudel said that just like the treatment for the coronavirus, the government is working to make the vaccine free of cost to all Nepalis. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Although there is preparation to vaccinate the entire population of Nepal, Minister Poudel said that children under the age of 14 won&rsquo;t be vaccinated. He added that the frontline workers will be the first to receive the shots followed by elderly people and then the rest of other citizens.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Minister Poudel also clarified that the government is not struggling to arrange budget for the purchase of the vaccine unlike what some media has been reporting. He confirmed that there is no shortage of finance for the government for the purchase of vaccine and that the citizens will not have to bear any cost to get the shots. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">&ldquo;It is the responsibility of Finance Ministry to manage funds for the vaccine,&rdquo; said Minister Poudel, adding, &ldquo;I want to assure you all that there won&rsquo;t be any shortage of funds for this purpose.&rdquo;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Minister Poudel further informed that the government is in constant touch with the manufacturing company as well as with the vaccine developing nations, to make sure the vaccine becomes available in Nepal as soon as it hits the international market. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'id' => '12827',
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			'title' => 'Arrival of Visitors through International Flights drops Significantly',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'December 20: The arrival of visitors to Nepal reduced significantly in the first nine months of 2020 due to Covid-19 pandemic. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">December 20: The arrival of visitors to Nepal reduced significantly in the first nine months of 2020 due to Covid-19 pandemic. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), a total of 927,208 visitors arrived in Nepal between January to September 2020. The number of visitors in the corresponding period of last fiscal year was 4.13 million. Similarly, 4.34 million travellers had entered&nbsp; Nepal in 2018. The figure for 2017 was 3.88 million.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">According to CAAN Spokesperson Raj Kumar Chhetri, the figures were based on arrival of passengers through air route.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">CAAN informed that a total of 787,040 passengers traveled through domestic airports during the review period. The number of domestic travellers in 2019 was 3.18 million while that in 2018 was 2.84 million and 2.45 million in 2017.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">A total of 30 international airline companies, including three of Nepal, operate flights to 32 destinations of 15 different countries.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">In the domestic sector, a total of nine-fixed winged aircraft and 10 helicopters operate in Nepal.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation says that the government had set a target of welcoming 2 million tourists in Nepal in 2020 but that did not materialize die to the pandemic.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Tourism Minister Yogesh Bhattarai says that although the government&rsquo;s decision to celebrate 2020 as visit Nepal year 2020 could not materialize, its focus now is to observe 2021 as a year for domestic tourism.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Although the government has not made any formal announcement&nbsp; yet, it is widely believed that it will be promoting domestic tourism in 2021. The ministry has also started discussing the topic of 2-day holiday during weekends for promoting internal tourism.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The lockdown imposed by the government on March 24 to curb the spread if coronavirus had disrupted international flights since a long time. The suspension of domestic flights also caused a considerable loss in terms of flow of tourists. Although the ban on international flights were lifted on September 1<sup>st</sup> the arrival of visitors has not been that much encouraging due to fear of contracting the disease.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'id' => '12826',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Shree Ram Sugar Mills ‘Starts’ Clearing Dues of Farmers ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'December 20: Shree Ram Sugar Mills Limited, Rautahat has started depositing the due amount in the accounts of sugarcane farmers. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">December 20: Shree Ram Sugar Mills Limited, Rautahat has started depositing the due amount in the accounts of sugarcane farmers. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The sugar mill said in a statement on Friday that it has started depositing the amount which it could not release earlier due to various circumstances that caused losses to the mill. The operators of the mill also apologized to the sugarcane farmers for the delay in payment of the due amount.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">In the first phase, the sugar mill claimed that it deposited Rs 160 million of 5,300 farmers.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">But the farmers, who have been protesting in the capital since last Sunday, said that they were not aware of the due amount being deposited in the bank accounts. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Shankar Man Yadav, a sugarcane farmer from Rautahat, said that he was informed on Friday evening that the due amount was deposited in his bank account. He, however, said that he is not aware whether the amount has been actually deposited or not because the bank was closed on Saturday.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">&ldquo;It is a good news if the money has been deposited in bank account. I hope other sugar mills also release the dues in similar way,&rdquo; said Yadav.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><img alt="" src="/app/webroot/userfiles/images/My%20Effect%281%29.jpg" style="height:600px; width:794px" /></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'id' => '12824',
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			'title' => 'Government Unveils Integrated Policy on Water Resources for the First Time',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'December 18: The Government of Nepal has for the first time unveiled the National Water Resources Policy 2077. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">December 18: The Government of Nepal has for the first time unveiled the National Water Resources Policy 2077. The Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation made the policy public on Thursday (December 18).</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Barsha Man Pun unveiled the policy amid an official programme at the ministry.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">This is the first time that a integrated policy related to water resources has been announced by the government. Prior to this, there were separate policies related to drinking water, irrigation, electricity, water-induced crisis management among others. All of the issues have been collectively included in the integrated policy.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The new policy has seven main objectives and 11 strategies to achieve those goals. The policy is basically focused on multi-dimensional and sustainable development of water resources and has a vision to attain economic prosperity and social transformation through multipurpose use of water resources.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The policy has highly prioritized study, research, multipurpose use, development, management and regulation of water resources.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">It also focuses on institutionalizing research and studies based on evidences while preserving and regulating water resources. As per the new policy, water resources will be preserved and utilized in coordination between the local units and provincial governments.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The government also has a vision to develop master plan for hydroelectricity production, irrigation, drinking water, fishery and tourism activities in river basins. The master plan will be updated every ten years.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The policy stresses on making water resources easily available to the citizens at an affordable price. It also has provision to mitigate the adverse effects that development of water resources might have on environment.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The government also intends to identify the sources of hot springs within the country and put them on best use. Another vital issue included in the policy is the use of water ways to connect with sea ports in collaboration with neighbouring countries.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'id' => '12823',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Nepal Risks Losing MCC Grant',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'December 18: The government faces risk of losing US grant under the Millennium Challenge Corporation due to its indecision.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">December 18: The government faces risk of losing US grant under the Millennium Challenge Corporation due to its indecision.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The government had set a target to mobilize Rs 9.1 billion from the MCC fund in the current fiscal year. However, it has not been able to utilize the fund pledged by the US government as the agreement is yet to be endorsed by the parliament.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The parliament has not been able to endorse the grant agreement due to strong opposition from various leaders, including those from the ruling party. The leaders have demanded amendment to some provisions mentioned in the agreement but the government is yet to settle the issue. There is a clause that the MCC grant agreement must be endorsed by the parliament and implemented within 5 years, but time is running out as the issue of amendment is yet to be addressed. This has given rise to concerns that there is high chances of losing the grant by the government.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Meanwhile, the US government-backed MCC has scrapped a US$ 480 million deal with Sri Lanka. A meeting of the board of directors of MCC decided to reject the deal following a meeting in Washington on Tuesday (December 15). </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">&ldquo;The MCC board meeting on December 15 selected new countries for providing grant assistance. The meeting has also rejected the proposed deal with Sri Lanka,&rdquo; reads a statement issued by MCC.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Sri Lanka had also signed the MCC deal but the deal was not endorsed by the parliament. Sri Lanka was also having similar debate like in Nepal regarding whether or not to endorse the grant agreement. Sri Lanka had signed a USD 480 million deal with MCC in April 2019.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Although the Government of Nepal has said it is ready to amend some provisions related to the agreement, it has not taken any decision so far. The USA has shown concerns regarding the delay in endorsing the agreement. The delay in taking a decision can lead to the scrapping of the deal.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The Government of Nepal had signed a Rs 55 billion deal with MCC in September 2017 for cross-border transmission lines. The government had pledged to implement the deal from July 2020 after completing all the required processes. However, it has not been able to implement the deal due to the obstruction in parliament.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">&nbsp;Former Finance Minister Ram Sharan Mahat says that there are obstructions in endorsing the MCC agreement from the ruling party itself.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'id' => '12822',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'United States Willing to Provide Technical Assistance under Preferential Trade Agreement',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'December 18: The United States has expressed willingness to provide further technical assistance to Nepal to increase trade and investment under the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) between the two countries to promote preferential trade.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">December 18: The United States has expressed willingness to provide further technical assistance to Nepal to increase trade and investment under the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) between the two countries to promote preferential trade.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">The US made such remark during the fifth meeting of the </span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">United States-Nepal Council on Trade and Investment held virtually on December 15.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">A joint statement issued by the US and Nepal says that the two sides held discussions to promote expanded bilateral trade and investment in both goods and services. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">The meeting was co-chaired by Christopher Wilson, Assistant United States Trade Representative for South and Central Asia, and Baikuntha Aryal, Secretary at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies of Nepal.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">During the meeting, representatives from both countries discussed a range of bilateral trade and investment-related issues covered under the TIFA, including, among others, customs and trade facilitation, intellectual property, digital trade and e-commerce, labor, financial services, investment promotion, trade in agriculture products, and utilization of the Nepal Trade Preference Program, the statement added.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">The United States affirmed its engagement with Nepal on its efforts to foster innovation and investment through improvements in intellectual property protection and enforcement. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Nepal provided an update on its initiatives to increase intellectual property protection through legislative changes. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Recognizing the important role of digital trade in fostering economic growth, Nepal and the United States agreed to explore ways to deepen engagement on policy developments affecting the digital economy. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">According to the statement, the United States welcomed Nepal&rsquo;s efforts to promote internationally recognized worker rights and the implementation of Nepal&rsquo;s labor laws.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Nepal and the United States also discussed the importance of fully utilizing US preferential trade benefits for select products from Nepal, available through December 31, 2025 as a result of the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">During the meeting, Nepal reportedly provided an update on recent investment policy reform initiatives taken to improve its investment climate, and emphasized its interest in attracting additional foreign investment from the United States.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Both governments pledged their commitment to deepen their engagement in these issue areas over the coming months in inter-sessional meetings and to hold the 6<sup>th</sup> TIFA Council Meeting in Kathmandu, Nepal as soon as travel conditions permit.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 6 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12821',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Government Lifts Odd-Even Rule for Vehicles',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'December 18: The government has lifted the odd-even rule for operating vehicles in Kathmandu Valley effective from Friday (December 18). ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">December 18: The government has lifted the odd-even rule for operating vehicles in Kathmandu Valley effective from Friday (December 18). The rule which was imposed to curb the spread of coronavirus has been removed after a decline in cases of coronavirus.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">A meeting of security agencies, including the traffic police force, district administrations, and transport entrepreneurs on Thursday decided to end the odd-even system.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Chief District Officer of Kathmandu Kali Prasad Parajuli informed that all vehicles will be allowed to operate from Friday but it is mandatory for them to adopt safety measures as per the standard health protocol set by the government. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The government had imposed the odd-even rule in Kathmandu Valley on September 22 to minimize overcrowding of streets so that the spreading of virus could be checked to some extent.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Transport entrepreneurs had requested the government to remove the odd-even rule after the government and private offices started operating full time in recent days. They argued that the odd-even rule contributed to overcrowding of vehicles as offices started opening. The government was also facing criticism for opening other sectors but restricting vehicular movement. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The Federation of Nepalese National Transport Entrepreneurs informed that all public vehicles will abide by the safety protocols of the government while operating from now onwards.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Meanwhile, the government is preparing to test antigens of 300,000 persons for traces of coronavirus in the month of Poush (mid-December to mid-January). The Ministry of Health and Population informed that the antigen test would give them a clear picture regarding whether coronavirus has spread at the community level or not.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The tests will be conducted from coming Sunday in areas across the country where more than 200 active cases have been reported, according to Mahendra Prasad Shrestha, the focal person of Covid-19 unit of the ministry.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">&ldquo;We have deployed skilled workers across the country. We will focus on hot spots,&nbsp; big cities and densely populated areas for the tests. The ministry informed that the result from antigen test will be available instantly after placing the swab sample in a kit. &nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 7 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12816',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Shipping Companies using Unauthorized Agents ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'December 17: Indian transport companies have been found working as agents of shipping companies without authorization.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Bangla MN&quot;">December 17: Indian transport companies have been found working as agents of shipping companies without authorization. The shipping companies that have been delivering goods to Nepal have been allegedly using Indian transportation companies to deliver goods.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Bangla MN&quot;">Nepali importers have accused that the Indian shipping companies that are yet to be registered in Nepal have been charging fare arbitrarily for their services. They have employed Indian transport companies to facilitate the delivery of goods. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Bangla MN&quot;">The Government of Nepal on the other hand is helpless regarding the domination that the Indian shipping and transportation companies enjoy. Altogether 21 shipping companies are involved in transporting goods to Nepal from overseas. None of them have been registered in Nepal. Most of the shipping companies have been delivering goods illegally through their agents.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Bangla MN&quot;">Although Maerks Shipping Line has registered its agent&rsquo;s office in Nepal, others have handed over the responsibility of delivering goods to unregistered companies. However, Maerks has also not registered a fully authorized agent for the purpose.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Bangla MN&quot;">The payment of delivery order of containers is done at the offices of the shipping companies in India. The government has however given permission for unregistered transport companies to operate their office at Birgunj Dry Port.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Bangla MN&quot;">Unauthorised companies have only added extre burden to the import cost, says entrepreneur Om Prakash Moore.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Bangla MN&quot;">&ldquo;The companies that have not been registered in Nepal are allowed to operate their office at the dry port,&rdquo; said Moore, adding, &ldquo;The import cost is expensive because the government itself is protecting unauthorized agents.&rdquo;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 8 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12815',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Government’s Able to Spend 30 Percent of Total Budget in 5 Months ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'December 17: The government had announced a budget of Rs 1.474 trillion for the current fiscal year 2020/21 with the objective of achieving 7 percent economic growth.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">December 17: The government had announced a budget of Rs 1.474 trillion for the current fiscal year 2020/21 with the objective of achieving 7 percent economic growth. However, after completion of the first five months of the current fiscal year, the government has been able to spend only 30 percent of the annual budget. The government&rsquo;s expenditure of development budget is so far is only 10 percent. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Although the government had announced the budget by prioritizing health sector, revival of economy, employment, agriculture, social security and relief for people affected by coronavirus, it has been unable to spend the budget due to weak implementation of the policies and programmes included in the budget.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">According to the Financial Comptroller General&rsquo;s Office, which keeps the records of government&rsquo;s income and expenditure, the government has spend 30.95 percent of the total budget as of end of Mangshir (mid-December) in the current fiscal year.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Out of the total current expenditure of Rs 948.94 billion, the government has spent Rs 280.74 billion. The government&rsquo;s expenditure under the same heading this year is more than last year by&nbsp; 3 percent.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Similarly, the government has spent only 10.18 percent of the development budget allocated for this year in the first five months. The government&rsquo;s capital expenditure in the corresponding period of last fiscal year was only 9.22 billion.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The government had allocated a total of Rs 315.91 billion for capital expenditure this year, out of which it has spent Rs 35.94 billion.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Since the budget for the current fiscal year is less than that of the previous FY, the government&rsquo;s expenditure is comparatively more than that of last year. However, experts believe that the government&rsquo;s spending is far less than expected. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Officials at the Ministry of Finance say that the low capital expenditure is due to the decline in development works due to coronavirus during the initial period of the current fiscal year.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">According to Joint Secretary Yam Lal Bhusal at the finance ministry, the government has already prepared work procedures for various works by mid-December and therefore the budget expenditure will now increase significantly.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Similarly, out of Rs 172.78 billion allocated for the financial management, the government has spent only Rs 11.77 billion during the review period. The government has been repaying loan and interest to international donor agencies and has also been providing loan investment to various government organisations under the heading of financial management. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Looking at the progress made in terms of budget expenditure in the first five months of the current fiscal&nbsp; year, the implementation of government&rsquo;s ambitious programmes seems to be moving ahead at snail&rsquo;s pace.&nbsp; Economist Keshav Acharya says that the budget expenditure of the government clearly shows that the implementation of programmes included in the budget is weak. He says that there are some policy-level hurdles in spending budget while the government officials are also often the hurdle in government expenditure.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 9 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12820',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Sugarcane Farmers Warn of Hunger Strike ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'December 17: Sugarcane farmers, who have been protesting in Kathmandu since four days to recover their due payment from sugar mills, have now warned to go on a hunger strike if they do not receive their payment.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">December 17: Sugarcane farmers, who have been protesting in Kathmandu since four days to recover their due payment from sugar mills, have now warned to go on a hunger strike if they do not receive their payment. According to Hari Shyam Raya, secretary of the Sugarcane Farmers&#39; Struggle Committee, Sarlahi, the government should have fulfilled its five-point commitment made with the farmers last year. However, he said that the government was not serious about it and was taking a different path. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">He further says that they are not hopeful of getting money by arresting the operators of the sugar mills. &ldquo;If we don&rsquo;t get the money within a week, we will go on a relay hunger strike,&rdquo; he said. Last year on January 3, the sugar mill owners had made a five-point agreement with the farmers in the presence of the government and agreed to pay the entire amount by January 21, 2020. This time, the farmers are thinking of returning only after receiving their money. Farmers from other districts are increasingly coming to Kathmandu to support the protest. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">When the sugarcane farmers of Sarlahi started protesting at Maitighar on Sunday, only about 100 people had participated. Sugarcane farmers from Nawalparasi, Bara, Parsa, Rautahat and Saptari have also arrived in Kathmandu on Wednesday. As of Wednesday, the number of protesting farmers has reached 500. The committee stated that they will gather 1,000 farmers within a week. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Even though the government has invited the sugarcane farmers for talks, they refused to sit for talks until they receive their money. Ram Raya, president of the committee said that as their main demand is to receive their due money, they will not return until they get the payment. Furthermore, he urged the government not to consider their protest as weak, as the locals of Kathmandu are also supporting their demonstration. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 10 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12812',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Deposit Collection, Flow of Loans Improving: NBA',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'December 16: Deposit collection of commercial banks has improved in the past one month. The flow of loan has also increased, according to Nepal Bankers Association (NBA).',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">December 16: Deposit collection of commercial banks has improved in the past one month. The flow of loan has also increased, according to Nepal Bankers Association (NBA).</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The association informed that the deposit collection of 27 commercial banks increased by Rs 46 billion in the month of Mangsir (mid-November to mid-December). The total deposits of the commercial bank currently stands at Rs 3,694 billion.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Deposit collection in the month of Kartik (mid-October to mid-November) was in deficit by Rs 6 billion. Banks have recently lowered the interest on deposits after lowering the rate of interest on loans. Experts believe that deposit collection might have become negative due to the lowering of interest rate. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">However, chairman of Nepal Bankers Association Bhuvan Kumar Dahal says it is not because of the low interest rate that the deposit collection slumped. He says the negative deposit collection is a result of decline in remittance and increase in imports.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">&ldquo;The rate of inflation is still hovering around 4 percent at present. The rate of interest that the banks provide to savings accounts should be similar to the rate of inflation. Most of the banks have fixed the interest rate for general savings account at more than 4 percent. Some even provide 5 percent interest,&rdquo; said Dahal.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The association informed that both deposit collection and flow of loans have improved in the review period.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The flow of loan in the month of Mangsir has reached Rs 49 billion while the total loans given out by the banks stands at Rs 3101 billion, informed Dahal. This is an increase compared to the previous month.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The flow of loan in the month of Kartik (mid-October to mid-November) was Rs 17 billion. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Chairman Dahal says that financial activities have increased after Tihar festival. He says that the banks&rsquo; customers are increasingly opening Letter of Credit (LC) while the transactions are also increasing.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 11 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12817',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Detailed Study Report of 4 Major Projects Submitted to IBN',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'December 17: Developers of four major infrastructure projects facilitated by the Investment Board of Nepal (IBN) have submitted a detailed study report of the projects to the board.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Helvetica">December 17: Developers of four major infrastructure projects facilitated by the Investment Board of Nepal (IBN) have submitted a detailed study report of the projects to the board.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Helvetica">Private Freight Terminal and Bulk Handling Facilities to be constructed in Birgunj and Bhairahawa are among the four projects. Fash Freight Logistics and International Cargo Terminal and Infrastructure Private Limited is the developer of the projects and has already submitted the detailed feasibility study report on Tuesday, December 15.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Helvetica">For the project, an agreement was reached between the Investment Board and the developer company on December 1, 2019.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Helvetica">Similarly, CG Logistics Pvt Ltd and Sarraf Group, the developer of the multi-model logistics park project to be constructed in Biratnagar, have also submitted the their reports. An agreement in this regard was reached between the board and the developing company on 17 June, 2019.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Helvetica">Likewise, Damak Clean Industrial Park has submitted its report on Monday, December 14, on behalf of the developer for the construction of China-Nepal Friendship Industrial Park project.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Helvetica">The 39th meeting of the Investment Board held on 2 July 2019 had approved an investment of USD 58.61 million for the construction of the project. The project will be constructed in Damak, Jhapa with the joint investment of Lhasa Economic and Technology Development Zone, Ching Ping Joint Creation Construction Project Development Company and Damak Clean Industrial Park.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Helvetica">Also, the developer company Muktinath Darshan Pvt Ltd has submitted its report on November 29, 2020, for the construction of the Birethanti-Muktinath cable car. The proposed 80.16 km long cable car will reach Muktinath via Birethanti, Ghorepani, Tatopani, Lete, Kowang, Tukuche, Marfa, and Jomsom.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12811',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Large Sum of Project Money is Taken by Foreign Consultants',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'December 16: The Department of Roads has been hiring consultants for detailed study despite having 27 technical experts at its disposal working in the department’s Project Directorate Office.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">December 16: The Department of Roads has been hiring consultants for detailed study despite having 27 technical experts at its disposal working in the department&rsquo;s Project Directorate Office.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The department has to spend excessive amount of budget for acquiring the services of consultants.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">According to the 57<sup>th</sup> report of the Office of the Financial&nbsp; Comptroller General, the total budget of four projects under the department which are being supported by the Asian Development Bank&nbsp; is US$ 273.1 million. Out of the total budget, the cost of hiring consultants alone is US$ 22.6 million which is 8.4 percent in average of the total amount.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The report further states that the department has so far appointed seven consultants and prepared project designs and cost estimates of the four projects. Besides that, the department has also been monitoring the work progress and quality control in addition to validating the bills presented by the construction companies.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The department admits weaknesses and flaws in its feasibility studies, detailed survey and designs at the division offices under the department due to limited number of human resources.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The report of the Financial Comptroller General&rsquo;s Office has pointed out the flaws in budget spent on road projects, birdges and other infrastructures as well as arrears and budget transfer and consultant service charge. The report has suggested the government to reduce the dependence on foreign consultancy service and to develop skilled manpower within the country.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">However, the first quarter report of the department states that the human resources at the department is currently not sufficient to conduct surveys and feasibility studies. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The department&rsquo;s internal report also states that the lack of budget ceiling while announcing the budget for different contracts has forced them to transfer budget from one heading to another.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The department claimed that it has been spending money on consultancy charge as per the existing laws. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'id' => '12810',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Arresting Defaulting Sugar Mill Owners is not the Solution to the Problem: Sugarcane Farmers',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'December 16: The agitating sugarcane farmers who have arrived in the capital seeking government support for the release of their due payment from sugar factories have said  arresting the factory owners will not resolve their payment issue.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">December 16: The agitating sugarcane farmers who have arrived in the capital seeking government support for the release of their due payment from sugar factories have said&nbsp; arresting the factory owners will not resolve their payment issue.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The remarks come after the Ministry of Home Affairs on Tuesday (December 16) directed the concerned district administration office to arrest the owners of four sugar mills that have defaulted in paying the farmers. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Secretary of Sugarcane Farmers Struggle Committee, Sarlahi, Hari Shyam Raya said that the arrests of sugar factory owners is not a matter of their concern. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">&ldquo;We will not get our money just because the government arrests the sugar factory owners. Therefore, the government must facilitate on compelling them to pay our due amounts instead of arresting them,&rdquo; said Raya. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The sugarcane farmers of Sarlahi have been protesting at Maitighar Mandala in the capital since the last three days demanding the release of their long-standing dues from the sugar factories.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">On the third day of the demonstration, the government issued arrest warrants against the operators of Indira Sugar Mill, Nawalparasi, Lumbini Sugar Mill, Nawalparasi, Annapurna Sugar Mill, Sarlahi and Shree Ram Sugar Mill, Rautahat for not paying the farmers.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The farmers argue that even though the police arrest the operators, they get released on bail soon while the issue of payment remains where it is. Therefore, chairman of the struggle committee Ram Raya says arresting the operators is not a solution to the problem because the main issue is related to their due amount. &nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Spokesperson at the home ministry Chakra Bahadur Budha admits arresting the sugar mill owners alone is not the solution but he assured that the defaulters would face strict action. He however did not specify what kind of action the ministry would take. According to Budha, the ministry has directed concerned authorities to arrest the defaulters and take necessary actions.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Meanwhile, the agitating farmers have intensified their protest saying that if the issue is not resolved soon they will demand interest on their due amount of Rs 900 million which the sugar mills are yet to pay. Around 300 sugarcane farmers were present during Tuesday&rsquo;s protest.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'id' => '12809',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'New Ordinance Further Divides the Ruling Party',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'December 16: The internal dispute within the ruling Nepal Communist Party has taken a new twist. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">December 16: The internal dispute within the ruling Nepal Communist Party has taken a new twist. The internal rift has further widened after Prime Minister KP Oli issued a new ordinance related to the Constitutional Council without consulting with the party leaders and cabinet ministers. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">President Bidya Devi Bhandari on Tuesday (December 15) issued the an ordinance to amend the Constitutional Council Act 2066 upon the recommendation of the prime minister.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The new ordinance has a provision that allows at least three members of the council including the prime minister to take vital decisions. Prior to this, there was a requirement for at least four members and the chairman&rsquo;s to endorse the decisions. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Tuesday&rsquo;s meeting took place despite the absence of main opposition party leader Sher Bahadur Deuba and lower house speaker Agni Sapkota. The meeting discussed about appointments to fill the vacant posts at various constitutional bodies but did not take any decision.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The constitutional council chaired by the prime minister has parliament speaker, upper house chairman, main opposition party leader, chief justice and deputy speaker as members.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The prime minister&rsquo;s decision to issue the ordinance at a time when he has been facing mounting criticism from the party&rsquo;s secretariat and standing committee members for the unilateral decisions he has been taking has further worsened the crisis within the party.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12828',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Government to Avail Covid-19 Vaccine Free of Cost: Finance Minister',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'December 20: Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel has said that the government is working on providing the coronavirus vaccine free of cost to all the citizens of Nepal on priority basis.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">December 20: Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel has said that the government is working on providing the coronavirus vaccine free of cost to all the citizens of Nepal on priority basis.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">In a meeting with the representatives of the Society of Economic Journalists of Nepal (SEJON), Finance Minister Poudel said that just like the treatment for the coronavirus, the government is working to make the vaccine free of cost to all Nepalis. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Although there is preparation to vaccinate the entire population of Nepal, Minister Poudel said that children under the age of 14 won&rsquo;t be vaccinated. He added that the frontline workers will be the first to receive the shots followed by elderly people and then the rest of other citizens.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Minister Poudel also clarified that the government is not struggling to arrange budget for the purchase of the vaccine unlike what some media has been reporting. He confirmed that there is no shortage of finance for the government for the purchase of vaccine and that the citizens will not have to bear any cost to get the shots. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">&ldquo;It is the responsibility of Finance Ministry to manage funds for the vaccine,&rdquo; said Minister Poudel, adding, &ldquo;I want to assure you all that there won&rsquo;t be any shortage of funds for this purpose.&rdquo;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Minister Poudel further informed that the government is in constant touch with the manufacturing company as well as with the vaccine developing nations, to make sure the vaccine becomes available in Nepal as soon as it hits the international market. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'title' => 'Arrival of Visitors through International Flights drops Significantly',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'December 20: The arrival of visitors to Nepal reduced significantly in the first nine months of 2020 due to Covid-19 pandemic. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">December 20: The arrival of visitors to Nepal reduced significantly in the first nine months of 2020 due to Covid-19 pandemic. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), a total of 927,208 visitors arrived in Nepal between January to September 2020. The number of visitors in the corresponding period of last fiscal year was 4.13 million. Similarly, 4.34 million travellers had entered&nbsp; Nepal in 2018. The figure for 2017 was 3.88 million.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">According to CAAN Spokesperson Raj Kumar Chhetri, the figures were based on arrival of passengers through air route.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">CAAN informed that a total of 787,040 passengers traveled through domestic airports during the review period. The number of domestic travellers in 2019 was 3.18 million while that in 2018 was 2.84 million and 2.45 million in 2017.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">A total of 30 international airline companies, including three of Nepal, operate flights to 32 destinations of 15 different countries.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">In the domestic sector, a total of nine-fixed winged aircraft and 10 helicopters operate in Nepal.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation says that the government had set a target of welcoming 2 million tourists in Nepal in 2020 but that did not materialize die to the pandemic.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Tourism Minister Yogesh Bhattarai says that although the government&rsquo;s decision to celebrate 2020 as visit Nepal year 2020 could not materialize, its focus now is to observe 2021 as a year for domestic tourism.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Although the government has not made any formal announcement&nbsp; yet, it is widely believed that it will be promoting domestic tourism in 2021. The ministry has also started discussing the topic of 2-day holiday during weekends for promoting internal tourism.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The lockdown imposed by the government on March 24 to curb the spread if coronavirus had disrupted international flights since a long time. The suspension of domestic flights also caused a considerable loss in terms of flow of tourists. Although the ban on international flights were lifted on September 1<sup>st</sup> the arrival of visitors has not been that much encouraging due to fear of contracting the disease.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'title' => 'Shree Ram Sugar Mills ‘Starts’ Clearing Dues of Farmers ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'December 20: Shree Ram Sugar Mills Limited, Rautahat has started depositing the due amount in the accounts of sugarcane farmers. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">December 20: Shree Ram Sugar Mills Limited, Rautahat has started depositing the due amount in the accounts of sugarcane farmers. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The sugar mill said in a statement on Friday that it has started depositing the amount which it could not release earlier due to various circumstances that caused losses to the mill. The operators of the mill also apologized to the sugarcane farmers for the delay in payment of the due amount.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">In the first phase, the sugar mill claimed that it deposited Rs 160 million of 5,300 farmers.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">But the farmers, who have been protesting in the capital since last Sunday, said that they were not aware of the due amount being deposited in the bank accounts. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Shankar Man Yadav, a sugarcane farmer from Rautahat, said that he was informed on Friday evening that the due amount was deposited in his bank account. He, however, said that he is not aware whether the amount has been actually deposited or not because the bank was closed on Saturday.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">&ldquo;It is a good news if the money has been deposited in bank account. I hope other sugar mills also release the dues in similar way,&rdquo; said Yadav.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><img alt="" src="/app/webroot/userfiles/images/My%20Effect%281%29.jpg" style="height:600px; width:794px" /></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 3 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12824',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Government Unveils Integrated Policy on Water Resources for the First Time',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'December 18: The Government of Nepal has for the first time unveiled the National Water Resources Policy 2077. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">December 18: The Government of Nepal has for the first time unveiled the National Water Resources Policy 2077. The Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation made the policy public on Thursday (December 18).</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Barsha Man Pun unveiled the policy amid an official programme at the ministry.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">This is the first time that a integrated policy related to water resources has been announced by the government. Prior to this, there were separate policies related to drinking water, irrigation, electricity, water-induced crisis management among others. All of the issues have been collectively included in the integrated policy.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The new policy has seven main objectives and 11 strategies to achieve those goals. The policy is basically focused on multi-dimensional and sustainable development of water resources and has a vision to attain economic prosperity and social transformation through multipurpose use of water resources.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The policy has highly prioritized study, research, multipurpose use, development, management and regulation of water resources.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">It also focuses on institutionalizing research and studies based on evidences while preserving and regulating water resources. As per the new policy, water resources will be preserved and utilized in coordination between the local units and provincial governments.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The government also has a vision to develop master plan for hydroelectricity production, irrigation, drinking water, fishery and tourism activities in river basins. The master plan will be updated every ten years.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The policy stresses on making water resources easily available to the citizens at an affordable price. It also has provision to mitigate the adverse effects that development of water resources might have on environment.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The government also intends to identify the sources of hot springs within the country and put them on best use. Another vital issue included in the policy is the use of water ways to connect with sea ports in collaboration with neighbouring countries.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 4 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12823',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Nepal Risks Losing MCC Grant',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'December 18: The government faces risk of losing US grant under the Millennium Challenge Corporation due to its indecision.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">December 18: The government faces risk of losing US grant under the Millennium Challenge Corporation due to its indecision.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The government had set a target to mobilize Rs 9.1 billion from the MCC fund in the current fiscal year. However, it has not been able to utilize the fund pledged by the US government as the agreement is yet to be endorsed by the parliament.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The parliament has not been able to endorse the grant agreement due to strong opposition from various leaders, including those from the ruling party. The leaders have demanded amendment to some provisions mentioned in the agreement but the government is yet to settle the issue. There is a clause that the MCC grant agreement must be endorsed by the parliament and implemented within 5 years, but time is running out as the issue of amendment is yet to be addressed. This has given rise to concerns that there is high chances of losing the grant by the government.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Meanwhile, the US government-backed MCC has scrapped a US$ 480 million deal with Sri Lanka. A meeting of the board of directors of MCC decided to reject the deal following a meeting in Washington on Tuesday (December 15). </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">&ldquo;The MCC board meeting on December 15 selected new countries for providing grant assistance. The meeting has also rejected the proposed deal with Sri Lanka,&rdquo; reads a statement issued by MCC.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Sri Lanka had also signed the MCC deal but the deal was not endorsed by the parliament. Sri Lanka was also having similar debate like in Nepal regarding whether or not to endorse the grant agreement. Sri Lanka had signed a USD 480 million deal with MCC in April 2019.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Although the Government of Nepal has said it is ready to amend some provisions related to the agreement, it has not taken any decision so far. The USA has shown concerns regarding the delay in endorsing the agreement. The delay in taking a decision can lead to the scrapping of the deal.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The Government of Nepal had signed a Rs 55 billion deal with MCC in September 2017 for cross-border transmission lines. The government had pledged to implement the deal from July 2020 after completing all the required processes. However, it has not been able to implement the deal due to the obstruction in parliament.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">&nbsp;Former Finance Minister Ram Sharan Mahat says that there are obstructions in endorsing the MCC agreement from the ruling party itself.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 5 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12822',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'United States Willing to Provide Technical Assistance under Preferential Trade Agreement',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'December 18: The United States has expressed willingness to provide further technical assistance to Nepal to increase trade and investment under the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) between the two countries to promote preferential trade.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">December 18: The United States has expressed willingness to provide further technical assistance to Nepal to increase trade and investment under the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) between the two countries to promote preferential trade.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">The US made such remark during the fifth meeting of the </span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">United States-Nepal Council on Trade and Investment held virtually on December 15.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">A joint statement issued by the US and Nepal says that the two sides held discussions to promote expanded bilateral trade and investment in both goods and services. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">The meeting was co-chaired by Christopher Wilson, Assistant United States Trade Representative for South and Central Asia, and Baikuntha Aryal, Secretary at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies of Nepal.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">During the meeting, representatives from both countries discussed a range of bilateral trade and investment-related issues covered under the TIFA, including, among others, customs and trade facilitation, intellectual property, digital trade and e-commerce, labor, financial services, investment promotion, trade in agriculture products, and utilization of the Nepal Trade Preference Program, the statement added.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">The United States affirmed its engagement with Nepal on its efforts to foster innovation and investment through improvements in intellectual property protection and enforcement. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Nepal provided an update on its initiatives to increase intellectual property protection through legislative changes. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Recognizing the important role of digital trade in fostering economic growth, Nepal and the United States agreed to explore ways to deepen engagement on policy developments affecting the digital economy. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">According to the statement, the United States welcomed Nepal&rsquo;s efforts to promote internationally recognized worker rights and the implementation of Nepal&rsquo;s labor laws.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Nepal and the United States also discussed the importance of fully utilizing US preferential trade benefits for select products from Nepal, available through December 31, 2025 as a result of the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">During the meeting, Nepal reportedly provided an update on recent investment policy reform initiatives taken to improve its investment climate, and emphasized its interest in attracting additional foreign investment from the United States.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Both governments pledged their commitment to deepen their engagement in these issue areas over the coming months in inter-sessional meetings and to hold the 6<sup>th</sup> TIFA Council Meeting in Kathmandu, Nepal as soon as travel conditions permit.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 6 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12821',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Government Lifts Odd-Even Rule for Vehicles',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'December 18: The government has lifted the odd-even rule for operating vehicles in Kathmandu Valley effective from Friday (December 18). ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">December 18: The government has lifted the odd-even rule for operating vehicles in Kathmandu Valley effective from Friday (December 18). The rule which was imposed to curb the spread of coronavirus has been removed after a decline in cases of coronavirus.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">A meeting of security agencies, including the traffic police force, district administrations, and transport entrepreneurs on Thursday decided to end the odd-even system.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Chief District Officer of Kathmandu Kali Prasad Parajuli informed that all vehicles will be allowed to operate from Friday but it is mandatory for them to adopt safety measures as per the standard health protocol set by the government. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The government had imposed the odd-even rule in Kathmandu Valley on September 22 to minimize overcrowding of streets so that the spreading of virus could be checked to some extent.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Transport entrepreneurs had requested the government to remove the odd-even rule after the government and private offices started operating full time in recent days. They argued that the odd-even rule contributed to overcrowding of vehicles as offices started opening. The government was also facing criticism for opening other sectors but restricting vehicular movement. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The Federation of Nepalese National Transport Entrepreneurs informed that all public vehicles will abide by the safety protocols of the government while operating from now onwards.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Meanwhile, the government is preparing to test antigens of 300,000 persons for traces of coronavirus in the month of Poush (mid-December to mid-January). The Ministry of Health and Population informed that the antigen test would give them a clear picture regarding whether coronavirus has spread at the community level or not.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The tests will be conducted from coming Sunday in areas across the country where more than 200 active cases have been reported, according to Mahendra Prasad Shrestha, the focal person of Covid-19 unit of the ministry.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">&ldquo;We have deployed skilled workers across the country. We will focus on hot spots,&nbsp; big cities and densely populated areas for the tests. The ministry informed that the result from antigen test will be available instantly after placing the swab sample in a kit. &nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 7 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12816',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Shipping Companies using Unauthorized Agents ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'December 17: Indian transport companies have been found working as agents of shipping companies without authorization.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Bangla MN&quot;">December 17: Indian transport companies have been found working as agents of shipping companies without authorization. The shipping companies that have been delivering goods to Nepal have been allegedly using Indian transportation companies to deliver goods.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Bangla MN&quot;">Nepali importers have accused that the Indian shipping companies that are yet to be registered in Nepal have been charging fare arbitrarily for their services. They have employed Indian transport companies to facilitate the delivery of goods. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Bangla MN&quot;">The Government of Nepal on the other hand is helpless regarding the domination that the Indian shipping and transportation companies enjoy. Altogether 21 shipping companies are involved in transporting goods to Nepal from overseas. None of them have been registered in Nepal. Most of the shipping companies have been delivering goods illegally through their agents.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Bangla MN&quot;">Although Maerks Shipping Line has registered its agent&rsquo;s office in Nepal, others have handed over the responsibility of delivering goods to unregistered companies. However, Maerks has also not registered a fully authorized agent for the purpose.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Bangla MN&quot;">The payment of delivery order of containers is done at the offices of the shipping companies in India. The government has however given permission for unregistered transport companies to operate their office at Birgunj Dry Port.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Bangla MN&quot;">Unauthorised companies have only added extre burden to the import cost, says entrepreneur Om Prakash Moore.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Bangla MN&quot;">&ldquo;The companies that have not been registered in Nepal are allowed to operate their office at the dry port,&rdquo; said Moore, adding, &ldquo;The import cost is expensive because the government itself is protecting unauthorized agents.&rdquo;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 8 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12815',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Government’s Able to Spend 30 Percent of Total Budget in 5 Months ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'December 17: The government had announced a budget of Rs 1.474 trillion for the current fiscal year 2020/21 with the objective of achieving 7 percent economic growth.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">December 17: The government had announced a budget of Rs 1.474 trillion for the current fiscal year 2020/21 with the objective of achieving 7 percent economic growth. However, after completion of the first five months of the current fiscal year, the government has been able to spend only 30 percent of the annual budget. The government&rsquo;s expenditure of development budget is so far is only 10 percent. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Although the government had announced the budget by prioritizing health sector, revival of economy, employment, agriculture, social security and relief for people affected by coronavirus, it has been unable to spend the budget due to weak implementation of the policies and programmes included in the budget.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">According to the Financial Comptroller General&rsquo;s Office, which keeps the records of government&rsquo;s income and expenditure, the government has spend 30.95 percent of the total budget as of end of Mangshir (mid-December) in the current fiscal year.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Out of the total current expenditure of Rs 948.94 billion, the government has spent Rs 280.74 billion. The government&rsquo;s expenditure under the same heading this year is more than last year by&nbsp; 3 percent.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Similarly, the government has spent only 10.18 percent of the development budget allocated for this year in the first five months. The government&rsquo;s capital expenditure in the corresponding period of last fiscal year was only 9.22 billion.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The government had allocated a total of Rs 315.91 billion for capital expenditure this year, out of which it has spent Rs 35.94 billion.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Since the budget for the current fiscal year is less than that of the previous FY, the government&rsquo;s expenditure is comparatively more than that of last year. However, experts believe that the government&rsquo;s spending is far less than expected. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Officials at the Ministry of Finance say that the low capital expenditure is due to the decline in development works due to coronavirus during the initial period of the current fiscal year.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">According to Joint Secretary Yam Lal Bhusal at the finance ministry, the government has already prepared work procedures for various works by mid-December and therefore the budget expenditure will now increase significantly.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Similarly, out of Rs 172.78 billion allocated for the financial management, the government has spent only Rs 11.77 billion during the review period. The government has been repaying loan and interest to international donor agencies and has also been providing loan investment to various government organisations under the heading of financial management. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Looking at the progress made in terms of budget expenditure in the first five months of the current fiscal&nbsp; year, the implementation of government&rsquo;s ambitious programmes seems to be moving ahead at snail&rsquo;s pace.&nbsp; Economist Keshav Acharya says that the budget expenditure of the government clearly shows that the implementation of programmes included in the budget is weak. He says that there are some policy-level hurdles in spending budget while the government officials are also often the hurdle in government expenditure.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 9 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12820',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Sugarcane Farmers Warn of Hunger Strike ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'December 17: Sugarcane farmers, who have been protesting in Kathmandu since four days to recover their due payment from sugar mills, have now warned to go on a hunger strike if they do not receive their payment.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">December 17: Sugarcane farmers, who have been protesting in Kathmandu since four days to recover their due payment from sugar mills, have now warned to go on a hunger strike if they do not receive their payment. According to Hari Shyam Raya, secretary of the Sugarcane Farmers&#39; Struggle Committee, Sarlahi, the government should have fulfilled its five-point commitment made with the farmers last year. However, he said that the government was not serious about it and was taking a different path. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">He further says that they are not hopeful of getting money by arresting the operators of the sugar mills. &ldquo;If we don&rsquo;t get the money within a week, we will go on a relay hunger strike,&rdquo; he said. Last year on January 3, the sugar mill owners had made a five-point agreement with the farmers in the presence of the government and agreed to pay the entire amount by January 21, 2020. This time, the farmers are thinking of returning only after receiving their money. Farmers from other districts are increasingly coming to Kathmandu to support the protest. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">When the sugarcane farmers of Sarlahi started protesting at Maitighar on Sunday, only about 100 people had participated. Sugarcane farmers from Nawalparasi, Bara, Parsa, Rautahat and Saptari have also arrived in Kathmandu on Wednesday. As of Wednesday, the number of protesting farmers has reached 500. The committee stated that they will gather 1,000 farmers within a week. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Even though the government has invited the sugarcane farmers for talks, they refused to sit for talks until they receive their money. Ram Raya, president of the committee said that as their main demand is to receive their due money, they will not return until they get the payment. Furthermore, he urged the government not to consider their protest as weak, as the locals of Kathmandu are also supporting their demonstration. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12812',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Deposit Collection, Flow of Loans Improving: NBA',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'December 16: Deposit collection of commercial banks has improved in the past one month. The flow of loan has also increased, according to Nepal Bankers Association (NBA).',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">December 16: Deposit collection of commercial banks has improved in the past one month. The flow of loan has also increased, according to Nepal Bankers Association (NBA).</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The association informed that the deposit collection of 27 commercial banks increased by Rs 46 billion in the month of Mangsir (mid-November to mid-December). The total deposits of the commercial bank currently stands at Rs 3,694 billion.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Deposit collection in the month of Kartik (mid-October to mid-November) was in deficit by Rs 6 billion. Banks have recently lowered the interest on deposits after lowering the rate of interest on loans. Experts believe that deposit collection might have become negative due to the lowering of interest rate. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">However, chairman of Nepal Bankers Association Bhuvan Kumar Dahal says it is not because of the low interest rate that the deposit collection slumped. He says the negative deposit collection is a result of decline in remittance and increase in imports.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">&ldquo;The rate of inflation is still hovering around 4 percent at present. The rate of interest that the banks provide to savings accounts should be similar to the rate of inflation. Most of the banks have fixed the interest rate for general savings account at more than 4 percent. Some even provide 5 percent interest,&rdquo; said Dahal.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The association informed that both deposit collection and flow of loans have improved in the review period.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The flow of loan in the month of Mangsir has reached Rs 49 billion while the total loans given out by the banks stands at Rs 3101 billion, informed Dahal. This is an increase compared to the previous month.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The flow of loan in the month of Kartik (mid-October to mid-November) was Rs 17 billion. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Chairman Dahal says that financial activities have increased after Tihar festival. He says that the banks&rsquo; customers are increasingly opening Letter of Credit (LC) while the transactions are also increasing.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 11 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12817',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Detailed Study Report of 4 Major Projects Submitted to IBN',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'December 17: Developers of four major infrastructure projects facilitated by the Investment Board of Nepal (IBN) have submitted a detailed study report of the projects to the board.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Helvetica">December 17: Developers of four major infrastructure projects facilitated by the Investment Board of Nepal (IBN) have submitted a detailed study report of the projects to the board.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Helvetica">Private Freight Terminal and Bulk Handling Facilities to be constructed in Birgunj and Bhairahawa are among the four projects. Fash Freight Logistics and International Cargo Terminal and Infrastructure Private Limited is the developer of the projects and has already submitted the detailed feasibility study report on Tuesday, December 15.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Helvetica">For the project, an agreement was reached between the Investment Board and the developer company on December 1, 2019.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Helvetica">Similarly, CG Logistics Pvt Ltd and Sarraf Group, the developer of the multi-model logistics park project to be constructed in Biratnagar, have also submitted the their reports. An agreement in this regard was reached between the board and the developing company on 17 June, 2019.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Helvetica">Likewise, Damak Clean Industrial Park has submitted its report on Monday, December 14, on behalf of the developer for the construction of China-Nepal Friendship Industrial Park project.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Helvetica">The 39th meeting of the Investment Board held on 2 July 2019 had approved an investment of USD 58.61 million for the construction of the project. The project will be constructed in Damak, Jhapa with the joint investment of Lhasa Economic and Technology Development Zone, Ching Ping Joint Creation Construction Project Development Company and Damak Clean Industrial Park.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Helvetica">Also, the developer company Muktinath Darshan Pvt Ltd has submitted its report on November 29, 2020, for the construction of the Birethanti-Muktinath cable car. The proposed 80.16 km long cable car will reach Muktinath via Birethanti, Ghorepani, Tatopani, Lete, Kowang, Tukuche, Marfa, and Jomsom.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 12 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12811',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Large Sum of Project Money is Taken by Foreign Consultants',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'December 16: The Department of Roads has been hiring consultants for detailed study despite having 27 technical experts at its disposal working in the department’s Project Directorate Office.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">December 16: The Department of Roads has been hiring consultants for detailed study despite having 27 technical experts at its disposal working in the department&rsquo;s Project Directorate Office.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The department has to spend excessive amount of budget for acquiring the services of consultants.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">According to the 57<sup>th</sup> report of the Office of the Financial&nbsp; Comptroller General, the total budget of four projects under the department which are being supported by the Asian Development Bank&nbsp; is US$ 273.1 million. Out of the total budget, the cost of hiring consultants alone is US$ 22.6 million which is 8.4 percent in average of the total amount.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The report further states that the department has so far appointed seven consultants and prepared project designs and cost estimates of the four projects. Besides that, the department has also been monitoring the work progress and quality control in addition to validating the bills presented by the construction companies.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The department admits weaknesses and flaws in its feasibility studies, detailed survey and designs at the division offices under the department due to limited number of human resources.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The report of the Financial Comptroller General&rsquo;s Office has pointed out the flaws in budget spent on road projects, birdges and other infrastructures as well as arrears and budget transfer and consultant service charge. The report has suggested the government to reduce the dependence on foreign consultancy service and to develop skilled manpower within the country.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">However, the first quarter report of the department states that the human resources at the department is currently not sufficient to conduct surveys and feasibility studies. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The department&rsquo;s internal report also states that the lack of budget ceiling while announcing the budget for different contracts has forced them to transfer budget from one heading to another.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The department claimed that it has been spending money on consultancy charge as per the existing laws. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 13 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12810',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Arresting Defaulting Sugar Mill Owners is not the Solution to the Problem: Sugarcane Farmers',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'December 16: The agitating sugarcane farmers who have arrived in the capital seeking government support for the release of their due payment from sugar factories have said  arresting the factory owners will not resolve their payment issue.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">December 16: The agitating sugarcane farmers who have arrived in the capital seeking government support for the release of their due payment from sugar factories have said&nbsp; arresting the factory owners will not resolve their payment issue.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The remarks come after the Ministry of Home Affairs on Tuesday (December 16) directed the concerned district administration office to arrest the owners of four sugar mills that have defaulted in paying the farmers. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Secretary of Sugarcane Farmers Struggle Committee, Sarlahi, Hari Shyam Raya said that the arrests of sugar factory owners is not a matter of their concern. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">&ldquo;We will not get our money just because the government arrests the sugar factory owners. Therefore, the government must facilitate on compelling them to pay our due amounts instead of arresting them,&rdquo; said Raya. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The sugarcane farmers of Sarlahi have been protesting at Maitighar Mandala in the capital since the last three days demanding the release of their long-standing dues from the sugar factories.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">On the third day of the demonstration, the government issued arrest warrants against the operators of Indira Sugar Mill, Nawalparasi, Lumbini Sugar Mill, Nawalparasi, Annapurna Sugar Mill, Sarlahi and Shree Ram Sugar Mill, Rautahat for not paying the farmers.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The farmers argue that even though the police arrest the operators, they get released on bail soon while the issue of payment remains where it is. Therefore, chairman of the struggle committee Ram Raya says arresting the operators is not a solution to the problem because the main issue is related to their due amount. &nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Spokesperson at the home ministry Chakra Bahadur Budha admits arresting the sugar mill owners alone is not the solution but he assured that the defaulters would face strict action. He however did not specify what kind of action the ministry would take. According to Budha, the ministry has directed concerned authorities to arrest the defaulters and take necessary actions.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Meanwhile, the agitating farmers have intensified their protest saying that if the issue is not resolved soon they will demand interest on their due amount of Rs 900 million which the sugar mills are yet to pay. Around 300 sugarcane farmers were present during Tuesday&rsquo;s protest.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12809',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'New Ordinance Further Divides the Ruling Party',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'December 16: The internal dispute within the ruling Nepal Communist Party has taken a new twist. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">December 16: The internal dispute within the ruling Nepal Communist Party has taken a new twist. The internal rift has further widened after Prime Minister KP Oli issued a new ordinance related to the Constitutional Council without consulting with the party leaders and cabinet ministers. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">President Bidya Devi Bhandari on Tuesday (December 15) issued the an ordinance to amend the Constitutional Council Act 2066 upon the recommendation of the prime minister.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The new ordinance has a provision that allows at least three members of the council including the prime minister to take vital decisions. Prior to this, there was a requirement for at least four members and the chairman&rsquo;s to endorse the decisions. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Tuesday&rsquo;s meeting took place despite the absence of main opposition party leader Sher Bahadur Deuba and lower house speaker Agni Sapkota. The meeting discussed about appointments to fill the vacant posts at various constitutional bodies but did not take any decision.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The constitutional council chaired by the prime minister has parliament speaker, upper house chairman, main opposition party leader, chief justice and deputy speaker as members.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The prime minister&rsquo;s decision to issue the ordinance at a time when he has been facing mounting criticism from the party&rsquo;s secretariat and standing committee members for the unilateral decisions he has been taking has further worsened the crisis within the party.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'id' => '12828',
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			'title' => 'Government to Avail Covid-19 Vaccine Free of Cost: Finance Minister',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'December 20: Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel has said that the government is working on providing the coronavirus vaccine free of cost to all the citizens of Nepal on priority basis.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">December 20: Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel has said that the government is working on providing the coronavirus vaccine free of cost to all the citizens of Nepal on priority basis.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">In a meeting with the representatives of the Society of Economic Journalists of Nepal (SEJON), Finance Minister Poudel said that just like the treatment for the coronavirus, the government is working to make the vaccine free of cost to all Nepalis. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Although there is preparation to vaccinate the entire population of Nepal, Minister Poudel said that children under the age of 14 won&rsquo;t be vaccinated. He added that the frontline workers will be the first to receive the shots followed by elderly people and then the rest of other citizens.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Minister Poudel also clarified that the government is not struggling to arrange budget for the purchase of the vaccine unlike what some media has been reporting. He confirmed that there is no shortage of finance for the government for the purchase of vaccine and that the citizens will not have to bear any cost to get the shots. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">&ldquo;It is the responsibility of Finance Ministry to manage funds for the vaccine,&rdquo; said Minister Poudel, adding, &ldquo;I want to assure you all that there won&rsquo;t be any shortage of funds for this purpose.&rdquo;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Minister Poudel further informed that the government is in constant touch with the manufacturing company as well as with the vaccine developing nations, to make sure the vaccine becomes available in Nepal as soon as it hits the international market. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'id' => '12827',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Arrival of Visitors through International Flights drops Significantly',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'December 20: The arrival of visitors to Nepal reduced significantly in the first nine months of 2020 due to Covid-19 pandemic. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">December 20: The arrival of visitors to Nepal reduced significantly in the first nine months of 2020 due to Covid-19 pandemic. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), a total of 927,208 visitors arrived in Nepal between January to September 2020. The number of visitors in the corresponding period of last fiscal year was 4.13 million. Similarly, 4.34 million travellers had entered&nbsp; Nepal in 2018. The figure for 2017 was 3.88 million.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">According to CAAN Spokesperson Raj Kumar Chhetri, the figures were based on arrival of passengers through air route.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">CAAN informed that a total of 787,040 passengers traveled through domestic airports during the review period. The number of domestic travellers in 2019 was 3.18 million while that in 2018 was 2.84 million and 2.45 million in 2017.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">A total of 30 international airline companies, including three of Nepal, operate flights to 32 destinations of 15 different countries.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">In the domestic sector, a total of nine-fixed winged aircraft and 10 helicopters operate in Nepal.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation says that the government had set a target of welcoming 2 million tourists in Nepal in 2020 but that did not materialize die to the pandemic.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Tourism Minister Yogesh Bhattarai says that although the government&rsquo;s decision to celebrate 2020 as visit Nepal year 2020 could not materialize, its focus now is to observe 2021 as a year for domestic tourism.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Although the government has not made any formal announcement&nbsp; yet, it is widely believed that it will be promoting domestic tourism in 2021. The ministry has also started discussing the topic of 2-day holiday during weekends for promoting internal tourism.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The lockdown imposed by the government on March 24 to curb the spread if coronavirus had disrupted international flights since a long time. The suspension of domestic flights also caused a considerable loss in terms of flow of tourists. Although the ban on international flights were lifted on September 1<sup>st</sup> the arrival of visitors has not been that much encouraging due to fear of contracting the disease.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Shree Ram Sugar Mills ‘Starts’ Clearing Dues of Farmers ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'December 20: Shree Ram Sugar Mills Limited, Rautahat has started depositing the due amount in the accounts of sugarcane farmers. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">December 20: Shree Ram Sugar Mills Limited, Rautahat has started depositing the due amount in the accounts of sugarcane farmers. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The sugar mill said in a statement on Friday that it has started depositing the amount which it could not release earlier due to various circumstances that caused losses to the mill. The operators of the mill also apologized to the sugarcane farmers for the delay in payment of the due amount.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">In the first phase, the sugar mill claimed that it deposited Rs 160 million of 5,300 farmers.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">But the farmers, who have been protesting in the capital since last Sunday, said that they were not aware of the due amount being deposited in the bank accounts. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Shankar Man Yadav, a sugarcane farmer from Rautahat, said that he was informed on Friday evening that the due amount was deposited in his bank account. He, however, said that he is not aware whether the amount has been actually deposited or not because the bank was closed on Saturday.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">&ldquo;It is a good news if the money has been deposited in bank account. I hope other sugar mills also release the dues in similar way,&rdquo; said Yadav.</span></span></span></span></p>

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<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'id' => '12824',
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			'title' => 'Government Unveils Integrated Policy on Water Resources for the First Time',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'December 18: The Government of Nepal has for the first time unveiled the National Water Resources Policy 2077. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">December 18: The Government of Nepal has for the first time unveiled the National Water Resources Policy 2077. The Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation made the policy public on Thursday (December 18).</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Barsha Man Pun unveiled the policy amid an official programme at the ministry.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">This is the first time that a integrated policy related to water resources has been announced by the government. Prior to this, there were separate policies related to drinking water, irrigation, electricity, water-induced crisis management among others. All of the issues have been collectively included in the integrated policy.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The new policy has seven main objectives and 11 strategies to achieve those goals. The policy is basically focused on multi-dimensional and sustainable development of water resources and has a vision to attain economic prosperity and social transformation through multipurpose use of water resources.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The policy has highly prioritized study, research, multipurpose use, development, management and regulation of water resources.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">It also focuses on institutionalizing research and studies based on evidences while preserving and regulating water resources. As per the new policy, water resources will be preserved and utilized in coordination between the local units and provincial governments.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The government also has a vision to develop master plan for hydroelectricity production, irrigation, drinking water, fishery and tourism activities in river basins. The master plan will be updated every ten years.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The policy stresses on making water resources easily available to the citizens at an affordable price. It also has provision to mitigate the adverse effects that development of water resources might have on environment.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The government also intends to identify the sources of hot springs within the country and put them on best use. Another vital issue included in the policy is the use of water ways to connect with sea ports in collaboration with neighbouring countries.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'id' => '12823',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Nepal Risks Losing MCC Grant',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'December 18: The government faces risk of losing US grant under the Millennium Challenge Corporation due to its indecision.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">December 18: The government faces risk of losing US grant under the Millennium Challenge Corporation due to its indecision.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The government had set a target to mobilize Rs 9.1 billion from the MCC fund in the current fiscal year. However, it has not been able to utilize the fund pledged by the US government as the agreement is yet to be endorsed by the parliament.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The parliament has not been able to endorse the grant agreement due to strong opposition from various leaders, including those from the ruling party. The leaders have demanded amendment to some provisions mentioned in the agreement but the government is yet to settle the issue. There is a clause that the MCC grant agreement must be endorsed by the parliament and implemented within 5 years, but time is running out as the issue of amendment is yet to be addressed. This has given rise to concerns that there is high chances of losing the grant by the government.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Meanwhile, the US government-backed MCC has scrapped a US$ 480 million deal with Sri Lanka. A meeting of the board of directors of MCC decided to reject the deal following a meeting in Washington on Tuesday (December 15). </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">&ldquo;The MCC board meeting on December 15 selected new countries for providing grant assistance. The meeting has also rejected the proposed deal with Sri Lanka,&rdquo; reads a statement issued by MCC.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Sri Lanka had also signed the MCC deal but the deal was not endorsed by the parliament. Sri Lanka was also having similar debate like in Nepal regarding whether or not to endorse the grant agreement. Sri Lanka had signed a USD 480 million deal with MCC in April 2019.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Although the Government of Nepal has said it is ready to amend some provisions related to the agreement, it has not taken any decision so far. The USA has shown concerns regarding the delay in endorsing the agreement. The delay in taking a decision can lead to the scrapping of the deal.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The Government of Nepal had signed a Rs 55 billion deal with MCC in September 2017 for cross-border transmission lines. The government had pledged to implement the deal from July 2020 after completing all the required processes. However, it has not been able to implement the deal due to the obstruction in parliament.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">&nbsp;Former Finance Minister Ram Sharan Mahat says that there are obstructions in endorsing the MCC agreement from the ruling party itself.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'id' => '12822',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'United States Willing to Provide Technical Assistance under Preferential Trade Agreement',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'December 18: The United States has expressed willingness to provide further technical assistance to Nepal to increase trade and investment under the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) between the two countries to promote preferential trade.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">December 18: The United States has expressed willingness to provide further technical assistance to Nepal to increase trade and investment under the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) between the two countries to promote preferential trade.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">The US made such remark during the fifth meeting of the </span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">United States-Nepal Council on Trade and Investment held virtually on December 15.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">A joint statement issued by the US and Nepal says that the two sides held discussions to promote expanded bilateral trade and investment in both goods and services. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">The meeting was co-chaired by Christopher Wilson, Assistant United States Trade Representative for South and Central Asia, and Baikuntha Aryal, Secretary at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies of Nepal.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">During the meeting, representatives from both countries discussed a range of bilateral trade and investment-related issues covered under the TIFA, including, among others, customs and trade facilitation, intellectual property, digital trade and e-commerce, labor, financial services, investment promotion, trade in agriculture products, and utilization of the Nepal Trade Preference Program, the statement added.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">The United States affirmed its engagement with Nepal on its efforts to foster innovation and investment through improvements in intellectual property protection and enforcement. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Nepal provided an update on its initiatives to increase intellectual property protection through legislative changes. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Recognizing the important role of digital trade in fostering economic growth, Nepal and the United States agreed to explore ways to deepen engagement on policy developments affecting the digital economy. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">According to the statement, the United States welcomed Nepal&rsquo;s efforts to promote internationally recognized worker rights and the implementation of Nepal&rsquo;s labor laws.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Nepal and the United States also discussed the importance of fully utilizing US preferential trade benefits for select products from Nepal, available through December 31, 2025 as a result of the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">During the meeting, Nepal reportedly provided an update on recent investment policy reform initiatives taken to improve its investment climate, and emphasized its interest in attracting additional foreign investment from the United States.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Both governments pledged their commitment to deepen their engagement in these issue areas over the coming months in inter-sessional meetings and to hold the 6<sup>th</sup> TIFA Council Meeting in Kathmandu, Nepal as soon as travel conditions permit.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '12569',
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			'article_date' => '2020-12-18 12:34:36',
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	(int) 6 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12821',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Government Lifts Odd-Even Rule for Vehicles',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'December 18: The government has lifted the odd-even rule for operating vehicles in Kathmandu Valley effective from Friday (December 18). ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">December 18: The government has lifted the odd-even rule for operating vehicles in Kathmandu Valley effective from Friday (December 18). The rule which was imposed to curb the spread of coronavirus has been removed after a decline in cases of coronavirus.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">A meeting of security agencies, including the traffic police force, district administrations, and transport entrepreneurs on Thursday decided to end the odd-even system.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Chief District Officer of Kathmandu Kali Prasad Parajuli informed that all vehicles will be allowed to operate from Friday but it is mandatory for them to adopt safety measures as per the standard health protocol set by the government. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The government had imposed the odd-even rule in Kathmandu Valley on September 22 to minimize overcrowding of streets so that the spreading of virus could be checked to some extent.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Transport entrepreneurs had requested the government to remove the odd-even rule after the government and private offices started operating full time in recent days. They argued that the odd-even rule contributed to overcrowding of vehicles as offices started opening. The government was also facing criticism for opening other sectors but restricting vehicular movement. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The Federation of Nepalese National Transport Entrepreneurs informed that all public vehicles will abide by the safety protocols of the government while operating from now onwards.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Meanwhile, the government is preparing to test antigens of 300,000 persons for traces of coronavirus in the month of Poush (mid-December to mid-January). The Ministry of Health and Population informed that the antigen test would give them a clear picture regarding whether coronavirus has spread at the community level or not.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The tests will be conducted from coming Sunday in areas across the country where more than 200 active cases have been reported, according to Mahendra Prasad Shrestha, the focal person of Covid-19 unit of the ministry.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">&ldquo;We have deployed skilled workers across the country. We will focus on hot spots,&nbsp; big cities and densely populated areas for the tests. The ministry informed that the result from antigen test will be available instantly after placing the swab sample in a kit. &nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 7 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12816',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Shipping Companies using Unauthorized Agents ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'December 17: Indian transport companies have been found working as agents of shipping companies without authorization.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Bangla MN&quot;">December 17: Indian transport companies have been found working as agents of shipping companies without authorization. The shipping companies that have been delivering goods to Nepal have been allegedly using Indian transportation companies to deliver goods.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Bangla MN&quot;">Nepali importers have accused that the Indian shipping companies that are yet to be registered in Nepal have been charging fare arbitrarily for their services. They have employed Indian transport companies to facilitate the delivery of goods. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Bangla MN&quot;">The Government of Nepal on the other hand is helpless regarding the domination that the Indian shipping and transportation companies enjoy. Altogether 21 shipping companies are involved in transporting goods to Nepal from overseas. None of them have been registered in Nepal. Most of the shipping companies have been delivering goods illegally through their agents.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Bangla MN&quot;">Although Maerks Shipping Line has registered its agent&rsquo;s office in Nepal, others have handed over the responsibility of delivering goods to unregistered companies. However, Maerks has also not registered a fully authorized agent for the purpose.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Bangla MN&quot;">The payment of delivery order of containers is done at the offices of the shipping companies in India. The government has however given permission for unregistered transport companies to operate their office at Birgunj Dry Port.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Bangla MN&quot;">Unauthorised companies have only added extre burden to the import cost, says entrepreneur Om Prakash Moore.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Bangla MN&quot;">&ldquo;The companies that have not been registered in Nepal are allowed to operate their office at the dry port,&rdquo; said Moore, adding, &ldquo;The import cost is expensive because the government itself is protecting unauthorized agents.&rdquo;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 8 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12815',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Government’s Able to Spend 30 Percent of Total Budget in 5 Months ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'December 17: The government had announced a budget of Rs 1.474 trillion for the current fiscal year 2020/21 with the objective of achieving 7 percent economic growth.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">December 17: The government had announced a budget of Rs 1.474 trillion for the current fiscal year 2020/21 with the objective of achieving 7 percent economic growth. However, after completion of the first five months of the current fiscal year, the government has been able to spend only 30 percent of the annual budget. The government&rsquo;s expenditure of development budget is so far is only 10 percent. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Although the government had announced the budget by prioritizing health sector, revival of economy, employment, agriculture, social security and relief for people affected by coronavirus, it has been unable to spend the budget due to weak implementation of the policies and programmes included in the budget.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">According to the Financial Comptroller General&rsquo;s Office, which keeps the records of government&rsquo;s income and expenditure, the government has spend 30.95 percent of the total budget as of end of Mangshir (mid-December) in the current fiscal year.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Out of the total current expenditure of Rs 948.94 billion, the government has spent Rs 280.74 billion. The government&rsquo;s expenditure under the same heading this year is more than last year by&nbsp; 3 percent.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Similarly, the government has spent only 10.18 percent of the development budget allocated for this year in the first five months. The government&rsquo;s capital expenditure in the corresponding period of last fiscal year was only 9.22 billion.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The government had allocated a total of Rs 315.91 billion for capital expenditure this year, out of which it has spent Rs 35.94 billion.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Since the budget for the current fiscal year is less than that of the previous FY, the government&rsquo;s expenditure is comparatively more than that of last year. However, experts believe that the government&rsquo;s spending is far less than expected. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Officials at the Ministry of Finance say that the low capital expenditure is due to the decline in development works due to coronavirus during the initial period of the current fiscal year.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">According to Joint Secretary Yam Lal Bhusal at the finance ministry, the government has already prepared work procedures for various works by mid-December and therefore the budget expenditure will now increase significantly.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Similarly, out of Rs 172.78 billion allocated for the financial management, the government has spent only Rs 11.77 billion during the review period. The government has been repaying loan and interest to international donor agencies and has also been providing loan investment to various government organisations under the heading of financial management. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Looking at the progress made in terms of budget expenditure in the first five months of the current fiscal&nbsp; year, the implementation of government&rsquo;s ambitious programmes seems to be moving ahead at snail&rsquo;s pace.&nbsp; Economist Keshav Acharya says that the budget expenditure of the government clearly shows that the implementation of programmes included in the budget is weak. He says that there are some policy-level hurdles in spending budget while the government officials are also often the hurdle in government expenditure.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 9 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12820',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Sugarcane Farmers Warn of Hunger Strike ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'December 17: Sugarcane farmers, who have been protesting in Kathmandu since four days to recover their due payment from sugar mills, have now warned to go on a hunger strike if they do not receive their payment.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">December 17: Sugarcane farmers, who have been protesting in Kathmandu since four days to recover their due payment from sugar mills, have now warned to go on a hunger strike if they do not receive their payment. According to Hari Shyam Raya, secretary of the Sugarcane Farmers&#39; Struggle Committee, Sarlahi, the government should have fulfilled its five-point commitment made with the farmers last year. However, he said that the government was not serious about it and was taking a different path. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">He further says that they are not hopeful of getting money by arresting the operators of the sugar mills. &ldquo;If we don&rsquo;t get the money within a week, we will go on a relay hunger strike,&rdquo; he said. Last year on January 3, the sugar mill owners had made a five-point agreement with the farmers in the presence of the government and agreed to pay the entire amount by January 21, 2020. This time, the farmers are thinking of returning only after receiving their money. Farmers from other districts are increasingly coming to Kathmandu to support the protest. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">When the sugarcane farmers of Sarlahi started protesting at Maitighar on Sunday, only about 100 people had participated. Sugarcane farmers from Nawalparasi, Bara, Parsa, Rautahat and Saptari have also arrived in Kathmandu on Wednesday. As of Wednesday, the number of protesting farmers has reached 500. The committee stated that they will gather 1,000 farmers within a week. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Even though the government has invited the sugarcane farmers for talks, they refused to sit for talks until they receive their money. Ram Raya, president of the committee said that as their main demand is to receive their due money, they will not return until they get the payment. Furthermore, he urged the government not to consider their protest as weak, as the locals of Kathmandu are also supporting their demonstration. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 10 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12812',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Deposit Collection, Flow of Loans Improving: NBA',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'December 16: Deposit collection of commercial banks has improved in the past one month. The flow of loan has also increased, according to Nepal Bankers Association (NBA).',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">December 16: Deposit collection of commercial banks has improved in the past one month. The flow of loan has also increased, according to Nepal Bankers Association (NBA).</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The association informed that the deposit collection of 27 commercial banks increased by Rs 46 billion in the month of Mangsir (mid-November to mid-December). The total deposits of the commercial bank currently stands at Rs 3,694 billion.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Deposit collection in the month of Kartik (mid-October to mid-November) was in deficit by Rs 6 billion. Banks have recently lowered the interest on deposits after lowering the rate of interest on loans. Experts believe that deposit collection might have become negative due to the lowering of interest rate. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">However, chairman of Nepal Bankers Association Bhuvan Kumar Dahal says it is not because of the low interest rate that the deposit collection slumped. He says the negative deposit collection is a result of decline in remittance and increase in imports.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">&ldquo;The rate of inflation is still hovering around 4 percent at present. The rate of interest that the banks provide to savings accounts should be similar to the rate of inflation. Most of the banks have fixed the interest rate for general savings account at more than 4 percent. Some even provide 5 percent interest,&rdquo; said Dahal.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The association informed that both deposit collection and flow of loans have improved in the review period.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The flow of loan in the month of Mangsir has reached Rs 49 billion while the total loans given out by the banks stands at Rs 3101 billion, informed Dahal. This is an increase compared to the previous month.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The flow of loan in the month of Kartik (mid-October to mid-November) was Rs 17 billion. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Chairman Dahal says that financial activities have increased after Tihar festival. He says that the banks&rsquo; customers are increasingly opening Letter of Credit (LC) while the transactions are also increasing.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 11 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12817',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Detailed Study Report of 4 Major Projects Submitted to IBN',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'December 17: Developers of four major infrastructure projects facilitated by the Investment Board of Nepal (IBN) have submitted a detailed study report of the projects to the board.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Helvetica">December 17: Developers of four major infrastructure projects facilitated by the Investment Board of Nepal (IBN) have submitted a detailed study report of the projects to the board.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Helvetica">Private Freight Terminal and Bulk Handling Facilities to be constructed in Birgunj and Bhairahawa are among the four projects. Fash Freight Logistics and International Cargo Terminal and Infrastructure Private Limited is the developer of the projects and has already submitted the detailed feasibility study report on Tuesday, December 15.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Helvetica">For the project, an agreement was reached between the Investment Board and the developer company on December 1, 2019.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Helvetica">Similarly, CG Logistics Pvt Ltd and Sarraf Group, the developer of the multi-model logistics park project to be constructed in Biratnagar, have also submitted the their reports. An agreement in this regard was reached between the board and the developing company on 17 June, 2019.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Helvetica">Likewise, Damak Clean Industrial Park has submitted its report on Monday, December 14, on behalf of the developer for the construction of China-Nepal Friendship Industrial Park project.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Helvetica">The 39th meeting of the Investment Board held on 2 July 2019 had approved an investment of USD 58.61 million for the construction of the project. The project will be constructed in Damak, Jhapa with the joint investment of Lhasa Economic and Technology Development Zone, Ching Ping Joint Creation Construction Project Development Company and Damak Clean Industrial Park.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Helvetica">Also, the developer company Muktinath Darshan Pvt Ltd has submitted its report on November 29, 2020, for the construction of the Birethanti-Muktinath cable car. The proposed 80.16 km long cable car will reach Muktinath via Birethanti, Ghorepani, Tatopani, Lete, Kowang, Tukuche, Marfa, and Jomsom.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 12 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12811',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Large Sum of Project Money is Taken by Foreign Consultants',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'December 16: The Department of Roads has been hiring consultants for detailed study despite having 27 technical experts at its disposal working in the department’s Project Directorate Office.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">December 16: The Department of Roads has been hiring consultants for detailed study despite having 27 technical experts at its disposal working in the department&rsquo;s Project Directorate Office.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The department has to spend excessive amount of budget for acquiring the services of consultants.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">According to the 57<sup>th</sup> report of the Office of the Financial&nbsp; Comptroller General, the total budget of four projects under the department which are being supported by the Asian Development Bank&nbsp; is US$ 273.1 million. Out of the total budget, the cost of hiring consultants alone is US$ 22.6 million which is 8.4 percent in average of the total amount.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The report further states that the department has so far appointed seven consultants and prepared project designs and cost estimates of the four projects. Besides that, the department has also been monitoring the work progress and quality control in addition to validating the bills presented by the construction companies.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The department admits weaknesses and flaws in its feasibility studies, detailed survey and designs at the division offices under the department due to limited number of human resources.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The report of the Financial Comptroller General&rsquo;s Office has pointed out the flaws in budget spent on road projects, birdges and other infrastructures as well as arrears and budget transfer and consultant service charge. The report has suggested the government to reduce the dependence on foreign consultancy service and to develop skilled manpower within the country.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">However, the first quarter report of the department states that the human resources at the department is currently not sufficient to conduct surveys and feasibility studies. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The department&rsquo;s internal report also states that the lack of budget ceiling while announcing the budget for different contracts has forced them to transfer budget from one heading to another.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The department claimed that it has been spending money on consultancy charge as per the existing laws. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'id' => '12810',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Arresting Defaulting Sugar Mill Owners is not the Solution to the Problem: Sugarcane Farmers',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'December 16: The agitating sugarcane farmers who have arrived in the capital seeking government support for the release of their due payment from sugar factories have said  arresting the factory owners will not resolve their payment issue.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">December 16: The agitating sugarcane farmers who have arrived in the capital seeking government support for the release of their due payment from sugar factories have said&nbsp; arresting the factory owners will not resolve their payment issue.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The remarks come after the Ministry of Home Affairs on Tuesday (December 16) directed the concerned district administration office to arrest the owners of four sugar mills that have defaulted in paying the farmers. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Secretary of Sugarcane Farmers Struggle Committee, Sarlahi, Hari Shyam Raya said that the arrests of sugar factory owners is not a matter of their concern. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">&ldquo;We will not get our money just because the government arrests the sugar factory owners. Therefore, the government must facilitate on compelling them to pay our due amounts instead of arresting them,&rdquo; said Raya. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The sugarcane farmers of Sarlahi have been protesting at Maitighar Mandala in the capital since the last three days demanding the release of their long-standing dues from the sugar factories.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">On the third day of the demonstration, the government issued arrest warrants against the operators of Indira Sugar Mill, Nawalparasi, Lumbini Sugar Mill, Nawalparasi, Annapurna Sugar Mill, Sarlahi and Shree Ram Sugar Mill, Rautahat for not paying the farmers.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The farmers argue that even though the police arrest the operators, they get released on bail soon while the issue of payment remains where it is. Therefore, chairman of the struggle committee Ram Raya says arresting the operators is not a solution to the problem because the main issue is related to their due amount. &nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Spokesperson at the home ministry Chakra Bahadur Budha admits arresting the sugar mill owners alone is not the solution but he assured that the defaulters would face strict action. He however did not specify what kind of action the ministry would take. According to Budha, the ministry has directed concerned authorities to arrest the defaulters and take necessary actions.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Meanwhile, the agitating farmers have intensified their protest saying that if the issue is not resolved soon they will demand interest on their due amount of Rs 900 million which the sugar mills are yet to pay. Around 300 sugarcane farmers were present during Tuesday&rsquo;s protest.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'id' => '12809',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'New Ordinance Further Divides the Ruling Party',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'December 16: The internal dispute within the ruling Nepal Communist Party has taken a new twist. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">December 16: The internal dispute within the ruling Nepal Communist Party has taken a new twist. The internal rift has further widened after Prime Minister KP Oli issued a new ordinance related to the Constitutional Council without consulting with the party leaders and cabinet ministers. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">President Bidya Devi Bhandari on Tuesday (December 15) issued the an ordinance to amend the Constitutional Council Act 2066 upon the recommendation of the prime minister.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The new ordinance has a provision that allows at least three members of the council including the prime minister to take vital decisions. Prior to this, there was a requirement for at least four members and the chairman&rsquo;s to endorse the decisions. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Tuesday&rsquo;s meeting took place despite the absence of main opposition party leader Sher Bahadur Deuba and lower house speaker Agni Sapkota. The meeting discussed about appointments to fill the vacant posts at various constitutional bodies but did not take any decision.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The constitutional council chaired by the prime minister has parliament speaker, upper house chairman, main opposition party leader, chief justice and deputy speaker as members.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The prime minister&rsquo;s decision to issue the ordinance at a time when he has been facing mounting criticism from the party&rsquo;s secretariat and standing committee members for the unilateral decisions he has been taking has further worsened the crisis within the party.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12828',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Government to Avail Covid-19 Vaccine Free of Cost: Finance Minister',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'December 20: Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel has said that the government is working on providing the coronavirus vaccine free of cost to all the citizens of Nepal on priority basis.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">December 20: Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel has said that the government is working on providing the coronavirus vaccine free of cost to all the citizens of Nepal on priority basis.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">In a meeting with the representatives of the Society of Economic Journalists of Nepal (SEJON), Finance Minister Poudel said that just like the treatment for the coronavirus, the government is working to make the vaccine free of cost to all Nepalis. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Although there is preparation to vaccinate the entire population of Nepal, Minister Poudel said that children under the age of 14 won&rsquo;t be vaccinated. He added that the frontline workers will be the first to receive the shots followed by elderly people and then the rest of other citizens.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Minister Poudel also clarified that the government is not struggling to arrange budget for the purchase of the vaccine unlike what some media has been reporting. He confirmed that there is no shortage of finance for the government for the purchase of vaccine and that the citizens will not have to bear any cost to get the shots. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">&ldquo;It is the responsibility of Finance Ministry to manage funds for the vaccine,&rdquo; said Minister Poudel, adding, &ldquo;I want to assure you all that there won&rsquo;t be any shortage of funds for this purpose.&rdquo;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Minister Poudel further informed that the government is in constant touch with the manufacturing company as well as with the vaccine developing nations, to make sure the vaccine becomes available in Nepal as soon as it hits the international market. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12827',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Arrival of Visitors through International Flights drops Significantly',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'December 20: The arrival of visitors to Nepal reduced significantly in the first nine months of 2020 due to Covid-19 pandemic. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">December 20: The arrival of visitors to Nepal reduced significantly in the first nine months of 2020 due to Covid-19 pandemic. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), a total of 927,208 visitors arrived in Nepal between January to September 2020. The number of visitors in the corresponding period of last fiscal year was 4.13 million. Similarly, 4.34 million travellers had entered&nbsp; Nepal in 2018. The figure for 2017 was 3.88 million.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">According to CAAN Spokesperson Raj Kumar Chhetri, the figures were based on arrival of passengers through air route.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">CAAN informed that a total of 787,040 passengers traveled through domestic airports during the review period. The number of domestic travellers in 2019 was 3.18 million while that in 2018 was 2.84 million and 2.45 million in 2017.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">A total of 30 international airline companies, including three of Nepal, operate flights to 32 destinations of 15 different countries.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">In the domestic sector, a total of nine-fixed winged aircraft and 10 helicopters operate in Nepal.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation says that the government had set a target of welcoming 2 million tourists in Nepal in 2020 but that did not materialize die to the pandemic.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Tourism Minister Yogesh Bhattarai says that although the government&rsquo;s decision to celebrate 2020 as visit Nepal year 2020 could not materialize, its focus now is to observe 2021 as a year for domestic tourism.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Although the government has not made any formal announcement&nbsp; yet, it is widely believed that it will be promoting domestic tourism in 2021. The ministry has also started discussing the topic of 2-day holiday during weekends for promoting internal tourism.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The lockdown imposed by the government on March 24 to curb the spread if coronavirus had disrupted international flights since a long time. The suspension of domestic flights also caused a considerable loss in terms of flow of tourists. Although the ban on international flights were lifted on September 1<sup>st</sup> the arrival of visitors has not been that much encouraging due to fear of contracting the disease.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'id' => '12826',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Shree Ram Sugar Mills ‘Starts’ Clearing Dues of Farmers ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'December 20: Shree Ram Sugar Mills Limited, Rautahat has started depositing the due amount in the accounts of sugarcane farmers. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">December 20: Shree Ram Sugar Mills Limited, Rautahat has started depositing the due amount in the accounts of sugarcane farmers. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The sugar mill said in a statement on Friday that it has started depositing the amount which it could not release earlier due to various circumstances that caused losses to the mill. The operators of the mill also apologized to the sugarcane farmers for the delay in payment of the due amount.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">In the first phase, the sugar mill claimed that it deposited Rs 160 million of 5,300 farmers.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">But the farmers, who have been protesting in the capital since last Sunday, said that they were not aware of the due amount being deposited in the bank accounts. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Shankar Man Yadav, a sugarcane farmer from Rautahat, said that he was informed on Friday evening that the due amount was deposited in his bank account. He, however, said that he is not aware whether the amount has been actually deposited or not because the bank was closed on Saturday.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">&ldquo;It is a good news if the money has been deposited in bank account. I hope other sugar mills also release the dues in similar way,&rdquo; said Yadav.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><img alt="" src="/app/webroot/userfiles/images/My%20Effect%281%29.jpg" style="height:600px; width:794px" /></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'id' => '12824',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Government Unveils Integrated Policy on Water Resources for the First Time',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'December 18: The Government of Nepal has for the first time unveiled the National Water Resources Policy 2077. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">December 18: The Government of Nepal has for the first time unveiled the National Water Resources Policy 2077. The Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation made the policy public on Thursday (December 18).</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Barsha Man Pun unveiled the policy amid an official programme at the ministry.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">This is the first time that a integrated policy related to water resources has been announced by the government. Prior to this, there were separate policies related to drinking water, irrigation, electricity, water-induced crisis management among others. All of the issues have been collectively included in the integrated policy.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The new policy has seven main objectives and 11 strategies to achieve those goals. The policy is basically focused on multi-dimensional and sustainable development of water resources and has a vision to attain economic prosperity and social transformation through multipurpose use of water resources.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The policy has highly prioritized study, research, multipurpose use, development, management and regulation of water resources.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">It also focuses on institutionalizing research and studies based on evidences while preserving and regulating water resources. As per the new policy, water resources will be preserved and utilized in coordination between the local units and provincial governments.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The government also has a vision to develop master plan for hydroelectricity production, irrigation, drinking water, fishery and tourism activities in river basins. The master plan will be updated every ten years.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The policy stresses on making water resources easily available to the citizens at an affordable price. It also has provision to mitigate the adverse effects that development of water resources might have on environment.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The government also intends to identify the sources of hot springs within the country and put them on best use. Another vital issue included in the policy is the use of water ways to connect with sea ports in collaboration with neighbouring countries.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 4 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12823',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Nepal Risks Losing MCC Grant',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'December 18: The government faces risk of losing US grant under the Millennium Challenge Corporation due to its indecision.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">December 18: The government faces risk of losing US grant under the Millennium Challenge Corporation due to its indecision.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The government had set a target to mobilize Rs 9.1 billion from the MCC fund in the current fiscal year. However, it has not been able to utilize the fund pledged by the US government as the agreement is yet to be endorsed by the parliament.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The parliament has not been able to endorse the grant agreement due to strong opposition from various leaders, including those from the ruling party. The leaders have demanded amendment to some provisions mentioned in the agreement but the government is yet to settle the issue. There is a clause that the MCC grant agreement must be endorsed by the parliament and implemented within 5 years, but time is running out as the issue of amendment is yet to be addressed. This has given rise to concerns that there is high chances of losing the grant by the government.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Meanwhile, the US government-backed MCC has scrapped a US$ 480 million deal with Sri Lanka. A meeting of the board of directors of MCC decided to reject the deal following a meeting in Washington on Tuesday (December 15). </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">&ldquo;The MCC board meeting on December 15 selected new countries for providing grant assistance. The meeting has also rejected the proposed deal with Sri Lanka,&rdquo; reads a statement issued by MCC.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Sri Lanka had also signed the MCC deal but the deal was not endorsed by the parliament. Sri Lanka was also having similar debate like in Nepal regarding whether or not to endorse the grant agreement. Sri Lanka had signed a USD 480 million deal with MCC in April 2019.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Although the Government of Nepal has said it is ready to amend some provisions related to the agreement, it has not taken any decision so far. The USA has shown concerns regarding the delay in endorsing the agreement. The delay in taking a decision can lead to the scrapping of the deal.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The Government of Nepal had signed a Rs 55 billion deal with MCC in September 2017 for cross-border transmission lines. The government had pledged to implement the deal from July 2020 after completing all the required processes. However, it has not been able to implement the deal due to the obstruction in parliament.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">&nbsp;Former Finance Minister Ram Sharan Mahat says that there are obstructions in endorsing the MCC agreement from the ruling party itself.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 5 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12822',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'United States Willing to Provide Technical Assistance under Preferential Trade Agreement',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'December 18: The United States has expressed willingness to provide further technical assistance to Nepal to increase trade and investment under the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) between the two countries to promote preferential trade.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">December 18: The United States has expressed willingness to provide further technical assistance to Nepal to increase trade and investment under the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) between the two countries to promote preferential trade.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">The US made such remark during the fifth meeting of the </span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">United States-Nepal Council on Trade and Investment held virtually on December 15.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">A joint statement issued by the US and Nepal says that the two sides held discussions to promote expanded bilateral trade and investment in both goods and services. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">The meeting was co-chaired by Christopher Wilson, Assistant United States Trade Representative for South and Central Asia, and Baikuntha Aryal, Secretary at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies of Nepal.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">During the meeting, representatives from both countries discussed a range of bilateral trade and investment-related issues covered under the TIFA, including, among others, customs and trade facilitation, intellectual property, digital trade and e-commerce, labor, financial services, investment promotion, trade in agriculture products, and utilization of the Nepal Trade Preference Program, the statement added.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">The United States affirmed its engagement with Nepal on its efforts to foster innovation and investment through improvements in intellectual property protection and enforcement. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Nepal provided an update on its initiatives to increase intellectual property protection through legislative changes. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Recognizing the important role of digital trade in fostering economic growth, Nepal and the United States agreed to explore ways to deepen engagement on policy developments affecting the digital economy. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">According to the statement, the United States welcomed Nepal&rsquo;s efforts to promote internationally recognized worker rights and the implementation of Nepal&rsquo;s labor laws.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Nepal and the United States also discussed the importance of fully utilizing US preferential trade benefits for select products from Nepal, available through December 31, 2025 as a result of the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">During the meeting, Nepal reportedly provided an update on recent investment policy reform initiatives taken to improve its investment climate, and emphasized its interest in attracting additional foreign investment from the United States.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Both governments pledged their commitment to deepen their engagement in these issue areas over the coming months in inter-sessional meetings and to hold the 6<sup>th</sup> TIFA Council Meeting in Kathmandu, Nepal as soon as travel conditions permit.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 6 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12821',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Government Lifts Odd-Even Rule for Vehicles',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'December 18: The government has lifted the odd-even rule for operating vehicles in Kathmandu Valley effective from Friday (December 18). ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">December 18: The government has lifted the odd-even rule for operating vehicles in Kathmandu Valley effective from Friday (December 18). The rule which was imposed to curb the spread of coronavirus has been removed after a decline in cases of coronavirus.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">A meeting of security agencies, including the traffic police force, district administrations, and transport entrepreneurs on Thursday decided to end the odd-even system.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Chief District Officer of Kathmandu Kali Prasad Parajuli informed that all vehicles will be allowed to operate from Friday but it is mandatory for them to adopt safety measures as per the standard health protocol set by the government. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The government had imposed the odd-even rule in Kathmandu Valley on September 22 to minimize overcrowding of streets so that the spreading of virus could be checked to some extent.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Transport entrepreneurs had requested the government to remove the odd-even rule after the government and private offices started operating full time in recent days. They argued that the odd-even rule contributed to overcrowding of vehicles as offices started opening. The government was also facing criticism for opening other sectors but restricting vehicular movement. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The Federation of Nepalese National Transport Entrepreneurs informed that all public vehicles will abide by the safety protocols of the government while operating from now onwards.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Meanwhile, the government is preparing to test antigens of 300,000 persons for traces of coronavirus in the month of Poush (mid-December to mid-January). The Ministry of Health and Population informed that the antigen test would give them a clear picture regarding whether coronavirus has spread at the community level or not.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The tests will be conducted from coming Sunday in areas across the country where more than 200 active cases have been reported, according to Mahendra Prasad Shrestha, the focal person of Covid-19 unit of the ministry.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">&ldquo;We have deployed skilled workers across the country. We will focus on hot spots,&nbsp; big cities and densely populated areas for the tests. The ministry informed that the result from antigen test will be available instantly after placing the swab sample in a kit. &nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 7 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12816',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Shipping Companies using Unauthorized Agents ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'December 17: Indian transport companies have been found working as agents of shipping companies without authorization.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Bangla MN&quot;">December 17: Indian transport companies have been found working as agents of shipping companies without authorization. The shipping companies that have been delivering goods to Nepal have been allegedly using Indian transportation companies to deliver goods.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Bangla MN&quot;">Nepali importers have accused that the Indian shipping companies that are yet to be registered in Nepal have been charging fare arbitrarily for their services. They have employed Indian transport companies to facilitate the delivery of goods. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Bangla MN&quot;">The Government of Nepal on the other hand is helpless regarding the domination that the Indian shipping and transportation companies enjoy. Altogether 21 shipping companies are involved in transporting goods to Nepal from overseas. None of them have been registered in Nepal. Most of the shipping companies have been delivering goods illegally through their agents.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Bangla MN&quot;">Although Maerks Shipping Line has registered its agent&rsquo;s office in Nepal, others have handed over the responsibility of delivering goods to unregistered companies. However, Maerks has also not registered a fully authorized agent for the purpose.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Bangla MN&quot;">The payment of delivery order of containers is done at the offices of the shipping companies in India. The government has however given permission for unregistered transport companies to operate their office at Birgunj Dry Port.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Bangla MN&quot;">Unauthorised companies have only added extre burden to the import cost, says entrepreneur Om Prakash Moore.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Bangla MN&quot;">&ldquo;The companies that have not been registered in Nepal are allowed to operate their office at the dry port,&rdquo; said Moore, adding, &ldquo;The import cost is expensive because the government itself is protecting unauthorized agents.&rdquo;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12815',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Government’s Able to Spend 30 Percent of Total Budget in 5 Months ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'December 17: The government had announced a budget of Rs 1.474 trillion for the current fiscal year 2020/21 with the objective of achieving 7 percent economic growth.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">December 17: The government had announced a budget of Rs 1.474 trillion for the current fiscal year 2020/21 with the objective of achieving 7 percent economic growth. However, after completion of the first five months of the current fiscal year, the government has been able to spend only 30 percent of the annual budget. The government&rsquo;s expenditure of development budget is so far is only 10 percent. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Although the government had announced the budget by prioritizing health sector, revival of economy, employment, agriculture, social security and relief for people affected by coronavirus, it has been unable to spend the budget due to weak implementation of the policies and programmes included in the budget.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">According to the Financial Comptroller General&rsquo;s Office, which keeps the records of government&rsquo;s income and expenditure, the government has spend 30.95 percent of the total budget as of end of Mangshir (mid-December) in the current fiscal year.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Out of the total current expenditure of Rs 948.94 billion, the government has spent Rs 280.74 billion. The government&rsquo;s expenditure under the same heading this year is more than last year by&nbsp; 3 percent.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Similarly, the government has spent only 10.18 percent of the development budget allocated for this year in the first five months. The government&rsquo;s capital expenditure in the corresponding period of last fiscal year was only 9.22 billion.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The government had allocated a total of Rs 315.91 billion for capital expenditure this year, out of which it has spent Rs 35.94 billion.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Since the budget for the current fiscal year is less than that of the previous FY, the government&rsquo;s expenditure is comparatively more than that of last year. However, experts believe that the government&rsquo;s spending is far less than expected. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Officials at the Ministry of Finance say that the low capital expenditure is due to the decline in development works due to coronavirus during the initial period of the current fiscal year.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">According to Joint Secretary Yam Lal Bhusal at the finance ministry, the government has already prepared work procedures for various works by mid-December and therefore the budget expenditure will now increase significantly.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Similarly, out of Rs 172.78 billion allocated for the financial management, the government has spent only Rs 11.77 billion during the review period. The government has been repaying loan and interest to international donor agencies and has also been providing loan investment to various government organisations under the heading of financial management. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Looking at the progress made in terms of budget expenditure in the first five months of the current fiscal&nbsp; year, the implementation of government&rsquo;s ambitious programmes seems to be moving ahead at snail&rsquo;s pace.&nbsp; Economist Keshav Acharya says that the budget expenditure of the government clearly shows that the implementation of programmes included in the budget is weak. He says that there are some policy-level hurdles in spending budget while the government officials are also often the hurdle in government expenditure.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12820',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Sugarcane Farmers Warn of Hunger Strike ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'December 17: Sugarcane farmers, who have been protesting in Kathmandu since four days to recover their due payment from sugar mills, have now warned to go on a hunger strike if they do not receive their payment.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">December 17: Sugarcane farmers, who have been protesting in Kathmandu since four days to recover their due payment from sugar mills, have now warned to go on a hunger strike if they do not receive their payment. According to Hari Shyam Raya, secretary of the Sugarcane Farmers&#39; Struggle Committee, Sarlahi, the government should have fulfilled its five-point commitment made with the farmers last year. However, he said that the government was not serious about it and was taking a different path. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">He further says that they are not hopeful of getting money by arresting the operators of the sugar mills. &ldquo;If we don&rsquo;t get the money within a week, we will go on a relay hunger strike,&rdquo; he said. Last year on January 3, the sugar mill owners had made a five-point agreement with the farmers in the presence of the government and agreed to pay the entire amount by January 21, 2020. This time, the farmers are thinking of returning only after receiving their money. Farmers from other districts are increasingly coming to Kathmandu to support the protest. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">When the sugarcane farmers of Sarlahi started protesting at Maitighar on Sunday, only about 100 people had participated. Sugarcane farmers from Nawalparasi, Bara, Parsa, Rautahat and Saptari have also arrived in Kathmandu on Wednesday. As of Wednesday, the number of protesting farmers has reached 500. The committee stated that they will gather 1,000 farmers within a week. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Even though the government has invited the sugarcane farmers for talks, they refused to sit for talks until they receive their money. Ram Raya, president of the committee said that as their main demand is to receive their due money, they will not return until they get the payment. Furthermore, he urged the government not to consider their protest as weak, as the locals of Kathmandu are also supporting their demonstration. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12812',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Deposit Collection, Flow of Loans Improving: NBA',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'December 16: Deposit collection of commercial banks has improved in the past one month. The flow of loan has also increased, according to Nepal Bankers Association (NBA).',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">December 16: Deposit collection of commercial banks has improved in the past one month. The flow of loan has also increased, according to Nepal Bankers Association (NBA).</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The association informed that the deposit collection of 27 commercial banks increased by Rs 46 billion in the month of Mangsir (mid-November to mid-December). The total deposits of the commercial bank currently stands at Rs 3,694 billion.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Deposit collection in the month of Kartik (mid-October to mid-November) was in deficit by Rs 6 billion. Banks have recently lowered the interest on deposits after lowering the rate of interest on loans. Experts believe that deposit collection might have become negative due to the lowering of interest rate. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">However, chairman of Nepal Bankers Association Bhuvan Kumar Dahal says it is not because of the low interest rate that the deposit collection slumped. He says the negative deposit collection is a result of decline in remittance and increase in imports.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">&ldquo;The rate of inflation is still hovering around 4 percent at present. The rate of interest that the banks provide to savings accounts should be similar to the rate of inflation. Most of the banks have fixed the interest rate for general savings account at more than 4 percent. Some even provide 5 percent interest,&rdquo; said Dahal.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The association informed that both deposit collection and flow of loans have improved in the review period.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The flow of loan in the month of Mangsir has reached Rs 49 billion while the total loans given out by the banks stands at Rs 3101 billion, informed Dahal. This is an increase compared to the previous month.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The flow of loan in the month of Kartik (mid-October to mid-November) was Rs 17 billion. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Chairman Dahal says that financial activities have increased after Tihar festival. He says that the banks&rsquo; customers are increasingly opening Letter of Credit (LC) while the transactions are also increasing.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 11 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12817',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Detailed Study Report of 4 Major Projects Submitted to IBN',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'December 17: Developers of four major infrastructure projects facilitated by the Investment Board of Nepal (IBN) have submitted a detailed study report of the projects to the board.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Helvetica">December 17: Developers of four major infrastructure projects facilitated by the Investment Board of Nepal (IBN) have submitted a detailed study report of the projects to the board.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Helvetica">Private Freight Terminal and Bulk Handling Facilities to be constructed in Birgunj and Bhairahawa are among the four projects. Fash Freight Logistics and International Cargo Terminal and Infrastructure Private Limited is the developer of the projects and has already submitted the detailed feasibility study report on Tuesday, December 15.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Helvetica">For the project, an agreement was reached between the Investment Board and the developer company on December 1, 2019.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Helvetica">Similarly, CG Logistics Pvt Ltd and Sarraf Group, the developer of the multi-model logistics park project to be constructed in Biratnagar, have also submitted the their reports. An agreement in this regard was reached between the board and the developing company on 17 June, 2019.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Helvetica">Likewise, Damak Clean Industrial Park has submitted its report on Monday, December 14, on behalf of the developer for the construction of China-Nepal Friendship Industrial Park project.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Helvetica">The 39th meeting of the Investment Board held on 2 July 2019 had approved an investment of USD 58.61 million for the construction of the project. The project will be constructed in Damak, Jhapa with the joint investment of Lhasa Economic and Technology Development Zone, Ching Ping Joint Creation Construction Project Development Company and Damak Clean Industrial Park.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Helvetica">Also, the developer company Muktinath Darshan Pvt Ltd has submitted its report on November 29, 2020, for the construction of the Birethanti-Muktinath cable car. The proposed 80.16 km long cable car will reach Muktinath via Birethanti, Ghorepani, Tatopani, Lete, Kowang, Tukuche, Marfa, and Jomsom.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12811',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Large Sum of Project Money is Taken by Foreign Consultants',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'December 16: The Department of Roads has been hiring consultants for detailed study despite having 27 technical experts at its disposal working in the department’s Project Directorate Office.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">December 16: The Department of Roads has been hiring consultants for detailed study despite having 27 technical experts at its disposal working in the department&rsquo;s Project Directorate Office.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The department has to spend excessive amount of budget for acquiring the services of consultants.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">According to the 57<sup>th</sup> report of the Office of the Financial&nbsp; Comptroller General, the total budget of four projects under the department which are being supported by the Asian Development Bank&nbsp; is US$ 273.1 million. Out of the total budget, the cost of hiring consultants alone is US$ 22.6 million which is 8.4 percent in average of the total amount.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The report further states that the department has so far appointed seven consultants and prepared project designs and cost estimates of the four projects. Besides that, the department has also been monitoring the work progress and quality control in addition to validating the bills presented by the construction companies.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The department admits weaknesses and flaws in its feasibility studies, detailed survey and designs at the division offices under the department due to limited number of human resources.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The report of the Financial Comptroller General&rsquo;s Office has pointed out the flaws in budget spent on road projects, birdges and other infrastructures as well as arrears and budget transfer and consultant service charge. The report has suggested the government to reduce the dependence on foreign consultancy service and to develop skilled manpower within the country.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">However, the first quarter report of the department states that the human resources at the department is currently not sufficient to conduct surveys and feasibility studies. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The department&rsquo;s internal report also states that the lack of budget ceiling while announcing the budget for different contracts has forced them to transfer budget from one heading to another.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The department claimed that it has been spending money on consultancy charge as per the existing laws. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12810',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Arresting Defaulting Sugar Mill Owners is not the Solution to the Problem: Sugarcane Farmers',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'December 16: The agitating sugarcane farmers who have arrived in the capital seeking government support for the release of their due payment from sugar factories have said  arresting the factory owners will not resolve their payment issue.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">December 16: The agitating sugarcane farmers who have arrived in the capital seeking government support for the release of their due payment from sugar factories have said&nbsp; arresting the factory owners will not resolve their payment issue.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The remarks come after the Ministry of Home Affairs on Tuesday (December 16) directed the concerned district administration office to arrest the owners of four sugar mills that have defaulted in paying the farmers. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Secretary of Sugarcane Farmers Struggle Committee, Sarlahi, Hari Shyam Raya said that the arrests of sugar factory owners is not a matter of their concern. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">&ldquo;We will not get our money just because the government arrests the sugar factory owners. Therefore, the government must facilitate on compelling them to pay our due amounts instead of arresting them,&rdquo; said Raya. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The sugarcane farmers of Sarlahi have been protesting at Maitighar Mandala in the capital since the last three days demanding the release of their long-standing dues from the sugar factories.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">On the third day of the demonstration, the government issued arrest warrants against the operators of Indira Sugar Mill, Nawalparasi, Lumbini Sugar Mill, Nawalparasi, Annapurna Sugar Mill, Sarlahi and Shree Ram Sugar Mill, Rautahat for not paying the farmers.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The farmers argue that even though the police arrest the operators, they get released on bail soon while the issue of payment remains where it is. Therefore, chairman of the struggle committee Ram Raya says arresting the operators is not a solution to the problem because the main issue is related to their due amount. &nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Spokesperson at the home ministry Chakra Bahadur Budha admits arresting the sugar mill owners alone is not the solution but he assured that the defaulters would face strict action. He however did not specify what kind of action the ministry would take. According to Budha, the ministry has directed concerned authorities to arrest the defaulters and take necessary actions.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Meanwhile, the agitating farmers have intensified their protest saying that if the issue is not resolved soon they will demand interest on their due amount of Rs 900 million which the sugar mills are yet to pay. Around 300 sugarcane farmers were present during Tuesday&rsquo;s protest.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12809',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'New Ordinance Further Divides the Ruling Party',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'December 16: The internal dispute within the ruling Nepal Communist Party has taken a new twist. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">December 16: The internal dispute within the ruling Nepal Communist Party has taken a new twist. The internal rift has further widened after Prime Minister KP Oli issued a new ordinance related to the Constitutional Council without consulting with the party leaders and cabinet ministers. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">President Bidya Devi Bhandari on Tuesday (December 15) issued the an ordinance to amend the Constitutional Council Act 2066 upon the recommendation of the prime minister.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The new ordinance has a provision that allows at least three members of the council including the prime minister to take vital decisions. Prior to this, there was a requirement for at least four members and the chairman&rsquo;s to endorse the decisions. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Tuesday&rsquo;s meeting took place despite the absence of main opposition party leader Sher Bahadur Deuba and lower house speaker Agni Sapkota. The meeting discussed about appointments to fill the vacant posts at various constitutional bodies but did not take any decision.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The constitutional council chaired by the prime minister has parliament speaker, upper house chairman, main opposition party leader, chief justice and deputy speaker as members.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The prime minister&rsquo;s decision to issue the ordinance at a time when he has been facing mounting criticism from the party&rsquo;s secretariat and standing committee members for the unilateral decisions he has been taking has further worsened the crisis within the party.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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FOREX

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)

Bullion

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

Petroleum

Petrol	1 Liter	106.00
Diesel	1 Liter	95.00
Kerosene	1 Liter	95.00
LP Gas	1 Cylinder	1375.00