NEWS

NEPSE Records Minimal Loss of 3.34 Points to Close at 2063.95

Mar 20, 2024 0 1 minutes 19 seconds to read

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) Index witnessed a minimal loss of 3.34 points or 0.16%, closing at 2063.95 on the fourth trading day of the week on…

The Bank of Japan's Experiment

Mar 20, 2024 0 5 minutes 51 seconds to read

March 20: The Bank of Japan announced a seismic change in direction on Tuesday, hiking interest rates for the first time in 17…

Buddha Air's Operating Income Up by Three Folds

Mar 20, 2024 0 2 minutes 52 seconds to read

March 20: The operating income of Buddha Air, a leading private sector airlines company of Nepal, has increased by three folds compared to the two fiscal years affected by the Covid-19…

137 Small Industries Closed in Kailali due to Shortage of Raw Material

Mar 20, 2024 0 1 minutes 34 seconds to read

March 20: One hundred and thirty-seven cottage and small industries have closed down in Kailali district due to the shortage of raw…

NHRC urges Government to Address the Demands of Cooperatives' Victims

Mar 20, 2024 0 1 minutes 49 seconds to read

March 19: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has instructed the government to address the demands of the victim and depositors of…

Home Ministry Instructs DAOs to Set Up Facilitation Desk to Hear Problems of Usury Victims

Mar 20, 2024 0 1 minutes 27 seconds to read

March 20: The Ministry of Home Affairs has directed all district administration officers across the country to set up facilitation desk to promptly receive and address the complaints, petitions and grievances of usury…

Imports and Exports Increase in Mid-March after Five Months

Mar 20, 2024 0 4 minutes 37 seconds to read

March 20: At a time when the government is claiming that the economic activities are gradually improving, the country's import-export figures have also remained…

UN Warns 'Planet on the Brink' after Warmest Decade on Record

Mar 20, 2024 0 6 minutes 40 seconds to read

March 20: Global heat records were "smashed" last year, the UN confirmed Tuesday, with 2023 rounding out the hottest decade on record, as heatwaves stalked oceans and glaciers suffered record ice…

Rain Predicted in Koshi, Madhes and Bagmati Provinces

Mar 20, 2024 0 1 minutes 22 seconds to read

March 20: The Weather Forecasting Division under the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology has predicted light to moderate rainfall with thunder and lightning at a few places of Koshi, Madhes and Bagmati provinces and at one or two places of the hill regions of other provinces…

Lumbini to Host Conclave on Global Peace for Prosperity

Mar 20, 2024 0 1 minutes 43 seconds to read

An international gathering titled the "Conclave on Global Peace for Prosperity" is slated to take place in Lumbini, the revered birthplace of Buddha, from March 21 to…

Government Unveils Common Minimum Policy and Resolution

Mar 19, 2024 0 1 minutes 28 seconds to read

March 19: The ruling alliance on Tuesday unveiled its Common Minimum Policy, Priorities and…

73 Percent Children in Kathmandu Valley Suffer from Tooth Decay Problems

Mar 19, 2024 0 1 minutes 16 seconds to read

March 19: A study has found that 73 percent children in the Kathmandu Valley face issue of tooth decay.…

Industry Minister Holds Discussion on Investment Summit with Private Sector Representatives

Mar 19, 2024 0 1 minutes 28 seconds to read

March 19: Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Damodar Bhandari, on Tuesday held discussions with the private sector representatives regarding the upcoming Nepal Investment…

Govt to Allow Manpower Companies to Send Workers to Korea

Mar 19, 2024 0 3 minutes 52 seconds to read

March 19: The Ministry for Labour, Employment, and Social Security has drafted a new procedure that will now allow manpower companies to send workers to…

Govt makes it Mandatory for Climbers to Use Trackers and Poo Bags while Climbing Everest

Mar 19, 2024 0 3 minutes 47 seconds to read

March 19: The government has ordered mountaineers aspiring to climb Mt Everest to carry mandatory GPS…

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No Laughing Matter

The Sweet Rewards of Power

By Madan Lamsal

. . .
read more »

NEPSE

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			'title' => 'NEPSE Records Minimal Loss of 3.34 Points to Close at 2063.95',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) Index witnessed a minimal loss of 3.34 points or 0.16%, closing at 2063.95 on the fourth trading day of the week on Wednesday.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">March 20: The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) Index witnessed a minimal loss of 3.34 points or 0.16%, closing at 2063.95 on the fourth trading day of the week on Wednesday. </span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">During today&rsquo;s trading session, as many as 305 scrips were traded on the NEPSE through 60,016 transactions. A total of 9,445,697 shares were traded resulting in a total turnover of Rs 3.49 billion. </span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Sonapur Minerals and Oil Company (SONA) led the turnover with total transaction of worth Rs 19 crores. Gurkhas Finance Limited (GUFL) and Buddha Bhumi Nepal Hydropower Company (BNHC) each gained 10%, and hit the positive circuit for the day. </span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Bottlers Nepal (Balaju) Limited (BNL) incurred the highest loss of 9.32%, closing at a market price at Rs 493 per share. </span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Regarding sub-indices, Microfinance Index, Mutual Fund Index, NonLife Insurance and Trading Index closed in the green territory, while the remaining sectors landed in the red zone.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Microfinance Index experienced the highest gain of 2.51%, while Manufacturing and Processing suffered the maximum loss at 1.45%.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></p>
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			'title' => 'The Bank of Japan's Experiment   ',
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			'summary' => 'March 20: The Bank of Japan announced a seismic change in direction on Tuesday, hiking interest rates for the first time in 17 years.    ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">March 20: The Bank of Japan announced a seismic change in direction on Tuesday, hiking interest rates for the first time in 17 years.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">The move represents an unwinding of an ultra-loose -- and maverick -- policy aimed at putting Japan&#39;s &quot;lost decades&quot; of stagnation and deflation behind it.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><strong><span style="font-size:16.0pt">&#39;Ambitious goal&#39; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">The last time the BoJ raised interest rates was in 2007, but its war against deflation began in earnest in 2013 under then-prime minister Shinzo Abe.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">&quot;Abenomics&quot; combined generous government spending and central bank monetary easing. The BoJ spent vast amounts on bonds and other assets to pump liquidity into the system, targeting inflation of two percent that policymakers hoped would fuel growth.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">It was &quot;an extremely ambitious goal&quot; and it did not work right away, said Kazuo Momma, an economist at Mizuho Research and Technologies.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">&quot;Having failed to achieve the target within a committed two-year period, the BoJ had no other choice than to pursue further stimulative measures including the negative interest rate,&quot; Momma told AFP.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><strong><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Spur lending &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">The negative interest rate of -0.1 percent -- hiked to between zero and 0.1 percent on Tuesday -- had been in place since 2016, effectively charging banks to keep their money at the Bank of Japan.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">The hope was that banks would loan out their capital instead, boosting economic activity. The same year, bank policymakers introduced another measure, which Momma called &quot;even more unconventional&quot;: yield curve control.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">That consisted of buying as many or as few 10-year government bonds as necessary to keep their yields steady at zero to stimulate lending in the real economy. On Tuesday, this too was scrapped, along with the purchase of risk assets such as exchange-traded funds (ETFs), with the BoJ saying they had &quot;fulfilled their roles&quot;.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><strong><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Crisis averted? &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">The BoJ&#39;s stance has put major pressure on the yen. But some say it met its aims, helping Japan escape deflation while providing better conditions for the BoJ&#39;s hoped-for &quot;virtuous cycle&quot; of higher wages and spending.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Overall, the consensus is that the economy would have fared worse without the measures, said Louis Kuijs, chief economist for Asia Pacific at S&amp;P Global Ratings. Due to downward pressure on growth and prices, growth &quot;would have been weaker and significant deflation may have occurred if the BoJ had not eased monetary policy,&quot; he told AFP.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><strong><span style="font-size:16.0pt">&#39;Zombie&#39; companies &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">But Momma said that the policy might also have led to a &quot;lack of fiscal discipline and inefficient allocation of resources through keeping non-viable firms alive&quot;.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">One research company found that the number of &quot;zombie&quot; companies jumped by around a third in Japan after the Covid pandemic.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Monetary easing can also exacerbate social inequality, and &quot;tends to distort financial markets,&quot; Kuijs warned.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Some economists, such as former BoJ board member Sayuri Shirai, still think factors including weak consumption make sustained two-percent inflation a long shot.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">&quot;There is no way to justify that two percent is achievable in terms of Japan&#39;s inflation environment and wage environment,&quot; she said.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><strong><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Wasted progress?&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">If done too aggressively, the risks of moving away from years of monetary easing are high. The BoJ &quot;worries that if it tightens monetary policy, economic growth, wage growth and prices will fall again, wasting the recent progress,&quot; Kuijs said.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Moving too quickly could also see a flight of capital from elsewhere into Japan by investors seeking higher returns, potentially destabilising financial markets. &quot;Governor Ueda has stressed that, while there are risks of tightening too late, the risks of tightening too early are larger,&quot; Kuijs said. &ndash; AFP/RSS</span></span></span></p>
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			'title' => 'Buddha Air's Operating Income Up by Three Folds',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'March 20: The operating income of Buddha Air, a leading private sector airlines company of Nepal, has increased by three folds compared to the two fiscal years affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">March 20: The operating income of Buddha Air, a leading private sector airlines company of Nepal, has increased by three folds compared to the two fiscal years affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">According to the information released by ICRA Nepal, a government recognized rating company, the income of Buddha Air has increased significantly during the last fiscal year. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">The airline company, which had an operating income of Rs 4.94 billion in the fiscal year 2076/77 when coronavirus first appeared, has made such an income of Rs 12.16 billion in the fiscal year (FY) 2079/80. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">In addition, the company has made an operating income of Rs 3.83 billion in the first three and a half months of the current fiscal year, according to the unaudited data of the company.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">The company has seen a significant improvement in its income after the coronavirus pandemic subsided. The increase in the number of air passengers after coronavirus subsided made a positive contribution to the company&#39;s income. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">According to the Tribhuvan International Airport Office, Buddha Air served 25,77,618 passengers in the year 2023. The number of flights operated by Buddha Air is also the highest among domestic airlines companies.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">The report prepared by ICRA Nepal mentions that Buddha Air&#39;s income increased in FY 2079/80 despite the increase in the price of aviation fuel. According to the report, the company&#39;s market share has also increased. The market share is estimated to reach 67 percent in the coming year. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Buddha Air has been operating domestic and international flights (Beneras in India) for the past 27 years. The company has been continuously increasing the number of aircraft. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">According to ICRA Nepal, the operating income of Buddha Air in 2018 was Rs 6.8 billion. In 2019, such income reached Rs 6.80 billion. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">The increase in the company&#39;s income has been attributed to the increase in the number of aircraft as well as passengers. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Buddha Air, which started domestic flights with 18-seat capacity aircraft, currently has 17 aircraft. All of them are ATR. Buddha has 14 ATR 72-500 series with 70 seat capacity and three ATR 42-300 series with 47 seat capacity. The company has been flying to 15 different destinations with its base in Kathmandu.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => '137 Small Industries Closed in Kailali due to Shortage of Raw Material',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'March 20: One hundred and thirty-seven cottage and small industries have closed down in Kailali district due to the shortage of raw materials.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">March 20: One hundred and thirty-seven cottage and small industries have closed down in Kailali district due to the shortage of raw materials. Several of these industries have shut as they could not manage the operation cost while some because their productions could not compete with the market prices.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">According to the Cottage and Small Industries Office, several of the industries closed after their proprietors left the country for foreign employment.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">However, the registration of women-owned enterprises has notably increased in the district in recent years. This is due to the provision of concessions on the registration fees for women-owned industries.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">So far 15,434 industries have been registered in Kailali and the registration of 137 of them has been annulled. Among the registered industries, 3,194 are production-based, 6488 agriculture-based, two construction, 65 tourism-related, 12 information technology related and 5,673 service-oriented industries.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">These industries have an investment of Rs 25 billion. The Sudurpaschim provincial government has allocated Rs 15 million for implementing the &#39;One Electoral Constituency, One Industry&#39; programme in the current fiscal year.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The office stated that 9,120 women and 69,611 men are employed in the registered industries. The office collected revenues worth Rs 5,216, 000 in last fiscal year 2022/23 and Rs 10,500,000 as of March 13, in the eight months of the current fiscal year 2023/24. -- RSS </span></span></span></p>
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			'title' => 'NHRC urges Government to Address the Demands of Cooperatives' Victims   ',
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			'summary' => 'March 19: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has instructed the government to address the demands of the victim and depositors of cooperatives.    ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">March 19: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has instructed the government to address the demands of the victim and depositors of cooperatives.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The constitutional human rights body urged to protect the constitutionally-guaranteed right of the citizens to peaceful protest and assembly and immediately implement the report of the study committee submitted to the prime minister some six months ago.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The commission has drawn the government&rsquo;s attention to the situation where protesters were injured with the use of excessive force by the police during a peaceful demonstration organized by the cooperatives&rsquo; victims in Kathmandu on March 14.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The commission&#39;s Spokesperson Dr Tikaram Pokharel told RSS that the commission monitored the peaceful protest by the victims of cooperatives, the rally held at Sundhara and the corner meeting held at Bhrikutimandap.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">A memorandum has been received at the commission alleging that the police had beaten and injured chairperson of the National Campaign for Protection of Cooperatives, Kushal KC. Injured KC has been on hunger strike since March 14. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The commission has received information that KC&#39;s health condition is deteriorating. The depositors have so far told the commission&#39;s team that victims of 302 cooperatives have joined the campaign.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The NHRC has urged the government to address the issue of cooperatives&#39; victims through dialogue and to be sensitive to the health condition of KC. -- RSS</span></span></span></p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '20527',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Home Ministry Instructs DAOs to Set Up Facilitation Desk to Hear Problems of Usury Victims',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'March 20: The Ministry of Home Affairs has directed all district administration officers across the country to set up facilitation desk to promptly receive and address the complaints, petitions and grievances of usury victims.    ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">March 20: The Ministry of Home Affairs has directed all district administration officers across the country to set up facilitation desk to promptly receive and address the complaints, petitions and grievances of usury victims.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Home Ministry&#39;s spokesperson Narayan Prasad Bhattarai informed that the directive was issued to establish facilitation desk in line with the four-point agreement signed on March 11 between the ministry and the usury victims&rsquo; struggle committee.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The district administration offices have been directed to set up a facilitation desk to deal with the matter by assigning responsibility to the officer-level employees to immediately hear the complaints, petitions and grievances related to usury and make public the details of the employees deployed at the desk (name, post, email, contact number and other means of contact) on the website of the office.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Similarly, section officer at the Ministry of Home Affairs Chiranjivi GM has been appointed as the contact person of the ministry to coordinate with the DAOs and other agencies to address the complaints of the usury victims.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">For complaints related to usury (improper transactions), one can contact mobile number: 9851360603 (viber, WhatsApp message), email: meterbyaj@gmail.com and toll free number 1112. -- RSS</span></span></span></p>
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			'sortorder' => '20252',
			'image' => '20240320122240_905x525-moha.jpg',
			'article_date' => '2024-03-20 12:21:51',
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	(int) 6 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '20524',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Imports and Exports Increase in Mid-March after Five Months',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'March 20: At a time when the government is claiming that the economic activities are gradually improving, the country's import-export figures have also remained positive.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">March 20: At a time when the government is claiming that the economic activities are gradually improving, the country&#39;s import-export figures have also remained positive. According to the data published by the Department of Customs on Tuesday, both imports and exports reached the highest level in a one-month period from mid-February to mid-March compared to the last five months. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">According to the Department of Customs, the country imported goods worth Rs 132 billion while the monetary value of exported items stood at Rs 13.78 billion in mid-February to mid-March. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">The country&rsquo;s exports were highest in the review month after mid-September to mid-October when goods worth Rs 14.42 billion were exported and goods worth Rs 148 billion imported into Nepal.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">&nbsp;Since then, the imports and exports declined until mid-January and started to increase again. As compared to a one-month period of mid-January to mid-February, imports increased by Rs 2.5 billion in mid-February to mid-March, and exports also increased by the same amount.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Last year, the government had imposed a ban on the import of some luxurious goods due to the decline in foreign exchange reserves. Nepal Rastra Bank also discouraged imports through tight monetary policy.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">With the improvement in foreign exchange reserves, the government lifted the import ban. The central bank has also gradually eased the monetary policy. Similarly, due to more liquidity in the banking system, the banks&rsquo; interest rate is also declining. However, experts have been saying that there has been no significant improvement in foreign trade due to the drop in demand in the market.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">According to Nepal Rastra Bank, the total foreign exchange reserves equivalent to Rs 1539.36 billion in mid-July increased by 19.9 percent to Rs 1844.94 billion by mid-February. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Of the total foreign exchange reserves, reserves held by NRB increased 20.7 percent to Rs 1623.92 billion in mid-February 2024 from Rs 1345.78 billion in mid-July 2023. Reserves held by banks and financial institutions (except NRB) increased 14.2 percent to Rs 221.02 billion in mid-February 2024 from Rs 193.59 billion in mid-July 2023. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">According to the NRB, based on the imports of seven months of 2023/24, the foreign exchange reserves of the banking sector is sufficient to cover the prospective merchandise imports of 14.7 months, and merchandise and services imports of 12.3 months. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">According to the Department of Customs, both import and export have decreased as of mid-March of the current year compared to last year. In the 8 months of the last fiscal year, goods worth Rs 1058 billion were imported, which decreased by 2.66 percent to Rs 1030 billion during the same period of the current fiscal year. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Similarly, the department has informed that goods worth Rs 104 billion were exported from Nepal as of mid-March of last year, while goods worth only Rs 100 billion were exported in the corresponding period of the current iscal year.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">In the eight months of the current fiscal year, there has been an increase in the import of petroleum products and electric vehicles. However, there has been a decline in the import of raw materials of palm oil, soybean oil and sunflower oil, which had been contributing a high share in exports. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Meanwhile, carpets and rugs have topped the list of export items as of mid-March of the current fiscal year. Iron and iron, palm oil are also in the list of most exported items.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">There has been relief in the country&#39;s trade deficit with the decrease in imports. According to the data of the department, the country&rsquo;s trade deficit which was Rs 953.58 billion as of mid-March last year, dropped to Rs 929 billion in the same period this year.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">As of mid-March of the current fiscal year, the government has collected Rs 270.78 billion as customs duty. In the same period last year, the government had collected only Rs 242.72 billion from customs revenue.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '20523',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'UN Warns 'Planet on the Brink' after Warmest Decade on Record',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'March 20: Global heat records were "smashed" last year, the UN confirmed Tuesday, with 2023 rounding out the hottest decade on record, as heatwaves stalked oceans and glaciers suffered record ice loss.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">March 20: Global heat records were &quot;smashed&quot; last year, the UN confirmed Tuesday, with 2023 rounding out the hottest decade on record, as heatwaves stalked oceans and glaciers suffered record ice loss.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The United Nations&#39; World Meteorological Organization issued its annual State of the Climate report, confirming preliminary data indicating that 2023 was by far the hottest year ever recorded.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">And it came at the end of &quot;the warmest 10-year period on record&quot;, the WMO report said.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">UN chief Antonio Guterres said the report showed &quot;a planet on the brink&quot;.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">&quot;Earth&#39;s issuing a distress call,&quot; he said, pointing out that &quot;fossil fuel pollution is sending climate chaos off the charts&quot;, and warning that &quot;changes are speeding up&quot;.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The WMO said the average near-surface temperature was 1.45 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels last year -- dangerously close to the critical 1.5-degree threshold that countries agreed to avoid passing in the 2015 Paris climate accords.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">&quot;Never have we been so close... to the 1.5C lower limit of the Paris Agreement,&quot; WMO chief Andrea Celeste Saulo warned in a statement.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt">&#39;Red alert&#39;</span></strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The report, she said, should be seen as a &quot;red alert to the world&quot;.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Going through the data, the organisation found that &quot;records were once again broken, and in some cases smashed&quot;, warning that the numbers &quot;gave ominous new significance to the phrase &#39;off the charts&#39;.&quot;</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Saulo stressed that climate change was about much more than temperatures.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">&quot;What we witnessed in 2023, especially with the unprecedented ocean warmth, glacier retreat and Antarctic sea ice loss, is cause for particular concern.&quot;</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">One especially worrying finding was that marine heatwaves gripped nearly a third of the global ocean on an average day last year.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">And by the end of 2023, more than 90 percent of the ocean had experienced heatwave conditions at some point during the year, the WMO said.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">More frequent and intense marine heatwaves will have &quot;profound negative repercussions for marine ecosystems and coral reefs&quot;, it warned.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">At the same time, it warned that key glaciers worldwide suffered the largest loss of ice ever since records began in 1950, &quot;driven by extreme melt in both western North America and Europe&quot;.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">In Switzerland, where the WMO is headquartered, Alpine glaciers had for instance lost 10 percent of their remaining volume in the past two years alone, it said.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The Antarctic sea ice extent was also &quot;by far the lowest on record&quot;, WMO said.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Rising sea levels</span></strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">In fact, it pointed out, its maximum extent at the end of the southern winter was around one million square kilometres below the previous record year -- equivalent to the size of France and Germany combined.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The continued ocean warming combined with the rapidly melting glaciers and ice sheets also drove the sea level last year to its highest point since satellite records began in 1993, WMO said.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The agency stressed that the global mean sea level rise over the past decade (2014-2023) was more than double the rate in the first decade of satellite records.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">It highlighted that the dramatic climate shifts are taking a heavy toll on people worldwide, fuelling extreme weather events, flooding and drought, which trigger displacement and drive up biodiversity loss and food insecurity.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">&quot;The climate crisis is THE defining challenge that humanity faces and is closely intertwined with the inequality crisis,&quot; Saulo said.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt">&#39;Glimmer of hope&#39;</span></strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The number of people who are considered acutely food insecure around the world has more than doubled, from 149 million people prior to the Covid-19 pandemic to 333 million at the end of 2023, WMO pointed out.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The UN&#39;s weather and climate agency did however highlight one &quot;glimmer of hope&quot;: surging renewable energy generation.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Last year, renewable energy generation capacity -- mainly from solar, wind and hydropower -- increased by nearly 50 percent from 2022, it said.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Guterres also emphasised that there was an upside to the findings.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The world, he insisted, still has a chance to keep the planet&#39;s long-term temperature rise below the 1.5C threshold and &quot;avoid the worst of climate chaos&quot;.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">&quot;We know how to do it.&quot; -- AFP/RSS</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '20522',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Rain Predicted in Koshi, Madhes and Bagmati Provinces   ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'March 20: The Weather Forecasting Division under the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology has predicted light to moderate rainfall with thunder and lightning at a few places of Koshi, Madhes and Bagmati provinces and at one or two places of the hill regions of other provinces today.    ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">March 20: The Weather Forecasting Division under the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology has predicted light to moderate rainfall with thunder and lightning at a few places of Koshi, Madhes and Bagmati provinces and at one or two places of the hill regions of other provinces today.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">According to the Weather Forecasting Division, the country is currently experiencing a partial influence of the westerly low pressure system and local winds.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The weather will be partly to generally cloudy throughout the country today with light rain accompanied by thunder and lightning at some places of Koshi and Madhes provinces, reads a bulletin issued by the division. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">According to the division, light snowfall is taking place at one or two places of the high hills and mountainous region of Koshi Province.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The Kathmandu Valley has witnessed cloudy weather accompanied by rainfall since this morning. The weather will be partly cloudy in the hill regions of the country including Koshi, Madhes, Bagmati, Gandaki and Lumbini provinces tonight. -- RSS&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>
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	(int) 9 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '20521',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Lumbini to Host Conclave on Global Peace for Prosperity',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'An international gathering titled the "Conclave on Global Peace for Prosperity" is slated to take place in Lumbini, the revered birthplace of Buddha, from March 21 to 22.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">March 20: An international gathering titled the &quot;Conclave on Global Peace for Prosperity&quot; is slated to take place in Lumbini, the revered birthplace of Buddha, from March 21 to 22. </span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The event is jointly organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Honorary Consular Corps Nepal (HCCN), aiming to foster discussions and collaborations towards global peace and prosperity.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Dignitaries from 18 countries without embassies in Nepal, as well as honorary consuls representing various nations, will convene alongside high-ranking officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, experts in foreign affairs, and heritage specialists. </span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Narayan Kaji Shrestha, Minister for Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation Hit Bahadur Tamang, along with officials from the Investment Board, Nepal Tourism Board, and Lumbini Development Trust, are expected to participate in the conclave.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The primary objectives of the conclave include promoting Lumbini&#39;s cultural and religious significance, attracting investment to Nepal, and fostering global unity. Discussions and presentations will center around investment opportunities within Nepal and the potential of its tourism sector.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Bishnu Kumar Agarwal, the Dean of HCCN, emphasized that the event seeks to connect Lumbini with the vast community of approximately one billion Buddhists worldwide, aiming to underscore its profound cultural and religious importance. </span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Furthermore, the conclave is anticipated to serve as a catalyst for increased investment in Nepal, thereby contributing to the nation&#39;s economic growth and development. (RSS)&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'id' => '20520',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Government Unveils Common Minimum Policy and Resolution',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'March 19: The ruling alliance on Tuesday unveiled its Common Minimum Policy, Priorities and Resolution.    ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">March 19: The ruling alliance on Tuesday unveiled its Common Minimum Policy, Priorities and Resolution.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The document was unveiled at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers in Singha Durbar, in the presence of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal and the top leaders of the parties in the ruling alliance.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The policy, that places the supreme interests of the Nepali people at the centre, aims to instill hope and faith by tearing apart the sense of despondency among the people.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The ruling alliance comprises the CPN (UML), the CPN (Maoist Centre), the Rastriya Swatantra Party, the Janata Samajwadi Party and the CPN (Unified Socialist).&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The policy includes programmes to activate the share market through policy reforms, to mobilize the climate financing, to implement the 16the periodic plan by carrying out an objective assessment of the 15th periodic plan, to free the financial institutions of anomalies and to resolve the problems of the cooperatives and microfinances.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Former Finance Minister and UML Vice Chair Bishnu Prasad Paudel read out the document on the occasion.&nbsp;&nbsp; -- RSS</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'title' => '73 Percent Children in Kathmandu Valley Suffer from Tooth Decay Problems   ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'March 19: A study has found that 73 percent children in the Kathmandu Valley face issue of tooth decay. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">March 19: A study has found that 73 percent children in the Kathmandu Valley face issue of tooth decay. The study conducted by the Kantipur Dental College (Teaching Hospital and Research Center) was based in 68 schools inside the Valley.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The dental college shared this information in a press meet held on Tuesday on the eve of the World Oral Health Day.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The lack of oral hygiene practices which include proper brushing of teeth, refraining from packaged and junk food, chocolates, biscuits and other sugary foods have caused the issues of cavity and tooth decay among the children, the hospital&rsquo;s chief executive director Dr Buddhiman Shrestha said during the press meet.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The study supported by the BM Foundation and Rotary Club of Kathmandu North mentioned 24,154 as respondents.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">According to the hospital source, findings of recent dental camps it organised targeting various communities in Jhapa, Syangja, Kavrepalanchowk, Kailali, Sindhuli and Nuwakot show that 45 percent adults suffered from gum diseases. -- RSS</span></span></span></p>
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			'id' => '20518',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Industry Minister Holds Discussion on Investment Summit with Private Sector Representatives   ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'March 19: Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Damodar Bhandari, on Tuesday held discussions with the private sector representatives regarding the upcoming Nepal Investment Summit.    ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">March 19: Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Damodar Bhandari, on Tuesday held discussions with the private sector representatives regarding the upcoming Nepal Investment Summit.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">In an informal discussion with the representatives of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry and Confederation of Nepalese Industries, Minister Bhandari discussed about making laws to create a conducive environment for investors. The investment summit is scheduled for April 28-29.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The government is receiving suggestions from the private sector for drafting investment-friendly laws with the objective to attract foreign investment in the country, and for making the summit effective.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">During the meeting, CNI Director General Gokarna Awasthi urged the government to table the drafts of 10 acts and two regulations in its original form without amendments.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Similarly, Minister Bhandari responded positively to facilitate from the side of the ministry regarding drafting new investment-friendly laws by incorporating the feedback of the private sector.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Present in the meeting were, FNCCI&rsquo;s former chair Chandiraj Dhakal, senior vice chair Anjan Shrestha, vice chair Hemraj Dhakal, CNI President Rajesh Agrawal, vice chair Birendra Pandey among others. -- RSS </span></span></span></p>
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			'title' => 'Govt to Allow Manpower Companies to Send Workers to Korea',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'March 19: The Ministry for Labour, Employment, and Social Security has drafted a new procedure that will now allow manpower companies to send workers to Korea.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">March 19: The Ministry for Labour, Employment, and Social Security has drafted a new procedure that will now allow manpower companies to send workers to Korea. Previously, only the government could send workers to Korea.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">In the procedure for sending workers to Korea issued by the ministry, there is a provision that manpower companies registered with the Department of Foreign Employment can send Nepali workers to Korea under the E-7 visa system after meeting the specified criteria.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Such companies will also facilitate sending workers to Korea and conduct language and necessary skill training.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The procedure mandates the companies to own a training centre according to the prevailing standards for languages and skill training or a training centre that can be used at any time under a contract agreement.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">For the Korean language training centre, the company must have at least two instructors with an official certificate of language training.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The Nepali licensed organization must have an agreement with its contact office or licensed branched legally registered in Korea to collect, verify, and facilitate the demand for the E-7 visa and provide necessary welfare services and work for Nepali workers. There is also a condition in the procedure that specifies that the organization should have an agreement with Nepali workers and Nepali-licensed organizations not to charge any fee for the process.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Under the E-7 visa system, Nepali citizens who wish to go to Korea for employment must have passed the Korean language test and the professional skill test conducted by an organization recognized by the Korean government or a licensed organization. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The details of the Nepali workers passing the language test will be provided by the licensed organization to the Department of Foreign Employment.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The labour recruitment process will be similar to that of the Gulf countries and Malaysia.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">There is also a contradictory arrangement made by the Foreign Employment Department in the procedure regarding the recommendation of the visa process for the workers selected by the manpower company.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Currently, Nepali workers are traveling to Korea under a government-to-government agreement through the Employment Permit System (EPS), under the E-9 visa (unskilled workers) system.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">About 100,000 Nepali workers have reached Korea through this transparent system. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Danduraj Ghimire, director-general of the Department of Foreign Employment, said that homework is being done to advance the new procedure.</span> A committee will submit its report within 21 days in this regard. </span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'title' => 'Govt makes it Mandatory for Climbers to Use Trackers and Poo Bags while Climbing Everest',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'March 19: The government has ordered mountaineers aspiring to climb Mt Everest to carry mandatory GPS trackers.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">March 19: The government has ordered mountaineers aspiring to climb Mt Everest to carry mandatory GPS trackers after one of the deadliest seasons last year when eighteen climbers perished while climbing the world&rsquo;s highest peak. The Department of Tourism has also made it mandatory for climbers to remove their excrement using compostable bags similar to those used for dog waste.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">The move comes amid widespread criticism that Mt Everest is turning into a dumping yard due to lack of proper regulations to manage waste in the mountains of Nepal.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">According to AFP, tonnes of rubbish -- including empty cans, bottles and gas canisters, discarded climbing gear, and plastic and human waste -- litter the mountain, which has been dubbed the &quot;highest dumpster in the world&quot;.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">With around 600 climbers and guides reaching the top in 2023, the local rural municipality of Everest has also introduced a slew of new regulations, including mandatory poo bags to be used above base camp, added the French news agency.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">&ldquo;Poo bags can contain chemicals that help dry and solidify waste, removing the stench, and have been used in other extreme conditions, including in Antarctica and on Denali in the US state of Alaska.&rdquo;</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">As far as GPS trackers are concerned, they are already used by many professional climbers, helping people monitor their progress on the peak, which is important for security.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">The climbers are expected to require less powerful but smaller passive trackers, which can be easily sewn into a jacket and require no power to function. They can be tracked by a handheld detector around 20 metres (66 feet) through packed snow, and several times that in the air, AFP added.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Enforcing their use will help locate people in case of an accident, AFP reported citing government officials.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">&quot;The trackers are mandatory for climbers this year, so that if there is an accident their location can be accurately identified,&quot; AFP quoted Rakesh Gurung, director of mountaineering at the Department of Tourism, as saying.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">The spring climbing season begins this month and runs till May, when the weather is favourable for climbing Everest.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Nepal is home to eight of the world&#39;s highest 14 peaks above 8,000 metres and sees hundreds of adventurer enthusiasts aspiring to climb Everest especially in the spring climbing season, when temperatures are warm and winds are typically calm.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Specialised &quot;icefall doctors&quot; have already set off for Everest, where they will begin setting the climbing route by fixing ropes and ladders.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">These highly skilled Sherpas are the first men on the peak every season, building a route across plunging crevasses and constantly shifting ice, including the treacherous Khumbu icefall, AFP added.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Three Nepali climbers perished there last April when a block of glacial ice fell and swept them into a crevasse as they were crossing the icefall on a supply mission.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'title' => 'NEPSE Records Minimal Loss of 3.34 Points to Close at 2063.95',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) Index witnessed a minimal loss of 3.34 points or 0.16%, closing at 2063.95 on the fourth trading day of the week on Wednesday.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">March 20: The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) Index witnessed a minimal loss of 3.34 points or 0.16%, closing at 2063.95 on the fourth trading day of the week on Wednesday. </span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">During today&rsquo;s trading session, as many as 305 scrips were traded on the NEPSE through 60,016 transactions. A total of 9,445,697 shares were traded resulting in a total turnover of Rs 3.49 billion. </span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Sonapur Minerals and Oil Company (SONA) led the turnover with total transaction of worth Rs 19 crores. Gurkhas Finance Limited (GUFL) and Buddha Bhumi Nepal Hydropower Company (BNHC) each gained 10%, and hit the positive circuit for the day. </span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Bottlers Nepal (Balaju) Limited (BNL) incurred the highest loss of 9.32%, closing at a market price at Rs 493 per share. </span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Regarding sub-indices, Microfinance Index, Mutual Fund Index, NonLife Insurance and Trading Index closed in the green territory, while the remaining sectors landed in the red zone.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Microfinance Index experienced the highest gain of 2.51%, while Manufacturing and Processing suffered the maximum loss at 1.45%.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></p>
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			'id' => '20532',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'The Bank of Japan's Experiment   ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'March 20: The Bank of Japan announced a seismic change in direction on Tuesday, hiking interest rates for the first time in 17 years.    ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">March 20: The Bank of Japan announced a seismic change in direction on Tuesday, hiking interest rates for the first time in 17 years.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">The move represents an unwinding of an ultra-loose -- and maverick -- policy aimed at putting Japan&#39;s &quot;lost decades&quot; of stagnation and deflation behind it.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><strong><span style="font-size:16.0pt">&#39;Ambitious goal&#39; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">The last time the BoJ raised interest rates was in 2007, but its war against deflation began in earnest in 2013 under then-prime minister Shinzo Abe.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">&quot;Abenomics&quot; combined generous government spending and central bank monetary easing. The BoJ spent vast amounts on bonds and other assets to pump liquidity into the system, targeting inflation of two percent that policymakers hoped would fuel growth.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">It was &quot;an extremely ambitious goal&quot; and it did not work right away, said Kazuo Momma, an economist at Mizuho Research and Technologies.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">&quot;Having failed to achieve the target within a committed two-year period, the BoJ had no other choice than to pursue further stimulative measures including the negative interest rate,&quot; Momma told AFP.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><strong><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Spur lending &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">The negative interest rate of -0.1 percent -- hiked to between zero and 0.1 percent on Tuesday -- had been in place since 2016, effectively charging banks to keep their money at the Bank of Japan.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">The hope was that banks would loan out their capital instead, boosting economic activity. The same year, bank policymakers introduced another measure, which Momma called &quot;even more unconventional&quot;: yield curve control.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">That consisted of buying as many or as few 10-year government bonds as necessary to keep their yields steady at zero to stimulate lending in the real economy. On Tuesday, this too was scrapped, along with the purchase of risk assets such as exchange-traded funds (ETFs), with the BoJ saying they had &quot;fulfilled their roles&quot;.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><strong><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Crisis averted? &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">The BoJ&#39;s stance has put major pressure on the yen. But some say it met its aims, helping Japan escape deflation while providing better conditions for the BoJ&#39;s hoped-for &quot;virtuous cycle&quot; of higher wages and spending.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Overall, the consensus is that the economy would have fared worse without the measures, said Louis Kuijs, chief economist for Asia Pacific at S&amp;P Global Ratings. Due to downward pressure on growth and prices, growth &quot;would have been weaker and significant deflation may have occurred if the BoJ had not eased monetary policy,&quot; he told AFP.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><strong><span style="font-size:16.0pt">&#39;Zombie&#39; companies &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">But Momma said that the policy might also have led to a &quot;lack of fiscal discipline and inefficient allocation of resources through keeping non-viable firms alive&quot;.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">One research company found that the number of &quot;zombie&quot; companies jumped by around a third in Japan after the Covid pandemic.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Monetary easing can also exacerbate social inequality, and &quot;tends to distort financial markets,&quot; Kuijs warned.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Some economists, such as former BoJ board member Sayuri Shirai, still think factors including weak consumption make sustained two-percent inflation a long shot.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">&quot;There is no way to justify that two percent is achievable in terms of Japan&#39;s inflation environment and wage environment,&quot; she said.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><strong><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Wasted progress?&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">If done too aggressively, the risks of moving away from years of monetary easing are high. The BoJ &quot;worries that if it tightens monetary policy, economic growth, wage growth and prices will fall again, wasting the recent progress,&quot; Kuijs said.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Moving too quickly could also see a flight of capital from elsewhere into Japan by investors seeking higher returns, potentially destabilising financial markets. &quot;Governor Ueda has stressed that, while there are risks of tightening too late, the risks of tightening too early are larger,&quot; Kuijs said. &ndash; AFP/RSS</span></span></span></p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '20530',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Buddha Air's Operating Income Up by Three Folds',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'March 20: The operating income of Buddha Air, a leading private sector airlines company of Nepal, has increased by three folds compared to the two fiscal years affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">March 20: The operating income of Buddha Air, a leading private sector airlines company of Nepal, has increased by three folds compared to the two fiscal years affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">According to the information released by ICRA Nepal, a government recognized rating company, the income of Buddha Air has increased significantly during the last fiscal year. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">The airline company, which had an operating income of Rs 4.94 billion in the fiscal year 2076/77 when coronavirus first appeared, has made such an income of Rs 12.16 billion in the fiscal year (FY) 2079/80. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">In addition, the company has made an operating income of Rs 3.83 billion in the first three and a half months of the current fiscal year, according to the unaudited data of the company.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">The company has seen a significant improvement in its income after the coronavirus pandemic subsided. The increase in the number of air passengers after coronavirus subsided made a positive contribution to the company&#39;s income. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">According to the Tribhuvan International Airport Office, Buddha Air served 25,77,618 passengers in the year 2023. The number of flights operated by Buddha Air is also the highest among domestic airlines companies.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">The report prepared by ICRA Nepal mentions that Buddha Air&#39;s income increased in FY 2079/80 despite the increase in the price of aviation fuel. According to the report, the company&#39;s market share has also increased. The market share is estimated to reach 67 percent in the coming year. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Buddha Air has been operating domestic and international flights (Beneras in India) for the past 27 years. The company has been continuously increasing the number of aircraft. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">According to ICRA Nepal, the operating income of Buddha Air in 2018 was Rs 6.8 billion. In 2019, such income reached Rs 6.80 billion. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">The increase in the company&#39;s income has been attributed to the increase in the number of aircraft as well as passengers. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Buddha Air, which started domestic flights with 18-seat capacity aircraft, currently has 17 aircraft. All of them are ATR. Buddha has 14 ATR 72-500 series with 70 seat capacity and three ATR 42-300 series with 47 seat capacity. The company has been flying to 15 different destinations with its base in Kathmandu.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '20528',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => '137 Small Industries Closed in Kailali due to Shortage of Raw Material',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'March 20: One hundred and thirty-seven cottage and small industries have closed down in Kailali district due to the shortage of raw materials.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">March 20: One hundred and thirty-seven cottage and small industries have closed down in Kailali district due to the shortage of raw materials. Several of these industries have shut as they could not manage the operation cost while some because their productions could not compete with the market prices.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">According to the Cottage and Small Industries Office, several of the industries closed after their proprietors left the country for foreign employment.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">However, the registration of women-owned enterprises has notably increased in the district in recent years. This is due to the provision of concessions on the registration fees for women-owned industries.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">So far 15,434 industries have been registered in Kailali and the registration of 137 of them has been annulled. Among the registered industries, 3,194 are production-based, 6488 agriculture-based, two construction, 65 tourism-related, 12 information technology related and 5,673 service-oriented industries.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">These industries have an investment of Rs 25 billion. The Sudurpaschim provincial government has allocated Rs 15 million for implementing the &#39;One Electoral Constituency, One Industry&#39; programme in the current fiscal year.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The office stated that 9,120 women and 69,611 men are employed in the registered industries. The office collected revenues worth Rs 5,216, 000 in last fiscal year 2022/23 and Rs 10,500,000 as of March 13, in the eight months of the current fiscal year 2023/24. -- RSS </span></span></span></p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '20529',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'NHRC urges Government to Address the Demands of Cooperatives' Victims   ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'March 19: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has instructed the government to address the demands of the victim and depositors of cooperatives.    ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">March 19: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has instructed the government to address the demands of the victim and depositors of cooperatives.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The constitutional human rights body urged to protect the constitutionally-guaranteed right of the citizens to peaceful protest and assembly and immediately implement the report of the study committee submitted to the prime minister some six months ago.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The commission has drawn the government&rsquo;s attention to the situation where protesters were injured with the use of excessive force by the police during a peaceful demonstration organized by the cooperatives&rsquo; victims in Kathmandu on March 14.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The commission&#39;s Spokesperson Dr Tikaram Pokharel told RSS that the commission monitored the peaceful protest by the victims of cooperatives, the rally held at Sundhara and the corner meeting held at Bhrikutimandap.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">A memorandum has been received at the commission alleging that the police had beaten and injured chairperson of the National Campaign for Protection of Cooperatives, Kushal KC. Injured KC has been on hunger strike since March 14. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The commission has received information that KC&#39;s health condition is deteriorating. The depositors have so far told the commission&#39;s team that victims of 302 cooperatives have joined the campaign.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The NHRC has urged the government to address the issue of cooperatives&#39; victims through dialogue and to be sensitive to the health condition of KC. -- RSS</span></span></span></p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '20527',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Home Ministry Instructs DAOs to Set Up Facilitation Desk to Hear Problems of Usury Victims',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'March 20: The Ministry of Home Affairs has directed all district administration officers across the country to set up facilitation desk to promptly receive and address the complaints, petitions and grievances of usury victims.    ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">March 20: The Ministry of Home Affairs has directed all district administration officers across the country to set up facilitation desk to promptly receive and address the complaints, petitions and grievances of usury victims.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Home Ministry&#39;s spokesperson Narayan Prasad Bhattarai informed that the directive was issued to establish facilitation desk in line with the four-point agreement signed on March 11 between the ministry and the usury victims&rsquo; struggle committee.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The district administration offices have been directed to set up a facilitation desk to deal with the matter by assigning responsibility to the officer-level employees to immediately hear the complaints, petitions and grievances related to usury and make public the details of the employees deployed at the desk (name, post, email, contact number and other means of contact) on the website of the office.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Similarly, section officer at the Ministry of Home Affairs Chiranjivi GM has been appointed as the contact person of the ministry to coordinate with the DAOs and other agencies to address the complaints of the usury victims.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">For complaints related to usury (improper transactions), one can contact mobile number: 9851360603 (viber, WhatsApp message), email: meterbyaj@gmail.com and toll free number 1112. -- RSS</span></span></span></p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '20524',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Imports and Exports Increase in Mid-March after Five Months',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'March 20: At a time when the government is claiming that the economic activities are gradually improving, the country's import-export figures have also remained positive.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">March 20: At a time when the government is claiming that the economic activities are gradually improving, the country&#39;s import-export figures have also remained positive. According to the data published by the Department of Customs on Tuesday, both imports and exports reached the highest level in a one-month period from mid-February to mid-March compared to the last five months. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">According to the Department of Customs, the country imported goods worth Rs 132 billion while the monetary value of exported items stood at Rs 13.78 billion in mid-February to mid-March. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">The country&rsquo;s exports were highest in the review month after mid-September to mid-October when goods worth Rs 14.42 billion were exported and goods worth Rs 148 billion imported into Nepal.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">&nbsp;Since then, the imports and exports declined until mid-January and started to increase again. As compared to a one-month period of mid-January to mid-February, imports increased by Rs 2.5 billion in mid-February to mid-March, and exports also increased by the same amount.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Last year, the government had imposed a ban on the import of some luxurious goods due to the decline in foreign exchange reserves. Nepal Rastra Bank also discouraged imports through tight monetary policy.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">With the improvement in foreign exchange reserves, the government lifted the import ban. The central bank has also gradually eased the monetary policy. Similarly, due to more liquidity in the banking system, the banks&rsquo; interest rate is also declining. However, experts have been saying that there has been no significant improvement in foreign trade due to the drop in demand in the market.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">According to Nepal Rastra Bank, the total foreign exchange reserves equivalent to Rs 1539.36 billion in mid-July increased by 19.9 percent to Rs 1844.94 billion by mid-February. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Of the total foreign exchange reserves, reserves held by NRB increased 20.7 percent to Rs 1623.92 billion in mid-February 2024 from Rs 1345.78 billion in mid-July 2023. Reserves held by banks and financial institutions (except NRB) increased 14.2 percent to Rs 221.02 billion in mid-February 2024 from Rs 193.59 billion in mid-July 2023. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">According to the NRB, based on the imports of seven months of 2023/24, the foreign exchange reserves of the banking sector is sufficient to cover the prospective merchandise imports of 14.7 months, and merchandise and services imports of 12.3 months. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">According to the Department of Customs, both import and export have decreased as of mid-March of the current year compared to last year. In the 8 months of the last fiscal year, goods worth Rs 1058 billion were imported, which decreased by 2.66 percent to Rs 1030 billion during the same period of the current fiscal year. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Similarly, the department has informed that goods worth Rs 104 billion were exported from Nepal as of mid-March of last year, while goods worth only Rs 100 billion were exported in the corresponding period of the current iscal year.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">In the eight months of the current fiscal year, there has been an increase in the import of petroleum products and electric vehicles. However, there has been a decline in the import of raw materials of palm oil, soybean oil and sunflower oil, which had been contributing a high share in exports. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Meanwhile, carpets and rugs have topped the list of export items as of mid-March of the current fiscal year. Iron and iron, palm oil are also in the list of most exported items.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">There has been relief in the country&#39;s trade deficit with the decrease in imports. According to the data of the department, the country&rsquo;s trade deficit which was Rs 953.58 billion as of mid-March last year, dropped to Rs 929 billion in the same period this year.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">As of mid-March of the current fiscal year, the government has collected Rs 270.78 billion as customs duty. In the same period last year, the government had collected only Rs 242.72 billion from customs revenue.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'id' => '20523',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'UN Warns 'Planet on the Brink' after Warmest Decade on Record',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'March 20: Global heat records were "smashed" last year, the UN confirmed Tuesday, with 2023 rounding out the hottest decade on record, as heatwaves stalked oceans and glaciers suffered record ice loss.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">March 20: Global heat records were &quot;smashed&quot; last year, the UN confirmed Tuesday, with 2023 rounding out the hottest decade on record, as heatwaves stalked oceans and glaciers suffered record ice loss.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The United Nations&#39; World Meteorological Organization issued its annual State of the Climate report, confirming preliminary data indicating that 2023 was by far the hottest year ever recorded.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">And it came at the end of &quot;the warmest 10-year period on record&quot;, the WMO report said.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">UN chief Antonio Guterres said the report showed &quot;a planet on the brink&quot;.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">&quot;Earth&#39;s issuing a distress call,&quot; he said, pointing out that &quot;fossil fuel pollution is sending climate chaos off the charts&quot;, and warning that &quot;changes are speeding up&quot;.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The WMO said the average near-surface temperature was 1.45 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels last year -- dangerously close to the critical 1.5-degree threshold that countries agreed to avoid passing in the 2015 Paris climate accords.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">&quot;Never have we been so close... to the 1.5C lower limit of the Paris Agreement,&quot; WMO chief Andrea Celeste Saulo warned in a statement.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt">&#39;Red alert&#39;</span></strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The report, she said, should be seen as a &quot;red alert to the world&quot;.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Going through the data, the organisation found that &quot;records were once again broken, and in some cases smashed&quot;, warning that the numbers &quot;gave ominous new significance to the phrase &#39;off the charts&#39;.&quot;</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Saulo stressed that climate change was about much more than temperatures.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">&quot;What we witnessed in 2023, especially with the unprecedented ocean warmth, glacier retreat and Antarctic sea ice loss, is cause for particular concern.&quot;</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">One especially worrying finding was that marine heatwaves gripped nearly a third of the global ocean on an average day last year.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">And by the end of 2023, more than 90 percent of the ocean had experienced heatwave conditions at some point during the year, the WMO said.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">More frequent and intense marine heatwaves will have &quot;profound negative repercussions for marine ecosystems and coral reefs&quot;, it warned.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">At the same time, it warned that key glaciers worldwide suffered the largest loss of ice ever since records began in 1950, &quot;driven by extreme melt in both western North America and Europe&quot;.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">In Switzerland, where the WMO is headquartered, Alpine glaciers had for instance lost 10 percent of their remaining volume in the past two years alone, it said.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The Antarctic sea ice extent was also &quot;by far the lowest on record&quot;, WMO said.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Rising sea levels</span></strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">In fact, it pointed out, its maximum extent at the end of the southern winter was around one million square kilometres below the previous record year -- equivalent to the size of France and Germany combined.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The continued ocean warming combined with the rapidly melting glaciers and ice sheets also drove the sea level last year to its highest point since satellite records began in 1993, WMO said.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The agency stressed that the global mean sea level rise over the past decade (2014-2023) was more than double the rate in the first decade of satellite records.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">It highlighted that the dramatic climate shifts are taking a heavy toll on people worldwide, fuelling extreme weather events, flooding and drought, which trigger displacement and drive up biodiversity loss and food insecurity.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">&quot;The climate crisis is THE defining challenge that humanity faces and is closely intertwined with the inequality crisis,&quot; Saulo said.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt">&#39;Glimmer of hope&#39;</span></strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The number of people who are considered acutely food insecure around the world has more than doubled, from 149 million people prior to the Covid-19 pandemic to 333 million at the end of 2023, WMO pointed out.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The UN&#39;s weather and climate agency did however highlight one &quot;glimmer of hope&quot;: surging renewable energy generation.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Last year, renewable energy generation capacity -- mainly from solar, wind and hydropower -- increased by nearly 50 percent from 2022, it said.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Guterres also emphasised that there was an upside to the findings.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The world, he insisted, still has a chance to keep the planet&#39;s long-term temperature rise below the 1.5C threshold and &quot;avoid the worst of climate chaos&quot;.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">&quot;We know how to do it.&quot; -- AFP/RSS</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 8 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '20522',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Rain Predicted in Koshi, Madhes and Bagmati Provinces   ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'March 20: The Weather Forecasting Division under the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology has predicted light to moderate rainfall with thunder and lightning at a few places of Koshi, Madhes and Bagmati provinces and at one or two places of the hill regions of other provinces today.    ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">March 20: The Weather Forecasting Division under the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology has predicted light to moderate rainfall with thunder and lightning at a few places of Koshi, Madhes and Bagmati provinces and at one or two places of the hill regions of other provinces today.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">According to the Weather Forecasting Division, the country is currently experiencing a partial influence of the westerly low pressure system and local winds.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The weather will be partly to generally cloudy throughout the country today with light rain accompanied by thunder and lightning at some places of Koshi and Madhes provinces, reads a bulletin issued by the division. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">According to the division, light snowfall is taking place at one or two places of the high hills and mountainous region of Koshi Province.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The Kathmandu Valley has witnessed cloudy weather accompanied by rainfall since this morning. The weather will be partly cloudy in the hill regions of the country including Koshi, Madhes, Bagmati, Gandaki and Lumbini provinces tonight. -- RSS&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '20521',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Lumbini to Host Conclave on Global Peace for Prosperity',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'An international gathering titled the "Conclave on Global Peace for Prosperity" is slated to take place in Lumbini, the revered birthplace of Buddha, from March 21 to 22.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">March 20: An international gathering titled the &quot;Conclave on Global Peace for Prosperity&quot; is slated to take place in Lumbini, the revered birthplace of Buddha, from March 21 to 22. </span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The event is jointly organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Honorary Consular Corps Nepal (HCCN), aiming to foster discussions and collaborations towards global peace and prosperity.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Dignitaries from 18 countries without embassies in Nepal, as well as honorary consuls representing various nations, will convene alongside high-ranking officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, experts in foreign affairs, and heritage specialists. </span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Narayan Kaji Shrestha, Minister for Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation Hit Bahadur Tamang, along with officials from the Investment Board, Nepal Tourism Board, and Lumbini Development Trust, are expected to participate in the conclave.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The primary objectives of the conclave include promoting Lumbini&#39;s cultural and religious significance, attracting investment to Nepal, and fostering global unity. Discussions and presentations will center around investment opportunities within Nepal and the potential of its tourism sector.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Bishnu Kumar Agarwal, the Dean of HCCN, emphasized that the event seeks to connect Lumbini with the vast community of approximately one billion Buddhists worldwide, aiming to underscore its profound cultural and religious importance. </span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Furthermore, the conclave is anticipated to serve as a catalyst for increased investment in Nepal, thereby contributing to the nation&#39;s economic growth and development. (RSS)&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '20520',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Government Unveils Common Minimum Policy and Resolution',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'March 19: The ruling alliance on Tuesday unveiled its Common Minimum Policy, Priorities and Resolution.    ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">March 19: The ruling alliance on Tuesday unveiled its Common Minimum Policy, Priorities and Resolution.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The document was unveiled at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers in Singha Durbar, in the presence of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal and the top leaders of the parties in the ruling alliance.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The policy, that places the supreme interests of the Nepali people at the centre, aims to instill hope and faith by tearing apart the sense of despondency among the people.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The ruling alliance comprises the CPN (UML), the CPN (Maoist Centre), the Rastriya Swatantra Party, the Janata Samajwadi Party and the CPN (Unified Socialist).&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The policy includes programmes to activate the share market through policy reforms, to mobilize the climate financing, to implement the 16the periodic plan by carrying out an objective assessment of the 15th periodic plan, to free the financial institutions of anomalies and to resolve the problems of the cooperatives and microfinances.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Former Finance Minister and UML Vice Chair Bishnu Prasad Paudel read out the document on the occasion.&nbsp;&nbsp; -- RSS</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '20519',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => '73 Percent Children in Kathmandu Valley Suffer from Tooth Decay Problems   ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'March 19: A study has found that 73 percent children in the Kathmandu Valley face issue of tooth decay. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">March 19: A study has found that 73 percent children in the Kathmandu Valley face issue of tooth decay. The study conducted by the Kantipur Dental College (Teaching Hospital and Research Center) was based in 68 schools inside the Valley.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The dental college shared this information in a press meet held on Tuesday on the eve of the World Oral Health Day.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The lack of oral hygiene practices which include proper brushing of teeth, refraining from packaged and junk food, chocolates, biscuits and other sugary foods have caused the issues of cavity and tooth decay among the children, the hospital&rsquo;s chief executive director Dr Buddhiman Shrestha said during the press meet.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The study supported by the BM Foundation and Rotary Club of Kathmandu North mentioned 24,154 as respondents.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">According to the hospital source, findings of recent dental camps it organised targeting various communities in Jhapa, Syangja, Kavrepalanchowk, Kailali, Sindhuli and Nuwakot show that 45 percent adults suffered from gum diseases. -- RSS</span></span></span></p>
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			'article_date' => '2024-03-19 16:45:51',
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '20518',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Industry Minister Holds Discussion on Investment Summit with Private Sector Representatives   ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'March 19: Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Damodar Bhandari, on Tuesday held discussions with the private sector representatives regarding the upcoming Nepal Investment Summit.    ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">March 19: Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Damodar Bhandari, on Tuesday held discussions with the private sector representatives regarding the upcoming Nepal Investment Summit.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">In an informal discussion with the representatives of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry and Confederation of Nepalese Industries, Minister Bhandari discussed about making laws to create a conducive environment for investors. The investment summit is scheduled for April 28-29.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The government is receiving suggestions from the private sector for drafting investment-friendly laws with the objective to attract foreign investment in the country, and for making the summit effective.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">During the meeting, CNI Director General Gokarna Awasthi urged the government to table the drafts of 10 acts and two regulations in its original form without amendments.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Similarly, Minister Bhandari responded positively to facilitate from the side of the ministry regarding drafting new investment-friendly laws by incorporating the feedback of the private sector.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Present in the meeting were, FNCCI&rsquo;s former chair Chandiraj Dhakal, senior vice chair Anjan Shrestha, vice chair Hemraj Dhakal, CNI President Rajesh Agrawal, vice chair Birendra Pandey among others. -- RSS </span></span></span></p>
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			'id' => '20517',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Govt to Allow Manpower Companies to Send Workers to Korea',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'March 19: The Ministry for Labour, Employment, and Social Security has drafted a new procedure that will now allow manpower companies to send workers to Korea.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">March 19: The Ministry for Labour, Employment, and Social Security has drafted a new procedure that will now allow manpower companies to send workers to Korea. Previously, only the government could send workers to Korea.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">In the procedure for sending workers to Korea issued by the ministry, there is a provision that manpower companies registered with the Department of Foreign Employment can send Nepali workers to Korea under the E-7 visa system after meeting the specified criteria.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Such companies will also facilitate sending workers to Korea and conduct language and necessary skill training.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The procedure mandates the companies to own a training centre according to the prevailing standards for languages and skill training or a training centre that can be used at any time under a contract agreement.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">For the Korean language training centre, the company must have at least two instructors with an official certificate of language training.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The Nepali licensed organization must have an agreement with its contact office or licensed branched legally registered in Korea to collect, verify, and facilitate the demand for the E-7 visa and provide necessary welfare services and work for Nepali workers. There is also a condition in the procedure that specifies that the organization should have an agreement with Nepali workers and Nepali-licensed organizations not to charge any fee for the process.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Under the E-7 visa system, Nepali citizens who wish to go to Korea for employment must have passed the Korean language test and the professional skill test conducted by an organization recognized by the Korean government or a licensed organization. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The details of the Nepali workers passing the language test will be provided by the licensed organization to the Department of Foreign Employment.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The labour recruitment process will be similar to that of the Gulf countries and Malaysia.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">There is also a contradictory arrangement made by the Foreign Employment Department in the procedure regarding the recommendation of the visa process for the workers selected by the manpower company.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Currently, Nepali workers are traveling to Korea under a government-to-government agreement through the Employment Permit System (EPS), under the E-9 visa (unskilled workers) system.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">About 100,000 Nepali workers have reached Korea through this transparent system. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Danduraj Ghimire, director-general of the Department of Foreign Employment, said that homework is being done to advance the new procedure.</span> A committee will submit its report within 21 days in this regard. </span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'title' => 'Govt makes it Mandatory for Climbers to Use Trackers and Poo Bags while Climbing Everest',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'March 19: The government has ordered mountaineers aspiring to climb Mt Everest to carry mandatory GPS trackers.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">March 19: The government has ordered mountaineers aspiring to climb Mt Everest to carry mandatory GPS trackers after one of the deadliest seasons last year when eighteen climbers perished while climbing the world&rsquo;s highest peak. The Department of Tourism has also made it mandatory for climbers to remove their excrement using compostable bags similar to those used for dog waste.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">The move comes amid widespread criticism that Mt Everest is turning into a dumping yard due to lack of proper regulations to manage waste in the mountains of Nepal.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">According to AFP, tonnes of rubbish -- including empty cans, bottles and gas canisters, discarded climbing gear, and plastic and human waste -- litter the mountain, which has been dubbed the &quot;highest dumpster in the world&quot;.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">With around 600 climbers and guides reaching the top in 2023, the local rural municipality of Everest has also introduced a slew of new regulations, including mandatory poo bags to be used above base camp, added the French news agency.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">&ldquo;Poo bags can contain chemicals that help dry and solidify waste, removing the stench, and have been used in other extreme conditions, including in Antarctica and on Denali in the US state of Alaska.&rdquo;</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">As far as GPS trackers are concerned, they are already used by many professional climbers, helping people monitor their progress on the peak, which is important for security.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">The climbers are expected to require less powerful but smaller passive trackers, which can be easily sewn into a jacket and require no power to function. They can be tracked by a handheld detector around 20 metres (66 feet) through packed snow, and several times that in the air, AFP added.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Enforcing their use will help locate people in case of an accident, AFP reported citing government officials.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">&quot;The trackers are mandatory for climbers this year, so that if there is an accident their location can be accurately identified,&quot; AFP quoted Rakesh Gurung, director of mountaineering at the Department of Tourism, as saying.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">The spring climbing season begins this month and runs till May, when the weather is favourable for climbing Everest.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Nepal is home to eight of the world&#39;s highest 14 peaks above 8,000 metres and sees hundreds of adventurer enthusiasts aspiring to climb Everest especially in the spring climbing season, when temperatures are warm and winds are typically calm.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Specialised &quot;icefall doctors&quot; have already set off for Everest, where they will begin setting the climbing route by fixing ropes and ladders.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">These highly skilled Sherpas are the first men on the peak every season, building a route across plunging crevasses and constantly shifting ice, including the treacherous Khumbu icefall, AFP added.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Three Nepali climbers perished there last April when a block of glacial ice fell and swept them into a crevasse as they were crossing the icefall on a supply mission.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'title' => 'NEPSE Records Minimal Loss of 3.34 Points to Close at 2063.95',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) Index witnessed a minimal loss of 3.34 points or 0.16%, closing at 2063.95 on the fourth trading day of the week on Wednesday.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">March 20: The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) Index witnessed a minimal loss of 3.34 points or 0.16%, closing at 2063.95 on the fourth trading day of the week on Wednesday. </span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">During today&rsquo;s trading session, as many as 305 scrips were traded on the NEPSE through 60,016 transactions. A total of 9,445,697 shares were traded resulting in a total turnover of Rs 3.49 billion. </span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Sonapur Minerals and Oil Company (SONA) led the turnover with total transaction of worth Rs 19 crores. Gurkhas Finance Limited (GUFL) and Buddha Bhumi Nepal Hydropower Company (BNHC) each gained 10%, and hit the positive circuit for the day. </span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Bottlers Nepal (Balaju) Limited (BNL) incurred the highest loss of 9.32%, closing at a market price at Rs 493 per share. </span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Regarding sub-indices, Microfinance Index, Mutual Fund Index, NonLife Insurance and Trading Index closed in the green territory, while the remaining sectors landed in the red zone.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Microfinance Index experienced the highest gain of 2.51%, while Manufacturing and Processing suffered the maximum loss at 1.45%.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></p>
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			'title' => 'The Bank of Japan's Experiment   ',
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			'summary' => 'March 20: The Bank of Japan announced a seismic change in direction on Tuesday, hiking interest rates for the first time in 17 years.    ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">March 20: The Bank of Japan announced a seismic change in direction on Tuesday, hiking interest rates for the first time in 17 years.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">The move represents an unwinding of an ultra-loose -- and maverick -- policy aimed at putting Japan&#39;s &quot;lost decades&quot; of stagnation and deflation behind it.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><strong><span style="font-size:16.0pt">&#39;Ambitious goal&#39; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">The last time the BoJ raised interest rates was in 2007, but its war against deflation began in earnest in 2013 under then-prime minister Shinzo Abe.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">&quot;Abenomics&quot; combined generous government spending and central bank monetary easing. The BoJ spent vast amounts on bonds and other assets to pump liquidity into the system, targeting inflation of two percent that policymakers hoped would fuel growth.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">It was &quot;an extremely ambitious goal&quot; and it did not work right away, said Kazuo Momma, an economist at Mizuho Research and Technologies.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">&quot;Having failed to achieve the target within a committed two-year period, the BoJ had no other choice than to pursue further stimulative measures including the negative interest rate,&quot; Momma told AFP.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><strong><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Spur lending &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">The negative interest rate of -0.1 percent -- hiked to between zero and 0.1 percent on Tuesday -- had been in place since 2016, effectively charging banks to keep their money at the Bank of Japan.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">The hope was that banks would loan out their capital instead, boosting economic activity. The same year, bank policymakers introduced another measure, which Momma called &quot;even more unconventional&quot;: yield curve control.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">That consisted of buying as many or as few 10-year government bonds as necessary to keep their yields steady at zero to stimulate lending in the real economy. On Tuesday, this too was scrapped, along with the purchase of risk assets such as exchange-traded funds (ETFs), with the BoJ saying they had &quot;fulfilled their roles&quot;.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><strong><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Crisis averted? &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">The BoJ&#39;s stance has put major pressure on the yen. But some say it met its aims, helping Japan escape deflation while providing better conditions for the BoJ&#39;s hoped-for &quot;virtuous cycle&quot; of higher wages and spending.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Overall, the consensus is that the economy would have fared worse without the measures, said Louis Kuijs, chief economist for Asia Pacific at S&amp;P Global Ratings. Due to downward pressure on growth and prices, growth &quot;would have been weaker and significant deflation may have occurred if the BoJ had not eased monetary policy,&quot; he told AFP.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><strong><span style="font-size:16.0pt">&#39;Zombie&#39; companies &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">But Momma said that the policy might also have led to a &quot;lack of fiscal discipline and inefficient allocation of resources through keeping non-viable firms alive&quot;.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">One research company found that the number of &quot;zombie&quot; companies jumped by around a third in Japan after the Covid pandemic.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Monetary easing can also exacerbate social inequality, and &quot;tends to distort financial markets,&quot; Kuijs warned.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Some economists, such as former BoJ board member Sayuri Shirai, still think factors including weak consumption make sustained two-percent inflation a long shot.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">&quot;There is no way to justify that two percent is achievable in terms of Japan&#39;s inflation environment and wage environment,&quot; she said.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><strong><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Wasted progress?&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">If done too aggressively, the risks of moving away from years of monetary easing are high. The BoJ &quot;worries that if it tightens monetary policy, economic growth, wage growth and prices will fall again, wasting the recent progress,&quot; Kuijs said.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Moving too quickly could also see a flight of capital from elsewhere into Japan by investors seeking higher returns, potentially destabilising financial markets. &quot;Governor Ueda has stressed that, while there are risks of tightening too late, the risks of tightening too early are larger,&quot; Kuijs said. &ndash; AFP/RSS</span></span></span></p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '20530',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Buddha Air's Operating Income Up by Three Folds',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'March 20: The operating income of Buddha Air, a leading private sector airlines company of Nepal, has increased by three folds compared to the two fiscal years affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">March 20: The operating income of Buddha Air, a leading private sector airlines company of Nepal, has increased by three folds compared to the two fiscal years affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">According to the information released by ICRA Nepal, a government recognized rating company, the income of Buddha Air has increased significantly during the last fiscal year. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">The airline company, which had an operating income of Rs 4.94 billion in the fiscal year 2076/77 when coronavirus first appeared, has made such an income of Rs 12.16 billion in the fiscal year (FY) 2079/80. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">In addition, the company has made an operating income of Rs 3.83 billion in the first three and a half months of the current fiscal year, according to the unaudited data of the company.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">The company has seen a significant improvement in its income after the coronavirus pandemic subsided. The increase in the number of air passengers after coronavirus subsided made a positive contribution to the company&#39;s income. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">According to the Tribhuvan International Airport Office, Buddha Air served 25,77,618 passengers in the year 2023. The number of flights operated by Buddha Air is also the highest among domestic airlines companies.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">The report prepared by ICRA Nepal mentions that Buddha Air&#39;s income increased in FY 2079/80 despite the increase in the price of aviation fuel. According to the report, the company&#39;s market share has also increased. The market share is estimated to reach 67 percent in the coming year. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Buddha Air has been operating domestic and international flights (Beneras in India) for the past 27 years. The company has been continuously increasing the number of aircraft. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">According to ICRA Nepal, the operating income of Buddha Air in 2018 was Rs 6.8 billion. In 2019, such income reached Rs 6.80 billion. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">The increase in the company&#39;s income has been attributed to the increase in the number of aircraft as well as passengers. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Buddha Air, which started domestic flights with 18-seat capacity aircraft, currently has 17 aircraft. All of them are ATR. Buddha has 14 ATR 72-500 series with 70 seat capacity and three ATR 42-300 series with 47 seat capacity. The company has been flying to 15 different destinations with its base in Kathmandu.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 3 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '20528',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => '137 Small Industries Closed in Kailali due to Shortage of Raw Material',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'March 20: One hundred and thirty-seven cottage and small industries have closed down in Kailali district due to the shortage of raw materials.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">March 20: One hundred and thirty-seven cottage and small industries have closed down in Kailali district due to the shortage of raw materials. Several of these industries have shut as they could not manage the operation cost while some because their productions could not compete with the market prices.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">According to the Cottage and Small Industries Office, several of the industries closed after their proprietors left the country for foreign employment.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">However, the registration of women-owned enterprises has notably increased in the district in recent years. This is due to the provision of concessions on the registration fees for women-owned industries.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">So far 15,434 industries have been registered in Kailali and the registration of 137 of them has been annulled. Among the registered industries, 3,194 are production-based, 6488 agriculture-based, two construction, 65 tourism-related, 12 information technology related and 5,673 service-oriented industries.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">These industries have an investment of Rs 25 billion. The Sudurpaschim provincial government has allocated Rs 15 million for implementing the &#39;One Electoral Constituency, One Industry&#39; programme in the current fiscal year.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The office stated that 9,120 women and 69,611 men are employed in the registered industries. The office collected revenues worth Rs 5,216, 000 in last fiscal year 2022/23 and Rs 10,500,000 as of March 13, in the eight months of the current fiscal year 2023/24. -- RSS </span></span></span></p>
',
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	(int) 4 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '20529',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'NHRC urges Government to Address the Demands of Cooperatives' Victims   ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'March 19: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has instructed the government to address the demands of the victim and depositors of cooperatives.    ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">March 19: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has instructed the government to address the demands of the victim and depositors of cooperatives.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The constitutional human rights body urged to protect the constitutionally-guaranteed right of the citizens to peaceful protest and assembly and immediately implement the report of the study committee submitted to the prime minister some six months ago.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The commission has drawn the government&rsquo;s attention to the situation where protesters were injured with the use of excessive force by the police during a peaceful demonstration organized by the cooperatives&rsquo; victims in Kathmandu on March 14.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The commission&#39;s Spokesperson Dr Tikaram Pokharel told RSS that the commission monitored the peaceful protest by the victims of cooperatives, the rally held at Sundhara and the corner meeting held at Bhrikutimandap.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">A memorandum has been received at the commission alleging that the police had beaten and injured chairperson of the National Campaign for Protection of Cooperatives, Kushal KC. Injured KC has been on hunger strike since March 14. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The commission has received information that KC&#39;s health condition is deteriorating. The depositors have so far told the commission&#39;s team that victims of 302 cooperatives have joined the campaign.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The NHRC has urged the government to address the issue of cooperatives&#39; victims through dialogue and to be sensitive to the health condition of KC. -- RSS</span></span></span></p>
',
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			'sortorder' => '20254',
			'image' => '20240320125653_cooerativesssss.jpg',
			'article_date' => '2024-03-20 12:55:25',
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	(int) 5 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '20527',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Home Ministry Instructs DAOs to Set Up Facilitation Desk to Hear Problems of Usury Victims',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'March 20: The Ministry of Home Affairs has directed all district administration officers across the country to set up facilitation desk to promptly receive and address the complaints, petitions and grievances of usury victims.    ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">March 20: The Ministry of Home Affairs has directed all district administration officers across the country to set up facilitation desk to promptly receive and address the complaints, petitions and grievances of usury victims.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Home Ministry&#39;s spokesperson Narayan Prasad Bhattarai informed that the directive was issued to establish facilitation desk in line with the four-point agreement signed on March 11 between the ministry and the usury victims&rsquo; struggle committee.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The district administration offices have been directed to set up a facilitation desk to deal with the matter by assigning responsibility to the officer-level employees to immediately hear the complaints, petitions and grievances related to usury and make public the details of the employees deployed at the desk (name, post, email, contact number and other means of contact) on the website of the office.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Similarly, section officer at the Ministry of Home Affairs Chiranjivi GM has been appointed as the contact person of the ministry to coordinate with the DAOs and other agencies to address the complaints of the usury victims.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">For complaints related to usury (improper transactions), one can contact mobile number: 9851360603 (viber, WhatsApp message), email: meterbyaj@gmail.com and toll free number 1112. -- RSS</span></span></span></p>
',
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			'sortorder' => '20252',
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	(int) 6 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '20524',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Imports and Exports Increase in Mid-March after Five Months',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'March 20: At a time when the government is claiming that the economic activities are gradually improving, the country's import-export figures have also remained positive.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">March 20: At a time when the government is claiming that the economic activities are gradually improving, the country&#39;s import-export figures have also remained positive. According to the data published by the Department of Customs on Tuesday, both imports and exports reached the highest level in a one-month period from mid-February to mid-March compared to the last five months. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">According to the Department of Customs, the country imported goods worth Rs 132 billion while the monetary value of exported items stood at Rs 13.78 billion in mid-February to mid-March. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">The country&rsquo;s exports were highest in the review month after mid-September to mid-October when goods worth Rs 14.42 billion were exported and goods worth Rs 148 billion imported into Nepal.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">&nbsp;Since then, the imports and exports declined until mid-January and started to increase again. As compared to a one-month period of mid-January to mid-February, imports increased by Rs 2.5 billion in mid-February to mid-March, and exports also increased by the same amount.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Last year, the government had imposed a ban on the import of some luxurious goods due to the decline in foreign exchange reserves. Nepal Rastra Bank also discouraged imports through tight monetary policy.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">With the improvement in foreign exchange reserves, the government lifted the import ban. The central bank has also gradually eased the monetary policy. Similarly, due to more liquidity in the banking system, the banks&rsquo; interest rate is also declining. However, experts have been saying that there has been no significant improvement in foreign trade due to the drop in demand in the market.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">According to Nepal Rastra Bank, the total foreign exchange reserves equivalent to Rs 1539.36 billion in mid-July increased by 19.9 percent to Rs 1844.94 billion by mid-February. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Of the total foreign exchange reserves, reserves held by NRB increased 20.7 percent to Rs 1623.92 billion in mid-February 2024 from Rs 1345.78 billion in mid-July 2023. Reserves held by banks and financial institutions (except NRB) increased 14.2 percent to Rs 221.02 billion in mid-February 2024 from Rs 193.59 billion in mid-July 2023. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">According to the NRB, based on the imports of seven months of 2023/24, the foreign exchange reserves of the banking sector is sufficient to cover the prospective merchandise imports of 14.7 months, and merchandise and services imports of 12.3 months. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">According to the Department of Customs, both import and export have decreased as of mid-March of the current year compared to last year. In the 8 months of the last fiscal year, goods worth Rs 1058 billion were imported, which decreased by 2.66 percent to Rs 1030 billion during the same period of the current fiscal year. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Similarly, the department has informed that goods worth Rs 104 billion were exported from Nepal as of mid-March of last year, while goods worth only Rs 100 billion were exported in the corresponding period of the current iscal year.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">In the eight months of the current fiscal year, there has been an increase in the import of petroleum products and electric vehicles. However, there has been a decline in the import of raw materials of palm oil, soybean oil and sunflower oil, which had been contributing a high share in exports. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Meanwhile, carpets and rugs have topped the list of export items as of mid-March of the current fiscal year. Iron and iron, palm oil are also in the list of most exported items.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">There has been relief in the country&#39;s trade deficit with the decrease in imports. According to the data of the department, the country&rsquo;s trade deficit which was Rs 953.58 billion as of mid-March last year, dropped to Rs 929 billion in the same period this year.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">As of mid-March of the current fiscal year, the government has collected Rs 270.78 billion as customs duty. In the same period last year, the government had collected only Rs 242.72 billion from customs revenue.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 7 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '20523',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'UN Warns 'Planet on the Brink' after Warmest Decade on Record',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'March 20: Global heat records were "smashed" last year, the UN confirmed Tuesday, with 2023 rounding out the hottest decade on record, as heatwaves stalked oceans and glaciers suffered record ice loss.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">March 20: Global heat records were &quot;smashed&quot; last year, the UN confirmed Tuesday, with 2023 rounding out the hottest decade on record, as heatwaves stalked oceans and glaciers suffered record ice loss.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The United Nations&#39; World Meteorological Organization issued its annual State of the Climate report, confirming preliminary data indicating that 2023 was by far the hottest year ever recorded.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">And it came at the end of &quot;the warmest 10-year period on record&quot;, the WMO report said.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">UN chief Antonio Guterres said the report showed &quot;a planet on the brink&quot;.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">&quot;Earth&#39;s issuing a distress call,&quot; he said, pointing out that &quot;fossil fuel pollution is sending climate chaos off the charts&quot;, and warning that &quot;changes are speeding up&quot;.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The WMO said the average near-surface temperature was 1.45 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels last year -- dangerously close to the critical 1.5-degree threshold that countries agreed to avoid passing in the 2015 Paris climate accords.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">&quot;Never have we been so close... to the 1.5C lower limit of the Paris Agreement,&quot; WMO chief Andrea Celeste Saulo warned in a statement.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt">&#39;Red alert&#39;</span></strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The report, she said, should be seen as a &quot;red alert to the world&quot;.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Going through the data, the organisation found that &quot;records were once again broken, and in some cases smashed&quot;, warning that the numbers &quot;gave ominous new significance to the phrase &#39;off the charts&#39;.&quot;</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Saulo stressed that climate change was about much more than temperatures.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">&quot;What we witnessed in 2023, especially with the unprecedented ocean warmth, glacier retreat and Antarctic sea ice loss, is cause for particular concern.&quot;</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">One especially worrying finding was that marine heatwaves gripped nearly a third of the global ocean on an average day last year.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">And by the end of 2023, more than 90 percent of the ocean had experienced heatwave conditions at some point during the year, the WMO said.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">More frequent and intense marine heatwaves will have &quot;profound negative repercussions for marine ecosystems and coral reefs&quot;, it warned.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">At the same time, it warned that key glaciers worldwide suffered the largest loss of ice ever since records began in 1950, &quot;driven by extreme melt in both western North America and Europe&quot;.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">In Switzerland, where the WMO is headquartered, Alpine glaciers had for instance lost 10 percent of their remaining volume in the past two years alone, it said.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The Antarctic sea ice extent was also &quot;by far the lowest on record&quot;, WMO said.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Rising sea levels</span></strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">In fact, it pointed out, its maximum extent at the end of the southern winter was around one million square kilometres below the previous record year -- equivalent to the size of France and Germany combined.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The continued ocean warming combined with the rapidly melting glaciers and ice sheets also drove the sea level last year to its highest point since satellite records began in 1993, WMO said.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The agency stressed that the global mean sea level rise over the past decade (2014-2023) was more than double the rate in the first decade of satellite records.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">It highlighted that the dramatic climate shifts are taking a heavy toll on people worldwide, fuelling extreme weather events, flooding and drought, which trigger displacement and drive up biodiversity loss and food insecurity.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">&quot;The climate crisis is THE defining challenge that humanity faces and is closely intertwined with the inequality crisis,&quot; Saulo said.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt">&#39;Glimmer of hope&#39;</span></strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The number of people who are considered acutely food insecure around the world has more than doubled, from 149 million people prior to the Covid-19 pandemic to 333 million at the end of 2023, WMO pointed out.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The UN&#39;s weather and climate agency did however highlight one &quot;glimmer of hope&quot;: surging renewable energy generation.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Last year, renewable energy generation capacity -- mainly from solar, wind and hydropower -- increased by nearly 50 percent from 2022, it said.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Guterres also emphasised that there was an upside to the findings.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The world, he insisted, still has a chance to keep the planet&#39;s long-term temperature rise below the 1.5C threshold and &quot;avoid the worst of climate chaos&quot;.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">&quot;We know how to do it.&quot; -- AFP/RSS</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '20522',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Rain Predicted in Koshi, Madhes and Bagmati Provinces   ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'March 20: The Weather Forecasting Division under the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology has predicted light to moderate rainfall with thunder and lightning at a few places of Koshi, Madhes and Bagmati provinces and at one or two places of the hill regions of other provinces today.    ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">March 20: The Weather Forecasting Division under the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology has predicted light to moderate rainfall with thunder and lightning at a few places of Koshi, Madhes and Bagmati provinces and at one or two places of the hill regions of other provinces today.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">According to the Weather Forecasting Division, the country is currently experiencing a partial influence of the westerly low pressure system and local winds.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The weather will be partly to generally cloudy throughout the country today with light rain accompanied by thunder and lightning at some places of Koshi and Madhes provinces, reads a bulletin issued by the division. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">According to the division, light snowfall is taking place at one or two places of the high hills and mountainous region of Koshi Province.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The Kathmandu Valley has witnessed cloudy weather accompanied by rainfall since this morning. The weather will be partly cloudy in the hill regions of the country including Koshi, Madhes, Bagmati, Gandaki and Lumbini provinces tonight. -- RSS&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '20521',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Lumbini to Host Conclave on Global Peace for Prosperity',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'An international gathering titled the "Conclave on Global Peace for Prosperity" is slated to take place in Lumbini, the revered birthplace of Buddha, from March 21 to 22.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">March 20: An international gathering titled the &quot;Conclave on Global Peace for Prosperity&quot; is slated to take place in Lumbini, the revered birthplace of Buddha, from March 21 to 22. </span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The event is jointly organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Honorary Consular Corps Nepal (HCCN), aiming to foster discussions and collaborations towards global peace and prosperity.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Dignitaries from 18 countries without embassies in Nepal, as well as honorary consuls representing various nations, will convene alongside high-ranking officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, experts in foreign affairs, and heritage specialists. </span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Narayan Kaji Shrestha, Minister for Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation Hit Bahadur Tamang, along with officials from the Investment Board, Nepal Tourism Board, and Lumbini Development Trust, are expected to participate in the conclave.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The primary objectives of the conclave include promoting Lumbini&#39;s cultural and religious significance, attracting investment to Nepal, and fostering global unity. Discussions and presentations will center around investment opportunities within Nepal and the potential of its tourism sector.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Bishnu Kumar Agarwal, the Dean of HCCN, emphasized that the event seeks to connect Lumbini with the vast community of approximately one billion Buddhists worldwide, aiming to underscore its profound cultural and religious importance. </span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Furthermore, the conclave is anticipated to serve as a catalyst for increased investment in Nepal, thereby contributing to the nation&#39;s economic growth and development. (RSS)&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '20520',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Government Unveils Common Minimum Policy and Resolution',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'March 19: The ruling alliance on Tuesday unveiled its Common Minimum Policy, Priorities and Resolution.    ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">March 19: The ruling alliance on Tuesday unveiled its Common Minimum Policy, Priorities and Resolution.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The document was unveiled at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers in Singha Durbar, in the presence of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal and the top leaders of the parties in the ruling alliance.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The policy, that places the supreme interests of the Nepali people at the centre, aims to instill hope and faith by tearing apart the sense of despondency among the people.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The ruling alliance comprises the CPN (UML), the CPN (Maoist Centre), the Rastriya Swatantra Party, the Janata Samajwadi Party and the CPN (Unified Socialist).&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The policy includes programmes to activate the share market through policy reforms, to mobilize the climate financing, to implement the 16the periodic plan by carrying out an objective assessment of the 15th periodic plan, to free the financial institutions of anomalies and to resolve the problems of the cooperatives and microfinances.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Former Finance Minister and UML Vice Chair Bishnu Prasad Paudel read out the document on the occasion.&nbsp;&nbsp; -- RSS</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '20519',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => '73 Percent Children in Kathmandu Valley Suffer from Tooth Decay Problems   ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'March 19: A study has found that 73 percent children in the Kathmandu Valley face issue of tooth decay. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">March 19: A study has found that 73 percent children in the Kathmandu Valley face issue of tooth decay. The study conducted by the Kantipur Dental College (Teaching Hospital and Research Center) was based in 68 schools inside the Valley.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The dental college shared this information in a press meet held on Tuesday on the eve of the World Oral Health Day.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The lack of oral hygiene practices which include proper brushing of teeth, refraining from packaged and junk food, chocolates, biscuits and other sugary foods have caused the issues of cavity and tooth decay among the children, the hospital&rsquo;s chief executive director Dr Buddhiman Shrestha said during the press meet.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The study supported by the BM Foundation and Rotary Club of Kathmandu North mentioned 24,154 as respondents.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">According to the hospital source, findings of recent dental camps it organised targeting various communities in Jhapa, Syangja, Kavrepalanchowk, Kailali, Sindhuli and Nuwakot show that 45 percent adults suffered from gum diseases. -- RSS</span></span></span></p>
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			'article_date' => '2024-03-19 16:45:51',
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	(int) 12 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '20518',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Industry Minister Holds Discussion on Investment Summit with Private Sector Representatives   ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'March 19: Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Damodar Bhandari, on Tuesday held discussions with the private sector representatives regarding the upcoming Nepal Investment Summit.    ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">March 19: Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Damodar Bhandari, on Tuesday held discussions with the private sector representatives regarding the upcoming Nepal Investment Summit.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">In an informal discussion with the representatives of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry and Confederation of Nepalese Industries, Minister Bhandari discussed about making laws to create a conducive environment for investors. The investment summit is scheduled for April 28-29.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The government is receiving suggestions from the private sector for drafting investment-friendly laws with the objective to attract foreign investment in the country, and for making the summit effective.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">During the meeting, CNI Director General Gokarna Awasthi urged the government to table the drafts of 10 acts and two regulations in its original form without amendments.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Similarly, Minister Bhandari responded positively to facilitate from the side of the ministry regarding drafting new investment-friendly laws by incorporating the feedback of the private sector.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Present in the meeting were, FNCCI&rsquo;s former chair Chandiraj Dhakal, senior vice chair Anjan Shrestha, vice chair Hemraj Dhakal, CNI President Rajesh Agrawal, vice chair Birendra Pandey among others. -- RSS </span></span></span></p>
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	(int) 13 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '20517',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Govt to Allow Manpower Companies to Send Workers to Korea',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'March 19: The Ministry for Labour, Employment, and Social Security has drafted a new procedure that will now allow manpower companies to send workers to Korea.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">March 19: The Ministry for Labour, Employment, and Social Security has drafted a new procedure that will now allow manpower companies to send workers to Korea. Previously, only the government could send workers to Korea.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">In the procedure for sending workers to Korea issued by the ministry, there is a provision that manpower companies registered with the Department of Foreign Employment can send Nepali workers to Korea under the E-7 visa system after meeting the specified criteria.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Such companies will also facilitate sending workers to Korea and conduct language and necessary skill training.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The procedure mandates the companies to own a training centre according to the prevailing standards for languages and skill training or a training centre that can be used at any time under a contract agreement.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">For the Korean language training centre, the company must have at least two instructors with an official certificate of language training.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The Nepali licensed organization must have an agreement with its contact office or licensed branched legally registered in Korea to collect, verify, and facilitate the demand for the E-7 visa and provide necessary welfare services and work for Nepali workers. There is also a condition in the procedure that specifies that the organization should have an agreement with Nepali workers and Nepali-licensed organizations not to charge any fee for the process.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Under the E-7 visa system, Nepali citizens who wish to go to Korea for employment must have passed the Korean language test and the professional skill test conducted by an organization recognized by the Korean government or a licensed organization. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The details of the Nepali workers passing the language test will be provided by the licensed organization to the Department of Foreign Employment.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The labour recruitment process will be similar to that of the Gulf countries and Malaysia.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">There is also a contradictory arrangement made by the Foreign Employment Department in the procedure regarding the recommendation of the visa process for the workers selected by the manpower company.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Currently, Nepali workers are traveling to Korea under a government-to-government agreement through the Employment Permit System (EPS), under the E-9 visa (unskilled workers) system.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">About 100,000 Nepali workers have reached Korea through this transparent system. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Danduraj Ghimire, director-general of the Department of Foreign Employment, said that homework is being done to advance the new procedure.</span> A committee will submit its report within 21 days in this regard. </span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'title' => 'Govt makes it Mandatory for Climbers to Use Trackers and Poo Bags while Climbing Everest',
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			'summary' => 'March 19: The government has ordered mountaineers aspiring to climb Mt Everest to carry mandatory GPS trackers.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">March 19: The government has ordered mountaineers aspiring to climb Mt Everest to carry mandatory GPS trackers after one of the deadliest seasons last year when eighteen climbers perished while climbing the world&rsquo;s highest peak. The Department of Tourism has also made it mandatory for climbers to remove their excrement using compostable bags similar to those used for dog waste.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">The move comes amid widespread criticism that Mt Everest is turning into a dumping yard due to lack of proper regulations to manage waste in the mountains of Nepal.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">According to AFP, tonnes of rubbish -- including empty cans, bottles and gas canisters, discarded climbing gear, and plastic and human waste -- litter the mountain, which has been dubbed the &quot;highest dumpster in the world&quot;.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">With around 600 climbers and guides reaching the top in 2023, the local rural municipality of Everest has also introduced a slew of new regulations, including mandatory poo bags to be used above base camp, added the French news agency.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">&ldquo;Poo bags can contain chemicals that help dry and solidify waste, removing the stench, and have been used in other extreme conditions, including in Antarctica and on Denali in the US state of Alaska.&rdquo;</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">As far as GPS trackers are concerned, they are already used by many professional climbers, helping people monitor their progress on the peak, which is important for security.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">The climbers are expected to require less powerful but smaller passive trackers, which can be easily sewn into a jacket and require no power to function. They can be tracked by a handheld detector around 20 metres (66 feet) through packed snow, and several times that in the air, AFP added.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Enforcing their use will help locate people in case of an accident, AFP reported citing government officials.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">&quot;The trackers are mandatory for climbers this year, so that if there is an accident their location can be accurately identified,&quot; AFP quoted Rakesh Gurung, director of mountaineering at the Department of Tourism, as saying.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">The spring climbing season begins this month and runs till May, when the weather is favourable for climbing Everest.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Nepal is home to eight of the world&#39;s highest 14 peaks above 8,000 metres and sees hundreds of adventurer enthusiasts aspiring to climb Everest especially in the spring climbing season, when temperatures are warm and winds are typically calm.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Specialised &quot;icefall doctors&quot; have already set off for Everest, where they will begin setting the climbing route by fixing ropes and ladders.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">These highly skilled Sherpas are the first men on the peak every season, building a route across plunging crevasses and constantly shifting ice, including the treacherous Khumbu icefall, AFP added.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Three Nepali climbers perished there last April when a block of glacial ice fell and swept them into a crevasse as they were crossing the icefall on a supply mission.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '20533',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'NEPSE Records Minimal Loss of 3.34 Points to Close at 2063.95',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) Index witnessed a minimal loss of 3.34 points or 0.16%, closing at 2063.95 on the fourth trading day of the week on Wednesday.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">March 20: The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) Index witnessed a minimal loss of 3.34 points or 0.16%, closing at 2063.95 on the fourth trading day of the week on Wednesday. </span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">During today&rsquo;s trading session, as many as 305 scrips were traded on the NEPSE through 60,016 transactions. A total of 9,445,697 shares were traded resulting in a total turnover of Rs 3.49 billion. </span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Sonapur Minerals and Oil Company (SONA) led the turnover with total transaction of worth Rs 19 crores. Gurkhas Finance Limited (GUFL) and Buddha Bhumi Nepal Hydropower Company (BNHC) each gained 10%, and hit the positive circuit for the day. </span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Bottlers Nepal (Balaju) Limited (BNL) incurred the highest loss of 9.32%, closing at a market price at Rs 493 per share. </span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Regarding sub-indices, Microfinance Index, Mutual Fund Index, NonLife Insurance and Trading Index closed in the green territory, while the remaining sectors landed in the red zone.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Microfinance Index experienced the highest gain of 2.51%, while Manufacturing and Processing suffered the maximum loss at 1.45%.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></p>
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			'title' => 'The Bank of Japan's Experiment   ',
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			'summary' => 'March 20: The Bank of Japan announced a seismic change in direction on Tuesday, hiking interest rates for the first time in 17 years.    ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">March 20: The Bank of Japan announced a seismic change in direction on Tuesday, hiking interest rates for the first time in 17 years.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">The move represents an unwinding of an ultra-loose -- and maverick -- policy aimed at putting Japan&#39;s &quot;lost decades&quot; of stagnation and deflation behind it.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><strong><span style="font-size:16.0pt">&#39;Ambitious goal&#39; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">The last time the BoJ raised interest rates was in 2007, but its war against deflation began in earnest in 2013 under then-prime minister Shinzo Abe.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">&quot;Abenomics&quot; combined generous government spending and central bank monetary easing. The BoJ spent vast amounts on bonds and other assets to pump liquidity into the system, targeting inflation of two percent that policymakers hoped would fuel growth.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">It was &quot;an extremely ambitious goal&quot; and it did not work right away, said Kazuo Momma, an economist at Mizuho Research and Technologies.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">&quot;Having failed to achieve the target within a committed two-year period, the BoJ had no other choice than to pursue further stimulative measures including the negative interest rate,&quot; Momma told AFP.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><strong><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Spur lending &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">The negative interest rate of -0.1 percent -- hiked to between zero and 0.1 percent on Tuesday -- had been in place since 2016, effectively charging banks to keep their money at the Bank of Japan.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">The hope was that banks would loan out their capital instead, boosting economic activity. The same year, bank policymakers introduced another measure, which Momma called &quot;even more unconventional&quot;: yield curve control.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">That consisted of buying as many or as few 10-year government bonds as necessary to keep their yields steady at zero to stimulate lending in the real economy. On Tuesday, this too was scrapped, along with the purchase of risk assets such as exchange-traded funds (ETFs), with the BoJ saying they had &quot;fulfilled their roles&quot;.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><strong><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Crisis averted? &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">The BoJ&#39;s stance has put major pressure on the yen. But some say it met its aims, helping Japan escape deflation while providing better conditions for the BoJ&#39;s hoped-for &quot;virtuous cycle&quot; of higher wages and spending.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Overall, the consensus is that the economy would have fared worse without the measures, said Louis Kuijs, chief economist for Asia Pacific at S&amp;P Global Ratings. Due to downward pressure on growth and prices, growth &quot;would have been weaker and significant deflation may have occurred if the BoJ had not eased monetary policy,&quot; he told AFP.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><strong><span style="font-size:16.0pt">&#39;Zombie&#39; companies &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">But Momma said that the policy might also have led to a &quot;lack of fiscal discipline and inefficient allocation of resources through keeping non-viable firms alive&quot;.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">One research company found that the number of &quot;zombie&quot; companies jumped by around a third in Japan after the Covid pandemic.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Monetary easing can also exacerbate social inequality, and &quot;tends to distort financial markets,&quot; Kuijs warned.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Some economists, such as former BoJ board member Sayuri Shirai, still think factors including weak consumption make sustained two-percent inflation a long shot.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">&quot;There is no way to justify that two percent is achievable in terms of Japan&#39;s inflation environment and wage environment,&quot; she said.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><strong><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Wasted progress?&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">If done too aggressively, the risks of moving away from years of monetary easing are high. The BoJ &quot;worries that if it tightens monetary policy, economic growth, wage growth and prices will fall again, wasting the recent progress,&quot; Kuijs said.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Moving too quickly could also see a flight of capital from elsewhere into Japan by investors seeking higher returns, potentially destabilising financial markets. &quot;Governor Ueda has stressed that, while there are risks of tightening too late, the risks of tightening too early are larger,&quot; Kuijs said. &ndash; AFP/RSS</span></span></span></p>
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			'title' => 'Buddha Air's Operating Income Up by Three Folds',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'March 20: The operating income of Buddha Air, a leading private sector airlines company of Nepal, has increased by three folds compared to the two fiscal years affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">March 20: The operating income of Buddha Air, a leading private sector airlines company of Nepal, has increased by three folds compared to the two fiscal years affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">According to the information released by ICRA Nepal, a government recognized rating company, the income of Buddha Air has increased significantly during the last fiscal year. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">The airline company, which had an operating income of Rs 4.94 billion in the fiscal year 2076/77 when coronavirus first appeared, has made such an income of Rs 12.16 billion in the fiscal year (FY) 2079/80. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">In addition, the company has made an operating income of Rs 3.83 billion in the first three and a half months of the current fiscal year, according to the unaudited data of the company.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">The company has seen a significant improvement in its income after the coronavirus pandemic subsided. The increase in the number of air passengers after coronavirus subsided made a positive contribution to the company&#39;s income. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">According to the Tribhuvan International Airport Office, Buddha Air served 25,77,618 passengers in the year 2023. The number of flights operated by Buddha Air is also the highest among domestic airlines companies.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">The report prepared by ICRA Nepal mentions that Buddha Air&#39;s income increased in FY 2079/80 despite the increase in the price of aviation fuel. According to the report, the company&#39;s market share has also increased. The market share is estimated to reach 67 percent in the coming year. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Buddha Air has been operating domestic and international flights (Beneras in India) for the past 27 years. The company has been continuously increasing the number of aircraft. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">According to ICRA Nepal, the operating income of Buddha Air in 2018 was Rs 6.8 billion. In 2019, such income reached Rs 6.80 billion. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">The increase in the company&#39;s income has been attributed to the increase in the number of aircraft as well as passengers. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Buddha Air, which started domestic flights with 18-seat capacity aircraft, currently has 17 aircraft. All of them are ATR. Buddha has 14 ATR 72-500 series with 70 seat capacity and three ATR 42-300 series with 47 seat capacity. The company has been flying to 15 different destinations with its base in Kathmandu.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'title' => '137 Small Industries Closed in Kailali due to Shortage of Raw Material',
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			'summary' => 'March 20: One hundred and thirty-seven cottage and small industries have closed down in Kailali district due to the shortage of raw materials.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">March 20: One hundred and thirty-seven cottage and small industries have closed down in Kailali district due to the shortage of raw materials. Several of these industries have shut as they could not manage the operation cost while some because their productions could not compete with the market prices.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">According to the Cottage and Small Industries Office, several of the industries closed after their proprietors left the country for foreign employment.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">However, the registration of women-owned enterprises has notably increased in the district in recent years. This is due to the provision of concessions on the registration fees for women-owned industries.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">So far 15,434 industries have been registered in Kailali and the registration of 137 of them has been annulled. Among the registered industries, 3,194 are production-based, 6488 agriculture-based, two construction, 65 tourism-related, 12 information technology related and 5,673 service-oriented industries.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">These industries have an investment of Rs 25 billion. The Sudurpaschim provincial government has allocated Rs 15 million for implementing the &#39;One Electoral Constituency, One Industry&#39; programme in the current fiscal year.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The office stated that 9,120 women and 69,611 men are employed in the registered industries. The office collected revenues worth Rs 5,216, 000 in last fiscal year 2022/23 and Rs 10,500,000 as of March 13, in the eight months of the current fiscal year 2023/24. -- RSS </span></span></span></p>
',
			'published' => true,
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			'article_date' => '2024-03-20 12:50:27',
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	(int) 4 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '20529',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'NHRC urges Government to Address the Demands of Cooperatives' Victims   ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'March 19: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has instructed the government to address the demands of the victim and depositors of cooperatives.    ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">March 19: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has instructed the government to address the demands of the victim and depositors of cooperatives.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The constitutional human rights body urged to protect the constitutionally-guaranteed right of the citizens to peaceful protest and assembly and immediately implement the report of the study committee submitted to the prime minister some six months ago.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The commission has drawn the government&rsquo;s attention to the situation where protesters were injured with the use of excessive force by the police during a peaceful demonstration organized by the cooperatives&rsquo; victims in Kathmandu on March 14.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The commission&#39;s Spokesperson Dr Tikaram Pokharel told RSS that the commission monitored the peaceful protest by the victims of cooperatives, the rally held at Sundhara and the corner meeting held at Bhrikutimandap.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">A memorandum has been received at the commission alleging that the police had beaten and injured chairperson of the National Campaign for Protection of Cooperatives, Kushal KC. Injured KC has been on hunger strike since March 14. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The commission has received information that KC&#39;s health condition is deteriorating. The depositors have so far told the commission&#39;s team that victims of 302 cooperatives have joined the campaign.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The NHRC has urged the government to address the issue of cooperatives&#39; victims through dialogue and to be sensitive to the health condition of KC. -- RSS</span></span></span></p>
',
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			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '20254',
			'image' => '20240320125653_cooerativesssss.jpg',
			'article_date' => '2024-03-20 12:55:25',
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	(int) 5 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '20527',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Home Ministry Instructs DAOs to Set Up Facilitation Desk to Hear Problems of Usury Victims',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'March 20: The Ministry of Home Affairs has directed all district administration officers across the country to set up facilitation desk to promptly receive and address the complaints, petitions and grievances of usury victims.    ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">March 20: The Ministry of Home Affairs has directed all district administration officers across the country to set up facilitation desk to promptly receive and address the complaints, petitions and grievances of usury victims.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Home Ministry&#39;s spokesperson Narayan Prasad Bhattarai informed that the directive was issued to establish facilitation desk in line with the four-point agreement signed on March 11 between the ministry and the usury victims&rsquo; struggle committee.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The district administration offices have been directed to set up a facilitation desk to deal with the matter by assigning responsibility to the officer-level employees to immediately hear the complaints, petitions and grievances related to usury and make public the details of the employees deployed at the desk (name, post, email, contact number and other means of contact) on the website of the office.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Similarly, section officer at the Ministry of Home Affairs Chiranjivi GM has been appointed as the contact person of the ministry to coordinate with the DAOs and other agencies to address the complaints of the usury victims.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">For complaints related to usury (improper transactions), one can contact mobile number: 9851360603 (viber, WhatsApp message), email: meterbyaj@gmail.com and toll free number 1112. -- RSS</span></span></span></p>
',
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			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '20252',
			'image' => '20240320122240_905x525-moha.jpg',
			'article_date' => '2024-03-20 12:21:51',
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	(int) 6 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '20524',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Imports and Exports Increase in Mid-March after Five Months',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'March 20: At a time when the government is claiming that the economic activities are gradually improving, the country's import-export figures have also remained positive.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">March 20: At a time when the government is claiming that the economic activities are gradually improving, the country&#39;s import-export figures have also remained positive. According to the data published by the Department of Customs on Tuesday, both imports and exports reached the highest level in a one-month period from mid-February to mid-March compared to the last five months. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">According to the Department of Customs, the country imported goods worth Rs 132 billion while the monetary value of exported items stood at Rs 13.78 billion in mid-February to mid-March. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">The country&rsquo;s exports were highest in the review month after mid-September to mid-October when goods worth Rs 14.42 billion were exported and goods worth Rs 148 billion imported into Nepal.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">&nbsp;Since then, the imports and exports declined until mid-January and started to increase again. As compared to a one-month period of mid-January to mid-February, imports increased by Rs 2.5 billion in mid-February to mid-March, and exports also increased by the same amount.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Last year, the government had imposed a ban on the import of some luxurious goods due to the decline in foreign exchange reserves. Nepal Rastra Bank also discouraged imports through tight monetary policy.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">With the improvement in foreign exchange reserves, the government lifted the import ban. The central bank has also gradually eased the monetary policy. Similarly, due to more liquidity in the banking system, the banks&rsquo; interest rate is also declining. However, experts have been saying that there has been no significant improvement in foreign trade due to the drop in demand in the market.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">According to Nepal Rastra Bank, the total foreign exchange reserves equivalent to Rs 1539.36 billion in mid-July increased by 19.9 percent to Rs 1844.94 billion by mid-February. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Of the total foreign exchange reserves, reserves held by NRB increased 20.7 percent to Rs 1623.92 billion in mid-February 2024 from Rs 1345.78 billion in mid-July 2023. Reserves held by banks and financial institutions (except NRB) increased 14.2 percent to Rs 221.02 billion in mid-February 2024 from Rs 193.59 billion in mid-July 2023. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">According to the NRB, based on the imports of seven months of 2023/24, the foreign exchange reserves of the banking sector is sufficient to cover the prospective merchandise imports of 14.7 months, and merchandise and services imports of 12.3 months. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">According to the Department of Customs, both import and export have decreased as of mid-March of the current year compared to last year. In the 8 months of the last fiscal year, goods worth Rs 1058 billion were imported, which decreased by 2.66 percent to Rs 1030 billion during the same period of the current fiscal year. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Similarly, the department has informed that goods worth Rs 104 billion were exported from Nepal as of mid-March of last year, while goods worth only Rs 100 billion were exported in the corresponding period of the current iscal year.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">In the eight months of the current fiscal year, there has been an increase in the import of petroleum products and electric vehicles. However, there has been a decline in the import of raw materials of palm oil, soybean oil and sunflower oil, which had been contributing a high share in exports. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Meanwhile, carpets and rugs have topped the list of export items as of mid-March of the current fiscal year. Iron and iron, palm oil are also in the list of most exported items.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">There has been relief in the country&#39;s trade deficit with the decrease in imports. According to the data of the department, the country&rsquo;s trade deficit which was Rs 953.58 billion as of mid-March last year, dropped to Rs 929 billion in the same period this year.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">As of mid-March of the current fiscal year, the government has collected Rs 270.78 billion as customs duty. In the same period last year, the government had collected only Rs 242.72 billion from customs revenue.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 7 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '20523',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'UN Warns 'Planet on the Brink' after Warmest Decade on Record',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'March 20: Global heat records were "smashed" last year, the UN confirmed Tuesday, with 2023 rounding out the hottest decade on record, as heatwaves stalked oceans and glaciers suffered record ice loss.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">March 20: Global heat records were &quot;smashed&quot; last year, the UN confirmed Tuesday, with 2023 rounding out the hottest decade on record, as heatwaves stalked oceans and glaciers suffered record ice loss.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The United Nations&#39; World Meteorological Organization issued its annual State of the Climate report, confirming preliminary data indicating that 2023 was by far the hottest year ever recorded.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">And it came at the end of &quot;the warmest 10-year period on record&quot;, the WMO report said.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">UN chief Antonio Guterres said the report showed &quot;a planet on the brink&quot;.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">&quot;Earth&#39;s issuing a distress call,&quot; he said, pointing out that &quot;fossil fuel pollution is sending climate chaos off the charts&quot;, and warning that &quot;changes are speeding up&quot;.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The WMO said the average near-surface temperature was 1.45 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels last year -- dangerously close to the critical 1.5-degree threshold that countries agreed to avoid passing in the 2015 Paris climate accords.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">&quot;Never have we been so close... to the 1.5C lower limit of the Paris Agreement,&quot; WMO chief Andrea Celeste Saulo warned in a statement.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt">&#39;Red alert&#39;</span></strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The report, she said, should be seen as a &quot;red alert to the world&quot;.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Going through the data, the organisation found that &quot;records were once again broken, and in some cases smashed&quot;, warning that the numbers &quot;gave ominous new significance to the phrase &#39;off the charts&#39;.&quot;</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Saulo stressed that climate change was about much more than temperatures.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">&quot;What we witnessed in 2023, especially with the unprecedented ocean warmth, glacier retreat and Antarctic sea ice loss, is cause for particular concern.&quot;</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">One especially worrying finding was that marine heatwaves gripped nearly a third of the global ocean on an average day last year.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">And by the end of 2023, more than 90 percent of the ocean had experienced heatwave conditions at some point during the year, the WMO said.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">More frequent and intense marine heatwaves will have &quot;profound negative repercussions for marine ecosystems and coral reefs&quot;, it warned.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">At the same time, it warned that key glaciers worldwide suffered the largest loss of ice ever since records began in 1950, &quot;driven by extreme melt in both western North America and Europe&quot;.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">In Switzerland, where the WMO is headquartered, Alpine glaciers had for instance lost 10 percent of their remaining volume in the past two years alone, it said.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The Antarctic sea ice extent was also &quot;by far the lowest on record&quot;, WMO said.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Rising sea levels</span></strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">In fact, it pointed out, its maximum extent at the end of the southern winter was around one million square kilometres below the previous record year -- equivalent to the size of France and Germany combined.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The continued ocean warming combined with the rapidly melting glaciers and ice sheets also drove the sea level last year to its highest point since satellite records began in 1993, WMO said.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The agency stressed that the global mean sea level rise over the past decade (2014-2023) was more than double the rate in the first decade of satellite records.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">It highlighted that the dramatic climate shifts are taking a heavy toll on people worldwide, fuelling extreme weather events, flooding and drought, which trigger displacement and drive up biodiversity loss and food insecurity.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">&quot;The climate crisis is THE defining challenge that humanity faces and is closely intertwined with the inequality crisis,&quot; Saulo said.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt">&#39;Glimmer of hope&#39;</span></strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The number of people who are considered acutely food insecure around the world has more than doubled, from 149 million people prior to the Covid-19 pandemic to 333 million at the end of 2023, WMO pointed out.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The UN&#39;s weather and climate agency did however highlight one &quot;glimmer of hope&quot;: surging renewable energy generation.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Last year, renewable energy generation capacity -- mainly from solar, wind and hydropower -- increased by nearly 50 percent from 2022, it said.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Guterres also emphasised that there was an upside to the findings.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The world, he insisted, still has a chance to keep the planet&#39;s long-term temperature rise below the 1.5C threshold and &quot;avoid the worst of climate chaos&quot;.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">&quot;We know how to do it.&quot; -- AFP/RSS</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 8 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '20522',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Rain Predicted in Koshi, Madhes and Bagmati Provinces   ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'March 20: The Weather Forecasting Division under the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology has predicted light to moderate rainfall with thunder and lightning at a few places of Koshi, Madhes and Bagmati provinces and at one or two places of the hill regions of other provinces today.    ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">March 20: The Weather Forecasting Division under the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology has predicted light to moderate rainfall with thunder and lightning at a few places of Koshi, Madhes and Bagmati provinces and at one or two places of the hill regions of other provinces today.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">According to the Weather Forecasting Division, the country is currently experiencing a partial influence of the westerly low pressure system and local winds.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The weather will be partly to generally cloudy throughout the country today with light rain accompanied by thunder and lightning at some places of Koshi and Madhes provinces, reads a bulletin issued by the division. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">According to the division, light snowfall is taking place at one or two places of the high hills and mountainous region of Koshi Province.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The Kathmandu Valley has witnessed cloudy weather accompanied by rainfall since this morning. The weather will be partly cloudy in the hill regions of the country including Koshi, Madhes, Bagmati, Gandaki and Lumbini provinces tonight. -- RSS&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>
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	(int) 9 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '20521',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Lumbini to Host Conclave on Global Peace for Prosperity',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'An international gathering titled the "Conclave on Global Peace for Prosperity" is slated to take place in Lumbini, the revered birthplace of Buddha, from March 21 to 22.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">March 20: An international gathering titled the &quot;Conclave on Global Peace for Prosperity&quot; is slated to take place in Lumbini, the revered birthplace of Buddha, from March 21 to 22. </span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The event is jointly organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Honorary Consular Corps Nepal (HCCN), aiming to foster discussions and collaborations towards global peace and prosperity.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Dignitaries from 18 countries without embassies in Nepal, as well as honorary consuls representing various nations, will convene alongside high-ranking officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, experts in foreign affairs, and heritage specialists. </span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Narayan Kaji Shrestha, Minister for Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation Hit Bahadur Tamang, along with officials from the Investment Board, Nepal Tourism Board, and Lumbini Development Trust, are expected to participate in the conclave.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The primary objectives of the conclave include promoting Lumbini&#39;s cultural and religious significance, attracting investment to Nepal, and fostering global unity. Discussions and presentations will center around investment opportunities within Nepal and the potential of its tourism sector.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Bishnu Kumar Agarwal, the Dean of HCCN, emphasized that the event seeks to connect Lumbini with the vast community of approximately one billion Buddhists worldwide, aiming to underscore its profound cultural and religious importance. </span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Furthermore, the conclave is anticipated to serve as a catalyst for increased investment in Nepal, thereby contributing to the nation&#39;s economic growth and development. (RSS)&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '20520',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Government Unveils Common Minimum Policy and Resolution',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'March 19: The ruling alliance on Tuesday unveiled its Common Minimum Policy, Priorities and Resolution.    ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">March 19: The ruling alliance on Tuesday unveiled its Common Minimum Policy, Priorities and Resolution.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The document was unveiled at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers in Singha Durbar, in the presence of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal and the top leaders of the parties in the ruling alliance.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The policy, that places the supreme interests of the Nepali people at the centre, aims to instill hope and faith by tearing apart the sense of despondency among the people.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The ruling alliance comprises the CPN (UML), the CPN (Maoist Centre), the Rastriya Swatantra Party, the Janata Samajwadi Party and the CPN (Unified Socialist).&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The policy includes programmes to activate the share market through policy reforms, to mobilize the climate financing, to implement the 16the periodic plan by carrying out an objective assessment of the 15th periodic plan, to free the financial institutions of anomalies and to resolve the problems of the cooperatives and microfinances.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Former Finance Minister and UML Vice Chair Bishnu Prasad Paudel read out the document on the occasion.&nbsp;&nbsp; -- RSS</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '20519',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => '73 Percent Children in Kathmandu Valley Suffer from Tooth Decay Problems   ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'March 19: A study has found that 73 percent children in the Kathmandu Valley face issue of tooth decay. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">March 19: A study has found that 73 percent children in the Kathmandu Valley face issue of tooth decay. The study conducted by the Kantipur Dental College (Teaching Hospital and Research Center) was based in 68 schools inside the Valley.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The dental college shared this information in a press meet held on Tuesday on the eve of the World Oral Health Day.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The lack of oral hygiene practices which include proper brushing of teeth, refraining from packaged and junk food, chocolates, biscuits and other sugary foods have caused the issues of cavity and tooth decay among the children, the hospital&rsquo;s chief executive director Dr Buddhiman Shrestha said during the press meet.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The study supported by the BM Foundation and Rotary Club of Kathmandu North mentioned 24,154 as respondents.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">According to the hospital source, findings of recent dental camps it organised targeting various communities in Jhapa, Syangja, Kavrepalanchowk, Kailali, Sindhuli and Nuwakot show that 45 percent adults suffered from gum diseases. -- RSS</span></span></span></p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '20518',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Industry Minister Holds Discussion on Investment Summit with Private Sector Representatives   ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'March 19: Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Damodar Bhandari, on Tuesday held discussions with the private sector representatives regarding the upcoming Nepal Investment Summit.    ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">March 19: Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Damodar Bhandari, on Tuesday held discussions with the private sector representatives regarding the upcoming Nepal Investment Summit.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">In an informal discussion with the representatives of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry and Confederation of Nepalese Industries, Minister Bhandari discussed about making laws to create a conducive environment for investors. The investment summit is scheduled for April 28-29.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The government is receiving suggestions from the private sector for drafting investment-friendly laws with the objective to attract foreign investment in the country, and for making the summit effective.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">During the meeting, CNI Director General Gokarna Awasthi urged the government to table the drafts of 10 acts and two regulations in its original form without amendments.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Similarly, Minister Bhandari responded positively to facilitate from the side of the ministry regarding drafting new investment-friendly laws by incorporating the feedback of the private sector.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Present in the meeting were, FNCCI&rsquo;s former chair Chandiraj Dhakal, senior vice chair Anjan Shrestha, vice chair Hemraj Dhakal, CNI President Rajesh Agrawal, vice chair Birendra Pandey among others. -- RSS </span></span></span></p>
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			'sortorder' => '20245',
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			'article_date' => '2024-03-19 14:35:06',
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	(int) 13 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '20517',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Govt to Allow Manpower Companies to Send Workers to Korea',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'March 19: The Ministry for Labour, Employment, and Social Security has drafted a new procedure that will now allow manpower companies to send workers to Korea.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">March 19: The Ministry for Labour, Employment, and Social Security has drafted a new procedure that will now allow manpower companies to send workers to Korea. Previously, only the government could send workers to Korea.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">In the procedure for sending workers to Korea issued by the ministry, there is a provision that manpower companies registered with the Department of Foreign Employment can send Nepali workers to Korea under the E-7 visa system after meeting the specified criteria.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Such companies will also facilitate sending workers to Korea and conduct language and necessary skill training.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The procedure mandates the companies to own a training centre according to the prevailing standards for languages and skill training or a training centre that can be used at any time under a contract agreement.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">For the Korean language training centre, the company must have at least two instructors with an official certificate of language training.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The Nepali licensed organization must have an agreement with its contact office or licensed branched legally registered in Korea to collect, verify, and facilitate the demand for the E-7 visa and provide necessary welfare services and work for Nepali workers. There is also a condition in the procedure that specifies that the organization should have an agreement with Nepali workers and Nepali-licensed organizations not to charge any fee for the process.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Under the E-7 visa system, Nepali citizens who wish to go to Korea for employment must have passed the Korean language test and the professional skill test conducted by an organization recognized by the Korean government or a licensed organization. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The details of the Nepali workers passing the language test will be provided by the licensed organization to the Department of Foreign Employment.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The labour recruitment process will be similar to that of the Gulf countries and Malaysia.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">There is also a contradictory arrangement made by the Foreign Employment Department in the procedure regarding the recommendation of the visa process for the workers selected by the manpower company.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Currently, Nepali workers are traveling to Korea under a government-to-government agreement through the Employment Permit System (EPS), under the E-9 visa (unskilled workers) system.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">About 100,000 Nepali workers have reached Korea through this transparent system. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Danduraj Ghimire, director-general of the Department of Foreign Employment, said that homework is being done to advance the new procedure.</span> A committee will submit its report within 21 days in this regard. </span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '20516',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Govt makes it Mandatory for Climbers to Use Trackers and Poo Bags while Climbing Everest',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'March 19: The government has ordered mountaineers aspiring to climb Mt Everest to carry mandatory GPS trackers.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">March 19: The government has ordered mountaineers aspiring to climb Mt Everest to carry mandatory GPS trackers after one of the deadliest seasons last year when eighteen climbers perished while climbing the world&rsquo;s highest peak. The Department of Tourism has also made it mandatory for climbers to remove their excrement using compostable bags similar to those used for dog waste.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">The move comes amid widespread criticism that Mt Everest is turning into a dumping yard due to lack of proper regulations to manage waste in the mountains of Nepal.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">According to AFP, tonnes of rubbish -- including empty cans, bottles and gas canisters, discarded climbing gear, and plastic and human waste -- litter the mountain, which has been dubbed the &quot;highest dumpster in the world&quot;.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">With around 600 climbers and guides reaching the top in 2023, the local rural municipality of Everest has also introduced a slew of new regulations, including mandatory poo bags to be used above base camp, added the French news agency.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">&ldquo;Poo bags can contain chemicals that help dry and solidify waste, removing the stench, and have been used in other extreme conditions, including in Antarctica and on Denali in the US state of Alaska.&rdquo;</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">As far as GPS trackers are concerned, they are already used by many professional climbers, helping people monitor their progress on the peak, which is important for security.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">The climbers are expected to require less powerful but smaller passive trackers, which can be easily sewn into a jacket and require no power to function. They can be tracked by a handheld detector around 20 metres (66 feet) through packed snow, and several times that in the air, AFP added.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Enforcing their use will help locate people in case of an accident, AFP reported citing government officials.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">&quot;The trackers are mandatory for climbers this year, so that if there is an accident their location can be accurately identified,&quot; AFP quoted Rakesh Gurung, director of mountaineering at the Department of Tourism, as saying.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">The spring climbing season begins this month and runs till May, when the weather is favourable for climbing Everest.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Nepal is home to eight of the world&#39;s highest 14 peaks above 8,000 metres and sees hundreds of adventurer enthusiasts aspiring to climb Everest especially in the spring climbing season, when temperatures are warm and winds are typically calm.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Specialised &quot;icefall doctors&quot; have already set off for Everest, where they will begin setting the climbing route by fixing ropes and ladders.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">These highly skilled Sherpas are the first men on the peak every season, building a route across plunging crevasses and constantly shifting ice, including the treacherous Khumbu icefall, AFP added.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Three Nepali climbers perished there last April when a block of glacial ice fell and swept them into a crevasse as they were crossing the icefall on a supply mission.</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