CAAN Adopts Merger Policy for Airline Companies

Sep 03, 2023 0 2 minutes 31 seconds to read

September 3: The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAN) is preparing to implement a standard that will force airline companies to go for…

Nepal Bank to Collaborate with ADB for Trade and Supply Chain Finance Program

Sep 03, 2023 0 1 minutes 50 seconds to read

September 3: Nepal Bank Limited has signed an agreement with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for the implementation of ADB's Trade and Supply Chain Finance Program…

Dengue Infection Tally Exceeds 21,000

Sep 03, 2023 0 1 minutes 17 seconds to read

September 2: Dengue infection is on the rise in Nepal.…

2 Killed, 12 Injured in Road Accident at Pepsicola

Sep 03, 2023 0 1 minutes 11 seconds to read

September 3: Two people were killed and fourteen others were injured in a freak road accident that took place at Pepsicola of Kathmandu this morning (Sunday). …

SSF Brings Informal Sector Workers under Social Security Scheme

Sep 03, 2023 0 3 minutes 22 seconds to read

September 3: The government has started incorporating workers in the informal sector and those self-employed to the social security scheme since August…

Oli Elected SEJON Chair

Sep 03, 2023 0 1 minutes 10 seconds to read

Sujan Oli has been elected the chairperson of the Society of Economic Journalists-Nepal (SEJON). The 25th annual general meeting and convention held on Saturday elected a new working committee under the leadership of…

CAAN Prepares New Standards for Operation of Aviation Service

Sep 02, 2023 0 1 minutes 40 seconds to read

September 2: The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has prepared a draft of a new standard through the tenth amendment of the 'Certificate Guidelines' for aviation service…

NEPSE Index Continues to Drop

Sep 02, 2023 0 1 minutes 25 seconds to read

September 2: The NEPSE index that measures share transaction in the stock market witnessed declining trend last week.…

Pollution from Cement Factory Sickens Locals in Dhading

Sep 01, 2023 0 5 minutes 39 seconds to read

September 1: Locals in and around Jugedi of Dhunibeshi Munbicipality-9 in Dhading district have begun developing respiratory related complications due to the air pollution caused by a cement factory in their…

Over 600,000 Foreign Tourists Visit Nepal in Eight Months

Sep 01, 2023 0 1 minutes 8 seconds to read

September 1: Over 600,000 foreign tourists visited Nepal in the first eight months of…

Govt Spends Rs 39 Billion under Prime Minister's Employment Programme with no Visible Achievement

Sep 01, 2023 0 5 minutes 28 seconds to read

September 1: The government has spent billions of rupees in petty works under the Prime Minister Employment Programme (PMEP) launched by the KP Sharma Oli-led government in the fiscal year…

CAAN Fails to Meet Income Target in Last Four Fiscal Years

Sep 01, 2023 0 3 minutes 58 seconds to read

September 1: The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has not been able to achieve its income target in the last four…

Tatopani Checkpoint sees Human Mobility after Eight Years

Sep 01, 2023 0 1 minutes 23 seconds to read

September 1: Human mobility across the Tatopani border checkpoint in Sindhupalchowk district bordering China has resumed from today (Friday) after a hiatus of eight…

CIB Teams sent to India, Hong Kong for Investigating Gold Smuggling Scam

Sep 01, 2023 0 2 minutes 49 seconds to read

September 1: Nepal Police has sent a team of police officials including experts from the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) to India to gather further information on the 61 kg gold smuggled into the country from Hong Kong.…

Tourist Bus Nepal App Launched to Facilitate Foreign Visitors

Sep 01, 2023 0 2 minutes 38 seconds to read

September 1: Tourist bus operators of Nepal have launched an app – Tourist Bus Nepal – to facilitate visitors in booking bus tickets to various tourist destinations within the…

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No Laughing Matter

The Sweet Rewards of Power

By Madan Lamsal

. . .
read more »

NEPSE

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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '18901',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'CAAN Adopts Merger Policy for Airline Companies',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'September 3: The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAN) is preparing to implement a standard that will force airline companies to go for merger.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">September 3: The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAN) is preparing to implement a standard that will force airline companies to go for merger. The aviation regulatory body is trying to implement the new standards through the tenth amendment of Air Service Operation Certificate Guidelines.</span></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-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">In the proposed standard, the airline companies operating in Nepal must maintain a minimum number of aircraft and the pilots cannot engage in other commercial activities. </span></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-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Jagannath Niraula, the spokesperson of the authority, said that preparations are being made to force the airlines operating in the country to maintain a minimum number of five aircraft by giving them a period of five years. He said that if an airline company that cannot maintain the specified number of aircraft within the given timeframe, it can increase the number by opting for a merger.</span></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-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Currently, most of the companies operating air services in Nepal do not have five aircraft. Among the airline companies operating in Nepal, Buddha Air has the largest number of aircraft. It has </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">16</span></span> <span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">aircraft of ATR-</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">42</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"> and ATR-</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">72</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"> series. </span></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-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">CAAN has proposed that the new company willing to operate air service in Nepal should have a minimum of three aircraft. Similarly, the authority has tried to ban the chairman, share investor, executive director, manager and senior position holder of an airline company from doing activities contrary to the policy and work of the authority and the government of Nepal. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'title' => 'Nepal Bank to Collaborate with ADB for Trade and Supply Chain Finance Program',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'September 3: Nepal Bank Limited has signed an agreement with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for the implementation of ADB's Trade and Supply Chain Finance Program (TSCFP).',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">September 3: Nepal Bank Limited has signed an agreement with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for the implementation of ADB&#39;s Trade and Supply Chain Finance Program (TSCFP). </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 program is expected to support international trade and development by providing loans and bank guarantees to address the financial needs of businesses. </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 2022, the program supported trade exceeding more than US $7.7 billion through more than 10,000 transactions, of which more than 60 percent were linked to small and medium-sized businesses.</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">ADB has provided credit lines to Nepal Bank under the TSCFC to support import transactions from more than 200 countries. </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 agreement was signed after extensive due diligence and discussions in core areas of Nepal Bank&rsquo;s finances, corporate governance, risk, and compliance.</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 agreement was signed by Steven Beck, head of ADB&rsquo;s TSCFP and Laxman Paudel, chief credit officer of Nepal Bank Limited. </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">On the occasion, Krishna Adhikari, Chief Executive Officer of Nepal Bank Limited, said that the bank is ready to use the credit line to support the business activities of the customers while further increasing the bank&#39;s presence among the MSMEs. </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">Arnaud Heckman, officer in charge of ADB Nepal Resident Mission, was also present at the signing ceremony.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'title' => 'Dengue Infection Tally Exceeds 21,000   ',
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			'summary' => 'September 2: Dengue infection is on the rise in Nepal. ',
			'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;">September 2: Dengue infection is on the rise in Nepal. According to the data unveiled by the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division, a total of 21,206 people have so far tested positive for dengue infection this year.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">It may be noted that the division had projected the dengue cases to rise from mid-August to mid-October. So far 13 infected people have lost their lives to the dengue contagion.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Director of the division Dr Rudra Prasad Marasini said dengue infection is increasing daily due to continuous rainfall.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Dengue was first detected in Nepal in 2004. In 2022, a total of 54,784 people were infected with dengue and 88 died due to the contagion.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Sunsari district has topped the list of dengue cases in the country. According to the division, Sunsari district has reported 11,659 cases of dengue infection.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Morang is second in the list with 2,242 cases followed by Dhading with 2,101 cases. -- RSS&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>
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			'id' => '18897',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => '2 Killed, 12 Injured in Road Accident at Pepsicola   ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'September 3: Two people were killed and fourteen others were injured in a freak road accident that took place at Pepsicola of Kathmandu this morning (Sunday).    

',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px">September 3: Two people were killed and fourteen others were injured in a freak road accident that took place at Pepsicola of Kathmandu this morning (Sunday).&nbsp;According to the police, the accident occurred at 7.30 am this morning when a bus (Ba 3 Kha 4848) heading towards Pepsicola from Jadibuti collided head on with a jeep (Ba 6 Cha 5342) coming from the opposite direction.<br />
Spokesperson of the District Police Range, Kathmandu, Superintendent of Police (SP) Kumod Dhungel told RSS that a scooter (Bagmati Province 02-037 Pa 5311) and a motorcycle (Bagmati Province 02-041 Pa 4838) also collided following the collision between the two vehicles.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px">The deceased have been identified as motorcyclist Raj Bhattarai, 21, and Armed Police Force personnel Usha Thapa, 25.<br />
According to SP Dhungel, some of the injured are undergoing treatment at Motherland Hospital in Pepsicola while others have been admitted to the Civil Hospital in New Baneshwar. According to RSS, Janak Raut, 24, of Ramechhap, the bus driver involved in the accident, has been detained by the police.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px">According to a study conducted by the Global Road Safety Facility, a global partnership programme administered by the World Bank Group, 72 percent of road crash fatalities and injuries in Nepal involve people in the economically productive age group (15 to 64 years).<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '18896',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'SSF Brings Informal Sector Workers under Social Security Scheme   ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'September 3: The government has started incorporating workers in the informal sector and those self-employed to the social security scheme since August 17.    ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">September 3: The government has started incorporating workers in the informal sector and those self-employed to the social security scheme since August 17.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The Social Security Fund (SSF) had already brought those in the formal sector and in foreign employment under the scheme.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The trade unions actively working in the country were lobbying for long to introduce the scheme for the informal sector workers engaged in agriculture, transportation, construction and domestic works, among others.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Nepal Trade Union Congress&#39; Chairperson Yogendra Kunwar remarked that it was a welcome development that the workers in the informal sector and self-employed ones were brought under the scheme.</span></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-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">&quot;The workers working in corporation or formal sectors were receiving facilities such as gratuity and pension, but those in informal sector were deprived of such schemes. Now, the path for them to come under social security scheme has been opened,&quot; he said.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">However, there are doubts regarding the implementation of the scheme in lack of clear commitment on the part of the government. &quot;The government is yet to make firm commitment regarding the amount to be contributed on the behalf of over 5 million informal sector workers,&quot; he pointed out, highlighting the need for policy and programmatic preparations for the successful implementation of the programme.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Meanwhile, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Labour, Danduraj Ghimire, said Nepal is ahead of India and Bangladesh in terms of implementation of social security scheme. &quot;We have started covering workers in formal and informal sectors as well as self-employment and those in foreign jobs under the scheme.&quot; The scheme launched by the SSF is on a par with that of developed countries, he said.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">So far 749,945 workers (440,161 in formal sector and 309,765 in foreign employments) have been associated with the scheme, according to the SSF.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Under various facilities, the SSF has so far made payments of Rs 5.64 billion to the contributors. A total of 97,815 contributors have been registered with the SSF, and from them, Rs 40.6 billion has been collected in contribution.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">To become a part of the scheme, workers in the informal sector should contribute 20.37 percent of their salaries as set by the government and the self-employment people should contribute 31 percent, said SSF Spokesperson Bibek Panthi.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">On part of the workers in the informal sector, the respective workers contribute 11 percent of their salaries while the remaining 9.37 will be deposited by the government. -- RSS&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'id' => '18895',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Oli Elected SEJON Chair',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'Sujan Oli has been elected the chairperson of the Society of Economic Journalists-Nepal (SEJON).  The 25th annual general meeting and convention held on Saturday elected a new working committee under the leadership of Oli.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:18.0pt">September 3: Sujan Oli has been elected the chairperson of the Society of Economic Journalists-Nepal (SEJON).&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span></span><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:18.0pt">The 25th annual general meeting and convention held on Saturday elected a new working committee under the leadership of Oli. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:18.0pt">Oli obtained 99 votes while his nearest rival Siromani Dhungana garnered 96 votes. </span></span></span><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:18.0pt">Likewise, Binaya Banjara has been elected to the post of vice-chairperson, while Bishwas Regmi was earlier elected to the post of general secretary unopposed. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:18.0pt">Sobhit Thapaliya and Achyut Puri have been elected secretary and treasurer respectively.&nbsp;</span></span></span><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:18.0pt">Those elected as the members are Keshu Lamichhane, Hemraj Joshi, Basant Raj Uprety, Mamata Thapa and Chhabi Sapkota.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:18.0pt">252 out of 271 votes were cast in the election. </span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'title' => 'CAAN Prepares New Standards for Operation of Aviation Service   ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'September 2: The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has prepared a draft of a new standard through the tenth amendment of the 'Certificate Guidelines' for aviation service operation.    ',
			'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;">September 2: The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has prepared a draft of a new standard through the tenth amendment of the &#39;Certificate Guidelines&#39; for aviation service operation.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">CAAN Spokesperson Jagannath Niraula informed RSS that the new standards require a company willing to operate aviation services to have a minimum of three aircraft. All airline companies will have to increase the number of aircraft to at least five within the next five years. Those unable to meet the required standard may also go for a merger.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Likewise, the new standards state that the chairpersons, share holders, executive director and manager and position holder of the airline companies should not carry out activities contrary to the policies of CAAN and the Government of Nepal and should not express their opinions towards that end in public.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The managers and office-bearers of the airline company must not be involved in activities (such as tours and travels) that directly or indirectly are in conflict with the company&#39;s interests. Likewise, the chairman, share holder, executive director and manager will not be allowed to indulge in commercial flights or maintenance activities and pilot cannot be involved in commercial activities except flying.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The investors cannot sell or transfer their shares for a period of at least five years after receiving the no objection letter, government-owned or private airline company cannot appoint managers and high position holders without the approval of CAAN. -- RSS </span></span></span></p>
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			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '18622',
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			'article_date' => '2023-09-02 20:58:13',
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	(int) 7 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '18893',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'NEPSE Index Continues to Drop   ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'September 2: The NEPSE index that measures share transaction in the stock market witnessed declining trend last week. ',
			'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;">September 2: The NEPSE index that measures share transaction in the stock market witnessed declining trend last week. In the four transaction days in the past week, the share market continued to fall in three days and increased in a single day.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">According to the Nepal Stock Exchange Ltd, total turnover amount declined to Rs 4.24 billion last week from Rs 7.24 billion.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">On the first day of the week on Sunday, the NEPSE index dropped to 1,993.38 point with the fall of 54 points. The share transaction amounted to Rs 1.26 billion on the first day.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Likewise, on the second day (Monday), the index reached 1,998.47 points with an increase of 5.09 points. The market saw turnover of Rs 988.83 million.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">On the third day, there was a slight decline in the index. On Tuesday, the NEPSE dropped to 1,993.42 with the decrease of five points. The total intra-day transaction amount stood at Rs 865.1 million.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Likewise, NEPSE dropped to 1,990 with a fall of 2.82 points on Wednesday. The transaction amount was recorded at Rs 1.13 billion. -- RSS&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><br />
&nbsp;</p>
',
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			'created' => '2023-09-02',
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			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '18621',
			'image' => '20230902090516_20230406055916_collage - 2023-04-03T173010.811.jpg',
			'article_date' => '2023-09-02 21:04:44',
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	(int) 8 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '18891',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Pollution from Cement Factory Sickens Locals in Dhading',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'September 1: Locals in and around Jugedi of Dhunibeshi Munbicipality-9 in Dhading district have begun developing respiratory related complications due to the air pollution caused by a cement factory in their locality.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">September 1: Locals in and around Jugedi of Dhunibeshi Munbicipality-9 in Dhading district have begun developing respiratory related complications due to the air pollution caused by a cement factory in their locality.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Locals have begun falling sick due to smoke, dust and noise pollution emanating from the United Cement Industry. They are suffering from health issues such as boils and rashes all over the body, itching and dry throat.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Furthermore, skin related issues such as allergy is another health problem the locals are putting up with as the cement industry functions unchecked. According to them, the health hazards they were bearing were because the industry was not running in compliance with the standards of industrial operation.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">It may be noted that the cement industry is considered to be one of the largest sources of industrial air pollution.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Laxmi Rai, one of the estimated 230 locals directly affected at Jugedi, bemoaned, &quot;If the pollution coming from the cement industry would not stop, we will not be able to reside here anymore. We will have to shift from here to elsewhere to protect our lives.&quot;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Over 50 of the locals are currently undergoing treatment related to throat, skin and eyes, they shared. While many of the affected locals were availing medical attention on their own, some were availing treatment in the presence of the expenses borne by the management of the cement industry.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">The affected locals complained that the cement industry officials were found to have put healthcare service providers under pressure. Worst of all, the affected ailing locals were not allowed to see their own medical report.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Rai shared that she had her health examined in Kathmandu-based Bir Hospital after she received boils and suffered a dry throat. The medical report has not been provided to her yet.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">&quot;The cement industry management officials got the ticket for the hospital check-up. Then two of us went for an examination. Without showing us the medical report, we were told that our condition was good,&quot; she narrated.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">She further lamented, &quot;When we insisted them to give us our report, they promised us to send the reports to our doorstep but to no avail. &#39;We were not allowed to see our medical report.&quot;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">The doctor told them that nothing was amiss with them while they underwent lab tests for blood, urine and other bodily fluids. &quot;We could not find out whether we had contracted any infection or not or if the doctors were forced to conceal our report under the pressure from the cement industry management,&quot; Rai expressed her doubts.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Shova, her husband and son are regularly taking medicines for allergy. However, the doctors have not disclosed the reasons for the allergy, she said.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">The industry was brought into operation around six years back, and its impacts are gradually exhibiting among the locals, they said. Elderly people are suffering from asthma, said a local Ramesh Rai. Pollution from the industry has had its implications also on the crops.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">&quot;The pollution has affected human health as well as agriculture. As a result of pollution, crops are not growing well. They are not edible. Cement dust is seen coating the green vegetable leaves. Agricultural products have started wilting,&quot; said Ramesh.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Facing the brunt of the industry, the local people have launched a protest. The protesting team led by a local Rama Rai submitted a memorandum to the industry and Dhunibensi Municipality in protest.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">&quot;After the industry denied providing the environmental impact assessment (EIA) report, we have by ourselves obtained it from the National Information Commission. Some eight months ago, we also held a discussion with the people&#39;s representatives and the industry management. At that time, the management assured that they would blacktop or lay concrete slabs on the road leading to the industry.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Although the industry management has been called for talks through the judicial committee of the municipality, it has ignored the call,&quot; he said. The residents of Dhunibensi ward 2, 5 and 9 are bearing the brunt of the pollutants from the industry.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">However, the cement industry has claimed that the industry is being run following the standards set by the government.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Following complaints about pollution, some people of the village and the industry employees were taken to the local hospital for a health test, said chief executive officer of the industry, Bharat Dahal. The process of carrying out the EIA has started, he said. As more dust is emanating from the industry, work is underway to check and fix the problem after bringing a technical team from India, he added. --&nbsp;RSS</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 9 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '18890',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Over 600,000 Foreign Tourists Visit Nepal in Eight Months',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'September 1: Over 600,000 foreign tourists visited Nepal in the first eight months of 2023.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">September 1: Over 600,000 foreign tourists visited Nepal in the first eight months of 2023. According to the Nepal Tourism Board, 601,360 tourists from various countries including India and the United States of America arrived in Nepal from January to August this year.&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">The country welcomed 67,153 visitors in August alone. The number of visitors in the corresponding month last year was 41,304. In 2019, the number was 73,814.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">NTB Director Maniraj Lamichhane said the graph of inflow of tourists is on the rise in recent months. &quot;As the number of tourists arriving from the expected destinations is gradually increasing, we hope to see the arrival of one million tourists this year,&quot; said Lamichhane.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">In August, majority of tourists came from India, as they numbered 26,665 followed by 5,007 from China, 4,629 from the US, 3,558 from Sri Lanka, 3,190 from Bangladesh, 2,711 from the UK, 1,588 from Spain, 1520 from Japan, 1,416 from Italy and 1,347 from Australia.&nbsp;-- RSS</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '18619',
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	(int) 10 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '18889',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Govt Spends Rs 39 Billion under Prime Minister's Employment Programme with no Visible Achievement',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'September 1: The government has spent billions of rupees in petty works under the Prime Minister Employment Programme (PMEP) launched by the KP Sharma Oli-led government in the fiscal year 2018/19.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">September 1: The government has spent billions of rupees in petty works under the Prime Minister Employment Programme (PMEP) launched by the KP Sharma Oli-led government in the fiscal year 2018/19.</span></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-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">This program was launched to employ citizens aged 18 to 59 years who have not been employed for at least 100 days in a year. The government had announced that if the citizens could not get employment for a minimum of 100 days, it would provide a subsistence allowance equal to 50 days&#39; wages.</span></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-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Despite spending a huge amount of money on the programme, the state has not been able to provide minimum employment to all the unemployed. Unemployment allowance has not been given to the people who have not got minimum employment.</span></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-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">This program has been facing criticism since its inception. There is an allegation that political party workers are being given allowances in the name of employment for youths. In the same year that the program was launched, the government was accused of spending billions of rupees from the state coffers in unproductive sectors.</span></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-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The government allegedly spent billions of rupees in unproductive sectors like chasing monkeys, uprooting weeds, and fending off cattle.</span></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-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Until the last fiscal year, the government has not been able to create long-term employment through this programme. State funds were being spent on small projects.</span></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-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The government has already spent Rs 38.76 billion on this program in the last five fiscal years. There is no visible achievement either. Neither the problem of unemployment has decreased nor have employment opportunities been created.</span></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-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">In the fiscal year 2018/19, the government allocated Rs 3.1 billion for this program. In the fiscal year 2019/20, the budget allocated was Rs 5.1 billion which was further increased to Rs 11.6 billion in FY 2020/21.</span></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-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">In the fiscal year 2021/22, the government allocated Rs 12 billion for this programme while it earmarked Rs 7.5 billion in FY 2022/23.</span></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-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Almost all of the allocated budget seems to have been spent every year while the achievement remained zero.</span></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-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">For the current fiscal year 2023/24, the government has allocated Rs 5.94 billion for the program in the budget presented on May 29. It has been a month and a half since the start of the new fiscal year and the program has not been implemented yet.</span></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-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Finance Minister Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat had announced that the budget for this program will focus on engaging youths in economic activities within the country and this program will be restructured this year.</span></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-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Three months after the release of the budget, government officials are confused about how to restructure it. The Secretariat of the Prime Minister&#39;s Employment Program falls under the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security.</span></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-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">This program, which is being run with the help of financial support from the World Bank since the initial stage, has courted controversy because it is distribution-oriented.</span></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-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">But the government has been insisting that it will restructure the programme. But what concrete policy will be taken by the government has not been made public yet.</span></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-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The Auditor General&#39;s report has also been raising questions about the expenses incurred through the Prime Minister&#39;s Employment Program. Officials of the National Planning Commission are also not satisfied with the expenditure. They have also been emphasizing restructuring the program. However, the government has not shown any interest in restructuring and implementing the program on time.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 11 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '18888',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'CAAN Fails to Meet Income Target in Last Four Fiscal Years',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'September 1: The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has not been able to achieve its income target in the last four years.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">September 1: The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has not been able to achieve its income target in the last four years. The aviation regulatory body has released details of its income of Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">16</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">.49 billion which is less than the estimated target in four years from the fiscal year 2019/20.</span></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-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The CAAN has said that it has not been able to generate income as per the target since the financial year 2019/20 due to the coronavirus pandemic</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">. </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The authority had set a target of earning Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">14.32</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"> billion in the last fiscal year (FY </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">20</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">22</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">/</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">23) alone</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">. </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The actual income of the authority that year was less than the target by Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">92</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">7.1 million.</span></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-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">It seems that the CAAN has been increasing the income target every year since the fiscal year 2019/20</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">. </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">However, this goal has not been achieved. According to the CAAN, since the income increases at the rate of </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">10</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"> percent every year, the target of income is set at the same ratio. However, the authority claims that the target has been affected by the impact of Covid-</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">19.</span></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-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Due to the Covid-</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">19</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">, air traffic has diminished since March 24, 2020. Likewise, the construction of airports, including domestic and international has been delayed, causing damage to the &#39;time value of money&#39; while international air traffic has not yet reached the pre-Covid-</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">19</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"> level, argued CAAN officials.</span></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-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The CAAN earns income from fees collected from landing, parking, ground handling of aircraft as well as the rent of the airport and physical infrastructures of the CAAN.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '18887',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Tatopani Checkpoint sees Human Mobility after Eight Years   ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'September 1: Human mobility across the Tatopani border checkpoint in Sindhupalchowk district bordering China has resumed from today (Friday) after a hiatus of eight years.    ',
			'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;">September 1: Human mobility across the Tatopani border checkpoint in Sindhupalchowk district bordering China has resumed from today (Friday) after a hiatus of eight years.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The locals of Sindhupalchowk, who were &nbsp;issued permits by the Tatopani-based Immigration Office, set out towards China crossing the Friendship Bridge at Liping after security clearance from Chinese security personnel.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The locals&#39; team led by parliamentarian Madhav Sapkota received a warm reception from Chinese people in their land.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Sapkota, an elected MP from Constituency-1 in Sindhupalchowk, who reached the border point with people&#39;s representatives from Tatopani area, officials from the Immigration Office this morning, said that the checkpoint is fully open from today.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The checkpoint which remained closed since the mega earthquakes of 2015, however, saw movement of cargo vehicles since May 1 earlier this year.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The transit point has been opened for people, said CDO of Sindhupalchowk, Ramesh Neupane, after raising the issue repeatedly in the parliament and subsequent discussions between the Nepali side and the China side. -- RSS&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>
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			'sortorder' => '18616',
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			'article_date' => '2023-09-01 14:07:33',
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '18886',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'CIB Teams sent to India, Hong Kong for Investigating Gold Smuggling Scam   ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'September 1: Nepal Police has sent a team of police officials including experts from the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) to India to gather further information on the 61 kg gold smuggled into the country from Hong Kong. ',
			'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;">September 1: Nepal Police has sent a team of police officials including experts from the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) to India to gather further information on the 61 kg gold smuggled into the country from Hong Kong. The team left for India on Thursday.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">On Wednesday, another team led by Senior Superintendent of Police from CIB, Dinesh Acharya, headed towards Hong Kong to investigate the same case.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The team sent to India will collect information on gold smuggling in coordination with Nepal Police&#39;s SSP Uma Prasad Chaturvedi deputed at the Nepali Embassy in India. </span></span></span></p>

<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;">Inspector General of Nepal Police Basanta Bahadur Kunwar said that the police are collecting information on smuggling of huge amount of gold by mobilizing police team across the country, and to India and China as well. Earlier, the police had written to INTERPOL in Hong Kong and India, seeking cooperation from them.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<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;">The Department of Revenue Investigation had confiscated 60.716 kg of gold from the gate of the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) a few months ago after the smuggled gold had passed customs clearance from the TIA&rsquo;s Customs Office. </span></span></span></p>

<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;">The gold was smuggled from Hong Kong and found hidden in brake-shoes imported for scooters. It was revealed during the investigation that such amount of precious yellow metal was smuggled in cahoots with the employees of the customs office. Following the revelation, some employees have been arrested for further investigation.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Moreover, the police have arrested several Nepalis as well as Chinese and Indian nationals in this connection. There are six foreign nationals including those from China and India arrested in this case.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">After police investigation found that the gold brought from Hong Kong illegally is taken to India, the Nepal Police deputed security team to Hong Kong to garner further information.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Twenty five persons have been arrested in connection with the recent gold smuggling case and investigation is underway.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<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;">A team led by Superintendent of Police at CIB, Sanjay Thapa, is investigating the gold smuggling scam. -- RSS&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>
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			'id' => '18884',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Tourist Bus Nepal App Launched to Facilitate Foreign Visitors',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'September 1: Tourist bus operators of Nepal have launched an app – Tourist Bus Nepal – to facilitate visitors in booking bus tickets to various tourist destinations within the country.',
			'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;">September 1: Tourist bus operators of Nepal have launched an app &ndash; Tourist Bus Nepal &ndash; to facilitate visitors in booking bus tickets to various tourist destinations within the country.</span></span></span></p>

<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;">The app was developed by Tourist Bus Association of Nepal (TBAN), an umbrella organisation of tourist bus entrepreneurs in the country.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Sudan Kirati inaugurated the app amidst a programme in the capital on Wednesday. </span></span></span></p>

<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;">The app was launched to facilitate domestic and foreign tourists book tickets online for tourist buses plying between Kathmandu, Pokhara, Sauraha, Lumbini and Janakpur, said Krishna Acharya, President of the Tourist Bus Association of Nepal. </span></span></span></p>

<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;">For the service, the TBAN has coordinated with digital payment systems, Khalti, IME Pay and Prabhu Pay. Around 100 tourist buses leave to various tourist destinations from Kathmandu on a daily basis.&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<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;">On the occasion, Minister Kirati said that the ministry is working to amend the Tourism Act.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">On a different note, Tourism Minister Kirati said Nepal Tourism Board (NTB)&#39;s budget would not be passed until it amends the budget. </span></span></span></p>

<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;">&quot;The NTB&#39;s budget cannot be passed in a hurry and until it is amended. The board&#39;s budget cannot be endorsed immediately to fulfill the interests of some people for commission,&quot; he said.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">He mentioned that it is not the responsibility of the Tourism Board to construct physical infrastructures. Stating that it is the responsibility of the Department of Tourism to construct physical infrastructures for the development of tourism sector, Minister Kirati clarified that the Tourism Board should work to promote tourism activities.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The Tourism Minister shared that the Tourism Board should not spend Rs 800-900 million in Europe visit in the name of bringing in tourists in Nepal. -- RSS&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '18901',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'CAAN Adopts Merger Policy for Airline Companies',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'September 3: The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAN) is preparing to implement a standard that will force airline companies to go for merger.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">September 3: The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAN) is preparing to implement a standard that will force airline companies to go for merger. The aviation regulatory body is trying to implement the new standards through the tenth amendment of Air Service Operation Certificate Guidelines.</span></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-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">In the proposed standard, the airline companies operating in Nepal must maintain a minimum number of aircraft and the pilots cannot engage in other commercial activities. </span></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-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Jagannath Niraula, the spokesperson of the authority, said that preparations are being made to force the airlines operating in the country to maintain a minimum number of five aircraft by giving them a period of five years. He said that if an airline company that cannot maintain the specified number of aircraft within the given timeframe, it can increase the number by opting for a merger.</span></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-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Currently, most of the companies operating air services in Nepal do not have five aircraft. Among the airline companies operating in Nepal, Buddha Air has the largest number of aircraft. It has </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">16</span></span> <span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">aircraft of ATR-</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">42</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"> and ATR-</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">72</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"> series. </span></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-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">CAAN has proposed that the new company willing to operate air service in Nepal should have a minimum of three aircraft. Similarly, the authority has tried to ban the chairman, share investor, executive director, manager and senior position holder of an airline company from doing activities contrary to the policy and work of the authority and the government of Nepal. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'title' => 'Nepal Bank to Collaborate with ADB for Trade and Supply Chain Finance Program',
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			'summary' => 'September 3: Nepal Bank Limited has signed an agreement with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for the implementation of ADB's Trade and Supply Chain Finance Program (TSCFP).',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">September 3: Nepal Bank Limited has signed an agreement with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for the implementation of ADB&#39;s Trade and Supply Chain Finance Program (TSCFP). </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 program is expected to support international trade and development by providing loans and bank guarantees to address the financial needs of businesses. </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 2022, the program supported trade exceeding more than US $7.7 billion through more than 10,000 transactions, of which more than 60 percent were linked to small and medium-sized businesses.</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">ADB has provided credit lines to Nepal Bank under the TSCFC to support import transactions from more than 200 countries. </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 agreement was signed after extensive due diligence and discussions in core areas of Nepal Bank&rsquo;s finances, corporate governance, risk, and compliance.</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 agreement was signed by Steven Beck, head of ADB&rsquo;s TSCFP and Laxman Paudel, chief credit officer of Nepal Bank Limited. </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">On the occasion, Krishna Adhikari, Chief Executive Officer of Nepal Bank Limited, said that the bank is ready to use the credit line to support the business activities of the customers while further increasing the bank&#39;s presence among the MSMEs. </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">Arnaud Heckman, officer in charge of ADB Nepal Resident Mission, was also present at the signing ceremony.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
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			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '18628',
			'image' => '20230903111741_adb.jpg',
			'article_date' => '2023-09-03 11:17:07',
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	(int) 2 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '18898',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Dengue Infection Tally Exceeds 21,000   ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'September 2: Dengue infection is on the rise in Nepal. ',
			'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;">September 2: Dengue infection is on the rise in Nepal. According to the data unveiled by the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division, a total of 21,206 people have so far tested positive for dengue infection this year.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">It may be noted that the division had projected the dengue cases to rise from mid-August to mid-October. So far 13 infected people have lost their lives to the dengue contagion.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Director of the division Dr Rudra Prasad Marasini said dengue infection is increasing daily due to continuous rainfall.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Dengue was first detected in Nepal in 2004. In 2022, a total of 54,784 people were infected with dengue and 88 died due to the contagion.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Sunsari district has topped the list of dengue cases in the country. According to the division, Sunsari district has reported 11,659 cases of dengue infection.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Morang is second in the list with 2,242 cases followed by Dhading with 2,101 cases. -- RSS&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>
',
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			'created' => '2023-09-03',
			'modified' => '2023-09-03',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '18627',
			'image' => '20230903105506_dengue-test_650x400_61442241844.jpg',
			'article_date' => '2023-09-03 10:53:31',
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	(int) 3 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '18897',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => '2 Killed, 12 Injured in Road Accident at Pepsicola   ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'September 3: Two people were killed and fourteen others were injured in a freak road accident that took place at Pepsicola of Kathmandu this morning (Sunday).    

',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px">September 3: Two people were killed and fourteen others were injured in a freak road accident that took place at Pepsicola of Kathmandu this morning (Sunday).&nbsp;According to the police, the accident occurred at 7.30 am this morning when a bus (Ba 3 Kha 4848) heading towards Pepsicola from Jadibuti collided head on with a jeep (Ba 6 Cha 5342) coming from the opposite direction.<br />
Spokesperson of the District Police Range, Kathmandu, Superintendent of Police (SP) Kumod Dhungel told RSS that a scooter (Bagmati Province 02-037 Pa 5311) and a motorcycle (Bagmati Province 02-041 Pa 4838) also collided following the collision between the two vehicles.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px">The deceased have been identified as motorcyclist Raj Bhattarai, 21, and Armed Police Force personnel Usha Thapa, 25.<br />
According to SP Dhungel, some of the injured are undergoing treatment at Motherland Hospital in Pepsicola while others have been admitted to the Civil Hospital in New Baneshwar. According to RSS, Janak Raut, 24, of Ramechhap, the bus driver involved in the accident, has been detained by the police.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px">According to a study conducted by the Global Road Safety Facility, a global partnership programme administered by the World Bank Group, 72 percent of road crash fatalities and injuries in Nepal involve people in the economically productive age group (15 to 64 years).<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></p>
',
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			'created' => '2023-09-03',
			'modified' => '2023-09-03',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '18626',
			'image' => '20230903105008_blank - Copy.jpg',
			'article_date' => '2023-09-03 10:49:29',
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	(int) 4 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '18896',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'SSF Brings Informal Sector Workers under Social Security Scheme   ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'September 3: The government has started incorporating workers in the informal sector and those self-employed to the social security scheme since August 17.    ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">September 3: The government has started incorporating workers in the informal sector and those self-employed to the social security scheme since August 17.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The Social Security Fund (SSF) had already brought those in the formal sector and in foreign employment under the scheme.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The trade unions actively working in the country were lobbying for long to introduce the scheme for the informal sector workers engaged in agriculture, transportation, construction and domestic works, among others.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Nepal Trade Union Congress&#39; Chairperson Yogendra Kunwar remarked that it was a welcome development that the workers in the informal sector and self-employed ones were brought under the scheme.</span></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-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">&quot;The workers working in corporation or formal sectors were receiving facilities such as gratuity and pension, but those in informal sector were deprived of such schemes. Now, the path for them to come under social security scheme has been opened,&quot; he said.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">However, there are doubts regarding the implementation of the scheme in lack of clear commitment on the part of the government. &quot;The government is yet to make firm commitment regarding the amount to be contributed on the behalf of over 5 million informal sector workers,&quot; he pointed out, highlighting the need for policy and programmatic preparations for the successful implementation of the programme.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Meanwhile, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Labour, Danduraj Ghimire, said Nepal is ahead of India and Bangladesh in terms of implementation of social security scheme. &quot;We have started covering workers in formal and informal sectors as well as self-employment and those in foreign jobs under the scheme.&quot; The scheme launched by the SSF is on a par with that of developed countries, he said.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">So far 749,945 workers (440,161 in formal sector and 309,765 in foreign employments) have been associated with the scheme, according to the SSF.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Under various facilities, the SSF has so far made payments of Rs 5.64 billion to the contributors. A total of 97,815 contributors have been registered with the SSF, and from them, Rs 40.6 billion has been collected in contribution.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">To become a part of the scheme, workers in the informal sector should contribute 20.37 percent of their salaries as set by the government and the self-employment people should contribute 31 percent, said SSF Spokesperson Bibek Panthi.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">On part of the workers in the informal sector, the respective workers contribute 11 percent of their salaries while the remaining 9.37 will be deposited by the government. -- RSS&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
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			'created' => '2023-09-03',
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			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '18625',
			'image' => '20230903101306_SSF (1).jpg',
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	(int) 5 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '18895',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Oli Elected SEJON Chair',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'Sujan Oli has been elected the chairperson of the Society of Economic Journalists-Nepal (SEJON).  The 25th annual general meeting and convention held on Saturday elected a new working committee under the leadership of Oli.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:18.0pt">September 3: Sujan Oli has been elected the chairperson of the Society of Economic Journalists-Nepal (SEJON).&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span></span><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:18.0pt">The 25th annual general meeting and convention held on Saturday elected a new working committee under the leadership of Oli. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:18.0pt">Oli obtained 99 votes while his nearest rival Siromani Dhungana garnered 96 votes. </span></span></span><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:18.0pt">Likewise, Binaya Banjara has been elected to the post of vice-chairperson, while Bishwas Regmi was earlier elected to the post of general secretary unopposed. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:18.0pt">Sobhit Thapaliya and Achyut Puri have been elected secretary and treasurer respectively.&nbsp;</span></span></span><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:18.0pt">Those elected as the members are Keshu Lamichhane, Hemraj Joshi, Basant Raj Uprety, Mamata Thapa and Chhabi Sapkota.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:18.0pt">252 out of 271 votes were cast in the election. </span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
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			'created' => '2023-09-03',
			'modified' => '2023-09-03',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '18624',
			'image' => '20230903060224_collage.jpg',
			'article_date' => '2023-09-03 06:00:35',
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	(int) 6 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '18892',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'CAAN Prepares New Standards for Operation of Aviation Service   ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'September 2: The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has prepared a draft of a new standard through the tenth amendment of the 'Certificate Guidelines' for aviation service operation.    ',
			'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;">September 2: The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has prepared a draft of a new standard through the tenth amendment of the &#39;Certificate Guidelines&#39; for aviation service operation.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">CAAN Spokesperson Jagannath Niraula informed RSS that the new standards require a company willing to operate aviation services to have a minimum of three aircraft. All airline companies will have to increase the number of aircraft to at least five within the next five years. Those unable to meet the required standard may also go for a merger.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Likewise, the new standards state that the chairpersons, share holders, executive director and manager and position holder of the airline companies should not carry out activities contrary to the policies of CAAN and the Government of Nepal and should not express their opinions towards that end in public.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The managers and office-bearers of the airline company must not be involved in activities (such as tours and travels) that directly or indirectly are in conflict with the company&#39;s interests. Likewise, the chairman, share holder, executive director and manager will not be allowed to indulge in commercial flights or maintenance activities and pilot cannot be involved in commercial activities except flying.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The investors cannot sell or transfer their shares for a period of at least five years after receiving the no objection letter, government-owned or private airline company cannot appoint managers and high position holders without the approval of CAAN. -- RSS </span></span></span></p>
',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2023-09-02',
			'modified' => '2023-09-02',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '18622',
			'image' => '20230902085845_20230205105753_Airport.width-1024.jpg',
			'article_date' => '2023-09-02 20:58:13',
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	(int) 7 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '18893',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'NEPSE Index Continues to Drop   ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'September 2: The NEPSE index that measures share transaction in the stock market witnessed declining trend last week. ',
			'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;">September 2: The NEPSE index that measures share transaction in the stock market witnessed declining trend last week. In the four transaction days in the past week, the share market continued to fall in three days and increased in a single day.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">According to the Nepal Stock Exchange Ltd, total turnover amount declined to Rs 4.24 billion last week from Rs 7.24 billion.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">On the first day of the week on Sunday, the NEPSE index dropped to 1,993.38 point with the fall of 54 points. The share transaction amounted to Rs 1.26 billion on the first day.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Likewise, on the second day (Monday), the index reached 1,998.47 points with an increase of 5.09 points. The market saw turnover of Rs 988.83 million.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">On the third day, there was a slight decline in the index. On Tuesday, the NEPSE dropped to 1,993.42 with the decrease of five points. The total intra-day transaction amount stood at Rs 865.1 million.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Likewise, NEPSE dropped to 1,990 with a fall of 2.82 points on Wednesday. The transaction amount was recorded at Rs 1.13 billion. -- RSS&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><br />
&nbsp;</p>
',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2023-09-02',
			'modified' => '2023-09-02',
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			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '18621',
			'image' => '20230902090516_20230406055916_collage - 2023-04-03T173010.811.jpg',
			'article_date' => '2023-09-02 21:04:44',
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	(int) 8 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '18891',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Pollution from Cement Factory Sickens Locals in Dhading',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'September 1: Locals in and around Jugedi of Dhunibeshi Munbicipality-9 in Dhading district have begun developing respiratory related complications due to the air pollution caused by a cement factory in their locality.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">September 1: Locals in and around Jugedi of Dhunibeshi Munbicipality-9 in Dhading district have begun developing respiratory related complications due to the air pollution caused by a cement factory in their locality.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Locals have begun falling sick due to smoke, dust and noise pollution emanating from the United Cement Industry. They are suffering from health issues such as boils and rashes all over the body, itching and dry throat.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Furthermore, skin related issues such as allergy is another health problem the locals are putting up with as the cement industry functions unchecked. According to them, the health hazards they were bearing were because the industry was not running in compliance with the standards of industrial operation.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">It may be noted that the cement industry is considered to be one of the largest sources of industrial air pollution.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Laxmi Rai, one of the estimated 230 locals directly affected at Jugedi, bemoaned, &quot;If the pollution coming from the cement industry would not stop, we will not be able to reside here anymore. We will have to shift from here to elsewhere to protect our lives.&quot;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Over 50 of the locals are currently undergoing treatment related to throat, skin and eyes, they shared. While many of the affected locals were availing medical attention on their own, some were availing treatment in the presence of the expenses borne by the management of the cement industry.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">The affected locals complained that the cement industry officials were found to have put healthcare service providers under pressure. Worst of all, the affected ailing locals were not allowed to see their own medical report.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Rai shared that she had her health examined in Kathmandu-based Bir Hospital after she received boils and suffered a dry throat. The medical report has not been provided to her yet.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">&quot;The cement industry management officials got the ticket for the hospital check-up. Then two of us went for an examination. Without showing us the medical report, we were told that our condition was good,&quot; she narrated.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">She further lamented, &quot;When we insisted them to give us our report, they promised us to send the reports to our doorstep but to no avail. &#39;We were not allowed to see our medical report.&quot;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">The doctor told them that nothing was amiss with them while they underwent lab tests for blood, urine and other bodily fluids. &quot;We could not find out whether we had contracted any infection or not or if the doctors were forced to conceal our report under the pressure from the cement industry management,&quot; Rai expressed her doubts.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Shova, her husband and son are regularly taking medicines for allergy. However, the doctors have not disclosed the reasons for the allergy, she said.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">The industry was brought into operation around six years back, and its impacts are gradually exhibiting among the locals, they said. Elderly people are suffering from asthma, said a local Ramesh Rai. Pollution from the industry has had its implications also on the crops.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">&quot;The pollution has affected human health as well as agriculture. As a result of pollution, crops are not growing well. They are not edible. Cement dust is seen coating the green vegetable leaves. Agricultural products have started wilting,&quot; said Ramesh.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Facing the brunt of the industry, the local people have launched a protest. The protesting team led by a local Rama Rai submitted a memorandum to the industry and Dhunibensi Municipality in protest.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">&quot;After the industry denied providing the environmental impact assessment (EIA) report, we have by ourselves obtained it from the National Information Commission. Some eight months ago, we also held a discussion with the people&#39;s representatives and the industry management. At that time, the management assured that they would blacktop or lay concrete slabs on the road leading to the industry.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Although the industry management has been called for talks through the judicial committee of the municipality, it has ignored the call,&quot; he said. The residents of Dhunibensi ward 2, 5 and 9 are bearing the brunt of the pollutants from the industry.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">However, the cement industry has claimed that the industry is being run following the standards set by the government.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Following complaints about pollution, some people of the village and the industry employees were taken to the local hospital for a health test, said chief executive officer of the industry, Bharat Dahal. The process of carrying out the EIA has started, he said. As more dust is emanating from the industry, work is underway to check and fix the problem after bringing a technical team from India, he added. --&nbsp;RSS</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 9 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '18890',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Over 600,000 Foreign Tourists Visit Nepal in Eight Months',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'September 1: Over 600,000 foreign tourists visited Nepal in the first eight months of 2023.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">September 1: Over 600,000 foreign tourists visited Nepal in the first eight months of 2023. According to the Nepal Tourism Board, 601,360 tourists from various countries including India and the United States of America arrived in Nepal from January to August this year.&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">The country welcomed 67,153 visitors in August alone. The number of visitors in the corresponding month last year was 41,304. In 2019, the number was 73,814.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">NTB Director Maniraj Lamichhane said the graph of inflow of tourists is on the rise in recent months. &quot;As the number of tourists arriving from the expected destinations is gradually increasing, we hope to see the arrival of one million tourists this year,&quot; said Lamichhane.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">In August, majority of tourists came from India, as they numbered 26,665 followed by 5,007 from China, 4,629 from the US, 3,558 from Sri Lanka, 3,190 from Bangladesh, 2,711 from the UK, 1,588 from Spain, 1520 from Japan, 1,416 from Italy and 1,347 from Australia.&nbsp;-- RSS</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'keywords' => 'tourists, foreign, Nepal, India, China, USA, visit, arrival, inflow, graph',
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			'sortorder' => '18619',
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '18889',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Govt Spends Rs 39 Billion under Prime Minister's Employment Programme with no Visible Achievement',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'September 1: The government has spent billions of rupees in petty works under the Prime Minister Employment Programme (PMEP) launched by the KP Sharma Oli-led government in the fiscal year 2018/19.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">September 1: The government has spent billions of rupees in petty works under the Prime Minister Employment Programme (PMEP) launched by the KP Sharma Oli-led government in the fiscal year 2018/19.</span></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-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">This program was launched to employ citizens aged 18 to 59 years who have not been employed for at least 100 days in a year. The government had announced that if the citizens could not get employment for a minimum of 100 days, it would provide a subsistence allowance equal to 50 days&#39; wages.</span></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-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Despite spending a huge amount of money on the programme, the state has not been able to provide minimum employment to all the unemployed. Unemployment allowance has not been given to the people who have not got minimum employment.</span></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-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">This program has been facing criticism since its inception. There is an allegation that political party workers are being given allowances in the name of employment for youths. In the same year that the program was launched, the government was accused of spending billions of rupees from the state coffers in unproductive sectors.</span></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-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The government allegedly spent billions of rupees in unproductive sectors like chasing monkeys, uprooting weeds, and fending off cattle.</span></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-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Until the last fiscal year, the government has not been able to create long-term employment through this programme. State funds were being spent on small projects.</span></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-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The government has already spent Rs 38.76 billion on this program in the last five fiscal years. There is no visible achievement either. Neither the problem of unemployment has decreased nor have employment opportunities been created.</span></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-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">In the fiscal year 2018/19, the government allocated Rs 3.1 billion for this program. In the fiscal year 2019/20, the budget allocated was Rs 5.1 billion which was further increased to Rs 11.6 billion in FY 2020/21.</span></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-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">In the fiscal year 2021/22, the government allocated Rs 12 billion for this programme while it earmarked Rs 7.5 billion in FY 2022/23.</span></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-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Almost all of the allocated budget seems to have been spent every year while the achievement remained zero.</span></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-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">For the current fiscal year 2023/24, the government has allocated Rs 5.94 billion for the program in the budget presented on May 29. It has been a month and a half since the start of the new fiscal year and the program has not been implemented yet.</span></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-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Finance Minister Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat had announced that the budget for this program will focus on engaging youths in economic activities within the country and this program will be restructured this year.</span></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-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Three months after the release of the budget, government officials are confused about how to restructure it. The Secretariat of the Prime Minister&#39;s Employment Program falls under the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security.</span></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-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">This program, which is being run with the help of financial support from the World Bank since the initial stage, has courted controversy because it is distribution-oriented.</span></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-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">But the government has been insisting that it will restructure the programme. But what concrete policy will be taken by the government has not been made public yet.</span></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-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The Auditor General&#39;s report has also been raising questions about the expenses incurred through the Prime Minister&#39;s Employment Program. Officials of the National Planning Commission are also not satisfied with the expenditure. They have also been emphasizing restructuring the program. However, the government has not shown any interest in restructuring and implementing the program on time.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'keywords' => 'PMEP, prime, minister, employment, political, controversy, world, bank,, funding, financial',
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	(int) 11 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '18888',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'CAAN Fails to Meet Income Target in Last Four Fiscal Years',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'September 1: The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has not been able to achieve its income target in the last four years.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">September 1: The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has not been able to achieve its income target in the last four years. The aviation regulatory body has released details of its income of Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">16</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">.49 billion which is less than the estimated target in four years from the fiscal year 2019/20.</span></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-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The CAAN has said that it has not been able to generate income as per the target since the financial year 2019/20 due to the coronavirus pandemic</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">. </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The authority had set a target of earning Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">14.32</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"> billion in the last fiscal year (FY </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">20</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">22</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">/</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">23) alone</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">. </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The actual income of the authority that year was less than the target by Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">92</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">7.1 million.</span></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-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">It seems that the CAAN has been increasing the income target every year since the fiscal year 2019/20</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">. </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">However, this goal has not been achieved. According to the CAAN, since the income increases at the rate of </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">10</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"> percent every year, the target of income is set at the same ratio. However, the authority claims that the target has been affected by the impact of Covid-</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">19.</span></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-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Due to the Covid-</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">19</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">, air traffic has diminished since March 24, 2020. Likewise, the construction of airports, including domestic and international has been delayed, causing damage to the &#39;time value of money&#39; while international air traffic has not yet reached the pre-Covid-</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">19</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"> level, argued CAAN officials.</span></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-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The CAAN earns income from fees collected from landing, parking, ground handling of aircraft as well as the rent of the airport and physical infrastructures of the CAAN.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 12 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '18887',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Tatopani Checkpoint sees Human Mobility after Eight Years   ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'September 1: Human mobility across the Tatopani border checkpoint in Sindhupalchowk district bordering China has resumed from today (Friday) after a hiatus of eight years.    ',
			'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;">September 1: Human mobility across the Tatopani border checkpoint in Sindhupalchowk district bordering China has resumed from today (Friday) after a hiatus of eight years.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The locals of Sindhupalchowk, who were &nbsp;issued permits by the Tatopani-based Immigration Office, set out towards China crossing the Friendship Bridge at Liping after security clearance from Chinese security personnel.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The locals&#39; team led by parliamentarian Madhav Sapkota received a warm reception from Chinese people in their land.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Sapkota, an elected MP from Constituency-1 in Sindhupalchowk, who reached the border point with people&#39;s representatives from Tatopani area, officials from the Immigration Office this morning, said that the checkpoint is fully open from today.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The checkpoint which remained closed since the mega earthquakes of 2015, however, saw movement of cargo vehicles since May 1 earlier this year.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The transit point has been opened for people, said CDO of Sindhupalchowk, Ramesh Neupane, after raising the issue repeatedly in the parliament and subsequent discussions between the Nepali side and the China side. -- RSS&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>
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	(int) 13 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '18886',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'CIB Teams sent to India, Hong Kong for Investigating Gold Smuggling Scam   ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'September 1: Nepal Police has sent a team of police officials including experts from the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) to India to gather further information on the 61 kg gold smuggled into the country from Hong Kong. ',
			'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;">September 1: Nepal Police has sent a team of police officials including experts from the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) to India to gather further information on the 61 kg gold smuggled into the country from Hong Kong. The team left for India on Thursday.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">On Wednesday, another team led by Senior Superintendent of Police from CIB, Dinesh Acharya, headed towards Hong Kong to investigate the same case.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The team sent to India will collect information on gold smuggling in coordination with Nepal Police&#39;s SSP Uma Prasad Chaturvedi deputed at the Nepali Embassy in India. </span></span></span></p>

<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;">Inspector General of Nepal Police Basanta Bahadur Kunwar said that the police are collecting information on smuggling of huge amount of gold by mobilizing police team across the country, and to India and China as well. Earlier, the police had written to INTERPOL in Hong Kong and India, seeking cooperation from them.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<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;">The Department of Revenue Investigation had confiscated 60.716 kg of gold from the gate of the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) a few months ago after the smuggled gold had passed customs clearance from the TIA&rsquo;s Customs Office. </span></span></span></p>

<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;">The gold was smuggled from Hong Kong and found hidden in brake-shoes imported for scooters. It was revealed during the investigation that such amount of precious yellow metal was smuggled in cahoots with the employees of the customs office. Following the revelation, some employees have been arrested for further investigation.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Moreover, the police have arrested several Nepalis as well as Chinese and Indian nationals in this connection. There are six foreign nationals including those from China and India arrested in this case.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">After police investigation found that the gold brought from Hong Kong illegally is taken to India, the Nepal Police deputed security team to Hong Kong to garner further information.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Twenty five persons have been arrested in connection with the recent gold smuggling case and investigation is underway.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<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;">A team led by Superintendent of Police at CIB, Sanjay Thapa, is investigating the gold smuggling scam. -- RSS&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>
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			'article_date' => '2023-09-01 13:14:09',
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			'title' => 'Tourist Bus Nepal App Launched to Facilitate Foreign Visitors',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'September 1: Tourist bus operators of Nepal have launched an app – Tourist Bus Nepal – to facilitate visitors in booking bus tickets to various tourist destinations within the country.',
			'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;">September 1: Tourist bus operators of Nepal have launched an app &ndash; Tourist Bus Nepal &ndash; to facilitate visitors in booking bus tickets to various tourist destinations within the country.</span></span></span></p>

<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;">The app was developed by Tourist Bus Association of Nepal (TBAN), an umbrella organisation of tourist bus entrepreneurs in the country.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Sudan Kirati inaugurated the app amidst a programme in the capital on Wednesday. </span></span></span></p>

<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;">The app was launched to facilitate domestic and foreign tourists book tickets online for tourist buses plying between Kathmandu, Pokhara, Sauraha, Lumbini and Janakpur, said Krishna Acharya, President of the Tourist Bus Association of Nepal. </span></span></span></p>

<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;">For the service, the TBAN has coordinated with digital payment systems, Khalti, IME Pay and Prabhu Pay. Around 100 tourist buses leave to various tourist destinations from Kathmandu on a daily basis.&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<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;">On the occasion, Minister Kirati said that the ministry is working to amend the Tourism Act.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">On a different note, Tourism Minister Kirati said Nepal Tourism Board (NTB)&#39;s budget would not be passed until it amends the budget. </span></span></span></p>

<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;">&quot;The NTB&#39;s budget cannot be passed in a hurry and until it is amended. The board&#39;s budget cannot be endorsed immediately to fulfill the interests of some people for commission,&quot; he said.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">He mentioned that it is not the responsibility of the Tourism Board to construct physical infrastructures. Stating that it is the responsibility of the Department of Tourism to construct physical infrastructures for the development of tourism sector, Minister Kirati clarified that the Tourism Board should work to promote tourism activities.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The Tourism Minister shared that the Tourism Board should not spend Rs 800-900 million in Europe visit in the name of bringing in tourists in Nepal. -- RSS&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '18901',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'CAAN Adopts Merger Policy for Airline Companies',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'September 3: The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAN) is preparing to implement a standard that will force airline companies to go for merger.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">September 3: The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAN) is preparing to implement a standard that will force airline companies to go for merger. The aviation regulatory body is trying to implement the new standards through the tenth amendment of Air Service Operation Certificate Guidelines.</span></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-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">In the proposed standard, the airline companies operating in Nepal must maintain a minimum number of aircraft and the pilots cannot engage in other commercial activities. </span></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-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Jagannath Niraula, the spokesperson of the authority, said that preparations are being made to force the airlines operating in the country to maintain a minimum number of five aircraft by giving them a period of five years. He said that if an airline company that cannot maintain the specified number of aircraft within the given timeframe, it can increase the number by opting for a merger.</span></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-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Currently, most of the companies operating air services in Nepal do not have five aircraft. Among the airline companies operating in Nepal, Buddha Air has the largest number of aircraft. It has </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">16</span></span> <span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">aircraft of ATR-</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">42</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"> and ATR-</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">72</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"> series. </span></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-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">CAAN has proposed that the new company willing to operate air service in Nepal should have a minimum of three aircraft. Similarly, the authority has tried to ban the chairman, share investor, executive director, manager and senior position holder of an airline company from doing activities contrary to the policy and work of the authority and the government of Nepal. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'sortorder' => '18629',
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			'id' => '18899',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Nepal Bank to Collaborate with ADB for Trade and Supply Chain Finance Program',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'September 3: Nepal Bank Limited has signed an agreement with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for the implementation of ADB's Trade and Supply Chain Finance Program (TSCFP).',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">September 3: Nepal Bank Limited has signed an agreement with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for the implementation of ADB&#39;s Trade and Supply Chain Finance Program (TSCFP). </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 program is expected to support international trade and development by providing loans and bank guarantees to address the financial needs of businesses. </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 2022, the program supported trade exceeding more than US $7.7 billion through more than 10,000 transactions, of which more than 60 percent were linked to small and medium-sized businesses.</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">ADB has provided credit lines to Nepal Bank under the TSCFC to support import transactions from more than 200 countries. </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 agreement was signed after extensive due diligence and discussions in core areas of Nepal Bank&rsquo;s finances, corporate governance, risk, and compliance.</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 agreement was signed by Steven Beck, head of ADB&rsquo;s TSCFP and Laxman Paudel, chief credit officer of Nepal Bank Limited. </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">On the occasion, Krishna Adhikari, Chief Executive Officer of Nepal Bank Limited, said that the bank is ready to use the credit line to support the business activities of the customers while further increasing the bank&#39;s presence among the MSMEs. </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">Arnaud Heckman, officer in charge of ADB Nepal Resident Mission, was also present at the signing ceremony.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'id' => '18898',
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			'title' => 'Dengue Infection Tally Exceeds 21,000   ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'September 2: Dengue infection is on the rise in Nepal. ',
			'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;">September 2: Dengue infection is on the rise in Nepal. According to the data unveiled by the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division, a total of 21,206 people have so far tested positive for dengue infection this year.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">It may be noted that the division had projected the dengue cases to rise from mid-August to mid-October. So far 13 infected people have lost their lives to the dengue contagion.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Director of the division Dr Rudra Prasad Marasini said dengue infection is increasing daily due to continuous rainfall.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Dengue was first detected in Nepal in 2004. In 2022, a total of 54,784 people were infected with dengue and 88 died due to the contagion.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Sunsari district has topped the list of dengue cases in the country. According to the division, Sunsari district has reported 11,659 cases of dengue infection.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Morang is second in the list with 2,242 cases followed by Dhading with 2,101 cases. -- RSS&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>
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			'article_date' => '2023-09-03 10:53:31',
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			'id' => '18897',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => '2 Killed, 12 Injured in Road Accident at Pepsicola   ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'September 3: Two people were killed and fourteen others were injured in a freak road accident that took place at Pepsicola of Kathmandu this morning (Sunday).    

',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px">September 3: Two people were killed and fourteen others were injured in a freak road accident that took place at Pepsicola of Kathmandu this morning (Sunday).&nbsp;According to the police, the accident occurred at 7.30 am this morning when a bus (Ba 3 Kha 4848) heading towards Pepsicola from Jadibuti collided head on with a jeep (Ba 6 Cha 5342) coming from the opposite direction.<br />
Spokesperson of the District Police Range, Kathmandu, Superintendent of Police (SP) Kumod Dhungel told RSS that a scooter (Bagmati Province 02-037 Pa 5311) and a motorcycle (Bagmati Province 02-041 Pa 4838) also collided following the collision between the two vehicles.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px">The deceased have been identified as motorcyclist Raj Bhattarai, 21, and Armed Police Force personnel Usha Thapa, 25.<br />
According to SP Dhungel, some of the injured are undergoing treatment at Motherland Hospital in Pepsicola while others have been admitted to the Civil Hospital in New Baneshwar. According to RSS, Janak Raut, 24, of Ramechhap, the bus driver involved in the accident, has been detained by the police.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px">According to a study conducted by the Global Road Safety Facility, a global partnership programme administered by the World Bank Group, 72 percent of road crash fatalities and injuries in Nepal involve people in the economically productive age group (15 to 64 years).<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></p>
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			'id' => '18896',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'SSF Brings Informal Sector Workers under Social Security Scheme   ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'September 3: The government has started incorporating workers in the informal sector and those self-employed to the social security scheme since August 17.    ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">September 3: The government has started incorporating workers in the informal sector and those self-employed to the social security scheme since August 17.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The Social Security Fund (SSF) had already brought those in the formal sector and in foreign employment under the scheme.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The trade unions actively working in the country were lobbying for long to introduce the scheme for the informal sector workers engaged in agriculture, transportation, construction and domestic works, among others.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Nepal Trade Union Congress&#39; Chairperson Yogendra Kunwar remarked that it was a welcome development that the workers in the informal sector and self-employed ones were brought under the scheme.</span></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-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">&quot;The workers working in corporation or formal sectors were receiving facilities such as gratuity and pension, but those in informal sector were deprived of such schemes. Now, the path for them to come under social security scheme has been opened,&quot; he said.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">However, there are doubts regarding the implementation of the scheme in lack of clear commitment on the part of the government. &quot;The government is yet to make firm commitment regarding the amount to be contributed on the behalf of over 5 million informal sector workers,&quot; he pointed out, highlighting the need for policy and programmatic preparations for the successful implementation of the programme.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Meanwhile, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Labour, Danduraj Ghimire, said Nepal is ahead of India and Bangladesh in terms of implementation of social security scheme. &quot;We have started covering workers in formal and informal sectors as well as self-employment and those in foreign jobs under the scheme.&quot; The scheme launched by the SSF is on a par with that of developed countries, he said.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">So far 749,945 workers (440,161 in formal sector and 309,765 in foreign employments) have been associated with the scheme, according to the SSF.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Under various facilities, the SSF has so far made payments of Rs 5.64 billion to the contributors. A total of 97,815 contributors have been registered with the SSF, and from them, Rs 40.6 billion has been collected in contribution.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">To become a part of the scheme, workers in the informal sector should contribute 20.37 percent of their salaries as set by the government and the self-employment people should contribute 31 percent, said SSF Spokesperson Bibek Panthi.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">On part of the workers in the informal sector, the respective workers contribute 11 percent of their salaries while the remaining 9.37 will be deposited by the government. -- RSS&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'id' => '18895',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Oli Elected SEJON Chair',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'Sujan Oli has been elected the chairperson of the Society of Economic Journalists-Nepal (SEJON).  The 25th annual general meeting and convention held on Saturday elected a new working committee under the leadership of Oli.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:18.0pt">September 3: Sujan Oli has been elected the chairperson of the Society of Economic Journalists-Nepal (SEJON).&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span></span><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:18.0pt">The 25th annual general meeting and convention held on Saturday elected a new working committee under the leadership of Oli. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:18.0pt">Oli obtained 99 votes while his nearest rival Siromani Dhungana garnered 96 votes. </span></span></span><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:18.0pt">Likewise, Binaya Banjara has been elected to the post of vice-chairperson, while Bishwas Regmi was earlier elected to the post of general secretary unopposed. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:18.0pt">Sobhit Thapaliya and Achyut Puri have been elected secretary and treasurer respectively.&nbsp;</span></span></span><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:18.0pt">Those elected as the members are Keshu Lamichhane, Hemraj Joshi, Basant Raj Uprety, Mamata Thapa and Chhabi Sapkota.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:18.0pt">252 out of 271 votes were cast in the election. </span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2023-09-03',
			'modified' => '2023-09-03',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '18624',
			'image' => '20230903060224_collage.jpg',
			'article_date' => '2023-09-03 06:00:35',
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	(int) 6 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '18892',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'CAAN Prepares New Standards for Operation of Aviation Service   ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'September 2: The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has prepared a draft of a new standard through the tenth amendment of the 'Certificate Guidelines' for aviation service operation.    ',
			'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;">September 2: The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has prepared a draft of a new standard through the tenth amendment of the &#39;Certificate Guidelines&#39; for aviation service operation.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">CAAN Spokesperson Jagannath Niraula informed RSS that the new standards require a company willing to operate aviation services to have a minimum of three aircraft. All airline companies will have to increase the number of aircraft to at least five within the next five years. Those unable to meet the required standard may also go for a merger.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Likewise, the new standards state that the chairpersons, share holders, executive director and manager and position holder of the airline companies should not carry out activities contrary to the policies of CAAN and the Government of Nepal and should not express their opinions towards that end in public.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The managers and office-bearers of the airline company must not be involved in activities (such as tours and travels) that directly or indirectly are in conflict with the company&#39;s interests. Likewise, the chairman, share holder, executive director and manager will not be allowed to indulge in commercial flights or maintenance activities and pilot cannot be involved in commercial activities except flying.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The investors cannot sell or transfer their shares for a period of at least five years after receiving the no objection letter, government-owned or private airline company cannot appoint managers and high position holders without the approval of CAAN. -- RSS </span></span></span></p>
',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2023-09-02',
			'modified' => '2023-09-02',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '18622',
			'image' => '20230902085845_20230205105753_Airport.width-1024.jpg',
			'article_date' => '2023-09-02 20:58:13',
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	(int) 7 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '18893',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'NEPSE Index Continues to Drop   ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'September 2: The NEPSE index that measures share transaction in the stock market witnessed declining trend last week. ',
			'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;">September 2: The NEPSE index that measures share transaction in the stock market witnessed declining trend last week. In the four transaction days in the past week, the share market continued to fall in three days and increased in a single day.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">According to the Nepal Stock Exchange Ltd, total turnover amount declined to Rs 4.24 billion last week from Rs 7.24 billion.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">On the first day of the week on Sunday, the NEPSE index dropped to 1,993.38 point with the fall of 54 points. The share transaction amounted to Rs 1.26 billion on the first day.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Likewise, on the second day (Monday), the index reached 1,998.47 points with an increase of 5.09 points. The market saw turnover of Rs 988.83 million.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">On the third day, there was a slight decline in the index. On Tuesday, the NEPSE dropped to 1,993.42 with the decrease of five points. The total intra-day transaction amount stood at Rs 865.1 million.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Likewise, NEPSE dropped to 1,990 with a fall of 2.82 points on Wednesday. The transaction amount was recorded at Rs 1.13 billion. -- RSS&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><br />
&nbsp;</p>
',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2023-09-02',
			'modified' => '2023-09-02',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '18621',
			'image' => '20230902090516_20230406055916_collage - 2023-04-03T173010.811.jpg',
			'article_date' => '2023-09-02 21:04:44',
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	(int) 8 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '18891',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Pollution from Cement Factory Sickens Locals in Dhading',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'September 1: Locals in and around Jugedi of Dhunibeshi Munbicipality-9 in Dhading district have begun developing respiratory related complications due to the air pollution caused by a cement factory in their locality.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">September 1: Locals in and around Jugedi of Dhunibeshi Munbicipality-9 in Dhading district have begun developing respiratory related complications due to the air pollution caused by a cement factory in their locality.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Locals have begun falling sick due to smoke, dust and noise pollution emanating from the United Cement Industry. They are suffering from health issues such as boils and rashes all over the body, itching and dry throat.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Furthermore, skin related issues such as allergy is another health problem the locals are putting up with as the cement industry functions unchecked. According to them, the health hazards they were bearing were because the industry was not running in compliance with the standards of industrial operation.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">It may be noted that the cement industry is considered to be one of the largest sources of industrial air pollution.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Laxmi Rai, one of the estimated 230 locals directly affected at Jugedi, bemoaned, &quot;If the pollution coming from the cement industry would not stop, we will not be able to reside here anymore. We will have to shift from here to elsewhere to protect our lives.&quot;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Over 50 of the locals are currently undergoing treatment related to throat, skin and eyes, they shared. While many of the affected locals were availing medical attention on their own, some were availing treatment in the presence of the expenses borne by the management of the cement industry.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">The affected locals complained that the cement industry officials were found to have put healthcare service providers under pressure. Worst of all, the affected ailing locals were not allowed to see their own medical report.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Rai shared that she had her health examined in Kathmandu-based Bir Hospital after she received boils and suffered a dry throat. The medical report has not been provided to her yet.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">&quot;The cement industry management officials got the ticket for the hospital check-up. Then two of us went for an examination. Without showing us the medical report, we were told that our condition was good,&quot; she narrated.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">She further lamented, &quot;When we insisted them to give us our report, they promised us to send the reports to our doorstep but to no avail. &#39;We were not allowed to see our medical report.&quot;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">The doctor told them that nothing was amiss with them while they underwent lab tests for blood, urine and other bodily fluids. &quot;We could not find out whether we had contracted any infection or not or if the doctors were forced to conceal our report under the pressure from the cement industry management,&quot; Rai expressed her doubts.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Shova, her husband and son are regularly taking medicines for allergy. However, the doctors have not disclosed the reasons for the allergy, she said.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">The industry was brought into operation around six years back, and its impacts are gradually exhibiting among the locals, they said. Elderly people are suffering from asthma, said a local Ramesh Rai. Pollution from the industry has had its implications also on the crops.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">&quot;The pollution has affected human health as well as agriculture. As a result of pollution, crops are not growing well. They are not edible. Cement dust is seen coating the green vegetable leaves. Agricultural products have started wilting,&quot; said Ramesh.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Facing the brunt of the industry, the local people have launched a protest. The protesting team led by a local Rama Rai submitted a memorandum to the industry and Dhunibensi Municipality in protest.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">&quot;After the industry denied providing the environmental impact assessment (EIA) report, we have by ourselves obtained it from the National Information Commission. Some eight months ago, we also held a discussion with the people&#39;s representatives and the industry management. At that time, the management assured that they would blacktop or lay concrete slabs on the road leading to the industry.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Although the industry management has been called for talks through the judicial committee of the municipality, it has ignored the call,&quot; he said. The residents of Dhunibensi ward 2, 5 and 9 are bearing the brunt of the pollutants from the industry.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">However, the cement industry has claimed that the industry is being run following the standards set by the government.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Following complaints about pollution, some people of the village and the industry employees were taken to the local hospital for a health test, said chief executive officer of the industry, Bharat Dahal. The process of carrying out the EIA has started, he said. As more dust is emanating from the industry, work is underway to check and fix the problem after bringing a technical team from India, he added. --&nbsp;RSS</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '18620',
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			'article_date' => '2023-09-01 21:34:26',
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	(int) 9 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '18890',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Over 600,000 Foreign Tourists Visit Nepal in Eight Months',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'September 1: Over 600,000 foreign tourists visited Nepal in the first eight months of 2023.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">September 1: Over 600,000 foreign tourists visited Nepal in the first eight months of 2023. According to the Nepal Tourism Board, 601,360 tourists from various countries including India and the United States of America arrived in Nepal from January to August this year.&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">The country welcomed 67,153 visitors in August alone. The number of visitors in the corresponding month last year was 41,304. In 2019, the number was 73,814.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">NTB Director Maniraj Lamichhane said the graph of inflow of tourists is on the rise in recent months. &quot;As the number of tourists arriving from the expected destinations is gradually increasing, we hope to see the arrival of one million tourists this year,&quot; said Lamichhane.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">In August, majority of tourists came from India, as they numbered 26,665 followed by 5,007 from China, 4,629 from the US, 3,558 from Sri Lanka, 3,190 from Bangladesh, 2,711 from the UK, 1,588 from Spain, 1520 from Japan, 1,416 from Italy and 1,347 from Australia.&nbsp;-- RSS</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
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			'created' => '2023-09-01',
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			'keywords' => 'tourists, foreign, Nepal, India, China, USA, visit, arrival, inflow, graph',
			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '18619',
			'image' => '20230901060806_20211211082422_Clipboard18.jpg',
			'article_date' => '2023-09-01 18:07:14',
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	(int) 10 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '18889',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Govt Spends Rs 39 Billion under Prime Minister's Employment Programme with no Visible Achievement',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'September 1: The government has spent billions of rupees in petty works under the Prime Minister Employment Programme (PMEP) launched by the KP Sharma Oli-led government in the fiscal year 2018/19.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">September 1: The government has spent billions of rupees in petty works under the Prime Minister Employment Programme (PMEP) launched by the KP Sharma Oli-led government in the fiscal year 2018/19.</span></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-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">This program was launched to employ citizens aged 18 to 59 years who have not been employed for at least 100 days in a year. The government had announced that if the citizens could not get employment for a minimum of 100 days, it would provide a subsistence allowance equal to 50 days&#39; wages.</span></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-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Despite spending a huge amount of money on the programme, the state has not been able to provide minimum employment to all the unemployed. Unemployment allowance has not been given to the people who have not got minimum employment.</span></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-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">This program has been facing criticism since its inception. There is an allegation that political party workers are being given allowances in the name of employment for youths. In the same year that the program was launched, the government was accused of spending billions of rupees from the state coffers in unproductive sectors.</span></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-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The government allegedly spent billions of rupees in unproductive sectors like chasing monkeys, uprooting weeds, and fending off cattle.</span></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-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Until the last fiscal year, the government has not been able to create long-term employment through this programme. State funds were being spent on small projects.</span></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-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The government has already spent Rs 38.76 billion on this program in the last five fiscal years. There is no visible achievement either. Neither the problem of unemployment has decreased nor have employment opportunities been created.</span></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-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">In the fiscal year 2018/19, the government allocated Rs 3.1 billion for this program. In the fiscal year 2019/20, the budget allocated was Rs 5.1 billion which was further increased to Rs 11.6 billion in FY 2020/21.</span></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-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">In the fiscal year 2021/22, the government allocated Rs 12 billion for this programme while it earmarked Rs 7.5 billion in FY 2022/23.</span></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-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Almost all of the allocated budget seems to have been spent every year while the achievement remained zero.</span></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-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">For the current fiscal year 2023/24, the government has allocated Rs 5.94 billion for the program in the budget presented on May 29. It has been a month and a half since the start of the new fiscal year and the program has not been implemented yet.</span></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-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Finance Minister Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat had announced that the budget for this program will focus on engaging youths in economic activities within the country and this program will be restructured this year.</span></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-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Three months after the release of the budget, government officials are confused about how to restructure it. The Secretariat of the Prime Minister&#39;s Employment Program falls under the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security.</span></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-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">This program, which is being run with the help of financial support from the World Bank since the initial stage, has courted controversy because it is distribution-oriented.</span></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-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">But the government has been insisting that it will restructure the programme. But what concrete policy will be taken by the government has not been made public yet.</span></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-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The Auditor General&#39;s report has also been raising questions about the expenses incurred through the Prime Minister&#39;s Employment Program. Officials of the National Planning Commission are also not satisfied with the expenditure. They have also been emphasizing restructuring the program. However, the government has not shown any interest in restructuring and implementing the program on time.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'keywords' => 'PMEP, prime, minister, employment, political, controversy, world, bank,, funding, financial',
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			'sortorder' => '18618',
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	(int) 11 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '18888',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'CAAN Fails to Meet Income Target in Last Four Fiscal Years',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'September 1: The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has not been able to achieve its income target in the last four years.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">September 1: The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has not been able to achieve its income target in the last four years. The aviation regulatory body has released details of its income of Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">16</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">.49 billion which is less than the estimated target in four years from the fiscal year 2019/20.</span></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-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The CAAN has said that it has not been able to generate income as per the target since the financial year 2019/20 due to the coronavirus pandemic</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">. </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The authority had set a target of earning Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">14.32</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"> billion in the last fiscal year (FY </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">20</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">22</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">/</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">23) alone</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">. </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The actual income of the authority that year was less than the target by Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">92</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">7.1 million.</span></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-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">It seems that the CAAN has been increasing the income target every year since the fiscal year 2019/20</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">. </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">However, this goal has not been achieved. According to the CAAN, since the income increases at the rate of </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">10</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"> percent every year, the target of income is set at the same ratio. However, the authority claims that the target has been affected by the impact of Covid-</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">19.</span></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-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Due to the Covid-</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">19</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">, air traffic has diminished since March 24, 2020. Likewise, the construction of airports, including domestic and international has been delayed, causing damage to the &#39;time value of money&#39; while international air traffic has not yet reached the pre-Covid-</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">19</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"> level, argued CAAN officials.</span></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-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The CAAN earns income from fees collected from landing, parking, ground handling of aircraft as well as the rent of the airport and physical infrastructures of the CAAN.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'sortorder' => '18617',
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '18887',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Tatopani Checkpoint sees Human Mobility after Eight Years   ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'September 1: Human mobility across the Tatopani border checkpoint in Sindhupalchowk district bordering China has resumed from today (Friday) after a hiatus of eight years.    ',
			'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;">September 1: Human mobility across the Tatopani border checkpoint in Sindhupalchowk district bordering China has resumed from today (Friday) after a hiatus of eight years.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The locals of Sindhupalchowk, who were &nbsp;issued permits by the Tatopani-based Immigration Office, set out towards China crossing the Friendship Bridge at Liping after security clearance from Chinese security personnel.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The locals&#39; team led by parliamentarian Madhav Sapkota received a warm reception from Chinese people in their land.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Sapkota, an elected MP from Constituency-1 in Sindhupalchowk, who reached the border point with people&#39;s representatives from Tatopani area, officials from the Immigration Office this morning, said that the checkpoint is fully open from today.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The checkpoint which remained closed since the mega earthquakes of 2015, however, saw movement of cargo vehicles since May 1 earlier this year.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The transit point has been opened for people, said CDO of Sindhupalchowk, Ramesh Neupane, after raising the issue repeatedly in the parliament and subsequent discussions between the Nepali side and the China side. -- RSS&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>
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			'sortorder' => '18616',
			'image' => '20230901020807_DevrajSubedi_Sindhupalchok_RSS_15_IMG-20230901-WA0015(2).jpg',
			'article_date' => '2023-09-01 14:07:33',
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '18886',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'CIB Teams sent to India, Hong Kong for Investigating Gold Smuggling Scam   ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'September 1: Nepal Police has sent a team of police officials including experts from the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) to India to gather further information on the 61 kg gold smuggled into the country from Hong Kong. ',
			'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;">September 1: Nepal Police has sent a team of police officials including experts from the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) to India to gather further information on the 61 kg gold smuggled into the country from Hong Kong. The team left for India on Thursday.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">On Wednesday, another team led by Senior Superintendent of Police from CIB, Dinesh Acharya, headed towards Hong Kong to investigate the same case.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The team sent to India will collect information on gold smuggling in coordination with Nepal Police&#39;s SSP Uma Prasad Chaturvedi deputed at the Nepali Embassy in India. </span></span></span></p>

<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;">Inspector General of Nepal Police Basanta Bahadur Kunwar said that the police are collecting information on smuggling of huge amount of gold by mobilizing police team across the country, and to India and China as well. Earlier, the police had written to INTERPOL in Hong Kong and India, seeking cooperation from them.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<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;">The Department of Revenue Investigation had confiscated 60.716 kg of gold from the gate of the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) a few months ago after the smuggled gold had passed customs clearance from the TIA&rsquo;s Customs Office. </span></span></span></p>

<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;">The gold was smuggled from Hong Kong and found hidden in brake-shoes imported for scooters. It was revealed during the investigation that such amount of precious yellow metal was smuggled in cahoots with the employees of the customs office. Following the revelation, some employees have been arrested for further investigation.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Moreover, the police have arrested several Nepalis as well as Chinese and Indian nationals in this connection. There are six foreign nationals including those from China and India arrested in this case.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">After police investigation found that the gold brought from Hong Kong illegally is taken to India, the Nepal Police deputed security team to Hong Kong to garner further information.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Twenty five persons have been arrested in connection with the recent gold smuggling case and investigation is underway.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<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;">A team led by Superintendent of Police at CIB, Sanjay Thapa, is investigating the gold smuggling scam. -- RSS&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>
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			'article_date' => '2023-09-01 13:14:09',
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			'id' => '18884',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Tourist Bus Nepal App Launched to Facilitate Foreign Visitors',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'September 1: Tourist bus operators of Nepal have launched an app – Tourist Bus Nepal – to facilitate visitors in booking bus tickets to various tourist destinations within the country.',
			'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;">September 1: Tourist bus operators of Nepal have launched an app &ndash; Tourist Bus Nepal &ndash; to facilitate visitors in booking bus tickets to various tourist destinations within the country.</span></span></span></p>

<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;">The app was developed by Tourist Bus Association of Nepal (TBAN), an umbrella organisation of tourist bus entrepreneurs in the country.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Sudan Kirati inaugurated the app amidst a programme in the capital on Wednesday. </span></span></span></p>

<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;">The app was launched to facilitate domestic and foreign tourists book tickets online for tourist buses plying between Kathmandu, Pokhara, Sauraha, Lumbini and Janakpur, said Krishna Acharya, President of the Tourist Bus Association of Nepal. </span></span></span></p>

<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;">For the service, the TBAN has coordinated with digital payment systems, Khalti, IME Pay and Prabhu Pay. Around 100 tourist buses leave to various tourist destinations from Kathmandu on a daily basis.&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<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;">On the occasion, Minister Kirati said that the ministry is working to amend the Tourism Act.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">On a different note, Tourism Minister Kirati said Nepal Tourism Board (NTB)&#39;s budget would not be passed until it amends the budget. </span></span></span></p>

<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;">&quot;The NTB&#39;s budget cannot be passed in a hurry and until it is amended. The board&#39;s budget cannot be endorsed immediately to fulfill the interests of some people for commission,&quot; he said.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">He mentioned that it is not the responsibility of the Tourism Board to construct physical infrastructures. Stating that it is the responsibility of the Department of Tourism to construct physical infrastructures for the development of tourism sector, Minister Kirati clarified that the Tourism Board should work to promote tourism activities.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The Tourism Minister shared that the Tourism Board should not spend Rs 800-900 million in Europe visit in the name of bringing in tourists in Nepal. -- RSS&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '18901',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'CAAN Adopts Merger Policy for Airline Companies',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'September 3: The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAN) is preparing to implement a standard that will force airline companies to go for merger.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">September 3: The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAN) is preparing to implement a standard that will force airline companies to go for merger. The aviation regulatory body is trying to implement the new standards through the tenth amendment of Air Service Operation Certificate Guidelines.</span></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-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">In the proposed standard, the airline companies operating in Nepal must maintain a minimum number of aircraft and the pilots cannot engage in other commercial activities. </span></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-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Jagannath Niraula, the spokesperson of the authority, said that preparations are being made to force the airlines operating in the country to maintain a minimum number of five aircraft by giving them a period of five years. He said that if an airline company that cannot maintain the specified number of aircraft within the given timeframe, it can increase the number by opting for a merger.</span></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-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Currently, most of the companies operating air services in Nepal do not have five aircraft. Among the airline companies operating in Nepal, Buddha Air has the largest number of aircraft. It has </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">16</span></span> <span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">aircraft of ATR-</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">42</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"> and ATR-</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">72</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"> series. </span></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-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">CAAN has proposed that the new company willing to operate air service in Nepal should have a minimum of three aircraft. Similarly, the authority has tried to ban the chairman, share investor, executive director, manager and senior position holder of an airline company from doing activities contrary to the policy and work of the authority and the government of Nepal. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'title' => 'Nepal Bank to Collaborate with ADB for Trade and Supply Chain Finance Program',
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			'summary' => 'September 3: Nepal Bank Limited has signed an agreement with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for the implementation of ADB's Trade and Supply Chain Finance Program (TSCFP).',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">September 3: Nepal Bank Limited has signed an agreement with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for the implementation of ADB&#39;s Trade and Supply Chain Finance Program (TSCFP). </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 program is expected to support international trade and development by providing loans and bank guarantees to address the financial needs of businesses. </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 2022, the program supported trade exceeding more than US $7.7 billion through more than 10,000 transactions, of which more than 60 percent were linked to small and medium-sized businesses.</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">ADB has provided credit lines to Nepal Bank under the TSCFC to support import transactions from more than 200 countries. </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 agreement was signed after extensive due diligence and discussions in core areas of Nepal Bank&rsquo;s finances, corporate governance, risk, and compliance.</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 agreement was signed by Steven Beck, head of ADB&rsquo;s TSCFP and Laxman Paudel, chief credit officer of Nepal Bank Limited. </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">On the occasion, Krishna Adhikari, Chief Executive Officer of Nepal Bank Limited, said that the bank is ready to use the credit line to support the business activities of the customers while further increasing the bank&#39;s presence among the MSMEs. </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">Arnaud Heckman, officer in charge of ADB Nepal Resident Mission, was also present at the signing ceremony.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
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			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '18628',
			'image' => '20230903111741_adb.jpg',
			'article_date' => '2023-09-03 11:17:07',
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	(int) 2 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '18898',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Dengue Infection Tally Exceeds 21,000   ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'September 2: Dengue infection is on the rise in Nepal. ',
			'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;">September 2: Dengue infection is on the rise in Nepal. According to the data unveiled by the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division, a total of 21,206 people have so far tested positive for dengue infection this year.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">It may be noted that the division had projected the dengue cases to rise from mid-August to mid-October. So far 13 infected people have lost their lives to the dengue contagion.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Director of the division Dr Rudra Prasad Marasini said dengue infection is increasing daily due to continuous rainfall.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Dengue was first detected in Nepal in 2004. In 2022, a total of 54,784 people were infected with dengue and 88 died due to the contagion.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Sunsari district has topped the list of dengue cases in the country. According to the division, Sunsari district has reported 11,659 cases of dengue infection.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Morang is second in the list with 2,242 cases followed by Dhading with 2,101 cases. -- RSS&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>
',
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			'created' => '2023-09-03',
			'modified' => '2023-09-03',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '18627',
			'image' => '20230903105506_dengue-test_650x400_61442241844.jpg',
			'article_date' => '2023-09-03 10:53:31',
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	(int) 3 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '18897',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => '2 Killed, 12 Injured in Road Accident at Pepsicola   ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'September 3: Two people were killed and fourteen others were injured in a freak road accident that took place at Pepsicola of Kathmandu this morning (Sunday).    

',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px">September 3: Two people were killed and fourteen others were injured in a freak road accident that took place at Pepsicola of Kathmandu this morning (Sunday).&nbsp;According to the police, the accident occurred at 7.30 am this morning when a bus (Ba 3 Kha 4848) heading towards Pepsicola from Jadibuti collided head on with a jeep (Ba 6 Cha 5342) coming from the opposite direction.<br />
Spokesperson of the District Police Range, Kathmandu, Superintendent of Police (SP) Kumod Dhungel told RSS that a scooter (Bagmati Province 02-037 Pa 5311) and a motorcycle (Bagmati Province 02-041 Pa 4838) also collided following the collision between the two vehicles.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px">The deceased have been identified as motorcyclist Raj Bhattarai, 21, and Armed Police Force personnel Usha Thapa, 25.<br />
According to SP Dhungel, some of the injured are undergoing treatment at Motherland Hospital in Pepsicola while others have been admitted to the Civil Hospital in New Baneshwar. According to RSS, Janak Raut, 24, of Ramechhap, the bus driver involved in the accident, has been detained by the police.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px">According to a study conducted by the Global Road Safety Facility, a global partnership programme administered by the World Bank Group, 72 percent of road crash fatalities and injuries in Nepal involve people in the economically productive age group (15 to 64 years).<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></p>
',
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			'created' => '2023-09-03',
			'modified' => '2023-09-03',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '18626',
			'image' => '20230903105008_blank - Copy.jpg',
			'article_date' => '2023-09-03 10:49:29',
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	(int) 4 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '18896',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'SSF Brings Informal Sector Workers under Social Security Scheme   ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'September 3: The government has started incorporating workers in the informal sector and those self-employed to the social security scheme since August 17.    ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">September 3: The government has started incorporating workers in the informal sector and those self-employed to the social security scheme since August 17.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The Social Security Fund (SSF) had already brought those in the formal sector and in foreign employment under the scheme.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The trade unions actively working in the country were lobbying for long to introduce the scheme for the informal sector workers engaged in agriculture, transportation, construction and domestic works, among others.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Nepal Trade Union Congress&#39; Chairperson Yogendra Kunwar remarked that it was a welcome development that the workers in the informal sector and self-employed ones were brought under the scheme.</span></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-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">&quot;The workers working in corporation or formal sectors were receiving facilities such as gratuity and pension, but those in informal sector were deprived of such schemes. Now, the path for them to come under social security scheme has been opened,&quot; he said.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">However, there are doubts regarding the implementation of the scheme in lack of clear commitment on the part of the government. &quot;The government is yet to make firm commitment regarding the amount to be contributed on the behalf of over 5 million informal sector workers,&quot; he pointed out, highlighting the need for policy and programmatic preparations for the successful implementation of the programme.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Meanwhile, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Labour, Danduraj Ghimire, said Nepal is ahead of India and Bangladesh in terms of implementation of social security scheme. &quot;We have started covering workers in formal and informal sectors as well as self-employment and those in foreign jobs under the scheme.&quot; The scheme launched by the SSF is on a par with that of developed countries, he said.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">So far 749,945 workers (440,161 in formal sector and 309,765 in foreign employments) have been associated with the scheme, according to the SSF.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Under various facilities, the SSF has so far made payments of Rs 5.64 billion to the contributors. A total of 97,815 contributors have been registered with the SSF, and from them, Rs 40.6 billion has been collected in contribution.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">To become a part of the scheme, workers in the informal sector should contribute 20.37 percent of their salaries as set by the government and the self-employment people should contribute 31 percent, said SSF Spokesperson Bibek Panthi.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">On part of the workers in the informal sector, the respective workers contribute 11 percent of their salaries while the remaining 9.37 will be deposited by the government. -- RSS&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
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			'created' => '2023-09-03',
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			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '18625',
			'image' => '20230903101306_SSF (1).jpg',
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	(int) 5 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '18895',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Oli Elected SEJON Chair',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'Sujan Oli has been elected the chairperson of the Society of Economic Journalists-Nepal (SEJON).  The 25th annual general meeting and convention held on Saturday elected a new working committee under the leadership of Oli.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:18.0pt">September 3: Sujan Oli has been elected the chairperson of the Society of Economic Journalists-Nepal (SEJON).&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span></span><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:18.0pt">The 25th annual general meeting and convention held on Saturday elected a new working committee under the leadership of Oli. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:18.0pt">Oli obtained 99 votes while his nearest rival Siromani Dhungana garnered 96 votes. </span></span></span><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:18.0pt">Likewise, Binaya Banjara has been elected to the post of vice-chairperson, while Bishwas Regmi was earlier elected to the post of general secretary unopposed. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:18.0pt">Sobhit Thapaliya and Achyut Puri have been elected secretary and treasurer respectively.&nbsp;</span></span></span><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:18.0pt">Those elected as the members are Keshu Lamichhane, Hemraj Joshi, Basant Raj Uprety, Mamata Thapa and Chhabi Sapkota.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:18.0pt">252 out of 271 votes were cast in the election. </span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
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			'created' => '2023-09-03',
			'modified' => '2023-09-03',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '18624',
			'image' => '20230903060224_collage.jpg',
			'article_date' => '2023-09-03 06:00:35',
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	(int) 6 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '18892',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'CAAN Prepares New Standards for Operation of Aviation Service   ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'September 2: The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has prepared a draft of a new standard through the tenth amendment of the 'Certificate Guidelines' for aviation service operation.    ',
			'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;">September 2: The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has prepared a draft of a new standard through the tenth amendment of the &#39;Certificate Guidelines&#39; for aviation service operation.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">CAAN Spokesperson Jagannath Niraula informed RSS that the new standards require a company willing to operate aviation services to have a minimum of three aircraft. All airline companies will have to increase the number of aircraft to at least five within the next five years. Those unable to meet the required standard may also go for a merger.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Likewise, the new standards state that the chairpersons, share holders, executive director and manager and position holder of the airline companies should not carry out activities contrary to the policies of CAAN and the Government of Nepal and should not express their opinions towards that end in public.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The managers and office-bearers of the airline company must not be involved in activities (such as tours and travels) that directly or indirectly are in conflict with the company&#39;s interests. Likewise, the chairman, share holder, executive director and manager will not be allowed to indulge in commercial flights or maintenance activities and pilot cannot be involved in commercial activities except flying.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The investors cannot sell or transfer their shares for a period of at least five years after receiving the no objection letter, government-owned or private airline company cannot appoint managers and high position holders without the approval of CAAN. -- RSS </span></span></span></p>
',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2023-09-02',
			'modified' => '2023-09-02',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '18622',
			'image' => '20230902085845_20230205105753_Airport.width-1024.jpg',
			'article_date' => '2023-09-02 20:58:13',
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	(int) 7 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '18893',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'NEPSE Index Continues to Drop   ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'September 2: The NEPSE index that measures share transaction in the stock market witnessed declining trend last week. ',
			'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;">September 2: The NEPSE index that measures share transaction in the stock market witnessed declining trend last week. In the four transaction days in the past week, the share market continued to fall in three days and increased in a single day.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">According to the Nepal Stock Exchange Ltd, total turnover amount declined to Rs 4.24 billion last week from Rs 7.24 billion.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">On the first day of the week on Sunday, the NEPSE index dropped to 1,993.38 point with the fall of 54 points. The share transaction amounted to Rs 1.26 billion on the first day.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Likewise, on the second day (Monday), the index reached 1,998.47 points with an increase of 5.09 points. The market saw turnover of Rs 988.83 million.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">On the third day, there was a slight decline in the index. On Tuesday, the NEPSE dropped to 1,993.42 with the decrease of five points. The total intra-day transaction amount stood at Rs 865.1 million.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Likewise, NEPSE dropped to 1,990 with a fall of 2.82 points on Wednesday. The transaction amount was recorded at Rs 1.13 billion. -- RSS&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><br />
&nbsp;</p>
',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2023-09-02',
			'modified' => '2023-09-02',
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			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '18621',
			'image' => '20230902090516_20230406055916_collage - 2023-04-03T173010.811.jpg',
			'article_date' => '2023-09-02 21:04:44',
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	(int) 8 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '18891',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Pollution from Cement Factory Sickens Locals in Dhading',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'September 1: Locals in and around Jugedi of Dhunibeshi Munbicipality-9 in Dhading district have begun developing respiratory related complications due to the air pollution caused by a cement factory in their locality.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">September 1: Locals in and around Jugedi of Dhunibeshi Munbicipality-9 in Dhading district have begun developing respiratory related complications due to the air pollution caused by a cement factory in their locality.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Locals have begun falling sick due to smoke, dust and noise pollution emanating from the United Cement Industry. They are suffering from health issues such as boils and rashes all over the body, itching and dry throat.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Furthermore, skin related issues such as allergy is another health problem the locals are putting up with as the cement industry functions unchecked. According to them, the health hazards they were bearing were because the industry was not running in compliance with the standards of industrial operation.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">It may be noted that the cement industry is considered to be one of the largest sources of industrial air pollution.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Laxmi Rai, one of the estimated 230 locals directly affected at Jugedi, bemoaned, &quot;If the pollution coming from the cement industry would not stop, we will not be able to reside here anymore. We will have to shift from here to elsewhere to protect our lives.&quot;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Over 50 of the locals are currently undergoing treatment related to throat, skin and eyes, they shared. While many of the affected locals were availing medical attention on their own, some were availing treatment in the presence of the expenses borne by the management of the cement industry.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">The affected locals complained that the cement industry officials were found to have put healthcare service providers under pressure. Worst of all, the affected ailing locals were not allowed to see their own medical report.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Rai shared that she had her health examined in Kathmandu-based Bir Hospital after she received boils and suffered a dry throat. The medical report has not been provided to her yet.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">&quot;The cement industry management officials got the ticket for the hospital check-up. Then two of us went for an examination. Without showing us the medical report, we were told that our condition was good,&quot; she narrated.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">She further lamented, &quot;When we insisted them to give us our report, they promised us to send the reports to our doorstep but to no avail. &#39;We were not allowed to see our medical report.&quot;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">The doctor told them that nothing was amiss with them while they underwent lab tests for blood, urine and other bodily fluids. &quot;We could not find out whether we had contracted any infection or not or if the doctors were forced to conceal our report under the pressure from the cement industry management,&quot; Rai expressed her doubts.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Shova, her husband and son are regularly taking medicines for allergy. However, the doctors have not disclosed the reasons for the allergy, she said.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">The industry was brought into operation around six years back, and its impacts are gradually exhibiting among the locals, they said. Elderly people are suffering from asthma, said a local Ramesh Rai. Pollution from the industry has had its implications also on the crops.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">&quot;The pollution has affected human health as well as agriculture. As a result of pollution, crops are not growing well. They are not edible. Cement dust is seen coating the green vegetable leaves. Agricultural products have started wilting,&quot; said Ramesh.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Facing the brunt of the industry, the local people have launched a protest. The protesting team led by a local Rama Rai submitted a memorandum to the industry and Dhunibensi Municipality in protest.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">&quot;After the industry denied providing the environmental impact assessment (EIA) report, we have by ourselves obtained it from the National Information Commission. Some eight months ago, we also held a discussion with the people&#39;s representatives and the industry management. At that time, the management assured that they would blacktop or lay concrete slabs on the road leading to the industry.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Although the industry management has been called for talks through the judicial committee of the municipality, it has ignored the call,&quot; he said. The residents of Dhunibensi ward 2, 5 and 9 are bearing the brunt of the pollutants from the industry.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">However, the cement industry has claimed that the industry is being run following the standards set by the government.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Following complaints about pollution, some people of the village and the industry employees were taken to the local hospital for a health test, said chief executive officer of the industry, Bharat Dahal. The process of carrying out the EIA has started, he said. As more dust is emanating from the industry, work is underway to check and fix the problem after bringing a technical team from India, he added. --&nbsp;RSS</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 9 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '18890',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Over 600,000 Foreign Tourists Visit Nepal in Eight Months',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'September 1: Over 600,000 foreign tourists visited Nepal in the first eight months of 2023.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">September 1: Over 600,000 foreign tourists visited Nepal in the first eight months of 2023. According to the Nepal Tourism Board, 601,360 tourists from various countries including India and the United States of America arrived in Nepal from January to August this year.&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">The country welcomed 67,153 visitors in August alone. The number of visitors in the corresponding month last year was 41,304. In 2019, the number was 73,814.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">NTB Director Maniraj Lamichhane said the graph of inflow of tourists is on the rise in recent months. &quot;As the number of tourists arriving from the expected destinations is gradually increasing, we hope to see the arrival of one million tourists this year,&quot; said Lamichhane.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">In August, majority of tourists came from India, as they numbered 26,665 followed by 5,007 from China, 4,629 from the US, 3,558 from Sri Lanka, 3,190 from Bangladesh, 2,711 from the UK, 1,588 from Spain, 1520 from Japan, 1,416 from Italy and 1,347 from Australia.&nbsp;-- RSS</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'keywords' => 'tourists, foreign, Nepal, India, China, USA, visit, arrival, inflow, graph',
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			'sortorder' => '18619',
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '18889',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Govt Spends Rs 39 Billion under Prime Minister's Employment Programme with no Visible Achievement',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'September 1: The government has spent billions of rupees in petty works under the Prime Minister Employment Programme (PMEP) launched by the KP Sharma Oli-led government in the fiscal year 2018/19.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">September 1: The government has spent billions of rupees in petty works under the Prime Minister Employment Programme (PMEP) launched by the KP Sharma Oli-led government in the fiscal year 2018/19.</span></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-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">This program was launched to employ citizens aged 18 to 59 years who have not been employed for at least 100 days in a year. The government had announced that if the citizens could not get employment for a minimum of 100 days, it would provide a subsistence allowance equal to 50 days&#39; wages.</span></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-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Despite spending a huge amount of money on the programme, the state has not been able to provide minimum employment to all the unemployed. Unemployment allowance has not been given to the people who have not got minimum employment.</span></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-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">This program has been facing criticism since its inception. There is an allegation that political party workers are being given allowances in the name of employment for youths. In the same year that the program was launched, the government was accused of spending billions of rupees from the state coffers in unproductive sectors.</span></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-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The government allegedly spent billions of rupees in unproductive sectors like chasing monkeys, uprooting weeds, and fending off cattle.</span></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-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Until the last fiscal year, the government has not been able to create long-term employment through this programme. State funds were being spent on small projects.</span></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-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The government has already spent Rs 38.76 billion on this program in the last five fiscal years. There is no visible achievement either. Neither the problem of unemployment has decreased nor have employment opportunities been created.</span></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-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">In the fiscal year 2018/19, the government allocated Rs 3.1 billion for this program. In the fiscal year 2019/20, the budget allocated was Rs 5.1 billion which was further increased to Rs 11.6 billion in FY 2020/21.</span></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-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">In the fiscal year 2021/22, the government allocated Rs 12 billion for this programme while it earmarked Rs 7.5 billion in FY 2022/23.</span></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-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Almost all of the allocated budget seems to have been spent every year while the achievement remained zero.</span></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-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">For the current fiscal year 2023/24, the government has allocated Rs 5.94 billion for the program in the budget presented on May 29. It has been a month and a half since the start of the new fiscal year and the program has not been implemented yet.</span></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-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Finance Minister Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat had announced that the budget for this program will focus on engaging youths in economic activities within the country and this program will be restructured this year.</span></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-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Three months after the release of the budget, government officials are confused about how to restructure it. The Secretariat of the Prime Minister&#39;s Employment Program falls under the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security.</span></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-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">This program, which is being run with the help of financial support from the World Bank since the initial stage, has courted controversy because it is distribution-oriented.</span></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-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">But the government has been insisting that it will restructure the programme. But what concrete policy will be taken by the government has not been made public yet.</span></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-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The Auditor General&#39;s report has also been raising questions about the expenses incurred through the Prime Minister&#39;s Employment Program. Officials of the National Planning Commission are also not satisfied with the expenditure. They have also been emphasizing restructuring the program. However, the government has not shown any interest in restructuring and implementing the program on time.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'keywords' => 'PMEP, prime, minister, employment, political, controversy, world, bank,, funding, financial',
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	(int) 11 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '18888',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'CAAN Fails to Meet Income Target in Last Four Fiscal Years',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'September 1: The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has not been able to achieve its income target in the last four years.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">September 1: The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has not been able to achieve its income target in the last four years. The aviation regulatory body has released details of its income of Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">16</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">.49 billion which is less than the estimated target in four years from the fiscal year 2019/20.</span></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-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The CAAN has said that it has not been able to generate income as per the target since the financial year 2019/20 due to the coronavirus pandemic</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">. </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The authority had set a target of earning Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">14.32</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"> billion in the last fiscal year (FY </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">20</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">22</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">/</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">23) alone</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">. </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The actual income of the authority that year was less than the target by Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">92</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">7.1 million.</span></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-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">It seems that the CAAN has been increasing the income target every year since the fiscal year 2019/20</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">. </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">However, this goal has not been achieved. According to the CAAN, since the income increases at the rate of </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">10</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"> percent every year, the target of income is set at the same ratio. However, the authority claims that the target has been affected by the impact of Covid-</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">19.</span></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-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Due to the Covid-</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">19</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">, air traffic has diminished since March 24, 2020. Likewise, the construction of airports, including domestic and international has been delayed, causing damage to the &#39;time value of money&#39; while international air traffic has not yet reached the pre-Covid-</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">19</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"> level, argued CAAN officials.</span></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-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The CAAN earns income from fees collected from landing, parking, ground handling of aircraft as well as the rent of the airport and physical infrastructures of the CAAN.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 12 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '18887',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Tatopani Checkpoint sees Human Mobility after Eight Years   ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'September 1: Human mobility across the Tatopani border checkpoint in Sindhupalchowk district bordering China has resumed from today (Friday) after a hiatus of eight years.    ',
			'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;">September 1: Human mobility across the Tatopani border checkpoint in Sindhupalchowk district bordering China has resumed from today (Friday) after a hiatus of eight years.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The locals of Sindhupalchowk, who were &nbsp;issued permits by the Tatopani-based Immigration Office, set out towards China crossing the Friendship Bridge at Liping after security clearance from Chinese security personnel.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The locals&#39; team led by parliamentarian Madhav Sapkota received a warm reception from Chinese people in their land.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Sapkota, an elected MP from Constituency-1 in Sindhupalchowk, who reached the border point with people&#39;s representatives from Tatopani area, officials from the Immigration Office this morning, said that the checkpoint is fully open from today.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The checkpoint which remained closed since the mega earthquakes of 2015, however, saw movement of cargo vehicles since May 1 earlier this year.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The transit point has been opened for people, said CDO of Sindhupalchowk, Ramesh Neupane, after raising the issue repeatedly in the parliament and subsequent discussions between the Nepali side and the China side. -- RSS&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>
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	(int) 13 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '18886',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'CIB Teams sent to India, Hong Kong for Investigating Gold Smuggling Scam   ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'September 1: Nepal Police has sent a team of police officials including experts from the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) to India to gather further information on the 61 kg gold smuggled into the country from Hong Kong. ',
			'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;">September 1: Nepal Police has sent a team of police officials including experts from the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) to India to gather further information on the 61 kg gold smuggled into the country from Hong Kong. The team left for India on Thursday.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">On Wednesday, another team led by Senior Superintendent of Police from CIB, Dinesh Acharya, headed towards Hong Kong to investigate the same case.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The team sent to India will collect information on gold smuggling in coordination with Nepal Police&#39;s SSP Uma Prasad Chaturvedi deputed at the Nepali Embassy in India. </span></span></span></p>

<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;">Inspector General of Nepal Police Basanta Bahadur Kunwar said that the police are collecting information on smuggling of huge amount of gold by mobilizing police team across the country, and to India and China as well. Earlier, the police had written to INTERPOL in Hong Kong and India, seeking cooperation from them.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<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;">The Department of Revenue Investigation had confiscated 60.716 kg of gold from the gate of the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) a few months ago after the smuggled gold had passed customs clearance from the TIA&rsquo;s Customs Office. </span></span></span></p>

<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;">The gold was smuggled from Hong Kong and found hidden in brake-shoes imported for scooters. It was revealed during the investigation that such amount of precious yellow metal was smuggled in cahoots with the employees of the customs office. Following the revelation, some employees have been arrested for further investigation.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Moreover, the police have arrested several Nepalis as well as Chinese and Indian nationals in this connection. There are six foreign nationals including those from China and India arrested in this case.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">After police investigation found that the gold brought from Hong Kong illegally is taken to India, the Nepal Police deputed security team to Hong Kong to garner further information.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Twenty five persons have been arrested in connection with the recent gold smuggling case and investigation is underway.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<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;">A team led by Superintendent of Police at CIB, Sanjay Thapa, is investigating the gold smuggling scam. -- RSS&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>
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			'article_date' => '2023-09-01 13:14:09',
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			'id' => '18884',
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			'title' => 'Tourist Bus Nepal App Launched to Facilitate Foreign Visitors',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'September 1: Tourist bus operators of Nepal have launched an app – Tourist Bus Nepal – to facilitate visitors in booking bus tickets to various tourist destinations within the country.',
			'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;">September 1: Tourist bus operators of Nepal have launched an app &ndash; Tourist Bus Nepal &ndash; to facilitate visitors in booking bus tickets to various tourist destinations within the country.</span></span></span></p>

<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;">The app was developed by Tourist Bus Association of Nepal (TBAN), an umbrella organisation of tourist bus entrepreneurs in the country.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Sudan Kirati inaugurated the app amidst a programme in the capital on Wednesday. </span></span></span></p>

<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;">The app was launched to facilitate domestic and foreign tourists book tickets online for tourist buses plying between Kathmandu, Pokhara, Sauraha, Lumbini and Janakpur, said Krishna Acharya, President of the Tourist Bus Association of Nepal. </span></span></span></p>

<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;">For the service, the TBAN has coordinated with digital payment systems, Khalti, IME Pay and Prabhu Pay. Around 100 tourist buses leave to various tourist destinations from Kathmandu on a daily basis.&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<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;">On the occasion, Minister Kirati said that the ministry is working to amend the Tourism Act.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">On a different note, Tourism Minister Kirati said Nepal Tourism Board (NTB)&#39;s budget would not be passed until it amends the budget. </span></span></span></p>

<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;">&quot;The NTB&#39;s budget cannot be passed in a hurry and until it is amended. The board&#39;s budget cannot be endorsed immediately to fulfill the interests of some people for commission,&quot; he said.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">He mentioned that it is not the responsibility of the Tourism Board to construct physical infrastructures. Stating that it is the responsibility of the Department of Tourism to construct physical infrastructures for the development of tourism sector, Minister Kirati clarified that the Tourism Board should work to promote tourism activities.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The Tourism Minister shared that the Tourism Board should not spend Rs 800-900 million in Europe visit in the name of bringing in tourists in Nepal. -- RSS&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></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