June 18: The economic crisis in the country has started taking its toll on the advertising industry, which is currently is a state of…
June 18: The economic crisis in the country has started taking its toll on the advertising industry, which is currently is a state of…
June 18: Preparations are underway for the full implementation of the projects under the US-funded Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) from mid-August this year.…
June 18: A total of 56 ticket counters have been added at the New Bus Park, Gongabu in line with the decision of Kathmandu Metropolitan City to allow long-route vehicles leaving Kathmandu valley to operate only from the New Bus Park.…
June 18: The Sudurpaschim Province Government has announced to provide interest-free loan to the farmers to promote commercial…
The Department of Passport will begin issuing passports from the respective districts at a reduced fee of Rs 5,000 starting from June…
The Independent Power Producers Association, Nepal (IPPAN), an umbrella organization representing private developers and owners of power producers in Nepal, has unanimously elected a new 25-member executive committee with Ganesh Karki as the President and Mohan Dangi as the Senior Vice…
In a parliamentary meeting, lawmaker Prem Suwal has emphasized the necessity of amending the budget for the upcoming fiscal year 2023/24, taking into account the suggestions provided by fellow…
The monsoon weather system is currently active in the eastern and central regions of the country, while the remaining areas are experiencing the influence of local winds and westerly…
June 16: Finance Minister Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat, while presenting the budget for the fiscal year (FY 2023/24) on May 29, had said that the government will prepare a work procedure within the current fiscal year to avoid duplication between health related social security programs and health…
June 16: This is the peak season of…
June 16: Ancient archeological structures were found at Bhainsepati area of Banepa while working for the construction of the Suryabinayak-Dhulikhel road…
June 16: Scientists at the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration have warned that an expected El Nino climate phenomenon has arrived, raising fears of extreme weather and temperature records this…
June 16: The former governors of Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) have suggested the central bank to give continuity to strict monetary…
June 16: Minister for Energy Shakti Bahadur Basnet has signaled at allowing the private sector for power trade and urged them to get ready for…
June 16: The Disaster Management Fund of the government has Rs 6 billion in…
Notice (8): Undefined variable: file [APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 60]Code Context// $file = 'http://aabhiyan:QUVLg8Wzs2F7G9N7@nepalstock.com.np/api/indexdata.xml';if(!$xml = simplexml_load_file($file)){$viewFile = '/var/www/html/newbusinessage.com/app/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'articles' => array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ) ), 'current_user' => null, 'logged_in' => false ) $articles = array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18202', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Advertising Industry in Crisis', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 18: The economic crisis in the country has started taking its toll on the advertising industry, which is currently is a state of disarray,', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">June 18: The economic crisis in the country has started taking its toll on the advertising industry, which is currently is a state of disarray,</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Businessmen say that the advertising industry of Nepal has reached on the verge of collapse following the outbreak of coronavirus pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">In addition to the financial crisis, the government's failure to amend laws and timely reforms to make the advertising industry viable has also affected the industry.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Advertisers say that if the industry collapses, the general consumer will be deprived of public welfare information and the employees working in the industry and the media will be affected. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to Nepal Advertising Association, 142 advertising agencies are registered with the association.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The president of the association, Som Prasad Dhital, said that the advertising market has slumped. Compared to last year, the market has dropped by 40 percent. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">“Government policies, the role of the media, the reluctance of advertisers are the internal reasons for the decline in the market while the post-coronavirus recession and the Russia-Ukraine war are the external factors,'' said Dhital, adding, “The media started blackmailing the advertisers. They used to behave well when they got advertisements but they started abusing after not getting advertisements. This made the advertiser angry.”</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to the stakeholders, the advertisement of the construction industry and automobiles sector has come to a standstill. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Krishna Prasad Ghimire, Secretary General of Nepal Advertising Board, complained that despite the hope that the industry would grow due to the formation of the Advertising Board and various decisions of the government before the coronavirus pandemic, it did not happen in practice.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Businessmen were hopeful that the advertisement market would increase after the government's decision to implement the clean feed policy. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">“We also thought that Nepal's advertising industry would take over the market of goods imported from outside. The formation of the Advertisement Board also gave hope to the businessmen," he said. "But the advertising industry is becoming unstable now.”</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The commercial establishments which used to allocate Rs 10 million earlier are not even spending Rs 1 million now. Even smaller industries are backing away from advertising. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to General Secretary Ghimire, there is also a situation where municipalities do not allow advertising boards.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">"With such policies of the local government, the budget coming to this area has been cut by commercial establishments," he said.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Stakeholders said that advertisements of alcohol and cigarettes have been stopped now. The businessman said that advertisements of sex-related material, which were only available at night in the past, have now been stopped. According to them, there was an annual advertising market of Rs 6 billion in Nepal at the time, but now it has shrunk to Rs 3 billion.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Chairman of Nepal Advertising Board, Laxman Humagai, said that the process of amending the regulations related to advertising is now progressing. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">“It is true that the advertising market has declined. We are making efforts to improve the situation. Work is also being done to attract advertisers to the advertising market," he said. "There will be some improvements when the law is amended." </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">President Humagai also sees the need for regulating social media. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">"We are also lobbying to regulate social media advertisements," he said.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-18', 'modified' => '2023-06-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17932', 'image' => '20230618014735_20220509065530_Clipboard101.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-18 13:46:54', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18201', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Preparations Underway for Full-Fledged Implement of MCC Project from Mid-August', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 18: Preparations are underway for the full implementation of the projects under the US-funded Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) from mid-August this year. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">June 18: Preparations are underway for the full implementation of the projects under the US-funded Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) from mid-August this year. The Millennium Challenge Account Nepal (MCA Nepal), which has been entrusted with the responsibility to implement the projects, has expedited the work from acquiring land to selecting companies to participate in the construction works under the MCC.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Khadga Bahadur Bista, executive director of MCA Nepal, said that they are actively involved in advancing the construction works under the project from the mid-August. According to him, MCA Nepal is about to complete the contract process for starting the projects. Executive Director Bista informed that although other preparatory works have been completed, the land acquisition and compensation has not been finalized.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to him, notices have been published in nine districts for land acquisition. Meanwhile, there is an ongoing dispute between the Nepal Electricity Authority and the locals of Lapsifedi. Bista said that they are making efforts to resolve the dispute and carry out the work related to the project. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The transmission line under the MCC will spread across </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">10</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> districts namely Kathmandu, Sindhupalchok, Nuwakot, Dhading, Makwanpur, Chitwan, Tanahun, Palpa, Nawalpur and Parasi. In some of these districts, after completing the compensation work, it is ready to go into full implementation. The process of land acquisition in nine districts except Kathmandu has already progressed.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Bista said that a committee will be formed to fix the criteria for determining compensation of land after they receive copies of land ownership certificate from the land owners who will be displaced due to the project.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">He said that the MCC project will be implemented as soon as possible after determining the price of the land.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to MCA Nepal, selection of the company to build the transmission line under MCC is also underway. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Six proposals have been received for the construction of transmission lines. In the globally announced tender bids, MCC received applications from Mega Engineering and Infrastructure Limited and Power Mech Projects Limited, a joint venture of Kalpataru Power Transmission Limited, KEC International Limited, Transrail Lighting Limited, Tata Projects Limited and Larson and Turbay Limited. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Officials of MCA Nepal say that it will take </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">90</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> days to study the proposals. The company will be selected after completing the study.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">About Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">5.5</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> billion have already been spent on the project with a grant of USD </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">500</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> million from the American government and USD </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">130</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> million from Nepal (Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">82.5</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> billion according to the current exchange rate). </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The expenditure on the project so far is more under the heading of current expenses than on the capital expenditure. The government has allocated Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">10</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">.84 billion for MCA Nepal in the upcoming fiscal year’s budget</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">. </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The government will contribute Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">2.21</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> billion while the MCC will fund Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">8</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">.63 billion for the next fiscal year. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">During this period, Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">1</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">.17 billion will be spent as current expenditure while Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">5.36</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> billion has been earmarked for building transmission lines and substations and Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">1.4</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> billion for road construction. Similarly, Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">1</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">.28 billion has been set aside for consultation.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Under the MCC project, a cross-border electricity transmission line will create from Nepal to India. The infrastructure will facilitate the transmission of electricity from Butwal to Gorakhpur, India, which will be jointly invested by Nepal and India. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Three new substations of </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">400</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> KV capacity will be constructed under the </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">315</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> km long double circuit </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">400</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> KV transmission line. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Some critics suspect that the project will be completed within the timeframe of five years, saying that the preparatory works of the project have not progressed as expected.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-18', 'modified' => '2023-06-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17931', 'image' => '20230618010750_MCC.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-18 13:06:19', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18200', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Additional Ticket Counters Set Up at New Bus Park', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 18: A total of 56 ticket counters have been added at the New Bus Park, Gongabu in line with the decision of Kathmandu Metropolitan City to allow long-route vehicles leaving Kathmandu valley to operate only from the New Bus Park. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">June 18: A total of 56 ticket counters have been added at the New Bus Park, Gongabu in line with the decision of Kathmandu Metropolitan City to allow long-route vehicles leaving Kathmandu valley to operate only from the New Bus Park. The decision was implemented on June 16.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The ticket counters were added after the vehicles operating from Chabahil, Balkhu, Kalanki, Balaju, Machhapokhari, Gongbu, Koteshwar, Sundhara and other areas within Kathmandu began operating from the New Bus Park starting from June 16. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Chief of the Municipal Police of Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Rajunath Pandey, said ticket counters operating haphazardly from Gongbu, Kalanki, Chabahil areas have been removed. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Lotse Multi-Purpose Pvt. Ltd has added 56 new ticket counters. Head of Human Resources of Lotse Multi-Purpose Pvt Ltd, Pankaj Malla, said that 56 new ticket counters for jeeps and microbuses have been set up inside New Bus Park for the implementation of the decision made by Kathmandu Metropolitan City. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Earlier, only large public vehicles were operating from the New Bus Park. The New Bus Park, which is spread over an area of 161 ropanis of land, has the capacity to park more than 800 large public vehicles. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-18', 'modified' => '2023-06-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17930', 'image' => '20230618115157_20221222061246_Transport.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-18 11:51:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18199', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Province Government to Provide Interest-Free Loan for Farmers ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 18: The Sudurpaschim Province Government has announced to provide interest-free loan to the farmers to promote commercial farming. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">June 18: The Sudurpaschim Province Government has announced to provide interest-free loan to the farmers to promote commercial farming. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Unveiling the budget for the upcoming fiscal year, the province government on Friday said that the interest-free loan will be provided to bring about reforms in the agricultural grants and to properly utilise such grants. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The province government has allocated Rs 40 million to provide such loans by the establishment of Province Agriculture Promotion Fund. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The province has also planned to become self-reliant on legumes, spicy food and fruits within five years. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, agriculture ambulance service will be run for the market promotion of agricultural produce. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-18', 'modified' => '2023-06-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17929', 'image' => '20230618105933_agri maize.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-18 10:58:29', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18198', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Passports to be Issued at Reduced Fee of Rs 5,000 from Districts', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'The Department of Passport will begin issuing passports from the respective districts at a reduced fee of Rs 5,000 starting from June 18.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">June 18: The Department of Passport will begin issuing passports from the respective districts at a reduced fee of Rs 5,000 starting from June 18. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Previously, passports were provided by the district administration office for Rs 10,000, but now they will be available for Rs 5,000, according to Durpada Sapkota, spokesperson of the department.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Henceforth, obtaining a passport from the respective district will cost 5,000 rupees, while acquiring it from the department in Kathmandu will be priced at 12,000 rupees. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Additionally, in the case of lost or damaged passports, the fee will be Rs 17,000 if obtained from the Department and Rs 10,000 rupees if obtained from the concerned district, added spokesperson Sapkota.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The meeting of the Council of Ministers held on June 7 had decided to offer a 66-page passport at the same price as the 34-page passport. </span></span><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Previously, the Department of Passport provided the 66-page passport to frequent flyers for Rs 10,000 through the district administration office.</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-18', 'modified' => '2023-06-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17928', 'image' => '20230618065025_collage (28).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-18 06:48:54', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18197', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'IPPAN Elects New Executive Committee Under Ganesh Karki’s Leadership', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'The Independent Power Producers Association, Nepal (IPPAN), an umbrella organization representing private developers and owners of power producers in Nepal, has unanimously elected a new 25-member executive committee with Ganesh Karki as the President and Mohan Dangi as the Senior Vice President.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">June 18: The Independent Power Producers Association, Nepal (IPPAN), an umbrella organization representing private developers and owners of power producers in Nepal, has unanimously elected a new 25-member executive committee with Ganesh Karki as the President and Mohan Dangi as the Senior Vice President.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Karki assumed the presidency after the candidacy of another contender, Kiran Malla, was deemed ineligible for not meeting the qualifications outlined in the election guidelines. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Similarly, Mohan Kumar Dangi was elected as the Senior Vice President. Surya Prasad Adhikari had also submitted his nomination for the position, but the election committee rejected his candidacy due to lack of qualifications, ultimately leading to Dangi's election as the Senior Vice President.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Likewise, five Vice Presidents have been elected unopposed. Although seven candidates filed nominations for the five Vice President positions, the election committee disqualified two candidates, resulting in the unopposed election of Ashish Garg, Bharat Kumar Khatri, Uttam Blon Lama, Ram Prasad Acharya, and Ananda Chaudhary as Vice Presidents.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Balaram Khatiwada was elected unopposed as the General Secretary, while two candidates had initially filed nominations for the position. Prakash Chandra Dulal was already elected unopposed as the Deputy General Secretary, being the sole contender for the post.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">For the five Secretary positions, six nominations were received, and one person was elected unopposed. Bharat Prasad Nepal, Bharat Kumar Khadka, Kabita Pokharel, Bikram Bista, and Him Prasad Pathak have been elected as secretaries. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The election committee determined that Narayan Kandel, who had filed a nomination for the Secretary position, did not meet the qualifications.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Narendra Ballabh Panta has been elected as the Treasurer. Among the three women members, Isha Shrestha, Susan Karmacharya, and Suman Joshi have been elected unopposed.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Meanwhile, the group led by Kiran Mall, which was declared ineligible to compete for the chairmanship, has announced the establishment of the Green Energy Power Association, Nepal (GEPAN). </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Mall's group alleges that IPPAN overstepped its jurisdiction and attempted to take control of the organization. In response, the dissatisfied group formed GEPAN under the coordination of energy researcher Surya Prasad Adhikari.</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-18', 'modified' => '2023-06-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17927', 'image' => '20230618063001_collage (27).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-18 06:28:01', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18196', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Lawmakers Demand Budget Amendment', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'In a parliamentary meeting, lawmaker Prem Suwal has emphasized the necessity of amending the budget for the upcoming fiscal year 2023/24, taking into account the suggestions provided by fellow lawmakers.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">June 16: In a parliamentary meeting, lawmaker Prem Suwal has emphasized the necessity of amending the budget for the upcoming fiscal year 2023/24, taking into account the suggestions provided by fellow lawmakers. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">During a joint deliberation, he called upon the Prime Minister and Finance Minister to be prepared for budget amendments. Specifically, Suwal proposed a reduction in expenditures allocated to the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, the Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation, and the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport in Friday's House of Representatives meeting.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Highlighting the importance of addressing the challenges faced by cooperative victims, Suwal emphasized the government's involvement in dealing with underperforming cooperatives.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">He suggested that the savings of cooperative victims should be recovered by seizing the assets of government officials who granted licenses to these problematic cooperatives.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> Additionally, Suwal stressed the need to restrict the operational jurisdiction of cooperatives to specific local level wards. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Similarly, lawmaker Basanta Nembang expressed concerns that the current budget fails to meet its targets in terms of physical progress and goals. He called for necessary amendments to both the budget and appropriation bills to ensure alignment with the intended objectives.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-16', 'modified' => '2023-06-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17926', 'image' => '20230616045209_collage (32).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-16 16:50:33', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18195', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Monsoon Spreading Across the Country', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'The monsoon weather system is currently active in the eastern and central regions of the country, while the remaining areas are experiencing the influence of local winds and westerly winds.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">June 16: The monsoon weather system is currently active in the eastern and central regions of the country, while the remaining areas are experiencing the influence of local winds and westerly winds.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> The Meteorological Forecasting Division reports cloudy weather with the possibility of light to moderate rainfall in the central and eastern parts due to this weather system. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In Koshi, Bagmati, and Gandaki provinces, light rain has been observed in several areas. The monsoon system made its entry into the country via the eastern part on June 14.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In a special bulletin on the arrival of the monsoon, the Division announced its presence in Koshi Province, most of Madhes Province, major parts of Bagmati Province, and the eastern regions of Gandaki Province. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">According to Rojan Lamichhane, a meteorologist at the Division, the monsoon is gradually spreading, and it will take about a week for it to cover the entire country. He mentioned that although the monsoon is currently weak to some extent, rainfall will continue to occur.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Division clarifies that due to the slow progression of the monsoon, it will take a few more days for it to reach the western parts of the country. Typically, the monsoon arrives in Nepal on June 13, but this year it was delayed by one day. (RSS) </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-16', 'modified' => '2023-06-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17925', 'image' => '20230616034947_collage (31).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-16 15:48:34', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18194', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government to Avoid Duplication of Health Insurance Programs', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 16: Finance Minister Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat, while presenting the budget for the fiscal year (FY 2023/24) on May 29, had said that the government will prepare a work procedure within the current fiscal year to avoid duplication between health related social security programs and health insurance.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">June 16: Finance Minister Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat, while presenting the budget for the fiscal year (FY </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">20</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">23</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">/</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">24) on May 29, had said that the government will prepare a work procedure within the current fiscal year to avoid duplication between health related social security programs and health insurance.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">In Nepal, state-owned organizations such as the Social Security Fund, Employee Provident Fund, Citizen Investment Trust and others have been conducting health insurance programs for their members under the social security program. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">As the government intends to avoid duplication of social security program and health insurance program, the fate of the health insurance program that these organizations are running have become uncertain. The budget announcement has caused confusion among all.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Joint spokesperson for the Ministry of Health and Population Dr Samir Adhikari says that the social security programs provided by the government and the social security programs run by other organizations are different. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">"Therefore, the ministry is of the opinion that the health insurance program under the social security program currently being operated by various organizations should not be abandoned," he said.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">In his budget speech, Finance Minister Mahat said that social security programs including health insurance, which are currently in operation, will be continued to ensure minimum basic health services to the citizens. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">“Health insurance program will be conducted from government and community hospitals as well as hospitals run by cooperatives. Such social security programs will gradually be brought under the scope of health insurance,” Minister Mahat said, adding, “Health insurance program will be restructured and made sustainable.”</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Damodar Prasad Subedi, the spokesperson of the Employees' Provident Fund, says that the social security program conducted by the fund should not be abandoned as it is the fund's own program.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">“The social security program we are running is based on profit. We will run the program as long as the fund is profitable," he said, adding that the government instead of cancelling the program that the fund is running has increased the scope of the program through the budget.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Now other sectors are also providing health insurance facilities under the social security program. Therefore, spokesperson Subedi believes that the government's strategy could be to integrate all such programs.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Spokesperson of the Social Security Fund (SSF), Vivek Panthi, said that the health insurance program under social security mentioned by the government in the budget and the program currently being conducted by the SSF are different. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">“The program being conducted by the fund is based on contributions. The budget clearly mentions that the work of the SSF will be expanded instead of curtailing it," Panthi said, adding, "There are health insurance programs under various ministries as well. Therefore, it is our understanding that the government does not want duplication between those programs and the social security program through the budget.”</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The spokesperson of the Health Insurance Board, Shambhu Prasad Gyawali, says that the government's policy is to consolidate the social security programs that are scattered under the Ministry of Health and Population in the budget of the upcoming fiscal year. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">“Currently, the ministry is conducting health insurance programs for various categories including the poor, mothers, girls, and senior citizens. The same patient can be paid twice under different programs," he said, "So, the government is going to implement a one-way policy so that there is no duplication in such programs."</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-16', 'modified' => '2023-06-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17924', 'image' => '20230616023316_1686881617.1617317226.Clipboard13.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-16 14:32:41', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18193', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Mango that Costs as Much as Gold!', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 16: This is the peak season of mango.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Agencies</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">June 16: This is the peak season of mango. Depending on the variety, one can enjoy the taste of mangoes at different prices. Last week in Siliguri, a rare variety of mangoes was sold at the price equivalent to gold. A farmer in West Bengal's Birbham district sold mangoes produced in his garden for Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">30,000</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> each.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The price of this mango was equal to the price of </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">5</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> grams of </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">24</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> carat gold. The name of this mango sold at the price of gold is Miyazaki. The place of origin of this purple-red mango is Miyazaki Prefecture in Japan. This is arguably the most expensive mango in the world. The price of this mango in the world market is Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">2.5</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> million per kilogram. The weight of this mango ranges from </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">350</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> grams to </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">900</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> grams.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to the Indiatimes, this ruby-red-coloured fruit is also known as “Egg of the Sun” or Taiyo-no-Tamago in Japan.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">“Mitazaki is a type of ‘irwin’ mango which is different from the yellow ‘pelican mango’ widely grown in Southeast Asia. It contains beta-carotene and folic acid and is considered to be rich in antioxidants,” Indiatimes reported.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Mangoes of other varieties are also being sold at high prices. Mangoes have become expensive all over the country as the production has been affected due to adverse weather conditions. Traders say that the production of Alphonso mangoes grown in Maharashtra and Konkan region have been reduced by half and the prices have increased.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">In Gujarat, the saffron variety of mango has not ripened yet. Due to the low production, exports have also been affected. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Miyazaki mango plants need special care. The cultivation of this variety requires long hours of bright sunshine and abundant rainfall.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">In April last year, two Miyazaki mangoes were reportedly sold in Japan for </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">500,000</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> yen (about </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">4,000</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> dollars).</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Recently, farmers in India have started getting attracted towards the cultivation of this mango. The taste of this mango, which is known as egg of the sun, is also very sweet. In foreign countries, this mango is especially used as a gift. </span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-16', 'modified' => '2023-06-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17923', 'image' => '20230616023229_1686885203.mango.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-16 14:31:54', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18192', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Ancient Archeological Structures Found in Kavre while Widening Suryabinayak-Dhulikhel Road ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 16: Ancient archeological structures were found at Bhainsepati area of Banepa while working for the construction of the Suryabinayak-Dhulikhel road section. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">June 16: Ancient archeological structures were found at Bhainsepati area of Banepa while working for the construction of the Suryabinayak-Dhulikhel road section. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Government officials confirmed that antique brick walls, sources of water, antique wooden structures and stones were found at Banepa’s Bhaisepati area along the Araniko Highway while expanding the road. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Department of Archeology (DoA) had earlier written to the District Administration Office, Kavrepalanchowk to properly manage archeological structures while widening the Suryabinayak-Dhulikhel road. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the state-owned RSS, conservationists have expressed their concerns after unearthing of the ancient archeological properties on the roadside. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A team of officials led by chief of Bhaktapur office of the DoA, Yamuna Maharjan, made an inspection visit to the site and confirmed that the structures date back to ancient time, RSS reported. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to Maharjan, the site was the trekking route in the past and it was named Phhalchahiti in the Newari language. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Currently, the construction work has been suspended there to conserve the ancient structures. Likewise, the department has also written to Banepa Municipality to halt the road widening drive. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Expansion of road from Suryabinayak in Bhaktapur to Dhulikhel in Kavrepalanchowk along the Araniko Highway had started last March. Two separate contracts were awarded for the construction works. </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-16', 'modified' => '2023-06-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17922', 'image' => '20230616020623_20230219013913_20220831041752_dhulikhel.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-16 14:05:40', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18191', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'El Nino Arrives Raising Fears of Extreme Weather', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 16: Scientists at the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration have warned that an expected El Nino climate phenomenon has arrived, raising fears of extreme weather and temperature records this year.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">AGENCIES</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">June 16: Scientists at the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration have warned that an expected El Nino climate phenomenon has arrived, raising fears of extreme weather and temperature records this year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the BBC, experts say it will likely make 2024 the world's hottest year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“They fear it will help push the world past a key 1.5C warming milestone,” the BBC wrote in a recent news report.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Meanwhile, the AFP reported that this pattern, marked by warmer-than-average sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean near the equator, last occurred in 2018-19, and takes place every 2-7 years on average</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"Depending on its strength, El Nino can cause a range of impacts, such as increasing the risk of heavy rainfall and droughts in certain locations around the world," AFP quoted NOAA climate scientist Michelle L'Heureux as saying.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to L'Heureux, climate change can exacerbate or mitigate certain impacts related to El Nino. “For example, El Nino could lead to new records for temperatures, particularly in areas that already experience above-average temperatures during El Nino," she added.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Australia this week warned El Nino would deliver warmer, drier days to a country vulnerable to fierce bushfires, while Japan said a developing El Nino was partly responsible for its warmest spring on record.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Most of the warmest years on record have occurred during El Ninos, and scientists are concerned that this summer and next could see record temperatures on land and in the sea, added AFP.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The phenomenon's influence on the United States is weak during summer but more pronounced starting from late fall through spring, NOAA said in its statement. By winter, it is estimated there is an 84 percent chance of a "greater than moderate" El Nino developing, and a 56 percent chance of a strong El Nino.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the BBC, an El Niño event is typically declared when sea surface temperatures in the tropical eastern Pacific rise to at least 0.5C above the long-term average.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">El Nino, meaning "Little Boy" in Spanish, is the warm phase of the El Nino-Southern Oscillation, AFP reported, adding, La Nina, meaning "Little Girl," is its colder counterpart, where sea surface temperatures in the eastern and central Pacific Ocean near the equator are lower than normal.</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-16', 'modified' => '2023-06-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17921', 'image' => '20230616012415_elnino.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-16 13:23:02', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18190', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Former Governors in Favour of Tight Monetary Policy', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 16: The former governors of Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) have suggested the central bank to give continuity to strict monetary policy.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">June 16: The former governors of Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) have suggested the central bank to give continuity to strict monetary policy. Speaking at an interaction on monetary policy organised by the Nepal Management Association on Thursday, they said that the tight monetary policy of the current fiscal year has prevented the economy from going into crisis and emphasized that this policy should get continuity for some more time.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Former Finance Minister and Governor Dr Yuba Raj Khatiwada said that the cooling period of monetary policy has not ended and it should be continued for some time. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">"Though foreign exchange reserves have increased slightly due to the strict monetary policy, inflation is still close to </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">8</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> percent," he said, adding, "So, the cooling period of monetary policy is not over. Please be careful." He advised the banks to increase investment.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Stating that it is not possible to expand credit flow by </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">20-30</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> percent as in the past, Khatiwada said that even if loan disbursement is increased by </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">12</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> percent, the target of </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">6</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> percent economic growth set by the budget will not be achieved. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">He was of the view that businessmen should not be allowed bank operators and suggested the concerned bodies to set a demarcation, which he also tried during his tenure.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">“For this purpose, an arrangement can be made to sell some parts of the founding shares,” suggested Khatiwada.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">He said that the spread rate of the banks has been reduced from </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">9</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> percent to </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">4</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> percent and it is not necessary to reduce it now.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Khatiwada added that the practice of fixing the interest rate through the association of banks is not appropriate and requested to correct it. Khatiwada said that there is a problem in the economy due to the inability to regulate microfinance companies and suggested to increase monitoring by forming second tier institutions soon. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">He also suggested that CRR and CD ratio should not be used in the current situation. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Meanwhile, former Governor Ganesh Bahadur Thapa said that the continuation of strict policies is necessary when the economy is in trouble. "There has been some improvement due to the introduction of tight monetary policy," he said.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Another former governor Dr Tilak Rawal suggested bringing a balanced monetary policy. "There is a need to be aware of the external and internal situations of the economy," he said. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Former Governor Dipendra Purush Dhakal also suggested that tight monetary policy saved the economy of the country and urged the central bank to give continuity to strict measures. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Stating that only </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">10</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> to </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">12</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> banks are enough in the country, he emphasized that the policy of merger should be continued.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Another ex-governor Dipendra Bahadur Chhetri said that the banks have not been able to extend loans in the productive sector and suggested to pay attention to this. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">During the interaction, former president of Nepal Bankers Association Gyanendra Dhungana said that when there is a decline in economic activities, many customers are unable to pay loan installments and interest. According to him, this situation should be addressed by the monetary policy. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Suyog Shrestha, chairman of Development Bankers Association, demanded that the development banks should also be allowed to open LC. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Meenraj Kandel, president of the National Cooperative Federation, said that the monetary policy should also cover the cooperatives sector.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Meanwhile, the private sector businessmen emphasized on the need for expansionary monetary policy. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">NRB Governor Mahaprasad Adhikari made it clear that the upcoming monetary policy cannot provide facilities provided during the time of Covid-</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">19</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> pandemic</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">. </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">He said that the side effects of the facilities given during the Covid-</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">19 </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">situation are now visible and that it needs to be corrected.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">“The monetary policy will be decided accordingly,” said Governor Adhikari.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-16', 'modified' => '2023-06-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17920', 'image' => '20230616122823_Nepal-Rastra-Bank.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-16 12:27:38', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18189', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Energy Minister Urges Private Sector Developers to get Ready for Power Trade ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 16: Minister for Energy Shakti Bahadur Basnet has signaled at allowing the private sector for power trade and urged them to get ready for it. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">June 16: Minister for Energy Shakti Bahadur Basnet has signaled at allowing the private sector for power trade and urged them to get ready for it. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Inaugurating the 21st general assembly of the Independent Power Producers' Association of Nepal on Thursday, Minister Basnet said that the private sector would be gradually allowed for power trade. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The context has changed immensely after the India visit of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal made a breakthrough in energy cooperation and added that the agreement of power export from Nepal to India will be implemented. "This is possible. Get assured that it will be implemented," said the energy minister. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Basnet was of the view that huge investment in infrastructure development is needed in energy sector as the deal has been made to export Nepal’s surplus power to India and Bangladesh. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">On the occasion, Basnet pledged to move ahead by ending the obstacles since the government has fixed its target in energy sector. "The basis for the country's prosperity is energy. We are clear on this issue," he said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, Basnet said that a campaign would be initiated to increase power consumption in the country with nationwide electrification, increasing power consumption in industrial sector, substitution of cooking gas for domestic purpose and use of electricity in irrigation system, and bringing electric vehicles in transportation. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"Now time has come for power trade by the private sector. Be ready for this as the government will join hands together," he said while urging the private power developers' increased role. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-16', 'modified' => '2023-06-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17919', 'image' => '20230616112752_City-Background.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-16 11:27:10', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18188', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Disaster Fund has Rs 6 Billion in Deposit ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 16: The Disaster Management Fund of the government has Rs 6 billion in deposit. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">June 16: The Disaster Management Fund of the government has Rs 6 billion in deposit. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Chief Executive Officer of National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) Anil Pokharel said that more than half of the total amount of the fund is in the Prime Minister Disaster Relief Fund. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">As shared by the officials, the amount will be spent for rescue operations, development of temporary settlement, supply of foodstuff and financial assistance to the disaster-affected community. As per the legal provision, the amount of the fund should not be spent for other purposes. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, the Province Disaster Management Fund has Rs 513.3 million and Rs 592.2 million in the District Disaster Management Fund. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Meanwhile, the government has ensured sufficient number of skilled human resources required for disaster management including search and rescue operation in view of upcoming monsoon-related disasters. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The number of skilled human resource has been increased to 11,663 this year from 1,484 in the previous year. This number is of trained human resources having expertise on disaster management. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the NDRRMA, a total of 7,636 Nepalese Army personnel have been kept in standby position for disaster management. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, 2,125 Nepal Police personnel and 1,903 APF personnel would be deployed for the disaster risk management job. Another 74 rescue divers of the APF are also kept in the ready position. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">CEO of the NDRRMA Anil Pokharel said that the police personnel would be mobilized in every district but the trained human resource would be deployed considering the specific needs of disasters. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-16', 'modified' => '2023-06-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17918', 'image' => '20230616103832_NDRRMA.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-16 10:37:41', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = falseinclude - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 60 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
Warning (2): simplexml_load_file() [<a href='http://php.net/function.simplexml-load-file'>function.simplexml-load-file</a>]: I/O warning : failed to load external entity "" [APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 60]file not found!Code Context// $file = 'http://aabhiyan:QUVLg8Wzs2F7G9N7@nepalstock.com.np/api/indexdata.xml';if(!$xml = simplexml_load_file($file)){$viewFile = '/var/www/html/newbusinessage.com/app/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'articles' => array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ) ), 'current_user' => null, 'logged_in' => false ) $articles = array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18202', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Advertising Industry in Crisis', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 18: The economic crisis in the country has started taking its toll on the advertising industry, which is currently is a state of disarray,', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">June 18: The economic crisis in the country has started taking its toll on the advertising industry, which is currently is a state of disarray,</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Businessmen say that the advertising industry of Nepal has reached on the verge of collapse following the outbreak of coronavirus pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">In addition to the financial crisis, the government's failure to amend laws and timely reforms to make the advertising industry viable has also affected the industry.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Advertisers say that if the industry collapses, the general consumer will be deprived of public welfare information and the employees working in the industry and the media will be affected. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to Nepal Advertising Association, 142 advertising agencies are registered with the association.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The president of the association, Som Prasad Dhital, said that the advertising market has slumped. Compared to last year, the market has dropped by 40 percent. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">“Government policies, the role of the media, the reluctance of advertisers are the internal reasons for the decline in the market while the post-coronavirus recession and the Russia-Ukraine war are the external factors,'' said Dhital, adding, “The media started blackmailing the advertisers. They used to behave well when they got advertisements but they started abusing after not getting advertisements. This made the advertiser angry.”</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to the stakeholders, the advertisement of the construction industry and automobiles sector has come to a standstill. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Krishna Prasad Ghimire, Secretary General of Nepal Advertising Board, complained that despite the hope that the industry would grow due to the formation of the Advertising Board and various decisions of the government before the coronavirus pandemic, it did not happen in practice.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Businessmen were hopeful that the advertisement market would increase after the government's decision to implement the clean feed policy. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">“We also thought that Nepal's advertising industry would take over the market of goods imported from outside. The formation of the Advertisement Board also gave hope to the businessmen," he said. "But the advertising industry is becoming unstable now.”</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The commercial establishments which used to allocate Rs 10 million earlier are not even spending Rs 1 million now. Even smaller industries are backing away from advertising. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to General Secretary Ghimire, there is also a situation where municipalities do not allow advertising boards.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">"With such policies of the local government, the budget coming to this area has been cut by commercial establishments," he said.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Stakeholders said that advertisements of alcohol and cigarettes have been stopped now. The businessman said that advertisements of sex-related material, which were only available at night in the past, have now been stopped. According to them, there was an annual advertising market of Rs 6 billion in Nepal at the time, but now it has shrunk to Rs 3 billion.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Chairman of Nepal Advertising Board, Laxman Humagai, said that the process of amending the regulations related to advertising is now progressing. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">“It is true that the advertising market has declined. We are making efforts to improve the situation. Work is also being done to attract advertisers to the advertising market," he said. "There will be some improvements when the law is amended." </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">President Humagai also sees the need for regulating social media. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">"We are also lobbying to regulate social media advertisements," he said.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-18', 'modified' => '2023-06-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17932', 'image' => '20230618014735_20220509065530_Clipboard101.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-18 13:46:54', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18201', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Preparations Underway for Full-Fledged Implement of MCC Project from Mid-August', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 18: Preparations are underway for the full implementation of the projects under the US-funded Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) from mid-August this year. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">June 18: Preparations are underway for the full implementation of the projects under the US-funded Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) from mid-August this year. The Millennium Challenge Account Nepal (MCA Nepal), which has been entrusted with the responsibility to implement the projects, has expedited the work from acquiring land to selecting companies to participate in the construction works under the MCC.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Khadga Bahadur Bista, executive director of MCA Nepal, said that they are actively involved in advancing the construction works under the project from the mid-August. According to him, MCA Nepal is about to complete the contract process for starting the projects. Executive Director Bista informed that although other preparatory works have been completed, the land acquisition and compensation has not been finalized.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to him, notices have been published in nine districts for land acquisition. Meanwhile, there is an ongoing dispute between the Nepal Electricity Authority and the locals of Lapsifedi. Bista said that they are making efforts to resolve the dispute and carry out the work related to the project. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The transmission line under the MCC will spread across </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">10</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> districts namely Kathmandu, Sindhupalchok, Nuwakot, Dhading, Makwanpur, Chitwan, Tanahun, Palpa, Nawalpur and Parasi. In some of these districts, after completing the compensation work, it is ready to go into full implementation. The process of land acquisition in nine districts except Kathmandu has already progressed.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Bista said that a committee will be formed to fix the criteria for determining compensation of land after they receive copies of land ownership certificate from the land owners who will be displaced due to the project.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">He said that the MCC project will be implemented as soon as possible after determining the price of the land.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to MCA Nepal, selection of the company to build the transmission line under MCC is also underway. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Six proposals have been received for the construction of transmission lines. In the globally announced tender bids, MCC received applications from Mega Engineering and Infrastructure Limited and Power Mech Projects Limited, a joint venture of Kalpataru Power Transmission Limited, KEC International Limited, Transrail Lighting Limited, Tata Projects Limited and Larson and Turbay Limited. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Officials of MCA Nepal say that it will take </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">90</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> days to study the proposals. The company will be selected after completing the study.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">About Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">5.5</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> billion have already been spent on the project with a grant of USD </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">500</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> million from the American government and USD </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">130</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> million from Nepal (Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">82.5</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> billion according to the current exchange rate). </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The expenditure on the project so far is more under the heading of current expenses than on the capital expenditure. The government has allocated Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">10</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">.84 billion for MCA Nepal in the upcoming fiscal year’s budget</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">. </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The government will contribute Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">2.21</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> billion while the MCC will fund Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">8</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">.63 billion for the next fiscal year. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">During this period, Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">1</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">.17 billion will be spent as current expenditure while Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">5.36</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> billion has been earmarked for building transmission lines and substations and Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">1.4</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> billion for road construction. Similarly, Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">1</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">.28 billion has been set aside for consultation.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Under the MCC project, a cross-border electricity transmission line will create from Nepal to India. The infrastructure will facilitate the transmission of electricity from Butwal to Gorakhpur, India, which will be jointly invested by Nepal and India. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Three new substations of </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">400</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> KV capacity will be constructed under the </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">315</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> km long double circuit </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">400</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> KV transmission line. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Some critics suspect that the project will be completed within the timeframe of five years, saying that the preparatory works of the project have not progressed as expected.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-18', 'modified' => '2023-06-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17931', 'image' => '20230618010750_MCC.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-18 13:06:19', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18200', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Additional Ticket Counters Set Up at New Bus Park', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 18: A total of 56 ticket counters have been added at the New Bus Park, Gongabu in line with the decision of Kathmandu Metropolitan City to allow long-route vehicles leaving Kathmandu valley to operate only from the New Bus Park. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">June 18: A total of 56 ticket counters have been added at the New Bus Park, Gongabu in line with the decision of Kathmandu Metropolitan City to allow long-route vehicles leaving Kathmandu valley to operate only from the New Bus Park. The decision was implemented on June 16.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The ticket counters were added after the vehicles operating from Chabahil, Balkhu, Kalanki, Balaju, Machhapokhari, Gongbu, Koteshwar, Sundhara and other areas within Kathmandu began operating from the New Bus Park starting from June 16. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Chief of the Municipal Police of Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Rajunath Pandey, said ticket counters operating haphazardly from Gongbu, Kalanki, Chabahil areas have been removed. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Lotse Multi-Purpose Pvt. Ltd has added 56 new ticket counters. Head of Human Resources of Lotse Multi-Purpose Pvt Ltd, Pankaj Malla, said that 56 new ticket counters for jeeps and microbuses have been set up inside New Bus Park for the implementation of the decision made by Kathmandu Metropolitan City. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Earlier, only large public vehicles were operating from the New Bus Park. The New Bus Park, which is spread over an area of 161 ropanis of land, has the capacity to park more than 800 large public vehicles. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-18', 'modified' => '2023-06-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17930', 'image' => '20230618115157_20221222061246_Transport.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-18 11:51:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18199', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Province Government to Provide Interest-Free Loan for Farmers ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 18: The Sudurpaschim Province Government has announced to provide interest-free loan to the farmers to promote commercial farming. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">June 18: The Sudurpaschim Province Government has announced to provide interest-free loan to the farmers to promote commercial farming. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Unveiling the budget for the upcoming fiscal year, the province government on Friday said that the interest-free loan will be provided to bring about reforms in the agricultural grants and to properly utilise such grants. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The province government has allocated Rs 40 million to provide such loans by the establishment of Province Agriculture Promotion Fund. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The province has also planned to become self-reliant on legumes, spicy food and fruits within five years. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, agriculture ambulance service will be run for the market promotion of agricultural produce. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-18', 'modified' => '2023-06-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17929', 'image' => '20230618105933_agri maize.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-18 10:58:29', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18198', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Passports to be Issued at Reduced Fee of Rs 5,000 from Districts', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'The Department of Passport will begin issuing passports from the respective districts at a reduced fee of Rs 5,000 starting from June 18.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">June 18: The Department of Passport will begin issuing passports from the respective districts at a reduced fee of Rs 5,000 starting from June 18. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Previously, passports were provided by the district administration office for Rs 10,000, but now they will be available for Rs 5,000, according to Durpada Sapkota, spokesperson of the department.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Henceforth, obtaining a passport from the respective district will cost 5,000 rupees, while acquiring it from the department in Kathmandu will be priced at 12,000 rupees. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Additionally, in the case of lost or damaged passports, the fee will be Rs 17,000 if obtained from the Department and Rs 10,000 rupees if obtained from the concerned district, added spokesperson Sapkota.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The meeting of the Council of Ministers held on June 7 had decided to offer a 66-page passport at the same price as the 34-page passport. </span></span><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Previously, the Department of Passport provided the 66-page passport to frequent flyers for Rs 10,000 through the district administration office.</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-18', 'modified' => '2023-06-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17928', 'image' => '20230618065025_collage (28).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-18 06:48:54', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18197', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'IPPAN Elects New Executive Committee Under Ganesh Karki’s Leadership', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'The Independent Power Producers Association, Nepal (IPPAN), an umbrella organization representing private developers and owners of power producers in Nepal, has unanimously elected a new 25-member executive committee with Ganesh Karki as the President and Mohan Dangi as the Senior Vice President.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">June 18: The Independent Power Producers Association, Nepal (IPPAN), an umbrella organization representing private developers and owners of power producers in Nepal, has unanimously elected a new 25-member executive committee with Ganesh Karki as the President and Mohan Dangi as the Senior Vice President.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Karki assumed the presidency after the candidacy of another contender, Kiran Malla, was deemed ineligible for not meeting the qualifications outlined in the election guidelines. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Similarly, Mohan Kumar Dangi was elected as the Senior Vice President. Surya Prasad Adhikari had also submitted his nomination for the position, but the election committee rejected his candidacy due to lack of qualifications, ultimately leading to Dangi's election as the Senior Vice President.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Likewise, five Vice Presidents have been elected unopposed. Although seven candidates filed nominations for the five Vice President positions, the election committee disqualified two candidates, resulting in the unopposed election of Ashish Garg, Bharat Kumar Khatri, Uttam Blon Lama, Ram Prasad Acharya, and Ananda Chaudhary as Vice Presidents.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Balaram Khatiwada was elected unopposed as the General Secretary, while two candidates had initially filed nominations for the position. Prakash Chandra Dulal was already elected unopposed as the Deputy General Secretary, being the sole contender for the post.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">For the five Secretary positions, six nominations were received, and one person was elected unopposed. Bharat Prasad Nepal, Bharat Kumar Khadka, Kabita Pokharel, Bikram Bista, and Him Prasad Pathak have been elected as secretaries. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The election committee determined that Narayan Kandel, who had filed a nomination for the Secretary position, did not meet the qualifications.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Narendra Ballabh Panta has been elected as the Treasurer. Among the three women members, Isha Shrestha, Susan Karmacharya, and Suman Joshi have been elected unopposed.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Meanwhile, the group led by Kiran Mall, which was declared ineligible to compete for the chairmanship, has announced the establishment of the Green Energy Power Association, Nepal (GEPAN). </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Mall's group alleges that IPPAN overstepped its jurisdiction and attempted to take control of the organization. In response, the dissatisfied group formed GEPAN under the coordination of energy researcher Surya Prasad Adhikari.</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-18', 'modified' => '2023-06-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17927', 'image' => '20230618063001_collage (27).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-18 06:28:01', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18196', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Lawmakers Demand Budget Amendment', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'In a parliamentary meeting, lawmaker Prem Suwal has emphasized the necessity of amending the budget for the upcoming fiscal year 2023/24, taking into account the suggestions provided by fellow lawmakers.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">June 16: In a parliamentary meeting, lawmaker Prem Suwal has emphasized the necessity of amending the budget for the upcoming fiscal year 2023/24, taking into account the suggestions provided by fellow lawmakers. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">During a joint deliberation, he called upon the Prime Minister and Finance Minister to be prepared for budget amendments. Specifically, Suwal proposed a reduction in expenditures allocated to the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, the Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation, and the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport in Friday's House of Representatives meeting.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Highlighting the importance of addressing the challenges faced by cooperative victims, Suwal emphasized the government's involvement in dealing with underperforming cooperatives.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">He suggested that the savings of cooperative victims should be recovered by seizing the assets of government officials who granted licenses to these problematic cooperatives.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> Additionally, Suwal stressed the need to restrict the operational jurisdiction of cooperatives to specific local level wards. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Similarly, lawmaker Basanta Nembang expressed concerns that the current budget fails to meet its targets in terms of physical progress and goals. He called for necessary amendments to both the budget and appropriation bills to ensure alignment with the intended objectives.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-16', 'modified' => '2023-06-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17926', 'image' => '20230616045209_collage (32).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-16 16:50:33', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18195', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Monsoon Spreading Across the Country', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'The monsoon weather system is currently active in the eastern and central regions of the country, while the remaining areas are experiencing the influence of local winds and westerly winds.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">June 16: The monsoon weather system is currently active in the eastern and central regions of the country, while the remaining areas are experiencing the influence of local winds and westerly winds.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> The Meteorological Forecasting Division reports cloudy weather with the possibility of light to moderate rainfall in the central and eastern parts due to this weather system. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In Koshi, Bagmati, and Gandaki provinces, light rain has been observed in several areas. The monsoon system made its entry into the country via the eastern part on June 14.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In a special bulletin on the arrival of the monsoon, the Division announced its presence in Koshi Province, most of Madhes Province, major parts of Bagmati Province, and the eastern regions of Gandaki Province. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">According to Rojan Lamichhane, a meteorologist at the Division, the monsoon is gradually spreading, and it will take about a week for it to cover the entire country. He mentioned that although the monsoon is currently weak to some extent, rainfall will continue to occur.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Division clarifies that due to the slow progression of the monsoon, it will take a few more days for it to reach the western parts of the country. Typically, the monsoon arrives in Nepal on June 13, but this year it was delayed by one day. (RSS) </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-16', 'modified' => '2023-06-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17925', 'image' => '20230616034947_collage (31).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-16 15:48:34', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18194', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government to Avoid Duplication of Health Insurance Programs', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 16: Finance Minister Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat, while presenting the budget for the fiscal year (FY 2023/24) on May 29, had said that the government will prepare a work procedure within the current fiscal year to avoid duplication between health related social security programs and health insurance.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">June 16: Finance Minister Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat, while presenting the budget for the fiscal year (FY </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">20</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">23</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">/</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">24) on May 29, had said that the government will prepare a work procedure within the current fiscal year to avoid duplication between health related social security programs and health insurance.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">In Nepal, state-owned organizations such as the Social Security Fund, Employee Provident Fund, Citizen Investment Trust and others have been conducting health insurance programs for their members under the social security program. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">As the government intends to avoid duplication of social security program and health insurance program, the fate of the health insurance program that these organizations are running have become uncertain. The budget announcement has caused confusion among all.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Joint spokesperson for the Ministry of Health and Population Dr Samir Adhikari says that the social security programs provided by the government and the social security programs run by other organizations are different. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">"Therefore, the ministry is of the opinion that the health insurance program under the social security program currently being operated by various organizations should not be abandoned," he said.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">In his budget speech, Finance Minister Mahat said that social security programs including health insurance, which are currently in operation, will be continued to ensure minimum basic health services to the citizens. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">“Health insurance program will be conducted from government and community hospitals as well as hospitals run by cooperatives. Such social security programs will gradually be brought under the scope of health insurance,” Minister Mahat said, adding, “Health insurance program will be restructured and made sustainable.”</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Damodar Prasad Subedi, the spokesperson of the Employees' Provident Fund, says that the social security program conducted by the fund should not be abandoned as it is the fund's own program.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">“The social security program we are running is based on profit. We will run the program as long as the fund is profitable," he said, adding that the government instead of cancelling the program that the fund is running has increased the scope of the program through the budget.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Now other sectors are also providing health insurance facilities under the social security program. Therefore, spokesperson Subedi believes that the government's strategy could be to integrate all such programs.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Spokesperson of the Social Security Fund (SSF), Vivek Panthi, said that the health insurance program under social security mentioned by the government in the budget and the program currently being conducted by the SSF are different. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">“The program being conducted by the fund is based on contributions. The budget clearly mentions that the work of the SSF will be expanded instead of curtailing it," Panthi said, adding, "There are health insurance programs under various ministries as well. Therefore, it is our understanding that the government does not want duplication between those programs and the social security program through the budget.”</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The spokesperson of the Health Insurance Board, Shambhu Prasad Gyawali, says that the government's policy is to consolidate the social security programs that are scattered under the Ministry of Health and Population in the budget of the upcoming fiscal year. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">“Currently, the ministry is conducting health insurance programs for various categories including the poor, mothers, girls, and senior citizens. The same patient can be paid twice under different programs," he said, "So, the government is going to implement a one-way policy so that there is no duplication in such programs."</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-16', 'modified' => '2023-06-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17924', 'image' => '20230616023316_1686881617.1617317226.Clipboard13.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-16 14:32:41', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18193', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Mango that Costs as Much as Gold!', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 16: This is the peak season of mango.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Agencies</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">June 16: This is the peak season of mango. Depending on the variety, one can enjoy the taste of mangoes at different prices. Last week in Siliguri, a rare variety of mangoes was sold at the price equivalent to gold. A farmer in West Bengal's Birbham district sold mangoes produced in his garden for Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">30,000</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> each.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The price of this mango was equal to the price of </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">5</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> grams of </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">24</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> carat gold. The name of this mango sold at the price of gold is Miyazaki. The place of origin of this purple-red mango is Miyazaki Prefecture in Japan. This is arguably the most expensive mango in the world. The price of this mango in the world market is Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">2.5</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> million per kilogram. The weight of this mango ranges from </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">350</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> grams to </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">900</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> grams.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to the Indiatimes, this ruby-red-coloured fruit is also known as “Egg of the Sun” or Taiyo-no-Tamago in Japan.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">“Mitazaki is a type of ‘irwin’ mango which is different from the yellow ‘pelican mango’ widely grown in Southeast Asia. It contains beta-carotene and folic acid and is considered to be rich in antioxidants,” Indiatimes reported.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Mangoes of other varieties are also being sold at high prices. Mangoes have become expensive all over the country as the production has been affected due to adverse weather conditions. Traders say that the production of Alphonso mangoes grown in Maharashtra and Konkan region have been reduced by half and the prices have increased.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">In Gujarat, the saffron variety of mango has not ripened yet. Due to the low production, exports have also been affected. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Miyazaki mango plants need special care. The cultivation of this variety requires long hours of bright sunshine and abundant rainfall.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">In April last year, two Miyazaki mangoes were reportedly sold in Japan for </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">500,000</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> yen (about </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">4,000</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> dollars).</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Recently, farmers in India have started getting attracted towards the cultivation of this mango. The taste of this mango, which is known as egg of the sun, is also very sweet. In foreign countries, this mango is especially used as a gift. </span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-16', 'modified' => '2023-06-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17923', 'image' => '20230616023229_1686885203.mango.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-16 14:31:54', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18192', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Ancient Archeological Structures Found in Kavre while Widening Suryabinayak-Dhulikhel Road ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 16: Ancient archeological structures were found at Bhainsepati area of Banepa while working for the construction of the Suryabinayak-Dhulikhel road section. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">June 16: Ancient archeological structures were found at Bhainsepati area of Banepa while working for the construction of the Suryabinayak-Dhulikhel road section. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Government officials confirmed that antique brick walls, sources of water, antique wooden structures and stones were found at Banepa’s Bhaisepati area along the Araniko Highway while expanding the road. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Department of Archeology (DoA) had earlier written to the District Administration Office, Kavrepalanchowk to properly manage archeological structures while widening the Suryabinayak-Dhulikhel road. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the state-owned RSS, conservationists have expressed their concerns after unearthing of the ancient archeological properties on the roadside. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A team of officials led by chief of Bhaktapur office of the DoA, Yamuna Maharjan, made an inspection visit to the site and confirmed that the structures date back to ancient time, RSS reported. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to Maharjan, the site was the trekking route in the past and it was named Phhalchahiti in the Newari language. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Currently, the construction work has been suspended there to conserve the ancient structures. Likewise, the department has also written to Banepa Municipality to halt the road widening drive. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Expansion of road from Suryabinayak in Bhaktapur to Dhulikhel in Kavrepalanchowk along the Araniko Highway had started last March. Two separate contracts were awarded for the construction works. </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-16', 'modified' => '2023-06-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17922', 'image' => '20230616020623_20230219013913_20220831041752_dhulikhel.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-16 14:05:40', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18191', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'El Nino Arrives Raising Fears of Extreme Weather', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 16: Scientists at the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration have warned that an expected El Nino climate phenomenon has arrived, raising fears of extreme weather and temperature records this year.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">AGENCIES</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">June 16: Scientists at the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration have warned that an expected El Nino climate phenomenon has arrived, raising fears of extreme weather and temperature records this year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the BBC, experts say it will likely make 2024 the world's hottest year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“They fear it will help push the world past a key 1.5C warming milestone,” the BBC wrote in a recent news report.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Meanwhile, the AFP reported that this pattern, marked by warmer-than-average sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean near the equator, last occurred in 2018-19, and takes place every 2-7 years on average</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"Depending on its strength, El Nino can cause a range of impacts, such as increasing the risk of heavy rainfall and droughts in certain locations around the world," AFP quoted NOAA climate scientist Michelle L'Heureux as saying.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to L'Heureux, climate change can exacerbate or mitigate certain impacts related to El Nino. “For example, El Nino could lead to new records for temperatures, particularly in areas that already experience above-average temperatures during El Nino," she added.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Australia this week warned El Nino would deliver warmer, drier days to a country vulnerable to fierce bushfires, while Japan said a developing El Nino was partly responsible for its warmest spring on record.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Most of the warmest years on record have occurred during El Ninos, and scientists are concerned that this summer and next could see record temperatures on land and in the sea, added AFP.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The phenomenon's influence on the United States is weak during summer but more pronounced starting from late fall through spring, NOAA said in its statement. By winter, it is estimated there is an 84 percent chance of a "greater than moderate" El Nino developing, and a 56 percent chance of a strong El Nino.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the BBC, an El Niño event is typically declared when sea surface temperatures in the tropical eastern Pacific rise to at least 0.5C above the long-term average.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">El Nino, meaning "Little Boy" in Spanish, is the warm phase of the El Nino-Southern Oscillation, AFP reported, adding, La Nina, meaning "Little Girl," is its colder counterpart, where sea surface temperatures in the eastern and central Pacific Ocean near the equator are lower than normal.</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-16', 'modified' => '2023-06-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17921', 'image' => '20230616012415_elnino.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-16 13:23:02', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18190', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Former Governors in Favour of Tight Monetary Policy', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 16: The former governors of Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) have suggested the central bank to give continuity to strict monetary policy.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">June 16: The former governors of Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) have suggested the central bank to give continuity to strict monetary policy. Speaking at an interaction on monetary policy organised by the Nepal Management Association on Thursday, they said that the tight monetary policy of the current fiscal year has prevented the economy from going into crisis and emphasized that this policy should get continuity for some more time.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Former Finance Minister and Governor Dr Yuba Raj Khatiwada said that the cooling period of monetary policy has not ended and it should be continued for some time. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">"Though foreign exchange reserves have increased slightly due to the strict monetary policy, inflation is still close to </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">8</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> percent," he said, adding, "So, the cooling period of monetary policy is not over. Please be careful." He advised the banks to increase investment.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Stating that it is not possible to expand credit flow by </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">20-30</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> percent as in the past, Khatiwada said that even if loan disbursement is increased by </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">12</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> percent, the target of </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">6</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> percent economic growth set by the budget will not be achieved. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">He was of the view that businessmen should not be allowed bank operators and suggested the concerned bodies to set a demarcation, which he also tried during his tenure.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">“For this purpose, an arrangement can be made to sell some parts of the founding shares,” suggested Khatiwada.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">He said that the spread rate of the banks has been reduced from </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">9</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> percent to </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">4</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> percent and it is not necessary to reduce it now.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Khatiwada added that the practice of fixing the interest rate through the association of banks is not appropriate and requested to correct it. Khatiwada said that there is a problem in the economy due to the inability to regulate microfinance companies and suggested to increase monitoring by forming second tier institutions soon. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">He also suggested that CRR and CD ratio should not be used in the current situation. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Meanwhile, former Governor Ganesh Bahadur Thapa said that the continuation of strict policies is necessary when the economy is in trouble. "There has been some improvement due to the introduction of tight monetary policy," he said.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Another former governor Dr Tilak Rawal suggested bringing a balanced monetary policy. "There is a need to be aware of the external and internal situations of the economy," he said. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Former Governor Dipendra Purush Dhakal also suggested that tight monetary policy saved the economy of the country and urged the central bank to give continuity to strict measures. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Stating that only </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">10</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> to </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">12</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> banks are enough in the country, he emphasized that the policy of merger should be continued.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Another ex-governor Dipendra Bahadur Chhetri said that the banks have not been able to extend loans in the productive sector and suggested to pay attention to this. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">During the interaction, former president of Nepal Bankers Association Gyanendra Dhungana said that when there is a decline in economic activities, many customers are unable to pay loan installments and interest. According to him, this situation should be addressed by the monetary policy. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Suyog Shrestha, chairman of Development Bankers Association, demanded that the development banks should also be allowed to open LC. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Meenraj Kandel, president of the National Cooperative Federation, said that the monetary policy should also cover the cooperatives sector.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Meanwhile, the private sector businessmen emphasized on the need for expansionary monetary policy. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">NRB Governor Mahaprasad Adhikari made it clear that the upcoming monetary policy cannot provide facilities provided during the time of Covid-</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">19</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> pandemic</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">. </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">He said that the side effects of the facilities given during the Covid-</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">19 </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">situation are now visible and that it needs to be corrected.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">“The monetary policy will be decided accordingly,” said Governor Adhikari.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-16', 'modified' => '2023-06-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17920', 'image' => '20230616122823_Nepal-Rastra-Bank.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-16 12:27:38', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18189', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Energy Minister Urges Private Sector Developers to get Ready for Power Trade ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 16: Minister for Energy Shakti Bahadur Basnet has signaled at allowing the private sector for power trade and urged them to get ready for it. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">June 16: Minister for Energy Shakti Bahadur Basnet has signaled at allowing the private sector for power trade and urged them to get ready for it. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Inaugurating the 21st general assembly of the Independent Power Producers' Association of Nepal on Thursday, Minister Basnet said that the private sector would be gradually allowed for power trade. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The context has changed immensely after the India visit of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal made a breakthrough in energy cooperation and added that the agreement of power export from Nepal to India will be implemented. "This is possible. Get assured that it will be implemented," said the energy minister. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Basnet was of the view that huge investment in infrastructure development is needed in energy sector as the deal has been made to export Nepal’s surplus power to India and Bangladesh. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">On the occasion, Basnet pledged to move ahead by ending the obstacles since the government has fixed its target in energy sector. "The basis for the country's prosperity is energy. We are clear on this issue," he said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, Basnet said that a campaign would be initiated to increase power consumption in the country with nationwide electrification, increasing power consumption in industrial sector, substitution of cooking gas for domestic purpose and use of electricity in irrigation system, and bringing electric vehicles in transportation. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"Now time has come for power trade by the private sector. Be ready for this as the government will join hands together," he said while urging the private power developers' increased role. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-16', 'modified' => '2023-06-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17919', 'image' => '20230616112752_City-Background.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-16 11:27:10', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18188', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Disaster Fund has Rs 6 Billion in Deposit ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 16: The Disaster Management Fund of the government has Rs 6 billion in deposit. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">June 16: The Disaster Management Fund of the government has Rs 6 billion in deposit. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Chief Executive Officer of National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) Anil Pokharel said that more than half of the total amount of the fund is in the Prime Minister Disaster Relief Fund. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">As shared by the officials, the amount will be spent for rescue operations, development of temporary settlement, supply of foodstuff and financial assistance to the disaster-affected community. As per the legal provision, the amount of the fund should not be spent for other purposes. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, the Province Disaster Management Fund has Rs 513.3 million and Rs 592.2 million in the District Disaster Management Fund. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Meanwhile, the government has ensured sufficient number of skilled human resources required for disaster management including search and rescue operation in view of upcoming monsoon-related disasters. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The number of skilled human resource has been increased to 11,663 this year from 1,484 in the previous year. This number is of trained human resources having expertise on disaster management. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the NDRRMA, a total of 7,636 Nepalese Army personnel have been kept in standby position for disaster management. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, 2,125 Nepal Police personnel and 1,903 APF personnel would be deployed for the disaster risk management job. Another 74 rescue divers of the APF are also kept in the ready position. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">CEO of the NDRRMA Anil Pokharel said that the police personnel would be mobilized in every district but the trained human resource would be deployed considering the specific needs of disasters. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-16', 'modified' => '2023-06-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17918', 'image' => '20230616103832_NDRRMA.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-16 10:37:41', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = falsesimplexml_load_file - [internal], line ?? include - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 60 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
Notice (8): Undefined variable: file [APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 133]Code Context// $file = 'http://aabhiyan:QUVLg8Wzs2F7G9N7@nepalstock.com.np/api/subindexdata.xml';if(!$xml = simplexml_load_file($file)){$viewFile = '/var/www/html/newbusinessage.com/app/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'articles' => array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ) ), 'current_user' => null, 'logged_in' => false ) $articles = array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18202', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Advertising Industry in Crisis', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 18: The economic crisis in the country has started taking its toll on the advertising industry, which is currently is a state of disarray,', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">June 18: The economic crisis in the country has started taking its toll on the advertising industry, which is currently is a state of disarray,</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Businessmen say that the advertising industry of Nepal has reached on the verge of collapse following the outbreak of coronavirus pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">In addition to the financial crisis, the government's failure to amend laws and timely reforms to make the advertising industry viable has also affected the industry.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Advertisers say that if the industry collapses, the general consumer will be deprived of public welfare information and the employees working in the industry and the media will be affected. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to Nepal Advertising Association, 142 advertising agencies are registered with the association.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The president of the association, Som Prasad Dhital, said that the advertising market has slumped. Compared to last year, the market has dropped by 40 percent. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">“Government policies, the role of the media, the reluctance of advertisers are the internal reasons for the decline in the market while the post-coronavirus recession and the Russia-Ukraine war are the external factors,'' said Dhital, adding, “The media started blackmailing the advertisers. They used to behave well when they got advertisements but they started abusing after not getting advertisements. This made the advertiser angry.”</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to the stakeholders, the advertisement of the construction industry and automobiles sector has come to a standstill. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Krishna Prasad Ghimire, Secretary General of Nepal Advertising Board, complained that despite the hope that the industry would grow due to the formation of the Advertising Board and various decisions of the government before the coronavirus pandemic, it did not happen in practice.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Businessmen were hopeful that the advertisement market would increase after the government's decision to implement the clean feed policy. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">“We also thought that Nepal's advertising industry would take over the market of goods imported from outside. The formation of the Advertisement Board also gave hope to the businessmen," he said. "But the advertising industry is becoming unstable now.”</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The commercial establishments which used to allocate Rs 10 million earlier are not even spending Rs 1 million now. Even smaller industries are backing away from advertising. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to General Secretary Ghimire, there is also a situation where municipalities do not allow advertising boards.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">"With such policies of the local government, the budget coming to this area has been cut by commercial establishments," he said.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Stakeholders said that advertisements of alcohol and cigarettes have been stopped now. The businessman said that advertisements of sex-related material, which were only available at night in the past, have now been stopped. According to them, there was an annual advertising market of Rs 6 billion in Nepal at the time, but now it has shrunk to Rs 3 billion.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Chairman of Nepal Advertising Board, Laxman Humagai, said that the process of amending the regulations related to advertising is now progressing. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">“It is true that the advertising market has declined. We are making efforts to improve the situation. Work is also being done to attract advertisers to the advertising market," he said. "There will be some improvements when the law is amended." </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">President Humagai also sees the need for regulating social media. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">"We are also lobbying to regulate social media advertisements," he said.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-18', 'modified' => '2023-06-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17932', 'image' => '20230618014735_20220509065530_Clipboard101.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-18 13:46:54', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18201', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Preparations Underway for Full-Fledged Implement of MCC Project from Mid-August', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 18: Preparations are underway for the full implementation of the projects under the US-funded Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) from mid-August this year. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">June 18: Preparations are underway for the full implementation of the projects under the US-funded Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) from mid-August this year. The Millennium Challenge Account Nepal (MCA Nepal), which has been entrusted with the responsibility to implement the projects, has expedited the work from acquiring land to selecting companies to participate in the construction works under the MCC.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Khadga Bahadur Bista, executive director of MCA Nepal, said that they are actively involved in advancing the construction works under the project from the mid-August. According to him, MCA Nepal is about to complete the contract process for starting the projects. Executive Director Bista informed that although other preparatory works have been completed, the land acquisition and compensation has not been finalized.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to him, notices have been published in nine districts for land acquisition. Meanwhile, there is an ongoing dispute between the Nepal Electricity Authority and the locals of Lapsifedi. Bista said that they are making efforts to resolve the dispute and carry out the work related to the project. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The transmission line under the MCC will spread across </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">10</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> districts namely Kathmandu, Sindhupalchok, Nuwakot, Dhading, Makwanpur, Chitwan, Tanahun, Palpa, Nawalpur and Parasi. In some of these districts, after completing the compensation work, it is ready to go into full implementation. The process of land acquisition in nine districts except Kathmandu has already progressed.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Bista said that a committee will be formed to fix the criteria for determining compensation of land after they receive copies of land ownership certificate from the land owners who will be displaced due to the project.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">He said that the MCC project will be implemented as soon as possible after determining the price of the land.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to MCA Nepal, selection of the company to build the transmission line under MCC is also underway. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Six proposals have been received for the construction of transmission lines. In the globally announced tender bids, MCC received applications from Mega Engineering and Infrastructure Limited and Power Mech Projects Limited, a joint venture of Kalpataru Power Transmission Limited, KEC International Limited, Transrail Lighting Limited, Tata Projects Limited and Larson and Turbay Limited. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Officials of MCA Nepal say that it will take </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">90</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> days to study the proposals. The company will be selected after completing the study.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">About Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">5.5</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> billion have already been spent on the project with a grant of USD </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">500</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> million from the American government and USD </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">130</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> million from Nepal (Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">82.5</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> billion according to the current exchange rate). </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The expenditure on the project so far is more under the heading of current expenses than on the capital expenditure. The government has allocated Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">10</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">.84 billion for MCA Nepal in the upcoming fiscal year’s budget</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">. </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The government will contribute Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">2.21</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> billion while the MCC will fund Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">8</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">.63 billion for the next fiscal year. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">During this period, Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">1</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">.17 billion will be spent as current expenditure while Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">5.36</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> billion has been earmarked for building transmission lines and substations and Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">1.4</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> billion for road construction. Similarly, Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">1</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">.28 billion has been set aside for consultation.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Under the MCC project, a cross-border electricity transmission line will create from Nepal to India. The infrastructure will facilitate the transmission of electricity from Butwal to Gorakhpur, India, which will be jointly invested by Nepal and India. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Three new substations of </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">400</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> KV capacity will be constructed under the </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">315</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> km long double circuit </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">400</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> KV transmission line. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Some critics suspect that the project will be completed within the timeframe of five years, saying that the preparatory works of the project have not progressed as expected.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-18', 'modified' => '2023-06-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17931', 'image' => '20230618010750_MCC.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-18 13:06:19', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18200', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Additional Ticket Counters Set Up at New Bus Park', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 18: A total of 56 ticket counters have been added at the New Bus Park, Gongabu in line with the decision of Kathmandu Metropolitan City to allow long-route vehicles leaving Kathmandu valley to operate only from the New Bus Park. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">June 18: A total of 56 ticket counters have been added at the New Bus Park, Gongabu in line with the decision of Kathmandu Metropolitan City to allow long-route vehicles leaving Kathmandu valley to operate only from the New Bus Park. The decision was implemented on June 16.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The ticket counters were added after the vehicles operating from Chabahil, Balkhu, Kalanki, Balaju, Machhapokhari, Gongbu, Koteshwar, Sundhara and other areas within Kathmandu began operating from the New Bus Park starting from June 16. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Chief of the Municipal Police of Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Rajunath Pandey, said ticket counters operating haphazardly from Gongbu, Kalanki, Chabahil areas have been removed. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Lotse Multi-Purpose Pvt. Ltd has added 56 new ticket counters. Head of Human Resources of Lotse Multi-Purpose Pvt Ltd, Pankaj Malla, said that 56 new ticket counters for jeeps and microbuses have been set up inside New Bus Park for the implementation of the decision made by Kathmandu Metropolitan City. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Earlier, only large public vehicles were operating from the New Bus Park. The New Bus Park, which is spread over an area of 161 ropanis of land, has the capacity to park more than 800 large public vehicles. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-18', 'modified' => '2023-06-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17930', 'image' => '20230618115157_20221222061246_Transport.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-18 11:51:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18199', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Province Government to Provide Interest-Free Loan for Farmers ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 18: The Sudurpaschim Province Government has announced to provide interest-free loan to the farmers to promote commercial farming. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">June 18: The Sudurpaschim Province Government has announced to provide interest-free loan to the farmers to promote commercial farming. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Unveiling the budget for the upcoming fiscal year, the province government on Friday said that the interest-free loan will be provided to bring about reforms in the agricultural grants and to properly utilise such grants. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The province government has allocated Rs 40 million to provide such loans by the establishment of Province Agriculture Promotion Fund. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The province has also planned to become self-reliant on legumes, spicy food and fruits within five years. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, agriculture ambulance service will be run for the market promotion of agricultural produce. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-18', 'modified' => '2023-06-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17929', 'image' => '20230618105933_agri maize.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-18 10:58:29', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18198', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Passports to be Issued at Reduced Fee of Rs 5,000 from Districts', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'The Department of Passport will begin issuing passports from the respective districts at a reduced fee of Rs 5,000 starting from June 18.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">June 18: The Department of Passport will begin issuing passports from the respective districts at a reduced fee of Rs 5,000 starting from June 18. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Previously, passports were provided by the district administration office for Rs 10,000, but now they will be available for Rs 5,000, according to Durpada Sapkota, spokesperson of the department.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Henceforth, obtaining a passport from the respective district will cost 5,000 rupees, while acquiring it from the department in Kathmandu will be priced at 12,000 rupees. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Additionally, in the case of lost or damaged passports, the fee will be Rs 17,000 if obtained from the Department and Rs 10,000 rupees if obtained from the concerned district, added spokesperson Sapkota.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The meeting of the Council of Ministers held on June 7 had decided to offer a 66-page passport at the same price as the 34-page passport. </span></span><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Previously, the Department of Passport provided the 66-page passport to frequent flyers for Rs 10,000 through the district administration office.</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-18', 'modified' => '2023-06-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17928', 'image' => '20230618065025_collage (28).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-18 06:48:54', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18197', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'IPPAN Elects New Executive Committee Under Ganesh Karki’s Leadership', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'The Independent Power Producers Association, Nepal (IPPAN), an umbrella organization representing private developers and owners of power producers in Nepal, has unanimously elected a new 25-member executive committee with Ganesh Karki as the President and Mohan Dangi as the Senior Vice President.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">June 18: The Independent Power Producers Association, Nepal (IPPAN), an umbrella organization representing private developers and owners of power producers in Nepal, has unanimously elected a new 25-member executive committee with Ganesh Karki as the President and Mohan Dangi as the Senior Vice President.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Karki assumed the presidency after the candidacy of another contender, Kiran Malla, was deemed ineligible for not meeting the qualifications outlined in the election guidelines. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Similarly, Mohan Kumar Dangi was elected as the Senior Vice President. Surya Prasad Adhikari had also submitted his nomination for the position, but the election committee rejected his candidacy due to lack of qualifications, ultimately leading to Dangi's election as the Senior Vice President.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Likewise, five Vice Presidents have been elected unopposed. Although seven candidates filed nominations for the five Vice President positions, the election committee disqualified two candidates, resulting in the unopposed election of Ashish Garg, Bharat Kumar Khatri, Uttam Blon Lama, Ram Prasad Acharya, and Ananda Chaudhary as Vice Presidents.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Balaram Khatiwada was elected unopposed as the General Secretary, while two candidates had initially filed nominations for the position. Prakash Chandra Dulal was already elected unopposed as the Deputy General Secretary, being the sole contender for the post.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">For the five Secretary positions, six nominations were received, and one person was elected unopposed. Bharat Prasad Nepal, Bharat Kumar Khadka, Kabita Pokharel, Bikram Bista, and Him Prasad Pathak have been elected as secretaries. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The election committee determined that Narayan Kandel, who had filed a nomination for the Secretary position, did not meet the qualifications.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Narendra Ballabh Panta has been elected as the Treasurer. Among the three women members, Isha Shrestha, Susan Karmacharya, and Suman Joshi have been elected unopposed.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Meanwhile, the group led by Kiran Mall, which was declared ineligible to compete for the chairmanship, has announced the establishment of the Green Energy Power Association, Nepal (GEPAN). </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Mall's group alleges that IPPAN overstepped its jurisdiction and attempted to take control of the organization. In response, the dissatisfied group formed GEPAN under the coordination of energy researcher Surya Prasad Adhikari.</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-18', 'modified' => '2023-06-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17927', 'image' => '20230618063001_collage (27).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-18 06:28:01', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18196', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Lawmakers Demand Budget Amendment', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'In a parliamentary meeting, lawmaker Prem Suwal has emphasized the necessity of amending the budget for the upcoming fiscal year 2023/24, taking into account the suggestions provided by fellow lawmakers.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">June 16: In a parliamentary meeting, lawmaker Prem Suwal has emphasized the necessity of amending the budget for the upcoming fiscal year 2023/24, taking into account the suggestions provided by fellow lawmakers. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">During a joint deliberation, he called upon the Prime Minister and Finance Minister to be prepared for budget amendments. Specifically, Suwal proposed a reduction in expenditures allocated to the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, the Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation, and the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport in Friday's House of Representatives meeting.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Highlighting the importance of addressing the challenges faced by cooperative victims, Suwal emphasized the government's involvement in dealing with underperforming cooperatives.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">He suggested that the savings of cooperative victims should be recovered by seizing the assets of government officials who granted licenses to these problematic cooperatives.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> Additionally, Suwal stressed the need to restrict the operational jurisdiction of cooperatives to specific local level wards. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Similarly, lawmaker Basanta Nembang expressed concerns that the current budget fails to meet its targets in terms of physical progress and goals. He called for necessary amendments to both the budget and appropriation bills to ensure alignment with the intended objectives.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-16', 'modified' => '2023-06-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17926', 'image' => '20230616045209_collage (32).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-16 16:50:33', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18195', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Monsoon Spreading Across the Country', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'The monsoon weather system is currently active in the eastern and central regions of the country, while the remaining areas are experiencing the influence of local winds and westerly winds.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">June 16: The monsoon weather system is currently active in the eastern and central regions of the country, while the remaining areas are experiencing the influence of local winds and westerly winds.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> The Meteorological Forecasting Division reports cloudy weather with the possibility of light to moderate rainfall in the central and eastern parts due to this weather system. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In Koshi, Bagmati, and Gandaki provinces, light rain has been observed in several areas. The monsoon system made its entry into the country via the eastern part on June 14.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In a special bulletin on the arrival of the monsoon, the Division announced its presence in Koshi Province, most of Madhes Province, major parts of Bagmati Province, and the eastern regions of Gandaki Province. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">According to Rojan Lamichhane, a meteorologist at the Division, the monsoon is gradually spreading, and it will take about a week for it to cover the entire country. He mentioned that although the monsoon is currently weak to some extent, rainfall will continue to occur.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Division clarifies that due to the slow progression of the monsoon, it will take a few more days for it to reach the western parts of the country. Typically, the monsoon arrives in Nepal on June 13, but this year it was delayed by one day. (RSS) </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-16', 'modified' => '2023-06-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17925', 'image' => '20230616034947_collage (31).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-16 15:48:34', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18194', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government to Avoid Duplication of Health Insurance Programs', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 16: Finance Minister Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat, while presenting the budget for the fiscal year (FY 2023/24) on May 29, had said that the government will prepare a work procedure within the current fiscal year to avoid duplication between health related social security programs and health insurance.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">June 16: Finance Minister Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat, while presenting the budget for the fiscal year (FY </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">20</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">23</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">/</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">24) on May 29, had said that the government will prepare a work procedure within the current fiscal year to avoid duplication between health related social security programs and health insurance.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">In Nepal, state-owned organizations such as the Social Security Fund, Employee Provident Fund, Citizen Investment Trust and others have been conducting health insurance programs for their members under the social security program. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">As the government intends to avoid duplication of social security program and health insurance program, the fate of the health insurance program that these organizations are running have become uncertain. The budget announcement has caused confusion among all.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Joint spokesperson for the Ministry of Health and Population Dr Samir Adhikari says that the social security programs provided by the government and the social security programs run by other organizations are different. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">"Therefore, the ministry is of the opinion that the health insurance program under the social security program currently being operated by various organizations should not be abandoned," he said.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">In his budget speech, Finance Minister Mahat said that social security programs including health insurance, which are currently in operation, will be continued to ensure minimum basic health services to the citizens. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">“Health insurance program will be conducted from government and community hospitals as well as hospitals run by cooperatives. Such social security programs will gradually be brought under the scope of health insurance,” Minister Mahat said, adding, “Health insurance program will be restructured and made sustainable.”</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Damodar Prasad Subedi, the spokesperson of the Employees' Provident Fund, says that the social security program conducted by the fund should not be abandoned as it is the fund's own program.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">“The social security program we are running is based on profit. We will run the program as long as the fund is profitable," he said, adding that the government instead of cancelling the program that the fund is running has increased the scope of the program through the budget.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Now other sectors are also providing health insurance facilities under the social security program. Therefore, spokesperson Subedi believes that the government's strategy could be to integrate all such programs.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Spokesperson of the Social Security Fund (SSF), Vivek Panthi, said that the health insurance program under social security mentioned by the government in the budget and the program currently being conducted by the SSF are different. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">“The program being conducted by the fund is based on contributions. The budget clearly mentions that the work of the SSF will be expanded instead of curtailing it," Panthi said, adding, "There are health insurance programs under various ministries as well. Therefore, it is our understanding that the government does not want duplication between those programs and the social security program through the budget.”</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The spokesperson of the Health Insurance Board, Shambhu Prasad Gyawali, says that the government's policy is to consolidate the social security programs that are scattered under the Ministry of Health and Population in the budget of the upcoming fiscal year. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">“Currently, the ministry is conducting health insurance programs for various categories including the poor, mothers, girls, and senior citizens. The same patient can be paid twice under different programs," he said, "So, the government is going to implement a one-way policy so that there is no duplication in such programs."</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-16', 'modified' => '2023-06-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17924', 'image' => '20230616023316_1686881617.1617317226.Clipboard13.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-16 14:32:41', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18193', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Mango that Costs as Much as Gold!', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 16: This is the peak season of mango.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Agencies</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">June 16: This is the peak season of mango. Depending on the variety, one can enjoy the taste of mangoes at different prices. Last week in Siliguri, a rare variety of mangoes was sold at the price equivalent to gold. A farmer in West Bengal's Birbham district sold mangoes produced in his garden for Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">30,000</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> each.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The price of this mango was equal to the price of </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">5</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> grams of </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">24</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> carat gold. The name of this mango sold at the price of gold is Miyazaki. The place of origin of this purple-red mango is Miyazaki Prefecture in Japan. This is arguably the most expensive mango in the world. The price of this mango in the world market is Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">2.5</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> million per kilogram. The weight of this mango ranges from </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">350</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> grams to </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">900</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> grams.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to the Indiatimes, this ruby-red-coloured fruit is also known as “Egg of the Sun” or Taiyo-no-Tamago in Japan.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">“Mitazaki is a type of ‘irwin’ mango which is different from the yellow ‘pelican mango’ widely grown in Southeast Asia. It contains beta-carotene and folic acid and is considered to be rich in antioxidants,” Indiatimes reported.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Mangoes of other varieties are also being sold at high prices. Mangoes have become expensive all over the country as the production has been affected due to adverse weather conditions. Traders say that the production of Alphonso mangoes grown in Maharashtra and Konkan region have been reduced by half and the prices have increased.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">In Gujarat, the saffron variety of mango has not ripened yet. Due to the low production, exports have also been affected. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Miyazaki mango plants need special care. The cultivation of this variety requires long hours of bright sunshine and abundant rainfall.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">In April last year, two Miyazaki mangoes were reportedly sold in Japan for </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">500,000</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> yen (about </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">4,000</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> dollars).</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Recently, farmers in India have started getting attracted towards the cultivation of this mango. The taste of this mango, which is known as egg of the sun, is also very sweet. In foreign countries, this mango is especially used as a gift. </span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-16', 'modified' => '2023-06-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17923', 'image' => '20230616023229_1686885203.mango.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-16 14:31:54', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18192', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Ancient Archeological Structures Found in Kavre while Widening Suryabinayak-Dhulikhel Road ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 16: Ancient archeological structures were found at Bhainsepati area of Banepa while working for the construction of the Suryabinayak-Dhulikhel road section. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">June 16: Ancient archeological structures were found at Bhainsepati area of Banepa while working for the construction of the Suryabinayak-Dhulikhel road section. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Government officials confirmed that antique brick walls, sources of water, antique wooden structures and stones were found at Banepa’s Bhaisepati area along the Araniko Highway while expanding the road. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Department of Archeology (DoA) had earlier written to the District Administration Office, Kavrepalanchowk to properly manage archeological structures while widening the Suryabinayak-Dhulikhel road. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the state-owned RSS, conservationists have expressed their concerns after unearthing of the ancient archeological properties on the roadside. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A team of officials led by chief of Bhaktapur office of the DoA, Yamuna Maharjan, made an inspection visit to the site and confirmed that the structures date back to ancient time, RSS reported. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to Maharjan, the site was the trekking route in the past and it was named Phhalchahiti in the Newari language. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Currently, the construction work has been suspended there to conserve the ancient structures. Likewise, the department has also written to Banepa Municipality to halt the road widening drive. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Expansion of road from Suryabinayak in Bhaktapur to Dhulikhel in Kavrepalanchowk along the Araniko Highway had started last March. Two separate contracts were awarded for the construction works. </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-16', 'modified' => '2023-06-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17922', 'image' => '20230616020623_20230219013913_20220831041752_dhulikhel.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-16 14:05:40', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18191', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'El Nino Arrives Raising Fears of Extreme Weather', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 16: Scientists at the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration have warned that an expected El Nino climate phenomenon has arrived, raising fears of extreme weather and temperature records this year.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">AGENCIES</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">June 16: Scientists at the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration have warned that an expected El Nino climate phenomenon has arrived, raising fears of extreme weather and temperature records this year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the BBC, experts say it will likely make 2024 the world's hottest year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“They fear it will help push the world past a key 1.5C warming milestone,” the BBC wrote in a recent news report.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Meanwhile, the AFP reported that this pattern, marked by warmer-than-average sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean near the equator, last occurred in 2018-19, and takes place every 2-7 years on average</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"Depending on its strength, El Nino can cause a range of impacts, such as increasing the risk of heavy rainfall and droughts in certain locations around the world," AFP quoted NOAA climate scientist Michelle L'Heureux as saying.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to L'Heureux, climate change can exacerbate or mitigate certain impacts related to El Nino. “For example, El Nino could lead to new records for temperatures, particularly in areas that already experience above-average temperatures during El Nino," she added.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Australia this week warned El Nino would deliver warmer, drier days to a country vulnerable to fierce bushfires, while Japan said a developing El Nino was partly responsible for its warmest spring on record.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Most of the warmest years on record have occurred during El Ninos, and scientists are concerned that this summer and next could see record temperatures on land and in the sea, added AFP.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The phenomenon's influence on the United States is weak during summer but more pronounced starting from late fall through spring, NOAA said in its statement. By winter, it is estimated there is an 84 percent chance of a "greater than moderate" El Nino developing, and a 56 percent chance of a strong El Nino.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the BBC, an El Niño event is typically declared when sea surface temperatures in the tropical eastern Pacific rise to at least 0.5C above the long-term average.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">El Nino, meaning "Little Boy" in Spanish, is the warm phase of the El Nino-Southern Oscillation, AFP reported, adding, La Nina, meaning "Little Girl," is its colder counterpart, where sea surface temperatures in the eastern and central Pacific Ocean near the equator are lower than normal.</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-16', 'modified' => '2023-06-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17921', 'image' => '20230616012415_elnino.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-16 13:23:02', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18190', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Former Governors in Favour of Tight Monetary Policy', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 16: The former governors of Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) have suggested the central bank to give continuity to strict monetary policy.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">June 16: The former governors of Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) have suggested the central bank to give continuity to strict monetary policy. Speaking at an interaction on monetary policy organised by the Nepal Management Association on Thursday, they said that the tight monetary policy of the current fiscal year has prevented the economy from going into crisis and emphasized that this policy should get continuity for some more time.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Former Finance Minister and Governor Dr Yuba Raj Khatiwada said that the cooling period of monetary policy has not ended and it should be continued for some time. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">"Though foreign exchange reserves have increased slightly due to the strict monetary policy, inflation is still close to </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">8</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> percent," he said, adding, "So, the cooling period of monetary policy is not over. Please be careful." He advised the banks to increase investment.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Stating that it is not possible to expand credit flow by </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">20-30</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> percent as in the past, Khatiwada said that even if loan disbursement is increased by </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">12</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> percent, the target of </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">6</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> percent economic growth set by the budget will not be achieved. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">He was of the view that businessmen should not be allowed bank operators and suggested the concerned bodies to set a demarcation, which he also tried during his tenure.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">“For this purpose, an arrangement can be made to sell some parts of the founding shares,” suggested Khatiwada.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">He said that the spread rate of the banks has been reduced from </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">9</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> percent to </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">4</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> percent and it is not necessary to reduce it now.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Khatiwada added that the practice of fixing the interest rate through the association of banks is not appropriate and requested to correct it. Khatiwada said that there is a problem in the economy due to the inability to regulate microfinance companies and suggested to increase monitoring by forming second tier institutions soon. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">He also suggested that CRR and CD ratio should not be used in the current situation. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Meanwhile, former Governor Ganesh Bahadur Thapa said that the continuation of strict policies is necessary when the economy is in trouble. "There has been some improvement due to the introduction of tight monetary policy," he said.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Another former governor Dr Tilak Rawal suggested bringing a balanced monetary policy. "There is a need to be aware of the external and internal situations of the economy," he said. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Former Governor Dipendra Purush Dhakal also suggested that tight monetary policy saved the economy of the country and urged the central bank to give continuity to strict measures. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Stating that only </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">10</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> to </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">12</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> banks are enough in the country, he emphasized that the policy of merger should be continued.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Another ex-governor Dipendra Bahadur Chhetri said that the banks have not been able to extend loans in the productive sector and suggested to pay attention to this. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">During the interaction, former president of Nepal Bankers Association Gyanendra Dhungana said that when there is a decline in economic activities, many customers are unable to pay loan installments and interest. According to him, this situation should be addressed by the monetary policy. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Suyog Shrestha, chairman of Development Bankers Association, demanded that the development banks should also be allowed to open LC. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Meenraj Kandel, president of the National Cooperative Federation, said that the monetary policy should also cover the cooperatives sector.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Meanwhile, the private sector businessmen emphasized on the need for expansionary monetary policy. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">NRB Governor Mahaprasad Adhikari made it clear that the upcoming monetary policy cannot provide facilities provided during the time of Covid-</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">19</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> pandemic</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">. </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">He said that the side effects of the facilities given during the Covid-</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">19 </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">situation are now visible and that it needs to be corrected.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">“The monetary policy will be decided accordingly,” said Governor Adhikari.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-16', 'modified' => '2023-06-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17920', 'image' => '20230616122823_Nepal-Rastra-Bank.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-16 12:27:38', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18189', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Energy Minister Urges Private Sector Developers to get Ready for Power Trade ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 16: Minister for Energy Shakti Bahadur Basnet has signaled at allowing the private sector for power trade and urged them to get ready for it. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">June 16: Minister for Energy Shakti Bahadur Basnet has signaled at allowing the private sector for power trade and urged them to get ready for it. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Inaugurating the 21st general assembly of the Independent Power Producers' Association of Nepal on Thursday, Minister Basnet said that the private sector would be gradually allowed for power trade. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The context has changed immensely after the India visit of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal made a breakthrough in energy cooperation and added that the agreement of power export from Nepal to India will be implemented. "This is possible. Get assured that it will be implemented," said the energy minister. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Basnet was of the view that huge investment in infrastructure development is needed in energy sector as the deal has been made to export Nepal’s surplus power to India and Bangladesh. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">On the occasion, Basnet pledged to move ahead by ending the obstacles since the government has fixed its target in energy sector. "The basis for the country's prosperity is energy. We are clear on this issue," he said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, Basnet said that a campaign would be initiated to increase power consumption in the country with nationwide electrification, increasing power consumption in industrial sector, substitution of cooking gas for domestic purpose and use of electricity in irrigation system, and bringing electric vehicles in transportation. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"Now time has come for power trade by the private sector. Be ready for this as the government will join hands together," he said while urging the private power developers' increased role. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-16', 'modified' => '2023-06-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17919', 'image' => '20230616112752_City-Background.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-16 11:27:10', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18188', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Disaster Fund has Rs 6 Billion in Deposit ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 16: The Disaster Management Fund of the government has Rs 6 billion in deposit. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">June 16: The Disaster Management Fund of the government has Rs 6 billion in deposit. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Chief Executive Officer of National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) Anil Pokharel said that more than half of the total amount of the fund is in the Prime Minister Disaster Relief Fund. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">As shared by the officials, the amount will be spent for rescue operations, development of temporary settlement, supply of foodstuff and financial assistance to the disaster-affected community. As per the legal provision, the amount of the fund should not be spent for other purposes. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, the Province Disaster Management Fund has Rs 513.3 million and Rs 592.2 million in the District Disaster Management Fund. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Meanwhile, the government has ensured sufficient number of skilled human resources required for disaster management including search and rescue operation in view of upcoming monsoon-related disasters. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The number of skilled human resource has been increased to 11,663 this year from 1,484 in the previous year. This number is of trained human resources having expertise on disaster management. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the NDRRMA, a total of 7,636 Nepalese Army personnel have been kept in standby position for disaster management. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, 2,125 Nepal Police personnel and 1,903 APF personnel would be deployed for the disaster risk management job. Another 74 rescue divers of the APF are also kept in the ready position. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">CEO of the NDRRMA Anil Pokharel said that the police personnel would be mobilized in every district but the trained human resource would be deployed considering the specific needs of disasters. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-16', 'modified' => '2023-06-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17918', 'image' => '20230616103832_NDRRMA.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-16 10:37:41', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = false $xml = falseinclude - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 133 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
Warning (2): simplexml_load_file() [<a href='http://php.net/function.simplexml-load-file'>function.simplexml-load-file</a>]: I/O warning : failed to load external entity "" [APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 133]file not found!Code Context// $file = 'http://aabhiyan:QUVLg8Wzs2F7G9N7@nepalstock.com.np/api/subindexdata.xml';if(!$xml = simplexml_load_file($file)){$viewFile = '/var/www/html/newbusinessage.com/app/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'articles' => array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ) ), 'current_user' => null, 'logged_in' => false ) $articles = array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18202', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Advertising Industry in Crisis', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 18: The economic crisis in the country has started taking its toll on the advertising industry, which is currently is a state of disarray,', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">June 18: The economic crisis in the country has started taking its toll on the advertising industry, which is currently is a state of disarray,</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Businessmen say that the advertising industry of Nepal has reached on the verge of collapse following the outbreak of coronavirus pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">In addition to the financial crisis, the government's failure to amend laws and timely reforms to make the advertising industry viable has also affected the industry.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Advertisers say that if the industry collapses, the general consumer will be deprived of public welfare information and the employees working in the industry and the media will be affected. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to Nepal Advertising Association, 142 advertising agencies are registered with the association.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The president of the association, Som Prasad Dhital, said that the advertising market has slumped. Compared to last year, the market has dropped by 40 percent. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">“Government policies, the role of the media, the reluctance of advertisers are the internal reasons for the decline in the market while the post-coronavirus recession and the Russia-Ukraine war are the external factors,'' said Dhital, adding, “The media started blackmailing the advertisers. They used to behave well when they got advertisements but they started abusing after not getting advertisements. This made the advertiser angry.”</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to the stakeholders, the advertisement of the construction industry and automobiles sector has come to a standstill. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Krishna Prasad Ghimire, Secretary General of Nepal Advertising Board, complained that despite the hope that the industry would grow due to the formation of the Advertising Board and various decisions of the government before the coronavirus pandemic, it did not happen in practice.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Businessmen were hopeful that the advertisement market would increase after the government's decision to implement the clean feed policy. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">“We also thought that Nepal's advertising industry would take over the market of goods imported from outside. The formation of the Advertisement Board also gave hope to the businessmen," he said. "But the advertising industry is becoming unstable now.”</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The commercial establishments which used to allocate Rs 10 million earlier are not even spending Rs 1 million now. Even smaller industries are backing away from advertising. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to General Secretary Ghimire, there is also a situation where municipalities do not allow advertising boards.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">"With such policies of the local government, the budget coming to this area has been cut by commercial establishments," he said.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Stakeholders said that advertisements of alcohol and cigarettes have been stopped now. The businessman said that advertisements of sex-related material, which were only available at night in the past, have now been stopped. According to them, there was an annual advertising market of Rs 6 billion in Nepal at the time, but now it has shrunk to Rs 3 billion.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Chairman of Nepal Advertising Board, Laxman Humagai, said that the process of amending the regulations related to advertising is now progressing. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">“It is true that the advertising market has declined. We are making efforts to improve the situation. Work is also being done to attract advertisers to the advertising market," he said. "There will be some improvements when the law is amended." </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">President Humagai also sees the need for regulating social media. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">"We are also lobbying to regulate social media advertisements," he said.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-18', 'modified' => '2023-06-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17932', 'image' => '20230618014735_20220509065530_Clipboard101.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-18 13:46:54', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18201', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Preparations Underway for Full-Fledged Implement of MCC Project from Mid-August', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 18: Preparations are underway for the full implementation of the projects under the US-funded Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) from mid-August this year. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">June 18: Preparations are underway for the full implementation of the projects under the US-funded Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) from mid-August this year. The Millennium Challenge Account Nepal (MCA Nepal), which has been entrusted with the responsibility to implement the projects, has expedited the work from acquiring land to selecting companies to participate in the construction works under the MCC.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Khadga Bahadur Bista, executive director of MCA Nepal, said that they are actively involved in advancing the construction works under the project from the mid-August. According to him, MCA Nepal is about to complete the contract process for starting the projects. Executive Director Bista informed that although other preparatory works have been completed, the land acquisition and compensation has not been finalized.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to him, notices have been published in nine districts for land acquisition. Meanwhile, there is an ongoing dispute between the Nepal Electricity Authority and the locals of Lapsifedi. Bista said that they are making efforts to resolve the dispute and carry out the work related to the project. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The transmission line under the MCC will spread across </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">10</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> districts namely Kathmandu, Sindhupalchok, Nuwakot, Dhading, Makwanpur, Chitwan, Tanahun, Palpa, Nawalpur and Parasi. In some of these districts, after completing the compensation work, it is ready to go into full implementation. The process of land acquisition in nine districts except Kathmandu has already progressed.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Bista said that a committee will be formed to fix the criteria for determining compensation of land after they receive copies of land ownership certificate from the land owners who will be displaced due to the project.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">He said that the MCC project will be implemented as soon as possible after determining the price of the land.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to MCA Nepal, selection of the company to build the transmission line under MCC is also underway. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Six proposals have been received for the construction of transmission lines. In the globally announced tender bids, MCC received applications from Mega Engineering and Infrastructure Limited and Power Mech Projects Limited, a joint venture of Kalpataru Power Transmission Limited, KEC International Limited, Transrail Lighting Limited, Tata Projects Limited and Larson and Turbay Limited. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Officials of MCA Nepal say that it will take </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">90</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> days to study the proposals. The company will be selected after completing the study.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">About Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">5.5</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> billion have already been spent on the project with a grant of USD </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">500</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> million from the American government and USD </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">130</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> million from Nepal (Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">82.5</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> billion according to the current exchange rate). </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The expenditure on the project so far is more under the heading of current expenses than on the capital expenditure. The government has allocated Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">10</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">.84 billion for MCA Nepal in the upcoming fiscal year’s budget</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">. </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The government will contribute Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">2.21</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> billion while the MCC will fund Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">8</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">.63 billion for the next fiscal year. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">During this period, Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">1</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">.17 billion will be spent as current expenditure while Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">5.36</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> billion has been earmarked for building transmission lines and substations and Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">1.4</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> billion for road construction. Similarly, Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">1</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">.28 billion has been set aside for consultation.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Under the MCC project, a cross-border electricity transmission line will create from Nepal to India. The infrastructure will facilitate the transmission of electricity from Butwal to Gorakhpur, India, which will be jointly invested by Nepal and India. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Three new substations of </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">400</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> KV capacity will be constructed under the </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">315</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> km long double circuit </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">400</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> KV transmission line. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Some critics suspect that the project will be completed within the timeframe of five years, saying that the preparatory works of the project have not progressed as expected.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-18', 'modified' => '2023-06-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17931', 'image' => '20230618010750_MCC.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-18 13:06:19', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18200', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Additional Ticket Counters Set Up at New Bus Park', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 18: A total of 56 ticket counters have been added at the New Bus Park, Gongabu in line with the decision of Kathmandu Metropolitan City to allow long-route vehicles leaving Kathmandu valley to operate only from the New Bus Park. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">June 18: A total of 56 ticket counters have been added at the New Bus Park, Gongabu in line with the decision of Kathmandu Metropolitan City to allow long-route vehicles leaving Kathmandu valley to operate only from the New Bus Park. The decision was implemented on June 16.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The ticket counters were added after the vehicles operating from Chabahil, Balkhu, Kalanki, Balaju, Machhapokhari, Gongbu, Koteshwar, Sundhara and other areas within Kathmandu began operating from the New Bus Park starting from June 16. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Chief of the Municipal Police of Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Rajunath Pandey, said ticket counters operating haphazardly from Gongbu, Kalanki, Chabahil areas have been removed. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Lotse Multi-Purpose Pvt. Ltd has added 56 new ticket counters. Head of Human Resources of Lotse Multi-Purpose Pvt Ltd, Pankaj Malla, said that 56 new ticket counters for jeeps and microbuses have been set up inside New Bus Park for the implementation of the decision made by Kathmandu Metropolitan City. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Earlier, only large public vehicles were operating from the New Bus Park. The New Bus Park, which is spread over an area of 161 ropanis of land, has the capacity to park more than 800 large public vehicles. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-18', 'modified' => '2023-06-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17930', 'image' => '20230618115157_20221222061246_Transport.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-18 11:51:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18199', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Province Government to Provide Interest-Free Loan for Farmers ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 18: The Sudurpaschim Province Government has announced to provide interest-free loan to the farmers to promote commercial farming. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">June 18: The Sudurpaschim Province Government has announced to provide interest-free loan to the farmers to promote commercial farming. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Unveiling the budget for the upcoming fiscal year, the province government on Friday said that the interest-free loan will be provided to bring about reforms in the agricultural grants and to properly utilise such grants. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The province government has allocated Rs 40 million to provide such loans by the establishment of Province Agriculture Promotion Fund. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The province has also planned to become self-reliant on legumes, spicy food and fruits within five years. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, agriculture ambulance service will be run for the market promotion of agricultural produce. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-18', 'modified' => '2023-06-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17929', 'image' => '20230618105933_agri maize.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-18 10:58:29', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18198', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Passports to be Issued at Reduced Fee of Rs 5,000 from Districts', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'The Department of Passport will begin issuing passports from the respective districts at a reduced fee of Rs 5,000 starting from June 18.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">June 18: The Department of Passport will begin issuing passports from the respective districts at a reduced fee of Rs 5,000 starting from June 18. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Previously, passports were provided by the district administration office for Rs 10,000, but now they will be available for Rs 5,000, according to Durpada Sapkota, spokesperson of the department.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Henceforth, obtaining a passport from the respective district will cost 5,000 rupees, while acquiring it from the department in Kathmandu will be priced at 12,000 rupees. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Additionally, in the case of lost or damaged passports, the fee will be Rs 17,000 if obtained from the Department and Rs 10,000 rupees if obtained from the concerned district, added spokesperson Sapkota.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The meeting of the Council of Ministers held on June 7 had decided to offer a 66-page passport at the same price as the 34-page passport. </span></span><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Previously, the Department of Passport provided the 66-page passport to frequent flyers for Rs 10,000 through the district administration office.</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-18', 'modified' => '2023-06-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17928', 'image' => '20230618065025_collage (28).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-18 06:48:54', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18197', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'IPPAN Elects New Executive Committee Under Ganesh Karki’s Leadership', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'The Independent Power Producers Association, Nepal (IPPAN), an umbrella organization representing private developers and owners of power producers in Nepal, has unanimously elected a new 25-member executive committee with Ganesh Karki as the President and Mohan Dangi as the Senior Vice President.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">June 18: The Independent Power Producers Association, Nepal (IPPAN), an umbrella organization representing private developers and owners of power producers in Nepal, has unanimously elected a new 25-member executive committee with Ganesh Karki as the President and Mohan Dangi as the Senior Vice President.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Karki assumed the presidency after the candidacy of another contender, Kiran Malla, was deemed ineligible for not meeting the qualifications outlined in the election guidelines. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Similarly, Mohan Kumar Dangi was elected as the Senior Vice President. Surya Prasad Adhikari had also submitted his nomination for the position, but the election committee rejected his candidacy due to lack of qualifications, ultimately leading to Dangi's election as the Senior Vice President.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Likewise, five Vice Presidents have been elected unopposed. Although seven candidates filed nominations for the five Vice President positions, the election committee disqualified two candidates, resulting in the unopposed election of Ashish Garg, Bharat Kumar Khatri, Uttam Blon Lama, Ram Prasad Acharya, and Ananda Chaudhary as Vice Presidents.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Balaram Khatiwada was elected unopposed as the General Secretary, while two candidates had initially filed nominations for the position. Prakash Chandra Dulal was already elected unopposed as the Deputy General Secretary, being the sole contender for the post.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">For the five Secretary positions, six nominations were received, and one person was elected unopposed. Bharat Prasad Nepal, Bharat Kumar Khadka, Kabita Pokharel, Bikram Bista, and Him Prasad Pathak have been elected as secretaries. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The election committee determined that Narayan Kandel, who had filed a nomination for the Secretary position, did not meet the qualifications.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Narendra Ballabh Panta has been elected as the Treasurer. Among the three women members, Isha Shrestha, Susan Karmacharya, and Suman Joshi have been elected unopposed.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Meanwhile, the group led by Kiran Mall, which was declared ineligible to compete for the chairmanship, has announced the establishment of the Green Energy Power Association, Nepal (GEPAN). </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Mall's group alleges that IPPAN overstepped its jurisdiction and attempted to take control of the organization. In response, the dissatisfied group formed GEPAN under the coordination of energy researcher Surya Prasad Adhikari.</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-18', 'modified' => '2023-06-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17927', 'image' => '20230618063001_collage (27).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-18 06:28:01', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18196', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Lawmakers Demand Budget Amendment', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'In a parliamentary meeting, lawmaker Prem Suwal has emphasized the necessity of amending the budget for the upcoming fiscal year 2023/24, taking into account the suggestions provided by fellow lawmakers.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">June 16: In a parliamentary meeting, lawmaker Prem Suwal has emphasized the necessity of amending the budget for the upcoming fiscal year 2023/24, taking into account the suggestions provided by fellow lawmakers. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">During a joint deliberation, he called upon the Prime Minister and Finance Minister to be prepared for budget amendments. Specifically, Suwal proposed a reduction in expenditures allocated to the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, the Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation, and the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport in Friday's House of Representatives meeting.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Highlighting the importance of addressing the challenges faced by cooperative victims, Suwal emphasized the government's involvement in dealing with underperforming cooperatives.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">He suggested that the savings of cooperative victims should be recovered by seizing the assets of government officials who granted licenses to these problematic cooperatives.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> Additionally, Suwal stressed the need to restrict the operational jurisdiction of cooperatives to specific local level wards. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Similarly, lawmaker Basanta Nembang expressed concerns that the current budget fails to meet its targets in terms of physical progress and goals. He called for necessary amendments to both the budget and appropriation bills to ensure alignment with the intended objectives.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-16', 'modified' => '2023-06-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17926', 'image' => '20230616045209_collage (32).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-16 16:50:33', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18195', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Monsoon Spreading Across the Country', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'The monsoon weather system is currently active in the eastern and central regions of the country, while the remaining areas are experiencing the influence of local winds and westerly winds.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">June 16: The monsoon weather system is currently active in the eastern and central regions of the country, while the remaining areas are experiencing the influence of local winds and westerly winds.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> The Meteorological Forecasting Division reports cloudy weather with the possibility of light to moderate rainfall in the central and eastern parts due to this weather system. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In Koshi, Bagmati, and Gandaki provinces, light rain has been observed in several areas. The monsoon system made its entry into the country via the eastern part on June 14.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In a special bulletin on the arrival of the monsoon, the Division announced its presence in Koshi Province, most of Madhes Province, major parts of Bagmati Province, and the eastern regions of Gandaki Province. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">According to Rojan Lamichhane, a meteorologist at the Division, the monsoon is gradually spreading, and it will take about a week for it to cover the entire country. He mentioned that although the monsoon is currently weak to some extent, rainfall will continue to occur.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Division clarifies that due to the slow progression of the monsoon, it will take a few more days for it to reach the western parts of the country. Typically, the monsoon arrives in Nepal on June 13, but this year it was delayed by one day. (RSS) </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-16', 'modified' => '2023-06-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17925', 'image' => '20230616034947_collage (31).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-16 15:48:34', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18194', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government to Avoid Duplication of Health Insurance Programs', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 16: Finance Minister Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat, while presenting the budget for the fiscal year (FY 2023/24) on May 29, had said that the government will prepare a work procedure within the current fiscal year to avoid duplication between health related social security programs and health insurance.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">June 16: Finance Minister Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat, while presenting the budget for the fiscal year (FY </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">20</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">23</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">/</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">24) on May 29, had said that the government will prepare a work procedure within the current fiscal year to avoid duplication between health related social security programs and health insurance.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">In Nepal, state-owned organizations such as the Social Security Fund, Employee Provident Fund, Citizen Investment Trust and others have been conducting health insurance programs for their members under the social security program. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">As the government intends to avoid duplication of social security program and health insurance program, the fate of the health insurance program that these organizations are running have become uncertain. The budget announcement has caused confusion among all.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Joint spokesperson for the Ministry of Health and Population Dr Samir Adhikari says that the social security programs provided by the government and the social security programs run by other organizations are different. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">"Therefore, the ministry is of the opinion that the health insurance program under the social security program currently being operated by various organizations should not be abandoned," he said.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">In his budget speech, Finance Minister Mahat said that social security programs including health insurance, which are currently in operation, will be continued to ensure minimum basic health services to the citizens. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">“Health insurance program will be conducted from government and community hospitals as well as hospitals run by cooperatives. Such social security programs will gradually be brought under the scope of health insurance,” Minister Mahat said, adding, “Health insurance program will be restructured and made sustainable.”</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Damodar Prasad Subedi, the spokesperson of the Employees' Provident Fund, says that the social security program conducted by the fund should not be abandoned as it is the fund's own program.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">“The social security program we are running is based on profit. We will run the program as long as the fund is profitable," he said, adding that the government instead of cancelling the program that the fund is running has increased the scope of the program through the budget.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Now other sectors are also providing health insurance facilities under the social security program. Therefore, spokesperson Subedi believes that the government's strategy could be to integrate all such programs.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Spokesperson of the Social Security Fund (SSF), Vivek Panthi, said that the health insurance program under social security mentioned by the government in the budget and the program currently being conducted by the SSF are different. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">“The program being conducted by the fund is based on contributions. The budget clearly mentions that the work of the SSF will be expanded instead of curtailing it," Panthi said, adding, "There are health insurance programs under various ministries as well. Therefore, it is our understanding that the government does not want duplication between those programs and the social security program through the budget.”</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The spokesperson of the Health Insurance Board, Shambhu Prasad Gyawali, says that the government's policy is to consolidate the social security programs that are scattered under the Ministry of Health and Population in the budget of the upcoming fiscal year. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">“Currently, the ministry is conducting health insurance programs for various categories including the poor, mothers, girls, and senior citizens. The same patient can be paid twice under different programs," he said, "So, the government is going to implement a one-way policy so that there is no duplication in such programs."</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-16', 'modified' => '2023-06-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17924', 'image' => '20230616023316_1686881617.1617317226.Clipboard13.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-16 14:32:41', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18193', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Mango that Costs as Much as Gold!', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 16: This is the peak season of mango.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Agencies</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">June 16: This is the peak season of mango. Depending on the variety, one can enjoy the taste of mangoes at different prices. Last week in Siliguri, a rare variety of mangoes was sold at the price equivalent to gold. A farmer in West Bengal's Birbham district sold mangoes produced in his garden for Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">30,000</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> each.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The price of this mango was equal to the price of </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">5</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> grams of </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">24</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> carat gold. The name of this mango sold at the price of gold is Miyazaki. The place of origin of this purple-red mango is Miyazaki Prefecture in Japan. This is arguably the most expensive mango in the world. The price of this mango in the world market is Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">2.5</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> million per kilogram. The weight of this mango ranges from </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">350</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> grams to </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">900</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> grams.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to the Indiatimes, this ruby-red-coloured fruit is also known as “Egg of the Sun” or Taiyo-no-Tamago in Japan.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">“Mitazaki is a type of ‘irwin’ mango which is different from the yellow ‘pelican mango’ widely grown in Southeast Asia. It contains beta-carotene and folic acid and is considered to be rich in antioxidants,” Indiatimes reported.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Mangoes of other varieties are also being sold at high prices. Mangoes have become expensive all over the country as the production has been affected due to adverse weather conditions. Traders say that the production of Alphonso mangoes grown in Maharashtra and Konkan region have been reduced by half and the prices have increased.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">In Gujarat, the saffron variety of mango has not ripened yet. Due to the low production, exports have also been affected. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Miyazaki mango plants need special care. The cultivation of this variety requires long hours of bright sunshine and abundant rainfall.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">In April last year, two Miyazaki mangoes were reportedly sold in Japan for </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">500,000</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> yen (about </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">4,000</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> dollars).</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Recently, farmers in India have started getting attracted towards the cultivation of this mango. The taste of this mango, which is known as egg of the sun, is also very sweet. In foreign countries, this mango is especially used as a gift. </span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-16', 'modified' => '2023-06-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17923', 'image' => '20230616023229_1686885203.mango.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-16 14:31:54', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18192', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Ancient Archeological Structures Found in Kavre while Widening Suryabinayak-Dhulikhel Road ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 16: Ancient archeological structures were found at Bhainsepati area of Banepa while working for the construction of the Suryabinayak-Dhulikhel road section. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">June 16: Ancient archeological structures were found at Bhainsepati area of Banepa while working for the construction of the Suryabinayak-Dhulikhel road section. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Government officials confirmed that antique brick walls, sources of water, antique wooden structures and stones were found at Banepa’s Bhaisepati area along the Araniko Highway while expanding the road. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Department of Archeology (DoA) had earlier written to the District Administration Office, Kavrepalanchowk to properly manage archeological structures while widening the Suryabinayak-Dhulikhel road. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the state-owned RSS, conservationists have expressed their concerns after unearthing of the ancient archeological properties on the roadside. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A team of officials led by chief of Bhaktapur office of the DoA, Yamuna Maharjan, made an inspection visit to the site and confirmed that the structures date back to ancient time, RSS reported. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to Maharjan, the site was the trekking route in the past and it was named Phhalchahiti in the Newari language. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Currently, the construction work has been suspended there to conserve the ancient structures. Likewise, the department has also written to Banepa Municipality to halt the road widening drive. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Expansion of road from Suryabinayak in Bhaktapur to Dhulikhel in Kavrepalanchowk along the Araniko Highway had started last March. Two separate contracts were awarded for the construction works. </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-16', 'modified' => '2023-06-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17922', 'image' => '20230616020623_20230219013913_20220831041752_dhulikhel.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-16 14:05:40', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18191', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'El Nino Arrives Raising Fears of Extreme Weather', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 16: Scientists at the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration have warned that an expected El Nino climate phenomenon has arrived, raising fears of extreme weather and temperature records this year.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">AGENCIES</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">June 16: Scientists at the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration have warned that an expected El Nino climate phenomenon has arrived, raising fears of extreme weather and temperature records this year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the BBC, experts say it will likely make 2024 the world's hottest year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“They fear it will help push the world past a key 1.5C warming milestone,” the BBC wrote in a recent news report.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Meanwhile, the AFP reported that this pattern, marked by warmer-than-average sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean near the equator, last occurred in 2018-19, and takes place every 2-7 years on average</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"Depending on its strength, El Nino can cause a range of impacts, such as increasing the risk of heavy rainfall and droughts in certain locations around the world," AFP quoted NOAA climate scientist Michelle L'Heureux as saying.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to L'Heureux, climate change can exacerbate or mitigate certain impacts related to El Nino. “For example, El Nino could lead to new records for temperatures, particularly in areas that already experience above-average temperatures during El Nino," she added.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Australia this week warned El Nino would deliver warmer, drier days to a country vulnerable to fierce bushfires, while Japan said a developing El Nino was partly responsible for its warmest spring on record.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Most of the warmest years on record have occurred during El Ninos, and scientists are concerned that this summer and next could see record temperatures on land and in the sea, added AFP.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The phenomenon's influence on the United States is weak during summer but more pronounced starting from late fall through spring, NOAA said in its statement. By winter, it is estimated there is an 84 percent chance of a "greater than moderate" El Nino developing, and a 56 percent chance of a strong El Nino.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the BBC, an El Niño event is typically declared when sea surface temperatures in the tropical eastern Pacific rise to at least 0.5C above the long-term average.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">El Nino, meaning "Little Boy" in Spanish, is the warm phase of the El Nino-Southern Oscillation, AFP reported, adding, La Nina, meaning "Little Girl," is its colder counterpart, where sea surface temperatures in the eastern and central Pacific Ocean near the equator are lower than normal.</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-16', 'modified' => '2023-06-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17921', 'image' => '20230616012415_elnino.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-16 13:23:02', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18190', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Former Governors in Favour of Tight Monetary Policy', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 16: The former governors of Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) have suggested the central bank to give continuity to strict monetary policy.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">June 16: The former governors of Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) have suggested the central bank to give continuity to strict monetary policy. Speaking at an interaction on monetary policy organised by the Nepal Management Association on Thursday, they said that the tight monetary policy of the current fiscal year has prevented the economy from going into crisis and emphasized that this policy should get continuity for some more time.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Former Finance Minister and Governor Dr Yuba Raj Khatiwada said that the cooling period of monetary policy has not ended and it should be continued for some time. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">"Though foreign exchange reserves have increased slightly due to the strict monetary policy, inflation is still close to </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">8</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> percent," he said, adding, "So, the cooling period of monetary policy is not over. Please be careful." He advised the banks to increase investment.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Stating that it is not possible to expand credit flow by </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">20-30</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> percent as in the past, Khatiwada said that even if loan disbursement is increased by </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">12</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> percent, the target of </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">6</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> percent economic growth set by the budget will not be achieved. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">He was of the view that businessmen should not be allowed bank operators and suggested the concerned bodies to set a demarcation, which he also tried during his tenure.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">“For this purpose, an arrangement can be made to sell some parts of the founding shares,” suggested Khatiwada.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">He said that the spread rate of the banks has been reduced from </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">9</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> percent to </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">4</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> percent and it is not necessary to reduce it now.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Khatiwada added that the practice of fixing the interest rate through the association of banks is not appropriate and requested to correct it. Khatiwada said that there is a problem in the economy due to the inability to regulate microfinance companies and suggested to increase monitoring by forming second tier institutions soon. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">He also suggested that CRR and CD ratio should not be used in the current situation. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Meanwhile, former Governor Ganesh Bahadur Thapa said that the continuation of strict policies is necessary when the economy is in trouble. "There has been some improvement due to the introduction of tight monetary policy," he said.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Another former governor Dr Tilak Rawal suggested bringing a balanced monetary policy. "There is a need to be aware of the external and internal situations of the economy," he said. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Former Governor Dipendra Purush Dhakal also suggested that tight monetary policy saved the economy of the country and urged the central bank to give continuity to strict measures. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Stating that only </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">10</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> to </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">12</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> banks are enough in the country, he emphasized that the policy of merger should be continued.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Another ex-governor Dipendra Bahadur Chhetri said that the banks have not been able to extend loans in the productive sector and suggested to pay attention to this. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">During the interaction, former president of Nepal Bankers Association Gyanendra Dhungana said that when there is a decline in economic activities, many customers are unable to pay loan installments and interest. According to him, this situation should be addressed by the monetary policy. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Suyog Shrestha, chairman of Development Bankers Association, demanded that the development banks should also be allowed to open LC. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Meenraj Kandel, president of the National Cooperative Federation, said that the monetary policy should also cover the cooperatives sector.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Meanwhile, the private sector businessmen emphasized on the need for expansionary monetary policy. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">NRB Governor Mahaprasad Adhikari made it clear that the upcoming monetary policy cannot provide facilities provided during the time of Covid-</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">19</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> pandemic</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">. </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">He said that the side effects of the facilities given during the Covid-</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">19 </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">situation are now visible and that it needs to be corrected.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">“The monetary policy will be decided accordingly,” said Governor Adhikari.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-16', 'modified' => '2023-06-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17920', 'image' => '20230616122823_Nepal-Rastra-Bank.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-16 12:27:38', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18189', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Energy Minister Urges Private Sector Developers to get Ready for Power Trade ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 16: Minister for Energy Shakti Bahadur Basnet has signaled at allowing the private sector for power trade and urged them to get ready for it. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">June 16: Minister for Energy Shakti Bahadur Basnet has signaled at allowing the private sector for power trade and urged them to get ready for it. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Inaugurating the 21st general assembly of the Independent Power Producers' Association of Nepal on Thursday, Minister Basnet said that the private sector would be gradually allowed for power trade. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The context has changed immensely after the India visit of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal made a breakthrough in energy cooperation and added that the agreement of power export from Nepal to India will be implemented. "This is possible. Get assured that it will be implemented," said the energy minister. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Basnet was of the view that huge investment in infrastructure development is needed in energy sector as the deal has been made to export Nepal’s surplus power to India and Bangladesh. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">On the occasion, Basnet pledged to move ahead by ending the obstacles since the government has fixed its target in energy sector. "The basis for the country's prosperity is energy. We are clear on this issue," he said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, Basnet said that a campaign would be initiated to increase power consumption in the country with nationwide electrification, increasing power consumption in industrial sector, substitution of cooking gas for domestic purpose and use of electricity in irrigation system, and bringing electric vehicles in transportation. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"Now time has come for power trade by the private sector. Be ready for this as the government will join hands together," he said while urging the private power developers' increased role. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-16', 'modified' => '2023-06-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17919', 'image' => '20230616112752_City-Background.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-16 11:27:10', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18188', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Disaster Fund has Rs 6 Billion in Deposit ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 16: The Disaster Management Fund of the government has Rs 6 billion in deposit. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">June 16: The Disaster Management Fund of the government has Rs 6 billion in deposit. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Chief Executive Officer of National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) Anil Pokharel said that more than half of the total amount of the fund is in the Prime Minister Disaster Relief Fund. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">As shared by the officials, the amount will be spent for rescue operations, development of temporary settlement, supply of foodstuff and financial assistance to the disaster-affected community. As per the legal provision, the amount of the fund should not be spent for other purposes. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, the Province Disaster Management Fund has Rs 513.3 million and Rs 592.2 million in the District Disaster Management Fund. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Meanwhile, the government has ensured sufficient number of skilled human resources required for disaster management including search and rescue operation in view of upcoming monsoon-related disasters. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The number of skilled human resource has been increased to 11,663 this year from 1,484 in the previous year. This number is of trained human resources having expertise on disaster management. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the NDRRMA, a total of 7,636 Nepalese Army personnel have been kept in standby position for disaster management. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, 2,125 Nepal Police personnel and 1,903 APF personnel would be deployed for the disaster risk management job. Another 74 rescue divers of the APF are also kept in the ready position. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">CEO of the NDRRMA Anil Pokharel said that the police personnel would be mobilized in every district but the trained human resource would be deployed considering the specific needs of disasters. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-16', 'modified' => '2023-06-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17918', 'image' => '20230616103832_NDRRMA.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-16 10:37:41', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = false $xml = falsesimplexml_load_file - [internal], line ?? include - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 133 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
| Currency | Unit |
Buy | Sell |
| U.S. Dollar | 1 | 121.23 | 121.83 |
| European Euro | 1 | 131.65 | 132.31 |
| UK Pound Sterling | 1 | 142.47 | 143.18 |
| Swiss Franc | 1 | 124.29 | 124.90 |
| Australian Dollar | 1 | 71.69 | 72.05 |
| Canadian Dollar | 1 | 83.90 | 84.32 |
| Japanese Yen | 10 | 10.94 | 11.00 |
| Chinese Yuan | 1 | 17.17 | 17.26 |
| Saudi Arabian Riyal | 1 | 32.27 | 32.43 |
| UAE Dirham | 1 | 33.01 | 33.17 |
| Malaysian Ringgit | 1 | 27.36 | 27.50 |
| South Korean Won | 100 | 9.77 | 9.82 |
Update: 2020-03-25 | Source: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB)
| Fine Gold | 1 tola | 77000.00 |
| Tejabi Gold | 1 tola | 76700.00 |
| Silver | 1 tola | 720.00 |
Update : 2020-03-25
Source: Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers' Association
| Petrol | 1 Liter | 106.00 |
| Diesel | 1 Liter | 95.00 |
| Kerosene | 1 Liter | 95.00 |
| LP Gas | 1 Cylinder | 1375.00 |
Update : 2020-03-25
