May 23: The District Police Range, Kathmandu on Monday submitted its investigation report against those involved in the fake Bhutanese refugee scam to the District Public Prosecutor's…
May 23: The District Police Range, Kathmandu on Monday submitted its investigation report against those involved in the fake Bhutanese refugee scam to the District Public Prosecutor's…
May 23: Nepal's public debt liability has exceeded Rs 2150 billion.…
May 23: An earthquake measuring 4.1 on the Richter scale jolted Bajura district on Monday…
Two commercial banks-Laxmi Bank and Sunrise Bank limited- have reached a final agreement for a merger. Amidst a programme organized on Monday, the final agreement for the merger of the two banks was…
May 22: Around 500 people have successfully climbed the highest mountain of the world, Mount Everest as of…
Rajendra Lingden, Chair of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) and member of the House of Representatives (HoR), stated that the government's new policies and programs lack a plan to address the current economic crisis in the…
Kulman Ghising, Managing Director of the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), has said that both India and Bangladesh have expressed strong interest in buying electricity from…
May 22: Nepal’s foreign trade, which was affected by the government’s policy of discouraging imports along with inflation and lack of liquidity in banks, has started to…
May 22: The Department of Mines and Geology (DMG) has issued licenses for the exploration of 420 mines.…
May 22: Parliamentarians taking part in the discussion on the newly unveiled policies and programmes of the government for the upcoming fiscal year (FY 2023/24) furnished a host of suggestions to the government in the…
May 22: The Nepalese Army has completed cleaning up of Mt Baruntse under its Clean Mountain Campaign,…
May 22: A person, who was collecting Yarshagumba, died after an avalanche occurred at Dhanshera of Surma Rural Municipality-2 in Bajhang district on Sunday.…
Nepal is observing the International Day for Biological Diversity under the theme of 'From agreement to action: Build back biodiversity'…
May 21: The government’s policies and programmes for the upcoming fiscal year 2023-24 have received mixed reactions from the National Assembly…
A devastating hailstorm that struck Khaptad Chededaha rural municipality in Bajura district last Wednesday afternoon severely damaged food crops, vegetables, and…
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The report was submitted on the 57th day since the police launched an investigation into the scam. The law stipulates that those investigated should be sued within 60 days of the beginning of the investigation. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Spokesperson for Nepal Police and Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Kuber Kadayat told RSS that the report recommended that a case of fraud, organized crime and crime against the State be registered against those found guilty in the scam. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Office of the Public Prosecutor could however consider changes in the report, said DIG Kadayat, adding since there was prospects of investigating the case from the angle of money laundering and abuse of authority, the scammers could also attract the case on these charges. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Police have so far arrested 16 people including former ministers and sitting government secretary on the charge of their involvement in sending people to the United States identifying them as Bhutanese refugees. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Police have suggested the Office of the Public Prosecutor to register case against additional 16 to 17 accused in the scam. The Public Prosecutor's Office will also proceed the prosecution if need be, said Chief of the District Public Prosecutor's Office, Achyutmani Neupane. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Those arrested in this connection are former Deputy Prime Minister Top Bahadur Rayamajhi, former home minister Bal Krishna Khand, suspended secretary (former home secretary) Tek Narayan Pandey, former MP Dr Indrajeet Rai - security advisor to former home minister Ram Bahadur Thapa among others. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, others arrested ones in connection with the scam are refugee leader Teknath Rijal, Chairperson of Nepal Haj Committee, Samsher Minya, former lawmaker Angtawa Sherpa, personal secretary of the then home minister, Narendra KC, son of former Deputy Prime Minister Rayamajhi, Sandip Rayamajhi, Keshav Dulal, Sanu Bhandari, Sandesh Sharma, Sagar Rai, Tanka Gurung, Govind Chaudhary and Ram Sharan KC. </span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">However, Pratik Thapa, son of former home minister Ram Bahadur Thapa, and Niraj Rai, son of Indrajeet Rai, have been absconding. </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, a total of 22 complaints have been filed in relation to the fake Bhutanese refugees scam on behalf of the victims. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">So far, 113 people have come in contact with the police saying that they were the victims in the case of the fake Bhutanese refugees scam. </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"">“A total of 22 complaints have been registered on behalf of the victims,” said District Police Range Kathmandu’s Superintendent of Police (SP) Sitaram Rijal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The victims have alleged that more than Rs 270 million has been defrauded from them. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-23', 'modified' => '2023-05-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17680', 'image' => '20230523112751_20230503063116_images.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-23 11:26:51', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17948', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal's Public Debt Exceeds Rs 2150 Billion ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 23: Nepal's public debt liability has exceeded Rs 2150 billion. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">May 23: Nepal's public debt liability has exceeded Rs 2150 billion. According to the Public Debt Management Office, Nepal has been obliged to pay its public debt amounting over to Rs 2154.12 billion, including Rs 1083.47 billion towards internal debt and Rs 1070.64 billion towards external debt as of May 14, 2023. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Nepal's public debt liability was Rs 2013.29 billion until mid-July last year when the current fiscal year (FY 2022/23) had begun. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Public debt amounting to Rs 140.82 billion was added to the country's debt portfolio in the last 10 months of the current fiscal year. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The ratio of public debt to the GDP appeared to be 44.40 percent while considering Nepal's Gross Domestic Production (GDP) as Rs 4851.62 billion, the office said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The rise of public debt ratio to the GDP and weak economic growth rate due to low capital formation could put the country's economy in crisis in the coming days. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the Public Debt Management Office, the government has raised public debt of Rs 230.24 billion in the first 10 months of the current fiscal year. Likewise, the government has paid principle and interest amounting to Rs 143.42 billion in the review period. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">As of May 14 this year, the government spending in the repayment of principle and interest of public debt exceeded the capital spending by around Rs 18 billion. The government has spent Rs 125.67 billion towards capital budget up to May 14 this year. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">On the one hand, the government's capacity to collect public revenue has declined resulting in a budget deficit while on the other hand a large sum of the annual budget is being spent for the repayment of principle amount of the rising public debt. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-23', 'modified' => '2023-05-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17679', 'image' => '20230523105433_public debt.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-23 10:53:47', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17947', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Earthquake Jolts Bajura ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 23: An earthquake measuring 4.1 on the Richter scale jolted Bajura district on Monday evening. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">May 23: An earthquake measuring 4.1 on the Richter scale jolted Bajura district on Monday evening. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The earthquake with its epicentre at Bichhiya was recorded at 6:45 pm, according to the National Seismological Centre, Lainchour. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif""> Earlier on Sunday, another earthquake measuring on 4.1 on the Richter scale was also recorded with its epicentre at Hukam in the district. Western Nepal has been frequently hit by earthquakes in recent months. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-23', 'modified' => '2023-05-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17678', 'image' => '20230523104438_earth.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-23 10:41:28', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17946', 'article_category_id' => '219', 'title' => 'Laxmi Bank and Sunrise Bank Sign Final Merger Agreement ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Two commercial banks-Laxmi Bank and Sunrise Bank limited- have reached a final agreement for a merger. Amidst a programme organized on Monday, the final agreement for the merger of the two banks was signed. ', 'content' => '<p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">May 23: Two commercial banks-Laxmi Bank and Sunrise Bank limited- have reached a final agreement for a merger. Amidst a programme organized on Monday, the final agreement for the merger of the two banks was signed. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Based on the due diligence report, both banks will merge in a 1:1 swap ratio. After the merger, the name of the merged entity will be Laxmi Sunrise Bank Limited.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Ajay Bikram Shah, the current Chief Executive Officer of Laxmi Bank, will become the CEO of the merged bank, while the first meeting of the Board of Directors will select the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the merged entity. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Once the merger is approved by the General Assemblies of both banks and accepted by the Nepal Rastra Bank and the Office of the Company Registrar, the joint operations will commence. The goal is to start integrated business operations within the month of Asar. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Prior to this, the Chairman of Laxmi Bank, Raman Nepal, and the Chairman of Sunrise Bank, Motilal Dugad, had signed the initial agreement for the merger on 25th Poush, 2079. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Dr. Manish Thapa and Swati Rungta represent Laxmi Bank, while Sharada Sharma and Deepak Nepal represent Sunrise Bank in the Joint Merger Committee. </span></p> <p><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-23', 'modified' => '2023-05-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17677', 'image' => '20230523061856_collage (8).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-23 06:16:47', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17945', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '500 People Climb Mount Everest', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 22: Around 500 people have successfully climbed the highest mountain of the world, Mount Everest as of Monday.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">May 22: Around 500 people have successfully climbed the highest mountain of the world, Mount Everest as of Monday. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The Department of Tourism confirmed that five hundred mountaineers and guides have scaled Mt Everest during this year’s spring climbing season which started on May 13 after the icefall doctors fixed the ropes to the top of Everest.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">“Until today around 500 people, including Sherpas guides have climbed Mount Everest,” said a source at the department. A total of 478 mountaineers had obtained an expedition permit to climb Mount Everest in the spring season. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Director General of the Department Hom Prasad Luintel said that the weather has remained favorable, and the expedition of the different mountains including Everest has been encouraging so far. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The 478 permits issued is the highest number of permits issued for climbing Everest till date. They include 103 women and 376 men from 47 mountaineering teams, added the department.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Ten people, including six foreigners and four Sherpas, have already died while climbing Everest this season.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">According to AFP, an average of five people die while attempting to climb Everest every year.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-22', 'modified' => '2023-05-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17676', 'image' => '20230522062827_20230330102040_1680132652.Clipboard32.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-22 18:26:48', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17944', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Policies, and Programmes Lack Plan to Address Economic Crisis: RPP Chair Lingden', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Rajendra Lingden, Chair of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) and member of the House of Representatives (HoR), stated that the government's new policies and programs lack a plan to address the current economic crisis in the country.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">May 22: Rajendra Lingden, Chair of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) and member of the House of Representatives (HoR), stated that the government's new policies and programs lack a plan to address the current economic crisis in the country.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> During a meeting of the lower house today, Lingden expressed his disappointment that the policies and programs did not provide a roadmap for the future. He pointed out that these documents failed to identify and prioritize the problems effectively and presented some contradictory issues. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Lingden emphasized the need for employment-based industries, subsidies in electricity, and discouragement of unnecessary hurdles from trade unions to promote industrial growth.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> Lingden also advocated for the promotion of religious tourism alongside the tourism industry, considering Nepal as the birthplace of orientalism. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Additionally, Ganesh Parajuli of the Rastriya Swatantra Party questioned whether the government's policies and programs genuinely addressed economic issues, stating that a remittance-based economy is not sustainable. Parajuli urged all political parties to unite against corruption. </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-22', 'modified' => '2023-05-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17675', 'image' => '20230522053909_collage (15).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-22 17:34:05', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17943', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'India and Bangladesh Eager to Purchase Power from Nepal: NEA Managing Director Ghishing', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Kulman Ghising, Managing Director of the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), has said that both India and Bangladesh have expressed strong interest in buying electricity from Nepal.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">May 22: Kulman Ghising, Managing Director of the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), has said that both India and Bangladesh have expressed strong interest in buying electricity from Nepal. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Speaking at a program where an agreement was signed with the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) for investment in the Tamakoshi Fifth Hydropower Project, Ghising highlighted the interest of India and Bangladesh in purchasing power from Nepal. He emphasized that power exports during the rainy season would fetch better rates.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The EPF has already invested in various hydropower projects, including Upper Tamakoshi, Sanjen, Rasuwagadhi, and Madhya Bhotekoshi. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">In the Tamakoshi Fifth project, which will be based in Bigu Rural Municipality in Dolakha and has a capacity of 99.8 megawatts, the EPF plans to invest Rs 13.74 billion. The total project cost, including construction period interest, amounts to Rs 21.14 billion.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The project will issue shares to the public under the People's Hydropower Program. The project's financial structure consists of 65% loan and 35% equity fund.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">On Sunday, a tri-party agreement was signed among the NEA, Tamakoshi Hydropower Company (the project's promoter), and the EPF in the presence of the Minister for Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation, Shakti Basnet. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">NEA Managing Director Ghising, EPF Administrator Jitendra Dhital, and Company Chief Executive Officer Binod Bhandari signed the agreement on behalf of their respective organizations.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">At the event, Minister Basnet reiterated the government's priority for hydropower production and the strengthening of transmission systems. </span></span><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Minister Basnet highlighted Nepal's potential for green energy and stressed the importance of completing the project on time.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-22', 'modified' => '2023-05-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17674', 'image' => '20230522033833_collage (11).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-22 15:37:07', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17942', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Signs of Improvement in Foreign Trade', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 22: Nepal’s foreign trade, which was affected by the government’s policy of discouraging imports along with inflation and lack of liquidity in banks, has started to improve.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">May 22: Nepal’s foreign trade, which was affected by the government’s policy of discouraging imports along with inflation and lack of liquidity in banks, has started to improve. Along with the increase in foreign exchange reserves, the ban on the import of some luxury goods was revoked, and the Nepal Rastra Bank abolished the requirement to keep a cash margin when opening an LC for imports. As a result, imports started to increase.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the Department of Customs, Nepal’s foreign trade until the month of Baishak (mid-April to mid-May) amounted to Rs 1466.2 billion. This year's foreign trade is 17.54 per cent less compared to Rs 1778 billion in the same period last year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Compared to last year, the overall foreign trade has decreased, but it has started to improve after mid-March. In Chaitra (mid-March to mid-April) of the current fiscal year, while the import was worth Rs 143.12 billion, the export was worth Rs 134.8 billion. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The NRB has tightened imports since last year due to the high trade deficit and declining foreign exchange reserves.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The NRB had also reduced the quota of gold and silver imports while implementing the provision of keeping a cash margin when opening letters of credit (LC) for the import of goods.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, the government banned the import of various luxury goods for 8 months from mid-April last year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">As the current account has gone to surplus, the foreign currency reserves have also increased, and the import ban has been lifted by the government. NRB has also removed the provision of cash margin from the month of Magh (mid-January to mid-February).</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Until Baishak (mid-April to mid-May), Nepal imported goods worth Rs 1335.32 billion. During the same period, goods worth Rs 130.9 billion were exported.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Compared to the previous year, imports have decreased by 16.78 per cent and exports by 24.49 per cent. By Baishak of last year, the import was equal to Rs 1646.5 billion and the export was equal to Rs 173 billion.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The trade deficit till Baishak is Rs 1204.42 billion. This is 15.85 per cent less than last year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the report of NRB, the country's current account is in surplus by 180.1 billion as of Chait (mid-March to mid-April).</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The total foreign exchange reserve which was Rs 1215 billion in Ashar 2079 increased by 17.9 per cent to 1433.7 billion in Chaitra. With the increase in foreign exchange reserves, the ability to meet the import of goods and services from abroad has also improved.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the NRB's report, the foreign exchange reserves of the banking sector are sufficient to support 11 months of goods imports and 9.4 months of goods and services imports. According to the improvement in the external situation of the economy, the NRB has also made the monetary policy flexible.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-22', 'modified' => '2023-05-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17673', 'image' => '20230522032753_Trade.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-22 15:26:05', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17941', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Department of Mines and Geology Issues Licenses for Exploration of 420 Mines ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 22: The Department of Mines and Geology (DMG) has issued licenses for the exploration of 420 mines. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">May 22: The Department of Mines and Geology (DMG) has issued licenses for the exploration of 420 mines. The department issued the permits for the exploration of possible mines so far in the current fiscal year, said Narayan Banskota, the department's Information Officer. </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"">Banskota said licenses have been provided for exploration of iron ore, copper, gold, limestone, granite, ruby, dolomite, among other minerals. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The department said permit has also been given for opening a mine for the extraction of iron ore at Dhaubadi of Nawalparasi. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The department has identified 50 mines so far and issued licenses to different companies for their operation. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The department's Director General Dr Sudheer Rajaure shared that the department has carried out exploration of mines at more than 10 places this year alone. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to him, study is underway for iron ore at Luhakot of Sankhuwasabha, for copper at Dingla of Bhojpur, for granite at Khaniyakharka of Sindhuli, for dolomite at Sunaula Bazaar and for ruby at Ganesh Himal of Dhading, for copper in Rukum, for iron ore at Ratuwamai of Udayapur, for ceramics in Madhes Province and for limestone at Benighat of Dhading. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Although the department has been carrying out feasibility study of mines at several places of the country each year, it takes years since their reports are available due to the shortage of scientists at its lab. The department's lab has 11 allocated positions, but only two are working there at present. The report of the mine whose study was conducted in 2015 has not been prepared till date due to the same reason. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The department has collected revenue totaling Rs 356.63 million till March 14 of the current fiscal year through issuance of licenses and permits for mine exploration. It had collected Rs 934.50 million as of mid-March last year. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-22', 'modified' => '2023-05-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17672', 'image' => '20230522024649_1684736669.khani.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-22 14:45:55', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17940', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Mixed Reactions on Government’s Policies and Programmes ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 22: Parliamentarians taking part in the discussion on the newly unveiled policies and programmes of the government for the upcoming fiscal year (FY 2023/24) furnished a host of suggestions to the government in the parliament. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">May 22: Parliamentarians taking part in the discussion on the newly unveiled policies and programmes of the government for the upcoming fiscal year (FY 2023/24) furnished a host of suggestions to the government in the parliament. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">They have univocally called for effective implementation of the newly unveiled policies and programmes, optimum use of available resources, good-governance practice, elimination of corruption and prioritization of the policies and the programmes among others. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Bhanubhakta Joshi urged for adopting the policy of zero-tolerance against corruption. He viewed that there should not be any situation where the guilty gets scot-free while the innocent ones are prosecuted. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Stating that the government's policies and programmes for the upcoming fiscal year were overall good, he cast his doubt over its effective implementation. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, Abdul Khan lauded the introduction of 'Made in Nepal', 'Make in Nepal' and 'Our products, Our Dignity' among other programmes that aim to boost the domestic production. He suggested that the government should consider entering appropriate agreement with labour destination countries so as to address the issues prevailing in the foreign employment sector. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Deepak Khadka remarked that some important issues were lacking in the government's policies and programmes. He asserted that the government should adopt policies to increase production and enhance productivity in the country which is heavily dependent on remittance. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He also opined that the government should seek additional resources for budget as the government was struggling to garner resources for the upcoming budget. He argued that the people's representatives should also fulfill aspirations of the people who elected them. "It is necessary to fulfill their aspirations by optimally utilizing our resources." </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Underscoring transparency, Mahesh Basnet, said that the government's expenditure should be evaluated and the public accounting system streamlined. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He rued over the policies and programmes saying they failed to clearly reflect issues relating to the scope of insurance, effective execution of the Prime Minister Agriculture Modernization Project, and welfare of the landless squatters, among others. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Another parliamentarian Mahendra Bahadur Shahi raised question on the effectiveness of the policies and programmes introduced by the erstwhile and incumbent government. "It is imperative to self-evaluate the effective implementation of the policies and programmes rolled out by the previous governments," he said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Manish Jha emphasized making public service delivery more effective and ensuring good-governance. "A study has shown that political discontent was on the rise in Nepal. We all are held accountable for that. The discontent has a lot to do with lackluster public service delivery and good-governance," he observed. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to Deepak Bahadur Singh, the government should take the lead to revive the sick industries. Expressing concern over the flagging state of the Hetauda Cement Factory and Udayapur Cement Factory, he spoke of the need to make the management of these sick industries robust. He also suggested that each province have a Medical Hospital. He viewed that there should be referendum on the governing system and secularism. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Ranju Kumari Jha commented that the policies and programmes had repeatedly included the same issues for the past five years. According to her, issues relating to establishing fertilizer factory, increasing investment for public private partnership in education sector, insurance for sportspersons and establishment of Ramraja Singh Health and Science Academy among others were missed in the policies and programmes. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Ambar Bahadur Thapa said that the upcoming policies and programmes were more distribution-oriented than result-oriented. "There is absence of result-oriented plans in the government's upcoming policies and programmes that could be achieved within a year or two." -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-22', 'modified' => '2023-05-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17671', 'image' => '20230522124847_RS_KTM-RATL9561(1).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-22 12:48:06', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17939', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Army Completes Cleaning of Baruntse', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 22: The Nepalese Army has completed cleaning up of Mt Baruntse under its Clean Mountain Campaign, 2023. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">May 22: The Nepalese Army has completed cleaning up of Mt Baruntse under its Clean Mountain Campaign, 2023. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A team of eight Nepalese Army personnel and Sherpa guides under the leadership of Major Samir Bahadur Basnet collected over 3,050 kg of bio-degradable garbage from the base camp of Baruntse. The waste was handed over to the Mahakulung Rural Municipality. </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"">Likewise, 15,470 kilograms of non-degradable waste collected by the team was brought to Kathmandu and handed over to a waste management company. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Nepalese Army's Directorate of Public Relations and Information has said that the cleaning of Mount Everest and Lhotse is still underway. The campaign will end on the World Environment Day on coming June 5. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-22', 'modified' => '2023-05-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17670', 'image' => '20230522114733_800px-Baruntse_wp.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-22 11:46:52', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17938', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'One Dead, Two Yarsha Collectors Missing in Bajhang Avalanche ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 22: A person, who was collecting Yarshagumba, died after an avalanche occurred at Dhanshera of Surma Rural Municipality-2 in Bajhang district on Sunday. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">May 22: A person, who was collecting Yarshagumba, died after an avalanche occurred at Dhanshera of Surma Rural Municipality-2 in Bajhang district on Sunday. The identity of the deceased has not been ascertained as yet. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to Assistant Chief District Officer Satya Kumari Joshi, two persons are missing while two others have sustained injuries in the avalanche. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Joshi added that a team of police personnel of the Nepal Police and Armed Police Force has been deployed to the incident site. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-22', 'modified' => '2023-05-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17669', 'image' => '20230522111957_1684492462.Yarsa.jpeg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-22 11:19:05', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17937', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'International Day for Biological Diversity Being Observed ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => ' Nepal is observing the International Day for Biological Diversity under the theme of 'From agreement to action: Build back biodiversity' today. ', 'content' => '<p><br /> <span style="font-size:18px">May 22: Nepal is observing the International Day for Biological Diversity under the theme of 'From agreement to action: Build back biodiversity' today. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">This significant day, designated by the United Nations, aims to raise awareness and deepen understanding of the crucial issues surrounding biodiversity, ecological balance, environmental conservation, and sustainable development.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Aligned with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, this year's theme emphasizes the need for concrete actions to support biodiversity preservation. It acknowledges the remarkable progress made at COP 15 while emphasizing the pressing urgency to implement further measures.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">In Nepal, several organizations including the Department of Forest, Department of Botany, and various agencies are organizing a range of events to enhance awareness. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">These events include rallies, seminars, interactive sessions, and hiking, all geared towards fostering a greater understanding of the importance of biological diversity.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">The International Day for Biological Diversity holds particular significance as it commemorates the adoption of the text of the Convention on Biological Diversity on May 22, 1992, during the Nairobi Final Act of the Conference for the Adoption of the Agreed Text. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">The United Nations General Assembly officially designated this date as the International Day for Biological Diversity in December 2000.</span></p> <p><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-22', 'modified' => '2023-05-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17668', 'image' => '20230522095008_collage (7).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-22 09:48:36', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17936', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government’s Policies and Programmes Draw Mixed Reaction from Upper House Lawmakers ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 21: The government’s policies and programmes for the upcoming fiscal year 2023-24 have received mixed reactions from the National Assembly members. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">May 21: The government’s policies and programmes for the upcoming fiscal year 2023-24 have received mixed reactions from the National Assembly members. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">The lawmakers from the ruling parties have said that the new policies and programmes are capable of instilling a ray of hope among the people while the opposition lawmakers have said that the policies and programmes have nothing new.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">In a meeting of the National Assembly on Sunday, the lawmakers from the ruling Nepali Congress and CPN (Maoist Center) were of the view that the government’s new policies and programmes had been successful in addressing the entire issues in a balanced way while the main opposition CPN-UML lawmakers said they were the continuity of the past programmes as they had been prepared with a traditional approach.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">They advised the government to incorporate relevant issues missing in the policies and programmes in the budget. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">Jitendra Narayan Dev of the Nepali Congress supported the policies and programmes, citing that they were prepared with hard work. According to MP Dev, assessment of economic problems, efforts to address them, stress on improvement of diplomatic relations and programmes to promote good government and corruption prevention are some of the good aspects of the policies and programmes.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt"> "Programmes relating to agriculture and tourism development are also positive," he said, adding that a focus on productive sectors would help achieve prosperity in the nation.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">The policies and programmes have incorporated encouraging and important programmes like the setting up of the support price of major productions within the country, the management of fertilizers and the opening of fertilizer industries at home, he said. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">Khim Lal Devkota of the CPN (Unified Socialist) and Mahesh Kumar Mahara of the CPN (Maoist Centre) stressed the need for the practical implementation of the policies and programmes. The announcement of building the Nijgadh International Airport is positive, added Devkota. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">The policies and programmes have created new hopes among the people, viewed Narayan Prasad Dahal, adding that bringing the budget for the coming fiscal year, 2023/24 accordingly would add energy. CPN (Maoist Center)'s Gopi Bahadur Sarki Achhami supported and praised the policies and programmes as having prioritized agriculture, improvement in the national economy, and the creation of job opportunities.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">CPN-UML lawmaker Devendra Dahal criticized the government's policies and programmes for lacking any new programmes. He said they were a continuation of the past programmes brought for the purpose of cheap popularity. The policies and programmes have failed to identify the problems and set priorities and the goals, added Dahal.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">Sharada Devi Bhatta of the same party said the policies and programmes have failed to address the present economic crisis.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">Rajendra Laxmi Gaire of CPN (Unified Socialist) said the policies and programmes have been designed to achieve the sustainable development goals. She stressed on their effective implementation.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">Nepali Congress lawmaker Narayan Datta Mishra opined that overall the government’s policies and programmes were good and stressed on their implementation.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">Udaya Bahadur Bohara of Unified Socialist expressed the belief that several new programmes included in the policies and programmes will support the economy. He mentioned that reduction in government expenditure and increment in development expenses were welcome topics.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">Bhuwan Bahadur Sunar of the Maoist Center opined that inclusion of new and popular programmes was a welcome move.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">UML's Gopal Bhattarai called for review of the programmes of the previous years, saying the government's policies and programmes lacked a definite goal.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">Radheshyam Paswan of Maoist Center pointed out the need of giving priority to the policies and programmes in the budget as well as their effective implementation.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><strong><em><span style="font-size:13.0pt">Three lawmakers register amendment proposals</span></em></strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">Three lawmakers from the upper house of the Federal Parliament have registered amendment proposals to the Policies and Programmes for Fiscal Year 2023/24 presented in the Parliament by the government.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">Those registering amendment proposals are CPN-UML's Tulasa Kumari Dahal, Bimala Ghimire and Dr Bimala Rai Paudyal. Lawmaker Bhagawati Neupane presented the amendment proposal on behalf of Dahal, Ghimire and Paudyal. -- </span></span></span><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">RSS</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-21', 'modified' => '2023-05-21', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17667', 'image' => '20230521060715_6F8A8196.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-21 18:05:45', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17935', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Hailstorm Damages Crops in Bajura; Farmers Seek Compensation', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'A devastating hailstorm that struck Khaptad Chededaha rural municipality in Bajura district last Wednesday afternoon severely damaged food crops, vegetables, and fruits.', 'content' => '<p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">May 21: A devastating hailstorm that struck Khaptad Chededaha rural municipality in Bajura district last Wednesday afternoon severely damaged food crops, vegetables, and fruits. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Wheat, barley, vegetables, potatoes, onions, garlic, and various fruits have all fallen victim to the hail, according to Bhimla Budha from Budhabada in ward no. 7 of the rural municipality.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Farmers in ward no. 6 and 7 have been particularly hard-hit by the calamity. Birkh Oli, a farmer, voiced the concerns of the affected farmers, emphasizing the need for compensation rather than mere relief support. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">However, the local government and the Agricultural Knowledge Center in Bajura have yet to take any concrete steps to assess and document the extent of the damage, leading to complaints from the affected farmers.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Gauri Oli, another farmer, lamented the lack of interest shown by the rural municipality in collecting information about the damage, despite approximately 905 families being affected by the hailstorm. This has left farmers anxious about the possibility of receiving compensation for their losses.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">A preliminary assessments conducted by the ward office indicate that the damage caused by the hailstorm exceeds 20 million rupees. </span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-21', 'modified' => '2023-05-21', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17666', 'image' => '20230521042359_collage (10).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-21 16:22:15', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = falseinclude - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 60 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
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The report was submitted on the 57th day since the police launched an investigation into the scam. The law stipulates that those investigated should be sued within 60 days of the beginning of the investigation. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Spokesperson for Nepal Police and Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Kuber Kadayat told RSS that the report recommended that a case of fraud, organized crime and crime against the State be registered against those found guilty in the scam. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Office of the Public Prosecutor could however consider changes in the report, said DIG Kadayat, adding since there was prospects of investigating the case from the angle of money laundering and abuse of authority, the scammers could also attract the case on these charges. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Police have so far arrested 16 people including former ministers and sitting government secretary on the charge of their involvement in sending people to the United States identifying them as Bhutanese refugees. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Police have suggested the Office of the Public Prosecutor to register case against additional 16 to 17 accused in the scam. The Public Prosecutor's Office will also proceed the prosecution if need be, said Chief of the District Public Prosecutor's Office, Achyutmani Neupane. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Those arrested in this connection are former Deputy Prime Minister Top Bahadur Rayamajhi, former home minister Bal Krishna Khand, suspended secretary (former home secretary) Tek Narayan Pandey, former MP Dr Indrajeet Rai - security advisor to former home minister Ram Bahadur Thapa among others. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, others arrested ones in connection with the scam are refugee leader Teknath Rijal, Chairperson of Nepal Haj Committee, Samsher Minya, former lawmaker Angtawa Sherpa, personal secretary of the then home minister, Narendra KC, son of former Deputy Prime Minister Rayamajhi, Sandip Rayamajhi, Keshav Dulal, Sanu Bhandari, Sandesh Sharma, Sagar Rai, Tanka Gurung, Govind Chaudhary and Ram Sharan KC. </span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">However, Pratik Thapa, son of former home minister Ram Bahadur Thapa, and Niraj Rai, son of Indrajeet Rai, have been absconding. </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, a total of 22 complaints have been filed in relation to the fake Bhutanese refugees scam on behalf of the victims. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">So far, 113 people have come in contact with the police saying that they were the victims in the case of the fake Bhutanese refugees scam. </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"">“A total of 22 complaints have been registered on behalf of the victims,” said District Police Range Kathmandu’s Superintendent of Police (SP) Sitaram Rijal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The victims have alleged that more than Rs 270 million has been defrauded from them. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-23', 'modified' => '2023-05-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17680', 'image' => '20230523112751_20230503063116_images.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-23 11:26:51', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17948', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal's Public Debt Exceeds Rs 2150 Billion ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 23: Nepal's public debt liability has exceeded Rs 2150 billion. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">May 23: Nepal's public debt liability has exceeded Rs 2150 billion. According to the Public Debt Management Office, Nepal has been obliged to pay its public debt amounting over to Rs 2154.12 billion, including Rs 1083.47 billion towards internal debt and Rs 1070.64 billion towards external debt as of May 14, 2023. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Nepal's public debt liability was Rs 2013.29 billion until mid-July last year when the current fiscal year (FY 2022/23) had begun. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Public debt amounting to Rs 140.82 billion was added to the country's debt portfolio in the last 10 months of the current fiscal year. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The ratio of public debt to the GDP appeared to be 44.40 percent while considering Nepal's Gross Domestic Production (GDP) as Rs 4851.62 billion, the office said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The rise of public debt ratio to the GDP and weak economic growth rate due to low capital formation could put the country's economy in crisis in the coming days. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the Public Debt Management Office, the government has raised public debt of Rs 230.24 billion in the first 10 months of the current fiscal year. Likewise, the government has paid principle and interest amounting to Rs 143.42 billion in the review period. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">As of May 14 this year, the government spending in the repayment of principle and interest of public debt exceeded the capital spending by around Rs 18 billion. The government has spent Rs 125.67 billion towards capital budget up to May 14 this year. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">On the one hand, the government's capacity to collect public revenue has declined resulting in a budget deficit while on the other hand a large sum of the annual budget is being spent for the repayment of principle amount of the rising public debt. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-23', 'modified' => '2023-05-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17679', 'image' => '20230523105433_public debt.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-23 10:53:47', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17947', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Earthquake Jolts Bajura ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 23: An earthquake measuring 4.1 on the Richter scale jolted Bajura district on Monday evening. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">May 23: An earthquake measuring 4.1 on the Richter scale jolted Bajura district on Monday evening. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The earthquake with its epicentre at Bichhiya was recorded at 6:45 pm, according to the National Seismological Centre, Lainchour. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif""> Earlier on Sunday, another earthquake measuring on 4.1 on the Richter scale was also recorded with its epicentre at Hukam in the district. Western Nepal has been frequently hit by earthquakes in recent months. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-23', 'modified' => '2023-05-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17678', 'image' => '20230523104438_earth.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-23 10:41:28', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17946', 'article_category_id' => '219', 'title' => 'Laxmi Bank and Sunrise Bank Sign Final Merger Agreement ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Two commercial banks-Laxmi Bank and Sunrise Bank limited- have reached a final agreement for a merger. Amidst a programme organized on Monday, the final agreement for the merger of the two banks was signed. ', 'content' => '<p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">May 23: Two commercial banks-Laxmi Bank and Sunrise Bank limited- have reached a final agreement for a merger. Amidst a programme organized on Monday, the final agreement for the merger of the two banks was signed. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Based on the due diligence report, both banks will merge in a 1:1 swap ratio. After the merger, the name of the merged entity will be Laxmi Sunrise Bank Limited.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Ajay Bikram Shah, the current Chief Executive Officer of Laxmi Bank, will become the CEO of the merged bank, while the first meeting of the Board of Directors will select the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the merged entity. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Once the merger is approved by the General Assemblies of both banks and accepted by the Nepal Rastra Bank and the Office of the Company Registrar, the joint operations will commence. The goal is to start integrated business operations within the month of Asar. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Prior to this, the Chairman of Laxmi Bank, Raman Nepal, and the Chairman of Sunrise Bank, Motilal Dugad, had signed the initial agreement for the merger on 25th Poush, 2079. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Dr. Manish Thapa and Swati Rungta represent Laxmi Bank, while Sharada Sharma and Deepak Nepal represent Sunrise Bank in the Joint Merger Committee. </span></p> <p><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-23', 'modified' => '2023-05-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17677', 'image' => '20230523061856_collage (8).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-23 06:16:47', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17945', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '500 People Climb Mount Everest', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 22: Around 500 people have successfully climbed the highest mountain of the world, Mount Everest as of Monday.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">May 22: Around 500 people have successfully climbed the highest mountain of the world, Mount Everest as of Monday. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The Department of Tourism confirmed that five hundred mountaineers and guides have scaled Mt Everest during this year’s spring climbing season which started on May 13 after the icefall doctors fixed the ropes to the top of Everest.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">“Until today around 500 people, including Sherpas guides have climbed Mount Everest,” said a source at the department. A total of 478 mountaineers had obtained an expedition permit to climb Mount Everest in the spring season. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Director General of the Department Hom Prasad Luintel said that the weather has remained favorable, and the expedition of the different mountains including Everest has been encouraging so far. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The 478 permits issued is the highest number of permits issued for climbing Everest till date. They include 103 women and 376 men from 47 mountaineering teams, added the department.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Ten people, including six foreigners and four Sherpas, have already died while climbing Everest this season.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">According to AFP, an average of five people die while attempting to climb Everest every year.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-22', 'modified' => '2023-05-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17676', 'image' => '20230522062827_20230330102040_1680132652.Clipboard32.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-22 18:26:48', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17944', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Policies, and Programmes Lack Plan to Address Economic Crisis: RPP Chair Lingden', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Rajendra Lingden, Chair of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) and member of the House of Representatives (HoR), stated that the government's new policies and programs lack a plan to address the current economic crisis in the country.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">May 22: Rajendra Lingden, Chair of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) and member of the House of Representatives (HoR), stated that the government's new policies and programs lack a plan to address the current economic crisis in the country.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> During a meeting of the lower house today, Lingden expressed his disappointment that the policies and programs did not provide a roadmap for the future. He pointed out that these documents failed to identify and prioritize the problems effectively and presented some contradictory issues. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Lingden emphasized the need for employment-based industries, subsidies in electricity, and discouragement of unnecessary hurdles from trade unions to promote industrial growth.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> Lingden also advocated for the promotion of religious tourism alongside the tourism industry, considering Nepal as the birthplace of orientalism. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Additionally, Ganesh Parajuli of the Rastriya Swatantra Party questioned whether the government's policies and programs genuinely addressed economic issues, stating that a remittance-based economy is not sustainable. Parajuli urged all political parties to unite against corruption. </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-22', 'modified' => '2023-05-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17675', 'image' => '20230522053909_collage (15).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-22 17:34:05', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17943', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'India and Bangladesh Eager to Purchase Power from Nepal: NEA Managing Director Ghishing', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Kulman Ghising, Managing Director of the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), has said that both India and Bangladesh have expressed strong interest in buying electricity from Nepal.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">May 22: Kulman Ghising, Managing Director of the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), has said that both India and Bangladesh have expressed strong interest in buying electricity from Nepal. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Speaking at a program where an agreement was signed with the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) for investment in the Tamakoshi Fifth Hydropower Project, Ghising highlighted the interest of India and Bangladesh in purchasing power from Nepal. He emphasized that power exports during the rainy season would fetch better rates.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The EPF has already invested in various hydropower projects, including Upper Tamakoshi, Sanjen, Rasuwagadhi, and Madhya Bhotekoshi. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">In the Tamakoshi Fifth project, which will be based in Bigu Rural Municipality in Dolakha and has a capacity of 99.8 megawatts, the EPF plans to invest Rs 13.74 billion. The total project cost, including construction period interest, amounts to Rs 21.14 billion.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The project will issue shares to the public under the People's Hydropower Program. The project's financial structure consists of 65% loan and 35% equity fund.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">On Sunday, a tri-party agreement was signed among the NEA, Tamakoshi Hydropower Company (the project's promoter), and the EPF in the presence of the Minister for Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation, Shakti Basnet. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">NEA Managing Director Ghising, EPF Administrator Jitendra Dhital, and Company Chief Executive Officer Binod Bhandari signed the agreement on behalf of their respective organizations.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">At the event, Minister Basnet reiterated the government's priority for hydropower production and the strengthening of transmission systems. </span></span><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Minister Basnet highlighted Nepal's potential for green energy and stressed the importance of completing the project on time.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-22', 'modified' => '2023-05-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17674', 'image' => '20230522033833_collage (11).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-22 15:37:07', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17942', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Signs of Improvement in Foreign Trade', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 22: Nepal’s foreign trade, which was affected by the government’s policy of discouraging imports along with inflation and lack of liquidity in banks, has started to improve.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">May 22: Nepal’s foreign trade, which was affected by the government’s policy of discouraging imports along with inflation and lack of liquidity in banks, has started to improve. Along with the increase in foreign exchange reserves, the ban on the import of some luxury goods was revoked, and the Nepal Rastra Bank abolished the requirement to keep a cash margin when opening an LC for imports. As a result, imports started to increase.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the Department of Customs, Nepal’s foreign trade until the month of Baishak (mid-April to mid-May) amounted to Rs 1466.2 billion. This year's foreign trade is 17.54 per cent less compared to Rs 1778 billion in the same period last year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Compared to last year, the overall foreign trade has decreased, but it has started to improve after mid-March. In Chaitra (mid-March to mid-April) of the current fiscal year, while the import was worth Rs 143.12 billion, the export was worth Rs 134.8 billion. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The NRB has tightened imports since last year due to the high trade deficit and declining foreign exchange reserves.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The NRB had also reduced the quota of gold and silver imports while implementing the provision of keeping a cash margin when opening letters of credit (LC) for the import of goods.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, the government banned the import of various luxury goods for 8 months from mid-April last year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">As the current account has gone to surplus, the foreign currency reserves have also increased, and the import ban has been lifted by the government. NRB has also removed the provision of cash margin from the month of Magh (mid-January to mid-February).</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Until Baishak (mid-April to mid-May), Nepal imported goods worth Rs 1335.32 billion. During the same period, goods worth Rs 130.9 billion were exported.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Compared to the previous year, imports have decreased by 16.78 per cent and exports by 24.49 per cent. By Baishak of last year, the import was equal to Rs 1646.5 billion and the export was equal to Rs 173 billion.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The trade deficit till Baishak is Rs 1204.42 billion. This is 15.85 per cent less than last year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the report of NRB, the country's current account is in surplus by 180.1 billion as of Chait (mid-March to mid-April).</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The total foreign exchange reserve which was Rs 1215 billion in Ashar 2079 increased by 17.9 per cent to 1433.7 billion in Chaitra. With the increase in foreign exchange reserves, the ability to meet the import of goods and services from abroad has also improved.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the NRB's report, the foreign exchange reserves of the banking sector are sufficient to support 11 months of goods imports and 9.4 months of goods and services imports. According to the improvement in the external situation of the economy, the NRB has also made the monetary policy flexible.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-22', 'modified' => '2023-05-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17673', 'image' => '20230522032753_Trade.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-22 15:26:05', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17941', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Department of Mines and Geology Issues Licenses for Exploration of 420 Mines ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 22: The Department of Mines and Geology (DMG) has issued licenses for the exploration of 420 mines. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">May 22: The Department of Mines and Geology (DMG) has issued licenses for the exploration of 420 mines. The department issued the permits for the exploration of possible mines so far in the current fiscal year, said Narayan Banskota, the department's Information Officer. </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"">Banskota said licenses have been provided for exploration of iron ore, copper, gold, limestone, granite, ruby, dolomite, among other minerals. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The department said permit has also been given for opening a mine for the extraction of iron ore at Dhaubadi of Nawalparasi. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The department has identified 50 mines so far and issued licenses to different companies for their operation. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The department's Director General Dr Sudheer Rajaure shared that the department has carried out exploration of mines at more than 10 places this year alone. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to him, study is underway for iron ore at Luhakot of Sankhuwasabha, for copper at Dingla of Bhojpur, for granite at Khaniyakharka of Sindhuli, for dolomite at Sunaula Bazaar and for ruby at Ganesh Himal of Dhading, for copper in Rukum, for iron ore at Ratuwamai of Udayapur, for ceramics in Madhes Province and for limestone at Benighat of Dhading. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Although the department has been carrying out feasibility study of mines at several places of the country each year, it takes years since their reports are available due to the shortage of scientists at its lab. The department's lab has 11 allocated positions, but only two are working there at present. The report of the mine whose study was conducted in 2015 has not been prepared till date due to the same reason. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The department has collected revenue totaling Rs 356.63 million till March 14 of the current fiscal year through issuance of licenses and permits for mine exploration. It had collected Rs 934.50 million as of mid-March last year. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-22', 'modified' => '2023-05-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17672', 'image' => '20230522024649_1684736669.khani.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-22 14:45:55', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17940', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Mixed Reactions on Government’s Policies and Programmes ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 22: Parliamentarians taking part in the discussion on the newly unveiled policies and programmes of the government for the upcoming fiscal year (FY 2023/24) furnished a host of suggestions to the government in the parliament. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">May 22: Parliamentarians taking part in the discussion on the newly unveiled policies and programmes of the government for the upcoming fiscal year (FY 2023/24) furnished a host of suggestions to the government in the parliament. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">They have univocally called for effective implementation of the newly unveiled policies and programmes, optimum use of available resources, good-governance practice, elimination of corruption and prioritization of the policies and the programmes among others. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Bhanubhakta Joshi urged for adopting the policy of zero-tolerance against corruption. He viewed that there should not be any situation where the guilty gets scot-free while the innocent ones are prosecuted. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Stating that the government's policies and programmes for the upcoming fiscal year were overall good, he cast his doubt over its effective implementation. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, Abdul Khan lauded the introduction of 'Made in Nepal', 'Make in Nepal' and 'Our products, Our Dignity' among other programmes that aim to boost the domestic production. He suggested that the government should consider entering appropriate agreement with labour destination countries so as to address the issues prevailing in the foreign employment sector. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Deepak Khadka remarked that some important issues were lacking in the government's policies and programmes. He asserted that the government should adopt policies to increase production and enhance productivity in the country which is heavily dependent on remittance. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He also opined that the government should seek additional resources for budget as the government was struggling to garner resources for the upcoming budget. He argued that the people's representatives should also fulfill aspirations of the people who elected them. "It is necessary to fulfill their aspirations by optimally utilizing our resources." </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Underscoring transparency, Mahesh Basnet, said that the government's expenditure should be evaluated and the public accounting system streamlined. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He rued over the policies and programmes saying they failed to clearly reflect issues relating to the scope of insurance, effective execution of the Prime Minister Agriculture Modernization Project, and welfare of the landless squatters, among others. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Another parliamentarian Mahendra Bahadur Shahi raised question on the effectiveness of the policies and programmes introduced by the erstwhile and incumbent government. "It is imperative to self-evaluate the effective implementation of the policies and programmes rolled out by the previous governments," he said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Manish Jha emphasized making public service delivery more effective and ensuring good-governance. "A study has shown that political discontent was on the rise in Nepal. We all are held accountable for that. The discontent has a lot to do with lackluster public service delivery and good-governance," he observed. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to Deepak Bahadur Singh, the government should take the lead to revive the sick industries. Expressing concern over the flagging state of the Hetauda Cement Factory and Udayapur Cement Factory, he spoke of the need to make the management of these sick industries robust. He also suggested that each province have a Medical Hospital. He viewed that there should be referendum on the governing system and secularism. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Ranju Kumari Jha commented that the policies and programmes had repeatedly included the same issues for the past five years. According to her, issues relating to establishing fertilizer factory, increasing investment for public private partnership in education sector, insurance for sportspersons and establishment of Ramraja Singh Health and Science Academy among others were missed in the policies and programmes. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Ambar Bahadur Thapa said that the upcoming policies and programmes were more distribution-oriented than result-oriented. "There is absence of result-oriented plans in the government's upcoming policies and programmes that could be achieved within a year or two." -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-22', 'modified' => '2023-05-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17671', 'image' => '20230522124847_RS_KTM-RATL9561(1).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-22 12:48:06', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17939', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Army Completes Cleaning of Baruntse', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 22: The Nepalese Army has completed cleaning up of Mt Baruntse under its Clean Mountain Campaign, 2023. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">May 22: The Nepalese Army has completed cleaning up of Mt Baruntse under its Clean Mountain Campaign, 2023. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A team of eight Nepalese Army personnel and Sherpa guides under the leadership of Major Samir Bahadur Basnet collected over 3,050 kg of bio-degradable garbage from the base camp of Baruntse. The waste was handed over to the Mahakulung Rural Municipality. </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"">Likewise, 15,470 kilograms of non-degradable waste collected by the team was brought to Kathmandu and handed over to a waste management company. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Nepalese Army's Directorate of Public Relations and Information has said that the cleaning of Mount Everest and Lhotse is still underway. The campaign will end on the World Environment Day on coming June 5. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-22', 'modified' => '2023-05-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17670', 'image' => '20230522114733_800px-Baruntse_wp.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-22 11:46:52', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17938', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'One Dead, Two Yarsha Collectors Missing in Bajhang Avalanche ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 22: A person, who was collecting Yarshagumba, died after an avalanche occurred at Dhanshera of Surma Rural Municipality-2 in Bajhang district on Sunday. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">May 22: A person, who was collecting Yarshagumba, died after an avalanche occurred at Dhanshera of Surma Rural Municipality-2 in Bajhang district on Sunday. The identity of the deceased has not been ascertained as yet. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to Assistant Chief District Officer Satya Kumari Joshi, two persons are missing while two others have sustained injuries in the avalanche. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Joshi added that a team of police personnel of the Nepal Police and Armed Police Force has been deployed to the incident site. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-22', 'modified' => '2023-05-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17669', 'image' => '20230522111957_1684492462.Yarsa.jpeg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-22 11:19:05', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17937', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'International Day for Biological Diversity Being Observed ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => ' Nepal is observing the International Day for Biological Diversity under the theme of 'From agreement to action: Build back biodiversity' today. ', 'content' => '<p><br /> <span style="font-size:18px">May 22: Nepal is observing the International Day for Biological Diversity under the theme of 'From agreement to action: Build back biodiversity' today. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">This significant day, designated by the United Nations, aims to raise awareness and deepen understanding of the crucial issues surrounding biodiversity, ecological balance, environmental conservation, and sustainable development.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Aligned with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, this year's theme emphasizes the need for concrete actions to support biodiversity preservation. It acknowledges the remarkable progress made at COP 15 while emphasizing the pressing urgency to implement further measures.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">In Nepal, several organizations including the Department of Forest, Department of Botany, and various agencies are organizing a range of events to enhance awareness. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">These events include rallies, seminars, interactive sessions, and hiking, all geared towards fostering a greater understanding of the importance of biological diversity.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">The International Day for Biological Diversity holds particular significance as it commemorates the adoption of the text of the Convention on Biological Diversity on May 22, 1992, during the Nairobi Final Act of the Conference for the Adoption of the Agreed Text. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">The United Nations General Assembly officially designated this date as the International Day for Biological Diversity in December 2000.</span></p> <p><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-22', 'modified' => '2023-05-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17668', 'image' => '20230522095008_collage (7).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-22 09:48:36', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17936', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government’s Policies and Programmes Draw Mixed Reaction from Upper House Lawmakers ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 21: The government’s policies and programmes for the upcoming fiscal year 2023-24 have received mixed reactions from the National Assembly members. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">May 21: The government’s policies and programmes for the upcoming fiscal year 2023-24 have received mixed reactions from the National Assembly members. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">The lawmakers from the ruling parties have said that the new policies and programmes are capable of instilling a ray of hope among the people while the opposition lawmakers have said that the policies and programmes have nothing new.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">In a meeting of the National Assembly on Sunday, the lawmakers from the ruling Nepali Congress and CPN (Maoist Center) were of the view that the government’s new policies and programmes had been successful in addressing the entire issues in a balanced way while the main opposition CPN-UML lawmakers said they were the continuity of the past programmes as they had been prepared with a traditional approach.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">They advised the government to incorporate relevant issues missing in the policies and programmes in the budget. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">Jitendra Narayan Dev of the Nepali Congress supported the policies and programmes, citing that they were prepared with hard work. According to MP Dev, assessment of economic problems, efforts to address them, stress on improvement of diplomatic relations and programmes to promote good government and corruption prevention are some of the good aspects of the policies and programmes.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt"> "Programmes relating to agriculture and tourism development are also positive," he said, adding that a focus on productive sectors would help achieve prosperity in the nation.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">The policies and programmes have incorporated encouraging and important programmes like the setting up of the support price of major productions within the country, the management of fertilizers and the opening of fertilizer industries at home, he said. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">Khim Lal Devkota of the CPN (Unified Socialist) and Mahesh Kumar Mahara of the CPN (Maoist Centre) stressed the need for the practical implementation of the policies and programmes. The announcement of building the Nijgadh International Airport is positive, added Devkota. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">The policies and programmes have created new hopes among the people, viewed Narayan Prasad Dahal, adding that bringing the budget for the coming fiscal year, 2023/24 accordingly would add energy. CPN (Maoist Center)'s Gopi Bahadur Sarki Achhami supported and praised the policies and programmes as having prioritized agriculture, improvement in the national economy, and the creation of job opportunities.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">CPN-UML lawmaker Devendra Dahal criticized the government's policies and programmes for lacking any new programmes. He said they were a continuation of the past programmes brought for the purpose of cheap popularity. The policies and programmes have failed to identify the problems and set priorities and the goals, added Dahal.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">Sharada Devi Bhatta of the same party said the policies and programmes have failed to address the present economic crisis.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">Rajendra Laxmi Gaire of CPN (Unified Socialist) said the policies and programmes have been designed to achieve the sustainable development goals. She stressed on their effective implementation.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">Nepali Congress lawmaker Narayan Datta Mishra opined that overall the government’s policies and programmes were good and stressed on their implementation.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">Udaya Bahadur Bohara of Unified Socialist expressed the belief that several new programmes included in the policies and programmes will support the economy. He mentioned that reduction in government expenditure and increment in development expenses were welcome topics.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">Bhuwan Bahadur Sunar of the Maoist Center opined that inclusion of new and popular programmes was a welcome move.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">UML's Gopal Bhattarai called for review of the programmes of the previous years, saying the government's policies and programmes lacked a definite goal.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">Radheshyam Paswan of Maoist Center pointed out the need of giving priority to the policies and programmes in the budget as well as their effective implementation.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><strong><em><span style="font-size:13.0pt">Three lawmakers register amendment proposals</span></em></strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">Three lawmakers from the upper house of the Federal Parliament have registered amendment proposals to the Policies and Programmes for Fiscal Year 2023/24 presented in the Parliament by the government.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">Those registering amendment proposals are CPN-UML's Tulasa Kumari Dahal, Bimala Ghimire and Dr Bimala Rai Paudyal. Lawmaker Bhagawati Neupane presented the amendment proposal on behalf of Dahal, Ghimire and Paudyal. -- </span></span></span><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">RSS</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-21', 'modified' => '2023-05-21', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17667', 'image' => '20230521060715_6F8A8196.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-21 18:05:45', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17935', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Hailstorm Damages Crops in Bajura; Farmers Seek Compensation', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'A devastating hailstorm that struck Khaptad Chededaha rural municipality in Bajura district last Wednesday afternoon severely damaged food crops, vegetables, and fruits.', 'content' => '<p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">May 21: A devastating hailstorm that struck Khaptad Chededaha rural municipality in Bajura district last Wednesday afternoon severely damaged food crops, vegetables, and fruits. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Wheat, barley, vegetables, potatoes, onions, garlic, and various fruits have all fallen victim to the hail, according to Bhimla Budha from Budhabada in ward no. 7 of the rural municipality.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Farmers in ward no. 6 and 7 have been particularly hard-hit by the calamity. Birkh Oli, a farmer, voiced the concerns of the affected farmers, emphasizing the need for compensation rather than mere relief support. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">However, the local government and the Agricultural Knowledge Center in Bajura have yet to take any concrete steps to assess and document the extent of the damage, leading to complaints from the affected farmers.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Gauri Oli, another farmer, lamented the lack of interest shown by the rural municipality in collecting information about the damage, despite approximately 905 families being affected by the hailstorm. This has left farmers anxious about the possibility of receiving compensation for their losses.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">A preliminary assessments conducted by the ward office indicate that the damage caused by the hailstorm exceeds 20 million rupees. </span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-21', 'modified' => '2023-05-21', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17666', 'image' => '20230521042359_collage (10).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-21 16:22:15', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = falsesimplexml_load_file - [internal], line ?? include - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 60 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
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The report was submitted on the 57th day since the police launched an investigation into the scam. The law stipulates that those investigated should be sued within 60 days of the beginning of the investigation. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Spokesperson for Nepal Police and Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Kuber Kadayat told RSS that the report recommended that a case of fraud, organized crime and crime against the State be registered against those found guilty in the scam. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Office of the Public Prosecutor could however consider changes in the report, said DIG Kadayat, adding since there was prospects of investigating the case from the angle of money laundering and abuse of authority, the scammers could also attract the case on these charges. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Police have so far arrested 16 people including former ministers and sitting government secretary on the charge of their involvement in sending people to the United States identifying them as Bhutanese refugees. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Police have suggested the Office of the Public Prosecutor to register case against additional 16 to 17 accused in the scam. The Public Prosecutor's Office will also proceed the prosecution if need be, said Chief of the District Public Prosecutor's Office, Achyutmani Neupane. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Those arrested in this connection are former Deputy Prime Minister Top Bahadur Rayamajhi, former home minister Bal Krishna Khand, suspended secretary (former home secretary) Tek Narayan Pandey, former MP Dr Indrajeet Rai - security advisor to former home minister Ram Bahadur Thapa among others. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, others arrested ones in connection with the scam are refugee leader Teknath Rijal, Chairperson of Nepal Haj Committee, Samsher Minya, former lawmaker Angtawa Sherpa, personal secretary of the then home minister, Narendra KC, son of former Deputy Prime Minister Rayamajhi, Sandip Rayamajhi, Keshav Dulal, Sanu Bhandari, Sandesh Sharma, Sagar Rai, Tanka Gurung, Govind Chaudhary and Ram Sharan KC. </span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">However, Pratik Thapa, son of former home minister Ram Bahadur Thapa, and Niraj Rai, son of Indrajeet Rai, have been absconding. </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, a total of 22 complaints have been filed in relation to the fake Bhutanese refugees scam on behalf of the victims. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">So far, 113 people have come in contact with the police saying that they were the victims in the case of the fake Bhutanese refugees scam. </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"">“A total of 22 complaints have been registered on behalf of the victims,” said District Police Range Kathmandu’s Superintendent of Police (SP) Sitaram Rijal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The victims have alleged that more than Rs 270 million has been defrauded from them. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-23', 'modified' => '2023-05-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17680', 'image' => '20230523112751_20230503063116_images.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-23 11:26:51', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17948', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal's Public Debt Exceeds Rs 2150 Billion ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 23: Nepal's public debt liability has exceeded Rs 2150 billion. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">May 23: Nepal's public debt liability has exceeded Rs 2150 billion. According to the Public Debt Management Office, Nepal has been obliged to pay its public debt amounting over to Rs 2154.12 billion, including Rs 1083.47 billion towards internal debt and Rs 1070.64 billion towards external debt as of May 14, 2023. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Nepal's public debt liability was Rs 2013.29 billion until mid-July last year when the current fiscal year (FY 2022/23) had begun. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Public debt amounting to Rs 140.82 billion was added to the country's debt portfolio in the last 10 months of the current fiscal year. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The ratio of public debt to the GDP appeared to be 44.40 percent while considering Nepal's Gross Domestic Production (GDP) as Rs 4851.62 billion, the office said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The rise of public debt ratio to the GDP and weak economic growth rate due to low capital formation could put the country's economy in crisis in the coming days. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the Public Debt Management Office, the government has raised public debt of Rs 230.24 billion in the first 10 months of the current fiscal year. Likewise, the government has paid principle and interest amounting to Rs 143.42 billion in the review period. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">As of May 14 this year, the government spending in the repayment of principle and interest of public debt exceeded the capital spending by around Rs 18 billion. The government has spent Rs 125.67 billion towards capital budget up to May 14 this year. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">On the one hand, the government's capacity to collect public revenue has declined resulting in a budget deficit while on the other hand a large sum of the annual budget is being spent for the repayment of principle amount of the rising public debt. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-23', 'modified' => '2023-05-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17679', 'image' => '20230523105433_public debt.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-23 10:53:47', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17947', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Earthquake Jolts Bajura ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 23: An earthquake measuring 4.1 on the Richter scale jolted Bajura district on Monday evening. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">May 23: An earthquake measuring 4.1 on the Richter scale jolted Bajura district on Monday evening. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The earthquake with its epicentre at Bichhiya was recorded at 6:45 pm, according to the National Seismological Centre, Lainchour. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif""> Earlier on Sunday, another earthquake measuring on 4.1 on the Richter scale was also recorded with its epicentre at Hukam in the district. Western Nepal has been frequently hit by earthquakes in recent months. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-23', 'modified' => '2023-05-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17678', 'image' => '20230523104438_earth.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-23 10:41:28', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17946', 'article_category_id' => '219', 'title' => 'Laxmi Bank and Sunrise Bank Sign Final Merger Agreement ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Two commercial banks-Laxmi Bank and Sunrise Bank limited- have reached a final agreement for a merger. Amidst a programme organized on Monday, the final agreement for the merger of the two banks was signed. ', 'content' => '<p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">May 23: Two commercial banks-Laxmi Bank and Sunrise Bank limited- have reached a final agreement for a merger. Amidst a programme organized on Monday, the final agreement for the merger of the two banks was signed. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Based on the due diligence report, both banks will merge in a 1:1 swap ratio. After the merger, the name of the merged entity will be Laxmi Sunrise Bank Limited.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Ajay Bikram Shah, the current Chief Executive Officer of Laxmi Bank, will become the CEO of the merged bank, while the first meeting of the Board of Directors will select the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the merged entity. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Once the merger is approved by the General Assemblies of both banks and accepted by the Nepal Rastra Bank and the Office of the Company Registrar, the joint operations will commence. The goal is to start integrated business operations within the month of Asar. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Prior to this, the Chairman of Laxmi Bank, Raman Nepal, and the Chairman of Sunrise Bank, Motilal Dugad, had signed the initial agreement for the merger on 25th Poush, 2079. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Dr. Manish Thapa and Swati Rungta represent Laxmi Bank, while Sharada Sharma and Deepak Nepal represent Sunrise Bank in the Joint Merger Committee. </span></p> <p><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-23', 'modified' => '2023-05-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17677', 'image' => '20230523061856_collage (8).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-23 06:16:47', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17945', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '500 People Climb Mount Everest', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 22: Around 500 people have successfully climbed the highest mountain of the world, Mount Everest as of Monday.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">May 22: Around 500 people have successfully climbed the highest mountain of the world, Mount Everest as of Monday. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The Department of Tourism confirmed that five hundred mountaineers and guides have scaled Mt Everest during this year’s spring climbing season which started on May 13 after the icefall doctors fixed the ropes to the top of Everest.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">“Until today around 500 people, including Sherpas guides have climbed Mount Everest,” said a source at the department. A total of 478 mountaineers had obtained an expedition permit to climb Mount Everest in the spring season. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Director General of the Department Hom Prasad Luintel said that the weather has remained favorable, and the expedition of the different mountains including Everest has been encouraging so far. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The 478 permits issued is the highest number of permits issued for climbing Everest till date. They include 103 women and 376 men from 47 mountaineering teams, added the department.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Ten people, including six foreigners and four Sherpas, have already died while climbing Everest this season.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">According to AFP, an average of five people die while attempting to climb Everest every year.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-22', 'modified' => '2023-05-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17676', 'image' => '20230522062827_20230330102040_1680132652.Clipboard32.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-22 18:26:48', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17944', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Policies, and Programmes Lack Plan to Address Economic Crisis: RPP Chair Lingden', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Rajendra Lingden, Chair of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) and member of the House of Representatives (HoR), stated that the government's new policies and programs lack a plan to address the current economic crisis in the country.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">May 22: Rajendra Lingden, Chair of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) and member of the House of Representatives (HoR), stated that the government's new policies and programs lack a plan to address the current economic crisis in the country.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> During a meeting of the lower house today, Lingden expressed his disappointment that the policies and programs did not provide a roadmap for the future. He pointed out that these documents failed to identify and prioritize the problems effectively and presented some contradictory issues. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Lingden emphasized the need for employment-based industries, subsidies in electricity, and discouragement of unnecessary hurdles from trade unions to promote industrial growth.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> Lingden also advocated for the promotion of religious tourism alongside the tourism industry, considering Nepal as the birthplace of orientalism. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Additionally, Ganesh Parajuli of the Rastriya Swatantra Party questioned whether the government's policies and programs genuinely addressed economic issues, stating that a remittance-based economy is not sustainable. Parajuli urged all political parties to unite against corruption. </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-22', 'modified' => '2023-05-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17675', 'image' => '20230522053909_collage (15).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-22 17:34:05', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17943', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'India and Bangladesh Eager to Purchase Power from Nepal: NEA Managing Director Ghishing', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Kulman Ghising, Managing Director of the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), has said that both India and Bangladesh have expressed strong interest in buying electricity from Nepal.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">May 22: Kulman Ghising, Managing Director of the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), has said that both India and Bangladesh have expressed strong interest in buying electricity from Nepal. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Speaking at a program where an agreement was signed with the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) for investment in the Tamakoshi Fifth Hydropower Project, Ghising highlighted the interest of India and Bangladesh in purchasing power from Nepal. He emphasized that power exports during the rainy season would fetch better rates.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The EPF has already invested in various hydropower projects, including Upper Tamakoshi, Sanjen, Rasuwagadhi, and Madhya Bhotekoshi. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">In the Tamakoshi Fifth project, which will be based in Bigu Rural Municipality in Dolakha and has a capacity of 99.8 megawatts, the EPF plans to invest Rs 13.74 billion. The total project cost, including construction period interest, amounts to Rs 21.14 billion.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The project will issue shares to the public under the People's Hydropower Program. The project's financial structure consists of 65% loan and 35% equity fund.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">On Sunday, a tri-party agreement was signed among the NEA, Tamakoshi Hydropower Company (the project's promoter), and the EPF in the presence of the Minister for Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation, Shakti Basnet. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">NEA Managing Director Ghising, EPF Administrator Jitendra Dhital, and Company Chief Executive Officer Binod Bhandari signed the agreement on behalf of their respective organizations.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">At the event, Minister Basnet reiterated the government's priority for hydropower production and the strengthening of transmission systems. </span></span><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Minister Basnet highlighted Nepal's potential for green energy and stressed the importance of completing the project on time.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-22', 'modified' => '2023-05-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17674', 'image' => '20230522033833_collage (11).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-22 15:37:07', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17942', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Signs of Improvement in Foreign Trade', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 22: Nepal’s foreign trade, which was affected by the government’s policy of discouraging imports along with inflation and lack of liquidity in banks, has started to improve.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">May 22: Nepal’s foreign trade, which was affected by the government’s policy of discouraging imports along with inflation and lack of liquidity in banks, has started to improve. Along with the increase in foreign exchange reserves, the ban on the import of some luxury goods was revoked, and the Nepal Rastra Bank abolished the requirement to keep a cash margin when opening an LC for imports. As a result, imports started to increase.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the Department of Customs, Nepal’s foreign trade until the month of Baishak (mid-April to mid-May) amounted to Rs 1466.2 billion. This year's foreign trade is 17.54 per cent less compared to Rs 1778 billion in the same period last year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Compared to last year, the overall foreign trade has decreased, but it has started to improve after mid-March. In Chaitra (mid-March to mid-April) of the current fiscal year, while the import was worth Rs 143.12 billion, the export was worth Rs 134.8 billion. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The NRB has tightened imports since last year due to the high trade deficit and declining foreign exchange reserves.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The NRB had also reduced the quota of gold and silver imports while implementing the provision of keeping a cash margin when opening letters of credit (LC) for the import of goods.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, the government banned the import of various luxury goods for 8 months from mid-April last year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">As the current account has gone to surplus, the foreign currency reserves have also increased, and the import ban has been lifted by the government. NRB has also removed the provision of cash margin from the month of Magh (mid-January to mid-February).</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Until Baishak (mid-April to mid-May), Nepal imported goods worth Rs 1335.32 billion. During the same period, goods worth Rs 130.9 billion were exported.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Compared to the previous year, imports have decreased by 16.78 per cent and exports by 24.49 per cent. By Baishak of last year, the import was equal to Rs 1646.5 billion and the export was equal to Rs 173 billion.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The trade deficit till Baishak is Rs 1204.42 billion. This is 15.85 per cent less than last year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the report of NRB, the country's current account is in surplus by 180.1 billion as of Chait (mid-March to mid-April).</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The total foreign exchange reserve which was Rs 1215 billion in Ashar 2079 increased by 17.9 per cent to 1433.7 billion in Chaitra. With the increase in foreign exchange reserves, the ability to meet the import of goods and services from abroad has also improved.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the NRB's report, the foreign exchange reserves of the banking sector are sufficient to support 11 months of goods imports and 9.4 months of goods and services imports. According to the improvement in the external situation of the economy, the NRB has also made the monetary policy flexible.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-22', 'modified' => '2023-05-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17673', 'image' => '20230522032753_Trade.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-22 15:26:05', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17941', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Department of Mines and Geology Issues Licenses for Exploration of 420 Mines ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 22: The Department of Mines and Geology (DMG) has issued licenses for the exploration of 420 mines. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">May 22: The Department of Mines and Geology (DMG) has issued licenses for the exploration of 420 mines. The department issued the permits for the exploration of possible mines so far in the current fiscal year, said Narayan Banskota, the department's Information Officer. </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"">Banskota said licenses have been provided for exploration of iron ore, copper, gold, limestone, granite, ruby, dolomite, among other minerals. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The department said permit has also been given for opening a mine for the extraction of iron ore at Dhaubadi of Nawalparasi. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The department has identified 50 mines so far and issued licenses to different companies for their operation. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The department's Director General Dr Sudheer Rajaure shared that the department has carried out exploration of mines at more than 10 places this year alone. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to him, study is underway for iron ore at Luhakot of Sankhuwasabha, for copper at Dingla of Bhojpur, for granite at Khaniyakharka of Sindhuli, for dolomite at Sunaula Bazaar and for ruby at Ganesh Himal of Dhading, for copper in Rukum, for iron ore at Ratuwamai of Udayapur, for ceramics in Madhes Province and for limestone at Benighat of Dhading. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Although the department has been carrying out feasibility study of mines at several places of the country each year, it takes years since their reports are available due to the shortage of scientists at its lab. The department's lab has 11 allocated positions, but only two are working there at present. The report of the mine whose study was conducted in 2015 has not been prepared till date due to the same reason. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The department has collected revenue totaling Rs 356.63 million till March 14 of the current fiscal year through issuance of licenses and permits for mine exploration. It had collected Rs 934.50 million as of mid-March last year. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-22', 'modified' => '2023-05-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17672', 'image' => '20230522024649_1684736669.khani.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-22 14:45:55', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17940', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Mixed Reactions on Government’s Policies and Programmes ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 22: Parliamentarians taking part in the discussion on the newly unveiled policies and programmes of the government for the upcoming fiscal year (FY 2023/24) furnished a host of suggestions to the government in the parliament. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">May 22: Parliamentarians taking part in the discussion on the newly unveiled policies and programmes of the government for the upcoming fiscal year (FY 2023/24) furnished a host of suggestions to the government in the parliament. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">They have univocally called for effective implementation of the newly unveiled policies and programmes, optimum use of available resources, good-governance practice, elimination of corruption and prioritization of the policies and the programmes among others. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Bhanubhakta Joshi urged for adopting the policy of zero-tolerance against corruption. He viewed that there should not be any situation where the guilty gets scot-free while the innocent ones are prosecuted. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Stating that the government's policies and programmes for the upcoming fiscal year were overall good, he cast his doubt over its effective implementation. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, Abdul Khan lauded the introduction of 'Made in Nepal', 'Make in Nepal' and 'Our products, Our Dignity' among other programmes that aim to boost the domestic production. He suggested that the government should consider entering appropriate agreement with labour destination countries so as to address the issues prevailing in the foreign employment sector. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Deepak Khadka remarked that some important issues were lacking in the government's policies and programmes. He asserted that the government should adopt policies to increase production and enhance productivity in the country which is heavily dependent on remittance. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He also opined that the government should seek additional resources for budget as the government was struggling to garner resources for the upcoming budget. He argued that the people's representatives should also fulfill aspirations of the people who elected them. "It is necessary to fulfill their aspirations by optimally utilizing our resources." </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Underscoring transparency, Mahesh Basnet, said that the government's expenditure should be evaluated and the public accounting system streamlined. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He rued over the policies and programmes saying they failed to clearly reflect issues relating to the scope of insurance, effective execution of the Prime Minister Agriculture Modernization Project, and welfare of the landless squatters, among others. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Another parliamentarian Mahendra Bahadur Shahi raised question on the effectiveness of the policies and programmes introduced by the erstwhile and incumbent government. "It is imperative to self-evaluate the effective implementation of the policies and programmes rolled out by the previous governments," he said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Manish Jha emphasized making public service delivery more effective and ensuring good-governance. "A study has shown that political discontent was on the rise in Nepal. We all are held accountable for that. The discontent has a lot to do with lackluster public service delivery and good-governance," he observed. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to Deepak Bahadur Singh, the government should take the lead to revive the sick industries. Expressing concern over the flagging state of the Hetauda Cement Factory and Udayapur Cement Factory, he spoke of the need to make the management of these sick industries robust. He also suggested that each province have a Medical Hospital. He viewed that there should be referendum on the governing system and secularism. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Ranju Kumari Jha commented that the policies and programmes had repeatedly included the same issues for the past five years. According to her, issues relating to establishing fertilizer factory, increasing investment for public private partnership in education sector, insurance for sportspersons and establishment of Ramraja Singh Health and Science Academy among others were missed in the policies and programmes. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Ambar Bahadur Thapa said that the upcoming policies and programmes were more distribution-oriented than result-oriented. "There is absence of result-oriented plans in the government's upcoming policies and programmes that could be achieved within a year or two." -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-22', 'modified' => '2023-05-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17671', 'image' => '20230522124847_RS_KTM-RATL9561(1).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-22 12:48:06', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17939', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Army Completes Cleaning of Baruntse', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 22: The Nepalese Army has completed cleaning up of Mt Baruntse under its Clean Mountain Campaign, 2023. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">May 22: The Nepalese Army has completed cleaning up of Mt Baruntse under its Clean Mountain Campaign, 2023. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A team of eight Nepalese Army personnel and Sherpa guides under the leadership of Major Samir Bahadur Basnet collected over 3,050 kg of bio-degradable garbage from the base camp of Baruntse. The waste was handed over to the Mahakulung Rural Municipality. </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"">Likewise, 15,470 kilograms of non-degradable waste collected by the team was brought to Kathmandu and handed over to a waste management company. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Nepalese Army's Directorate of Public Relations and Information has said that the cleaning of Mount Everest and Lhotse is still underway. The campaign will end on the World Environment Day on coming June 5. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-22', 'modified' => '2023-05-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17670', 'image' => '20230522114733_800px-Baruntse_wp.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-22 11:46:52', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17938', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'One Dead, Two Yarsha Collectors Missing in Bajhang Avalanche ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 22: A person, who was collecting Yarshagumba, died after an avalanche occurred at Dhanshera of Surma Rural Municipality-2 in Bajhang district on Sunday. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">May 22: A person, who was collecting Yarshagumba, died after an avalanche occurred at Dhanshera of Surma Rural Municipality-2 in Bajhang district on Sunday. The identity of the deceased has not been ascertained as yet. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to Assistant Chief District Officer Satya Kumari Joshi, two persons are missing while two others have sustained injuries in the avalanche. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Joshi added that a team of police personnel of the Nepal Police and Armed Police Force has been deployed to the incident site. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-22', 'modified' => '2023-05-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17669', 'image' => '20230522111957_1684492462.Yarsa.jpeg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-22 11:19:05', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17937', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'International Day for Biological Diversity Being Observed ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => ' Nepal is observing the International Day for Biological Diversity under the theme of 'From agreement to action: Build back biodiversity' today. ', 'content' => '<p><br /> <span style="font-size:18px">May 22: Nepal is observing the International Day for Biological Diversity under the theme of 'From agreement to action: Build back biodiversity' today. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">This significant day, designated by the United Nations, aims to raise awareness and deepen understanding of the crucial issues surrounding biodiversity, ecological balance, environmental conservation, and sustainable development.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Aligned with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, this year's theme emphasizes the need for concrete actions to support biodiversity preservation. It acknowledges the remarkable progress made at COP 15 while emphasizing the pressing urgency to implement further measures.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">In Nepal, several organizations including the Department of Forest, Department of Botany, and various agencies are organizing a range of events to enhance awareness. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">These events include rallies, seminars, interactive sessions, and hiking, all geared towards fostering a greater understanding of the importance of biological diversity.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">The International Day for Biological Diversity holds particular significance as it commemorates the adoption of the text of the Convention on Biological Diversity on May 22, 1992, during the Nairobi Final Act of the Conference for the Adoption of the Agreed Text. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">The United Nations General Assembly officially designated this date as the International Day for Biological Diversity in December 2000.</span></p> <p><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-22', 'modified' => '2023-05-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17668', 'image' => '20230522095008_collage (7).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-22 09:48:36', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17936', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government’s Policies and Programmes Draw Mixed Reaction from Upper House Lawmakers ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 21: The government’s policies and programmes for the upcoming fiscal year 2023-24 have received mixed reactions from the National Assembly members. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">May 21: The government’s policies and programmes for the upcoming fiscal year 2023-24 have received mixed reactions from the National Assembly members. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">The lawmakers from the ruling parties have said that the new policies and programmes are capable of instilling a ray of hope among the people while the opposition lawmakers have said that the policies and programmes have nothing new.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">In a meeting of the National Assembly on Sunday, the lawmakers from the ruling Nepali Congress and CPN (Maoist Center) were of the view that the government’s new policies and programmes had been successful in addressing the entire issues in a balanced way while the main opposition CPN-UML lawmakers said they were the continuity of the past programmes as they had been prepared with a traditional approach.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">They advised the government to incorporate relevant issues missing in the policies and programmes in the budget. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">Jitendra Narayan Dev of the Nepali Congress supported the policies and programmes, citing that they were prepared with hard work. According to MP Dev, assessment of economic problems, efforts to address them, stress on improvement of diplomatic relations and programmes to promote good government and corruption prevention are some of the good aspects of the policies and programmes.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt"> "Programmes relating to agriculture and tourism development are also positive," he said, adding that a focus on productive sectors would help achieve prosperity in the nation.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">The policies and programmes have incorporated encouraging and important programmes like the setting up of the support price of major productions within the country, the management of fertilizers and the opening of fertilizer industries at home, he said. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">Khim Lal Devkota of the CPN (Unified Socialist) and Mahesh Kumar Mahara of the CPN (Maoist Centre) stressed the need for the practical implementation of the policies and programmes. The announcement of building the Nijgadh International Airport is positive, added Devkota. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">The policies and programmes have created new hopes among the people, viewed Narayan Prasad Dahal, adding that bringing the budget for the coming fiscal year, 2023/24 accordingly would add energy. CPN (Maoist Center)'s Gopi Bahadur Sarki Achhami supported and praised the policies and programmes as having prioritized agriculture, improvement in the national economy, and the creation of job opportunities.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">CPN-UML lawmaker Devendra Dahal criticized the government's policies and programmes for lacking any new programmes. He said they were a continuation of the past programmes brought for the purpose of cheap popularity. The policies and programmes have failed to identify the problems and set priorities and the goals, added Dahal.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">Sharada Devi Bhatta of the same party said the policies and programmes have failed to address the present economic crisis.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">Rajendra Laxmi Gaire of CPN (Unified Socialist) said the policies and programmes have been designed to achieve the sustainable development goals. She stressed on their effective implementation.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">Nepali Congress lawmaker Narayan Datta Mishra opined that overall the government’s policies and programmes were good and stressed on their implementation.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">Udaya Bahadur Bohara of Unified Socialist expressed the belief that several new programmes included in the policies and programmes will support the economy. He mentioned that reduction in government expenditure and increment in development expenses were welcome topics.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">Bhuwan Bahadur Sunar of the Maoist Center opined that inclusion of new and popular programmes was a welcome move.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">UML's Gopal Bhattarai called for review of the programmes of the previous years, saying the government's policies and programmes lacked a definite goal.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">Radheshyam Paswan of Maoist Center pointed out the need of giving priority to the policies and programmes in the budget as well as their effective implementation.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><strong><em><span style="font-size:13.0pt">Three lawmakers register amendment proposals</span></em></strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">Three lawmakers from the upper house of the Federal Parliament have registered amendment proposals to the Policies and Programmes for Fiscal Year 2023/24 presented in the Parliament by the government.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">Those registering amendment proposals are CPN-UML's Tulasa Kumari Dahal, Bimala Ghimire and Dr Bimala Rai Paudyal. Lawmaker Bhagawati Neupane presented the amendment proposal on behalf of Dahal, Ghimire and Paudyal. -- </span></span></span><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">RSS</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-21', 'modified' => '2023-05-21', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17667', 'image' => '20230521060715_6F8A8196.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-21 18:05:45', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17935', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Hailstorm Damages Crops in Bajura; Farmers Seek Compensation', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'A devastating hailstorm that struck Khaptad Chededaha rural municipality in Bajura district last Wednesday afternoon severely damaged food crops, vegetables, and fruits.', 'content' => '<p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">May 21: A devastating hailstorm that struck Khaptad Chededaha rural municipality in Bajura district last Wednesday afternoon severely damaged food crops, vegetables, and fruits. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Wheat, barley, vegetables, potatoes, onions, garlic, and various fruits have all fallen victim to the hail, according to Bhimla Budha from Budhabada in ward no. 7 of the rural municipality.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Farmers in ward no. 6 and 7 have been particularly hard-hit by the calamity. Birkh Oli, a farmer, voiced the concerns of the affected farmers, emphasizing the need for compensation rather than mere relief support. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">However, the local government and the Agricultural Knowledge Center in Bajura have yet to take any concrete steps to assess and document the extent of the damage, leading to complaints from the affected farmers.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Gauri Oli, another farmer, lamented the lack of interest shown by the rural municipality in collecting information about the damage, despite approximately 905 families being affected by the hailstorm. This has left farmers anxious about the possibility of receiving compensation for their losses.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">A preliminary assessments conducted by the ward office indicate that the damage caused by the hailstorm exceeds 20 million rupees. </span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-21', 'modified' => '2023-05-21', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17666', 'image' => '20230521042359_collage (10).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-21 16:22:15', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = false $xml = falseinclude - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 133 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
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The report was submitted on the 57th day since the police launched an investigation into the scam. The law stipulates that those investigated should be sued within 60 days of the beginning of the investigation. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Spokesperson for Nepal Police and Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Kuber Kadayat told RSS that the report recommended that a case of fraud, organized crime and crime against the State be registered against those found guilty in the scam. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Office of the Public Prosecutor could however consider changes in the report, said DIG Kadayat, adding since there was prospects of investigating the case from the angle of money laundering and abuse of authority, the scammers could also attract the case on these charges. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Police have so far arrested 16 people including former ministers and sitting government secretary on the charge of their involvement in sending people to the United States identifying them as Bhutanese refugees. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Police have suggested the Office of the Public Prosecutor to register case against additional 16 to 17 accused in the scam. The Public Prosecutor's Office will also proceed the prosecution if need be, said Chief of the District Public Prosecutor's Office, Achyutmani Neupane. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Those arrested in this connection are former Deputy Prime Minister Top Bahadur Rayamajhi, former home minister Bal Krishna Khand, suspended secretary (former home secretary) Tek Narayan Pandey, former MP Dr Indrajeet Rai - security advisor to former home minister Ram Bahadur Thapa among others. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, others arrested ones in connection with the scam are refugee leader Teknath Rijal, Chairperson of Nepal Haj Committee, Samsher Minya, former lawmaker Angtawa Sherpa, personal secretary of the then home minister, Narendra KC, son of former Deputy Prime Minister Rayamajhi, Sandip Rayamajhi, Keshav Dulal, Sanu Bhandari, Sandesh Sharma, Sagar Rai, Tanka Gurung, Govind Chaudhary and Ram Sharan KC. </span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">However, Pratik Thapa, son of former home minister Ram Bahadur Thapa, and Niraj Rai, son of Indrajeet Rai, have been absconding. </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, a total of 22 complaints have been filed in relation to the fake Bhutanese refugees scam on behalf of the victims. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">So far, 113 people have come in contact with the police saying that they were the victims in the case of the fake Bhutanese refugees scam. </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"">“A total of 22 complaints have been registered on behalf of the victims,” said District Police Range Kathmandu’s Superintendent of Police (SP) Sitaram Rijal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The victims have alleged that more than Rs 270 million has been defrauded from them. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-23', 'modified' => '2023-05-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17680', 'image' => '20230523112751_20230503063116_images.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-23 11:26:51', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17948', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal's Public Debt Exceeds Rs 2150 Billion ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 23: Nepal's public debt liability has exceeded Rs 2150 billion. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">May 23: Nepal's public debt liability has exceeded Rs 2150 billion. According to the Public Debt Management Office, Nepal has been obliged to pay its public debt amounting over to Rs 2154.12 billion, including Rs 1083.47 billion towards internal debt and Rs 1070.64 billion towards external debt as of May 14, 2023. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Nepal's public debt liability was Rs 2013.29 billion until mid-July last year when the current fiscal year (FY 2022/23) had begun. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Public debt amounting to Rs 140.82 billion was added to the country's debt portfolio in the last 10 months of the current fiscal year. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The ratio of public debt to the GDP appeared to be 44.40 percent while considering Nepal's Gross Domestic Production (GDP) as Rs 4851.62 billion, the office said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The rise of public debt ratio to the GDP and weak economic growth rate due to low capital formation could put the country's economy in crisis in the coming days. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the Public Debt Management Office, the government has raised public debt of Rs 230.24 billion in the first 10 months of the current fiscal year. Likewise, the government has paid principle and interest amounting to Rs 143.42 billion in the review period. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">As of May 14 this year, the government spending in the repayment of principle and interest of public debt exceeded the capital spending by around Rs 18 billion. The government has spent Rs 125.67 billion towards capital budget up to May 14 this year. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">On the one hand, the government's capacity to collect public revenue has declined resulting in a budget deficit while on the other hand a large sum of the annual budget is being spent for the repayment of principle amount of the rising public debt. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-23', 'modified' => '2023-05-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17679', 'image' => '20230523105433_public debt.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-23 10:53:47', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17947', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Earthquake Jolts Bajura ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 23: An earthquake measuring 4.1 on the Richter scale jolted Bajura district on Monday evening. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">May 23: An earthquake measuring 4.1 on the Richter scale jolted Bajura district on Monday evening. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The earthquake with its epicentre at Bichhiya was recorded at 6:45 pm, according to the National Seismological Centre, Lainchour. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif""> Earlier on Sunday, another earthquake measuring on 4.1 on the Richter scale was also recorded with its epicentre at Hukam in the district. Western Nepal has been frequently hit by earthquakes in recent months. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-23', 'modified' => '2023-05-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17678', 'image' => '20230523104438_earth.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-23 10:41:28', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17946', 'article_category_id' => '219', 'title' => 'Laxmi Bank and Sunrise Bank Sign Final Merger Agreement ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Two commercial banks-Laxmi Bank and Sunrise Bank limited- have reached a final agreement for a merger. Amidst a programme organized on Monday, the final agreement for the merger of the two banks was signed. ', 'content' => '<p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">May 23: Two commercial banks-Laxmi Bank and Sunrise Bank limited- have reached a final agreement for a merger. Amidst a programme organized on Monday, the final agreement for the merger of the two banks was signed. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Based on the due diligence report, both banks will merge in a 1:1 swap ratio. After the merger, the name of the merged entity will be Laxmi Sunrise Bank Limited.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Ajay Bikram Shah, the current Chief Executive Officer of Laxmi Bank, will become the CEO of the merged bank, while the first meeting of the Board of Directors will select the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the merged entity. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Once the merger is approved by the General Assemblies of both banks and accepted by the Nepal Rastra Bank and the Office of the Company Registrar, the joint operations will commence. The goal is to start integrated business operations within the month of Asar. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Prior to this, the Chairman of Laxmi Bank, Raman Nepal, and the Chairman of Sunrise Bank, Motilal Dugad, had signed the initial agreement for the merger on 25th Poush, 2079. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Dr. Manish Thapa and Swati Rungta represent Laxmi Bank, while Sharada Sharma and Deepak Nepal represent Sunrise Bank in the Joint Merger Committee. </span></p> <p><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-23', 'modified' => '2023-05-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17677', 'image' => '20230523061856_collage (8).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-23 06:16:47', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17945', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '500 People Climb Mount Everest', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 22: Around 500 people have successfully climbed the highest mountain of the world, Mount Everest as of Monday.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">May 22: Around 500 people have successfully climbed the highest mountain of the world, Mount Everest as of Monday. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The Department of Tourism confirmed that five hundred mountaineers and guides have scaled Mt Everest during this year’s spring climbing season which started on May 13 after the icefall doctors fixed the ropes to the top of Everest.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">“Until today around 500 people, including Sherpas guides have climbed Mount Everest,” said a source at the department. A total of 478 mountaineers had obtained an expedition permit to climb Mount Everest in the spring season. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Director General of the Department Hom Prasad Luintel said that the weather has remained favorable, and the expedition of the different mountains including Everest has been encouraging so far. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The 478 permits issued is the highest number of permits issued for climbing Everest till date. They include 103 women and 376 men from 47 mountaineering teams, added the department.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Ten people, including six foreigners and four Sherpas, have already died while climbing Everest this season.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">According to AFP, an average of five people die while attempting to climb Everest every year.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-22', 'modified' => '2023-05-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17676', 'image' => '20230522062827_20230330102040_1680132652.Clipboard32.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-22 18:26:48', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17944', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Policies, and Programmes Lack Plan to Address Economic Crisis: RPP Chair Lingden', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Rajendra Lingden, Chair of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) and member of the House of Representatives (HoR), stated that the government's new policies and programs lack a plan to address the current economic crisis in the country.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">May 22: Rajendra Lingden, Chair of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) and member of the House of Representatives (HoR), stated that the government's new policies and programs lack a plan to address the current economic crisis in the country.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> During a meeting of the lower house today, Lingden expressed his disappointment that the policies and programs did not provide a roadmap for the future. He pointed out that these documents failed to identify and prioritize the problems effectively and presented some contradictory issues. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Lingden emphasized the need for employment-based industries, subsidies in electricity, and discouragement of unnecessary hurdles from trade unions to promote industrial growth.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> Lingden also advocated for the promotion of religious tourism alongside the tourism industry, considering Nepal as the birthplace of orientalism. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Additionally, Ganesh Parajuli of the Rastriya Swatantra Party questioned whether the government's policies and programs genuinely addressed economic issues, stating that a remittance-based economy is not sustainable. Parajuli urged all political parties to unite against corruption. </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-22', 'modified' => '2023-05-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17675', 'image' => '20230522053909_collage (15).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-22 17:34:05', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17943', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'India and Bangladesh Eager to Purchase Power from Nepal: NEA Managing Director Ghishing', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Kulman Ghising, Managing Director of the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), has said that both India and Bangladesh have expressed strong interest in buying electricity from Nepal.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">May 22: Kulman Ghising, Managing Director of the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), has said that both India and Bangladesh have expressed strong interest in buying electricity from Nepal. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Speaking at a program where an agreement was signed with the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) for investment in the Tamakoshi Fifth Hydropower Project, Ghising highlighted the interest of India and Bangladesh in purchasing power from Nepal. He emphasized that power exports during the rainy season would fetch better rates.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The EPF has already invested in various hydropower projects, including Upper Tamakoshi, Sanjen, Rasuwagadhi, and Madhya Bhotekoshi. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">In the Tamakoshi Fifth project, which will be based in Bigu Rural Municipality in Dolakha and has a capacity of 99.8 megawatts, the EPF plans to invest Rs 13.74 billion. The total project cost, including construction period interest, amounts to Rs 21.14 billion.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The project will issue shares to the public under the People's Hydropower Program. The project's financial structure consists of 65% loan and 35% equity fund.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">On Sunday, a tri-party agreement was signed among the NEA, Tamakoshi Hydropower Company (the project's promoter), and the EPF in the presence of the Minister for Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation, Shakti Basnet. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">NEA Managing Director Ghising, EPF Administrator Jitendra Dhital, and Company Chief Executive Officer Binod Bhandari signed the agreement on behalf of their respective organizations.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">At the event, Minister Basnet reiterated the government's priority for hydropower production and the strengthening of transmission systems. </span></span><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Minister Basnet highlighted Nepal's potential for green energy and stressed the importance of completing the project on time.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-22', 'modified' => '2023-05-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17674', 'image' => '20230522033833_collage (11).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-22 15:37:07', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17942', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Signs of Improvement in Foreign Trade', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 22: Nepal’s foreign trade, which was affected by the government’s policy of discouraging imports along with inflation and lack of liquidity in banks, has started to improve.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">May 22: Nepal’s foreign trade, which was affected by the government’s policy of discouraging imports along with inflation and lack of liquidity in banks, has started to improve. Along with the increase in foreign exchange reserves, the ban on the import of some luxury goods was revoked, and the Nepal Rastra Bank abolished the requirement to keep a cash margin when opening an LC for imports. As a result, imports started to increase.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the Department of Customs, Nepal’s foreign trade until the month of Baishak (mid-April to mid-May) amounted to Rs 1466.2 billion. This year's foreign trade is 17.54 per cent less compared to Rs 1778 billion in the same period last year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Compared to last year, the overall foreign trade has decreased, but it has started to improve after mid-March. In Chaitra (mid-March to mid-April) of the current fiscal year, while the import was worth Rs 143.12 billion, the export was worth Rs 134.8 billion. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The NRB has tightened imports since last year due to the high trade deficit and declining foreign exchange reserves.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The NRB had also reduced the quota of gold and silver imports while implementing the provision of keeping a cash margin when opening letters of credit (LC) for the import of goods.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, the government banned the import of various luxury goods for 8 months from mid-April last year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">As the current account has gone to surplus, the foreign currency reserves have also increased, and the import ban has been lifted by the government. NRB has also removed the provision of cash margin from the month of Magh (mid-January to mid-February).</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Until Baishak (mid-April to mid-May), Nepal imported goods worth Rs 1335.32 billion. During the same period, goods worth Rs 130.9 billion were exported.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Compared to the previous year, imports have decreased by 16.78 per cent and exports by 24.49 per cent. By Baishak of last year, the import was equal to Rs 1646.5 billion and the export was equal to Rs 173 billion.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The trade deficit till Baishak is Rs 1204.42 billion. This is 15.85 per cent less than last year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the report of NRB, the country's current account is in surplus by 180.1 billion as of Chait (mid-March to mid-April).</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The total foreign exchange reserve which was Rs 1215 billion in Ashar 2079 increased by 17.9 per cent to 1433.7 billion in Chaitra. With the increase in foreign exchange reserves, the ability to meet the import of goods and services from abroad has also improved.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the NRB's report, the foreign exchange reserves of the banking sector are sufficient to support 11 months of goods imports and 9.4 months of goods and services imports. According to the improvement in the external situation of the economy, the NRB has also made the monetary policy flexible.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-22', 'modified' => '2023-05-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17673', 'image' => '20230522032753_Trade.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-22 15:26:05', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17941', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Department of Mines and Geology Issues Licenses for Exploration of 420 Mines ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 22: The Department of Mines and Geology (DMG) has issued licenses for the exploration of 420 mines. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">May 22: The Department of Mines and Geology (DMG) has issued licenses for the exploration of 420 mines. The department issued the permits for the exploration of possible mines so far in the current fiscal year, said Narayan Banskota, the department's Information Officer. </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"">Banskota said licenses have been provided for exploration of iron ore, copper, gold, limestone, granite, ruby, dolomite, among other minerals. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The department said permit has also been given for opening a mine for the extraction of iron ore at Dhaubadi of Nawalparasi. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The department has identified 50 mines so far and issued licenses to different companies for their operation. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The department's Director General Dr Sudheer Rajaure shared that the department has carried out exploration of mines at more than 10 places this year alone. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to him, study is underway for iron ore at Luhakot of Sankhuwasabha, for copper at Dingla of Bhojpur, for granite at Khaniyakharka of Sindhuli, for dolomite at Sunaula Bazaar and for ruby at Ganesh Himal of Dhading, for copper in Rukum, for iron ore at Ratuwamai of Udayapur, for ceramics in Madhes Province and for limestone at Benighat of Dhading. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Although the department has been carrying out feasibility study of mines at several places of the country each year, it takes years since their reports are available due to the shortage of scientists at its lab. The department's lab has 11 allocated positions, but only two are working there at present. The report of the mine whose study was conducted in 2015 has not been prepared till date due to the same reason. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The department has collected revenue totaling Rs 356.63 million till March 14 of the current fiscal year through issuance of licenses and permits for mine exploration. It had collected Rs 934.50 million as of mid-March last year. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-22', 'modified' => '2023-05-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17672', 'image' => '20230522024649_1684736669.khani.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-22 14:45:55', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17940', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Mixed Reactions on Government’s Policies and Programmes ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 22: Parliamentarians taking part in the discussion on the newly unveiled policies and programmes of the government for the upcoming fiscal year (FY 2023/24) furnished a host of suggestions to the government in the parliament. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">May 22: Parliamentarians taking part in the discussion on the newly unveiled policies and programmes of the government for the upcoming fiscal year (FY 2023/24) furnished a host of suggestions to the government in the parliament. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">They have univocally called for effective implementation of the newly unveiled policies and programmes, optimum use of available resources, good-governance practice, elimination of corruption and prioritization of the policies and the programmes among others. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Bhanubhakta Joshi urged for adopting the policy of zero-tolerance against corruption. He viewed that there should not be any situation where the guilty gets scot-free while the innocent ones are prosecuted. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Stating that the government's policies and programmes for the upcoming fiscal year were overall good, he cast his doubt over its effective implementation. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, Abdul Khan lauded the introduction of 'Made in Nepal', 'Make in Nepal' and 'Our products, Our Dignity' among other programmes that aim to boost the domestic production. He suggested that the government should consider entering appropriate agreement with labour destination countries so as to address the issues prevailing in the foreign employment sector. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Deepak Khadka remarked that some important issues were lacking in the government's policies and programmes. He asserted that the government should adopt policies to increase production and enhance productivity in the country which is heavily dependent on remittance. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He also opined that the government should seek additional resources for budget as the government was struggling to garner resources for the upcoming budget. He argued that the people's representatives should also fulfill aspirations of the people who elected them. "It is necessary to fulfill their aspirations by optimally utilizing our resources." </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Underscoring transparency, Mahesh Basnet, said that the government's expenditure should be evaluated and the public accounting system streamlined. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He rued over the policies and programmes saying they failed to clearly reflect issues relating to the scope of insurance, effective execution of the Prime Minister Agriculture Modernization Project, and welfare of the landless squatters, among others. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Another parliamentarian Mahendra Bahadur Shahi raised question on the effectiveness of the policies and programmes introduced by the erstwhile and incumbent government. "It is imperative to self-evaluate the effective implementation of the policies and programmes rolled out by the previous governments," he said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Manish Jha emphasized making public service delivery more effective and ensuring good-governance. "A study has shown that political discontent was on the rise in Nepal. We all are held accountable for that. The discontent has a lot to do with lackluster public service delivery and good-governance," he observed. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to Deepak Bahadur Singh, the government should take the lead to revive the sick industries. Expressing concern over the flagging state of the Hetauda Cement Factory and Udayapur Cement Factory, he spoke of the need to make the management of these sick industries robust. He also suggested that each province have a Medical Hospital. He viewed that there should be referendum on the governing system and secularism. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Ranju Kumari Jha commented that the policies and programmes had repeatedly included the same issues for the past five years. According to her, issues relating to establishing fertilizer factory, increasing investment for public private partnership in education sector, insurance for sportspersons and establishment of Ramraja Singh Health and Science Academy among others were missed in the policies and programmes. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Ambar Bahadur Thapa said that the upcoming policies and programmes were more distribution-oriented than result-oriented. "There is absence of result-oriented plans in the government's upcoming policies and programmes that could be achieved within a year or two." -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-22', 'modified' => '2023-05-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17671', 'image' => '20230522124847_RS_KTM-RATL9561(1).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-22 12:48:06', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17939', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Army Completes Cleaning of Baruntse', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 22: The Nepalese Army has completed cleaning up of Mt Baruntse under its Clean Mountain Campaign, 2023. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">May 22: The Nepalese Army has completed cleaning up of Mt Baruntse under its Clean Mountain Campaign, 2023. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A team of eight Nepalese Army personnel and Sherpa guides under the leadership of Major Samir Bahadur Basnet collected over 3,050 kg of bio-degradable garbage from the base camp of Baruntse. The waste was handed over to the Mahakulung Rural Municipality. </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"">Likewise, 15,470 kilograms of non-degradable waste collected by the team was brought to Kathmandu and handed over to a waste management company. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Nepalese Army's Directorate of Public Relations and Information has said that the cleaning of Mount Everest and Lhotse is still underway. The campaign will end on the World Environment Day on coming June 5. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-22', 'modified' => '2023-05-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17670', 'image' => '20230522114733_800px-Baruntse_wp.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-22 11:46:52', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17938', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'One Dead, Two Yarsha Collectors Missing in Bajhang Avalanche ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 22: A person, who was collecting Yarshagumba, died after an avalanche occurred at Dhanshera of Surma Rural Municipality-2 in Bajhang district on Sunday. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">May 22: A person, who was collecting Yarshagumba, died after an avalanche occurred at Dhanshera of Surma Rural Municipality-2 in Bajhang district on Sunday. The identity of the deceased has not been ascertained as yet. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to Assistant Chief District Officer Satya Kumari Joshi, two persons are missing while two others have sustained injuries in the avalanche. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Joshi added that a team of police personnel of the Nepal Police and Armed Police Force has been deployed to the incident site. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-22', 'modified' => '2023-05-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17669', 'image' => '20230522111957_1684492462.Yarsa.jpeg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-22 11:19:05', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17937', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'International Day for Biological Diversity Being Observed ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => ' Nepal is observing the International Day for Biological Diversity under the theme of 'From agreement to action: Build back biodiversity' today. ', 'content' => '<p><br /> <span style="font-size:18px">May 22: Nepal is observing the International Day for Biological Diversity under the theme of 'From agreement to action: Build back biodiversity' today. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">This significant day, designated by the United Nations, aims to raise awareness and deepen understanding of the crucial issues surrounding biodiversity, ecological balance, environmental conservation, and sustainable development.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Aligned with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, this year's theme emphasizes the need for concrete actions to support biodiversity preservation. It acknowledges the remarkable progress made at COP 15 while emphasizing the pressing urgency to implement further measures.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">In Nepal, several organizations including the Department of Forest, Department of Botany, and various agencies are organizing a range of events to enhance awareness. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">These events include rallies, seminars, interactive sessions, and hiking, all geared towards fostering a greater understanding of the importance of biological diversity.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">The International Day for Biological Diversity holds particular significance as it commemorates the adoption of the text of the Convention on Biological Diversity on May 22, 1992, during the Nairobi Final Act of the Conference for the Adoption of the Agreed Text. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">The United Nations General Assembly officially designated this date as the International Day for Biological Diversity in December 2000.</span></p> <p><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-22', 'modified' => '2023-05-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17668', 'image' => '20230522095008_collage (7).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-22 09:48:36', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17936', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government’s Policies and Programmes Draw Mixed Reaction from Upper House Lawmakers ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 21: The government’s policies and programmes for the upcoming fiscal year 2023-24 have received mixed reactions from the National Assembly members. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">May 21: The government’s policies and programmes for the upcoming fiscal year 2023-24 have received mixed reactions from the National Assembly members. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">The lawmakers from the ruling parties have said that the new policies and programmes are capable of instilling a ray of hope among the people while the opposition lawmakers have said that the policies and programmes have nothing new.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">In a meeting of the National Assembly on Sunday, the lawmakers from the ruling Nepali Congress and CPN (Maoist Center) were of the view that the government’s new policies and programmes had been successful in addressing the entire issues in a balanced way while the main opposition CPN-UML lawmakers said they were the continuity of the past programmes as they had been prepared with a traditional approach.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">They advised the government to incorporate relevant issues missing in the policies and programmes in the budget. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">Jitendra Narayan Dev of the Nepali Congress supported the policies and programmes, citing that they were prepared with hard work. According to MP Dev, assessment of economic problems, efforts to address them, stress on improvement of diplomatic relations and programmes to promote good government and corruption prevention are some of the good aspects of the policies and programmes.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt"> "Programmes relating to agriculture and tourism development are also positive," he said, adding that a focus on productive sectors would help achieve prosperity in the nation.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">The policies and programmes have incorporated encouraging and important programmes like the setting up of the support price of major productions within the country, the management of fertilizers and the opening of fertilizer industries at home, he said. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">Khim Lal Devkota of the CPN (Unified Socialist) and Mahesh Kumar Mahara of the CPN (Maoist Centre) stressed the need for the practical implementation of the policies and programmes. The announcement of building the Nijgadh International Airport is positive, added Devkota. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">The policies and programmes have created new hopes among the people, viewed Narayan Prasad Dahal, adding that bringing the budget for the coming fiscal year, 2023/24 accordingly would add energy. CPN (Maoist Center)'s Gopi Bahadur Sarki Achhami supported and praised the policies and programmes as having prioritized agriculture, improvement in the national economy, and the creation of job opportunities.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">CPN-UML lawmaker Devendra Dahal criticized the government's policies and programmes for lacking any new programmes. He said they were a continuation of the past programmes brought for the purpose of cheap popularity. The policies and programmes have failed to identify the problems and set priorities and the goals, added Dahal.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">Sharada Devi Bhatta of the same party said the policies and programmes have failed to address the present economic crisis.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">Rajendra Laxmi Gaire of CPN (Unified Socialist) said the policies and programmes have been designed to achieve the sustainable development goals. She stressed on their effective implementation.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">Nepali Congress lawmaker Narayan Datta Mishra opined that overall the government’s policies and programmes were good and stressed on their implementation.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">Udaya Bahadur Bohara of Unified Socialist expressed the belief that several new programmes included in the policies and programmes will support the economy. He mentioned that reduction in government expenditure and increment in development expenses were welcome topics.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">Bhuwan Bahadur Sunar of the Maoist Center opined that inclusion of new and popular programmes was a welcome move.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">UML's Gopal Bhattarai called for review of the programmes of the previous years, saying the government's policies and programmes lacked a definite goal.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">Radheshyam Paswan of Maoist Center pointed out the need of giving priority to the policies and programmes in the budget as well as their effective implementation.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><strong><em><span style="font-size:13.0pt">Three lawmakers register amendment proposals</span></em></strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">Three lawmakers from the upper house of the Federal Parliament have registered amendment proposals to the Policies and Programmes for Fiscal Year 2023/24 presented in the Parliament by the government.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">Those registering amendment proposals are CPN-UML's Tulasa Kumari Dahal, Bimala Ghimire and Dr Bimala Rai Paudyal. Lawmaker Bhagawati Neupane presented the amendment proposal on behalf of Dahal, Ghimire and Paudyal. -- </span></span></span><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">RSS</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-21', 'modified' => '2023-05-21', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17667', 'image' => '20230521060715_6F8A8196.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-21 18:05:45', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17935', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Hailstorm Damages Crops in Bajura; Farmers Seek Compensation', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'A devastating hailstorm that struck Khaptad Chededaha rural municipality in Bajura district last Wednesday afternoon severely damaged food crops, vegetables, and fruits.', 'content' => '<p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">May 21: A devastating hailstorm that struck Khaptad Chededaha rural municipality in Bajura district last Wednesday afternoon severely damaged food crops, vegetables, and fruits. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Wheat, barley, vegetables, potatoes, onions, garlic, and various fruits have all fallen victim to the hail, according to Bhimla Budha from Budhabada in ward no. 7 of the rural municipality.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Farmers in ward no. 6 and 7 have been particularly hard-hit by the calamity. Birkh Oli, a farmer, voiced the concerns of the affected farmers, emphasizing the need for compensation rather than mere relief support. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">However, the local government and the Agricultural Knowledge Center in Bajura have yet to take any concrete steps to assess and document the extent of the damage, leading to complaints from the affected farmers.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Gauri Oli, another farmer, lamented the lack of interest shown by the rural municipality in collecting information about the damage, despite approximately 905 families being affected by the hailstorm. This has left farmers anxious about the possibility of receiving compensation for their losses.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">A preliminary assessments conducted by the ward office indicate that the damage caused by the hailstorm exceeds 20 million rupees. </span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-21', 'modified' => '2023-05-21', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17666', 'image' => '20230521042359_collage (10).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-21 16:22:15', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = false $xml = falsesimplexml_load_file - [internal], line ?? include - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 133 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
| Currency | Unit |
Buy | Sell |
| U.S. Dollar | 1 | 121.23 | 121.83 |
| European Euro | 1 | 131.65 | 132.31 |
| UK Pound Sterling | 1 | 142.47 | 143.18 |
| Swiss Franc | 1 | 124.29 | 124.90 |
| Australian Dollar | 1 | 71.69 | 72.05 |
| Canadian Dollar | 1 | 83.90 | 84.32 |
| Japanese Yen | 10 | 10.94 | 11.00 |
| Chinese Yuan | 1 | 17.17 | 17.26 |
| Saudi Arabian Riyal | 1 | 32.27 | 32.43 |
| UAE Dirham | 1 | 33.01 | 33.17 |
| Malaysian Ringgit | 1 | 27.36 | 27.50 |
| South Korean Won | 100 | 9.77 | 9.82 |
Update: 2020-03-25 | Source: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB)
| Fine Gold | 1 tola | 77000.00 |
| Tejabi Gold | 1 tola | 76700.00 |
| Silver | 1 tola | 720.00 |
Update : 2020-03-25
Source: Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers' Association
| Petrol | 1 Liter | 106.00 |
| Diesel | 1 Liter | 95.00 |
| Kerosene | 1 Liter | 95.00 |
| LP Gas | 1 Cylinder | 1375.00 |
Update : 2020-03-25
