Nepal Bankers’ Association has insisted that bank interest rates are not expensive. Organizing a press conference in Kathmandu on Thursday, the bankers’ association argued that bank interest rates are not as high as touted in the…
Nepal Bankers’ Association has insisted that bank interest rates are not expensive. Organizing a press conference in Kathmandu on Thursday, the bankers’ association argued that bank interest rates are not as high as touted in the…
Economist Dr Swarnim Wagle has announced his dissociation from the Nepali Congress…
March 30: All preparations for this year's Secondary Education Examination (SEE) have been…
Issara Nepal, a non-governmental organisation, has launched an app, 'Ujjwal Sapana' targeting migrant…
March 30: Although a large part of Nepal's land area is occupied by forests, almost Rs 18 billion is spent every year for the import of wood products including furniture.…
The way in which AI tools like ChatGPT are advancing would not be too surprising if most human jobs are replaced by AI tools. Now a report by Goldman Sachs has claimed that ChatGPT and the other AI tools could actually replace more than 300 million…
March 30: Chitwan is one of the most preferred destinations of tourists especially for jungle safari.…
March 30: More than 800,000 rupees is spent daily for the members of the House of Representatives and the National…
March 30: Rajendra Raut, president of the Koshi Province chapter of the Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) has said that the industries established in the industrial corridors without proper study face risk of…
March 30: Financial and economic experts have urged the government to be serious about improving the country’s economic…
March 30: The number of people taking permission to climb Mount Everest has increased with the opening of mountain climbing for the spring season of…
Nepal and China have inked an understanding to fully resume bilateral trade and people's movement through the Rasuwagadhi-Kerung border from April…
March 29: Indian agricultural products have dominated the Nepali kitchen.…
March 29: Litmus Industries, the only electric cable manufacturer in the country which produces conductors for 400 KV transmission lines, is going to expand its production plant with an investment of Rs 4…
March 29: Panauti, an ancient town, in Kavrepalanchowk district, is gaining popularity for adventure sports…
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Organizing a press conference in Kathmandu on Thursday, the bankers’ association argued that bank interest rates are not as high as touted in the market. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px">March 31: Nepal Bankers’ Association has insisted that bank interest rates are not expensive. Organizing a press conference in Kathmandu on Thursday, the bankers’ association argued that bank interest rates are not as high as touted in the market. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">“It is not prudent to say that interest rates have become dearer comparing them to the period of COVID-19. Interest rates have just gone up to the pre-COVID-19 level,” said Nepal Bankers’ Association Chairman Sunil KC.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">NBA Chairman KC clarified that protest targeted against banks and financial institutions will not change interest rates. “Demand and supply will determine interest rates, not the protest and agitation,” KC, who is also Chief Executive Officer of NMB Bank added.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">KC said that it was unfortunate banks and financial institutions were receiving attacks from all sides. “The attacks appear to be against banks on the surface. But, they are against entire industrial sector, around 40 million account holders and over the whole country,” KC explained.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">KC opined that impact of activities targeted against banks would be long-term and the whole country would have to pay the price for such activities. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">NBA Chair KC made it clear that protests against banks will have serious effects on foreign investment. He cautioned that country and its economy will have to face consequences of anti-bank activities.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Of late, banks have optimized investment on electric vehicles and productive sector significantly for the sustainable growth of the national economy, accoridng to KC.</span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-31', 'modified' => '2023-03-31', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17151', 'image' => '20230331061504_collage (47).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-31 06:10:58', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17415', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Economist Dr Wagle Quits NC', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Economist Dr Swarnim Wagle has announced his dissociation from the Nepali Congress (NC). ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px">March 31: Economist Dr Swarnim Wagle has announced his dissociation from the Nepali Congress (NC). </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">"I have decided to part ways from the Nepali Congress that has my familial legacy for 50 years and my involvement since the Satyagraha of 2042 BS and People's Movement of 2046 BS," Dr Wagle has written on his Facebook wall.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"> In his status, Dr Wagle states that he contributed to the Nepali Congress party indirectly for three decades and for a decade directly in formulation of economic policy and planning, intellectual-theoretical consultations, training and expansion of the party's international legitimacy. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Dr Wagle, who served as the National Planning Commission Vice-Chair, has announced that he will remain active in public role with the beginning of New Year 2080 BS by taking the agenda of healthy democracy and economic progress based on good-governance.</span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-31', 'modified' => '2023-03-31', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17150', 'image' => '20230331053840_collage (45).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-31 05:37:09', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17414', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'SEE Begins Today', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'March 30: All preparations for this year's Secondary Education Examination (SEE) have been completed. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">March 30: All preparations for this year's Secondary Education Examination (SEE) have been completed. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">This year's SEE is taking place across the country from 8:00 am on Friday (March 31), said Chairperson of the National Examination Board, Mahashram Sharma.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">, "All preparations for the SEE have been completed. A virtual meeting was conducted with all responsible bodies of all 77 districts for the same. We requested all of them to conduct the examinations in a peaceful, disciplined and systematic manner."</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Sharma added that all examination-related activities including designating invigilators at all the examination centers, security arrangement, mobilization of human resources and taking question papers and answer-sheets have been completed. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Examinations Controller Bishnu Narayan Shrestha said the Province Examination Operation and Management Committee formed under the chairmanship of Province Secretary in every province would operate, manage and monitor the examinations in the provinces under the board's directives. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The District Examination Coordination Committee comprising the Chief District Officer, chiefs of security bodies in every district has completed all necessary tasks including designating invigilators in examination centers, imparting orientation to stakeholders, he said.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><strong><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Around 500,000 candidates </span></span></span></span></strong></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Controller of Examinations Shrestha said although 516,591 students studying in Grade 9 filled up the registration form for the SEE in 2022, a total of 484,227 filled up the exam form in grade 10. The number has decreased by 32,364 compared to the number of applicants in Grade 9.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The highest number of candidates are in Bagmati Province (106,959) and the lowest in Karnali Province (41,329). Around 15,000 students will be taking the exams in the technical stream. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Similarly, 2982 students from 65 schools are running courses in Sanskrit and 50 blind students are also appearing in the SEE this year. Students from 11,829 schools, including 7,200 community and 4,564 institutional schools are sitting for the SEE this year. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">A total of 2037 exam centers have been designated for the SEE. These include 2036 exam centers in 77 districts and one in Japan.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Seventy-eight thousand human resources will be mobilized at the exam centers throughout the country for conducting the SEE. -- <em>RSS (Photo courtesy: UNICEF)</em></span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-30', 'modified' => '2023-03-31', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17149', 'image' => '20230330064654_IMG_5918_1.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-30 18:46:07', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17413', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Migrant Workers-targeted App Launched', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Issara Nepal, a non-governmental organisation, has launched an app, 'Ujjwal Sapana' targeting migrant workers.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px">March 30: Issara Nepal, a non-governmental organisation, has launched an app, 'Ujjwal Sapana' targeting migrant workers.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"> Joint-secretary Rajib Pokharel at the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security and the executive director at Issara Institute jointly launched the app recently. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">The app will provide up to date information related to migrant workers, labour law and rights, manpower companies, employers, and service providers. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">The app is available in Nepali, Burmese and Khamer. Joint secretary Pokharel said foreign employment is a compulsion for Nepali people. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">"We have to depend on foreign employments until we create jobs within the country. So, there is a need to properly manage foreign employment," he said. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Pokharel stressed the need to bring all migrant workers onboard the social security fund, and create employment opportunities within the country where skills learnt in foreign lands cane be utilized.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Stating that the Ministry working to formulate worker-friendly Foreign Employment Act that, Pokharel said a five-year strategy to this effect has been in place.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Nepal sent around 25 percent people for foreign employment on an annual basis in the past, said immigration expert Keshab Basyal.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">General Secretary Laxman Basnet at South Asian Regional Trade Union Council stressed the need for the app to have the government's standards on foreign employments.</span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-30', 'modified' => '2023-03-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17148', 'image' => '20230330060546_collage - 2023-03-30T175634.754.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-30 18:03:54', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17412', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Furniture Businessmen in Favour of Promoting Domestic Products', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'March 30: Although a large part of Nepal's land area is occupied by forests, almost Rs 18 billion is spent every year for the import of wood products including furniture. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">March 30: Although a large part of Nepal's land area is occupied by forests, almost Rs 18 billion is spent every year for the import of wood products including furniture. According to the Ministry of Forestry, more than 45 percent of the total land area of Nepal is covered by forests. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">However, according to the data of the Department of Customs, wood and furniture worth Rs 17.82 billion were imported in the last fiscal year (FY 2021/22). In the fiscal year 2020/21, wood and furniture worth Rs 15.18 billion were imported. A total of Rs 65.84 billion has been spent in the last nine years for the import of wood and furniture.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">According to experts, the government's wrong policy and the mindset of businessmen to ignore the industry and focus only on business resulted in such a huge amount of money going abroad for the import of wood products. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">At a time when the private sector is being accused of focusing only on business, those involved in this sector have taken an initiative to reduce the import of wood and furniture by promoting local products.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">Hitesh Golchha, an industrialist active in the promotion of indigenous goods and furniture products, said in a conversation with New Business Age that he is going to expand the ‘fusion’ furniture industry in such a way that it can meet the country's demand to a large extent and also export to foreign countries.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">“The plan is to expand the fusion furniture industry. It was necessary to expand the industry to meet the demand by using native wood produced in Nepal," said Golchha. He also made it clear that they are of the view that furniture should be made from wood produced in Nepal and locally available raw materials.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">He said that the government should take necessary action for the use of indigenous products. </span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-30', 'modified' => '2023-03-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17147', 'image' => '20230330042723_1680161430.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-30 16:25:56', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17411', 'article_category_id' => '243', 'title' => '300 Million People Could Lose Jobs to Artificial Intelligence Worldwide ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'The way in which AI tools like ChatGPT are advancing would not be too surprising if most human jobs are replaced by AI tools. Now a report by Goldman Sachs has claimed that ChatGPT and the other AI tools could actually replace more than 300 million jobs.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"> March 30: The way in which AI tools like ChatGPT are advancing would not be too surprising if most human jobs are replaced by AI tools. Now a report by Goldman Sachs has claimed that ChatGPT and the other AI tools could actually replace more than 300 million jobs. Interestingly, ChatGPT, which has now received an upgraded lamguage model, GPT-4, listed 20 jobs it can replace.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Goldman Sachs economists predicted in a report that 18% of work globally could be computerized, with the effects felt more deeply in advanced economies than emerging markets.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">White-collar workers are seen to be more at risk than manual laborers owing to the use of artificial intelligence. Administrative workers and lawyers are expected to be most affected, the economists said, compared to the “little effect” seen on physically demanding or outdoor occupations, such as construction and repair work.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">In the United States and Europe, approximately two-thirds of current jobs “are exposed to some degree of AI automation,” and up to a quarter of all work could be done by AI completely, the bank estimates.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">If generative technology behind ChatGPT “delivers on its promised capabilities, the labor market could face significant disruption,” the economists wrote. Of late, ChatGPT, the chatbot sensation, has taken the world by storm.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">ChatGPT, which can answer prompts and write essays, has already prompted many businesses to rethink how people should work every day.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">This month, its developer unveiled the latest version of the software behind the bot, GPT-4. The platform has quickly impressed early users with its ability to simplify coding, rapidly create a website from a simple sketch and pass exams with high marks.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Further use of such AI will likely lead to job losses, the Goldman Sachs economists wrote. But they noted that technological innovation that initially displaces workers has historically also created employment growth over the long haul.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">While workplaces may shift, widespread adoption of AI could ultimately increase labor productivity — and boost global GDP by 7% annually over a 10-year period, according to Goldman Sachs.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">“Although the impact of AI on the labor market is likely to be significant, most jobs and industries are only partially exposed to automation and are thus more likely to be complemented rather than substituted by AI,” the economists added.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">“Most workers are employed in occupations that are partially exposed to AI automation and, following AI adoption, will likely apply at least some of their freed-up capacity toward productive activities that increase output.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">“The combination of significant labor cost savings, new job creation, and a productivity boost for non-displaced workers raises the possibility of a labor productivity boom like those that followed the emergence of earlier general-purpose technologies like the electric motor and personal computer,” researchers stated. (agencies)</span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-30', 'modified' => '2023-03-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17146', 'image' => '20230330034303_collage - 2023-03-30T153721.796.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-30 15:37:50', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17409', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => ' Patihani Gaining Popularity as Tourism Destination ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'March 30: Chitwan is one of the most preferred destinations of tourists especially for jungle safari. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">March 30: Chitwan is one of the most preferred destinations of tourists especially for jungle safari. Domestic and foreign tourists turn up to the Chitwan National Park for observing the world's rare one-horned rhino and other wild species. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Sauraha is a popular tourism hotspot in Chitwan. Lately other places having geographical linkage with the Chitwan National Park are also gaining popularity as tourist destination areas. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Like Sauraha, West Chitwan's Patihani has become a preferred choice of tourists lately. Patihani, located in Bharatpur Metropolitan City-22 has turned to be the center of attraction for domestic and foreign tourists. Inflow of foreign tourists to the area has gradually increased, shared ward chair Bishnuraj Mahato. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"Local level has laid emphasis on expanding infrastructures and managing tourism services for encouraging tourists to prolong their stay in Patihani," he said, adding, "Tourists especially coming for jungle safari prefer visiting Patihani as the national park's wildlife are mostly found in the western Chitwan." </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The peaceful ambience here has also attracted tourists. One can reach Patihani after around 14-km travel from the main market area of Bharatpur. The tourism business that was hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic is now gradually coming to its usual state. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Tourists are seen enjoying with elephant riding in the Rapti River flowing through the national park. They are happy with the peaceful environment of Patihani as well. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">German tourist Upaph recounted his experience that it was very joyful to take shower with elephant riding in the Rapti. Terming Nepal naturally beautiful, he said, he took it a fortunate moment to observe rare wild species in the national park. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Upon arrival in Patihani, tourists can enjoy seeing different species of ghariyal crocodile in the river and one-horned rhino among other rare animals in the park. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Information Officer at the Chitwan National Park Ganesh Prasad Tiwari informed that as many as 191,883 tourists arrived in Chitwan up to mid-March in the current fiscal year. Last year a total of 1,90,458 tourists had visited different tourism destinations in Chitwan. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-30', 'modified' => '2023-03-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17144', 'image' => '20230330020727_1680151676.Chitwan.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-30 14:06:37', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17408', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Daily Expense of Parliament Tops Rs 800,000', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'March 30: More than 800,000 rupees is spent daily for the members of the House of Representatives and the National Assembly.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">March 30: More than 800,000 rupees is spent daily for the members of the House of Representatives and the National Assembly. If the parliamentarians do not work according to their responsibilities, that amount of money is wasted every day.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">At least Rs 20 million is spent per month for the House of Representatives and the National Assembly from the state coffers. Considering 25 days of the month as working days and multiplying it by the daily expenses of Rs 800,000, the expenditure is calculated to be around Rs 20 million per month. This expenditure includes only the monthly salary of MPs, special allowances and communication expenses. If the allowances for the days of parliament sitting, transportation, housing allowances and other administrative expenses are added, the expenses will increase even more.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">MPs are given furniture facilities once. Apart from this, the speaker gets Rs 3,000 and MPs Rs 2,500 as daily travelling allowance. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Ever since the beginning of the current session of the House of Representatives and the National Assembly, the lawmakers have failed to draft laws despite no obstruction to the house business.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">A total of three bills have been introduced by the 80th day of the new session of the House of Representatives. There is a provision in the parliament that the government can introduce government bills and parliamentarians can introduce non-government bills. However, neither the government nor the parliamentarians are interested in introducing a bill on matters of public interest. Their interests are more focused on consolidating power.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Among the bills that the government has now registered in parliament are the bills related to the Commission on Investigation of Enforced Disappeared Persons, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (Third Amendment) and the Constitutional Council Bill. As the draft of the House of Representatives Regulations are stalled in the House since a month, the law-making parliament is in a state of lawlessness.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">There are 332 members in the National Assembly and the House of Representatives including speaker and deputy speaker and MPs. Among them, a monthly salary of Rs 67,320 has been fixed for the speaker. They get Rs 4,000 more per month as communication and special allowance. Likewise, the monthly salary of the deputy speaker of the House of Representatives and the vice chairperson of the National Assembly is Rs 60,970. Communication and special allowances are provided to them at the rate of Rs 4,000 per month. Likewise, 332 MPs of both Houses get a monthly salary of Rs 18.3 million at the rate of Rs 55,230 each.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">There is a quota of 334 MPs in the House of Representatives and the National Assembly. The current number is 332. The government also has to pay salaries, allowances and other facilities to the employees working in the Federal Parliament Secretariat.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Dasharath Dhamala, deputy secretary of the Parliament Secretariat said that facilities are being provided to the officials of the Federal Parliament as per the provisions in the law. He said, “According to the provision in the law, all the officials are getting benefits and wages on time.”</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-30', 'modified' => '2023-03-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17143', 'image' => '20230330121655_Parliament.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-30 12:16:06', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17407', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => ''Establishment of Industries without Adequate Study Leads to Risk of Closure'', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'March 30: Rajendra Raut, president of the Koshi Province chapter of the Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) has said that the industries established in the industrial corridors without proper study face risk of closure.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">March 30: Rajendra Raut, president of the Koshi Province chapter of the Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) has said that the industries established in the industrial corridors without proper study face risk of closure.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">Speaking at an interaction with the industrialists of the industrial corridor organized by the Koshi chapter of FNCCI on Tuesday, he pointed out that the main reason for the closure of various industries including textile, jute, sugar industries in the Morang-Sunsari industrial corridor is the lack of study during the establishment of the industry.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">Raut said that the industries are being established and operated without sufficient study of the market and demand. He suggested that the industrialists should pay attention to this issue. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">He said that it has become difficult to operate domestic industries because the market price of imported products is lower than local products. Other problems include unannounced power cuts, increase in production costs, the government's inability to spend capital expenditure. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">During the program, Mahesh Pokharel of Reliance Spinning Mills expressed his concern that although the textile industry is the main basis of the world's industrial revolution and economic development, it has not been given due importance in Nepal. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">He claimed that 10 large textile industries in the corridor have been closed because the government did not give priority to protect domestic industries.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">Pradeep Niraula of Pragati Textiles suggested that the government should stop the illegal import of clothes to save the textile industry. Likewise, Somnath Adhikari, director of Raghupati Jute Mill, said that jute cultivation in Nepal is being stopped and industries are becoming problematic.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">He added that India's anti-dumping policy and other problems have posed a great challenge for the jute industry. Niraula added that the government has not made efforts to export jute.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">During the interaction, stakeholders also discussed the closure of large, medium and small industries such as copper wire, vegetable ghee, zinc oxide, plastic industry in the Morang-Sunsari industrial corridor. The industrialists suggested that the state should find out the reasons for the closure of those industries and determine the future industrial strategy. </span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-30', 'modified' => '2023-03-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17142', 'image' => '20230330113446_indus.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-30 11:33:53', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17406', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Experts Worry about Economic Situation, NRB says there is no Need to Panic', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'March 30: Financial and economic experts have urged the government to be serious about improving the country’s economic situation.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">March 30: Financial and economic experts have urged the government to be serious about improving the country’s economic situation.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Speaking at an interaction program on the issue 'Current economic situation of the country' organised by the Parliamentary Studies and Development Institute in the capital on Tuesday, they said that the government should not delay in bringing programs for reform.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The experts stressed that the government should not waste time saying that the situation is not alarming when the country's economic situation is weakening every day.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Former speaker of the House of Representatives and founding president of the institute Damannath Dhungana said that the life of common people is deteriorating day by day. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">“It is a difficult situation. We had to move forward by easing the current situation," he said.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Deep Kumar Upadhyay, the former minister and former Nepalese ambassador to India, said that there are widespread complaints about banks. "Even though all the indices of the economy have declined, why did it not have much effect on the banks?" he questioned.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Upadhyay said that it is unfair to distribute licenses to financial institutions on a large scale in the beginning, and then to control them through the policy of forced merger.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Former Vice Chairman of the National Planning Commission Dr Govind Raj Pokharel warned that the country’s trade deficit has increased, the revenue collection has decreased, and the development work has not picked up pace. Similarly, cautioned the government about the the increase in current expenditure, decrease in capital expenditure, decline in investment and problems in getting loans from banks.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Pokharel said that political turmoil is also responsible for the current crisis, adding, “Policy discomfort has also created problems in the business environment. Due to the unfriendly policies, businessmen are forced into bad practices.”</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Pokharel also stressed on the need to diversify the economy, which is becoming more dependent on remittances.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Economist Achyut Wagle drew the government's attention to dismal revenue collection of the government.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to Wgle, it is rare that the income of the state cannot cover the administrative expenses as it is now. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Vishnu Kumar Agarwal, president of the Confederation of Nepalese Industry (CNI), said that the market demand is very low at present. According to him, the business community is in trouble because the demand is less.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Kamlesh Kumar Agarwal, vice president of Nepal Chamber of Commerce (NCC) said that the high interest rates of banks has made it impossible for businesses to run and urged the Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) to issue instructions to reduce the interest rate to a single digit.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">NRB Governor Maha Prasad Adhikari said that although the economic situation is somewhat uncomfortable, there is no need to panic. Arguing that the strict measures taken by the central bank are as per the demand of the time, Governor Adhikari added, “Everything will come back to normal once the market economy improves.”</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-30', 'modified' => '2023-03-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17141', 'image' => '20230330104425_economic crisis.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-30 10:43:44', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17405', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '31 People get Permits to Climb Mt Everest', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'March 30: The number of people taking permission to climb Mount Everest has increased with the opening of mountain climbing for the spring season of 2023.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">March 30: The number of people taking permission to climb Mount Everest has increased with the opening of mountain climbing for the spring season of </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">2023</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">. According to the Department of Tourism, </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">31</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> people have taken permission to climb Mount Everest as of Tuesday. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The department has already started issuing climbing permits with the start of the spring season. Although this season is ideal for climbing Mount Everest, mountaineers also take permission to climb other mountains and snow peaks. According to the department, </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">142</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> mountaineers have taken permission to climb </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">10</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> mountain peaks including Everest in the initial phase of this season.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Most of the aspiring climbers have got permission to scale Mt Annapurna. A total of </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">54 </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">people have been granted permission to climb Mt Annapurna. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The department has issued permits for climbing Suma-Sarovar North, Annapurna, Everest, Manaslu, Thorong Peak, Barun, Lotse, Nuptse among others. The department has collected revenue of Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">49.5 </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">million by issuing permits for these peaks so far. According to the department, climbers from Australia, China, Germany, Hungary, Nepal, Singapore, South Africa, Thailand and America have taken permission to climb Mount Everest.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-30', 'modified' => '2023-03-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17140', 'image' => '20230330102040_1680132652.Clipboard32.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-30 10:19:52', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17404', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => ' Nepal and China Agree to Resume Rasuwagadhi-Kerung Border', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Nepal and China have inked an understanding to fully resume bilateral trade and people's movement through the Rasuwagadhi-Kerung border from April 1. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px">March 30: Nepal and China have inked an understanding to fully resume bilateral trade and people's movement through the Rasuwagadhi-Kerung border from April 1. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">The first meeting of Nepal-China Coordination Mechanism on Border Trade and Cooperation held in Lhasa of Tibet on Wednesday agreed to open the Rasuwagadhi-Kerung border, according to Consulate General of Nepal in China. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Secretary Madhu Kumar Marasini at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, and Executive Vice-Chair Chen Yongqi of Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) government had led the delegations from Nepal and China respectively. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">The two sides held discussion on cross-border trade, resuming people's movement, trade facilitation, customs cooperation, development of trade related infrastructures, border trade and cooperation. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">The Chinese side has agreed to establish multi-faceted lab in Nepal-China border at the request of Nepal. Similarly, the Chinese side has also given assurance to open seasonal trade transit point, according to the Consulate General of Nepal. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Stressing on the need of resuming Kathmandu-Lhasa direct flight, Secretary Marasini urged the Chinese side to resume the direct flight soon. Both sides laid emphasis to increase cooperation to improve living standard of the people in bordering districts of Nepal. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Likewise, both sides agreed to change the name of Nepal-China Joint Pandemic Prevention and Control Mechanism to Nepal-China Cooperation Mechanism related to Border Trade and Cooperation. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">In the same manner, Secretary Marasini paid a courtesy call on Chairperson Yan Jinhai of Tibet Autonomous Region government. The meeting dwelt on various issues including promotion of bilateral economic cooperation and mutual interest. </span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-30', 'modified' => '2023-03-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17139', 'image' => '20230330060525_collage (44).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-30 06:00:48', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17403', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Indian Agricultural Products take Sizable Nepali Market', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'March 29: Indian agricultural products have dominated the Nepali kitchen. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">March 29: Indian agricultural products have dominated the Nepali kitchen. A major percentage of vegetables and fruits is imported from neighboring India, according to the one-year data of the Kalimati Fruits and Vegetables Market Development Board.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">For instance, imported onions from India in a period of one year accounted for 99 percent of the total volume of onions traded at the market. Similarly, tomato imported from India made up 94.11 percent, potato (60 percent), green pea (45 percent), gourd (39 percent), pumpkin (66 percent), moringa oleifera (77 percent), tamarind (99 percent), apple (81 percent), pomegranate (98 percent), papaya (81 percent), and grape (81 percent) of the market.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">In the face of increasing imports of agricultural products from India, economists have warned that the situation was not good for the country when over half of its population is dependent on agriculture. According to the National Census 2021, 50.1 percent of the population depend on agriculture.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The import of agricultural products from India is massive, said the board's information officer Binaya Shrestha. Agricultural products imported from India in a span of one year accounted for 38.68 percent of the total imports, he said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"Vegetables in large quantities are imported from India," he said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Out of over 263 million kilograms of vegetables imported during the period, more than 101 million kg was imported from India, said the board's planning officer Ramesh Dangol. China and Bhutan supplied over 100,000 kg each, Bangladesh (around 150,000 kg), and other countries over 5,000 kg.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"Nepal is not self-sufficient on some vegetables. Failure to commercialize agriculture may be a reason. So, we are forced to import from foreign countries including India," he said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Until some years ago, around 80 percent of the demand for vegetables was fulfilled with domestic products, he said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"Apples produced in mountainous Jumla district cannot reach here due to various problems. So, the fruit is imported from foreign countries to meet the demand. Lately, the import of vegetables and fruits is increasing."</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The Kalimati market purchased vegetables from the local market including the Kathmandu Valley (Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur districts) and other nearby districts including Dhading, Kavrepalanchok, Makawanpur, Chitwan, Sarlahi, Dolakha, Nuwakot and Gorkha.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">In the previous fiscal year, 2021/22, a total 270,278 metric tonnes of vegetables and fruits were imported from foreign countries, said the board. -- RSS</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-29', 'modified' => '2023-03-29', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17138', 'image' => '20230329100010_20200925113442_1600988958.Clipboard06.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-29 21:59:42', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17402', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Litmus Industries adding a New Plant with an Investment of Four Billion Rupees', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'March 29: Litmus Industries, the only electric cable manufacturer in the country which produces conductors for 400 KV transmission lines, is going to expand its production plant with an investment of Rs 4 billion.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">March 29: Litmus Industries, the only electric cable manufacturer in the country which produces conductors for 400 KV transmission lines, is going to expand its production plant with an investment of Rs 4 billion.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The company, which is currently producing conductors from a plant in Butwal with an investment of Rs 1 billion, informed that it has started setting up a new plant in Parasi. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Saroj Mishra, vice president of the company, informed that the new plant will also produce HT cables for 400 kV transmission lines. Litmus is currently supplying conductors to the Inaruwa-Dalkebar 400 KV transmission line. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to Vice President Mishra, Litmus was awarded a contract worth Rs 3.24 billion to supply 400 KV conductors to the transmission line. Litmus, a subsidiary of Ramesh Corp, has also bagged another contract worth Rs 5.5 billion to supply cables to the Nepal Electricity Authority.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Butwal-based industry increased its production capacity in 2020 and started producing conductors required for 400 KV transmission lines. An industry set up with an investment of Rs 20 to Rs 30 billion, has expanded its capacity by adding an investment of around Rs 70 to Rs 80 billion. After the capacity expansion, it got a contract worth more than Rs 5.5 billion from Nepal Electricity Authority.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The company has also been supplying Nepal Ekarat Engineering Company (NEEC) with enamel wire and paper strips required for making transformers. Litmus also collaborated with NEEC to manufacture nearly 10,000 transformers.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Due to insufficient space within the Butwal industrial area, the company started the work of setting up a new plant in Parasi. Vice President Mishra informed that about Rs 4 billion additional investment is going to be made for the plant.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The purchase of land in Parasi is almost completed. The company, built in 2 bighas of land in Butwal, will set up a new plant in a huge area of about 15 bighas in Parasi. Litmus, which used to produce cables used in household bearings and small capacity transmission lines, is now planning to produce fans, LED lights, MCVs and other electrical appliances. Vice President Mishra said that the main focus of the company is on import substitution and export.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Litmus manufactures conductors and cables under the heading of Overhead Conductor (OHC). One of them is ACSR conductor. Its size is 20 to 500 square millimeters and is used in 11 to 400 KV transmission lines. Another is Aerial Bunched Cable (ABC). Its size is 25 to 150 square millimeters and is used in overhead distribution of 1.1 kV in urban areas. Litmus also manufactures XLPE covered conductors. Its size is 55 to 150 square millimeters and is used in 11 KVA overhead transmission line. Similarly, Litmus produces cables and wires targeting household and other uses. LV power cable of size 1.5 to 1000 square millimeters is made by litmus and is used in industrial and commercial areas.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Litmus has an annual production capacity of ACCSR conductors of 67,750 km. The company informed that the annual production capacity of ABC is 29,700 km, XLPE covered conductors is 12,900 km and power cables is 45,320 km.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, the company has an annual production capacity of 2,539,570 coils of house wiring cable. A coil has 90 meters of wire and production capacity of enamel and strips is 13,600 tons. The company says that even though there is so much production capacity, even 10 percent of the total production capacity has not been utilized yet.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><strong>Aggressive strategy for market expansion</strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In Nepal, there are about 20-22 industries producing household wires and 3-4 industries producing ABC cables.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> “There are many manufacturers of wires for household use. Since the industry can be started with low investment, many people have started it. We have an annual production capacity of more than 2.5 million coils of house multicolored cables. However, we have not been able to sell more than 25,000 to 30,000 coils per month.” Said Mishra, adding, “There are many products in the market. Even from India, illegal wires are coming in against the standards, spoiling the market.”</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-29', 'modified' => '2023-03-29', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17137', 'image' => '20230329054321_1680067223.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-29 17:42:09', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17401', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Kushadevi Area in Panauti becoming Hub for Adventure Sports ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'March 29: Panauti, an ancient town, in Kavrepalanchowk district, is gaining popularity for adventure sports lately. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">March 29: Panauti, an ancient town, in Kavrepalanchowk district, is gaining popularity for adventure sports lately. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Inauguration of rock climbing facility recently at Kushadevi in Panauti Municipality-2 has added a new destination in tourism, according to the tourism entrepreneurs. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The new rock climbing facility lies nine kilometres westward from Panauti Buspark. Municipality mayor Ram Sharan Bhandari, inaugurating the rock climbing facility, said that Panauti was already an attraction culturally and religious. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The development and expansion of adventure sports has given the place another identity as an adventure sports hub, he shared. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Altogether eight climbers can climb in the rock at Ratopahara, said Pemba Onchu Sherpa, trainer at the Nepal Mountaineering Association. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A total of 100 bolts brought from Germany were installed in the cliff where the climbers could ascend as high as 50 metres in support of the rope. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Hiking trail and other infrastructures to reach the rock climbing place have been built by the local municipality, informed Purusottam Adhikari, a local representative. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The local municipality has prioritized adventure sports tourism in the current fiscal year 2022/23. Development and expansion of hiking trail is part of its annual policy and programme. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Municipality has already launched downhill cycling at Phulchowki and Nagidada while test flight for paragliding was recently conducted. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-29', 'modified' => '2023-03-29', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17136', 'image' => '20230329032511_20220821100035_para.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-29 15:24:28', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = falseinclude - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 60 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
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Organizing a press conference in Kathmandu on Thursday, the bankers’ association argued that bank interest rates are not as high as touted in the market. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px">March 31: Nepal Bankers’ Association has insisted that bank interest rates are not expensive. Organizing a press conference in Kathmandu on Thursday, the bankers’ association argued that bank interest rates are not as high as touted in the market. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">“It is not prudent to say that interest rates have become dearer comparing them to the period of COVID-19. Interest rates have just gone up to the pre-COVID-19 level,” said Nepal Bankers’ Association Chairman Sunil KC.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">NBA Chairman KC clarified that protest targeted against banks and financial institutions will not change interest rates. “Demand and supply will determine interest rates, not the protest and agitation,” KC, who is also Chief Executive Officer of NMB Bank added.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">KC said that it was unfortunate banks and financial institutions were receiving attacks from all sides. “The attacks appear to be against banks on the surface. But, they are against entire industrial sector, around 40 million account holders and over the whole country,” KC explained.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">KC opined that impact of activities targeted against banks would be long-term and the whole country would have to pay the price for such activities. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">NBA Chair KC made it clear that protests against banks will have serious effects on foreign investment. He cautioned that country and its economy will have to face consequences of anti-bank activities.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Of late, banks have optimized investment on electric vehicles and productive sector significantly for the sustainable growth of the national economy, accoridng to KC.</span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-31', 'modified' => '2023-03-31', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17151', 'image' => '20230331061504_collage (47).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-31 06:10:58', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17415', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Economist Dr Wagle Quits NC', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Economist Dr Swarnim Wagle has announced his dissociation from the Nepali Congress (NC). ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px">March 31: Economist Dr Swarnim Wagle has announced his dissociation from the Nepali Congress (NC). </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">"I have decided to part ways from the Nepali Congress that has my familial legacy for 50 years and my involvement since the Satyagraha of 2042 BS and People's Movement of 2046 BS," Dr Wagle has written on his Facebook wall.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"> In his status, Dr Wagle states that he contributed to the Nepali Congress party indirectly for three decades and for a decade directly in formulation of economic policy and planning, intellectual-theoretical consultations, training and expansion of the party's international legitimacy. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Dr Wagle, who served as the National Planning Commission Vice-Chair, has announced that he will remain active in public role with the beginning of New Year 2080 BS by taking the agenda of healthy democracy and economic progress based on good-governance.</span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-31', 'modified' => '2023-03-31', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17150', 'image' => '20230331053840_collage (45).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-31 05:37:09', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17414', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'SEE Begins Today', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'March 30: All preparations for this year's Secondary Education Examination (SEE) have been completed. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">March 30: All preparations for this year's Secondary Education Examination (SEE) have been completed. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">This year's SEE is taking place across the country from 8:00 am on Friday (March 31), said Chairperson of the National Examination Board, Mahashram Sharma.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">, "All preparations for the SEE have been completed. A virtual meeting was conducted with all responsible bodies of all 77 districts for the same. We requested all of them to conduct the examinations in a peaceful, disciplined and systematic manner."</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Sharma added that all examination-related activities including designating invigilators at all the examination centers, security arrangement, mobilization of human resources and taking question papers and answer-sheets have been completed. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Examinations Controller Bishnu Narayan Shrestha said the Province Examination Operation and Management Committee formed under the chairmanship of Province Secretary in every province would operate, manage and monitor the examinations in the provinces under the board's directives. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The District Examination Coordination Committee comprising the Chief District Officer, chiefs of security bodies in every district has completed all necessary tasks including designating invigilators in examination centers, imparting orientation to stakeholders, he said.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><strong><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Around 500,000 candidates </span></span></span></span></strong></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Controller of Examinations Shrestha said although 516,591 students studying in Grade 9 filled up the registration form for the SEE in 2022, a total of 484,227 filled up the exam form in grade 10. The number has decreased by 32,364 compared to the number of applicants in Grade 9.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The highest number of candidates are in Bagmati Province (106,959) and the lowest in Karnali Province (41,329). Around 15,000 students will be taking the exams in the technical stream. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Similarly, 2982 students from 65 schools are running courses in Sanskrit and 50 blind students are also appearing in the SEE this year. Students from 11,829 schools, including 7,200 community and 4,564 institutional schools are sitting for the SEE this year. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">A total of 2037 exam centers have been designated for the SEE. These include 2036 exam centers in 77 districts and one in Japan.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Seventy-eight thousand human resources will be mobilized at the exam centers throughout the country for conducting the SEE. -- <em>RSS (Photo courtesy: UNICEF)</em></span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-30', 'modified' => '2023-03-31', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17149', 'image' => '20230330064654_IMG_5918_1.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-30 18:46:07', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17413', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Migrant Workers-targeted App Launched', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Issara Nepal, a non-governmental organisation, has launched an app, 'Ujjwal Sapana' targeting migrant workers.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px">March 30: Issara Nepal, a non-governmental organisation, has launched an app, 'Ujjwal Sapana' targeting migrant workers.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"> Joint-secretary Rajib Pokharel at the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security and the executive director at Issara Institute jointly launched the app recently. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">The app will provide up to date information related to migrant workers, labour law and rights, manpower companies, employers, and service providers. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">The app is available in Nepali, Burmese and Khamer. Joint secretary Pokharel said foreign employment is a compulsion for Nepali people. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">"We have to depend on foreign employments until we create jobs within the country. So, there is a need to properly manage foreign employment," he said. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Pokharel stressed the need to bring all migrant workers onboard the social security fund, and create employment opportunities within the country where skills learnt in foreign lands cane be utilized.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Stating that the Ministry working to formulate worker-friendly Foreign Employment Act that, Pokharel said a five-year strategy to this effect has been in place.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Nepal sent around 25 percent people for foreign employment on an annual basis in the past, said immigration expert Keshab Basyal.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">General Secretary Laxman Basnet at South Asian Regional Trade Union Council stressed the need for the app to have the government's standards on foreign employments.</span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-30', 'modified' => '2023-03-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17148', 'image' => '20230330060546_collage - 2023-03-30T175634.754.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-30 18:03:54', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17412', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Furniture Businessmen in Favour of Promoting Domestic Products', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'March 30: Although a large part of Nepal's land area is occupied by forests, almost Rs 18 billion is spent every year for the import of wood products including furniture. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">March 30: Although a large part of Nepal's land area is occupied by forests, almost Rs 18 billion is spent every year for the import of wood products including furniture. According to the Ministry of Forestry, more than 45 percent of the total land area of Nepal is covered by forests. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">However, according to the data of the Department of Customs, wood and furniture worth Rs 17.82 billion were imported in the last fiscal year (FY 2021/22). In the fiscal year 2020/21, wood and furniture worth Rs 15.18 billion were imported. A total of Rs 65.84 billion has been spent in the last nine years for the import of wood and furniture.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">According to experts, the government's wrong policy and the mindset of businessmen to ignore the industry and focus only on business resulted in such a huge amount of money going abroad for the import of wood products. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">At a time when the private sector is being accused of focusing only on business, those involved in this sector have taken an initiative to reduce the import of wood and furniture by promoting local products.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">Hitesh Golchha, an industrialist active in the promotion of indigenous goods and furniture products, said in a conversation with New Business Age that he is going to expand the ‘fusion’ furniture industry in such a way that it can meet the country's demand to a large extent and also export to foreign countries.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">“The plan is to expand the fusion furniture industry. It was necessary to expand the industry to meet the demand by using native wood produced in Nepal," said Golchha. He also made it clear that they are of the view that furniture should be made from wood produced in Nepal and locally available raw materials.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">He said that the government should take necessary action for the use of indigenous products. </span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-30', 'modified' => '2023-03-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17147', 'image' => '20230330042723_1680161430.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-30 16:25:56', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17411', 'article_category_id' => '243', 'title' => '300 Million People Could Lose Jobs to Artificial Intelligence Worldwide ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'The way in which AI tools like ChatGPT are advancing would not be too surprising if most human jobs are replaced by AI tools. Now a report by Goldman Sachs has claimed that ChatGPT and the other AI tools could actually replace more than 300 million jobs.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"> March 30: The way in which AI tools like ChatGPT are advancing would not be too surprising if most human jobs are replaced by AI tools. Now a report by Goldman Sachs has claimed that ChatGPT and the other AI tools could actually replace more than 300 million jobs. Interestingly, ChatGPT, which has now received an upgraded lamguage model, GPT-4, listed 20 jobs it can replace.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Goldman Sachs economists predicted in a report that 18% of work globally could be computerized, with the effects felt more deeply in advanced economies than emerging markets.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">White-collar workers are seen to be more at risk than manual laborers owing to the use of artificial intelligence. Administrative workers and lawyers are expected to be most affected, the economists said, compared to the “little effect” seen on physically demanding or outdoor occupations, such as construction and repair work.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">In the United States and Europe, approximately two-thirds of current jobs “are exposed to some degree of AI automation,” and up to a quarter of all work could be done by AI completely, the bank estimates.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">If generative technology behind ChatGPT “delivers on its promised capabilities, the labor market could face significant disruption,” the economists wrote. Of late, ChatGPT, the chatbot sensation, has taken the world by storm.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">ChatGPT, which can answer prompts and write essays, has already prompted many businesses to rethink how people should work every day.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">This month, its developer unveiled the latest version of the software behind the bot, GPT-4. The platform has quickly impressed early users with its ability to simplify coding, rapidly create a website from a simple sketch and pass exams with high marks.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Further use of such AI will likely lead to job losses, the Goldman Sachs economists wrote. But they noted that technological innovation that initially displaces workers has historically also created employment growth over the long haul.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">While workplaces may shift, widespread adoption of AI could ultimately increase labor productivity — and boost global GDP by 7% annually over a 10-year period, according to Goldman Sachs.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">“Although the impact of AI on the labor market is likely to be significant, most jobs and industries are only partially exposed to automation and are thus more likely to be complemented rather than substituted by AI,” the economists added.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">“Most workers are employed in occupations that are partially exposed to AI automation and, following AI adoption, will likely apply at least some of their freed-up capacity toward productive activities that increase output.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">“The combination of significant labor cost savings, new job creation, and a productivity boost for non-displaced workers raises the possibility of a labor productivity boom like those that followed the emergence of earlier general-purpose technologies like the electric motor and personal computer,” researchers stated. (agencies)</span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-30', 'modified' => '2023-03-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17146', 'image' => '20230330034303_collage - 2023-03-30T153721.796.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-30 15:37:50', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17409', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => ' Patihani Gaining Popularity as Tourism Destination ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'March 30: Chitwan is one of the most preferred destinations of tourists especially for jungle safari. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">March 30: Chitwan is one of the most preferred destinations of tourists especially for jungle safari. Domestic and foreign tourists turn up to the Chitwan National Park for observing the world's rare one-horned rhino and other wild species. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Sauraha is a popular tourism hotspot in Chitwan. Lately other places having geographical linkage with the Chitwan National Park are also gaining popularity as tourist destination areas. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Like Sauraha, West Chitwan's Patihani has become a preferred choice of tourists lately. Patihani, located in Bharatpur Metropolitan City-22 has turned to be the center of attraction for domestic and foreign tourists. Inflow of foreign tourists to the area has gradually increased, shared ward chair Bishnuraj Mahato. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"Local level has laid emphasis on expanding infrastructures and managing tourism services for encouraging tourists to prolong their stay in Patihani," he said, adding, "Tourists especially coming for jungle safari prefer visiting Patihani as the national park's wildlife are mostly found in the western Chitwan." </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The peaceful ambience here has also attracted tourists. One can reach Patihani after around 14-km travel from the main market area of Bharatpur. The tourism business that was hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic is now gradually coming to its usual state. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Tourists are seen enjoying with elephant riding in the Rapti River flowing through the national park. They are happy with the peaceful environment of Patihani as well. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">German tourist Upaph recounted his experience that it was very joyful to take shower with elephant riding in the Rapti. Terming Nepal naturally beautiful, he said, he took it a fortunate moment to observe rare wild species in the national park. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Upon arrival in Patihani, tourists can enjoy seeing different species of ghariyal crocodile in the river and one-horned rhino among other rare animals in the park. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Information Officer at the Chitwan National Park Ganesh Prasad Tiwari informed that as many as 191,883 tourists arrived in Chitwan up to mid-March in the current fiscal year. Last year a total of 1,90,458 tourists had visited different tourism destinations in Chitwan. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-30', 'modified' => '2023-03-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17144', 'image' => '20230330020727_1680151676.Chitwan.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-30 14:06:37', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17408', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Daily Expense of Parliament Tops Rs 800,000', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'March 30: More than 800,000 rupees is spent daily for the members of the House of Representatives and the National Assembly.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">March 30: More than 800,000 rupees is spent daily for the members of the House of Representatives and the National Assembly. If the parliamentarians do not work according to their responsibilities, that amount of money is wasted every day.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">At least Rs 20 million is spent per month for the House of Representatives and the National Assembly from the state coffers. Considering 25 days of the month as working days and multiplying it by the daily expenses of Rs 800,000, the expenditure is calculated to be around Rs 20 million per month. This expenditure includes only the monthly salary of MPs, special allowances and communication expenses. If the allowances for the days of parliament sitting, transportation, housing allowances and other administrative expenses are added, the expenses will increase even more.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">MPs are given furniture facilities once. Apart from this, the speaker gets Rs 3,000 and MPs Rs 2,500 as daily travelling allowance. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Ever since the beginning of the current session of the House of Representatives and the National Assembly, the lawmakers have failed to draft laws despite no obstruction to the house business.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">A total of three bills have been introduced by the 80th day of the new session of the House of Representatives. There is a provision in the parliament that the government can introduce government bills and parliamentarians can introduce non-government bills. However, neither the government nor the parliamentarians are interested in introducing a bill on matters of public interest. Their interests are more focused on consolidating power.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Among the bills that the government has now registered in parliament are the bills related to the Commission on Investigation of Enforced Disappeared Persons, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (Third Amendment) and the Constitutional Council Bill. As the draft of the House of Representatives Regulations are stalled in the House since a month, the law-making parliament is in a state of lawlessness.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">There are 332 members in the National Assembly and the House of Representatives including speaker and deputy speaker and MPs. Among them, a monthly salary of Rs 67,320 has been fixed for the speaker. They get Rs 4,000 more per month as communication and special allowance. Likewise, the monthly salary of the deputy speaker of the House of Representatives and the vice chairperson of the National Assembly is Rs 60,970. Communication and special allowances are provided to them at the rate of Rs 4,000 per month. Likewise, 332 MPs of both Houses get a monthly salary of Rs 18.3 million at the rate of Rs 55,230 each.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">There is a quota of 334 MPs in the House of Representatives and the National Assembly. The current number is 332. The government also has to pay salaries, allowances and other facilities to the employees working in the Federal Parliament Secretariat.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Dasharath Dhamala, deputy secretary of the Parliament Secretariat said that facilities are being provided to the officials of the Federal Parliament as per the provisions in the law. He said, “According to the provision in the law, all the officials are getting benefits and wages on time.”</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-30', 'modified' => '2023-03-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17143', 'image' => '20230330121655_Parliament.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-30 12:16:06', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17407', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => ''Establishment of Industries without Adequate Study Leads to Risk of Closure'', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'March 30: Rajendra Raut, president of the Koshi Province chapter of the Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) has said that the industries established in the industrial corridors without proper study face risk of closure.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">March 30: Rajendra Raut, president of the Koshi Province chapter of the Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) has said that the industries established in the industrial corridors without proper study face risk of closure.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">Speaking at an interaction with the industrialists of the industrial corridor organized by the Koshi chapter of FNCCI on Tuesday, he pointed out that the main reason for the closure of various industries including textile, jute, sugar industries in the Morang-Sunsari industrial corridor is the lack of study during the establishment of the industry.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">Raut said that the industries are being established and operated without sufficient study of the market and demand. He suggested that the industrialists should pay attention to this issue. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">He said that it has become difficult to operate domestic industries because the market price of imported products is lower than local products. Other problems include unannounced power cuts, increase in production costs, the government's inability to spend capital expenditure. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">During the program, Mahesh Pokharel of Reliance Spinning Mills expressed his concern that although the textile industry is the main basis of the world's industrial revolution and economic development, it has not been given due importance in Nepal. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">He claimed that 10 large textile industries in the corridor have been closed because the government did not give priority to protect domestic industries.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">Pradeep Niraula of Pragati Textiles suggested that the government should stop the illegal import of clothes to save the textile industry. Likewise, Somnath Adhikari, director of Raghupati Jute Mill, said that jute cultivation in Nepal is being stopped and industries are becoming problematic.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">He added that India's anti-dumping policy and other problems have posed a great challenge for the jute industry. Niraula added that the government has not made efforts to export jute.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">During the interaction, stakeholders also discussed the closure of large, medium and small industries such as copper wire, vegetable ghee, zinc oxide, plastic industry in the Morang-Sunsari industrial corridor. The industrialists suggested that the state should find out the reasons for the closure of those industries and determine the future industrial strategy. </span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-30', 'modified' => '2023-03-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17142', 'image' => '20230330113446_indus.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-30 11:33:53', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17406', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Experts Worry about Economic Situation, NRB says there is no Need to Panic', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'March 30: Financial and economic experts have urged the government to be serious about improving the country’s economic situation.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">March 30: Financial and economic experts have urged the government to be serious about improving the country’s economic situation.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Speaking at an interaction program on the issue 'Current economic situation of the country' organised by the Parliamentary Studies and Development Institute in the capital on Tuesday, they said that the government should not delay in bringing programs for reform.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The experts stressed that the government should not waste time saying that the situation is not alarming when the country's economic situation is weakening every day.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Former speaker of the House of Representatives and founding president of the institute Damannath Dhungana said that the life of common people is deteriorating day by day. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">“It is a difficult situation. We had to move forward by easing the current situation," he said.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Deep Kumar Upadhyay, the former minister and former Nepalese ambassador to India, said that there are widespread complaints about banks. "Even though all the indices of the economy have declined, why did it not have much effect on the banks?" he questioned.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Upadhyay said that it is unfair to distribute licenses to financial institutions on a large scale in the beginning, and then to control them through the policy of forced merger.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Former Vice Chairman of the National Planning Commission Dr Govind Raj Pokharel warned that the country’s trade deficit has increased, the revenue collection has decreased, and the development work has not picked up pace. Similarly, cautioned the government about the the increase in current expenditure, decrease in capital expenditure, decline in investment and problems in getting loans from banks.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Pokharel said that political turmoil is also responsible for the current crisis, adding, “Policy discomfort has also created problems in the business environment. Due to the unfriendly policies, businessmen are forced into bad practices.”</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Pokharel also stressed on the need to diversify the economy, which is becoming more dependent on remittances.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Economist Achyut Wagle drew the government's attention to dismal revenue collection of the government.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to Wgle, it is rare that the income of the state cannot cover the administrative expenses as it is now. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Vishnu Kumar Agarwal, president of the Confederation of Nepalese Industry (CNI), said that the market demand is very low at present. According to him, the business community is in trouble because the demand is less.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Kamlesh Kumar Agarwal, vice president of Nepal Chamber of Commerce (NCC) said that the high interest rates of banks has made it impossible for businesses to run and urged the Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) to issue instructions to reduce the interest rate to a single digit.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">NRB Governor Maha Prasad Adhikari said that although the economic situation is somewhat uncomfortable, there is no need to panic. Arguing that the strict measures taken by the central bank are as per the demand of the time, Governor Adhikari added, “Everything will come back to normal once the market economy improves.”</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-30', 'modified' => '2023-03-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17141', 'image' => '20230330104425_economic crisis.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-30 10:43:44', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17405', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '31 People get Permits to Climb Mt Everest', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'March 30: The number of people taking permission to climb Mount Everest has increased with the opening of mountain climbing for the spring season of 2023.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">March 30: The number of people taking permission to climb Mount Everest has increased with the opening of mountain climbing for the spring season of </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">2023</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">. According to the Department of Tourism, </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">31</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> people have taken permission to climb Mount Everest as of Tuesday. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The department has already started issuing climbing permits with the start of the spring season. Although this season is ideal for climbing Mount Everest, mountaineers also take permission to climb other mountains and snow peaks. According to the department, </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">142</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> mountaineers have taken permission to climb </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">10</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> mountain peaks including Everest in the initial phase of this season.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Most of the aspiring climbers have got permission to scale Mt Annapurna. A total of </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">54 </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">people have been granted permission to climb Mt Annapurna. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The department has issued permits for climbing Suma-Sarovar North, Annapurna, Everest, Manaslu, Thorong Peak, Barun, Lotse, Nuptse among others. The department has collected revenue of Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">49.5 </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">million by issuing permits for these peaks so far. According to the department, climbers from Australia, China, Germany, Hungary, Nepal, Singapore, South Africa, Thailand and America have taken permission to climb Mount Everest.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-30', 'modified' => '2023-03-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17140', 'image' => '20230330102040_1680132652.Clipboard32.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-30 10:19:52', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17404', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => ' Nepal and China Agree to Resume Rasuwagadhi-Kerung Border', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Nepal and China have inked an understanding to fully resume bilateral trade and people's movement through the Rasuwagadhi-Kerung border from April 1. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px">March 30: Nepal and China have inked an understanding to fully resume bilateral trade and people's movement through the Rasuwagadhi-Kerung border from April 1. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">The first meeting of Nepal-China Coordination Mechanism on Border Trade and Cooperation held in Lhasa of Tibet on Wednesday agreed to open the Rasuwagadhi-Kerung border, according to Consulate General of Nepal in China. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Secretary Madhu Kumar Marasini at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, and Executive Vice-Chair Chen Yongqi of Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) government had led the delegations from Nepal and China respectively. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">The two sides held discussion on cross-border trade, resuming people's movement, trade facilitation, customs cooperation, development of trade related infrastructures, border trade and cooperation. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">The Chinese side has agreed to establish multi-faceted lab in Nepal-China border at the request of Nepal. Similarly, the Chinese side has also given assurance to open seasonal trade transit point, according to the Consulate General of Nepal. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Stressing on the need of resuming Kathmandu-Lhasa direct flight, Secretary Marasini urged the Chinese side to resume the direct flight soon. Both sides laid emphasis to increase cooperation to improve living standard of the people in bordering districts of Nepal. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Likewise, both sides agreed to change the name of Nepal-China Joint Pandemic Prevention and Control Mechanism to Nepal-China Cooperation Mechanism related to Border Trade and Cooperation. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">In the same manner, Secretary Marasini paid a courtesy call on Chairperson Yan Jinhai of Tibet Autonomous Region government. The meeting dwelt on various issues including promotion of bilateral economic cooperation and mutual interest. </span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-30', 'modified' => '2023-03-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17139', 'image' => '20230330060525_collage (44).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-30 06:00:48', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17403', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Indian Agricultural Products take Sizable Nepali Market', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'March 29: Indian agricultural products have dominated the Nepali kitchen. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">March 29: Indian agricultural products have dominated the Nepali kitchen. A major percentage of vegetables and fruits is imported from neighboring India, according to the one-year data of the Kalimati Fruits and Vegetables Market Development Board.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">For instance, imported onions from India in a period of one year accounted for 99 percent of the total volume of onions traded at the market. Similarly, tomato imported from India made up 94.11 percent, potato (60 percent), green pea (45 percent), gourd (39 percent), pumpkin (66 percent), moringa oleifera (77 percent), tamarind (99 percent), apple (81 percent), pomegranate (98 percent), papaya (81 percent), and grape (81 percent) of the market.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">In the face of increasing imports of agricultural products from India, economists have warned that the situation was not good for the country when over half of its population is dependent on agriculture. According to the National Census 2021, 50.1 percent of the population depend on agriculture.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The import of agricultural products from India is massive, said the board's information officer Binaya Shrestha. Agricultural products imported from India in a span of one year accounted for 38.68 percent of the total imports, he said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"Vegetables in large quantities are imported from India," he said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Out of over 263 million kilograms of vegetables imported during the period, more than 101 million kg was imported from India, said the board's planning officer Ramesh Dangol. China and Bhutan supplied over 100,000 kg each, Bangladesh (around 150,000 kg), and other countries over 5,000 kg.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"Nepal is not self-sufficient on some vegetables. Failure to commercialize agriculture may be a reason. So, we are forced to import from foreign countries including India," he said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Until some years ago, around 80 percent of the demand for vegetables was fulfilled with domestic products, he said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"Apples produced in mountainous Jumla district cannot reach here due to various problems. So, the fruit is imported from foreign countries to meet the demand. Lately, the import of vegetables and fruits is increasing."</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The Kalimati market purchased vegetables from the local market including the Kathmandu Valley (Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur districts) and other nearby districts including Dhading, Kavrepalanchok, Makawanpur, Chitwan, Sarlahi, Dolakha, Nuwakot and Gorkha.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">In the previous fiscal year, 2021/22, a total 270,278 metric tonnes of vegetables and fruits were imported from foreign countries, said the board. -- RSS</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-29', 'modified' => '2023-03-29', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17138', 'image' => '20230329100010_20200925113442_1600988958.Clipboard06.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-29 21:59:42', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17402', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Litmus Industries adding a New Plant with an Investment of Four Billion Rupees', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'March 29: Litmus Industries, the only electric cable manufacturer in the country which produces conductors for 400 KV transmission lines, is going to expand its production plant with an investment of Rs 4 billion.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">March 29: Litmus Industries, the only electric cable manufacturer in the country which produces conductors for 400 KV transmission lines, is going to expand its production plant with an investment of Rs 4 billion.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The company, which is currently producing conductors from a plant in Butwal with an investment of Rs 1 billion, informed that it has started setting up a new plant in Parasi. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Saroj Mishra, vice president of the company, informed that the new plant will also produce HT cables for 400 kV transmission lines. Litmus is currently supplying conductors to the Inaruwa-Dalkebar 400 KV transmission line. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to Vice President Mishra, Litmus was awarded a contract worth Rs 3.24 billion to supply 400 KV conductors to the transmission line. Litmus, a subsidiary of Ramesh Corp, has also bagged another contract worth Rs 5.5 billion to supply cables to the Nepal Electricity Authority.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Butwal-based industry increased its production capacity in 2020 and started producing conductors required for 400 KV transmission lines. An industry set up with an investment of Rs 20 to Rs 30 billion, has expanded its capacity by adding an investment of around Rs 70 to Rs 80 billion. After the capacity expansion, it got a contract worth more than Rs 5.5 billion from Nepal Electricity Authority.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The company has also been supplying Nepal Ekarat Engineering Company (NEEC) with enamel wire and paper strips required for making transformers. Litmus also collaborated with NEEC to manufacture nearly 10,000 transformers.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Due to insufficient space within the Butwal industrial area, the company started the work of setting up a new plant in Parasi. Vice President Mishra informed that about Rs 4 billion additional investment is going to be made for the plant.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The purchase of land in Parasi is almost completed. The company, built in 2 bighas of land in Butwal, will set up a new plant in a huge area of about 15 bighas in Parasi. Litmus, which used to produce cables used in household bearings and small capacity transmission lines, is now planning to produce fans, LED lights, MCVs and other electrical appliances. Vice President Mishra said that the main focus of the company is on import substitution and export.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Litmus manufactures conductors and cables under the heading of Overhead Conductor (OHC). One of them is ACSR conductor. Its size is 20 to 500 square millimeters and is used in 11 to 400 KV transmission lines. Another is Aerial Bunched Cable (ABC). Its size is 25 to 150 square millimeters and is used in overhead distribution of 1.1 kV in urban areas. Litmus also manufactures XLPE covered conductors. Its size is 55 to 150 square millimeters and is used in 11 KVA overhead transmission line. Similarly, Litmus produces cables and wires targeting household and other uses. LV power cable of size 1.5 to 1000 square millimeters is made by litmus and is used in industrial and commercial areas.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Litmus has an annual production capacity of ACCSR conductors of 67,750 km. The company informed that the annual production capacity of ABC is 29,700 km, XLPE covered conductors is 12,900 km and power cables is 45,320 km.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, the company has an annual production capacity of 2,539,570 coils of house wiring cable. A coil has 90 meters of wire and production capacity of enamel and strips is 13,600 tons. The company says that even though there is so much production capacity, even 10 percent of the total production capacity has not been utilized yet.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><strong>Aggressive strategy for market expansion</strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In Nepal, there are about 20-22 industries producing household wires and 3-4 industries producing ABC cables.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> “There are many manufacturers of wires for household use. Since the industry can be started with low investment, many people have started it. We have an annual production capacity of more than 2.5 million coils of house multicolored cables. However, we have not been able to sell more than 25,000 to 30,000 coils per month.” Said Mishra, adding, “There are many products in the market. Even from India, illegal wires are coming in against the standards, spoiling the market.”</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-29', 'modified' => '2023-03-29', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17137', 'image' => '20230329054321_1680067223.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-29 17:42:09', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17401', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Kushadevi Area in Panauti becoming Hub for Adventure Sports ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'March 29: Panauti, an ancient town, in Kavrepalanchowk district, is gaining popularity for adventure sports lately. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">March 29: Panauti, an ancient town, in Kavrepalanchowk district, is gaining popularity for adventure sports lately. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Inauguration of rock climbing facility recently at Kushadevi in Panauti Municipality-2 has added a new destination in tourism, according to the tourism entrepreneurs. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The new rock climbing facility lies nine kilometres westward from Panauti Buspark. Municipality mayor Ram Sharan Bhandari, inaugurating the rock climbing facility, said that Panauti was already an attraction culturally and religious. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The development and expansion of adventure sports has given the place another identity as an adventure sports hub, he shared. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Altogether eight climbers can climb in the rock at Ratopahara, said Pemba Onchu Sherpa, trainer at the Nepal Mountaineering Association. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A total of 100 bolts brought from Germany were installed in the cliff where the climbers could ascend as high as 50 metres in support of the rope. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Hiking trail and other infrastructures to reach the rock climbing place have been built by the local municipality, informed Purusottam Adhikari, a local representative. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The local municipality has prioritized adventure sports tourism in the current fiscal year 2022/23. Development and expansion of hiking trail is part of its annual policy and programme. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Municipality has already launched downhill cycling at Phulchowki and Nagidada while test flight for paragliding was recently conducted. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-29', 'modified' => '2023-03-29', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17136', 'image' => '20230329032511_20220821100035_para.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-29 15:24:28', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = falsesimplexml_load_file - [internal], line ?? include - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 60 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
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Organizing a press conference in Kathmandu on Thursday, the bankers’ association argued that bank interest rates are not as high as touted in the market. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px">March 31: Nepal Bankers’ Association has insisted that bank interest rates are not expensive. Organizing a press conference in Kathmandu on Thursday, the bankers’ association argued that bank interest rates are not as high as touted in the market. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">“It is not prudent to say that interest rates have become dearer comparing them to the period of COVID-19. Interest rates have just gone up to the pre-COVID-19 level,” said Nepal Bankers’ Association Chairman Sunil KC.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">NBA Chairman KC clarified that protest targeted against banks and financial institutions will not change interest rates. “Demand and supply will determine interest rates, not the protest and agitation,” KC, who is also Chief Executive Officer of NMB Bank added.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">KC said that it was unfortunate banks and financial institutions were receiving attacks from all sides. “The attacks appear to be against banks on the surface. But, they are against entire industrial sector, around 40 million account holders and over the whole country,” KC explained.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">KC opined that impact of activities targeted against banks would be long-term and the whole country would have to pay the price for such activities. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">NBA Chair KC made it clear that protests against banks will have serious effects on foreign investment. He cautioned that country and its economy will have to face consequences of anti-bank activities.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Of late, banks have optimized investment on electric vehicles and productive sector significantly for the sustainable growth of the national economy, accoridng to KC.</span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-31', 'modified' => '2023-03-31', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17151', 'image' => '20230331061504_collage (47).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-31 06:10:58', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17415', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Economist Dr Wagle Quits NC', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Economist Dr Swarnim Wagle has announced his dissociation from the Nepali Congress (NC). ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px">March 31: Economist Dr Swarnim Wagle has announced his dissociation from the Nepali Congress (NC). </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">"I have decided to part ways from the Nepali Congress that has my familial legacy for 50 years and my involvement since the Satyagraha of 2042 BS and People's Movement of 2046 BS," Dr Wagle has written on his Facebook wall.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"> In his status, Dr Wagle states that he contributed to the Nepali Congress party indirectly for three decades and for a decade directly in formulation of economic policy and planning, intellectual-theoretical consultations, training and expansion of the party's international legitimacy. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Dr Wagle, who served as the National Planning Commission Vice-Chair, has announced that he will remain active in public role with the beginning of New Year 2080 BS by taking the agenda of healthy democracy and economic progress based on good-governance.</span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-31', 'modified' => '2023-03-31', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17150', 'image' => '20230331053840_collage (45).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-31 05:37:09', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17414', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'SEE Begins Today', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'March 30: All preparations for this year's Secondary Education Examination (SEE) have been completed. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">March 30: All preparations for this year's Secondary Education Examination (SEE) have been completed. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">This year's SEE is taking place across the country from 8:00 am on Friday (March 31), said Chairperson of the National Examination Board, Mahashram Sharma.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">, "All preparations for the SEE have been completed. A virtual meeting was conducted with all responsible bodies of all 77 districts for the same. We requested all of them to conduct the examinations in a peaceful, disciplined and systematic manner."</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Sharma added that all examination-related activities including designating invigilators at all the examination centers, security arrangement, mobilization of human resources and taking question papers and answer-sheets have been completed. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Examinations Controller Bishnu Narayan Shrestha said the Province Examination Operation and Management Committee formed under the chairmanship of Province Secretary in every province would operate, manage and monitor the examinations in the provinces under the board's directives. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The District Examination Coordination Committee comprising the Chief District Officer, chiefs of security bodies in every district has completed all necessary tasks including designating invigilators in examination centers, imparting orientation to stakeholders, he said.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><strong><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Around 500,000 candidates </span></span></span></span></strong></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Controller of Examinations Shrestha said although 516,591 students studying in Grade 9 filled up the registration form for the SEE in 2022, a total of 484,227 filled up the exam form in grade 10. The number has decreased by 32,364 compared to the number of applicants in Grade 9.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The highest number of candidates are in Bagmati Province (106,959) and the lowest in Karnali Province (41,329). Around 15,000 students will be taking the exams in the technical stream. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Similarly, 2982 students from 65 schools are running courses in Sanskrit and 50 blind students are also appearing in the SEE this year. Students from 11,829 schools, including 7,200 community and 4,564 institutional schools are sitting for the SEE this year. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">A total of 2037 exam centers have been designated for the SEE. These include 2036 exam centers in 77 districts and one in Japan.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Seventy-eight thousand human resources will be mobilized at the exam centers throughout the country for conducting the SEE. -- <em>RSS (Photo courtesy: UNICEF)</em></span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-30', 'modified' => '2023-03-31', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17149', 'image' => '20230330064654_IMG_5918_1.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-30 18:46:07', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17413', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Migrant Workers-targeted App Launched', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Issara Nepal, a non-governmental organisation, has launched an app, 'Ujjwal Sapana' targeting migrant workers.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px">March 30: Issara Nepal, a non-governmental organisation, has launched an app, 'Ujjwal Sapana' targeting migrant workers.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"> Joint-secretary Rajib Pokharel at the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security and the executive director at Issara Institute jointly launched the app recently. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">The app will provide up to date information related to migrant workers, labour law and rights, manpower companies, employers, and service providers. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">The app is available in Nepali, Burmese and Khamer. Joint secretary Pokharel said foreign employment is a compulsion for Nepali people. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">"We have to depend on foreign employments until we create jobs within the country. So, there is a need to properly manage foreign employment," he said. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Pokharel stressed the need to bring all migrant workers onboard the social security fund, and create employment opportunities within the country where skills learnt in foreign lands cane be utilized.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Stating that the Ministry working to formulate worker-friendly Foreign Employment Act that, Pokharel said a five-year strategy to this effect has been in place.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Nepal sent around 25 percent people for foreign employment on an annual basis in the past, said immigration expert Keshab Basyal.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">General Secretary Laxman Basnet at South Asian Regional Trade Union Council stressed the need for the app to have the government's standards on foreign employments.</span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-30', 'modified' => '2023-03-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17148', 'image' => '20230330060546_collage - 2023-03-30T175634.754.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-30 18:03:54', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17412', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Furniture Businessmen in Favour of Promoting Domestic Products', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'March 30: Although a large part of Nepal's land area is occupied by forests, almost Rs 18 billion is spent every year for the import of wood products including furniture. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">March 30: Although a large part of Nepal's land area is occupied by forests, almost Rs 18 billion is spent every year for the import of wood products including furniture. According to the Ministry of Forestry, more than 45 percent of the total land area of Nepal is covered by forests. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">However, according to the data of the Department of Customs, wood and furniture worth Rs 17.82 billion were imported in the last fiscal year (FY 2021/22). In the fiscal year 2020/21, wood and furniture worth Rs 15.18 billion were imported. A total of Rs 65.84 billion has been spent in the last nine years for the import of wood and furniture.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">According to experts, the government's wrong policy and the mindset of businessmen to ignore the industry and focus only on business resulted in such a huge amount of money going abroad for the import of wood products. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">At a time when the private sector is being accused of focusing only on business, those involved in this sector have taken an initiative to reduce the import of wood and furniture by promoting local products.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">Hitesh Golchha, an industrialist active in the promotion of indigenous goods and furniture products, said in a conversation with New Business Age that he is going to expand the ‘fusion’ furniture industry in such a way that it can meet the country's demand to a large extent and also export to foreign countries.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">“The plan is to expand the fusion furniture industry. It was necessary to expand the industry to meet the demand by using native wood produced in Nepal," said Golchha. He also made it clear that they are of the view that furniture should be made from wood produced in Nepal and locally available raw materials.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">He said that the government should take necessary action for the use of indigenous products. </span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-30', 'modified' => '2023-03-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17147', 'image' => '20230330042723_1680161430.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-30 16:25:56', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17411', 'article_category_id' => '243', 'title' => '300 Million People Could Lose Jobs to Artificial Intelligence Worldwide ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'The way in which AI tools like ChatGPT are advancing would not be too surprising if most human jobs are replaced by AI tools. Now a report by Goldman Sachs has claimed that ChatGPT and the other AI tools could actually replace more than 300 million jobs.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"> March 30: The way in which AI tools like ChatGPT are advancing would not be too surprising if most human jobs are replaced by AI tools. Now a report by Goldman Sachs has claimed that ChatGPT and the other AI tools could actually replace more than 300 million jobs. Interestingly, ChatGPT, which has now received an upgraded lamguage model, GPT-4, listed 20 jobs it can replace.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Goldman Sachs economists predicted in a report that 18% of work globally could be computerized, with the effects felt more deeply in advanced economies than emerging markets.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">White-collar workers are seen to be more at risk than manual laborers owing to the use of artificial intelligence. Administrative workers and lawyers are expected to be most affected, the economists said, compared to the “little effect” seen on physically demanding or outdoor occupations, such as construction and repair work.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">In the United States and Europe, approximately two-thirds of current jobs “are exposed to some degree of AI automation,” and up to a quarter of all work could be done by AI completely, the bank estimates.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">If generative technology behind ChatGPT “delivers on its promised capabilities, the labor market could face significant disruption,” the economists wrote. Of late, ChatGPT, the chatbot sensation, has taken the world by storm.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">ChatGPT, which can answer prompts and write essays, has already prompted many businesses to rethink how people should work every day.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">This month, its developer unveiled the latest version of the software behind the bot, GPT-4. The platform has quickly impressed early users with its ability to simplify coding, rapidly create a website from a simple sketch and pass exams with high marks.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Further use of such AI will likely lead to job losses, the Goldman Sachs economists wrote. But they noted that technological innovation that initially displaces workers has historically also created employment growth over the long haul.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">While workplaces may shift, widespread adoption of AI could ultimately increase labor productivity — and boost global GDP by 7% annually over a 10-year period, according to Goldman Sachs.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">“Although the impact of AI on the labor market is likely to be significant, most jobs and industries are only partially exposed to automation and are thus more likely to be complemented rather than substituted by AI,” the economists added.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">“Most workers are employed in occupations that are partially exposed to AI automation and, following AI adoption, will likely apply at least some of their freed-up capacity toward productive activities that increase output.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">“The combination of significant labor cost savings, new job creation, and a productivity boost for non-displaced workers raises the possibility of a labor productivity boom like those that followed the emergence of earlier general-purpose technologies like the electric motor and personal computer,” researchers stated. (agencies)</span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-30', 'modified' => '2023-03-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17146', 'image' => '20230330034303_collage - 2023-03-30T153721.796.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-30 15:37:50', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17409', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => ' Patihani Gaining Popularity as Tourism Destination ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'March 30: Chitwan is one of the most preferred destinations of tourists especially for jungle safari. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">March 30: Chitwan is one of the most preferred destinations of tourists especially for jungle safari. Domestic and foreign tourists turn up to the Chitwan National Park for observing the world's rare one-horned rhino and other wild species. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Sauraha is a popular tourism hotspot in Chitwan. Lately other places having geographical linkage with the Chitwan National Park are also gaining popularity as tourist destination areas. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Like Sauraha, West Chitwan's Patihani has become a preferred choice of tourists lately. Patihani, located in Bharatpur Metropolitan City-22 has turned to be the center of attraction for domestic and foreign tourists. Inflow of foreign tourists to the area has gradually increased, shared ward chair Bishnuraj Mahato. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"Local level has laid emphasis on expanding infrastructures and managing tourism services for encouraging tourists to prolong their stay in Patihani," he said, adding, "Tourists especially coming for jungle safari prefer visiting Patihani as the national park's wildlife are mostly found in the western Chitwan." </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The peaceful ambience here has also attracted tourists. One can reach Patihani after around 14-km travel from the main market area of Bharatpur. The tourism business that was hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic is now gradually coming to its usual state. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Tourists are seen enjoying with elephant riding in the Rapti River flowing through the national park. They are happy with the peaceful environment of Patihani as well. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">German tourist Upaph recounted his experience that it was very joyful to take shower with elephant riding in the Rapti. Terming Nepal naturally beautiful, he said, he took it a fortunate moment to observe rare wild species in the national park. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Upon arrival in Patihani, tourists can enjoy seeing different species of ghariyal crocodile in the river and one-horned rhino among other rare animals in the park. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Information Officer at the Chitwan National Park Ganesh Prasad Tiwari informed that as many as 191,883 tourists arrived in Chitwan up to mid-March in the current fiscal year. Last year a total of 1,90,458 tourists had visited different tourism destinations in Chitwan. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-30', 'modified' => '2023-03-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17144', 'image' => '20230330020727_1680151676.Chitwan.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-30 14:06:37', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17408', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Daily Expense of Parliament Tops Rs 800,000', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'March 30: More than 800,000 rupees is spent daily for the members of the House of Representatives and the National Assembly.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">March 30: More than 800,000 rupees is spent daily for the members of the House of Representatives and the National Assembly. If the parliamentarians do not work according to their responsibilities, that amount of money is wasted every day.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">At least Rs 20 million is spent per month for the House of Representatives and the National Assembly from the state coffers. Considering 25 days of the month as working days and multiplying it by the daily expenses of Rs 800,000, the expenditure is calculated to be around Rs 20 million per month. This expenditure includes only the monthly salary of MPs, special allowances and communication expenses. If the allowances for the days of parliament sitting, transportation, housing allowances and other administrative expenses are added, the expenses will increase even more.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">MPs are given furniture facilities once. Apart from this, the speaker gets Rs 3,000 and MPs Rs 2,500 as daily travelling allowance. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Ever since the beginning of the current session of the House of Representatives and the National Assembly, the lawmakers have failed to draft laws despite no obstruction to the house business.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">A total of three bills have been introduced by the 80th day of the new session of the House of Representatives. There is a provision in the parliament that the government can introduce government bills and parliamentarians can introduce non-government bills. However, neither the government nor the parliamentarians are interested in introducing a bill on matters of public interest. Their interests are more focused on consolidating power.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Among the bills that the government has now registered in parliament are the bills related to the Commission on Investigation of Enforced Disappeared Persons, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (Third Amendment) and the Constitutional Council Bill. As the draft of the House of Representatives Regulations are stalled in the House since a month, the law-making parliament is in a state of lawlessness.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">There are 332 members in the National Assembly and the House of Representatives including speaker and deputy speaker and MPs. Among them, a monthly salary of Rs 67,320 has been fixed for the speaker. They get Rs 4,000 more per month as communication and special allowance. Likewise, the monthly salary of the deputy speaker of the House of Representatives and the vice chairperson of the National Assembly is Rs 60,970. Communication and special allowances are provided to them at the rate of Rs 4,000 per month. Likewise, 332 MPs of both Houses get a monthly salary of Rs 18.3 million at the rate of Rs 55,230 each.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">There is a quota of 334 MPs in the House of Representatives and the National Assembly. The current number is 332. The government also has to pay salaries, allowances and other facilities to the employees working in the Federal Parliament Secretariat.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Dasharath Dhamala, deputy secretary of the Parliament Secretariat said that facilities are being provided to the officials of the Federal Parliament as per the provisions in the law. He said, “According to the provision in the law, all the officials are getting benefits and wages on time.”</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-30', 'modified' => '2023-03-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17143', 'image' => '20230330121655_Parliament.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-30 12:16:06', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17407', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => ''Establishment of Industries without Adequate Study Leads to Risk of Closure'', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'March 30: Rajendra Raut, president of the Koshi Province chapter of the Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) has said that the industries established in the industrial corridors without proper study face risk of closure.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">March 30: Rajendra Raut, president of the Koshi Province chapter of the Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) has said that the industries established in the industrial corridors without proper study face risk of closure.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">Speaking at an interaction with the industrialists of the industrial corridor organized by the Koshi chapter of FNCCI on Tuesday, he pointed out that the main reason for the closure of various industries including textile, jute, sugar industries in the Morang-Sunsari industrial corridor is the lack of study during the establishment of the industry.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">Raut said that the industries are being established and operated without sufficient study of the market and demand. He suggested that the industrialists should pay attention to this issue. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">He said that it has become difficult to operate domestic industries because the market price of imported products is lower than local products. Other problems include unannounced power cuts, increase in production costs, the government's inability to spend capital expenditure. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">During the program, Mahesh Pokharel of Reliance Spinning Mills expressed his concern that although the textile industry is the main basis of the world's industrial revolution and economic development, it has not been given due importance in Nepal. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">He claimed that 10 large textile industries in the corridor have been closed because the government did not give priority to protect domestic industries.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">Pradeep Niraula of Pragati Textiles suggested that the government should stop the illegal import of clothes to save the textile industry. Likewise, Somnath Adhikari, director of Raghupati Jute Mill, said that jute cultivation in Nepal is being stopped and industries are becoming problematic.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">He added that India's anti-dumping policy and other problems have posed a great challenge for the jute industry. Niraula added that the government has not made efforts to export jute.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">During the interaction, stakeholders also discussed the closure of large, medium and small industries such as copper wire, vegetable ghee, zinc oxide, plastic industry in the Morang-Sunsari industrial corridor. The industrialists suggested that the state should find out the reasons for the closure of those industries and determine the future industrial strategy. </span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-30', 'modified' => '2023-03-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17142', 'image' => '20230330113446_indus.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-30 11:33:53', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17406', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Experts Worry about Economic Situation, NRB says there is no Need to Panic', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'March 30: Financial and economic experts have urged the government to be serious about improving the country’s economic situation.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">March 30: Financial and economic experts have urged the government to be serious about improving the country’s economic situation.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Speaking at an interaction program on the issue 'Current economic situation of the country' organised by the Parliamentary Studies and Development Institute in the capital on Tuesday, they said that the government should not delay in bringing programs for reform.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The experts stressed that the government should not waste time saying that the situation is not alarming when the country's economic situation is weakening every day.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Former speaker of the House of Representatives and founding president of the institute Damannath Dhungana said that the life of common people is deteriorating day by day. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">“It is a difficult situation. We had to move forward by easing the current situation," he said.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Deep Kumar Upadhyay, the former minister and former Nepalese ambassador to India, said that there are widespread complaints about banks. "Even though all the indices of the economy have declined, why did it not have much effect on the banks?" he questioned.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Upadhyay said that it is unfair to distribute licenses to financial institutions on a large scale in the beginning, and then to control them through the policy of forced merger.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Former Vice Chairman of the National Planning Commission Dr Govind Raj Pokharel warned that the country’s trade deficit has increased, the revenue collection has decreased, and the development work has not picked up pace. Similarly, cautioned the government about the the increase in current expenditure, decrease in capital expenditure, decline in investment and problems in getting loans from banks.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Pokharel said that political turmoil is also responsible for the current crisis, adding, “Policy discomfort has also created problems in the business environment. Due to the unfriendly policies, businessmen are forced into bad practices.”</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Pokharel also stressed on the need to diversify the economy, which is becoming more dependent on remittances.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Economist Achyut Wagle drew the government's attention to dismal revenue collection of the government.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to Wgle, it is rare that the income of the state cannot cover the administrative expenses as it is now. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Vishnu Kumar Agarwal, president of the Confederation of Nepalese Industry (CNI), said that the market demand is very low at present. According to him, the business community is in trouble because the demand is less.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Kamlesh Kumar Agarwal, vice president of Nepal Chamber of Commerce (NCC) said that the high interest rates of banks has made it impossible for businesses to run and urged the Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) to issue instructions to reduce the interest rate to a single digit.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">NRB Governor Maha Prasad Adhikari said that although the economic situation is somewhat uncomfortable, there is no need to panic. Arguing that the strict measures taken by the central bank are as per the demand of the time, Governor Adhikari added, “Everything will come back to normal once the market economy improves.”</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-30', 'modified' => '2023-03-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17141', 'image' => '20230330104425_economic crisis.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-30 10:43:44', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17405', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '31 People get Permits to Climb Mt Everest', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'March 30: The number of people taking permission to climb Mount Everest has increased with the opening of mountain climbing for the spring season of 2023.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">March 30: The number of people taking permission to climb Mount Everest has increased with the opening of mountain climbing for the spring season of </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">2023</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">. According to the Department of Tourism, </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">31</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> people have taken permission to climb Mount Everest as of Tuesday. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The department has already started issuing climbing permits with the start of the spring season. Although this season is ideal for climbing Mount Everest, mountaineers also take permission to climb other mountains and snow peaks. According to the department, </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">142</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> mountaineers have taken permission to climb </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">10</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> mountain peaks including Everest in the initial phase of this season.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Most of the aspiring climbers have got permission to scale Mt Annapurna. A total of </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">54 </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">people have been granted permission to climb Mt Annapurna. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The department has issued permits for climbing Suma-Sarovar North, Annapurna, Everest, Manaslu, Thorong Peak, Barun, Lotse, Nuptse among others. The department has collected revenue of Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">49.5 </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">million by issuing permits for these peaks so far. According to the department, climbers from Australia, China, Germany, Hungary, Nepal, Singapore, South Africa, Thailand and America have taken permission to climb Mount Everest.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-30', 'modified' => '2023-03-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17140', 'image' => '20230330102040_1680132652.Clipboard32.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-30 10:19:52', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17404', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => ' Nepal and China Agree to Resume Rasuwagadhi-Kerung Border', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Nepal and China have inked an understanding to fully resume bilateral trade and people's movement through the Rasuwagadhi-Kerung border from April 1. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px">March 30: Nepal and China have inked an understanding to fully resume bilateral trade and people's movement through the Rasuwagadhi-Kerung border from April 1. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">The first meeting of Nepal-China Coordination Mechanism on Border Trade and Cooperation held in Lhasa of Tibet on Wednesday agreed to open the Rasuwagadhi-Kerung border, according to Consulate General of Nepal in China. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Secretary Madhu Kumar Marasini at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, and Executive Vice-Chair Chen Yongqi of Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) government had led the delegations from Nepal and China respectively. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">The two sides held discussion on cross-border trade, resuming people's movement, trade facilitation, customs cooperation, development of trade related infrastructures, border trade and cooperation. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">The Chinese side has agreed to establish multi-faceted lab in Nepal-China border at the request of Nepal. Similarly, the Chinese side has also given assurance to open seasonal trade transit point, according to the Consulate General of Nepal. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Stressing on the need of resuming Kathmandu-Lhasa direct flight, Secretary Marasini urged the Chinese side to resume the direct flight soon. Both sides laid emphasis to increase cooperation to improve living standard of the people in bordering districts of Nepal. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Likewise, both sides agreed to change the name of Nepal-China Joint Pandemic Prevention and Control Mechanism to Nepal-China Cooperation Mechanism related to Border Trade and Cooperation. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">In the same manner, Secretary Marasini paid a courtesy call on Chairperson Yan Jinhai of Tibet Autonomous Region government. The meeting dwelt on various issues including promotion of bilateral economic cooperation and mutual interest. </span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-30', 'modified' => '2023-03-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17139', 'image' => '20230330060525_collage (44).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-30 06:00:48', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17403', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Indian Agricultural Products take Sizable Nepali Market', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'March 29: Indian agricultural products have dominated the Nepali kitchen. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">March 29: Indian agricultural products have dominated the Nepali kitchen. A major percentage of vegetables and fruits is imported from neighboring India, according to the one-year data of the Kalimati Fruits and Vegetables Market Development Board.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">For instance, imported onions from India in a period of one year accounted for 99 percent of the total volume of onions traded at the market. Similarly, tomato imported from India made up 94.11 percent, potato (60 percent), green pea (45 percent), gourd (39 percent), pumpkin (66 percent), moringa oleifera (77 percent), tamarind (99 percent), apple (81 percent), pomegranate (98 percent), papaya (81 percent), and grape (81 percent) of the market.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">In the face of increasing imports of agricultural products from India, economists have warned that the situation was not good for the country when over half of its population is dependent on agriculture. According to the National Census 2021, 50.1 percent of the population depend on agriculture.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The import of agricultural products from India is massive, said the board's information officer Binaya Shrestha. Agricultural products imported from India in a span of one year accounted for 38.68 percent of the total imports, he said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"Vegetables in large quantities are imported from India," he said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Out of over 263 million kilograms of vegetables imported during the period, more than 101 million kg was imported from India, said the board's planning officer Ramesh Dangol. China and Bhutan supplied over 100,000 kg each, Bangladesh (around 150,000 kg), and other countries over 5,000 kg.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"Nepal is not self-sufficient on some vegetables. Failure to commercialize agriculture may be a reason. So, we are forced to import from foreign countries including India," he said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Until some years ago, around 80 percent of the demand for vegetables was fulfilled with domestic products, he said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"Apples produced in mountainous Jumla district cannot reach here due to various problems. So, the fruit is imported from foreign countries to meet the demand. Lately, the import of vegetables and fruits is increasing."</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The Kalimati market purchased vegetables from the local market including the Kathmandu Valley (Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur districts) and other nearby districts including Dhading, Kavrepalanchok, Makawanpur, Chitwan, Sarlahi, Dolakha, Nuwakot and Gorkha.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">In the previous fiscal year, 2021/22, a total 270,278 metric tonnes of vegetables and fruits were imported from foreign countries, said the board. -- RSS</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-29', 'modified' => '2023-03-29', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17138', 'image' => '20230329100010_20200925113442_1600988958.Clipboard06.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-29 21:59:42', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17402', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Litmus Industries adding a New Plant with an Investment of Four Billion Rupees', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'March 29: Litmus Industries, the only electric cable manufacturer in the country which produces conductors for 400 KV transmission lines, is going to expand its production plant with an investment of Rs 4 billion.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">March 29: Litmus Industries, the only electric cable manufacturer in the country which produces conductors for 400 KV transmission lines, is going to expand its production plant with an investment of Rs 4 billion.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The company, which is currently producing conductors from a plant in Butwal with an investment of Rs 1 billion, informed that it has started setting up a new plant in Parasi. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Saroj Mishra, vice president of the company, informed that the new plant will also produce HT cables for 400 kV transmission lines. Litmus is currently supplying conductors to the Inaruwa-Dalkebar 400 KV transmission line. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to Vice President Mishra, Litmus was awarded a contract worth Rs 3.24 billion to supply 400 KV conductors to the transmission line. Litmus, a subsidiary of Ramesh Corp, has also bagged another contract worth Rs 5.5 billion to supply cables to the Nepal Electricity Authority.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Butwal-based industry increased its production capacity in 2020 and started producing conductors required for 400 KV transmission lines. An industry set up with an investment of Rs 20 to Rs 30 billion, has expanded its capacity by adding an investment of around Rs 70 to Rs 80 billion. After the capacity expansion, it got a contract worth more than Rs 5.5 billion from Nepal Electricity Authority.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The company has also been supplying Nepal Ekarat Engineering Company (NEEC) with enamel wire and paper strips required for making transformers. Litmus also collaborated with NEEC to manufacture nearly 10,000 transformers.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Due to insufficient space within the Butwal industrial area, the company started the work of setting up a new plant in Parasi. Vice President Mishra informed that about Rs 4 billion additional investment is going to be made for the plant.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The purchase of land in Parasi is almost completed. The company, built in 2 bighas of land in Butwal, will set up a new plant in a huge area of about 15 bighas in Parasi. Litmus, which used to produce cables used in household bearings and small capacity transmission lines, is now planning to produce fans, LED lights, MCVs and other electrical appliances. Vice President Mishra said that the main focus of the company is on import substitution and export.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Litmus manufactures conductors and cables under the heading of Overhead Conductor (OHC). One of them is ACSR conductor. Its size is 20 to 500 square millimeters and is used in 11 to 400 KV transmission lines. Another is Aerial Bunched Cable (ABC). Its size is 25 to 150 square millimeters and is used in overhead distribution of 1.1 kV in urban areas. Litmus also manufactures XLPE covered conductors. Its size is 55 to 150 square millimeters and is used in 11 KVA overhead transmission line. Similarly, Litmus produces cables and wires targeting household and other uses. LV power cable of size 1.5 to 1000 square millimeters is made by litmus and is used in industrial and commercial areas.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Litmus has an annual production capacity of ACCSR conductors of 67,750 km. The company informed that the annual production capacity of ABC is 29,700 km, XLPE covered conductors is 12,900 km and power cables is 45,320 km.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, the company has an annual production capacity of 2,539,570 coils of house wiring cable. A coil has 90 meters of wire and production capacity of enamel and strips is 13,600 tons. The company says that even though there is so much production capacity, even 10 percent of the total production capacity has not been utilized yet.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><strong>Aggressive strategy for market expansion</strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In Nepal, there are about 20-22 industries producing household wires and 3-4 industries producing ABC cables.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> “There are many manufacturers of wires for household use. Since the industry can be started with low investment, many people have started it. We have an annual production capacity of more than 2.5 million coils of house multicolored cables. However, we have not been able to sell more than 25,000 to 30,000 coils per month.” Said Mishra, adding, “There are many products in the market. Even from India, illegal wires are coming in against the standards, spoiling the market.”</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-29', 'modified' => '2023-03-29', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17137', 'image' => '20230329054321_1680067223.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-29 17:42:09', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17401', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Kushadevi Area in Panauti becoming Hub for Adventure Sports ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'March 29: Panauti, an ancient town, in Kavrepalanchowk district, is gaining popularity for adventure sports lately. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">March 29: Panauti, an ancient town, in Kavrepalanchowk district, is gaining popularity for adventure sports lately. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Inauguration of rock climbing facility recently at Kushadevi in Panauti Municipality-2 has added a new destination in tourism, according to the tourism entrepreneurs. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The new rock climbing facility lies nine kilometres westward from Panauti Buspark. Municipality mayor Ram Sharan Bhandari, inaugurating the rock climbing facility, said that Panauti was already an attraction culturally and religious. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The development and expansion of adventure sports has given the place another identity as an adventure sports hub, he shared. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Altogether eight climbers can climb in the rock at Ratopahara, said Pemba Onchu Sherpa, trainer at the Nepal Mountaineering Association. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A total of 100 bolts brought from Germany were installed in the cliff where the climbers could ascend as high as 50 metres in support of the rope. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Hiking trail and other infrastructures to reach the rock climbing place have been built by the local municipality, informed Purusottam Adhikari, a local representative. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The local municipality has prioritized adventure sports tourism in the current fiscal year 2022/23. Development and expansion of hiking trail is part of its annual policy and programme. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Municipality has already launched downhill cycling at Phulchowki and Nagidada while test flight for paragliding was recently conducted. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-29', 'modified' => '2023-03-29', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17136', 'image' => '20230329032511_20220821100035_para.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-29 15:24:28', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = false $xml = falseinclude - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 133 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
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Organizing a press conference in Kathmandu on Thursday, the bankers’ association argued that bank interest rates are not as high as touted in the market. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px">March 31: Nepal Bankers’ Association has insisted that bank interest rates are not expensive. Organizing a press conference in Kathmandu on Thursday, the bankers’ association argued that bank interest rates are not as high as touted in the market. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">“It is not prudent to say that interest rates have become dearer comparing them to the period of COVID-19. Interest rates have just gone up to the pre-COVID-19 level,” said Nepal Bankers’ Association Chairman Sunil KC.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">NBA Chairman KC clarified that protest targeted against banks and financial institutions will not change interest rates. “Demand and supply will determine interest rates, not the protest and agitation,” KC, who is also Chief Executive Officer of NMB Bank added.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">KC said that it was unfortunate banks and financial institutions were receiving attacks from all sides. “The attacks appear to be against banks on the surface. But, they are against entire industrial sector, around 40 million account holders and over the whole country,” KC explained.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">KC opined that impact of activities targeted against banks would be long-term and the whole country would have to pay the price for such activities. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">NBA Chair KC made it clear that protests against banks will have serious effects on foreign investment. He cautioned that country and its economy will have to face consequences of anti-bank activities.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Of late, banks have optimized investment on electric vehicles and productive sector significantly for the sustainable growth of the national economy, accoridng to KC.</span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-31', 'modified' => '2023-03-31', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17151', 'image' => '20230331061504_collage (47).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-31 06:10:58', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17415', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Economist Dr Wagle Quits NC', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Economist Dr Swarnim Wagle has announced his dissociation from the Nepali Congress (NC). ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px">March 31: Economist Dr Swarnim Wagle has announced his dissociation from the Nepali Congress (NC). </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">"I have decided to part ways from the Nepali Congress that has my familial legacy for 50 years and my involvement since the Satyagraha of 2042 BS and People's Movement of 2046 BS," Dr Wagle has written on his Facebook wall.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"> In his status, Dr Wagle states that he contributed to the Nepali Congress party indirectly for three decades and for a decade directly in formulation of economic policy and planning, intellectual-theoretical consultations, training and expansion of the party's international legitimacy. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Dr Wagle, who served as the National Planning Commission Vice-Chair, has announced that he will remain active in public role with the beginning of New Year 2080 BS by taking the agenda of healthy democracy and economic progress based on good-governance.</span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-31', 'modified' => '2023-03-31', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17150', 'image' => '20230331053840_collage (45).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-31 05:37:09', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17414', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'SEE Begins Today', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'March 30: All preparations for this year's Secondary Education Examination (SEE) have been completed. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">March 30: All preparations for this year's Secondary Education Examination (SEE) have been completed. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">This year's SEE is taking place across the country from 8:00 am on Friday (March 31), said Chairperson of the National Examination Board, Mahashram Sharma.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">, "All preparations for the SEE have been completed. A virtual meeting was conducted with all responsible bodies of all 77 districts for the same. We requested all of them to conduct the examinations in a peaceful, disciplined and systematic manner."</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Sharma added that all examination-related activities including designating invigilators at all the examination centers, security arrangement, mobilization of human resources and taking question papers and answer-sheets have been completed. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Examinations Controller Bishnu Narayan Shrestha said the Province Examination Operation and Management Committee formed under the chairmanship of Province Secretary in every province would operate, manage and monitor the examinations in the provinces under the board's directives. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The District Examination Coordination Committee comprising the Chief District Officer, chiefs of security bodies in every district has completed all necessary tasks including designating invigilators in examination centers, imparting orientation to stakeholders, he said.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><strong><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Around 500,000 candidates </span></span></span></span></strong></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Controller of Examinations Shrestha said although 516,591 students studying in Grade 9 filled up the registration form for the SEE in 2022, a total of 484,227 filled up the exam form in grade 10. The number has decreased by 32,364 compared to the number of applicants in Grade 9.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The highest number of candidates are in Bagmati Province (106,959) and the lowest in Karnali Province (41,329). Around 15,000 students will be taking the exams in the technical stream. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Similarly, 2982 students from 65 schools are running courses in Sanskrit and 50 blind students are also appearing in the SEE this year. Students from 11,829 schools, including 7,200 community and 4,564 institutional schools are sitting for the SEE this year. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">A total of 2037 exam centers have been designated for the SEE. These include 2036 exam centers in 77 districts and one in Japan.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Seventy-eight thousand human resources will be mobilized at the exam centers throughout the country for conducting the SEE. -- <em>RSS (Photo courtesy: UNICEF)</em></span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-30', 'modified' => '2023-03-31', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17149', 'image' => '20230330064654_IMG_5918_1.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-30 18:46:07', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17413', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Migrant Workers-targeted App Launched', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Issara Nepal, a non-governmental organisation, has launched an app, 'Ujjwal Sapana' targeting migrant workers.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px">March 30: Issara Nepal, a non-governmental organisation, has launched an app, 'Ujjwal Sapana' targeting migrant workers.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"> Joint-secretary Rajib Pokharel at the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security and the executive director at Issara Institute jointly launched the app recently. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">The app will provide up to date information related to migrant workers, labour law and rights, manpower companies, employers, and service providers. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">The app is available in Nepali, Burmese and Khamer. Joint secretary Pokharel said foreign employment is a compulsion for Nepali people. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">"We have to depend on foreign employments until we create jobs within the country. So, there is a need to properly manage foreign employment," he said. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Pokharel stressed the need to bring all migrant workers onboard the social security fund, and create employment opportunities within the country where skills learnt in foreign lands cane be utilized.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Stating that the Ministry working to formulate worker-friendly Foreign Employment Act that, Pokharel said a five-year strategy to this effect has been in place.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Nepal sent around 25 percent people for foreign employment on an annual basis in the past, said immigration expert Keshab Basyal.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">General Secretary Laxman Basnet at South Asian Regional Trade Union Council stressed the need for the app to have the government's standards on foreign employments.</span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-30', 'modified' => '2023-03-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17148', 'image' => '20230330060546_collage - 2023-03-30T175634.754.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-30 18:03:54', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17412', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Furniture Businessmen in Favour of Promoting Domestic Products', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'March 30: Although a large part of Nepal's land area is occupied by forests, almost Rs 18 billion is spent every year for the import of wood products including furniture. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">March 30: Although a large part of Nepal's land area is occupied by forests, almost Rs 18 billion is spent every year for the import of wood products including furniture. According to the Ministry of Forestry, more than 45 percent of the total land area of Nepal is covered by forests. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">However, according to the data of the Department of Customs, wood and furniture worth Rs 17.82 billion were imported in the last fiscal year (FY 2021/22). In the fiscal year 2020/21, wood and furniture worth Rs 15.18 billion were imported. A total of Rs 65.84 billion has been spent in the last nine years for the import of wood and furniture.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">According to experts, the government's wrong policy and the mindset of businessmen to ignore the industry and focus only on business resulted in such a huge amount of money going abroad for the import of wood products. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">At a time when the private sector is being accused of focusing only on business, those involved in this sector have taken an initiative to reduce the import of wood and furniture by promoting local products.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">Hitesh Golchha, an industrialist active in the promotion of indigenous goods and furniture products, said in a conversation with New Business Age that he is going to expand the ‘fusion’ furniture industry in such a way that it can meet the country's demand to a large extent and also export to foreign countries.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">“The plan is to expand the fusion furniture industry. It was necessary to expand the industry to meet the demand by using native wood produced in Nepal," said Golchha. He also made it clear that they are of the view that furniture should be made from wood produced in Nepal and locally available raw materials.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">He said that the government should take necessary action for the use of indigenous products. </span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-30', 'modified' => '2023-03-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17147', 'image' => '20230330042723_1680161430.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-30 16:25:56', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17411', 'article_category_id' => '243', 'title' => '300 Million People Could Lose Jobs to Artificial Intelligence Worldwide ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'The way in which AI tools like ChatGPT are advancing would not be too surprising if most human jobs are replaced by AI tools. Now a report by Goldman Sachs has claimed that ChatGPT and the other AI tools could actually replace more than 300 million jobs.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"> March 30: The way in which AI tools like ChatGPT are advancing would not be too surprising if most human jobs are replaced by AI tools. Now a report by Goldman Sachs has claimed that ChatGPT and the other AI tools could actually replace more than 300 million jobs. Interestingly, ChatGPT, which has now received an upgraded lamguage model, GPT-4, listed 20 jobs it can replace.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Goldman Sachs economists predicted in a report that 18% of work globally could be computerized, with the effects felt more deeply in advanced economies than emerging markets.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">White-collar workers are seen to be more at risk than manual laborers owing to the use of artificial intelligence. Administrative workers and lawyers are expected to be most affected, the economists said, compared to the “little effect” seen on physically demanding or outdoor occupations, such as construction and repair work.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">In the United States and Europe, approximately two-thirds of current jobs “are exposed to some degree of AI automation,” and up to a quarter of all work could be done by AI completely, the bank estimates.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">If generative technology behind ChatGPT “delivers on its promised capabilities, the labor market could face significant disruption,” the economists wrote. Of late, ChatGPT, the chatbot sensation, has taken the world by storm.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">ChatGPT, which can answer prompts and write essays, has already prompted many businesses to rethink how people should work every day.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">This month, its developer unveiled the latest version of the software behind the bot, GPT-4. The platform has quickly impressed early users with its ability to simplify coding, rapidly create a website from a simple sketch and pass exams with high marks.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Further use of such AI will likely lead to job losses, the Goldman Sachs economists wrote. But they noted that technological innovation that initially displaces workers has historically also created employment growth over the long haul.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">While workplaces may shift, widespread adoption of AI could ultimately increase labor productivity — and boost global GDP by 7% annually over a 10-year period, according to Goldman Sachs.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">“Although the impact of AI on the labor market is likely to be significant, most jobs and industries are only partially exposed to automation and are thus more likely to be complemented rather than substituted by AI,” the economists added.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">“Most workers are employed in occupations that are partially exposed to AI automation and, following AI adoption, will likely apply at least some of their freed-up capacity toward productive activities that increase output.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">“The combination of significant labor cost savings, new job creation, and a productivity boost for non-displaced workers raises the possibility of a labor productivity boom like those that followed the emergence of earlier general-purpose technologies like the electric motor and personal computer,” researchers stated. (agencies)</span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-30', 'modified' => '2023-03-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17146', 'image' => '20230330034303_collage - 2023-03-30T153721.796.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-30 15:37:50', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17409', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => ' Patihani Gaining Popularity as Tourism Destination ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'March 30: Chitwan is one of the most preferred destinations of tourists especially for jungle safari. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">March 30: Chitwan is one of the most preferred destinations of tourists especially for jungle safari. Domestic and foreign tourists turn up to the Chitwan National Park for observing the world's rare one-horned rhino and other wild species. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Sauraha is a popular tourism hotspot in Chitwan. Lately other places having geographical linkage with the Chitwan National Park are also gaining popularity as tourist destination areas. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Like Sauraha, West Chitwan's Patihani has become a preferred choice of tourists lately. Patihani, located in Bharatpur Metropolitan City-22 has turned to be the center of attraction for domestic and foreign tourists. Inflow of foreign tourists to the area has gradually increased, shared ward chair Bishnuraj Mahato. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"Local level has laid emphasis on expanding infrastructures and managing tourism services for encouraging tourists to prolong their stay in Patihani," he said, adding, "Tourists especially coming for jungle safari prefer visiting Patihani as the national park's wildlife are mostly found in the western Chitwan." </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The peaceful ambience here has also attracted tourists. One can reach Patihani after around 14-km travel from the main market area of Bharatpur. The tourism business that was hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic is now gradually coming to its usual state. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Tourists are seen enjoying with elephant riding in the Rapti River flowing through the national park. They are happy with the peaceful environment of Patihani as well. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">German tourist Upaph recounted his experience that it was very joyful to take shower with elephant riding in the Rapti. Terming Nepal naturally beautiful, he said, he took it a fortunate moment to observe rare wild species in the national park. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Upon arrival in Patihani, tourists can enjoy seeing different species of ghariyal crocodile in the river and one-horned rhino among other rare animals in the park. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Information Officer at the Chitwan National Park Ganesh Prasad Tiwari informed that as many as 191,883 tourists arrived in Chitwan up to mid-March in the current fiscal year. Last year a total of 1,90,458 tourists had visited different tourism destinations in Chitwan. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-30', 'modified' => '2023-03-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17144', 'image' => '20230330020727_1680151676.Chitwan.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-30 14:06:37', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17408', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Daily Expense of Parliament Tops Rs 800,000', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'March 30: More than 800,000 rupees is spent daily for the members of the House of Representatives and the National Assembly.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">March 30: More than 800,000 rupees is spent daily for the members of the House of Representatives and the National Assembly. If the parliamentarians do not work according to their responsibilities, that amount of money is wasted every day.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">At least Rs 20 million is spent per month for the House of Representatives and the National Assembly from the state coffers. Considering 25 days of the month as working days and multiplying it by the daily expenses of Rs 800,000, the expenditure is calculated to be around Rs 20 million per month. This expenditure includes only the monthly salary of MPs, special allowances and communication expenses. If the allowances for the days of parliament sitting, transportation, housing allowances and other administrative expenses are added, the expenses will increase even more.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">MPs are given furniture facilities once. Apart from this, the speaker gets Rs 3,000 and MPs Rs 2,500 as daily travelling allowance. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Ever since the beginning of the current session of the House of Representatives and the National Assembly, the lawmakers have failed to draft laws despite no obstruction to the house business.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">A total of three bills have been introduced by the 80th day of the new session of the House of Representatives. There is a provision in the parliament that the government can introduce government bills and parliamentarians can introduce non-government bills. However, neither the government nor the parliamentarians are interested in introducing a bill on matters of public interest. Their interests are more focused on consolidating power.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Among the bills that the government has now registered in parliament are the bills related to the Commission on Investigation of Enforced Disappeared Persons, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (Third Amendment) and the Constitutional Council Bill. As the draft of the House of Representatives Regulations are stalled in the House since a month, the law-making parliament is in a state of lawlessness.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">There are 332 members in the National Assembly and the House of Representatives including speaker and deputy speaker and MPs. Among them, a monthly salary of Rs 67,320 has been fixed for the speaker. They get Rs 4,000 more per month as communication and special allowance. Likewise, the monthly salary of the deputy speaker of the House of Representatives and the vice chairperson of the National Assembly is Rs 60,970. Communication and special allowances are provided to them at the rate of Rs 4,000 per month. Likewise, 332 MPs of both Houses get a monthly salary of Rs 18.3 million at the rate of Rs 55,230 each.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">There is a quota of 334 MPs in the House of Representatives and the National Assembly. The current number is 332. The government also has to pay salaries, allowances and other facilities to the employees working in the Federal Parliament Secretariat.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Dasharath Dhamala, deputy secretary of the Parliament Secretariat said that facilities are being provided to the officials of the Federal Parliament as per the provisions in the law. He said, “According to the provision in the law, all the officials are getting benefits and wages on time.”</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-30', 'modified' => '2023-03-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17143', 'image' => '20230330121655_Parliament.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-30 12:16:06', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17407', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => ''Establishment of Industries without Adequate Study Leads to Risk of Closure'', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'March 30: Rajendra Raut, president of the Koshi Province chapter of the Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) has said that the industries established in the industrial corridors without proper study face risk of closure.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">March 30: Rajendra Raut, president of the Koshi Province chapter of the Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) has said that the industries established in the industrial corridors without proper study face risk of closure.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">Speaking at an interaction with the industrialists of the industrial corridor organized by the Koshi chapter of FNCCI on Tuesday, he pointed out that the main reason for the closure of various industries including textile, jute, sugar industries in the Morang-Sunsari industrial corridor is the lack of study during the establishment of the industry.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">Raut said that the industries are being established and operated without sufficient study of the market and demand. He suggested that the industrialists should pay attention to this issue. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">He said that it has become difficult to operate domestic industries because the market price of imported products is lower than local products. Other problems include unannounced power cuts, increase in production costs, the government's inability to spend capital expenditure. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">During the program, Mahesh Pokharel of Reliance Spinning Mills expressed his concern that although the textile industry is the main basis of the world's industrial revolution and economic development, it has not been given due importance in Nepal. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">He claimed that 10 large textile industries in the corridor have been closed because the government did not give priority to protect domestic industries.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">Pradeep Niraula of Pragati Textiles suggested that the government should stop the illegal import of clothes to save the textile industry. Likewise, Somnath Adhikari, director of Raghupati Jute Mill, said that jute cultivation in Nepal is being stopped and industries are becoming problematic.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">He added that India's anti-dumping policy and other problems have posed a great challenge for the jute industry. Niraula added that the government has not made efforts to export jute.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">During the interaction, stakeholders also discussed the closure of large, medium and small industries such as copper wire, vegetable ghee, zinc oxide, plastic industry in the Morang-Sunsari industrial corridor. The industrialists suggested that the state should find out the reasons for the closure of those industries and determine the future industrial strategy. </span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-30', 'modified' => '2023-03-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17142', 'image' => '20230330113446_indus.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-30 11:33:53', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17406', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Experts Worry about Economic Situation, NRB says there is no Need to Panic', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'March 30: Financial and economic experts have urged the government to be serious about improving the country’s economic situation.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">March 30: Financial and economic experts have urged the government to be serious about improving the country’s economic situation.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Speaking at an interaction program on the issue 'Current economic situation of the country' organised by the Parliamentary Studies and Development Institute in the capital on Tuesday, they said that the government should not delay in bringing programs for reform.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The experts stressed that the government should not waste time saying that the situation is not alarming when the country's economic situation is weakening every day.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Former speaker of the House of Representatives and founding president of the institute Damannath Dhungana said that the life of common people is deteriorating day by day. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">“It is a difficult situation. We had to move forward by easing the current situation," he said.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Deep Kumar Upadhyay, the former minister and former Nepalese ambassador to India, said that there are widespread complaints about banks. "Even though all the indices of the economy have declined, why did it not have much effect on the banks?" he questioned.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Upadhyay said that it is unfair to distribute licenses to financial institutions on a large scale in the beginning, and then to control them through the policy of forced merger.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Former Vice Chairman of the National Planning Commission Dr Govind Raj Pokharel warned that the country’s trade deficit has increased, the revenue collection has decreased, and the development work has not picked up pace. Similarly, cautioned the government about the the increase in current expenditure, decrease in capital expenditure, decline in investment and problems in getting loans from banks.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Pokharel said that political turmoil is also responsible for the current crisis, adding, “Policy discomfort has also created problems in the business environment. Due to the unfriendly policies, businessmen are forced into bad practices.”</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Pokharel also stressed on the need to diversify the economy, which is becoming more dependent on remittances.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Economist Achyut Wagle drew the government's attention to dismal revenue collection of the government.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to Wgle, it is rare that the income of the state cannot cover the administrative expenses as it is now. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Vishnu Kumar Agarwal, president of the Confederation of Nepalese Industry (CNI), said that the market demand is very low at present. According to him, the business community is in trouble because the demand is less.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Kamlesh Kumar Agarwal, vice president of Nepal Chamber of Commerce (NCC) said that the high interest rates of banks has made it impossible for businesses to run and urged the Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) to issue instructions to reduce the interest rate to a single digit.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">NRB Governor Maha Prasad Adhikari said that although the economic situation is somewhat uncomfortable, there is no need to panic. Arguing that the strict measures taken by the central bank are as per the demand of the time, Governor Adhikari added, “Everything will come back to normal once the market economy improves.”</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-30', 'modified' => '2023-03-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17141', 'image' => '20230330104425_economic crisis.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-30 10:43:44', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17405', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '31 People get Permits to Climb Mt Everest', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'March 30: The number of people taking permission to climb Mount Everest has increased with the opening of mountain climbing for the spring season of 2023.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">March 30: The number of people taking permission to climb Mount Everest has increased with the opening of mountain climbing for the spring season of </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">2023</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">. According to the Department of Tourism, </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">31</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> people have taken permission to climb Mount Everest as of Tuesday. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The department has already started issuing climbing permits with the start of the spring season. Although this season is ideal for climbing Mount Everest, mountaineers also take permission to climb other mountains and snow peaks. According to the department, </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">142</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> mountaineers have taken permission to climb </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">10</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> mountain peaks including Everest in the initial phase of this season.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Most of the aspiring climbers have got permission to scale Mt Annapurna. A total of </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">54 </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">people have been granted permission to climb Mt Annapurna. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The department has issued permits for climbing Suma-Sarovar North, Annapurna, Everest, Manaslu, Thorong Peak, Barun, Lotse, Nuptse among others. The department has collected revenue of Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">49.5 </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">million by issuing permits for these peaks so far. According to the department, climbers from Australia, China, Germany, Hungary, Nepal, Singapore, South Africa, Thailand and America have taken permission to climb Mount Everest.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-30', 'modified' => '2023-03-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17140', 'image' => '20230330102040_1680132652.Clipboard32.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-30 10:19:52', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17404', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => ' Nepal and China Agree to Resume Rasuwagadhi-Kerung Border', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Nepal and China have inked an understanding to fully resume bilateral trade and people's movement through the Rasuwagadhi-Kerung border from April 1. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px">March 30: Nepal and China have inked an understanding to fully resume bilateral trade and people's movement through the Rasuwagadhi-Kerung border from April 1. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">The first meeting of Nepal-China Coordination Mechanism on Border Trade and Cooperation held in Lhasa of Tibet on Wednesday agreed to open the Rasuwagadhi-Kerung border, according to Consulate General of Nepal in China. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Secretary Madhu Kumar Marasini at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, and Executive Vice-Chair Chen Yongqi of Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) government had led the delegations from Nepal and China respectively. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">The two sides held discussion on cross-border trade, resuming people's movement, trade facilitation, customs cooperation, development of trade related infrastructures, border trade and cooperation. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">The Chinese side has agreed to establish multi-faceted lab in Nepal-China border at the request of Nepal. Similarly, the Chinese side has also given assurance to open seasonal trade transit point, according to the Consulate General of Nepal. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Stressing on the need of resuming Kathmandu-Lhasa direct flight, Secretary Marasini urged the Chinese side to resume the direct flight soon. Both sides laid emphasis to increase cooperation to improve living standard of the people in bordering districts of Nepal. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Likewise, both sides agreed to change the name of Nepal-China Joint Pandemic Prevention and Control Mechanism to Nepal-China Cooperation Mechanism related to Border Trade and Cooperation. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">In the same manner, Secretary Marasini paid a courtesy call on Chairperson Yan Jinhai of Tibet Autonomous Region government. The meeting dwelt on various issues including promotion of bilateral economic cooperation and mutual interest. </span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-30', 'modified' => '2023-03-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17139', 'image' => '20230330060525_collage (44).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-30 06:00:48', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17403', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Indian Agricultural Products take Sizable Nepali Market', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'March 29: Indian agricultural products have dominated the Nepali kitchen. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">March 29: Indian agricultural products have dominated the Nepali kitchen. A major percentage of vegetables and fruits is imported from neighboring India, according to the one-year data of the Kalimati Fruits and Vegetables Market Development Board.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">For instance, imported onions from India in a period of one year accounted for 99 percent of the total volume of onions traded at the market. Similarly, tomato imported from India made up 94.11 percent, potato (60 percent), green pea (45 percent), gourd (39 percent), pumpkin (66 percent), moringa oleifera (77 percent), tamarind (99 percent), apple (81 percent), pomegranate (98 percent), papaya (81 percent), and grape (81 percent) of the market.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">In the face of increasing imports of agricultural products from India, economists have warned that the situation was not good for the country when over half of its population is dependent on agriculture. According to the National Census 2021, 50.1 percent of the population depend on agriculture.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The import of agricultural products from India is massive, said the board's information officer Binaya Shrestha. Agricultural products imported from India in a span of one year accounted for 38.68 percent of the total imports, he said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"Vegetables in large quantities are imported from India," he said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Out of over 263 million kilograms of vegetables imported during the period, more than 101 million kg was imported from India, said the board's planning officer Ramesh Dangol. China and Bhutan supplied over 100,000 kg each, Bangladesh (around 150,000 kg), and other countries over 5,000 kg.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"Nepal is not self-sufficient on some vegetables. Failure to commercialize agriculture may be a reason. So, we are forced to import from foreign countries including India," he said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Until some years ago, around 80 percent of the demand for vegetables was fulfilled with domestic products, he said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"Apples produced in mountainous Jumla district cannot reach here due to various problems. So, the fruit is imported from foreign countries to meet the demand. Lately, the import of vegetables and fruits is increasing."</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The Kalimati market purchased vegetables from the local market including the Kathmandu Valley (Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur districts) and other nearby districts including Dhading, Kavrepalanchok, Makawanpur, Chitwan, Sarlahi, Dolakha, Nuwakot and Gorkha.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">In the previous fiscal year, 2021/22, a total 270,278 metric tonnes of vegetables and fruits were imported from foreign countries, said the board. -- RSS</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-29', 'modified' => '2023-03-29', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17138', 'image' => '20230329100010_20200925113442_1600988958.Clipboard06.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-29 21:59:42', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17402', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Litmus Industries adding a New Plant with an Investment of Four Billion Rupees', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'March 29: Litmus Industries, the only electric cable manufacturer in the country which produces conductors for 400 KV transmission lines, is going to expand its production plant with an investment of Rs 4 billion.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">March 29: Litmus Industries, the only electric cable manufacturer in the country which produces conductors for 400 KV transmission lines, is going to expand its production plant with an investment of Rs 4 billion.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The company, which is currently producing conductors from a plant in Butwal with an investment of Rs 1 billion, informed that it has started setting up a new plant in Parasi. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Saroj Mishra, vice president of the company, informed that the new plant will also produce HT cables for 400 kV transmission lines. Litmus is currently supplying conductors to the Inaruwa-Dalkebar 400 KV transmission line. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to Vice President Mishra, Litmus was awarded a contract worth Rs 3.24 billion to supply 400 KV conductors to the transmission line. Litmus, a subsidiary of Ramesh Corp, has also bagged another contract worth Rs 5.5 billion to supply cables to the Nepal Electricity Authority.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Butwal-based industry increased its production capacity in 2020 and started producing conductors required for 400 KV transmission lines. An industry set up with an investment of Rs 20 to Rs 30 billion, has expanded its capacity by adding an investment of around Rs 70 to Rs 80 billion. After the capacity expansion, it got a contract worth more than Rs 5.5 billion from Nepal Electricity Authority.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The company has also been supplying Nepal Ekarat Engineering Company (NEEC) with enamel wire and paper strips required for making transformers. Litmus also collaborated with NEEC to manufacture nearly 10,000 transformers.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Due to insufficient space within the Butwal industrial area, the company started the work of setting up a new plant in Parasi. Vice President Mishra informed that about Rs 4 billion additional investment is going to be made for the plant.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The purchase of land in Parasi is almost completed. The company, built in 2 bighas of land in Butwal, will set up a new plant in a huge area of about 15 bighas in Parasi. Litmus, which used to produce cables used in household bearings and small capacity transmission lines, is now planning to produce fans, LED lights, MCVs and other electrical appliances. Vice President Mishra said that the main focus of the company is on import substitution and export.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Litmus manufactures conductors and cables under the heading of Overhead Conductor (OHC). One of them is ACSR conductor. Its size is 20 to 500 square millimeters and is used in 11 to 400 KV transmission lines. Another is Aerial Bunched Cable (ABC). Its size is 25 to 150 square millimeters and is used in overhead distribution of 1.1 kV in urban areas. Litmus also manufactures XLPE covered conductors. Its size is 55 to 150 square millimeters and is used in 11 KVA overhead transmission line. Similarly, Litmus produces cables and wires targeting household and other uses. LV power cable of size 1.5 to 1000 square millimeters is made by litmus and is used in industrial and commercial areas.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Litmus has an annual production capacity of ACCSR conductors of 67,750 km. The company informed that the annual production capacity of ABC is 29,700 km, XLPE covered conductors is 12,900 km and power cables is 45,320 km.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, the company has an annual production capacity of 2,539,570 coils of house wiring cable. A coil has 90 meters of wire and production capacity of enamel and strips is 13,600 tons. The company says that even though there is so much production capacity, even 10 percent of the total production capacity has not been utilized yet.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><strong>Aggressive strategy for market expansion</strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In Nepal, there are about 20-22 industries producing household wires and 3-4 industries producing ABC cables.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> “There are many manufacturers of wires for household use. Since the industry can be started with low investment, many people have started it. We have an annual production capacity of more than 2.5 million coils of house multicolored cables. However, we have not been able to sell more than 25,000 to 30,000 coils per month.” Said Mishra, adding, “There are many products in the market. Even from India, illegal wires are coming in against the standards, spoiling the market.”</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-29', 'modified' => '2023-03-29', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17137', 'image' => '20230329054321_1680067223.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-29 17:42:09', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17401', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Kushadevi Area in Panauti becoming Hub for Adventure Sports ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'March 29: Panauti, an ancient town, in Kavrepalanchowk district, is gaining popularity for adventure sports lately. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">March 29: Panauti, an ancient town, in Kavrepalanchowk district, is gaining popularity for adventure sports lately. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Inauguration of rock climbing facility recently at Kushadevi in Panauti Municipality-2 has added a new destination in tourism, according to the tourism entrepreneurs. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The new rock climbing facility lies nine kilometres westward from Panauti Buspark. Municipality mayor Ram Sharan Bhandari, inaugurating the rock climbing facility, said that Panauti was already an attraction culturally and religious. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The development and expansion of adventure sports has given the place another identity as an adventure sports hub, he shared. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Altogether eight climbers can climb in the rock at Ratopahara, said Pemba Onchu Sherpa, trainer at the Nepal Mountaineering Association. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A total of 100 bolts brought from Germany were installed in the cliff where the climbers could ascend as high as 50 metres in support of the rope. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Hiking trail and other infrastructures to reach the rock climbing place have been built by the local municipality, informed Purusottam Adhikari, a local representative. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The local municipality has prioritized adventure sports tourism in the current fiscal year 2022/23. Development and expansion of hiking trail is part of its annual policy and programme. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Municipality has already launched downhill cycling at Phulchowki and Nagidada while test flight for paragliding was recently conducted. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-29', 'modified' => '2023-03-29', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17136', 'image' => '20230329032511_20220821100035_para.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-29 15:24:28', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = false $xml = falsesimplexml_load_file - [internal], line ?? include - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 133 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
| Currency | Unit |
Buy | Sell |
| U.S. Dollar | 1 | 121.23 | 121.83 |
| European Euro | 1 | 131.65 | 132.31 |
| UK Pound Sterling | 1 | 142.47 | 143.18 |
| Swiss Franc | 1 | 124.29 | 124.90 |
| Australian Dollar | 1 | 71.69 | 72.05 |
| Canadian Dollar | 1 | 83.90 | 84.32 |
| Japanese Yen | 10 | 10.94 | 11.00 |
| Chinese Yuan | 1 | 17.17 | 17.26 |
| Saudi Arabian Riyal | 1 | 32.27 | 32.43 |
| UAE Dirham | 1 | 33.01 | 33.17 |
| Malaysian Ringgit | 1 | 27.36 | 27.50 |
| South Korean Won | 100 | 9.77 | 9.82 |
Update: 2020-03-25 | Source: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB)
| Fine Gold | 1 tola | 77000.00 |
| Tejabi Gold | 1 tola | 76700.00 |
| Silver | 1 tola | 720.00 |
Update : 2020-03-25
Source: Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers' Association
| Petrol | 1 Liter | 106.00 |
| Diesel | 1 Liter | 95.00 |
| Kerosene | 1 Liter | 95.00 |
| LP Gas | 1 Cylinder | 1375.00 |
Update : 2020-03-25
