Commercial farming of dragon fruit has started for the first time in Parbat. Farmer Dilli Prasad Lamichhane of Parbat’s Kusma Municipality-9 has begun the commercial farming of the dragon…
Commercial farming of dragon fruit has started for the first time in Parbat. Farmer Dilli Prasad Lamichhane of Parbat’s Kusma Municipality-9 has begun the commercial farming of the dragon…
March 6: The Election Commission (EC) has notified that the silence period of publicity for the election of the president scheduled for March 9 will commence from midnight today…
March 6: Qatar's princess Asma Al-Thani has arrived in Myagdi in course of her expedition to the Annapurna…
March 6: Despite the increase in demand for electric vehicles (EVs) in Nepal, its use is in question due to the lack of charging stations.…
March 6: The Supreme Court has said the cases of serious human rights violation relating to the armed conflict cannot be extended for a long time on various…
March 6: Amid the slowdown of economic activities and its repercussions on the economic indicators, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Sunday held a meeting with stakeholders and bankers to help identify the challenges and solution to the issues faced by the economy at…
March 6: Fagu Purnima, popularly known as the festival of Holi, is being observed with much fanface in the capital and hill districts of Nepal…
Nepal Rastra Bank has constituted a high-level committee to study problems seen in microfinance companies in the…
March 5: IME Group, one of the largest business conglomerates in the country, which has invested in various sectors including banking, finance, insurance, hydropower, automobiles, and tourism, has started operating a technical school that provides all kinds of skill training under one…
Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Sunday said his government has taken the problems facing the banks and financial institutions seriously and pledged to address them at the…
National flag carrier Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) will start direct flight to South Korea from Tribhuvan International…
March 5: It has been found that 32 percent of the Demat accounts opened for share transactions are…
March 5: The government has increased the price of milk against the National Dairy Development Policy.…
March 5: Durga Prasai of Jhapa is currently in the limelight for campaigning against the banking and financial…
March 5: Tourists visiting Nepal for hiking and trekking will no longer be allowed to go to their destinations…
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Farmer Dilli Prasad Lamichhane of Parbat’s Kusma Municipality-9 has begun the commercial farming of the dragon fruit. ', 'content' => '<p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">March 6: Commercial farming of dragon fruit has started for the first time in Parbat. Farmer Dilli Prasad Lamichhane of Parbat’s Kusma Municipality-9 has begun the commercial farming of the dragon fruit. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Farmer Lamichhane has planted 1200 saplings of dragon fruit. Dragon fruit is strange to many people in the district. “We have 1300 ropani of the land. We are planning to bring 800 more saplings of the dragon fruit by adding 200 pillars. We shall cultivate grass and banana in the rets of the land,” said Lamichhane.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Lamichhane is an office assistant of Katuwachupari Health Post. Along with dragon fruit, he has also been involved in animal husbandry. He sells milk at the headquarters in the morning and keeps himself busy in tending dragon fruit in the day time. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">“Since income from job is not enough to improve financial condition, I have started dragon fruit cultivation,” he added.<br /> Dragon fruit can be cultivated at an altitude of 1500 meters that receives adequate sun. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Two years after their plantation, dragon plants start bearing fruit. Its fruit weighs from 150 grams to 1 kilogram. Of late, the dragon fruit is being planted in flower pot, rooftop and house yard. </span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-06', 'modified' => '2023-03-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16930', 'image' => '20230306051729_collage (15).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-06 17:14:02', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17191', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Presidential Election: Publicity to Suspend from March 6 Midnight', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'March 6: The Election Commission (EC) has notified that the silence period of publicity for the election of the president scheduled for March 9 will commence from midnight today (Monday). ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">March 6: The Election Commission (EC) has notified that the silence period of publicity for the election of the president scheduled for March 9 will commence from midnight today (Monday). </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The EC stated that the period of suspension of the election publicity in connection with the presidential election will be from midnight of March 6 until the voting booths are closed on March 9. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">It has issued an Election Code of Conduct, 2023 to be effective from March 1 to 19 in exercise of the powers given under Clause 22 of the Election Commission Act, 2073 BS. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Election Code of Conduct, 2023 has the provision which states that the silence period would be in force 48 hours before the voting day until the voting centres are closed on the voting day for conducting the election in a free, fair, credible, transparent and fear-free environment. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Election publicity activities including any type of discussions, interaction, assemblies, meetings, workshop, seminar etc. cannot be organized during the silence period in accordance with Clause 24 (5) of the Election (Offence and Punishment) Act, 2073 and Clause 17 of the Election Code of Conduct, 2023. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, any form of canvassing for or against any candidate through electronic medium such as SMS, Facebook, Viber and social sites have been prohibited. Similarly, activities like issuing statements, press release, publishing and broadcasting any materials and dissemination of materials projecting victory or defeat through communication media will be in contravention of the code of conduct. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The EC has urged all the sides concerned to maintain the fairness and dignity of the election by abiding to the election laws and code of conduct. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-06', 'modified' => '2023-03-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16929', 'image' => '20230306045936_1677758905.President 1.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-06 16:59:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17190', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Qatari Princess in Myagdi for Expedition of Mt Annapurna I', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'March 6: Qatar's princess Asma Al-Thani has arrived in Myagdi in course of her expedition to the Annapurna I.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">March 6: Qatar's princess Asma Al-Thani has arrived in Myagdi in course of her expedition to the Annapurna I. The 8,091 metres tall peak is the world's tenth highest mountain and it lies in the Annapurna Rural Municipality-1 in the district. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Her expedition is managed by the Elite Trekking Company. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Al-Thani's team landed at Dana of Annapurna-3 via a helicopter of Simrik Air and the expedition is led by Nirmal Purja (Nims) who holds a world record for successfully climbing 14 peaks above 8,000 meters in the world. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"Two members in our team will be arriving from Pokhara via the land route. The Qatari princess and I will be staying in Dana, which is my birthplace, for two days," Purja said and added that the expedition logistics have been already transported to the Annapurna base camp and the team aides are preparing for the expedition. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The squad hopes to complete the mission by this month (March). Al-Thani is an experienced climber and she has already successfully scaled Mt Everest, the highest peak in the world, Dhaulagiri, Kanchenjunga, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, Manaslu, and Mt K2 in Pakistan. Upon her arrival here, the team was accorded a warm welcome by the people's representatives in Dana and the Dana folks. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A civic felicitation was organised for them, according to Annapurna-3 ward chair Ramesh Purja. The local representative said they were happy to welcome the princess from Qatar and Nirmal Purja who has really a significant contribution to introduce Dana and Myagdi to the world and promote Nepal's identity internationally. "Nirmal is one of the world's courageous personalities." </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Dana-based tourism entrepreneur Indra Singh Sherchan said the visit by the Qatari princess would obviously help promote the local tourism and in the promotion of the Annapurna base camp. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">French national Maurice Herzog, was the first person to climb Annapurna I along with Louis Lachenal on June 3, 1950. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-06', 'modified' => '2023-03-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16928', 'image' => '20230306042608_1678094910.SG_Myagdi-IMG_8454.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-06 16:25:26', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17189', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Use of EVs in Question due to Lack of Charging Stations', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'March 6: Despite the increase in demand for electric vehicles (EVs) in Nepal, its use is in question due to the lack of charging stations. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">March 6: Despite the increase in demand for electric vehicles (EVs) in Nepal, its use is in question due to the lack of charging stations. Experts say that regular EV users are also using petroleum vehicles to travel outside the main cities.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Dhubra Thapa, president of NADA Automobiles Association of Nepal, says that users are now making electric vehicles their second choice due to the lack of charging stations. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“The number of EV users is high only in the main cities. Even now, most of the people consider the vehicle that runs on petroleum as their first choice. If charging stations can be increased, EVs can be made their first choice vehicle,” he said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the data of the Department of Transport Management, 8,552 electric vehicles were imported from mid-July to mid-February of the current fiscal year. With this, the number of electric vehicles in Nepal has reached 29,200.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Looking at the data, it seems that the attraction towards electric vehicles among Nepali consumers is increasing. Considering the abundant potential of electricity production, the situation where the hydroelectricity produced is wasted due to lack of market and the necessity of making the environment pollution-free, there is no alternative than to widely increase the use of EVs.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to Thapa, “Increasing the use of EVs will bring two benefits to Nepal. Firstly, by increasing the consumption of produced electricity, the money spent abroad on the import of petroleum products is saved. Secondly, the pollution caused by vehicles running on petroleum products is reduced.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Most of the countries in the world are encouraging the use of electric vehicles to reduce pollution. Automobile manufacturing companies are also introducing new brands and models of electric vehicles in the market. At a time when the interest in EVs is increasing worldwide, stakeholders say that the government should develop the necessary infrastructure and create an environment for this sector to flourish.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Businessmen complain that the government is working at a snail's pace even though they have already made necessary arrangements for charging stations and trained manpower.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Nirmal Khatri, senior product manager of Sipradi Trading, says that EV operation is challenging. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Khatri pointed out the need to increase the subsidy given to EVs by the government. Even though the government has given sufficient customs concessions to EVs compared to other vehicles, businessmen in this sector say that concessions should be further increased. They argue that the government will benefit from electric vehicles in the long run. Businessmen suggest that the government should maintain concessions and customs exemptions for at least 10 years for the rapid development of the EV sector.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-06', 'modified' => '2023-03-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16927', 'image' => '20230306025638_electric-car.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-06 14:55:49', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17188', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Conflict-Era Cases Can't be Prolonged Indefinitely: SC ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'March 6: The Supreme Court has said the cases of serious human rights violation relating to the armed conflict cannot be extended for a long time on various pretexts. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">March 6: The Supreme Court has said the cases of serious human rights violation relating to the armed conflict cannot be extended for a long time on various pretexts. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A division bench of Justices Ishwar Prasad Khatiwada and Hari Prasad Phuyal on Sunday issued an order, asking for the registration of a case against Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The victims of armed conflict deserve the right to justice, true information and reparation as per the Comprehensive Peace Accord, Constitution of Nepal, court verdicts and international law and principles. Therefore, the cases on these issues cannot be perpetuated forever on different pretexts.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"Taking into account the seriousness and sensitivity of the issue, the rejection of writ petition from getting registered for a court process is inappropriate," said the court order, adding that the order issued by SC Registrar on November 10, 2022 to not register the case is therefore scrapped. So, it can be registered as per the due procedure. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The SC further reminded that at a time when the transitional justice bodies are not functional, hearing from such bodies in the absence of effective law cannot be termed constitutional, just and logical and the victims should not be denied entry to court for justice. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In the order, the justices further reminded that the petitioners had argued that expected results from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and the Commission for Investigation of Enforced Disappeared Persons were still awaited and these commissions were now nearly dysfunctional. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">As the petition was filed at such time, the law on criminal offense cannot be left ineffective, the justices stressed. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-06', 'modified' => '2023-03-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16926', 'image' => '20230306015142_Supreme Court.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-06 13:50:59', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17187', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Private Sector Pins Hope on Government to Bring Economy on Track ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'March 6: Amid the slowdown of economic activities and its repercussions on the economic indicators, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Sunday held a meeting with stakeholders and bankers to help identify the challenges and solution to the issues faced by the economy at present. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">March 6: Amid the slowdown of economic activities and its repercussions on the economic indicators, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Sunday held a meeting with stakeholders and bankers to help identify the challenges and solution to the issues faced by the economy at present. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Government expenditure and revenue collection are lower than the target but the inflation rate is high and the private sector that suffered after the COVID-19 pandemic is yet to regain its strength. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In the recent times, liquidity crunch and higher interest rate and crisis in the microfinance and cooperatives have posed more pressure on the country's economic activities, leaving the poor people at the receiving end. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">After the discussions with the representatives of the Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB), private sector and BFIs, PM Dahal assured the private sector of forming a high-level commission pledging to troubleshoot the economic challenges. He said the government was serious towards the prospect of a bleak economic outlook. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"I am informed and conscious to the people's grievances towards banks and microfinances. I have been taking feedback from all sectors to resolve the challenges," the PM Dahal assured. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">On the occasion, PM Dahal said he was serious to the attempts made by some elements to create fiscal anarchy. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Talking to the RSS after holding talks with the PM, President of the Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FNCCI) Shekhar Golchha said that the debtors, who have suffered badly, should be supported through some policy-level interventions. The troubled debtors should be sympathized and the state should address their problems but disobeying to pay the loan deliberately is anarchy, the FNCCI president said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, Chairman of the Confederation of Nepalese Industries Vishnu Kumar Agrawal said that they urged the PM to address the economic woes of the country as liquidity crunch, high interest rate and production costs have increased in the country. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Agrawal said that the production cost could be reduced if the price of the petroleum products was slashed down. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Chairman of Nepal Chamber of Commerce Rajendra Malla said that the PM has given assurance to address the challenges. He, however, said that the private sector has not felt any changes despite the government's efforts. "The government is doing something. But, that’s inadequate. We are optimistic about the government’s efforts," he concluded. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-06', 'modified' => '2023-03-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16925', 'image' => '20230306124147_PRO_KTM-6F8A5302.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-06 12:40:17', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17186', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Festival of Colours being Celebrated with Much Fanfare', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'March 6: Fagu Purnima, popularly known as the festival of Holi, is being observed with much fanface in the capital and hill districts of Nepal today.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">March 6: Fagu Purnima, popularly known as the festival of Holi, is being observed with much fanface in the capital and hill districts of Nepal today.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">This festival is also known as the festival of colours as people smear colours to each other and throw water balloons to celebrate the arrival of the spring season.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The festival begins on the eighth day of the new moon in the month of Falgun as per the lunar calendar and ends on the full moon day today with the burning of the 'Chir', a tuft of colourful strips of cloth tied to the top end of a ritualistic pole, installed on the first day of the festival. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the Hindu mythology, demon king Hiranyakashyapu, who was unhappy with his son Prahlad for his wholehearted devotion to Lord Vishnu, ordered his sister Holika to kill Prahalad. Following her brother's instruction, Holika, who had a boon from the God of Creation – Lord Brahma – that fire would not harm her, sat on a pyre with Prahlad on her lap. But she was herself burnt to death while Prahalad remained unhurt due to the blessing of Lord Vishnu, the protector of the world. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">From then onwards, the festival is also known as Holi and is celebrated by smearing colour with enjoyment. It is believed that Lord Vishnu had warned Holika that the boon she had received would be meaningless if she misused it. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">This festival is celebrated in the Terai districts tomorrow.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-06', 'modified' => '2023-03-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16924', 'image' => '20230306115726_aaa.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-06 11:56:42', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17185', 'article_category_id' => '218', 'title' => 'NRB Forms High-Level Committee to Study Problems in Microfinance Companies ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Nepal Rastra Bank has constituted a high-level committee to study problems seen in microfinance companies in the country. ', 'content' => '<p><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size:18px">March 6: Nepal Rastra Bank has constituted a high-level committee to study problems seen in microfinance companies in the country. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Microfinance companies have been facing allegations of charging exorbitant interest and behaving badly with customers for the past a few months. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Microfinance companies, however, deny such allegations and claim that some loan shark groups used to issuing credit on meter interest have spread rumour. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">“NRB has constituted the high-level committee to carry out study on microfinance companies’ current situation and their contribution to economy,” said a source at NRB.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">The committee headed by Executive Director Prakash Kumar Shrestha of NRB Research Department has seven members. Committee members include Nepal Microfinance Banker’s Association’s chairman, two independent experts and four high-level officers from Nepal Rastra Bank.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">The committee will submit its report within six months. Microfinance companies have been in the forefront to enhance income of backward and low-income families across the country. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Since the government does not have set indicators to check microfinance companies’ contribution for poverty alleviation, it has been difficult to determine their role for poverty alleviation in Nepal.</span></p> <p><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-06', 'modified' => '2023-03-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16923', 'image' => '20230306063604_collage (14).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-06 06:33:54', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17184', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'IME Group Operates Technical School', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'March 5: IME Group, one of the largest business conglomerates in the country, which has invested in various sectors including banking, finance, insurance, hydropower, automobiles, and tourism, has started operating a technical school that provides all kinds of skill training under one roof.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">March 5: IME Group, one of the largest business conglomerates in the country, which has invested in various sectors including banking, finance, insurance, hydropower, automobiles, and tourism, has started operating a technical school that provides all kinds of skill training under one roof.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Upendra Sharma Ghimire, chief executive officer (CEO) of the school, promoted by IME Group, shared that the school provides training in hospitality and tourism, commercial management, entrepreneurship, professional development, engineering and health.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Under the hospitality and tourism category, trainings under different topics such as hospitality management, assistant, bartender, waiter, commercial cook/baker, and barista training are available. Ghimire said that under the business management section, training is provided on cooperative management, enterprise development facilitators, library assistants, salespersons and savings and loan mobilization.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Under the professional development section, training is provided on topics such as computer hardware and network technicians, electricians, LCD, LED television repair, plumbers, and telecom technicians.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, Ghimire informed that training for backhoe loader operation, excavator operation and mobile crane operation are available under engineering and caregiver training segment.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The school located in Sukedhara in Kathmandu has the infrastructure, including a skill lab. The school has already started training in hospitality and care-giving segments. Ghimire informed New Business Age that other trainings will also be started soon. Trainees who have received training at the school will receive a CTEVT certificate.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to CEO Ghimire, the school will also provide training as per the requirements of the industry. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">"We are ready if they (industry) come and say that our workers/employees need this kind of training. We have the appropriate trainers and resources."</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Ghimire claimed that the trainees of the school will be able to do internships in banks, financial institutions, hotels, and commercial establishments under the IME Group after completing the training. Ghimire also said that in the initial phase, efforts will be made to employ the trainees in various organizations, industries, institutions and schools under the IME Group.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Shiva Chaudhary, the program coordinator of the school, said that 'customized training' is also provided according to the individual's wishes. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">"We also provide services to those who pay a fixed fee and take training on the subject they want for just a day," Chaudhary said. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He informed that individuals have to pay a fee of Rs 2500 for it. He said that the training of the school will be very fruitful not only in the country but also for individuals going abroad.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to CEO Ghimire, this may be the first technical school in Nepal where all fields of training can be trained under one roof and is equipped with all the required infrastructure.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The fee for the training at the school is Rs 60,000 per person. Chaudhary said that one can participate in a short-term financial sector management and efficient leadership development class by paying Rs 2500 per day.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-05', 'modified' => '2023-03-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16922', 'image' => '20230305073353_Untitled.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-05 19:32:28', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17183', 'article_category_id' => '218', 'title' => 'Government Serious About Problems Seen In Banks And Microfinances, Says PM Dahal', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Sunday said his government has taken the problems facing the banks and financial institutions seriously and pledged to address them at the earliest.', 'content' => '<p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">March 5: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Sunday said his government has taken the problems facing the banks and financial institutions seriously and pledged to address them at the earliest.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">At the meeting held in the Office of Prime Minister and Council of Ministers to identify and resolve the problems facing banks and financial institutions on Sunday, Prime Minister Dahal said that his government had taken various financial issues, including hefty interest rate of the banks, problems seen in microfinance, businessmen’s concerns and some elements trying to create financial anarchy, very seriously and was reday to resolve them as early as possible. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“Businessmen are complaining about interest rates, media are reporting problems seen in microfinance and some people are trying to fish in the murky water by trying to spark financial chaos,” Dahal added.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Saying that country’s financial condition was in a difficult position, Dahal reminded that his government had decided to solve the financial problems through the joint efforts of the private and government sectors.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Nepal Rastra Bank’s Governor Maha Prasad Adhikari made a brief presentation on the current financial condition and claimed that the country’s economy was moving in the positive direction. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Government Chief Secretary, Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, NRB Governor, representatives of Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FNCCI), and representatives of various businesses and bankers’ associations were present at the meeting. </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-05', 'modified' => '2023-03-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16921', 'image' => '20230305055421_collage - 2023-03-05T170047.366.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-05 17:48:57', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17182', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NAC to Operate Direct Flight to South Korea ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'National flag carrier Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) will start direct flight to South Korea from Tribhuvan International Airport. ', 'content' => '<p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">March 5: National flag carrier Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) will start direct flight to South Korea from Tribhuvan International Airport. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Nepal Airlines Corporation has commenced the process to start direct flight to Incheon International Airport, Seoul in South Korea, according to Spokesperson Archana Khadka of the Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC).</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">A ten-member safety audit sub-committee has been formed led by Deputy General Manager Engineer Bikram KC for the direct flight to Seoul. The safety sub-committee has been tasked to study about on launching direct flight to South Korea. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“Civil Aviation Authority under the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport South Korea will audit for the direct flight. And the sub-committee has been formulated to facilitate the audit work,” said spokesperson Khadka.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">As part of its plan to expand international destinations, the NAC has started the preparation for direct flight to South Korea. With the NAC’s direct flight to Seoul, the fare from Nepal to South Korea will come down and the national flag carrier’s responsibility will be fulfilled, NAC believes. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Nepal Airlines Corporation has been making international flights to ten destinations of eight countries, including three places in India. NAC has two narrow body A-320 aircrafts and two wide body A-330 aircrafts. </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-05', 'modified' => '2023-03-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16920', 'image' => '20230305050506_collage - 2023-03-05T162919.876.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-05 16:59:23', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17181', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '1.7 million Demat Accounts are Inactive', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'March 5: It has been found that 32 percent of the Demat accounts opened for share transactions are inactive.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">March 5: It has been found that 32 percent of the Demat accounts opened for share transactions are inactive. According to CDS and Clearing Limited (CDSC), more than 1,763,000 of the total 5,577,000 Demat accounts opened so far are inactive. CDSC spokesperson Suresh Neupane said that there are no shares of any company in those accounts and such accounts have not been renewed for a long time. According to him, one person can open up to two Demat accounts.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to Neupane, if any investor has opened two Demat accounts, both accounts should be in operation. Neupane informed that 32 percent of Demat accounts which are currently inactive have not been in operation since 2073 BS. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Neupane says that according to the provision of renewal by paying Rs 100 per year, the renewal cost for the re-activation of the accounts that are currently inactive will be quite high. He suggests that only closing those accounts will be cost-effective. According to him, investors are not interested in the operation of those accounts which have not been renewed for a long time even though there is a system that renewal can be done from home. He stated, “There is no point in increasing the number of inactive accounts just to maintain the numbers.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">As per the regulatory body, Securities Board of Nepal (SEBON), CDSC may close inactive Demat accounts as deemed necessary. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Muktinath Shrestha, the spokesperson of the board, speculated that 32 percent of the Demat accounts mandated for securities transactions may have been opened in the name of several members of the same family. Shrestha speculates that even though the accounts were opened in the of name of several members of the same family, only some members may have participated in the transaction. He said that keeping the inactive account without closing it will not have much effect. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Demat account was made mandatory when applying for the purchase of securities of public shares within the valley from July 16, 2016 and from January 14, 2017 throughout the country. The number of Demat accounts started to increase as it became mandatory. According to CDSC, only 100,000 Demat accounts were opened till January 15, 2017. More than 5,400,000 such accounts have been added in the last six years. CDSC informed that the Demat account was opened for the first time in Nepal on July 16, 2012.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-05', 'modified' => '2023-03-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16919', 'image' => '20230305041419_20190416021131_aaaa.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-05 16:13:34', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17180', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Price of Milk Increased against Government Policy', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'March 5: The government has increased the price of milk against the National Dairy Development Policy. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">March 5: The government has increased the price of milk against the National Dairy Development Policy. A cabinet meeting held on Friday decided to increase the price of milk by Rs 9 per liter. According to the National Dairy Development Policy 2078, the price of milk can be revised every two years based on the study report of the Diary Development Board. However, due to the collusion of the businessmen and the government, the price has been increased in just one year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the decision of the Council of Ministers, the price of milk per liter has been fixed at Rs 65 for the farmers. Earlier, farmers were selling milk at Rs 56 per liter. The government increased the price due to the complaints of milk producing farmers and dairy businessmen that they are not getting the price of milk according to the cost of production. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Executive Director of the national Dairy Development Board (DDB) Rajendra Prasad Yadav said that currently only the minimum price of milk that the farmers get has been increased. The profit of dairy dealers is yet to be increased. According to him, the profit earned by the dairy will be determined in coordination between the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, the DDB and other relevant agencies. Now, consumers are buying milk at Rs 83 per liter.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">On February 14, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development was recommended to increase the price of milk by Rs 10 per litre. Some businessmen demanded to increase the price of milk by up to Rs 14 per litre. Earlier in December, under the leadership of the Dairy Industry Association, the price of milk was unilaterally increased by Rs 14 per litre. The price hike was withdrawn after widespread protests.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The dairy businessmen had put pressure on the government to increase the price of milk saying that the price of grain, bran, straw and transportation costs have increased. They said that they were forced to increase the price of milk against the policy. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Raj Kumar Dahal, president of the Dairy Industry Association, said that since the prices of grain, bran and medicine have more than doubled, the cost of production of farmers is difficult to meet. Earlier, the government had adjusted the price of milk about 1 year ago during the tenure of the then Agriculture and Livestock Development Minister Mahindra Raya Yadav.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-05', 'modified' => '2023-03-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16918', 'image' => '20230305033412_milkkkkkkk.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-05 15:33:26', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17179', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Who is Durga Prasai, an Outspoken Critic and Campaigner against the Banking Sector?', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'March 5: Durga Prasai of Jhapa is currently in the limelight for campaigning against the banking and financial institutions.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">March 5: Durga Prasai of Jhapa is currently in the limelight for campaigning against the banking and financial institutions. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">"If the representatives of microfinance and financial institutions come to the villages, catch them and smear black soot on them. If you enter a bank for vengeance because a bank employee has tortured you, you will face a robbery case, but you can wait for them outside the bank and smear black soot,” said Prasai. His extreme view is spreading on social media like a wildfire.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">He is also inciting people to not pay their bank loans.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">At the meantime, Prasai’s act of calling and harassing the banks’ top level employees is also going viral on social media networks. People related with the financial sector have demanded that the state should create a working environment as they feel uncomfortable with Prasai's expressions and activities.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">After Prasai's statement, the Ministry of Home Affairs has sent letters to the chiefs of all district administration offices and instructed them to keep the security agencies on high alert. Home Ministry officials say that no person should be allowed to spread rumors or raise slogans in such a way so as to disturb the peace, harmony (ethnic and communal) and cause riots. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">After all, who is Prasai who keeps coming into the limelight such tantrums and controversial statements? It has become a subject of curiosity everywhere. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Prasai, a permanent resident of Birtamod, Jhapa, is best known as the director of B&C Medical College. Those who know him closely say that Prasai has invested in areas beyond medical colleges.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Prasai's family, which settled in the plains of Jhapa from Tehrathum in the hills of eastern Nepal, was of a humble economic background. He earned his living by farming. Prasai has not studied past the eighth grade. He got married at a young age. He worked in Prasai Grill Factory for some time and went to Europe for employment. Unable to stay for a long time in Europe, he returned to his country. With the experience of working in buffalo farms abroad, Prasai started raising buffaloes professionally in Birtamod.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Locals say that Prasai started the farm by buying advanced breed of buffaloes from Haryana, India. At that time, Prasai had about a hundred buffaloes. Prasai sold milk as well as buffaloes. The milk produced in his farm used to reach as far as India across the Mechi River. His buffalo farm, which he started with bank loan, went well for some time, but financial crisis started appearing later. Prasai struggled to pay the bank loan and interest in regular interval. When he went to the bank to ask for more loans, the bank did not believe him. Finally Prasai's buffalo business crumbled.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">It is said that Prasai, who was initially affiliated to the Nepali Congress, joined the then rebels CPN Maoists, which was an underground outfit at that time, after the collapse of his business. Those who know him say that Prasai used Maoist cadres against his father-in-law to help his brother-in-law who was fighting a case for family property. Due to the Maoist threat, Prasai’s father-in-law was ready to give a share in the case that had not been settled in the court for a long time and Prasai's brother-in-law got his share of land.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Locals say that Prasai's fortunes brightened after getting the land. Experts say that he made a lot of money after plotting the land together with his brother-in-law and selling it for up to Ra 500,000 per dhur. After making a good fortune, Prasai started dealing in land in Kathmandu. He built a luxurious house in Bhaktapur. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">It was the same house where he raised quite a few eyebrows by serving red rice to the then chairmen of Communist Party of Nepal KP Sharma Olin d Pushpa Kamal Dahal.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">It is said that he is involved in many businesses besides the B&C Medical College. Prasai, who joined the CPN (UML) after the dissolution of the CPN, was given the responsibility of central member by the UML leadership. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">After that, he started criticizing the Maoist Chairman Dahal, and said that he would encourage 500,00 people join the UML before the elections. Although he tried to run a medical college, he has not been able to get a medical college license due to the agitation of Dr Govind KC, a medical crusader who has been demanding reforms in the medical sector.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Prasai was also in the limelight when he brought the prince of the United Arab Emirates on a visit to Nepal and received a golden stick as a gift from him. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">On February 1, Prasai announced that he had started a campaign from Mechipul for the restoration of the monarchy, with members of the former royal family as witnesses. Prasai, who criticized the banks and financial institutions in that program, repeated the same issue and context in a program held in Kathmandu on Saturday.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Prasai is viewed with suspicion due to the wealth he has acquired in a short period of time as well as his relationship with the UAE prince. Although he has been abusing banks and financial institutions, he has taken loans from the same financial institutions for his business. Although some people think that it is difficult for him to pay the bank loan, he claims that he is paying the loan interest as per the schedule.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-05', 'modified' => '2023-03-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16917', 'image' => '20230305021805_1677978782.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-05 14:17:22', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17178', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Foreign Tourists Barred from Solo Trekking in Nepal', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'March 5: Tourists visiting Nepal for hiking and trekking will no longer be allowed to go to their destinations alone.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">March 5: Tourists visiting Nepal for hiking and trekking will no longer be allowed to go to their destinations alone. The decision of Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) to suspend the provision of Free Individual Trekker (FIT) now mandates tourists to have a guide while trekking.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The board is closing FIT from April 1. The board has amended the Nepal Tourism Act-2053 and Trekking Information Management System Operation Guidelines-2066 to make it compulsory to have a guide. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">With this decision taken on Friday, foreigners going for a trek now have to take a guide along with them through a trekking company. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Chief Executive of NTB Dhananjay Regmi said that this decision was taken to guarantee the safety of the tourists during their trip.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to Regmi, both tourists and guides going on a trek will be insured. At present, the tourists who go on foot-trails travel alone with the 'Tourist Information Management System (TIMS)' card. However, after seeing the problem of tourists getting lost, the board decided to prohibit tourists from going on a trek alone. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">"This matter has been discussed and we reached a conclusion that Nepal should be made a safe tourist destination in every aspect," he said.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Former President of Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal (TAAN) Khem Bahadur Subedi said that the board had taken a good decision and emphasized on its implementation. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">He said that as this decision will increase employment and also give equal importance to the safety of tourists.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">“The board must pay attention to the implementation of its decision,” he said. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to Subedi, the number of trekking companies in Nepal is currently more than 2,000.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">After the board implements this decision, the employment and income of trekking guides in Nepal will also increase. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to the data of the board, before the onset of Covid-19 pandemic, 46 tourists used to arrive in Nepal annually as 'Free Individual Trekkers (FIT)'. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">NTB Director Maniraj Lamichhane said that after the board decided to discontinue the TIMS card issued for FIT, it will now distribute the same type of TIMS card to all tourists. Previously, those going on a group tour would pay Rs 1,000 per person and those going on a solo tour would get a card by paying Rs 2,000 per person.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to the board, now the fee of TIMS card for all tourists will be Rs 2,000 per person. In case of citizens of SAARC countries, it will cost Rs 1000 instead of the previous fee of Rs 200. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Suman Prasad Parajuli, president of Unitravels, the safety concerns of Nepal's mountain tourism has been addressed by the NTB’s deision. According to the Nepal Tourism Statistics - 2021 prepared by the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, the number of tourists visiting Nepal to spend holidays is the highest followed by tourists who come here for adventure tourism (trekking and mountain climbing). </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to the data, the total number of tourists who arrived in Nepal for trekking in the year 2019 before the Covid-19 was 197,786. In the year 2021, this number was 15,549.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-05', 'modified' => '2023-03-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16916', 'image' => '20230305123213_mardi-himal-peak.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-05 12:31:30', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = falseinclude - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 60 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
Warning (2): simplexml_load_file() [<a href='http://php.net/function.simplexml-load-file'>function.simplexml-load-file</a>]: I/O warning : failed to load external entity "" [APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 60]file not found!Code Context// $file = 'http://aabhiyan:QUVLg8Wzs2F7G9N7@nepalstock.com.np/api/indexdata.xml';if(!$xml = simplexml_load_file($file)){$viewFile = '/var/www/html/newbusinessage.com/app/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'articles' => array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ) ), 'current_user' => null, 'logged_in' => false ) $articles = array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17192', 'article_category_id' => '277', 'title' => 'Commercial Farming Of Dragon Fruit Starts In Parbat ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Commercial farming of dragon fruit has started for the first time in Parbat. Farmer Dilli Prasad Lamichhane of Parbat’s Kusma Municipality-9 has begun the commercial farming of the dragon fruit. ', 'content' => '<p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">March 6: Commercial farming of dragon fruit has started for the first time in Parbat. Farmer Dilli Prasad Lamichhane of Parbat’s Kusma Municipality-9 has begun the commercial farming of the dragon fruit. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Farmer Lamichhane has planted 1200 saplings of dragon fruit. Dragon fruit is strange to many people in the district. “We have 1300 ropani of the land. We are planning to bring 800 more saplings of the dragon fruit by adding 200 pillars. We shall cultivate grass and banana in the rets of the land,” said Lamichhane.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Lamichhane is an office assistant of Katuwachupari Health Post. Along with dragon fruit, he has also been involved in animal husbandry. He sells milk at the headquarters in the morning and keeps himself busy in tending dragon fruit in the day time. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">“Since income from job is not enough to improve financial condition, I have started dragon fruit cultivation,” he added.<br /> Dragon fruit can be cultivated at an altitude of 1500 meters that receives adequate sun. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Two years after their plantation, dragon plants start bearing fruit. Its fruit weighs from 150 grams to 1 kilogram. Of late, the dragon fruit is being planted in flower pot, rooftop and house yard. </span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-06', 'modified' => '2023-03-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16930', 'image' => '20230306051729_collage (15).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-06 17:14:02', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17191', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Presidential Election: Publicity to Suspend from March 6 Midnight', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'March 6: The Election Commission (EC) has notified that the silence period of publicity for the election of the president scheduled for March 9 will commence from midnight today (Monday). ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">March 6: The Election Commission (EC) has notified that the silence period of publicity for the election of the president scheduled for March 9 will commence from midnight today (Monday). </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The EC stated that the period of suspension of the election publicity in connection with the presidential election will be from midnight of March 6 until the voting booths are closed on March 9. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">It has issued an Election Code of Conduct, 2023 to be effective from March 1 to 19 in exercise of the powers given under Clause 22 of the Election Commission Act, 2073 BS. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Election Code of Conduct, 2023 has the provision which states that the silence period would be in force 48 hours before the voting day until the voting centres are closed on the voting day for conducting the election in a free, fair, credible, transparent and fear-free environment. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Election publicity activities including any type of discussions, interaction, assemblies, meetings, workshop, seminar etc. cannot be organized during the silence period in accordance with Clause 24 (5) of the Election (Offence and Punishment) Act, 2073 and Clause 17 of the Election Code of Conduct, 2023. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, any form of canvassing for or against any candidate through electronic medium such as SMS, Facebook, Viber and social sites have been prohibited. Similarly, activities like issuing statements, press release, publishing and broadcasting any materials and dissemination of materials projecting victory or defeat through communication media will be in contravention of the code of conduct. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The EC has urged all the sides concerned to maintain the fairness and dignity of the election by abiding to the election laws and code of conduct. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-06', 'modified' => '2023-03-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16929', 'image' => '20230306045936_1677758905.President 1.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-06 16:59:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17190', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Qatari Princess in Myagdi for Expedition of Mt Annapurna I', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'March 6: Qatar's princess Asma Al-Thani has arrived in Myagdi in course of her expedition to the Annapurna I.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">March 6: Qatar's princess Asma Al-Thani has arrived in Myagdi in course of her expedition to the Annapurna I. The 8,091 metres tall peak is the world's tenth highest mountain and it lies in the Annapurna Rural Municipality-1 in the district. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Her expedition is managed by the Elite Trekking Company. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Al-Thani's team landed at Dana of Annapurna-3 via a helicopter of Simrik Air and the expedition is led by Nirmal Purja (Nims) who holds a world record for successfully climbing 14 peaks above 8,000 meters in the world. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"Two members in our team will be arriving from Pokhara via the land route. The Qatari princess and I will be staying in Dana, which is my birthplace, for two days," Purja said and added that the expedition logistics have been already transported to the Annapurna base camp and the team aides are preparing for the expedition. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The squad hopes to complete the mission by this month (March). Al-Thani is an experienced climber and she has already successfully scaled Mt Everest, the highest peak in the world, Dhaulagiri, Kanchenjunga, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, Manaslu, and Mt K2 in Pakistan. Upon her arrival here, the team was accorded a warm welcome by the people's representatives in Dana and the Dana folks. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A civic felicitation was organised for them, according to Annapurna-3 ward chair Ramesh Purja. The local representative said they were happy to welcome the princess from Qatar and Nirmal Purja who has really a significant contribution to introduce Dana and Myagdi to the world and promote Nepal's identity internationally. "Nirmal is one of the world's courageous personalities." </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Dana-based tourism entrepreneur Indra Singh Sherchan said the visit by the Qatari princess would obviously help promote the local tourism and in the promotion of the Annapurna base camp. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">French national Maurice Herzog, was the first person to climb Annapurna I along with Louis Lachenal on June 3, 1950. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-06', 'modified' => '2023-03-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16928', 'image' => '20230306042608_1678094910.SG_Myagdi-IMG_8454.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-06 16:25:26', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17189', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Use of EVs in Question due to Lack of Charging Stations', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'March 6: Despite the increase in demand for electric vehicles (EVs) in Nepal, its use is in question due to the lack of charging stations. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">March 6: Despite the increase in demand for electric vehicles (EVs) in Nepal, its use is in question due to the lack of charging stations. Experts say that regular EV users are also using petroleum vehicles to travel outside the main cities.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Dhubra Thapa, president of NADA Automobiles Association of Nepal, says that users are now making electric vehicles their second choice due to the lack of charging stations. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“The number of EV users is high only in the main cities. Even now, most of the people consider the vehicle that runs on petroleum as their first choice. If charging stations can be increased, EVs can be made their first choice vehicle,” he said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the data of the Department of Transport Management, 8,552 electric vehicles were imported from mid-July to mid-February of the current fiscal year. With this, the number of electric vehicles in Nepal has reached 29,200.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Looking at the data, it seems that the attraction towards electric vehicles among Nepali consumers is increasing. Considering the abundant potential of electricity production, the situation where the hydroelectricity produced is wasted due to lack of market and the necessity of making the environment pollution-free, there is no alternative than to widely increase the use of EVs.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to Thapa, “Increasing the use of EVs will bring two benefits to Nepal. Firstly, by increasing the consumption of produced electricity, the money spent abroad on the import of petroleum products is saved. Secondly, the pollution caused by vehicles running on petroleum products is reduced.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Most of the countries in the world are encouraging the use of electric vehicles to reduce pollution. Automobile manufacturing companies are also introducing new brands and models of electric vehicles in the market. At a time when the interest in EVs is increasing worldwide, stakeholders say that the government should develop the necessary infrastructure and create an environment for this sector to flourish.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Businessmen complain that the government is working at a snail's pace even though they have already made necessary arrangements for charging stations and trained manpower.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Nirmal Khatri, senior product manager of Sipradi Trading, says that EV operation is challenging. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Khatri pointed out the need to increase the subsidy given to EVs by the government. Even though the government has given sufficient customs concessions to EVs compared to other vehicles, businessmen in this sector say that concessions should be further increased. They argue that the government will benefit from electric vehicles in the long run. Businessmen suggest that the government should maintain concessions and customs exemptions for at least 10 years for the rapid development of the EV sector.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-06', 'modified' => '2023-03-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16927', 'image' => '20230306025638_electric-car.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-06 14:55:49', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17188', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Conflict-Era Cases Can't be Prolonged Indefinitely: SC ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'March 6: The Supreme Court has said the cases of serious human rights violation relating to the armed conflict cannot be extended for a long time on various pretexts. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">March 6: The Supreme Court has said the cases of serious human rights violation relating to the armed conflict cannot be extended for a long time on various pretexts. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A division bench of Justices Ishwar Prasad Khatiwada and Hari Prasad Phuyal on Sunday issued an order, asking for the registration of a case against Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The victims of armed conflict deserve the right to justice, true information and reparation as per the Comprehensive Peace Accord, Constitution of Nepal, court verdicts and international law and principles. Therefore, the cases on these issues cannot be perpetuated forever on different pretexts.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"Taking into account the seriousness and sensitivity of the issue, the rejection of writ petition from getting registered for a court process is inappropriate," said the court order, adding that the order issued by SC Registrar on November 10, 2022 to not register the case is therefore scrapped. So, it can be registered as per the due procedure. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The SC further reminded that at a time when the transitional justice bodies are not functional, hearing from such bodies in the absence of effective law cannot be termed constitutional, just and logical and the victims should not be denied entry to court for justice. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In the order, the justices further reminded that the petitioners had argued that expected results from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and the Commission for Investigation of Enforced Disappeared Persons were still awaited and these commissions were now nearly dysfunctional. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">As the petition was filed at such time, the law on criminal offense cannot be left ineffective, the justices stressed. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-06', 'modified' => '2023-03-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16926', 'image' => '20230306015142_Supreme Court.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-06 13:50:59', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17187', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Private Sector Pins Hope on Government to Bring Economy on Track ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'March 6: Amid the slowdown of economic activities and its repercussions on the economic indicators, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Sunday held a meeting with stakeholders and bankers to help identify the challenges and solution to the issues faced by the economy at present. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">March 6: Amid the slowdown of economic activities and its repercussions on the economic indicators, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Sunday held a meeting with stakeholders and bankers to help identify the challenges and solution to the issues faced by the economy at present. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Government expenditure and revenue collection are lower than the target but the inflation rate is high and the private sector that suffered after the COVID-19 pandemic is yet to regain its strength. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In the recent times, liquidity crunch and higher interest rate and crisis in the microfinance and cooperatives have posed more pressure on the country's economic activities, leaving the poor people at the receiving end. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">After the discussions with the representatives of the Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB), private sector and BFIs, PM Dahal assured the private sector of forming a high-level commission pledging to troubleshoot the economic challenges. He said the government was serious towards the prospect of a bleak economic outlook. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"I am informed and conscious to the people's grievances towards banks and microfinances. I have been taking feedback from all sectors to resolve the challenges," the PM Dahal assured. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">On the occasion, PM Dahal said he was serious to the attempts made by some elements to create fiscal anarchy. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Talking to the RSS after holding talks with the PM, President of the Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FNCCI) Shekhar Golchha said that the debtors, who have suffered badly, should be supported through some policy-level interventions. The troubled debtors should be sympathized and the state should address their problems but disobeying to pay the loan deliberately is anarchy, the FNCCI president said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, Chairman of the Confederation of Nepalese Industries Vishnu Kumar Agrawal said that they urged the PM to address the economic woes of the country as liquidity crunch, high interest rate and production costs have increased in the country. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Agrawal said that the production cost could be reduced if the price of the petroleum products was slashed down. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Chairman of Nepal Chamber of Commerce Rajendra Malla said that the PM has given assurance to address the challenges. He, however, said that the private sector has not felt any changes despite the government's efforts. "The government is doing something. But, that’s inadequate. We are optimistic about the government’s efforts," he concluded. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-06', 'modified' => '2023-03-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16925', 'image' => '20230306124147_PRO_KTM-6F8A5302.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-06 12:40:17', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17186', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Festival of Colours being Celebrated with Much Fanfare', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'March 6: Fagu Purnima, popularly known as the festival of Holi, is being observed with much fanface in the capital and hill districts of Nepal today.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">March 6: Fagu Purnima, popularly known as the festival of Holi, is being observed with much fanface in the capital and hill districts of Nepal today.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">This festival is also known as the festival of colours as people smear colours to each other and throw water balloons to celebrate the arrival of the spring season.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The festival begins on the eighth day of the new moon in the month of Falgun as per the lunar calendar and ends on the full moon day today with the burning of the 'Chir', a tuft of colourful strips of cloth tied to the top end of a ritualistic pole, installed on the first day of the festival. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the Hindu mythology, demon king Hiranyakashyapu, who was unhappy with his son Prahlad for his wholehearted devotion to Lord Vishnu, ordered his sister Holika to kill Prahalad. Following her brother's instruction, Holika, who had a boon from the God of Creation – Lord Brahma – that fire would not harm her, sat on a pyre with Prahlad on her lap. But she was herself burnt to death while Prahalad remained unhurt due to the blessing of Lord Vishnu, the protector of the world. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">From then onwards, the festival is also known as Holi and is celebrated by smearing colour with enjoyment. It is believed that Lord Vishnu had warned Holika that the boon she had received would be meaningless if she misused it. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">This festival is celebrated in the Terai districts tomorrow.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-06', 'modified' => '2023-03-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16924', 'image' => '20230306115726_aaa.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-06 11:56:42', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17185', 'article_category_id' => '218', 'title' => 'NRB Forms High-Level Committee to Study Problems in Microfinance Companies ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Nepal Rastra Bank has constituted a high-level committee to study problems seen in microfinance companies in the country. ', 'content' => '<p><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size:18px">March 6: Nepal Rastra Bank has constituted a high-level committee to study problems seen in microfinance companies in the country. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Microfinance companies have been facing allegations of charging exorbitant interest and behaving badly with customers for the past a few months. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Microfinance companies, however, deny such allegations and claim that some loan shark groups used to issuing credit on meter interest have spread rumour. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">“NRB has constituted the high-level committee to carry out study on microfinance companies’ current situation and their contribution to economy,” said a source at NRB.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">The committee headed by Executive Director Prakash Kumar Shrestha of NRB Research Department has seven members. Committee members include Nepal Microfinance Banker’s Association’s chairman, two independent experts and four high-level officers from Nepal Rastra Bank.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">The committee will submit its report within six months. Microfinance companies have been in the forefront to enhance income of backward and low-income families across the country. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Since the government does not have set indicators to check microfinance companies’ contribution for poverty alleviation, it has been difficult to determine their role for poverty alleviation in Nepal.</span></p> <p><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-06', 'modified' => '2023-03-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16923', 'image' => '20230306063604_collage (14).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-06 06:33:54', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17184', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'IME Group Operates Technical School', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'March 5: IME Group, one of the largest business conglomerates in the country, which has invested in various sectors including banking, finance, insurance, hydropower, automobiles, and tourism, has started operating a technical school that provides all kinds of skill training under one roof.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">March 5: IME Group, one of the largest business conglomerates in the country, which has invested in various sectors including banking, finance, insurance, hydropower, automobiles, and tourism, has started operating a technical school that provides all kinds of skill training under one roof.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Upendra Sharma Ghimire, chief executive officer (CEO) of the school, promoted by IME Group, shared that the school provides training in hospitality and tourism, commercial management, entrepreneurship, professional development, engineering and health.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Under the hospitality and tourism category, trainings under different topics such as hospitality management, assistant, bartender, waiter, commercial cook/baker, and barista training are available. Ghimire said that under the business management section, training is provided on cooperative management, enterprise development facilitators, library assistants, salespersons and savings and loan mobilization.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Under the professional development section, training is provided on topics such as computer hardware and network technicians, electricians, LCD, LED television repair, plumbers, and telecom technicians.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, Ghimire informed that training for backhoe loader operation, excavator operation and mobile crane operation are available under engineering and caregiver training segment.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The school located in Sukedhara in Kathmandu has the infrastructure, including a skill lab. The school has already started training in hospitality and care-giving segments. Ghimire informed New Business Age that other trainings will also be started soon. Trainees who have received training at the school will receive a CTEVT certificate.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to CEO Ghimire, the school will also provide training as per the requirements of the industry. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">"We are ready if they (industry) come and say that our workers/employees need this kind of training. We have the appropriate trainers and resources."</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Ghimire claimed that the trainees of the school will be able to do internships in banks, financial institutions, hotels, and commercial establishments under the IME Group after completing the training. Ghimire also said that in the initial phase, efforts will be made to employ the trainees in various organizations, industries, institutions and schools under the IME Group.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Shiva Chaudhary, the program coordinator of the school, said that 'customized training' is also provided according to the individual's wishes. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">"We also provide services to those who pay a fixed fee and take training on the subject they want for just a day," Chaudhary said. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He informed that individuals have to pay a fee of Rs 2500 for it. He said that the training of the school will be very fruitful not only in the country but also for individuals going abroad.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to CEO Ghimire, this may be the first technical school in Nepal where all fields of training can be trained under one roof and is equipped with all the required infrastructure.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The fee for the training at the school is Rs 60,000 per person. Chaudhary said that one can participate in a short-term financial sector management and efficient leadership development class by paying Rs 2500 per day.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-05', 'modified' => '2023-03-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16922', 'image' => '20230305073353_Untitled.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-05 19:32:28', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17183', 'article_category_id' => '218', 'title' => 'Government Serious About Problems Seen In Banks And Microfinances, Says PM Dahal', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Sunday said his government has taken the problems facing the banks and financial institutions seriously and pledged to address them at the earliest.', 'content' => '<p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">March 5: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Sunday said his government has taken the problems facing the banks and financial institutions seriously and pledged to address them at the earliest.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">At the meeting held in the Office of Prime Minister and Council of Ministers to identify and resolve the problems facing banks and financial institutions on Sunday, Prime Minister Dahal said that his government had taken various financial issues, including hefty interest rate of the banks, problems seen in microfinance, businessmen’s concerns and some elements trying to create financial anarchy, very seriously and was reday to resolve them as early as possible. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“Businessmen are complaining about interest rates, media are reporting problems seen in microfinance and some people are trying to fish in the murky water by trying to spark financial chaos,” Dahal added.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Saying that country’s financial condition was in a difficult position, Dahal reminded that his government had decided to solve the financial problems through the joint efforts of the private and government sectors.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Nepal Rastra Bank’s Governor Maha Prasad Adhikari made a brief presentation on the current financial condition and claimed that the country’s economy was moving in the positive direction. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Government Chief Secretary, Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, NRB Governor, representatives of Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FNCCI), and representatives of various businesses and bankers’ associations were present at the meeting. </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-05', 'modified' => '2023-03-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16921', 'image' => '20230305055421_collage - 2023-03-05T170047.366.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-05 17:48:57', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17182', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NAC to Operate Direct Flight to South Korea ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'National flag carrier Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) will start direct flight to South Korea from Tribhuvan International Airport. ', 'content' => '<p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">March 5: National flag carrier Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) will start direct flight to South Korea from Tribhuvan International Airport. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Nepal Airlines Corporation has commenced the process to start direct flight to Incheon International Airport, Seoul in South Korea, according to Spokesperson Archana Khadka of the Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC).</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">A ten-member safety audit sub-committee has been formed led by Deputy General Manager Engineer Bikram KC for the direct flight to Seoul. The safety sub-committee has been tasked to study about on launching direct flight to South Korea. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“Civil Aviation Authority under the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport South Korea will audit for the direct flight. And the sub-committee has been formulated to facilitate the audit work,” said spokesperson Khadka.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">As part of its plan to expand international destinations, the NAC has started the preparation for direct flight to South Korea. With the NAC’s direct flight to Seoul, the fare from Nepal to South Korea will come down and the national flag carrier’s responsibility will be fulfilled, NAC believes. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Nepal Airlines Corporation has been making international flights to ten destinations of eight countries, including three places in India. NAC has two narrow body A-320 aircrafts and two wide body A-330 aircrafts. </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-05', 'modified' => '2023-03-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16920', 'image' => '20230305050506_collage - 2023-03-05T162919.876.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-05 16:59:23', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17181', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '1.7 million Demat Accounts are Inactive', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'March 5: It has been found that 32 percent of the Demat accounts opened for share transactions are inactive.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">March 5: It has been found that 32 percent of the Demat accounts opened for share transactions are inactive. According to CDS and Clearing Limited (CDSC), more than 1,763,000 of the total 5,577,000 Demat accounts opened so far are inactive. CDSC spokesperson Suresh Neupane said that there are no shares of any company in those accounts and such accounts have not been renewed for a long time. According to him, one person can open up to two Demat accounts.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to Neupane, if any investor has opened two Demat accounts, both accounts should be in operation. Neupane informed that 32 percent of Demat accounts which are currently inactive have not been in operation since 2073 BS. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Neupane says that according to the provision of renewal by paying Rs 100 per year, the renewal cost for the re-activation of the accounts that are currently inactive will be quite high. He suggests that only closing those accounts will be cost-effective. According to him, investors are not interested in the operation of those accounts which have not been renewed for a long time even though there is a system that renewal can be done from home. He stated, “There is no point in increasing the number of inactive accounts just to maintain the numbers.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">As per the regulatory body, Securities Board of Nepal (SEBON), CDSC may close inactive Demat accounts as deemed necessary. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Muktinath Shrestha, the spokesperson of the board, speculated that 32 percent of the Demat accounts mandated for securities transactions may have been opened in the name of several members of the same family. Shrestha speculates that even though the accounts were opened in the of name of several members of the same family, only some members may have participated in the transaction. He said that keeping the inactive account without closing it will not have much effect. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Demat account was made mandatory when applying for the purchase of securities of public shares within the valley from July 16, 2016 and from January 14, 2017 throughout the country. The number of Demat accounts started to increase as it became mandatory. According to CDSC, only 100,000 Demat accounts were opened till January 15, 2017. More than 5,400,000 such accounts have been added in the last six years. CDSC informed that the Demat account was opened for the first time in Nepal on July 16, 2012.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-05', 'modified' => '2023-03-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16919', 'image' => '20230305041419_20190416021131_aaaa.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-05 16:13:34', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17180', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Price of Milk Increased against Government Policy', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'March 5: The government has increased the price of milk against the National Dairy Development Policy. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">March 5: The government has increased the price of milk against the National Dairy Development Policy. A cabinet meeting held on Friday decided to increase the price of milk by Rs 9 per liter. According to the National Dairy Development Policy 2078, the price of milk can be revised every two years based on the study report of the Diary Development Board. However, due to the collusion of the businessmen and the government, the price has been increased in just one year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the decision of the Council of Ministers, the price of milk per liter has been fixed at Rs 65 for the farmers. Earlier, farmers were selling milk at Rs 56 per liter. The government increased the price due to the complaints of milk producing farmers and dairy businessmen that they are not getting the price of milk according to the cost of production. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Executive Director of the national Dairy Development Board (DDB) Rajendra Prasad Yadav said that currently only the minimum price of milk that the farmers get has been increased. The profit of dairy dealers is yet to be increased. According to him, the profit earned by the dairy will be determined in coordination between the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, the DDB and other relevant agencies. Now, consumers are buying milk at Rs 83 per liter.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">On February 14, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development was recommended to increase the price of milk by Rs 10 per litre. Some businessmen demanded to increase the price of milk by up to Rs 14 per litre. Earlier in December, under the leadership of the Dairy Industry Association, the price of milk was unilaterally increased by Rs 14 per litre. The price hike was withdrawn after widespread protests.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The dairy businessmen had put pressure on the government to increase the price of milk saying that the price of grain, bran, straw and transportation costs have increased. They said that they were forced to increase the price of milk against the policy. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Raj Kumar Dahal, president of the Dairy Industry Association, said that since the prices of grain, bran and medicine have more than doubled, the cost of production of farmers is difficult to meet. Earlier, the government had adjusted the price of milk about 1 year ago during the tenure of the then Agriculture and Livestock Development Minister Mahindra Raya Yadav.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-05', 'modified' => '2023-03-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16918', 'image' => '20230305033412_milkkkkkkk.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-05 15:33:26', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17179', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Who is Durga Prasai, an Outspoken Critic and Campaigner against the Banking Sector?', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'March 5: Durga Prasai of Jhapa is currently in the limelight for campaigning against the banking and financial institutions.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">March 5: Durga Prasai of Jhapa is currently in the limelight for campaigning against the banking and financial institutions. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">"If the representatives of microfinance and financial institutions come to the villages, catch them and smear black soot on them. If you enter a bank for vengeance because a bank employee has tortured you, you will face a robbery case, but you can wait for them outside the bank and smear black soot,” said Prasai. His extreme view is spreading on social media like a wildfire.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">He is also inciting people to not pay their bank loans.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">At the meantime, Prasai’s act of calling and harassing the banks’ top level employees is also going viral on social media networks. People related with the financial sector have demanded that the state should create a working environment as they feel uncomfortable with Prasai's expressions and activities.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">After Prasai's statement, the Ministry of Home Affairs has sent letters to the chiefs of all district administration offices and instructed them to keep the security agencies on high alert. Home Ministry officials say that no person should be allowed to spread rumors or raise slogans in such a way so as to disturb the peace, harmony (ethnic and communal) and cause riots. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">After all, who is Prasai who keeps coming into the limelight such tantrums and controversial statements? It has become a subject of curiosity everywhere. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Prasai, a permanent resident of Birtamod, Jhapa, is best known as the director of B&C Medical College. Those who know him closely say that Prasai has invested in areas beyond medical colleges.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Prasai's family, which settled in the plains of Jhapa from Tehrathum in the hills of eastern Nepal, was of a humble economic background. He earned his living by farming. Prasai has not studied past the eighth grade. He got married at a young age. He worked in Prasai Grill Factory for some time and went to Europe for employment. Unable to stay for a long time in Europe, he returned to his country. With the experience of working in buffalo farms abroad, Prasai started raising buffaloes professionally in Birtamod.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Locals say that Prasai started the farm by buying advanced breed of buffaloes from Haryana, India. At that time, Prasai had about a hundred buffaloes. Prasai sold milk as well as buffaloes. The milk produced in his farm used to reach as far as India across the Mechi River. His buffalo farm, which he started with bank loan, went well for some time, but financial crisis started appearing later. Prasai struggled to pay the bank loan and interest in regular interval. When he went to the bank to ask for more loans, the bank did not believe him. Finally Prasai's buffalo business crumbled.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">It is said that Prasai, who was initially affiliated to the Nepali Congress, joined the then rebels CPN Maoists, which was an underground outfit at that time, after the collapse of his business. Those who know him say that Prasai used Maoist cadres against his father-in-law to help his brother-in-law who was fighting a case for family property. Due to the Maoist threat, Prasai’s father-in-law was ready to give a share in the case that had not been settled in the court for a long time and Prasai's brother-in-law got his share of land.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Locals say that Prasai's fortunes brightened after getting the land. Experts say that he made a lot of money after plotting the land together with his brother-in-law and selling it for up to Ra 500,000 per dhur. After making a good fortune, Prasai started dealing in land in Kathmandu. He built a luxurious house in Bhaktapur. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">It was the same house where he raised quite a few eyebrows by serving red rice to the then chairmen of Communist Party of Nepal KP Sharma Olin d Pushpa Kamal Dahal.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">It is said that he is involved in many businesses besides the B&C Medical College. Prasai, who joined the CPN (UML) after the dissolution of the CPN, was given the responsibility of central member by the UML leadership. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">After that, he started criticizing the Maoist Chairman Dahal, and said that he would encourage 500,00 people join the UML before the elections. Although he tried to run a medical college, he has not been able to get a medical college license due to the agitation of Dr Govind KC, a medical crusader who has been demanding reforms in the medical sector.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Prasai was also in the limelight when he brought the prince of the United Arab Emirates on a visit to Nepal and received a golden stick as a gift from him. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">On February 1, Prasai announced that he had started a campaign from Mechipul for the restoration of the monarchy, with members of the former royal family as witnesses. Prasai, who criticized the banks and financial institutions in that program, repeated the same issue and context in a program held in Kathmandu on Saturday.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Prasai is viewed with suspicion due to the wealth he has acquired in a short period of time as well as his relationship with the UAE prince. Although he has been abusing banks and financial institutions, he has taken loans from the same financial institutions for his business. Although some people think that it is difficult for him to pay the bank loan, he claims that he is paying the loan interest as per the schedule.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-05', 'modified' => '2023-03-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16917', 'image' => '20230305021805_1677978782.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-05 14:17:22', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17178', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Foreign Tourists Barred from Solo Trekking in Nepal', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'March 5: Tourists visiting Nepal for hiking and trekking will no longer be allowed to go to their destinations alone.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">March 5: Tourists visiting Nepal for hiking and trekking will no longer be allowed to go to their destinations alone. The decision of Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) to suspend the provision of Free Individual Trekker (FIT) now mandates tourists to have a guide while trekking.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The board is closing FIT from April 1. The board has amended the Nepal Tourism Act-2053 and Trekking Information Management System Operation Guidelines-2066 to make it compulsory to have a guide. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">With this decision taken on Friday, foreigners going for a trek now have to take a guide along with them through a trekking company. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Chief Executive of NTB Dhananjay Regmi said that this decision was taken to guarantee the safety of the tourists during their trip.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to Regmi, both tourists and guides going on a trek will be insured. At present, the tourists who go on foot-trails travel alone with the 'Tourist Information Management System (TIMS)' card. However, after seeing the problem of tourists getting lost, the board decided to prohibit tourists from going on a trek alone. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">"This matter has been discussed and we reached a conclusion that Nepal should be made a safe tourist destination in every aspect," he said.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Former President of Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal (TAAN) Khem Bahadur Subedi said that the board had taken a good decision and emphasized on its implementation. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">He said that as this decision will increase employment and also give equal importance to the safety of tourists.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">“The board must pay attention to the implementation of its decision,” he said. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to Subedi, the number of trekking companies in Nepal is currently more than 2,000.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">After the board implements this decision, the employment and income of trekking guides in Nepal will also increase. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to the data of the board, before the onset of Covid-19 pandemic, 46 tourists used to arrive in Nepal annually as 'Free Individual Trekkers (FIT)'. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">NTB Director Maniraj Lamichhane said that after the board decided to discontinue the TIMS card issued for FIT, it will now distribute the same type of TIMS card to all tourists. Previously, those going on a group tour would pay Rs 1,000 per person and those going on a solo tour would get a card by paying Rs 2,000 per person.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to the board, now the fee of TIMS card for all tourists will be Rs 2,000 per person. In case of citizens of SAARC countries, it will cost Rs 1000 instead of the previous fee of Rs 200. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Suman Prasad Parajuli, president of Unitravels, the safety concerns of Nepal's mountain tourism has been addressed by the NTB’s deision. According to the Nepal Tourism Statistics - 2021 prepared by the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, the number of tourists visiting Nepal to spend holidays is the highest followed by tourists who come here for adventure tourism (trekking and mountain climbing). </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to the data, the total number of tourists who arrived in Nepal for trekking in the year 2019 before the Covid-19 was 197,786. In the year 2021, this number was 15,549.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-05', 'modified' => '2023-03-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16916', 'image' => '20230305123213_mardi-himal-peak.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-05 12:31:30', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = falsesimplexml_load_file - [internal], line ?? include - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 60 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
Notice (8): Undefined variable: file [APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 133]Code Context// $file = 'http://aabhiyan:QUVLg8Wzs2F7G9N7@nepalstock.com.np/api/subindexdata.xml';if(!$xml = simplexml_load_file($file)){$viewFile = '/var/www/html/newbusinessage.com/app/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'articles' => array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ) ), 'current_user' => null, 'logged_in' => false ) $articles = array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17192', 'article_category_id' => '277', 'title' => 'Commercial Farming Of Dragon Fruit Starts In Parbat ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Commercial farming of dragon fruit has started for the first time in Parbat. Farmer Dilli Prasad Lamichhane of Parbat’s Kusma Municipality-9 has begun the commercial farming of the dragon fruit. ', 'content' => '<p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">March 6: Commercial farming of dragon fruit has started for the first time in Parbat. Farmer Dilli Prasad Lamichhane of Parbat’s Kusma Municipality-9 has begun the commercial farming of the dragon fruit. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Farmer Lamichhane has planted 1200 saplings of dragon fruit. Dragon fruit is strange to many people in the district. “We have 1300 ropani of the land. We are planning to bring 800 more saplings of the dragon fruit by adding 200 pillars. We shall cultivate grass and banana in the rets of the land,” said Lamichhane.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Lamichhane is an office assistant of Katuwachupari Health Post. Along with dragon fruit, he has also been involved in animal husbandry. He sells milk at the headquarters in the morning and keeps himself busy in tending dragon fruit in the day time. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">“Since income from job is not enough to improve financial condition, I have started dragon fruit cultivation,” he added.<br /> Dragon fruit can be cultivated at an altitude of 1500 meters that receives adequate sun. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Two years after their plantation, dragon plants start bearing fruit. Its fruit weighs from 150 grams to 1 kilogram. Of late, the dragon fruit is being planted in flower pot, rooftop and house yard. </span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-06', 'modified' => '2023-03-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16930', 'image' => '20230306051729_collage (15).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-06 17:14:02', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17191', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Presidential Election: Publicity to Suspend from March 6 Midnight', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'March 6: The Election Commission (EC) has notified that the silence period of publicity for the election of the president scheduled for March 9 will commence from midnight today (Monday). ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">March 6: The Election Commission (EC) has notified that the silence period of publicity for the election of the president scheduled for March 9 will commence from midnight today (Monday). </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The EC stated that the period of suspension of the election publicity in connection with the presidential election will be from midnight of March 6 until the voting booths are closed on March 9. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">It has issued an Election Code of Conduct, 2023 to be effective from March 1 to 19 in exercise of the powers given under Clause 22 of the Election Commission Act, 2073 BS. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Election Code of Conduct, 2023 has the provision which states that the silence period would be in force 48 hours before the voting day until the voting centres are closed on the voting day for conducting the election in a free, fair, credible, transparent and fear-free environment. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Election publicity activities including any type of discussions, interaction, assemblies, meetings, workshop, seminar etc. cannot be organized during the silence period in accordance with Clause 24 (5) of the Election (Offence and Punishment) Act, 2073 and Clause 17 of the Election Code of Conduct, 2023. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, any form of canvassing for or against any candidate through electronic medium such as SMS, Facebook, Viber and social sites have been prohibited. Similarly, activities like issuing statements, press release, publishing and broadcasting any materials and dissemination of materials projecting victory or defeat through communication media will be in contravention of the code of conduct. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The EC has urged all the sides concerned to maintain the fairness and dignity of the election by abiding to the election laws and code of conduct. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-06', 'modified' => '2023-03-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16929', 'image' => '20230306045936_1677758905.President 1.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-06 16:59:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17190', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Qatari Princess in Myagdi for Expedition of Mt Annapurna I', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'March 6: Qatar's princess Asma Al-Thani has arrived in Myagdi in course of her expedition to the Annapurna I.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">March 6: Qatar's princess Asma Al-Thani has arrived in Myagdi in course of her expedition to the Annapurna I. The 8,091 metres tall peak is the world's tenth highest mountain and it lies in the Annapurna Rural Municipality-1 in the district. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Her expedition is managed by the Elite Trekking Company. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Al-Thani's team landed at Dana of Annapurna-3 via a helicopter of Simrik Air and the expedition is led by Nirmal Purja (Nims) who holds a world record for successfully climbing 14 peaks above 8,000 meters in the world. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"Two members in our team will be arriving from Pokhara via the land route. The Qatari princess and I will be staying in Dana, which is my birthplace, for two days," Purja said and added that the expedition logistics have been already transported to the Annapurna base camp and the team aides are preparing for the expedition. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The squad hopes to complete the mission by this month (March). Al-Thani is an experienced climber and she has already successfully scaled Mt Everest, the highest peak in the world, Dhaulagiri, Kanchenjunga, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, Manaslu, and Mt K2 in Pakistan. Upon her arrival here, the team was accorded a warm welcome by the people's representatives in Dana and the Dana folks. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A civic felicitation was organised for them, according to Annapurna-3 ward chair Ramesh Purja. The local representative said they were happy to welcome the princess from Qatar and Nirmal Purja who has really a significant contribution to introduce Dana and Myagdi to the world and promote Nepal's identity internationally. "Nirmal is one of the world's courageous personalities." </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Dana-based tourism entrepreneur Indra Singh Sherchan said the visit by the Qatari princess would obviously help promote the local tourism and in the promotion of the Annapurna base camp. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">French national Maurice Herzog, was the first person to climb Annapurna I along with Louis Lachenal on June 3, 1950. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-06', 'modified' => '2023-03-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16928', 'image' => '20230306042608_1678094910.SG_Myagdi-IMG_8454.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-06 16:25:26', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17189', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Use of EVs in Question due to Lack of Charging Stations', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'March 6: Despite the increase in demand for electric vehicles (EVs) in Nepal, its use is in question due to the lack of charging stations. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">March 6: Despite the increase in demand for electric vehicles (EVs) in Nepal, its use is in question due to the lack of charging stations. Experts say that regular EV users are also using petroleum vehicles to travel outside the main cities.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Dhubra Thapa, president of NADA Automobiles Association of Nepal, says that users are now making electric vehicles their second choice due to the lack of charging stations. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“The number of EV users is high only in the main cities. Even now, most of the people consider the vehicle that runs on petroleum as their first choice. If charging stations can be increased, EVs can be made their first choice vehicle,” he said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the data of the Department of Transport Management, 8,552 electric vehicles were imported from mid-July to mid-February of the current fiscal year. With this, the number of electric vehicles in Nepal has reached 29,200.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Looking at the data, it seems that the attraction towards electric vehicles among Nepali consumers is increasing. Considering the abundant potential of electricity production, the situation where the hydroelectricity produced is wasted due to lack of market and the necessity of making the environment pollution-free, there is no alternative than to widely increase the use of EVs.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to Thapa, “Increasing the use of EVs will bring two benefits to Nepal. Firstly, by increasing the consumption of produced electricity, the money spent abroad on the import of petroleum products is saved. Secondly, the pollution caused by vehicles running on petroleum products is reduced.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Most of the countries in the world are encouraging the use of electric vehicles to reduce pollution. Automobile manufacturing companies are also introducing new brands and models of electric vehicles in the market. At a time when the interest in EVs is increasing worldwide, stakeholders say that the government should develop the necessary infrastructure and create an environment for this sector to flourish.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Businessmen complain that the government is working at a snail's pace even though they have already made necessary arrangements for charging stations and trained manpower.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Nirmal Khatri, senior product manager of Sipradi Trading, says that EV operation is challenging. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Khatri pointed out the need to increase the subsidy given to EVs by the government. Even though the government has given sufficient customs concessions to EVs compared to other vehicles, businessmen in this sector say that concessions should be further increased. They argue that the government will benefit from electric vehicles in the long run. Businessmen suggest that the government should maintain concessions and customs exemptions for at least 10 years for the rapid development of the EV sector.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-06', 'modified' => '2023-03-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16927', 'image' => '20230306025638_electric-car.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-06 14:55:49', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17188', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Conflict-Era Cases Can't be Prolonged Indefinitely: SC ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'March 6: The Supreme Court has said the cases of serious human rights violation relating to the armed conflict cannot be extended for a long time on various pretexts. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">March 6: The Supreme Court has said the cases of serious human rights violation relating to the armed conflict cannot be extended for a long time on various pretexts. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A division bench of Justices Ishwar Prasad Khatiwada and Hari Prasad Phuyal on Sunday issued an order, asking for the registration of a case against Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The victims of armed conflict deserve the right to justice, true information and reparation as per the Comprehensive Peace Accord, Constitution of Nepal, court verdicts and international law and principles. Therefore, the cases on these issues cannot be perpetuated forever on different pretexts.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"Taking into account the seriousness and sensitivity of the issue, the rejection of writ petition from getting registered for a court process is inappropriate," said the court order, adding that the order issued by SC Registrar on November 10, 2022 to not register the case is therefore scrapped. So, it can be registered as per the due procedure. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The SC further reminded that at a time when the transitional justice bodies are not functional, hearing from such bodies in the absence of effective law cannot be termed constitutional, just and logical and the victims should not be denied entry to court for justice. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In the order, the justices further reminded that the petitioners had argued that expected results from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and the Commission for Investigation of Enforced Disappeared Persons were still awaited and these commissions were now nearly dysfunctional. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">As the petition was filed at such time, the law on criminal offense cannot be left ineffective, the justices stressed. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-06', 'modified' => '2023-03-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16926', 'image' => '20230306015142_Supreme Court.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-06 13:50:59', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17187', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Private Sector Pins Hope on Government to Bring Economy on Track ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'March 6: Amid the slowdown of economic activities and its repercussions on the economic indicators, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Sunday held a meeting with stakeholders and bankers to help identify the challenges and solution to the issues faced by the economy at present. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">March 6: Amid the slowdown of economic activities and its repercussions on the economic indicators, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Sunday held a meeting with stakeholders and bankers to help identify the challenges and solution to the issues faced by the economy at present. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Government expenditure and revenue collection are lower than the target but the inflation rate is high and the private sector that suffered after the COVID-19 pandemic is yet to regain its strength. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In the recent times, liquidity crunch and higher interest rate and crisis in the microfinance and cooperatives have posed more pressure on the country's economic activities, leaving the poor people at the receiving end. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">After the discussions with the representatives of the Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB), private sector and BFIs, PM Dahal assured the private sector of forming a high-level commission pledging to troubleshoot the economic challenges. He said the government was serious towards the prospect of a bleak economic outlook. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"I am informed and conscious to the people's grievances towards banks and microfinances. I have been taking feedback from all sectors to resolve the challenges," the PM Dahal assured. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">On the occasion, PM Dahal said he was serious to the attempts made by some elements to create fiscal anarchy. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Talking to the RSS after holding talks with the PM, President of the Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FNCCI) Shekhar Golchha said that the debtors, who have suffered badly, should be supported through some policy-level interventions. The troubled debtors should be sympathized and the state should address their problems but disobeying to pay the loan deliberately is anarchy, the FNCCI president said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, Chairman of the Confederation of Nepalese Industries Vishnu Kumar Agrawal said that they urged the PM to address the economic woes of the country as liquidity crunch, high interest rate and production costs have increased in the country. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Agrawal said that the production cost could be reduced if the price of the petroleum products was slashed down. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Chairman of Nepal Chamber of Commerce Rajendra Malla said that the PM has given assurance to address the challenges. He, however, said that the private sector has not felt any changes despite the government's efforts. "The government is doing something. But, that’s inadequate. We are optimistic about the government’s efforts," he concluded. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-06', 'modified' => '2023-03-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16925', 'image' => '20230306124147_PRO_KTM-6F8A5302.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-06 12:40:17', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17186', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Festival of Colours being Celebrated with Much Fanfare', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'March 6: Fagu Purnima, popularly known as the festival of Holi, is being observed with much fanface in the capital and hill districts of Nepal today.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">March 6: Fagu Purnima, popularly known as the festival of Holi, is being observed with much fanface in the capital and hill districts of Nepal today.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">This festival is also known as the festival of colours as people smear colours to each other and throw water balloons to celebrate the arrival of the spring season.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The festival begins on the eighth day of the new moon in the month of Falgun as per the lunar calendar and ends on the full moon day today with the burning of the 'Chir', a tuft of colourful strips of cloth tied to the top end of a ritualistic pole, installed on the first day of the festival. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the Hindu mythology, demon king Hiranyakashyapu, who was unhappy with his son Prahlad for his wholehearted devotion to Lord Vishnu, ordered his sister Holika to kill Prahalad. Following her brother's instruction, Holika, who had a boon from the God of Creation – Lord Brahma – that fire would not harm her, sat on a pyre with Prahlad on her lap. But she was herself burnt to death while Prahalad remained unhurt due to the blessing of Lord Vishnu, the protector of the world. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">From then onwards, the festival is also known as Holi and is celebrated by smearing colour with enjoyment. It is believed that Lord Vishnu had warned Holika that the boon she had received would be meaningless if she misused it. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">This festival is celebrated in the Terai districts tomorrow.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-06', 'modified' => '2023-03-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16924', 'image' => '20230306115726_aaa.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-06 11:56:42', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17185', 'article_category_id' => '218', 'title' => 'NRB Forms High-Level Committee to Study Problems in Microfinance Companies ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Nepal Rastra Bank has constituted a high-level committee to study problems seen in microfinance companies in the country. ', 'content' => '<p><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size:18px">March 6: Nepal Rastra Bank has constituted a high-level committee to study problems seen in microfinance companies in the country. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Microfinance companies have been facing allegations of charging exorbitant interest and behaving badly with customers for the past a few months. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Microfinance companies, however, deny such allegations and claim that some loan shark groups used to issuing credit on meter interest have spread rumour. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">“NRB has constituted the high-level committee to carry out study on microfinance companies’ current situation and their contribution to economy,” said a source at NRB.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">The committee headed by Executive Director Prakash Kumar Shrestha of NRB Research Department has seven members. Committee members include Nepal Microfinance Banker’s Association’s chairman, two independent experts and four high-level officers from Nepal Rastra Bank.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">The committee will submit its report within six months. Microfinance companies have been in the forefront to enhance income of backward and low-income families across the country. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Since the government does not have set indicators to check microfinance companies’ contribution for poverty alleviation, it has been difficult to determine their role for poverty alleviation in Nepal.</span></p> <p><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-06', 'modified' => '2023-03-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16923', 'image' => '20230306063604_collage (14).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-06 06:33:54', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17184', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'IME Group Operates Technical School', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'March 5: IME Group, one of the largest business conglomerates in the country, which has invested in various sectors including banking, finance, insurance, hydropower, automobiles, and tourism, has started operating a technical school that provides all kinds of skill training under one roof.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">March 5: IME Group, one of the largest business conglomerates in the country, which has invested in various sectors including banking, finance, insurance, hydropower, automobiles, and tourism, has started operating a technical school that provides all kinds of skill training under one roof.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Upendra Sharma Ghimire, chief executive officer (CEO) of the school, promoted by IME Group, shared that the school provides training in hospitality and tourism, commercial management, entrepreneurship, professional development, engineering and health.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Under the hospitality and tourism category, trainings under different topics such as hospitality management, assistant, bartender, waiter, commercial cook/baker, and barista training are available. Ghimire said that under the business management section, training is provided on cooperative management, enterprise development facilitators, library assistants, salespersons and savings and loan mobilization.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Under the professional development section, training is provided on topics such as computer hardware and network technicians, electricians, LCD, LED television repair, plumbers, and telecom technicians.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, Ghimire informed that training for backhoe loader operation, excavator operation and mobile crane operation are available under engineering and caregiver training segment.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The school located in Sukedhara in Kathmandu has the infrastructure, including a skill lab. The school has already started training in hospitality and care-giving segments. Ghimire informed New Business Age that other trainings will also be started soon. Trainees who have received training at the school will receive a CTEVT certificate.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to CEO Ghimire, the school will also provide training as per the requirements of the industry. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">"We are ready if they (industry) come and say that our workers/employees need this kind of training. We have the appropriate trainers and resources."</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Ghimire claimed that the trainees of the school will be able to do internships in banks, financial institutions, hotels, and commercial establishments under the IME Group after completing the training. Ghimire also said that in the initial phase, efforts will be made to employ the trainees in various organizations, industries, institutions and schools under the IME Group.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Shiva Chaudhary, the program coordinator of the school, said that 'customized training' is also provided according to the individual's wishes. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">"We also provide services to those who pay a fixed fee and take training on the subject they want for just a day," Chaudhary said. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He informed that individuals have to pay a fee of Rs 2500 for it. He said that the training of the school will be very fruitful not only in the country but also for individuals going abroad.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to CEO Ghimire, this may be the first technical school in Nepal where all fields of training can be trained under one roof and is equipped with all the required infrastructure.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The fee for the training at the school is Rs 60,000 per person. Chaudhary said that one can participate in a short-term financial sector management and efficient leadership development class by paying Rs 2500 per day.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-05', 'modified' => '2023-03-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16922', 'image' => '20230305073353_Untitled.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-05 19:32:28', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17183', 'article_category_id' => '218', 'title' => 'Government Serious About Problems Seen In Banks And Microfinances, Says PM Dahal', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Sunday said his government has taken the problems facing the banks and financial institutions seriously and pledged to address them at the earliest.', 'content' => '<p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">March 5: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Sunday said his government has taken the problems facing the banks and financial institutions seriously and pledged to address them at the earliest.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">At the meeting held in the Office of Prime Minister and Council of Ministers to identify and resolve the problems facing banks and financial institutions on Sunday, Prime Minister Dahal said that his government had taken various financial issues, including hefty interest rate of the banks, problems seen in microfinance, businessmen’s concerns and some elements trying to create financial anarchy, very seriously and was reday to resolve them as early as possible. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“Businessmen are complaining about interest rates, media are reporting problems seen in microfinance and some people are trying to fish in the murky water by trying to spark financial chaos,” Dahal added.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Saying that country’s financial condition was in a difficult position, Dahal reminded that his government had decided to solve the financial problems through the joint efforts of the private and government sectors.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Nepal Rastra Bank’s Governor Maha Prasad Adhikari made a brief presentation on the current financial condition and claimed that the country’s economy was moving in the positive direction. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Government Chief Secretary, Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, NRB Governor, representatives of Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FNCCI), and representatives of various businesses and bankers’ associations were present at the meeting. </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-05', 'modified' => '2023-03-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16921', 'image' => '20230305055421_collage - 2023-03-05T170047.366.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-05 17:48:57', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17182', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NAC to Operate Direct Flight to South Korea ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'National flag carrier Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) will start direct flight to South Korea from Tribhuvan International Airport. ', 'content' => '<p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">March 5: National flag carrier Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) will start direct flight to South Korea from Tribhuvan International Airport. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Nepal Airlines Corporation has commenced the process to start direct flight to Incheon International Airport, Seoul in South Korea, according to Spokesperson Archana Khadka of the Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC).</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">A ten-member safety audit sub-committee has been formed led by Deputy General Manager Engineer Bikram KC for the direct flight to Seoul. The safety sub-committee has been tasked to study about on launching direct flight to South Korea. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“Civil Aviation Authority under the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport South Korea will audit for the direct flight. And the sub-committee has been formulated to facilitate the audit work,” said spokesperson Khadka.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">As part of its plan to expand international destinations, the NAC has started the preparation for direct flight to South Korea. With the NAC’s direct flight to Seoul, the fare from Nepal to South Korea will come down and the national flag carrier’s responsibility will be fulfilled, NAC believes. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Nepal Airlines Corporation has been making international flights to ten destinations of eight countries, including three places in India. NAC has two narrow body A-320 aircrafts and two wide body A-330 aircrafts. </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-05', 'modified' => '2023-03-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16920', 'image' => '20230305050506_collage - 2023-03-05T162919.876.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-05 16:59:23', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17181', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '1.7 million Demat Accounts are Inactive', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'March 5: It has been found that 32 percent of the Demat accounts opened for share transactions are inactive.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">March 5: It has been found that 32 percent of the Demat accounts opened for share transactions are inactive. According to CDS and Clearing Limited (CDSC), more than 1,763,000 of the total 5,577,000 Demat accounts opened so far are inactive. CDSC spokesperson Suresh Neupane said that there are no shares of any company in those accounts and such accounts have not been renewed for a long time. According to him, one person can open up to two Demat accounts.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to Neupane, if any investor has opened two Demat accounts, both accounts should be in operation. Neupane informed that 32 percent of Demat accounts which are currently inactive have not been in operation since 2073 BS. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Neupane says that according to the provision of renewal by paying Rs 100 per year, the renewal cost for the re-activation of the accounts that are currently inactive will be quite high. He suggests that only closing those accounts will be cost-effective. According to him, investors are not interested in the operation of those accounts which have not been renewed for a long time even though there is a system that renewal can be done from home. He stated, “There is no point in increasing the number of inactive accounts just to maintain the numbers.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">As per the regulatory body, Securities Board of Nepal (SEBON), CDSC may close inactive Demat accounts as deemed necessary. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Muktinath Shrestha, the spokesperson of the board, speculated that 32 percent of the Demat accounts mandated for securities transactions may have been opened in the name of several members of the same family. Shrestha speculates that even though the accounts were opened in the of name of several members of the same family, only some members may have participated in the transaction. He said that keeping the inactive account without closing it will not have much effect. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Demat account was made mandatory when applying for the purchase of securities of public shares within the valley from July 16, 2016 and from January 14, 2017 throughout the country. The number of Demat accounts started to increase as it became mandatory. According to CDSC, only 100,000 Demat accounts were opened till January 15, 2017. More than 5,400,000 such accounts have been added in the last six years. CDSC informed that the Demat account was opened for the first time in Nepal on July 16, 2012.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-05', 'modified' => '2023-03-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16919', 'image' => '20230305041419_20190416021131_aaaa.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-05 16:13:34', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17180', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Price of Milk Increased against Government Policy', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'March 5: The government has increased the price of milk against the National Dairy Development Policy. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">March 5: The government has increased the price of milk against the National Dairy Development Policy. A cabinet meeting held on Friday decided to increase the price of milk by Rs 9 per liter. According to the National Dairy Development Policy 2078, the price of milk can be revised every two years based on the study report of the Diary Development Board. However, due to the collusion of the businessmen and the government, the price has been increased in just one year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the decision of the Council of Ministers, the price of milk per liter has been fixed at Rs 65 for the farmers. Earlier, farmers were selling milk at Rs 56 per liter. The government increased the price due to the complaints of milk producing farmers and dairy businessmen that they are not getting the price of milk according to the cost of production. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Executive Director of the national Dairy Development Board (DDB) Rajendra Prasad Yadav said that currently only the minimum price of milk that the farmers get has been increased. The profit of dairy dealers is yet to be increased. According to him, the profit earned by the dairy will be determined in coordination between the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, the DDB and other relevant agencies. Now, consumers are buying milk at Rs 83 per liter.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">On February 14, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development was recommended to increase the price of milk by Rs 10 per litre. Some businessmen demanded to increase the price of milk by up to Rs 14 per litre. Earlier in December, under the leadership of the Dairy Industry Association, the price of milk was unilaterally increased by Rs 14 per litre. The price hike was withdrawn after widespread protests.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The dairy businessmen had put pressure on the government to increase the price of milk saying that the price of grain, bran, straw and transportation costs have increased. They said that they were forced to increase the price of milk against the policy. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Raj Kumar Dahal, president of the Dairy Industry Association, said that since the prices of grain, bran and medicine have more than doubled, the cost of production of farmers is difficult to meet. Earlier, the government had adjusted the price of milk about 1 year ago during the tenure of the then Agriculture and Livestock Development Minister Mahindra Raya Yadav.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-05', 'modified' => '2023-03-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16918', 'image' => '20230305033412_milkkkkkkk.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-05 15:33:26', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17179', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Who is Durga Prasai, an Outspoken Critic and Campaigner against the Banking Sector?', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'March 5: Durga Prasai of Jhapa is currently in the limelight for campaigning against the banking and financial institutions.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">March 5: Durga Prasai of Jhapa is currently in the limelight for campaigning against the banking and financial institutions. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">"If the representatives of microfinance and financial institutions come to the villages, catch them and smear black soot on them. If you enter a bank for vengeance because a bank employee has tortured you, you will face a robbery case, but you can wait for them outside the bank and smear black soot,” said Prasai. His extreme view is spreading on social media like a wildfire.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">He is also inciting people to not pay their bank loans.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">At the meantime, Prasai’s act of calling and harassing the banks’ top level employees is also going viral on social media networks. People related with the financial sector have demanded that the state should create a working environment as they feel uncomfortable with Prasai's expressions and activities.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">After Prasai's statement, the Ministry of Home Affairs has sent letters to the chiefs of all district administration offices and instructed them to keep the security agencies on high alert. Home Ministry officials say that no person should be allowed to spread rumors or raise slogans in such a way so as to disturb the peace, harmony (ethnic and communal) and cause riots. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">After all, who is Prasai who keeps coming into the limelight such tantrums and controversial statements? It has become a subject of curiosity everywhere. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Prasai, a permanent resident of Birtamod, Jhapa, is best known as the director of B&C Medical College. Those who know him closely say that Prasai has invested in areas beyond medical colleges.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Prasai's family, which settled in the plains of Jhapa from Tehrathum in the hills of eastern Nepal, was of a humble economic background. He earned his living by farming. Prasai has not studied past the eighth grade. He got married at a young age. He worked in Prasai Grill Factory for some time and went to Europe for employment. Unable to stay for a long time in Europe, he returned to his country. With the experience of working in buffalo farms abroad, Prasai started raising buffaloes professionally in Birtamod.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Locals say that Prasai started the farm by buying advanced breed of buffaloes from Haryana, India. At that time, Prasai had about a hundred buffaloes. Prasai sold milk as well as buffaloes. The milk produced in his farm used to reach as far as India across the Mechi River. His buffalo farm, which he started with bank loan, went well for some time, but financial crisis started appearing later. Prasai struggled to pay the bank loan and interest in regular interval. When he went to the bank to ask for more loans, the bank did not believe him. Finally Prasai's buffalo business crumbled.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">It is said that Prasai, who was initially affiliated to the Nepali Congress, joined the then rebels CPN Maoists, which was an underground outfit at that time, after the collapse of his business. Those who know him say that Prasai used Maoist cadres against his father-in-law to help his brother-in-law who was fighting a case for family property. Due to the Maoist threat, Prasai’s father-in-law was ready to give a share in the case that had not been settled in the court for a long time and Prasai's brother-in-law got his share of land.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Locals say that Prasai's fortunes brightened after getting the land. Experts say that he made a lot of money after plotting the land together with his brother-in-law and selling it for up to Ra 500,000 per dhur. After making a good fortune, Prasai started dealing in land in Kathmandu. He built a luxurious house in Bhaktapur. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">It was the same house where he raised quite a few eyebrows by serving red rice to the then chairmen of Communist Party of Nepal KP Sharma Olin d Pushpa Kamal Dahal.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">It is said that he is involved in many businesses besides the B&C Medical College. Prasai, who joined the CPN (UML) after the dissolution of the CPN, was given the responsibility of central member by the UML leadership. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">After that, he started criticizing the Maoist Chairman Dahal, and said that he would encourage 500,00 people join the UML before the elections. Although he tried to run a medical college, he has not been able to get a medical college license due to the agitation of Dr Govind KC, a medical crusader who has been demanding reforms in the medical sector.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Prasai was also in the limelight when he brought the prince of the United Arab Emirates on a visit to Nepal and received a golden stick as a gift from him. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">On February 1, Prasai announced that he had started a campaign from Mechipul for the restoration of the monarchy, with members of the former royal family as witnesses. Prasai, who criticized the banks and financial institutions in that program, repeated the same issue and context in a program held in Kathmandu on Saturday.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Prasai is viewed with suspicion due to the wealth he has acquired in a short period of time as well as his relationship with the UAE prince. Although he has been abusing banks and financial institutions, he has taken loans from the same financial institutions for his business. Although some people think that it is difficult for him to pay the bank loan, he claims that he is paying the loan interest as per the schedule.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-05', 'modified' => '2023-03-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16917', 'image' => '20230305021805_1677978782.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-05 14:17:22', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17178', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Foreign Tourists Barred from Solo Trekking in Nepal', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'March 5: Tourists visiting Nepal for hiking and trekking will no longer be allowed to go to their destinations alone.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">March 5: Tourists visiting Nepal for hiking and trekking will no longer be allowed to go to their destinations alone. The decision of Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) to suspend the provision of Free Individual Trekker (FIT) now mandates tourists to have a guide while trekking.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The board is closing FIT from April 1. The board has amended the Nepal Tourism Act-2053 and Trekking Information Management System Operation Guidelines-2066 to make it compulsory to have a guide. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">With this decision taken on Friday, foreigners going for a trek now have to take a guide along with them through a trekking company. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Chief Executive of NTB Dhananjay Regmi said that this decision was taken to guarantee the safety of the tourists during their trip.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to Regmi, both tourists and guides going on a trek will be insured. At present, the tourists who go on foot-trails travel alone with the 'Tourist Information Management System (TIMS)' card. However, after seeing the problem of tourists getting lost, the board decided to prohibit tourists from going on a trek alone. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">"This matter has been discussed and we reached a conclusion that Nepal should be made a safe tourist destination in every aspect," he said.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Former President of Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal (TAAN) Khem Bahadur Subedi said that the board had taken a good decision and emphasized on its implementation. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">He said that as this decision will increase employment and also give equal importance to the safety of tourists.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">“The board must pay attention to the implementation of its decision,” he said. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to Subedi, the number of trekking companies in Nepal is currently more than 2,000.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">After the board implements this decision, the employment and income of trekking guides in Nepal will also increase. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to the data of the board, before the onset of Covid-19 pandemic, 46 tourists used to arrive in Nepal annually as 'Free Individual Trekkers (FIT)'. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">NTB Director Maniraj Lamichhane said that after the board decided to discontinue the TIMS card issued for FIT, it will now distribute the same type of TIMS card to all tourists. Previously, those going on a group tour would pay Rs 1,000 per person and those going on a solo tour would get a card by paying Rs 2,000 per person.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to the board, now the fee of TIMS card for all tourists will be Rs 2,000 per person. In case of citizens of SAARC countries, it will cost Rs 1000 instead of the previous fee of Rs 200. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Suman Prasad Parajuli, president of Unitravels, the safety concerns of Nepal's mountain tourism has been addressed by the NTB’s deision. According to the Nepal Tourism Statistics - 2021 prepared by the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, the number of tourists visiting Nepal to spend holidays is the highest followed by tourists who come here for adventure tourism (trekking and mountain climbing). </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to the data, the total number of tourists who arrived in Nepal for trekking in the year 2019 before the Covid-19 was 197,786. In the year 2021, this number was 15,549.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-05', 'modified' => '2023-03-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16916', 'image' => '20230305123213_mardi-himal-peak.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-05 12:31:30', '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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Farmer Dilli Prasad Lamichhane of Parbat’s Kusma Municipality-9 has begun the commercial farming of the dragon fruit. ', 'content' => '<p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">March 6: Commercial farming of dragon fruit has started for the first time in Parbat. Farmer Dilli Prasad Lamichhane of Parbat’s Kusma Municipality-9 has begun the commercial farming of the dragon fruit. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Farmer Lamichhane has planted 1200 saplings of dragon fruit. Dragon fruit is strange to many people in the district. “We have 1300 ropani of the land. We are planning to bring 800 more saplings of the dragon fruit by adding 200 pillars. We shall cultivate grass and banana in the rets of the land,” said Lamichhane.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Lamichhane is an office assistant of Katuwachupari Health Post. Along with dragon fruit, he has also been involved in animal husbandry. He sells milk at the headquarters in the morning and keeps himself busy in tending dragon fruit in the day time. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">“Since income from job is not enough to improve financial condition, I have started dragon fruit cultivation,” he added.<br /> Dragon fruit can be cultivated at an altitude of 1500 meters that receives adequate sun. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Two years after their plantation, dragon plants start bearing fruit. Its fruit weighs from 150 grams to 1 kilogram. Of late, the dragon fruit is being planted in flower pot, rooftop and house yard. </span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-06', 'modified' => '2023-03-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16930', 'image' => '20230306051729_collage (15).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-06 17:14:02', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17191', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Presidential Election: Publicity to Suspend from March 6 Midnight', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'March 6: The Election Commission (EC) has notified that the silence period of publicity for the election of the president scheduled for March 9 will commence from midnight today (Monday). ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">March 6: The Election Commission (EC) has notified that the silence period of publicity for the election of the president scheduled for March 9 will commence from midnight today (Monday). </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The EC stated that the period of suspension of the election publicity in connection with the presidential election will be from midnight of March 6 until the voting booths are closed on March 9. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">It has issued an Election Code of Conduct, 2023 to be effective from March 1 to 19 in exercise of the powers given under Clause 22 of the Election Commission Act, 2073 BS. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Election Code of Conduct, 2023 has the provision which states that the silence period would be in force 48 hours before the voting day until the voting centres are closed on the voting day for conducting the election in a free, fair, credible, transparent and fear-free environment. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Election publicity activities including any type of discussions, interaction, assemblies, meetings, workshop, seminar etc. cannot be organized during the silence period in accordance with Clause 24 (5) of the Election (Offence and Punishment) Act, 2073 and Clause 17 of the Election Code of Conduct, 2023. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, any form of canvassing for or against any candidate through electronic medium such as SMS, Facebook, Viber and social sites have been prohibited. Similarly, activities like issuing statements, press release, publishing and broadcasting any materials and dissemination of materials projecting victory or defeat through communication media will be in contravention of the code of conduct. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The EC has urged all the sides concerned to maintain the fairness and dignity of the election by abiding to the election laws and code of conduct. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-06', 'modified' => '2023-03-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16929', 'image' => '20230306045936_1677758905.President 1.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-06 16:59:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17190', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Qatari Princess in Myagdi for Expedition of Mt Annapurna I', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'March 6: Qatar's princess Asma Al-Thani has arrived in Myagdi in course of her expedition to the Annapurna I.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">March 6: Qatar's princess Asma Al-Thani has arrived in Myagdi in course of her expedition to the Annapurna I. The 8,091 metres tall peak is the world's tenth highest mountain and it lies in the Annapurna Rural Municipality-1 in the district. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Her expedition is managed by the Elite Trekking Company. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Al-Thani's team landed at Dana of Annapurna-3 via a helicopter of Simrik Air and the expedition is led by Nirmal Purja (Nims) who holds a world record for successfully climbing 14 peaks above 8,000 meters in the world. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"Two members in our team will be arriving from Pokhara via the land route. The Qatari princess and I will be staying in Dana, which is my birthplace, for two days," Purja said and added that the expedition logistics have been already transported to the Annapurna base camp and the team aides are preparing for the expedition. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The squad hopes to complete the mission by this month (March). Al-Thani is an experienced climber and she has already successfully scaled Mt Everest, the highest peak in the world, Dhaulagiri, Kanchenjunga, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, Manaslu, and Mt K2 in Pakistan. Upon her arrival here, the team was accorded a warm welcome by the people's representatives in Dana and the Dana folks. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A civic felicitation was organised for them, according to Annapurna-3 ward chair Ramesh Purja. The local representative said they were happy to welcome the princess from Qatar and Nirmal Purja who has really a significant contribution to introduce Dana and Myagdi to the world and promote Nepal's identity internationally. "Nirmal is one of the world's courageous personalities." </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Dana-based tourism entrepreneur Indra Singh Sherchan said the visit by the Qatari princess would obviously help promote the local tourism and in the promotion of the Annapurna base camp. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">French national Maurice Herzog, was the first person to climb Annapurna I along with Louis Lachenal on June 3, 1950. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-06', 'modified' => '2023-03-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16928', 'image' => '20230306042608_1678094910.SG_Myagdi-IMG_8454.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-06 16:25:26', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17189', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Use of EVs in Question due to Lack of Charging Stations', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'March 6: Despite the increase in demand for electric vehicles (EVs) in Nepal, its use is in question due to the lack of charging stations. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">March 6: Despite the increase in demand for electric vehicles (EVs) in Nepal, its use is in question due to the lack of charging stations. Experts say that regular EV users are also using petroleum vehicles to travel outside the main cities.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Dhubra Thapa, president of NADA Automobiles Association of Nepal, says that users are now making electric vehicles their second choice due to the lack of charging stations. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“The number of EV users is high only in the main cities. Even now, most of the people consider the vehicle that runs on petroleum as their first choice. If charging stations can be increased, EVs can be made their first choice vehicle,” he said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the data of the Department of Transport Management, 8,552 electric vehicles were imported from mid-July to mid-February of the current fiscal year. With this, the number of electric vehicles in Nepal has reached 29,200.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Looking at the data, it seems that the attraction towards electric vehicles among Nepali consumers is increasing. Considering the abundant potential of electricity production, the situation where the hydroelectricity produced is wasted due to lack of market and the necessity of making the environment pollution-free, there is no alternative than to widely increase the use of EVs.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to Thapa, “Increasing the use of EVs will bring two benefits to Nepal. Firstly, by increasing the consumption of produced electricity, the money spent abroad on the import of petroleum products is saved. Secondly, the pollution caused by vehicles running on petroleum products is reduced.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Most of the countries in the world are encouraging the use of electric vehicles to reduce pollution. Automobile manufacturing companies are also introducing new brands and models of electric vehicles in the market. At a time when the interest in EVs is increasing worldwide, stakeholders say that the government should develop the necessary infrastructure and create an environment for this sector to flourish.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Businessmen complain that the government is working at a snail's pace even though they have already made necessary arrangements for charging stations and trained manpower.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Nirmal Khatri, senior product manager of Sipradi Trading, says that EV operation is challenging. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Khatri pointed out the need to increase the subsidy given to EVs by the government. Even though the government has given sufficient customs concessions to EVs compared to other vehicles, businessmen in this sector say that concessions should be further increased. They argue that the government will benefit from electric vehicles in the long run. Businessmen suggest that the government should maintain concessions and customs exemptions for at least 10 years for the rapid development of the EV sector.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-06', 'modified' => '2023-03-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16927', 'image' => '20230306025638_electric-car.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-06 14:55:49', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17188', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Conflict-Era Cases Can't be Prolonged Indefinitely: SC ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'March 6: The Supreme Court has said the cases of serious human rights violation relating to the armed conflict cannot be extended for a long time on various pretexts. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">March 6: The Supreme Court has said the cases of serious human rights violation relating to the armed conflict cannot be extended for a long time on various pretexts. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A division bench of Justices Ishwar Prasad Khatiwada and Hari Prasad Phuyal on Sunday issued an order, asking for the registration of a case against Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The victims of armed conflict deserve the right to justice, true information and reparation as per the Comprehensive Peace Accord, Constitution of Nepal, court verdicts and international law and principles. Therefore, the cases on these issues cannot be perpetuated forever on different pretexts.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"Taking into account the seriousness and sensitivity of the issue, the rejection of writ petition from getting registered for a court process is inappropriate," said the court order, adding that the order issued by SC Registrar on November 10, 2022 to not register the case is therefore scrapped. So, it can be registered as per the due procedure. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The SC further reminded that at a time when the transitional justice bodies are not functional, hearing from such bodies in the absence of effective law cannot be termed constitutional, just and logical and the victims should not be denied entry to court for justice. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In the order, the justices further reminded that the petitioners had argued that expected results from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and the Commission for Investigation of Enforced Disappeared Persons were still awaited and these commissions were now nearly dysfunctional. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">As the petition was filed at such time, the law on criminal offense cannot be left ineffective, the justices stressed. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-06', 'modified' => '2023-03-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16926', 'image' => '20230306015142_Supreme Court.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-06 13:50:59', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17187', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Private Sector Pins Hope on Government to Bring Economy on Track ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'March 6: Amid the slowdown of economic activities and its repercussions on the economic indicators, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Sunday held a meeting with stakeholders and bankers to help identify the challenges and solution to the issues faced by the economy at present. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">March 6: Amid the slowdown of economic activities and its repercussions on the economic indicators, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Sunday held a meeting with stakeholders and bankers to help identify the challenges and solution to the issues faced by the economy at present. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Government expenditure and revenue collection are lower than the target but the inflation rate is high and the private sector that suffered after the COVID-19 pandemic is yet to regain its strength. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In the recent times, liquidity crunch and higher interest rate and crisis in the microfinance and cooperatives have posed more pressure on the country's economic activities, leaving the poor people at the receiving end. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">After the discussions with the representatives of the Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB), private sector and BFIs, PM Dahal assured the private sector of forming a high-level commission pledging to troubleshoot the economic challenges. He said the government was serious towards the prospect of a bleak economic outlook. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"I am informed and conscious to the people's grievances towards banks and microfinances. I have been taking feedback from all sectors to resolve the challenges," the PM Dahal assured. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">On the occasion, PM Dahal said he was serious to the attempts made by some elements to create fiscal anarchy. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Talking to the RSS after holding talks with the PM, President of the Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FNCCI) Shekhar Golchha said that the debtors, who have suffered badly, should be supported through some policy-level interventions. The troubled debtors should be sympathized and the state should address their problems but disobeying to pay the loan deliberately is anarchy, the FNCCI president said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, Chairman of the Confederation of Nepalese Industries Vishnu Kumar Agrawal said that they urged the PM to address the economic woes of the country as liquidity crunch, high interest rate and production costs have increased in the country. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Agrawal said that the production cost could be reduced if the price of the petroleum products was slashed down. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Chairman of Nepal Chamber of Commerce Rajendra Malla said that the PM has given assurance to address the challenges. He, however, said that the private sector has not felt any changes despite the government's efforts. "The government is doing something. But, that’s inadequate. We are optimistic about the government’s efforts," he concluded. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-06', 'modified' => '2023-03-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16925', 'image' => '20230306124147_PRO_KTM-6F8A5302.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-06 12:40:17', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17186', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Festival of Colours being Celebrated with Much Fanfare', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'March 6: Fagu Purnima, popularly known as the festival of Holi, is being observed with much fanface in the capital and hill districts of Nepal today.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">March 6: Fagu Purnima, popularly known as the festival of Holi, is being observed with much fanface in the capital and hill districts of Nepal today.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">This festival is also known as the festival of colours as people smear colours to each other and throw water balloons to celebrate the arrival of the spring season.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The festival begins on the eighth day of the new moon in the month of Falgun as per the lunar calendar and ends on the full moon day today with the burning of the 'Chir', a tuft of colourful strips of cloth tied to the top end of a ritualistic pole, installed on the first day of the festival. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the Hindu mythology, demon king Hiranyakashyapu, who was unhappy with his son Prahlad for his wholehearted devotion to Lord Vishnu, ordered his sister Holika to kill Prahalad. Following her brother's instruction, Holika, who had a boon from the God of Creation – Lord Brahma – that fire would not harm her, sat on a pyre with Prahlad on her lap. But she was herself burnt to death while Prahalad remained unhurt due to the blessing of Lord Vishnu, the protector of the world. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">From then onwards, the festival is also known as Holi and is celebrated by smearing colour with enjoyment. It is believed that Lord Vishnu had warned Holika that the boon she had received would be meaningless if she misused it. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">This festival is celebrated in the Terai districts tomorrow.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-06', 'modified' => '2023-03-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16924', 'image' => '20230306115726_aaa.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-06 11:56:42', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17185', 'article_category_id' => '218', 'title' => 'NRB Forms High-Level Committee to Study Problems in Microfinance Companies ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Nepal Rastra Bank has constituted a high-level committee to study problems seen in microfinance companies in the country. ', 'content' => '<p><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size:18px">March 6: Nepal Rastra Bank has constituted a high-level committee to study problems seen in microfinance companies in the country. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Microfinance companies have been facing allegations of charging exorbitant interest and behaving badly with customers for the past a few months. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Microfinance companies, however, deny such allegations and claim that some loan shark groups used to issuing credit on meter interest have spread rumour. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">“NRB has constituted the high-level committee to carry out study on microfinance companies’ current situation and their contribution to economy,” said a source at NRB.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">The committee headed by Executive Director Prakash Kumar Shrestha of NRB Research Department has seven members. Committee members include Nepal Microfinance Banker’s Association’s chairman, two independent experts and four high-level officers from Nepal Rastra Bank.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">The committee will submit its report within six months. Microfinance companies have been in the forefront to enhance income of backward and low-income families across the country. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Since the government does not have set indicators to check microfinance companies’ contribution for poverty alleviation, it has been difficult to determine their role for poverty alleviation in Nepal.</span></p> <p><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-06', 'modified' => '2023-03-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16923', 'image' => '20230306063604_collage (14).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-06 06:33:54', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17184', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'IME Group Operates Technical School', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'March 5: IME Group, one of the largest business conglomerates in the country, which has invested in various sectors including banking, finance, insurance, hydropower, automobiles, and tourism, has started operating a technical school that provides all kinds of skill training under one roof.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">March 5: IME Group, one of the largest business conglomerates in the country, which has invested in various sectors including banking, finance, insurance, hydropower, automobiles, and tourism, has started operating a technical school that provides all kinds of skill training under one roof.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Upendra Sharma Ghimire, chief executive officer (CEO) of the school, promoted by IME Group, shared that the school provides training in hospitality and tourism, commercial management, entrepreneurship, professional development, engineering and health.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Under the hospitality and tourism category, trainings under different topics such as hospitality management, assistant, bartender, waiter, commercial cook/baker, and barista training are available. Ghimire said that under the business management section, training is provided on cooperative management, enterprise development facilitators, library assistants, salespersons and savings and loan mobilization.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Under the professional development section, training is provided on topics such as computer hardware and network technicians, electricians, LCD, LED television repair, plumbers, and telecom technicians.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, Ghimire informed that training for backhoe loader operation, excavator operation and mobile crane operation are available under engineering and caregiver training segment.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The school located in Sukedhara in Kathmandu has the infrastructure, including a skill lab. The school has already started training in hospitality and care-giving segments. Ghimire informed New Business Age that other trainings will also be started soon. Trainees who have received training at the school will receive a CTEVT certificate.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to CEO Ghimire, the school will also provide training as per the requirements of the industry. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">"We are ready if they (industry) come and say that our workers/employees need this kind of training. We have the appropriate trainers and resources."</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Ghimire claimed that the trainees of the school will be able to do internships in banks, financial institutions, hotels, and commercial establishments under the IME Group after completing the training. Ghimire also said that in the initial phase, efforts will be made to employ the trainees in various organizations, industries, institutions and schools under the IME Group.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Shiva Chaudhary, the program coordinator of the school, said that 'customized training' is also provided according to the individual's wishes. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">"We also provide services to those who pay a fixed fee and take training on the subject they want for just a day," Chaudhary said. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He informed that individuals have to pay a fee of Rs 2500 for it. He said that the training of the school will be very fruitful not only in the country but also for individuals going abroad.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to CEO Ghimire, this may be the first technical school in Nepal where all fields of training can be trained under one roof and is equipped with all the required infrastructure.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The fee for the training at the school is Rs 60,000 per person. Chaudhary said that one can participate in a short-term financial sector management and efficient leadership development class by paying Rs 2500 per day.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-05', 'modified' => '2023-03-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16922', 'image' => '20230305073353_Untitled.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-05 19:32:28', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17183', 'article_category_id' => '218', 'title' => 'Government Serious About Problems Seen In Banks And Microfinances, Says PM Dahal', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Sunday said his government has taken the problems facing the banks and financial institutions seriously and pledged to address them at the earliest.', 'content' => '<p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">March 5: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Sunday said his government has taken the problems facing the banks and financial institutions seriously and pledged to address them at the earliest.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">At the meeting held in the Office of Prime Minister and Council of Ministers to identify and resolve the problems facing banks and financial institutions on Sunday, Prime Minister Dahal said that his government had taken various financial issues, including hefty interest rate of the banks, problems seen in microfinance, businessmen’s concerns and some elements trying to create financial anarchy, very seriously and was reday to resolve them as early as possible. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“Businessmen are complaining about interest rates, media are reporting problems seen in microfinance and some people are trying to fish in the murky water by trying to spark financial chaos,” Dahal added.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Saying that country’s financial condition was in a difficult position, Dahal reminded that his government had decided to solve the financial problems through the joint efforts of the private and government sectors.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Nepal Rastra Bank’s Governor Maha Prasad Adhikari made a brief presentation on the current financial condition and claimed that the country’s economy was moving in the positive direction. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Government Chief Secretary, Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, NRB Governor, representatives of Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FNCCI), and representatives of various businesses and bankers’ associations were present at the meeting. </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-05', 'modified' => '2023-03-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16921', 'image' => '20230305055421_collage - 2023-03-05T170047.366.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-05 17:48:57', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17182', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NAC to Operate Direct Flight to South Korea ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'National flag carrier Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) will start direct flight to South Korea from Tribhuvan International Airport. ', 'content' => '<p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">March 5: National flag carrier Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) will start direct flight to South Korea from Tribhuvan International Airport. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Nepal Airlines Corporation has commenced the process to start direct flight to Incheon International Airport, Seoul in South Korea, according to Spokesperson Archana Khadka of the Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC).</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">A ten-member safety audit sub-committee has been formed led by Deputy General Manager Engineer Bikram KC for the direct flight to Seoul. The safety sub-committee has been tasked to study about on launching direct flight to South Korea. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“Civil Aviation Authority under the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport South Korea will audit for the direct flight. And the sub-committee has been formulated to facilitate the audit work,” said spokesperson Khadka.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">As part of its plan to expand international destinations, the NAC has started the preparation for direct flight to South Korea. With the NAC’s direct flight to Seoul, the fare from Nepal to South Korea will come down and the national flag carrier’s responsibility will be fulfilled, NAC believes. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Nepal Airlines Corporation has been making international flights to ten destinations of eight countries, including three places in India. NAC has two narrow body A-320 aircrafts and two wide body A-330 aircrafts. </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-05', 'modified' => '2023-03-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16920', 'image' => '20230305050506_collage - 2023-03-05T162919.876.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-05 16:59:23', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17181', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '1.7 million Demat Accounts are Inactive', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'March 5: It has been found that 32 percent of the Demat accounts opened for share transactions are inactive.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">March 5: It has been found that 32 percent of the Demat accounts opened for share transactions are inactive. According to CDS and Clearing Limited (CDSC), more than 1,763,000 of the total 5,577,000 Demat accounts opened so far are inactive. CDSC spokesperson Suresh Neupane said that there are no shares of any company in those accounts and such accounts have not been renewed for a long time. According to him, one person can open up to two Demat accounts.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to Neupane, if any investor has opened two Demat accounts, both accounts should be in operation. Neupane informed that 32 percent of Demat accounts which are currently inactive have not been in operation since 2073 BS. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Neupane says that according to the provision of renewal by paying Rs 100 per year, the renewal cost for the re-activation of the accounts that are currently inactive will be quite high. He suggests that only closing those accounts will be cost-effective. According to him, investors are not interested in the operation of those accounts which have not been renewed for a long time even though there is a system that renewal can be done from home. He stated, “There is no point in increasing the number of inactive accounts just to maintain the numbers.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">As per the regulatory body, Securities Board of Nepal (SEBON), CDSC may close inactive Demat accounts as deemed necessary. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Muktinath Shrestha, the spokesperson of the board, speculated that 32 percent of the Demat accounts mandated for securities transactions may have been opened in the name of several members of the same family. Shrestha speculates that even though the accounts were opened in the of name of several members of the same family, only some members may have participated in the transaction. He said that keeping the inactive account without closing it will not have much effect. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Demat account was made mandatory when applying for the purchase of securities of public shares within the valley from July 16, 2016 and from January 14, 2017 throughout the country. The number of Demat accounts started to increase as it became mandatory. According to CDSC, only 100,000 Demat accounts were opened till January 15, 2017. More than 5,400,000 such accounts have been added in the last six years. CDSC informed that the Demat account was opened for the first time in Nepal on July 16, 2012.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-05', 'modified' => '2023-03-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16919', 'image' => '20230305041419_20190416021131_aaaa.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-05 16:13:34', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17180', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Price of Milk Increased against Government Policy', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'March 5: The government has increased the price of milk against the National Dairy Development Policy. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">March 5: The government has increased the price of milk against the National Dairy Development Policy. A cabinet meeting held on Friday decided to increase the price of milk by Rs 9 per liter. According to the National Dairy Development Policy 2078, the price of milk can be revised every two years based on the study report of the Diary Development Board. However, due to the collusion of the businessmen and the government, the price has been increased in just one year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the decision of the Council of Ministers, the price of milk per liter has been fixed at Rs 65 for the farmers. Earlier, farmers were selling milk at Rs 56 per liter. The government increased the price due to the complaints of milk producing farmers and dairy businessmen that they are not getting the price of milk according to the cost of production. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Executive Director of the national Dairy Development Board (DDB) Rajendra Prasad Yadav said that currently only the minimum price of milk that the farmers get has been increased. The profit of dairy dealers is yet to be increased. According to him, the profit earned by the dairy will be determined in coordination between the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, the DDB and other relevant agencies. Now, consumers are buying milk at Rs 83 per liter.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">On February 14, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development was recommended to increase the price of milk by Rs 10 per litre. Some businessmen demanded to increase the price of milk by up to Rs 14 per litre. Earlier in December, under the leadership of the Dairy Industry Association, the price of milk was unilaterally increased by Rs 14 per litre. The price hike was withdrawn after widespread protests.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The dairy businessmen had put pressure on the government to increase the price of milk saying that the price of grain, bran, straw and transportation costs have increased. They said that they were forced to increase the price of milk against the policy. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Raj Kumar Dahal, president of the Dairy Industry Association, said that since the prices of grain, bran and medicine have more than doubled, the cost of production of farmers is difficult to meet. Earlier, the government had adjusted the price of milk about 1 year ago during the tenure of the then Agriculture and Livestock Development Minister Mahindra Raya Yadav.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-05', 'modified' => '2023-03-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16918', 'image' => '20230305033412_milkkkkkkk.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-05 15:33:26', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17179', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Who is Durga Prasai, an Outspoken Critic and Campaigner against the Banking Sector?', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'March 5: Durga Prasai of Jhapa is currently in the limelight for campaigning against the banking and financial institutions.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">March 5: Durga Prasai of Jhapa is currently in the limelight for campaigning against the banking and financial institutions. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">"If the representatives of microfinance and financial institutions come to the villages, catch them and smear black soot on them. If you enter a bank for vengeance because a bank employee has tortured you, you will face a robbery case, but you can wait for them outside the bank and smear black soot,” said Prasai. His extreme view is spreading on social media like a wildfire.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">He is also inciting people to not pay their bank loans.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">At the meantime, Prasai’s act of calling and harassing the banks’ top level employees is also going viral on social media networks. People related with the financial sector have demanded that the state should create a working environment as they feel uncomfortable with Prasai's expressions and activities.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">After Prasai's statement, the Ministry of Home Affairs has sent letters to the chiefs of all district administration offices and instructed them to keep the security agencies on high alert. Home Ministry officials say that no person should be allowed to spread rumors or raise slogans in such a way so as to disturb the peace, harmony (ethnic and communal) and cause riots. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">After all, who is Prasai who keeps coming into the limelight such tantrums and controversial statements? It has become a subject of curiosity everywhere. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Prasai, a permanent resident of Birtamod, Jhapa, is best known as the director of B&C Medical College. Those who know him closely say that Prasai has invested in areas beyond medical colleges.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Prasai's family, which settled in the plains of Jhapa from Tehrathum in the hills of eastern Nepal, was of a humble economic background. He earned his living by farming. Prasai has not studied past the eighth grade. He got married at a young age. He worked in Prasai Grill Factory for some time and went to Europe for employment. Unable to stay for a long time in Europe, he returned to his country. With the experience of working in buffalo farms abroad, Prasai started raising buffaloes professionally in Birtamod.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Locals say that Prasai started the farm by buying advanced breed of buffaloes from Haryana, India. At that time, Prasai had about a hundred buffaloes. Prasai sold milk as well as buffaloes. The milk produced in his farm used to reach as far as India across the Mechi River. His buffalo farm, which he started with bank loan, went well for some time, but financial crisis started appearing later. Prasai struggled to pay the bank loan and interest in regular interval. When he went to the bank to ask for more loans, the bank did not believe him. Finally Prasai's buffalo business crumbled.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">It is said that Prasai, who was initially affiliated to the Nepali Congress, joined the then rebels CPN Maoists, which was an underground outfit at that time, after the collapse of his business. Those who know him say that Prasai used Maoist cadres against his father-in-law to help his brother-in-law who was fighting a case for family property. Due to the Maoist threat, Prasai’s father-in-law was ready to give a share in the case that had not been settled in the court for a long time and Prasai's brother-in-law got his share of land.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Locals say that Prasai's fortunes brightened after getting the land. Experts say that he made a lot of money after plotting the land together with his brother-in-law and selling it for up to Ra 500,000 per dhur. After making a good fortune, Prasai started dealing in land in Kathmandu. He built a luxurious house in Bhaktapur. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">It was the same house where he raised quite a few eyebrows by serving red rice to the then chairmen of Communist Party of Nepal KP Sharma Olin d Pushpa Kamal Dahal.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">It is said that he is involved in many businesses besides the B&C Medical College. Prasai, who joined the CPN (UML) after the dissolution of the CPN, was given the responsibility of central member by the UML leadership. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">After that, he started criticizing the Maoist Chairman Dahal, and said that he would encourage 500,00 people join the UML before the elections. Although he tried to run a medical college, he has not been able to get a medical college license due to the agitation of Dr Govind KC, a medical crusader who has been demanding reforms in the medical sector.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Prasai was also in the limelight when he brought the prince of the United Arab Emirates on a visit to Nepal and received a golden stick as a gift from him. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">On February 1, Prasai announced that he had started a campaign from Mechipul for the restoration of the monarchy, with members of the former royal family as witnesses. Prasai, who criticized the banks and financial institutions in that program, repeated the same issue and context in a program held in Kathmandu on Saturday.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Prasai is viewed with suspicion due to the wealth he has acquired in a short period of time as well as his relationship with the UAE prince. Although he has been abusing banks and financial institutions, he has taken loans from the same financial institutions for his business. Although some people think that it is difficult for him to pay the bank loan, he claims that he is paying the loan interest as per the schedule.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-05', 'modified' => '2023-03-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16917', 'image' => '20230305021805_1677978782.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-05 14:17:22', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17178', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Foreign Tourists Barred from Solo Trekking in Nepal', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'March 5: Tourists visiting Nepal for hiking and trekking will no longer be allowed to go to their destinations alone.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">March 5: Tourists visiting Nepal for hiking and trekking will no longer be allowed to go to their destinations alone. The decision of Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) to suspend the provision of Free Individual Trekker (FIT) now mandates tourists to have a guide while trekking.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The board is closing FIT from April 1. The board has amended the Nepal Tourism Act-2053 and Trekking Information Management System Operation Guidelines-2066 to make it compulsory to have a guide. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">With this decision taken on Friday, foreigners going for a trek now have to take a guide along with them through a trekking company. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Chief Executive of NTB Dhananjay Regmi said that this decision was taken to guarantee the safety of the tourists during their trip.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to Regmi, both tourists and guides going on a trek will be insured. At present, the tourists who go on foot-trails travel alone with the 'Tourist Information Management System (TIMS)' card. However, after seeing the problem of tourists getting lost, the board decided to prohibit tourists from going on a trek alone. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">"This matter has been discussed and we reached a conclusion that Nepal should be made a safe tourist destination in every aspect," he said.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Former President of Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal (TAAN) Khem Bahadur Subedi said that the board had taken a good decision and emphasized on its implementation. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">He said that as this decision will increase employment and also give equal importance to the safety of tourists.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">“The board must pay attention to the implementation of its decision,” he said. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to Subedi, the number of trekking companies in Nepal is currently more than 2,000.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">After the board implements this decision, the employment and income of trekking guides in Nepal will also increase. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to the data of the board, before the onset of Covid-19 pandemic, 46 tourists used to arrive in Nepal annually as 'Free Individual Trekkers (FIT)'. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">NTB Director Maniraj Lamichhane said that after the board decided to discontinue the TIMS card issued for FIT, it will now distribute the same type of TIMS card to all tourists. Previously, those going on a group tour would pay Rs 1,000 per person and those going on a solo tour would get a card by paying Rs 2,000 per person.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to the board, now the fee of TIMS card for all tourists will be Rs 2,000 per person. In case of citizens of SAARC countries, it will cost Rs 1000 instead of the previous fee of Rs 200. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Suman Prasad Parajuli, president of Unitravels, the safety concerns of Nepal's mountain tourism has been addressed by the NTB’s deision. According to the Nepal Tourism Statistics - 2021 prepared by the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, the number of tourists visiting Nepal to spend holidays is the highest followed by tourists who come here for adventure tourism (trekking and mountain climbing). </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to the data, the total number of tourists who arrived in Nepal for trekking in the year 2019 before the Covid-19 was 197,786. In the year 2021, this number was 15,549.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-03-05', 'modified' => '2023-03-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16916', 'image' => '20230305123213_mardi-himal-peak.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-03-05 12:31:30', '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
