February 20: The COVID-19 pandemic derailed development and caused a massive collapse in human capital for millions of children and young people across South…
February 20: The COVID-19 pandemic derailed development and caused a massive collapse in human capital for millions of children and young people across South…
Dolti Power Company Limited has opened sale of its Initial Public Offering (IPO) to the locals of project-affected Dailkeh district and Nepali citizens working in foreign countries from…
February 19: Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) has requested all stakeholders to incorporate the suggestions of the private sector while amending the Food Hygiene and Quality…
Sunsari Chapter of Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FNCCI) is all set to organize 10-day ‘Dharan Expo-2079’ to promote Dharan bazaar in…
Govind Gurung has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Agricultural Development Bank. The meeting of the Board of Directors has appointed Gurung for next four-year…
February 19: Deposit collection of commercial banks increased by about Rs 2 billion in the first seven months of the current fiscal year.…
February 19: The Nepalese Embassy in Moscow, Russia on Saturday, 18 February, organized a program named “'Nepal Promotion Event-2023” with the aim of promoting Nepali…
February 19: The Department of Roads has said that the process of expanding the Suryabinayak-Dhulikhel road section along the Araniko Highway has…
February 18: The police have arrested 40 people involved in vandalizing and looting Lotse Mall located at New Bus Park area in Balaju as well as for torching police vehicles on February 13. …
February 19: Pokhara International Airport will be equipped with the Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) system in a…
More than 14,000 trees are felled for the under construction Arun III Hydropower Project and for the expansion of various hydropower projects along the Koshi corridor in…
February 18: On the occasion of Mahashivratri festival, all four doors of the Pashupatinath temple have been opened from 3 am early…
February 18: Nepalis are celebrating the Maha Shivaratri festival across the country today with much…
February 18: A joint market monitoring committee has banned the sale and distribution of substandard cooking gas cylinders in Banke…
Entrepreneurs, traders and industrialists staged a protest rally against banks and financial institutions at Maitighar Mandala, Kathmandu, on…
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Yet, the pandemic shuttered schools and places of employment and disrupted key services that protect and promote human capital, such as healthcare and job training, the World Bank reported citing the latest report.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The new report, Collapse and Recovery: How COVID Eroded Human Capital and What to Do About It, presents the first comprehensive analysis of global data on the pandemic’s impacts on young people at key developmental stages: early childhood (0-5 years), school age (6-14 years), and youth (15-24 years). It finds that in South Asia, today’s students could lose up to 14.4 percent of their future earnings due to COVID-19-induced education shocks. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Issuing a recent statement, the World Bank said that the cognitive deficit in today’s toddlers could translate into a 25 percent decline in earnings when these children are adults.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“The pandemic shut down schools, decimated jobs, and plunged vulnerable families into crisis, pushing millions of South Asia’s children and young people off-track and depriving them of opportunities to flourish,” the statement quoted Martin Raiser, World Bank vice president for South Asia, as saying. “Action to recover from losses in human capital is critical and examples from the region show that this is possible at relatively low cost if governments act fast,” Raiser added.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">In South Asia, between April 1, 2020 and March 31, 2022, schools were fully or partially closed for 83 percent of the time—significantly longer than the global average of schools being closed for 52 percent of that same period, according to the report. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“Among school-aged children, on average, for every 30 days of school closures, students lost about 32 days of learning. This is because school closures and ineffective remote learning measures caused students to miss out on learning and to also forget what they had already learned. As a result, learning poverty – already 60 percent before the pandemic — has increased further, with an estimated 78 percent of 10-year-olds in South Asia unable to read and understand a simple written text.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">In some countries in South Asia that were covered in the report, school enrollment has not returned to pre-pandemic levels. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Across South Asia, the number of people neither employed nor enrolled in education or training has increased substantially. Moreover, in several countries that were analyzed, there was little sign of recovery after 18 months.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Without urgent action, the pandemic also threatens to deepen poverty and inequality, the World Bank warned. According to the World Bank, recent evidence suggests that even simple and low-cost programs can lead to sizable gains in skills. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“In Bangladesh, for example, attending a year of additional pre-school through two-hour sessions significantly improved literacy, numeracy, and social-development scores.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The World Bank said it is working closely with governments in South Asia to protect and invest in people as they cope with and recover from the pandemic. The World Bank’s pandemic response financing in South Asia reached nearly $11 billion during the two years since the start of the pandemic (April 2020 - April 2022), including $2.7 billion that supported social safety nets benefitting more than 857 million vulnerable people, $2.5 billion for 15 health projects, $2.80 billion for 12 education projects, and more than $1 billion to support vaccine purchase and deployment.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-20', 'modified' => '2023-02-20', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16807', 'image' => '20230220110336_World.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-20 11:02:37', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17067', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Dolti Power Company Opens Sale of IPO to Project-affected Locals and Migrant Workers ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Dolti Power Company Limited has opened sale of its Initial Public Offering (IPO) to the locals of project-affected Dailkeh district and Nepali citizens working in foreign countries from Monday.', 'content' => '<p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14pt">February 20: Dolti Power Company Limited has opened sale of its Initial Public Offering (IPO) to the locals of project-affected Dailkeh district and Nepali citizens working in foreign countries from Monday.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14pt"> In the first phase, the company is offering 10 per cent of the issued capital, i.e. 5,36,486 shares to the project-affected locals of Dailkeh district. </span></span></span><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14pt"> The locals can apply for a minimum of 10 shares and a maximum of 10,000 shares.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14pt">If fully subscribed, the IPO to locals will close on March 9. If the IPO remains under-subscribed until the deadline, the deadline to apply for the IPO will extend till March 21.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14pt">Similarly, the company is issuing1, 07,298 shares to the Nepali citizens working in foreign countries (10 per cent from general public’s quota).</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14pt">Nepali citizens in foreign employment can apply for a minimum of 10 shares and a maximum of 10,000 shares. The IPO for the Nepali citizens working in foreign countries will close on March 9. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14pt">After the completion of the first phase of the IPO allotment, IPO shares will be issued to the general public. </span></span></span><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14pt">Dolti Power Company Limited is currently operating 4.5 (megawatt) Padam Khola Hydro Power Project in Dailekh.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14pt">Run-of the-River project started its commercial production of the electricity from December, 2019. </span></span></span><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14pt">NIC Asia Capital Limited is the issue and sales manager of the company.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-20', 'modified' => '2023-02-20', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16806', 'image' => '20230220062532_collage (8).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-20 06:17:47', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17066', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Private Sector Urges Stakeholders to Consider their Suggestions for Food Hygiene and Quality Bill', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 19: Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) has requested all stakeholders to incorporate the suggestions of the private sector while amending the Food Hygiene and Quality Bill.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">February 19: Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) has requested all stakeholders to incorporate the suggestions of the private sector while amending the Food Hygiene and Quality Bill. The federation insisted on implementing the suggestions arguing that the bill introduced in the parliament is to amend and unify the food hygiene and quality law and it should not be passed as it is.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">A delegation led by Anjan Shrestha, vice president of FNCCI, met former Prime Minister and Chairman of Nepal Communist Party (UML) KP Sharma Oli on Saturday and made such request. The federation said that if the proposed provisions of the bill are passed, the food and food-related industries/businesses will be closed. Therefore, the recommendations prepared by the federation regarding the bill need to be incorporated, said Shrestha.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to Shrestha, the issues to be amended in the bill were discussed with the officers of the Legislation Committee of the National Assembly. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“Suggestions were submitted by three parties regarding the amendment of the bill. However, when a bill like this is presented in the parliament without any amendment, no food-related industries can operate in the country,” said Shrestha.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The federation suggested that there should be a legal arrangement to reveal the maximum best-before date for consumption on the packaging food items mentioned in the 'Food Handler Protocols and Food Safety Rules'. The federation also suggested arranging compensation for the loss caused to the seller when the sale and distribution of food products is stopped only on the basis of suspicion. The federation says that the system of demanding the return of food items by publishing public notices should be removed.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">FNCCI mentioned that due to various technical problems, there is no consistency in the lab test reports in the country, so there should be a review of the order issued on the basis of such reports. It is mentioned in the proposed bill that compensation will be paid if the consumption of contaminated food/low-quality food causes damage to the health of the consumer.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">FNCCI suggested, “It is unfair to punish with imprisonment and excessive fines and this system should be removed.” The federation was against arresting entrepreneurs, businessmen and traders and imprisoning and detaining them for the entire duration of the case. In relation to the offenses mentioned in it, the federation put forward suggestions such as the provision of prosecution only in accordance with this Act, and the removal of the provision of prosecuting offenses under other acts/laws.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-19', 'modified' => '2023-02-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16805', 'image' => '20230219063821_T321763914_g.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-19 18:37:49', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17065', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Dharan Expo to Be Held From February 23 to March 4', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Sunsari Chapter of Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FNCCI) is all set to organize 10-day ‘Dharan Expo-2079’ to promote Dharan bazaar in Dharan.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">February 19: Sunsari Chapter of Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FNCCI) is all set to organize 10-day ‘Dharan Expo-2079’ to promote Dharan bazaar in Dharan.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Organisers say that they are preparing to organize the expo with the objective of making financial activities of Dharan mobile and providing international products at a fair price to the customers. </span></span><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The expo will be held at Dharan stadium-16 from February 23 to March 4. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The expo will have 70 stalls of agricultural products, agriculture tools, and products of small and medium industries, readymade textiles, banks, vehicles, and domestic utensils, according to Stall Management Committee Coordinator Bishnu Baral.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“The primary aim of the expo is to send out the message that Dharan can organize international level exhibition,” Baral added. </span></span><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Expo Coordinator Gopal Shrestha said that transaction worth Rs 100 million would take place during the expo. Around 30,000 individuals are expected to visit the expo on a daily basis. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Entrepreneurs and traders from India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Pakistan will participate in the expo, Shrestha informed. </span></span><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">During the expo, various seminars and workshops will be held. “A tourism workshop will be held incorporating hotel, tempo and buss entrepreneurs,” Shestha added. </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-19', 'modified' => '2023-02-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16804', 'image' => '20230219054605_collage - 2023-02-19T162159.914.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-19 17:42:55', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17064', 'article_category_id' => '218', 'title' => 'Govind Gurung Appointed CEO of Agricultural Development Bank', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Govind Gurung has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Agricultural Development Bank. The meeting of the Board of Directors has appointed Gurung for next four-year term.', 'content' => '<p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">February 19: Govind Gurung has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Agricultural Development Bank. The meeting of the Board of Directors has appointed Gurung for next four-year term. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">As many as 22 individuals had applied for the post of ADBL’s CEO. Out of them, five were shortlisted for the coveted post. Along with Gurung, Pratap Subedi, Yagya Prakash Nupane, Badri Gurgai and Bishnu Dev Yadav were shortlisted for the CEO’s post.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Interview of the five shortlisted candidates took place on Saturday. Gurung was selected for the top job of the Agricultural Development Bank from the interview. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Gurung had served as the Chief Executive Officer of the Civil Bank Limited. He had also worked as Chief Executive Officer of Myanmar Citizens Bank in Myanmar for one and a half years. </span></span><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Gurung has 26 years’ experience of working in the different commercial banks. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Gurung has completed Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Nepal Commerce Campus under Tribhuvan University. He had started his banking career from Himalayan Bank Limited.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Gurung will take charge of the Agricultural Development Bank from Monday. The post of the Chief Executive Officer was vacant after erstwhile CEO Anil Kumar Upadhayay’s tenure came to an end.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-19', 'modified' => '2023-02-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16803', 'image' => '20230219042456_collage - 2023-02-19T155028.444.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-19 16:21:30', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17063', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Deposit Collection of Banks up by Rs 200 Billion in 7 Months', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 19: Deposit collection of commercial banks increased by about Rs 2 billion in the first seven months of the current fiscal year. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">February 19: Deposit collection of commercial banks increased by about Rs 2 billion in the first seven months of the current fiscal year. The banks, which faced liquidity problem in the last fiscal year, have shown improvement in the current fiscal year.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to Nepal Bankers Association, the umbrella organization of commercial banks, the total deposits of commercial banks increased from Rs 4541.44 billion in mid-July last year to Rs 4741.90 billion rupees by mid-February.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In the last fiscal year, the deposits of commercial banks increased by Rs 340 billion. But in the first seven months, it increased only Rs 110 billion. Despite the increase in deposits this year, banks have not been able to increase their lending. In the seven months of the current fiscal year, commercial banks have extended loans of only Rs 115 billion. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The total credit flow of commercial banks, which was Rs 4175 billion in mid-July last year, increased to Rs 4290 billion by mid-February.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">During last year, the banks disbursed loans of Rs 445 billion including Rs 434 billion in the first seven months. Banks had started to reduce lending from mid-January of last year.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Recently, there has been an improvement in the deposits of the banks, but there has not been an improvement in the lending. Sunil KC, President of Nepal Bankers Association and Chief Executive Officer of NMB Bank said that there is no demand for loans in banks in recent times. He said, “With the improvement in the economy, deposits in the bank increased as well. But, at the moment, the demand for loans in the bank is low.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">President KC said that even though the liquidity situation seems to be somewhat comfortable, banks are still in a wait-and-watch situation. He said that while the economic indicators are positive, the government has removed the ban on imports and this will put on foreign exchange reserves. He added that the monetary policy has also kept the policy rates unchanged.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">KC claims that recently banks have been reducing the interest rate of deposits and that will gradually make loans cheaper. “As the interest rate of deposits decreases, the interest rate of loans also decreases. However, as businessmen say, it is not possible for the interest rate of loans to drop to a single digit immediately,” said KC.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-19', 'modified' => '2023-02-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16802', 'image' => '20230219034446_Banks.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-19 15:44:02', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17062', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Tourism Promotion in Russia', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 19: The Nepalese Embassy in Moscow, Russia on Saturday, 18 February, organized a program named “'Nepal Promotion Event-2023” with the aim of promoting Nepali tourism.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">February 19: The Nepalese Embassy in Moscow, Russia on Saturday, 18 February, organized a program named “'Nepal Promotion Event-2023” with the aim of promoting Nepali tourism.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The embassy informed that the programme was attended by distinguished Russian tourism businessmen from Moscow, representatives of various airlines flying in Nepal and interested in flying, tourism journalists, mountain climbers, diplomats, businessmen, and representatives of Non-Resident Nepalese Association. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">During the programme, Nepal’s Ambassador to Russia Milan Raj Tuladhar requested that since there are many opportunities for Russian tourists and tourism professionals in Nepal, they should make good use of it.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The program was attended by Soviet hero and cosmonaut Vladimir Aleksandrovich Dzhanibekov, former ambassador of the Russian Federation to Nepal Sergey Velichkin Vasilievich, Chairman of the International Coordination Council of the Non-Resident Nepali Association, Dr. Badri KC, President of Non-Resident Nepali Association’s National Coordinating Council of Russia Shiva Mani Bhurtel, Russian climber Ivan Trofimovich Dusarin and others distinguished personalities. They discussed the potential and current situation of Nepal's tourism, mountain climbing, culture and other aspects.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Leonid Myasnikov and Sergey Peskevich, the leading tourism businessmen who send Russian tourists to Nepal, presented videos and other materials related to the promotion of Nepal. The embassy informed that the Russian banker and businessman Yuriy Gusev gave a presentation on investment opportunities in Nepal.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In order to give a glimpse of Nepali culture, the living goddess “Kumari” was exhibited and Nepali cultural dances were presented along with the arrangement of dinner with Nepali dishes.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-19', 'modified' => '2023-02-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16801', 'image' => '20230219025031_Untitled.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-19 14:49:38', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17061', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Collection of Details for Expansion of Suryabinayak-Dhulikhel Road Begins', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 19: The Department of Roads has said that the process of expanding the Suryabinayak-Dhulikhel road section along the Araniko Highway has started.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">February 19: The Department of Roads has said that the process of expanding the Suryabinayak-Dhulikhel road section along the Araniko Highway has started. </span></span><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the department, the Suryabinayak-Sindhuli-Bardibas Project has started collecting details for the expansion of road in two phases.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">After calling for tender bids last September, the government signed separate agreements to complete the expansion of the road section, which was built 25 years ago, in two phases. The deadline for the expansion work is three years.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">In the first phase, the road will be expanded from Sanga to Dhulikhel and then from Sanga to Suryabinayak in the second phase, the project office said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Out of the total 15.5 km road to be expanded from Suryabinayak to Dhulikhel, Lama Construction has won the contract to complete the 8.4 km road from Sanga to Dhulikhel. The contract is worth Rs 4.5 billion, said Spokesperson for the Department of Roads, Bhimarjun Adhikari.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">In the second phase, an agreement has been signed to complete the 7.5 km Suryabinayak-Sanga road at the cost of over Rs 3.8 billion, said the department.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The project office has written letters to four local levels within the project site to help collect details about the road in line with the set standards. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Removing buildings and structures built violating the road standards has begun, said the project office. The road will be expanded to six lanes, said the project's senior divisional engineer Radhika Prajapati.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">After the completion of the road expansion work, it is expected to ease traffic congestion, said Mayor of Banepa Municipality Shanti Ratna Kayastha.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Separate bidding will be announced to construct bridges along the road, said the project office. The estimated cost to construct bridges is Rs 9 million.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the detailed project report, around Rs 1 billion is required to acquire 17 ropanis of land for the road expansion project.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">It may be noted that the project had issued a 35-day notice last July urging the owners to remove unauthorized structures from both sides of the highway. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The Department of Roads had initiated the process to expand the road from Dhulikhel to Bhaktapur via Banepa some years ago taking into consideration huge traffic pressure. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">It has been learnt that the Department of Roads intensified preparation for the road expansion drive on its own using internal resources after the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) pulled out of the project. -- RSS</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-19', 'modified' => '2023-02-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16800', 'image' => '20230219013913_20220831041752_dhulikhel.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-19 13:38:21', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17060', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '40 Arrested for Vandalizing Lotse Mall, Torching Police Vans', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 18: The police have arrested 40 people involved in vandalizing and looting Lotse Mall located at New Bus Park area in Balaju as well as for torching police vehicles on February 13. ', 'content' => '<h2><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">February 18: The police have arrested 40 people involved in vandalizing and looting Lotse Mall located at New Bus Park area in Balaju as well as for torching police vehicles on February 13. </span></span></span></span></h2> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">They were arrested on Friday evening on the charge of torching two police vans, vandalizing Lotse Mall and looting mobile sets during a protest launched by transport workers. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The agitators had vandalized ACDC Mobile Pvt Ltd, Diamond Mobile Pvt Ltd, Kathmandu Supermarket Pvt Ltd and looted mobile sets, chargers, earphone as well as other accessories. They also set on fire police vehicles (Ba 2 Jha 144) and (Ba 1 Jha 7224) of Balaju Police Circle. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Similarly, a temporary police post at Balaju Chowk was also torched by the protesters. Superintendent of Police Sitaram Rijal, who is the spokesperson for the District Police Office, Kathmandu, said 29 people were arrested on the charge of their involvement in arson and vandalism and 11 for their involvement in looting mobile sets. Investigations into the cases are currently underway. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Other people involved in arson and vandalism have already been identified and they would be arrested soon, added SP Rijal. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">An unruly mass of people had vandalized Lotse Mall, looted mobile sets and set the police vehicles on fire during the protest launched jointly by the Nepal Transport Workers' Association, All Nepal Transport Workers' Association, and Nepal Transport Independent Workers' Organisation. -- RSS</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-19', 'modified' => '2023-02-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16799', 'image' => '20230219114528_nepal police.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-19 11:44:24', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17059', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'IFR at Pokhara International Airport ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 19: Pokhara International Airport will be equipped with the Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) system in a week.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">February 19: Pokhara Regional International Airport will be equipped with the Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) system in a week. Preparations for the operation of the IFR system at the newly-opened international airport in Pokhara have been completed, the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">CAAN spokesperson Jagannath Niraula informed RSS that the implementation of IFR in Pokhara international airport will come into effect from February 23. As a result, many airline companies have shown interest in carrying out regular international flights to and from Pokhara. The Korean Air, Biz Air, Himalaya and the state-owned Nepal Airlines Corporation and others have shown interest to start their services from the airport. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The IFR system is a fully mechanical operating system and compared to Visual Flight Rules (VFR) it is relatively safe and comfortable despite taking more time, the CAAN said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The airport came into operation from January 1, 2023 with only domestic services currently being provided by Buddha, Yeti, Shree, Sourya, Guna and other domestic airlines. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-19', 'modified' => '2023-02-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16798', 'image' => '20230219084821_Pokhara-Airport-800X533.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-19 08:47:14', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17058', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Over 14,000 Trees Felled for Under Construction Hydropower Projects in Sankhuwasabha', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'More than 14,000 trees are felled for the under construction Arun III Hydropower Project and for the expansion of various hydropower projects along the Koshi corridor in Sankhuwasabha. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">February 19: More than 14,000 trees are felled for the under construction Arun III Hydropower Project and for the expansion of various hydropower projects along the Koshi corridor in Sankhuwasabha. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Earlier, the Council of Ministers had taken the decision to fell the trees of the community and private forests in the district. </span></span><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The trees were logged for the construction of 900 megawatt Arun-III Hydropower Project and 220 megawatt Koshi Corridor Transmission line. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">As many as 14,627 trees of 18 community forests and some private forests were felled for the Arun-III Hydropower Project and Koshi Corridor Transmission Line, said Division Forest Office Sankhuwasabha Chief Dr Indra Sapkota.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Dr Sapkota said that 11 hydropower projects have used forest areas of six local levels. A total of 5,400 trees were felled for the expansion of electricity in the government forests.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Trees have been cleared at 123.22 hectares of the lands at Fyaksinda of Makalu Rural Municiplaity-5 and Diding Pukhuwa of Chichila Rural Municipality for Arun-III, according to Satluj, which is constructing the hydropower. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Arun-III Hydropower project has used 44 hectares of the land at Makalu Barun National Park in Sankhuwasabha. </span></span><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The existing regulations have it that users of the forest users’ committees can use the felled trees. As many as 994 trees were cut down for the 33 KV transmission line of the Arun-III Hydropower project. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">During the project construction and operation, if trees are cut down, tree saplings have to be planted in other places. </span></span><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">For the transmission line expansion, an agreement was signed to fell trees in the area having two kilometers length and 46 meters breadth. Hydropower will cut down the trees, said District Forest Office Sankhuwasabha. </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-19', 'modified' => '2023-02-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16797', 'image' => '20230219061503_collage.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-19 06:08:17', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17057', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'All Four Doors of Pashupatinath Open since 3 AM ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 18: On the occasion of Mahashivratri festival, all four doors of the Pashupatinath temple have been opened from 3 am early today. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">February 18: On the occasion of Mahashivratri festival, all four doors of the Pashupatinath temple have been opened from 3 am early today. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT) Information Officer Gauri Shankar Parajuli shared that the devotees had gathered for worship since before 3 o'clock in the morning. He informed that worshipping Lord Pashupatinath is possible within half an hour of queuing from Jayabageshwari and 45 minutes to one hour from Tilganga area. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Thousands of devotees have gathered in Pashupati area since early morning. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Some 5,000 security personnel and 4,000 volunteers have been deployed to ensure orderly management of the devotees that come to the Pashupatinath temple for worshipping today. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Health camps have also been set up on the Pashupatinath temple premises. Along with Pashupatinath, other temples of Lord Shiva in the capital are also crowded with devotees to mark the Shivaratri festival. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-18', 'modified' => '2023-02-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16796', 'image' => '20230218111548_IMG_20230218_065613.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-18 11:15:12', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17056', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Maha Shivaratri Festival being Observed across the Country Today', 'sub_title' => 'Nepalese Army to mark the Army Day on this occasion', 'summary' => 'February 18: Nepalis are celebrating the Maha Shivaratri festival across the country today with much fanfare.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">February 18: Nepalis are celebrating the Maha Shivaratri festival across the country today with much fanfare. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">On this day, devotees worship Lord Shiva one of the three gods of trinity. Lord Shiva, in Vedic tradition, is considered to be destroyer of the world. Yet, Shiva is also considered the embodiment of Shaumya and Raudra forms which represent both creative and destructive forces. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">It is believed that Lord Shiva took the current from on the night of Shivaratri, which falls on the fourth day of the waning moon in the 11th month of the Nepali calendar each year.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">According to the Nepal Calendar Determination Committee, Lord Brahma – the creator of the world – took the form of Shiva (the destroyer) in the midnight of Krishna Chaturdashi of Fagun (fourth day of the waning moon). So this day is observed with prayers, pooja, and visit to Lord Shiva's shrines. Hindus believe that the observation of the Mahashivaratri brings peace and prosperity to one's life. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">A large number of devotees visit the Pashupatinath temple in Kathmandu today to worship Lord Shiva. Devotees come to this famed temple from as far as India.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">People also make bonfire at home, on public squares and at temples, and chant hymns on the occasion. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Meanwhile, the Nepalese Army will be celebrating the Army Day by organizing various programs across the country today. On the occasion of the Army Day, various cultural programs including parade, artillery display and drill will be conducted at the army pavilion in Tundikhek.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Four retired army chiefs of the Indian Army have already arrived in Kathmandu at the invitation of the Nepalese Army this year to observe the parade at Tundikhel.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">President Bidya Devi Bhandari will attend a special function at Tundikhel on the occasion of the Army Day. President Bhandari is the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Army. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">President Bhandari has extended her best wishes to all Nepalis at home and abroad on the occasion of Maha Shivaratri festival today. In a message of best wishes, President Bhandari wished that the Maha Shivaratri may lead our society to the path of progress and may it spread the light of spiritual awakening in the lives of all Nepalis. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-18', 'modified' => '2023-02-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16795', 'image' => '20230218110820_RishiramBaral_Kaski_RSS_06_20230218_082533.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-18 11:07:35', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17055', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Sale of Substandard LPG Cylinders Prohibited ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 18: A joint market monitoring committee has banned the sale and distribution of substandard cooking gas cylinders in Banke district. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">February 18: A joint market monitoring committee has banned the sale and distribution of substandard cooking gas cylinders in Banke district. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Following the recent incident of gas leakage and explosion, the committee carried out a monitoring of the LPG industries in the district. LPG cylinders found to be defective during monitoring were asked to be discarded, Information Officer of Commerce, Supply and Consumer Protection Office, Nepalgunj, Devilal Chaulagain said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">During the visit, the team issued instruction to bring a gas leakage testing machine at the Mankamana Gas Industry into use as soon as possible and dispose off a total of 210 cylinders that were found not appropriate for use. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The committee also instructed to not bring into use around 3,000 LPG cylinders which were found defective at the Bheri Gas Industry. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-18', 'modified' => '2023-02-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16794', 'image' => '20230218105808_RakeshkumarMishra_Khajura_RSS_06_GasAnugaman.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-18 10:57:23', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17054', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Industrialists, and Entrepreneurs Hold Protest Rally Against High Interest Rates ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Entrepreneurs, traders and industrialists staged a protest rally against banks and financial institutions at Maitighar Mandala, Kathmandu, on Friday. ', 'content' => '<p>February 17: Entrepreneurs, traders and industrialists staged a protest rally against banks and financial institutions at Maitighar Mandala, Kathmandu, on Friday. </p> <p>Agitating traders and industrialists shouted slogans against banks and financial institutions saying that high interest rates had put their businesses on the verge of collapse. </p> <p>At a corner meeting organized after the rally, protesting industrialists and traders demanded to lower the interest rates to single digit, among others and provide subsidies to overcome challenges facing their businesses and enterprises. <br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-17', 'modified' => '2023-02-17', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16793', 'image' => '20230217064043_collage - 2023-02-17T183937.789.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-17 18:38:08', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = falseinclude - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 60 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
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' => '17068', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'COVID-19’s Impact on South Asia’s Youth could Last Generations, says World Bank Report', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 20: The COVID-19 pandemic derailed development and caused a massive collapse in human capital for millions of children and young people across South Asia.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">February 20: The COVID-19 pandemic derailed development and caused a massive collapse in human capital for millions of children and young people across South Asia, according to a new World Bank analysis of data for people who were under the age of 25 at the onset of the pandemic.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the World Bank, human capital—the knowledge, skills, and health that people accumulate over their lives—is key to unlocking a child’s potential and enabling countries to achieve a resilient recovery and strong future growth. Yet, the pandemic shuttered schools and places of employment and disrupted key services that protect and promote human capital, such as healthcare and job training, the World Bank reported citing the latest report.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The new report, Collapse and Recovery: How COVID Eroded Human Capital and What to Do About It, presents the first comprehensive analysis of global data on the pandemic’s impacts on young people at key developmental stages: early childhood (0-5 years), school age (6-14 years), and youth (15-24 years). It finds that in South Asia, today’s students could lose up to 14.4 percent of their future earnings due to COVID-19-induced education shocks. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Issuing a recent statement, the World Bank said that the cognitive deficit in today’s toddlers could translate into a 25 percent decline in earnings when these children are adults.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“The pandemic shut down schools, decimated jobs, and plunged vulnerable families into crisis, pushing millions of South Asia’s children and young people off-track and depriving them of opportunities to flourish,” the statement quoted Martin Raiser, World Bank vice president for South Asia, as saying. “Action to recover from losses in human capital is critical and examples from the region show that this is possible at relatively low cost if governments act fast,” Raiser added.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">In South Asia, between April 1, 2020 and March 31, 2022, schools were fully or partially closed for 83 percent of the time—significantly longer than the global average of schools being closed for 52 percent of that same period, according to the report. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“Among school-aged children, on average, for every 30 days of school closures, students lost about 32 days of learning. This is because school closures and ineffective remote learning measures caused students to miss out on learning and to also forget what they had already learned. As a result, learning poverty – already 60 percent before the pandemic — has increased further, with an estimated 78 percent of 10-year-olds in South Asia unable to read and understand a simple written text.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">In some countries in South Asia that were covered in the report, school enrollment has not returned to pre-pandemic levels. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Across South Asia, the number of people neither employed nor enrolled in education or training has increased substantially. Moreover, in several countries that were analyzed, there was little sign of recovery after 18 months.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Without urgent action, the pandemic also threatens to deepen poverty and inequality, the World Bank warned. According to the World Bank, recent evidence suggests that even simple and low-cost programs can lead to sizable gains in skills. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“In Bangladesh, for example, attending a year of additional pre-school through two-hour sessions significantly improved literacy, numeracy, and social-development scores.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The World Bank said it is working closely with governments in South Asia to protect and invest in people as they cope with and recover from the pandemic. The World Bank’s pandemic response financing in South Asia reached nearly $11 billion during the two years since the start of the pandemic (April 2020 - April 2022), including $2.7 billion that supported social safety nets benefitting more than 857 million vulnerable people, $2.5 billion for 15 health projects, $2.80 billion for 12 education projects, and more than $1 billion to support vaccine purchase and deployment.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-20', 'modified' => '2023-02-20', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16807', 'image' => '20230220110336_World.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-20 11:02:37', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17067', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Dolti Power Company Opens Sale of IPO to Project-affected Locals and Migrant Workers ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Dolti Power Company Limited has opened sale of its Initial Public Offering (IPO) to the locals of project-affected Dailkeh district and Nepali citizens working in foreign countries from Monday.', 'content' => '<p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14pt">February 20: Dolti Power Company Limited has opened sale of its Initial Public Offering (IPO) to the locals of project-affected Dailkeh district and Nepali citizens working in foreign countries from Monday.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14pt"> In the first phase, the company is offering 10 per cent of the issued capital, i.e. 5,36,486 shares to the project-affected locals of Dailkeh district. </span></span></span><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14pt"> The locals can apply for a minimum of 10 shares and a maximum of 10,000 shares.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14pt">If fully subscribed, the IPO to locals will close on March 9. If the IPO remains under-subscribed until the deadline, the deadline to apply for the IPO will extend till March 21.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14pt">Similarly, the company is issuing1, 07,298 shares to the Nepali citizens working in foreign countries (10 per cent from general public’s quota).</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14pt">Nepali citizens in foreign employment can apply for a minimum of 10 shares and a maximum of 10,000 shares. The IPO for the Nepali citizens working in foreign countries will close on March 9. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14pt">After the completion of the first phase of the IPO allotment, IPO shares will be issued to the general public. </span></span></span><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14pt">Dolti Power Company Limited is currently operating 4.5 (megawatt) Padam Khola Hydro Power Project in Dailekh.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14pt">Run-of the-River project started its commercial production of the electricity from December, 2019. </span></span></span><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14pt">NIC Asia Capital Limited is the issue and sales manager of the company.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-20', 'modified' => '2023-02-20', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16806', 'image' => '20230220062532_collage (8).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-20 06:17:47', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17066', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Private Sector Urges Stakeholders to Consider their Suggestions for Food Hygiene and Quality Bill', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 19: Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) has requested all stakeholders to incorporate the suggestions of the private sector while amending the Food Hygiene and Quality Bill.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">February 19: Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) has requested all stakeholders to incorporate the suggestions of the private sector while amending the Food Hygiene and Quality Bill. The federation insisted on implementing the suggestions arguing that the bill introduced in the parliament is to amend and unify the food hygiene and quality law and it should not be passed as it is.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">A delegation led by Anjan Shrestha, vice president of FNCCI, met former Prime Minister and Chairman of Nepal Communist Party (UML) KP Sharma Oli on Saturday and made such request. The federation said that if the proposed provisions of the bill are passed, the food and food-related industries/businesses will be closed. Therefore, the recommendations prepared by the federation regarding the bill need to be incorporated, said Shrestha.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to Shrestha, the issues to be amended in the bill were discussed with the officers of the Legislation Committee of the National Assembly. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“Suggestions were submitted by three parties regarding the amendment of the bill. However, when a bill like this is presented in the parliament without any amendment, no food-related industries can operate in the country,” said Shrestha.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The federation suggested that there should be a legal arrangement to reveal the maximum best-before date for consumption on the packaging food items mentioned in the 'Food Handler Protocols and Food Safety Rules'. The federation also suggested arranging compensation for the loss caused to the seller when the sale and distribution of food products is stopped only on the basis of suspicion. The federation says that the system of demanding the return of food items by publishing public notices should be removed.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">FNCCI mentioned that due to various technical problems, there is no consistency in the lab test reports in the country, so there should be a review of the order issued on the basis of such reports. It is mentioned in the proposed bill that compensation will be paid if the consumption of contaminated food/low-quality food causes damage to the health of the consumer.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">FNCCI suggested, “It is unfair to punish with imprisonment and excessive fines and this system should be removed.” The federation was against arresting entrepreneurs, businessmen and traders and imprisoning and detaining them for the entire duration of the case. In relation to the offenses mentioned in it, the federation put forward suggestions such as the provision of prosecution only in accordance with this Act, and the removal of the provision of prosecuting offenses under other acts/laws.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-19', 'modified' => '2023-02-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16805', 'image' => '20230219063821_T321763914_g.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-19 18:37:49', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17065', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Dharan Expo to Be Held From February 23 to March 4', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Sunsari Chapter of Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FNCCI) is all set to organize 10-day ‘Dharan Expo-2079’ to promote Dharan bazaar in Dharan.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">February 19: Sunsari Chapter of Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FNCCI) is all set to organize 10-day ‘Dharan Expo-2079’ to promote Dharan bazaar in Dharan.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Organisers say that they are preparing to organize the expo with the objective of making financial activities of Dharan mobile and providing international products at a fair price to the customers. </span></span><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The expo will be held at Dharan stadium-16 from February 23 to March 4. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The expo will have 70 stalls of agricultural products, agriculture tools, and products of small and medium industries, readymade textiles, banks, vehicles, and domestic utensils, according to Stall Management Committee Coordinator Bishnu Baral.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“The primary aim of the expo is to send out the message that Dharan can organize international level exhibition,” Baral added. </span></span><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Expo Coordinator Gopal Shrestha said that transaction worth Rs 100 million would take place during the expo. Around 30,000 individuals are expected to visit the expo on a daily basis. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Entrepreneurs and traders from India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Pakistan will participate in the expo, Shrestha informed. </span></span><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">During the expo, various seminars and workshops will be held. “A tourism workshop will be held incorporating hotel, tempo and buss entrepreneurs,” Shestha added. </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-19', 'modified' => '2023-02-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16804', 'image' => '20230219054605_collage - 2023-02-19T162159.914.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-19 17:42:55', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17064', 'article_category_id' => '218', 'title' => 'Govind Gurung Appointed CEO of Agricultural Development Bank', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Govind Gurung has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Agricultural Development Bank. The meeting of the Board of Directors has appointed Gurung for next four-year term.', 'content' => '<p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">February 19: Govind Gurung has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Agricultural Development Bank. The meeting of the Board of Directors has appointed Gurung for next four-year term. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">As many as 22 individuals had applied for the post of ADBL’s CEO. Out of them, five were shortlisted for the coveted post. Along with Gurung, Pratap Subedi, Yagya Prakash Nupane, Badri Gurgai and Bishnu Dev Yadav were shortlisted for the CEO’s post.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Interview of the five shortlisted candidates took place on Saturday. Gurung was selected for the top job of the Agricultural Development Bank from the interview. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Gurung had served as the Chief Executive Officer of the Civil Bank Limited. He had also worked as Chief Executive Officer of Myanmar Citizens Bank in Myanmar for one and a half years. </span></span><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Gurung has 26 years’ experience of working in the different commercial banks. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Gurung has completed Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Nepal Commerce Campus under Tribhuvan University. He had started his banking career from Himalayan Bank Limited.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Gurung will take charge of the Agricultural Development Bank from Monday. The post of the Chief Executive Officer was vacant after erstwhile CEO Anil Kumar Upadhayay’s tenure came to an end.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-19', 'modified' => '2023-02-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16803', 'image' => '20230219042456_collage - 2023-02-19T155028.444.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-19 16:21:30', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17063', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Deposit Collection of Banks up by Rs 200 Billion in 7 Months', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 19: Deposit collection of commercial banks increased by about Rs 2 billion in the first seven months of the current fiscal year. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">February 19: Deposit collection of commercial banks increased by about Rs 2 billion in the first seven months of the current fiscal year. The banks, which faced liquidity problem in the last fiscal year, have shown improvement in the current fiscal year.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to Nepal Bankers Association, the umbrella organization of commercial banks, the total deposits of commercial banks increased from Rs 4541.44 billion in mid-July last year to Rs 4741.90 billion rupees by mid-February.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In the last fiscal year, the deposits of commercial banks increased by Rs 340 billion. But in the first seven months, it increased only Rs 110 billion. Despite the increase in deposits this year, banks have not been able to increase their lending. In the seven months of the current fiscal year, commercial banks have extended loans of only Rs 115 billion. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The total credit flow of commercial banks, which was Rs 4175 billion in mid-July last year, increased to Rs 4290 billion by mid-February.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">During last year, the banks disbursed loans of Rs 445 billion including Rs 434 billion in the first seven months. Banks had started to reduce lending from mid-January of last year.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Recently, there has been an improvement in the deposits of the banks, but there has not been an improvement in the lending. Sunil KC, President of Nepal Bankers Association and Chief Executive Officer of NMB Bank said that there is no demand for loans in banks in recent times. He said, “With the improvement in the economy, deposits in the bank increased as well. But, at the moment, the demand for loans in the bank is low.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">President KC said that even though the liquidity situation seems to be somewhat comfortable, banks are still in a wait-and-watch situation. He said that while the economic indicators are positive, the government has removed the ban on imports and this will put on foreign exchange reserves. He added that the monetary policy has also kept the policy rates unchanged.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">KC claims that recently banks have been reducing the interest rate of deposits and that will gradually make loans cheaper. “As the interest rate of deposits decreases, the interest rate of loans also decreases. However, as businessmen say, it is not possible for the interest rate of loans to drop to a single digit immediately,” said KC.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-19', 'modified' => '2023-02-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16802', 'image' => '20230219034446_Banks.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-19 15:44:02', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17062', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Tourism Promotion in Russia', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 19: The Nepalese Embassy in Moscow, Russia on Saturday, 18 February, organized a program named “'Nepal Promotion Event-2023” with the aim of promoting Nepali tourism.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">February 19: The Nepalese Embassy in Moscow, Russia on Saturday, 18 February, organized a program named “'Nepal Promotion Event-2023” with the aim of promoting Nepali tourism.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The embassy informed that the programme was attended by distinguished Russian tourism businessmen from Moscow, representatives of various airlines flying in Nepal and interested in flying, tourism journalists, mountain climbers, diplomats, businessmen, and representatives of Non-Resident Nepalese Association. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">During the programme, Nepal’s Ambassador to Russia Milan Raj Tuladhar requested that since there are many opportunities for Russian tourists and tourism professionals in Nepal, they should make good use of it.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The program was attended by Soviet hero and cosmonaut Vladimir Aleksandrovich Dzhanibekov, former ambassador of the Russian Federation to Nepal Sergey Velichkin Vasilievich, Chairman of the International Coordination Council of the Non-Resident Nepali Association, Dr. Badri KC, President of Non-Resident Nepali Association’s National Coordinating Council of Russia Shiva Mani Bhurtel, Russian climber Ivan Trofimovich Dusarin and others distinguished personalities. They discussed the potential and current situation of Nepal's tourism, mountain climbing, culture and other aspects.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Leonid Myasnikov and Sergey Peskevich, the leading tourism businessmen who send Russian tourists to Nepal, presented videos and other materials related to the promotion of Nepal. The embassy informed that the Russian banker and businessman Yuriy Gusev gave a presentation on investment opportunities in Nepal.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In order to give a glimpse of Nepali culture, the living goddess “Kumari” was exhibited and Nepali cultural dances were presented along with the arrangement of dinner with Nepali dishes.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-19', 'modified' => '2023-02-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16801', 'image' => '20230219025031_Untitled.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-19 14:49:38', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17061', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Collection of Details for Expansion of Suryabinayak-Dhulikhel Road Begins', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 19: The Department of Roads has said that the process of expanding the Suryabinayak-Dhulikhel road section along the Araniko Highway has started.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">February 19: The Department of Roads has said that the process of expanding the Suryabinayak-Dhulikhel road section along the Araniko Highway has started. </span></span><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the department, the Suryabinayak-Sindhuli-Bardibas Project has started collecting details for the expansion of road in two phases.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">After calling for tender bids last September, the government signed separate agreements to complete the expansion of the road section, which was built 25 years ago, in two phases. The deadline for the expansion work is three years.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">In the first phase, the road will be expanded from Sanga to Dhulikhel and then from Sanga to Suryabinayak in the second phase, the project office said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Out of the total 15.5 km road to be expanded from Suryabinayak to Dhulikhel, Lama Construction has won the contract to complete the 8.4 km road from Sanga to Dhulikhel. The contract is worth Rs 4.5 billion, said Spokesperson for the Department of Roads, Bhimarjun Adhikari.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">In the second phase, an agreement has been signed to complete the 7.5 km Suryabinayak-Sanga road at the cost of over Rs 3.8 billion, said the department.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The project office has written letters to four local levels within the project site to help collect details about the road in line with the set standards. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Removing buildings and structures built violating the road standards has begun, said the project office. The road will be expanded to six lanes, said the project's senior divisional engineer Radhika Prajapati.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">After the completion of the road expansion work, it is expected to ease traffic congestion, said Mayor of Banepa Municipality Shanti Ratna Kayastha.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Separate bidding will be announced to construct bridges along the road, said the project office. The estimated cost to construct bridges is Rs 9 million.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the detailed project report, around Rs 1 billion is required to acquire 17 ropanis of land for the road expansion project.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">It may be noted that the project had issued a 35-day notice last July urging the owners to remove unauthorized structures from both sides of the highway. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The Department of Roads had initiated the process to expand the road from Dhulikhel to Bhaktapur via Banepa some years ago taking into consideration huge traffic pressure. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">It has been learnt that the Department of Roads intensified preparation for the road expansion drive on its own using internal resources after the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) pulled out of the project. -- RSS</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-19', 'modified' => '2023-02-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16800', 'image' => '20230219013913_20220831041752_dhulikhel.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-19 13:38:21', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17060', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '40 Arrested for Vandalizing Lotse Mall, Torching Police Vans', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 18: The police have arrested 40 people involved in vandalizing and looting Lotse Mall located at New Bus Park area in Balaju as well as for torching police vehicles on February 13. ', 'content' => '<h2><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">February 18: The police have arrested 40 people involved in vandalizing and looting Lotse Mall located at New Bus Park area in Balaju as well as for torching police vehicles on February 13. </span></span></span></span></h2> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">They were arrested on Friday evening on the charge of torching two police vans, vandalizing Lotse Mall and looting mobile sets during a protest launched by transport workers. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The agitators had vandalized ACDC Mobile Pvt Ltd, Diamond Mobile Pvt Ltd, Kathmandu Supermarket Pvt Ltd and looted mobile sets, chargers, earphone as well as other accessories. They also set on fire police vehicles (Ba 2 Jha 144) and (Ba 1 Jha 7224) of Balaju Police Circle. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Similarly, a temporary police post at Balaju Chowk was also torched by the protesters. Superintendent of Police Sitaram Rijal, who is the spokesperson for the District Police Office, Kathmandu, said 29 people were arrested on the charge of their involvement in arson and vandalism and 11 for their involvement in looting mobile sets. Investigations into the cases are currently underway. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Other people involved in arson and vandalism have already been identified and they would be arrested soon, added SP Rijal. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">An unruly mass of people had vandalized Lotse Mall, looted mobile sets and set the police vehicles on fire during the protest launched jointly by the Nepal Transport Workers' Association, All Nepal Transport Workers' Association, and Nepal Transport Independent Workers' Organisation. -- RSS</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-19', 'modified' => '2023-02-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16799', 'image' => '20230219114528_nepal police.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-19 11:44:24', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17059', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'IFR at Pokhara International Airport ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 19: Pokhara International Airport will be equipped with the Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) system in a week.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">February 19: Pokhara Regional International Airport will be equipped with the Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) system in a week. Preparations for the operation of the IFR system at the newly-opened international airport in Pokhara have been completed, the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">CAAN spokesperson Jagannath Niraula informed RSS that the implementation of IFR in Pokhara international airport will come into effect from February 23. As a result, many airline companies have shown interest in carrying out regular international flights to and from Pokhara. The Korean Air, Biz Air, Himalaya and the state-owned Nepal Airlines Corporation and others have shown interest to start their services from the airport. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The IFR system is a fully mechanical operating system and compared to Visual Flight Rules (VFR) it is relatively safe and comfortable despite taking more time, the CAAN said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The airport came into operation from January 1, 2023 with only domestic services currently being provided by Buddha, Yeti, Shree, Sourya, Guna and other domestic airlines. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-19', 'modified' => '2023-02-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16798', 'image' => '20230219084821_Pokhara-Airport-800X533.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-19 08:47:14', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17058', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Over 14,000 Trees Felled for Under Construction Hydropower Projects in Sankhuwasabha', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'More than 14,000 trees are felled for the under construction Arun III Hydropower Project and for the expansion of various hydropower projects along the Koshi corridor in Sankhuwasabha. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">February 19: More than 14,000 trees are felled for the under construction Arun III Hydropower Project and for the expansion of various hydropower projects along the Koshi corridor in Sankhuwasabha. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Earlier, the Council of Ministers had taken the decision to fell the trees of the community and private forests in the district. </span></span><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The trees were logged for the construction of 900 megawatt Arun-III Hydropower Project and 220 megawatt Koshi Corridor Transmission line. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">As many as 14,627 trees of 18 community forests and some private forests were felled for the Arun-III Hydropower Project and Koshi Corridor Transmission Line, said Division Forest Office Sankhuwasabha Chief Dr Indra Sapkota.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Dr Sapkota said that 11 hydropower projects have used forest areas of six local levels. A total of 5,400 trees were felled for the expansion of electricity in the government forests.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Trees have been cleared at 123.22 hectares of the lands at Fyaksinda of Makalu Rural Municiplaity-5 and Diding Pukhuwa of Chichila Rural Municipality for Arun-III, according to Satluj, which is constructing the hydropower. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Arun-III Hydropower project has used 44 hectares of the land at Makalu Barun National Park in Sankhuwasabha. </span></span><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The existing regulations have it that users of the forest users’ committees can use the felled trees. As many as 994 trees were cut down for the 33 KV transmission line of the Arun-III Hydropower project. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">During the project construction and operation, if trees are cut down, tree saplings have to be planted in other places. </span></span><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">For the transmission line expansion, an agreement was signed to fell trees in the area having two kilometers length and 46 meters breadth. Hydropower will cut down the trees, said District Forest Office Sankhuwasabha. </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-19', 'modified' => '2023-02-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16797', 'image' => '20230219061503_collage.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-19 06:08:17', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17057', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'All Four Doors of Pashupatinath Open since 3 AM ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 18: On the occasion of Mahashivratri festival, all four doors of the Pashupatinath temple have been opened from 3 am early today. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">February 18: On the occasion of Mahashivratri festival, all four doors of the Pashupatinath temple have been opened from 3 am early today. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT) Information Officer Gauri Shankar Parajuli shared that the devotees had gathered for worship since before 3 o'clock in the morning. He informed that worshipping Lord Pashupatinath is possible within half an hour of queuing from Jayabageshwari and 45 minutes to one hour from Tilganga area. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Thousands of devotees have gathered in Pashupati area since early morning. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Some 5,000 security personnel and 4,000 volunteers have been deployed to ensure orderly management of the devotees that come to the Pashupatinath temple for worshipping today. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Health camps have also been set up on the Pashupatinath temple premises. Along with Pashupatinath, other temples of Lord Shiva in the capital are also crowded with devotees to mark the Shivaratri festival. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-18', 'modified' => '2023-02-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16796', 'image' => '20230218111548_IMG_20230218_065613.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-18 11:15:12', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17056', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Maha Shivaratri Festival being Observed across the Country Today', 'sub_title' => 'Nepalese Army to mark the Army Day on this occasion', 'summary' => 'February 18: Nepalis are celebrating the Maha Shivaratri festival across the country today with much fanfare.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">February 18: Nepalis are celebrating the Maha Shivaratri festival across the country today with much fanfare. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">On this day, devotees worship Lord Shiva one of the three gods of trinity. Lord Shiva, in Vedic tradition, is considered to be destroyer of the world. Yet, Shiva is also considered the embodiment of Shaumya and Raudra forms which represent both creative and destructive forces. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">It is believed that Lord Shiva took the current from on the night of Shivaratri, which falls on the fourth day of the waning moon in the 11th month of the Nepali calendar each year.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">According to the Nepal Calendar Determination Committee, Lord Brahma – the creator of the world – took the form of Shiva (the destroyer) in the midnight of Krishna Chaturdashi of Fagun (fourth day of the waning moon). So this day is observed with prayers, pooja, and visit to Lord Shiva's shrines. Hindus believe that the observation of the Mahashivaratri brings peace and prosperity to one's life. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">A large number of devotees visit the Pashupatinath temple in Kathmandu today to worship Lord Shiva. Devotees come to this famed temple from as far as India.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">People also make bonfire at home, on public squares and at temples, and chant hymns on the occasion. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Meanwhile, the Nepalese Army will be celebrating the Army Day by organizing various programs across the country today. On the occasion of the Army Day, various cultural programs including parade, artillery display and drill will be conducted at the army pavilion in Tundikhek.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Four retired army chiefs of the Indian Army have already arrived in Kathmandu at the invitation of the Nepalese Army this year to observe the parade at Tundikhel.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">President Bidya Devi Bhandari will attend a special function at Tundikhel on the occasion of the Army Day. President Bhandari is the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Army. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">President Bhandari has extended her best wishes to all Nepalis at home and abroad on the occasion of Maha Shivaratri festival today. In a message of best wishes, President Bhandari wished that the Maha Shivaratri may lead our society to the path of progress and may it spread the light of spiritual awakening in the lives of all Nepalis. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-18', 'modified' => '2023-02-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16795', 'image' => '20230218110820_RishiramBaral_Kaski_RSS_06_20230218_082533.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-18 11:07:35', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17055', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Sale of Substandard LPG Cylinders Prohibited ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 18: A joint market monitoring committee has banned the sale and distribution of substandard cooking gas cylinders in Banke district. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">February 18: A joint market monitoring committee has banned the sale and distribution of substandard cooking gas cylinders in Banke district. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Following the recent incident of gas leakage and explosion, the committee carried out a monitoring of the LPG industries in the district. LPG cylinders found to be defective during monitoring were asked to be discarded, Information Officer of Commerce, Supply and Consumer Protection Office, Nepalgunj, Devilal Chaulagain said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">During the visit, the team issued instruction to bring a gas leakage testing machine at the Mankamana Gas Industry into use as soon as possible and dispose off a total of 210 cylinders that were found not appropriate for use. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The committee also instructed to not bring into use around 3,000 LPG cylinders which were found defective at the Bheri Gas Industry. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-18', 'modified' => '2023-02-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16794', 'image' => '20230218105808_RakeshkumarMishra_Khajura_RSS_06_GasAnugaman.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-18 10:57:23', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17054', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Industrialists, and Entrepreneurs Hold Protest Rally Against High Interest Rates ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Entrepreneurs, traders and industrialists staged a protest rally against banks and financial institutions at Maitighar Mandala, Kathmandu, on Friday. ', 'content' => '<p>February 17: Entrepreneurs, traders and industrialists staged a protest rally against banks and financial institutions at Maitighar Mandala, Kathmandu, on Friday. </p> <p>Agitating traders and industrialists shouted slogans against banks and financial institutions saying that high interest rates had put their businesses on the verge of collapse. </p> <p>At a corner meeting organized after the rally, protesting industrialists and traders demanded to lower the interest rates to single digit, among others and provide subsidies to overcome challenges facing their businesses and enterprises. <br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-17', 'modified' => '2023-02-17', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16793', 'image' => '20230217064043_collage - 2023-02-17T183937.789.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-17 18:38:08', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = falsesimplexml_load_file - [internal], line ?? include - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 60 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
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' => '17068', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'COVID-19’s Impact on South Asia’s Youth could Last Generations, says World Bank Report', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 20: The COVID-19 pandemic derailed development and caused a massive collapse in human capital for millions of children and young people across South Asia.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">February 20: The COVID-19 pandemic derailed development and caused a massive collapse in human capital for millions of children and young people across South Asia, according to a new World Bank analysis of data for people who were under the age of 25 at the onset of the pandemic.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the World Bank, human capital—the knowledge, skills, and health that people accumulate over their lives—is key to unlocking a child’s potential and enabling countries to achieve a resilient recovery and strong future growth. Yet, the pandemic shuttered schools and places of employment and disrupted key services that protect and promote human capital, such as healthcare and job training, the World Bank reported citing the latest report.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The new report, Collapse and Recovery: How COVID Eroded Human Capital and What to Do About It, presents the first comprehensive analysis of global data on the pandemic’s impacts on young people at key developmental stages: early childhood (0-5 years), school age (6-14 years), and youth (15-24 years). It finds that in South Asia, today’s students could lose up to 14.4 percent of their future earnings due to COVID-19-induced education shocks. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Issuing a recent statement, the World Bank said that the cognitive deficit in today’s toddlers could translate into a 25 percent decline in earnings when these children are adults.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“The pandemic shut down schools, decimated jobs, and plunged vulnerable families into crisis, pushing millions of South Asia’s children and young people off-track and depriving them of opportunities to flourish,” the statement quoted Martin Raiser, World Bank vice president for South Asia, as saying. “Action to recover from losses in human capital is critical and examples from the region show that this is possible at relatively low cost if governments act fast,” Raiser added.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">In South Asia, between April 1, 2020 and March 31, 2022, schools were fully or partially closed for 83 percent of the time—significantly longer than the global average of schools being closed for 52 percent of that same period, according to the report. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“Among school-aged children, on average, for every 30 days of school closures, students lost about 32 days of learning. This is because school closures and ineffective remote learning measures caused students to miss out on learning and to also forget what they had already learned. As a result, learning poverty – already 60 percent before the pandemic — has increased further, with an estimated 78 percent of 10-year-olds in South Asia unable to read and understand a simple written text.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">In some countries in South Asia that were covered in the report, school enrollment has not returned to pre-pandemic levels. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Across South Asia, the number of people neither employed nor enrolled in education or training has increased substantially. Moreover, in several countries that were analyzed, there was little sign of recovery after 18 months.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Without urgent action, the pandemic also threatens to deepen poverty and inequality, the World Bank warned. According to the World Bank, recent evidence suggests that even simple and low-cost programs can lead to sizable gains in skills. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“In Bangladesh, for example, attending a year of additional pre-school through two-hour sessions significantly improved literacy, numeracy, and social-development scores.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The World Bank said it is working closely with governments in South Asia to protect and invest in people as they cope with and recover from the pandemic. The World Bank’s pandemic response financing in South Asia reached nearly $11 billion during the two years since the start of the pandemic (April 2020 - April 2022), including $2.7 billion that supported social safety nets benefitting more than 857 million vulnerable people, $2.5 billion for 15 health projects, $2.80 billion for 12 education projects, and more than $1 billion to support vaccine purchase and deployment.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-20', 'modified' => '2023-02-20', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16807', 'image' => '20230220110336_World.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-20 11:02:37', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17067', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Dolti Power Company Opens Sale of IPO to Project-affected Locals and Migrant Workers ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Dolti Power Company Limited has opened sale of its Initial Public Offering (IPO) to the locals of project-affected Dailkeh district and Nepali citizens working in foreign countries from Monday.', 'content' => '<p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14pt">February 20: Dolti Power Company Limited has opened sale of its Initial Public Offering (IPO) to the locals of project-affected Dailkeh district and Nepali citizens working in foreign countries from Monday.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14pt"> In the first phase, the company is offering 10 per cent of the issued capital, i.e. 5,36,486 shares to the project-affected locals of Dailkeh district. </span></span></span><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14pt"> The locals can apply for a minimum of 10 shares and a maximum of 10,000 shares.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14pt">If fully subscribed, the IPO to locals will close on March 9. If the IPO remains under-subscribed until the deadline, the deadline to apply for the IPO will extend till March 21.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14pt">Similarly, the company is issuing1, 07,298 shares to the Nepali citizens working in foreign countries (10 per cent from general public’s quota).</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14pt">Nepali citizens in foreign employment can apply for a minimum of 10 shares and a maximum of 10,000 shares. The IPO for the Nepali citizens working in foreign countries will close on March 9. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14pt">After the completion of the first phase of the IPO allotment, IPO shares will be issued to the general public. </span></span></span><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14pt">Dolti Power Company Limited is currently operating 4.5 (megawatt) Padam Khola Hydro Power Project in Dailekh.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14pt">Run-of the-River project started its commercial production of the electricity from December, 2019. </span></span></span><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14pt">NIC Asia Capital Limited is the issue and sales manager of the company.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-20', 'modified' => '2023-02-20', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16806', 'image' => '20230220062532_collage (8).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-20 06:17:47', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17066', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Private Sector Urges Stakeholders to Consider their Suggestions for Food Hygiene and Quality Bill', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 19: Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) has requested all stakeholders to incorporate the suggestions of the private sector while amending the Food Hygiene and Quality Bill.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">February 19: Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) has requested all stakeholders to incorporate the suggestions of the private sector while amending the Food Hygiene and Quality Bill. The federation insisted on implementing the suggestions arguing that the bill introduced in the parliament is to amend and unify the food hygiene and quality law and it should not be passed as it is.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">A delegation led by Anjan Shrestha, vice president of FNCCI, met former Prime Minister and Chairman of Nepal Communist Party (UML) KP Sharma Oli on Saturday and made such request. The federation said that if the proposed provisions of the bill are passed, the food and food-related industries/businesses will be closed. Therefore, the recommendations prepared by the federation regarding the bill need to be incorporated, said Shrestha.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to Shrestha, the issues to be amended in the bill were discussed with the officers of the Legislation Committee of the National Assembly. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“Suggestions were submitted by three parties regarding the amendment of the bill. However, when a bill like this is presented in the parliament without any amendment, no food-related industries can operate in the country,” said Shrestha.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The federation suggested that there should be a legal arrangement to reveal the maximum best-before date for consumption on the packaging food items mentioned in the 'Food Handler Protocols and Food Safety Rules'. The federation also suggested arranging compensation for the loss caused to the seller when the sale and distribution of food products is stopped only on the basis of suspicion. The federation says that the system of demanding the return of food items by publishing public notices should be removed.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">FNCCI mentioned that due to various technical problems, there is no consistency in the lab test reports in the country, so there should be a review of the order issued on the basis of such reports. It is mentioned in the proposed bill that compensation will be paid if the consumption of contaminated food/low-quality food causes damage to the health of the consumer.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">FNCCI suggested, “It is unfair to punish with imprisonment and excessive fines and this system should be removed.” The federation was against arresting entrepreneurs, businessmen and traders and imprisoning and detaining them for the entire duration of the case. In relation to the offenses mentioned in it, the federation put forward suggestions such as the provision of prosecution only in accordance with this Act, and the removal of the provision of prosecuting offenses under other acts/laws.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-19', 'modified' => '2023-02-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16805', 'image' => '20230219063821_T321763914_g.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-19 18:37:49', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17065', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Dharan Expo to Be Held From February 23 to March 4', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Sunsari Chapter of Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FNCCI) is all set to organize 10-day ‘Dharan Expo-2079’ to promote Dharan bazaar in Dharan.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">February 19: Sunsari Chapter of Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FNCCI) is all set to organize 10-day ‘Dharan Expo-2079’ to promote Dharan bazaar in Dharan.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Organisers say that they are preparing to organize the expo with the objective of making financial activities of Dharan mobile and providing international products at a fair price to the customers. </span></span><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The expo will be held at Dharan stadium-16 from February 23 to March 4. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The expo will have 70 stalls of agricultural products, agriculture tools, and products of small and medium industries, readymade textiles, banks, vehicles, and domestic utensils, according to Stall Management Committee Coordinator Bishnu Baral.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“The primary aim of the expo is to send out the message that Dharan can organize international level exhibition,” Baral added. </span></span><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Expo Coordinator Gopal Shrestha said that transaction worth Rs 100 million would take place during the expo. Around 30,000 individuals are expected to visit the expo on a daily basis. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Entrepreneurs and traders from India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Pakistan will participate in the expo, Shrestha informed. </span></span><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">During the expo, various seminars and workshops will be held. “A tourism workshop will be held incorporating hotel, tempo and buss entrepreneurs,” Shestha added. </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-19', 'modified' => '2023-02-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16804', 'image' => '20230219054605_collage - 2023-02-19T162159.914.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-19 17:42:55', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17064', 'article_category_id' => '218', 'title' => 'Govind Gurung Appointed CEO of Agricultural Development Bank', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Govind Gurung has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Agricultural Development Bank. The meeting of the Board of Directors has appointed Gurung for next four-year term.', 'content' => '<p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">February 19: Govind Gurung has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Agricultural Development Bank. The meeting of the Board of Directors has appointed Gurung for next four-year term. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">As many as 22 individuals had applied for the post of ADBL’s CEO. Out of them, five were shortlisted for the coveted post. Along with Gurung, Pratap Subedi, Yagya Prakash Nupane, Badri Gurgai and Bishnu Dev Yadav were shortlisted for the CEO’s post.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Interview of the five shortlisted candidates took place on Saturday. Gurung was selected for the top job of the Agricultural Development Bank from the interview. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Gurung had served as the Chief Executive Officer of the Civil Bank Limited. He had also worked as Chief Executive Officer of Myanmar Citizens Bank in Myanmar for one and a half years. </span></span><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Gurung has 26 years’ experience of working in the different commercial banks. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Gurung has completed Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Nepal Commerce Campus under Tribhuvan University. He had started his banking career from Himalayan Bank Limited.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Gurung will take charge of the Agricultural Development Bank from Monday. The post of the Chief Executive Officer was vacant after erstwhile CEO Anil Kumar Upadhayay’s tenure came to an end.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-19', 'modified' => '2023-02-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16803', 'image' => '20230219042456_collage - 2023-02-19T155028.444.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-19 16:21:30', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17063', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Deposit Collection of Banks up by Rs 200 Billion in 7 Months', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 19: Deposit collection of commercial banks increased by about Rs 2 billion in the first seven months of the current fiscal year. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">February 19: Deposit collection of commercial banks increased by about Rs 2 billion in the first seven months of the current fiscal year. The banks, which faced liquidity problem in the last fiscal year, have shown improvement in the current fiscal year.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to Nepal Bankers Association, the umbrella organization of commercial banks, the total deposits of commercial banks increased from Rs 4541.44 billion in mid-July last year to Rs 4741.90 billion rupees by mid-February.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In the last fiscal year, the deposits of commercial banks increased by Rs 340 billion. But in the first seven months, it increased only Rs 110 billion. Despite the increase in deposits this year, banks have not been able to increase their lending. In the seven months of the current fiscal year, commercial banks have extended loans of only Rs 115 billion. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The total credit flow of commercial banks, which was Rs 4175 billion in mid-July last year, increased to Rs 4290 billion by mid-February.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">During last year, the banks disbursed loans of Rs 445 billion including Rs 434 billion in the first seven months. Banks had started to reduce lending from mid-January of last year.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Recently, there has been an improvement in the deposits of the banks, but there has not been an improvement in the lending. Sunil KC, President of Nepal Bankers Association and Chief Executive Officer of NMB Bank said that there is no demand for loans in banks in recent times. He said, “With the improvement in the economy, deposits in the bank increased as well. But, at the moment, the demand for loans in the bank is low.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">President KC said that even though the liquidity situation seems to be somewhat comfortable, banks are still in a wait-and-watch situation. He said that while the economic indicators are positive, the government has removed the ban on imports and this will put on foreign exchange reserves. He added that the monetary policy has also kept the policy rates unchanged.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">KC claims that recently banks have been reducing the interest rate of deposits and that will gradually make loans cheaper. “As the interest rate of deposits decreases, the interest rate of loans also decreases. However, as businessmen say, it is not possible for the interest rate of loans to drop to a single digit immediately,” said KC.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-19', 'modified' => '2023-02-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16802', 'image' => '20230219034446_Banks.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-19 15:44:02', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17062', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Tourism Promotion in Russia', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 19: The Nepalese Embassy in Moscow, Russia on Saturday, 18 February, organized a program named “'Nepal Promotion Event-2023” with the aim of promoting Nepali tourism.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">February 19: The Nepalese Embassy in Moscow, Russia on Saturday, 18 February, organized a program named “'Nepal Promotion Event-2023” with the aim of promoting Nepali tourism.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The embassy informed that the programme was attended by distinguished Russian tourism businessmen from Moscow, representatives of various airlines flying in Nepal and interested in flying, tourism journalists, mountain climbers, diplomats, businessmen, and representatives of Non-Resident Nepalese Association. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">During the programme, Nepal’s Ambassador to Russia Milan Raj Tuladhar requested that since there are many opportunities for Russian tourists and tourism professionals in Nepal, they should make good use of it.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The program was attended by Soviet hero and cosmonaut Vladimir Aleksandrovich Dzhanibekov, former ambassador of the Russian Federation to Nepal Sergey Velichkin Vasilievich, Chairman of the International Coordination Council of the Non-Resident Nepali Association, Dr. Badri KC, President of Non-Resident Nepali Association’s National Coordinating Council of Russia Shiva Mani Bhurtel, Russian climber Ivan Trofimovich Dusarin and others distinguished personalities. They discussed the potential and current situation of Nepal's tourism, mountain climbing, culture and other aspects.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Leonid Myasnikov and Sergey Peskevich, the leading tourism businessmen who send Russian tourists to Nepal, presented videos and other materials related to the promotion of Nepal. The embassy informed that the Russian banker and businessman Yuriy Gusev gave a presentation on investment opportunities in Nepal.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In order to give a glimpse of Nepali culture, the living goddess “Kumari” was exhibited and Nepali cultural dances were presented along with the arrangement of dinner with Nepali dishes.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-19', 'modified' => '2023-02-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16801', 'image' => '20230219025031_Untitled.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-19 14:49:38', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17061', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Collection of Details for Expansion of Suryabinayak-Dhulikhel Road Begins', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 19: The Department of Roads has said that the process of expanding the Suryabinayak-Dhulikhel road section along the Araniko Highway has started.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">February 19: The Department of Roads has said that the process of expanding the Suryabinayak-Dhulikhel road section along the Araniko Highway has started. </span></span><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the department, the Suryabinayak-Sindhuli-Bardibas Project has started collecting details for the expansion of road in two phases.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">After calling for tender bids last September, the government signed separate agreements to complete the expansion of the road section, which was built 25 years ago, in two phases. The deadline for the expansion work is three years.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">In the first phase, the road will be expanded from Sanga to Dhulikhel and then from Sanga to Suryabinayak in the second phase, the project office said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Out of the total 15.5 km road to be expanded from Suryabinayak to Dhulikhel, Lama Construction has won the contract to complete the 8.4 km road from Sanga to Dhulikhel. The contract is worth Rs 4.5 billion, said Spokesperson for the Department of Roads, Bhimarjun Adhikari.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">In the second phase, an agreement has been signed to complete the 7.5 km Suryabinayak-Sanga road at the cost of over Rs 3.8 billion, said the department.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The project office has written letters to four local levels within the project site to help collect details about the road in line with the set standards. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Removing buildings and structures built violating the road standards has begun, said the project office. The road will be expanded to six lanes, said the project's senior divisional engineer Radhika Prajapati.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">After the completion of the road expansion work, it is expected to ease traffic congestion, said Mayor of Banepa Municipality Shanti Ratna Kayastha.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Separate bidding will be announced to construct bridges along the road, said the project office. The estimated cost to construct bridges is Rs 9 million.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the detailed project report, around Rs 1 billion is required to acquire 17 ropanis of land for the road expansion project.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">It may be noted that the project had issued a 35-day notice last July urging the owners to remove unauthorized structures from both sides of the highway. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The Department of Roads had initiated the process to expand the road from Dhulikhel to Bhaktapur via Banepa some years ago taking into consideration huge traffic pressure. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">It has been learnt that the Department of Roads intensified preparation for the road expansion drive on its own using internal resources after the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) pulled out of the project. -- RSS</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-19', 'modified' => '2023-02-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16800', 'image' => '20230219013913_20220831041752_dhulikhel.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-19 13:38:21', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17060', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '40 Arrested for Vandalizing Lotse Mall, Torching Police Vans', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 18: The police have arrested 40 people involved in vandalizing and looting Lotse Mall located at New Bus Park area in Balaju as well as for torching police vehicles on February 13. ', 'content' => '<h2><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">February 18: The police have arrested 40 people involved in vandalizing and looting Lotse Mall located at New Bus Park area in Balaju as well as for torching police vehicles on February 13. </span></span></span></span></h2> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">They were arrested on Friday evening on the charge of torching two police vans, vandalizing Lotse Mall and looting mobile sets during a protest launched by transport workers. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The agitators had vandalized ACDC Mobile Pvt Ltd, Diamond Mobile Pvt Ltd, Kathmandu Supermarket Pvt Ltd and looted mobile sets, chargers, earphone as well as other accessories. They also set on fire police vehicles (Ba 2 Jha 144) and (Ba 1 Jha 7224) of Balaju Police Circle. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Similarly, a temporary police post at Balaju Chowk was also torched by the protesters. Superintendent of Police Sitaram Rijal, who is the spokesperson for the District Police Office, Kathmandu, said 29 people were arrested on the charge of their involvement in arson and vandalism and 11 for their involvement in looting mobile sets. Investigations into the cases are currently underway. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Other people involved in arson and vandalism have already been identified and they would be arrested soon, added SP Rijal. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">An unruly mass of people had vandalized Lotse Mall, looted mobile sets and set the police vehicles on fire during the protest launched jointly by the Nepal Transport Workers' Association, All Nepal Transport Workers' Association, and Nepal Transport Independent Workers' Organisation. -- RSS</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-19', 'modified' => '2023-02-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16799', 'image' => '20230219114528_nepal police.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-19 11:44:24', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17059', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'IFR at Pokhara International Airport ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 19: Pokhara International Airport will be equipped with the Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) system in a week.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">February 19: Pokhara Regional International Airport will be equipped with the Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) system in a week. Preparations for the operation of the IFR system at the newly-opened international airport in Pokhara have been completed, the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">CAAN spokesperson Jagannath Niraula informed RSS that the implementation of IFR in Pokhara international airport will come into effect from February 23. As a result, many airline companies have shown interest in carrying out regular international flights to and from Pokhara. The Korean Air, Biz Air, Himalaya and the state-owned Nepal Airlines Corporation and others have shown interest to start their services from the airport. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The IFR system is a fully mechanical operating system and compared to Visual Flight Rules (VFR) it is relatively safe and comfortable despite taking more time, the CAAN said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The airport came into operation from January 1, 2023 with only domestic services currently being provided by Buddha, Yeti, Shree, Sourya, Guna and other domestic airlines. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-19', 'modified' => '2023-02-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16798', 'image' => '20230219084821_Pokhara-Airport-800X533.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-19 08:47:14', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17058', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Over 14,000 Trees Felled for Under Construction Hydropower Projects in Sankhuwasabha', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'More than 14,000 trees are felled for the under construction Arun III Hydropower Project and for the expansion of various hydropower projects along the Koshi corridor in Sankhuwasabha. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">February 19: More than 14,000 trees are felled for the under construction Arun III Hydropower Project and for the expansion of various hydropower projects along the Koshi corridor in Sankhuwasabha. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Earlier, the Council of Ministers had taken the decision to fell the trees of the community and private forests in the district. </span></span><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The trees were logged for the construction of 900 megawatt Arun-III Hydropower Project and 220 megawatt Koshi Corridor Transmission line. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">As many as 14,627 trees of 18 community forests and some private forests were felled for the Arun-III Hydropower Project and Koshi Corridor Transmission Line, said Division Forest Office Sankhuwasabha Chief Dr Indra Sapkota.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Dr Sapkota said that 11 hydropower projects have used forest areas of six local levels. A total of 5,400 trees were felled for the expansion of electricity in the government forests.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Trees have been cleared at 123.22 hectares of the lands at Fyaksinda of Makalu Rural Municiplaity-5 and Diding Pukhuwa of Chichila Rural Municipality for Arun-III, according to Satluj, which is constructing the hydropower. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Arun-III Hydropower project has used 44 hectares of the land at Makalu Barun National Park in Sankhuwasabha. </span></span><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The existing regulations have it that users of the forest users’ committees can use the felled trees. As many as 994 trees were cut down for the 33 KV transmission line of the Arun-III Hydropower project. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">During the project construction and operation, if trees are cut down, tree saplings have to be planted in other places. </span></span><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">For the transmission line expansion, an agreement was signed to fell trees in the area having two kilometers length and 46 meters breadth. Hydropower will cut down the trees, said District Forest Office Sankhuwasabha. </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-19', 'modified' => '2023-02-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16797', 'image' => '20230219061503_collage.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-19 06:08:17', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17057', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'All Four Doors of Pashupatinath Open since 3 AM ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 18: On the occasion of Mahashivratri festival, all four doors of the Pashupatinath temple have been opened from 3 am early today. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">February 18: On the occasion of Mahashivratri festival, all four doors of the Pashupatinath temple have been opened from 3 am early today. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT) Information Officer Gauri Shankar Parajuli shared that the devotees had gathered for worship since before 3 o'clock in the morning. He informed that worshipping Lord Pashupatinath is possible within half an hour of queuing from Jayabageshwari and 45 minutes to one hour from Tilganga area. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Thousands of devotees have gathered in Pashupati area since early morning. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Some 5,000 security personnel and 4,000 volunteers have been deployed to ensure orderly management of the devotees that come to the Pashupatinath temple for worshipping today. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Health camps have also been set up on the Pashupatinath temple premises. Along with Pashupatinath, other temples of Lord Shiva in the capital are also crowded with devotees to mark the Shivaratri festival. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-18', 'modified' => '2023-02-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16796', 'image' => '20230218111548_IMG_20230218_065613.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-18 11:15:12', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17056', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Maha Shivaratri Festival being Observed across the Country Today', 'sub_title' => 'Nepalese Army to mark the Army Day on this occasion', 'summary' => 'February 18: Nepalis are celebrating the Maha Shivaratri festival across the country today with much fanfare.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">February 18: Nepalis are celebrating the Maha Shivaratri festival across the country today with much fanfare. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">On this day, devotees worship Lord Shiva one of the three gods of trinity. Lord Shiva, in Vedic tradition, is considered to be destroyer of the world. Yet, Shiva is also considered the embodiment of Shaumya and Raudra forms which represent both creative and destructive forces. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">It is believed that Lord Shiva took the current from on the night of Shivaratri, which falls on the fourth day of the waning moon in the 11th month of the Nepali calendar each year.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">According to the Nepal Calendar Determination Committee, Lord Brahma – the creator of the world – took the form of Shiva (the destroyer) in the midnight of Krishna Chaturdashi of Fagun (fourth day of the waning moon). So this day is observed with prayers, pooja, and visit to Lord Shiva's shrines. Hindus believe that the observation of the Mahashivaratri brings peace and prosperity to one's life. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">A large number of devotees visit the Pashupatinath temple in Kathmandu today to worship Lord Shiva. Devotees come to this famed temple from as far as India.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">People also make bonfire at home, on public squares and at temples, and chant hymns on the occasion. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Meanwhile, the Nepalese Army will be celebrating the Army Day by organizing various programs across the country today. On the occasion of the Army Day, various cultural programs including parade, artillery display and drill will be conducted at the army pavilion in Tundikhek.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Four retired army chiefs of the Indian Army have already arrived in Kathmandu at the invitation of the Nepalese Army this year to observe the parade at Tundikhel.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">President Bidya Devi Bhandari will attend a special function at Tundikhel on the occasion of the Army Day. President Bhandari is the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Army. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">President Bhandari has extended her best wishes to all Nepalis at home and abroad on the occasion of Maha Shivaratri festival today. In a message of best wishes, President Bhandari wished that the Maha Shivaratri may lead our society to the path of progress and may it spread the light of spiritual awakening in the lives of all Nepalis. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-18', 'modified' => '2023-02-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16795', 'image' => '20230218110820_RishiramBaral_Kaski_RSS_06_20230218_082533.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-18 11:07:35', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17055', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Sale of Substandard LPG Cylinders Prohibited ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 18: A joint market monitoring committee has banned the sale and distribution of substandard cooking gas cylinders in Banke district. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">February 18: A joint market monitoring committee has banned the sale and distribution of substandard cooking gas cylinders in Banke district. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Following the recent incident of gas leakage and explosion, the committee carried out a monitoring of the LPG industries in the district. LPG cylinders found to be defective during monitoring were asked to be discarded, Information Officer of Commerce, Supply and Consumer Protection Office, Nepalgunj, Devilal Chaulagain said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">During the visit, the team issued instruction to bring a gas leakage testing machine at the Mankamana Gas Industry into use as soon as possible and dispose off a total of 210 cylinders that were found not appropriate for use. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The committee also instructed to not bring into use around 3,000 LPG cylinders which were found defective at the Bheri Gas Industry. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-18', 'modified' => '2023-02-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16794', 'image' => '20230218105808_RakeshkumarMishra_Khajura_RSS_06_GasAnugaman.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-18 10:57:23', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17054', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Industrialists, and Entrepreneurs Hold Protest Rally Against High Interest Rates ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Entrepreneurs, traders and industrialists staged a protest rally against banks and financial institutions at Maitighar Mandala, Kathmandu, on Friday. ', 'content' => '<p>February 17: Entrepreneurs, traders and industrialists staged a protest rally against banks and financial institutions at Maitighar Mandala, Kathmandu, on Friday. </p> <p>Agitating traders and industrialists shouted slogans against banks and financial institutions saying that high interest rates had put their businesses on the verge of collapse. </p> <p>At a corner meeting organized after the rally, protesting industrialists and traders demanded to lower the interest rates to single digit, among others and provide subsidies to overcome challenges facing their businesses and enterprises. <br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-17', 'modified' => '2023-02-17', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16793', 'image' => '20230217064043_collage - 2023-02-17T183937.789.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-17 18:38:08', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = false $xml = falseinclude - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 133 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
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Yet, the pandemic shuttered schools and places of employment and disrupted key services that protect and promote human capital, such as healthcare and job training, the World Bank reported citing the latest report.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The new report, Collapse and Recovery: How COVID Eroded Human Capital and What to Do About It, presents the first comprehensive analysis of global data on the pandemic’s impacts on young people at key developmental stages: early childhood (0-5 years), school age (6-14 years), and youth (15-24 years). It finds that in South Asia, today’s students could lose up to 14.4 percent of their future earnings due to COVID-19-induced education shocks. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Issuing a recent statement, the World Bank said that the cognitive deficit in today’s toddlers could translate into a 25 percent decline in earnings when these children are adults.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“The pandemic shut down schools, decimated jobs, and plunged vulnerable families into crisis, pushing millions of South Asia’s children and young people off-track and depriving them of opportunities to flourish,” the statement quoted Martin Raiser, World Bank vice president for South Asia, as saying. “Action to recover from losses in human capital is critical and examples from the region show that this is possible at relatively low cost if governments act fast,” Raiser added.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">In South Asia, between April 1, 2020 and March 31, 2022, schools were fully or partially closed for 83 percent of the time—significantly longer than the global average of schools being closed for 52 percent of that same period, according to the report. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“Among school-aged children, on average, for every 30 days of school closures, students lost about 32 days of learning. This is because school closures and ineffective remote learning measures caused students to miss out on learning and to also forget what they had already learned. As a result, learning poverty – already 60 percent before the pandemic — has increased further, with an estimated 78 percent of 10-year-olds in South Asia unable to read and understand a simple written text.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">In some countries in South Asia that were covered in the report, school enrollment has not returned to pre-pandemic levels. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Across South Asia, the number of people neither employed nor enrolled in education or training has increased substantially. Moreover, in several countries that were analyzed, there was little sign of recovery after 18 months.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Without urgent action, the pandemic also threatens to deepen poverty and inequality, the World Bank warned. According to the World Bank, recent evidence suggests that even simple and low-cost programs can lead to sizable gains in skills. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“In Bangladesh, for example, attending a year of additional pre-school through two-hour sessions significantly improved literacy, numeracy, and social-development scores.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The World Bank said it is working closely with governments in South Asia to protect and invest in people as they cope with and recover from the pandemic. The World Bank’s pandemic response financing in South Asia reached nearly $11 billion during the two years since the start of the pandemic (April 2020 - April 2022), including $2.7 billion that supported social safety nets benefitting more than 857 million vulnerable people, $2.5 billion for 15 health projects, $2.80 billion for 12 education projects, and more than $1 billion to support vaccine purchase and deployment.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-20', 'modified' => '2023-02-20', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16807', 'image' => '20230220110336_World.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-20 11:02:37', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17067', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Dolti Power Company Opens Sale of IPO to Project-affected Locals and Migrant Workers ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Dolti Power Company Limited has opened sale of its Initial Public Offering (IPO) to the locals of project-affected Dailkeh district and Nepali citizens working in foreign countries from Monday.', 'content' => '<p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14pt">February 20: Dolti Power Company Limited has opened sale of its Initial Public Offering (IPO) to the locals of project-affected Dailkeh district and Nepali citizens working in foreign countries from Monday.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14pt"> In the first phase, the company is offering 10 per cent of the issued capital, i.e. 5,36,486 shares to the project-affected locals of Dailkeh district. </span></span></span><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14pt"> The locals can apply for a minimum of 10 shares and a maximum of 10,000 shares.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14pt">If fully subscribed, the IPO to locals will close on March 9. If the IPO remains under-subscribed until the deadline, the deadline to apply for the IPO will extend till March 21.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14pt">Similarly, the company is issuing1, 07,298 shares to the Nepali citizens working in foreign countries (10 per cent from general public’s quota).</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14pt">Nepali citizens in foreign employment can apply for a minimum of 10 shares and a maximum of 10,000 shares. The IPO for the Nepali citizens working in foreign countries will close on March 9. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14pt">After the completion of the first phase of the IPO allotment, IPO shares will be issued to the general public. </span></span></span><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14pt">Dolti Power Company Limited is currently operating 4.5 (megawatt) Padam Khola Hydro Power Project in Dailekh.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14pt">Run-of the-River project started its commercial production of the electricity from December, 2019. </span></span></span><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14pt">NIC Asia Capital Limited is the issue and sales manager of the company.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-20', 'modified' => '2023-02-20', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16806', 'image' => '20230220062532_collage (8).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-20 06:17:47', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17066', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Private Sector Urges Stakeholders to Consider their Suggestions for Food Hygiene and Quality Bill', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 19: Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) has requested all stakeholders to incorporate the suggestions of the private sector while amending the Food Hygiene and Quality Bill.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">February 19: Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) has requested all stakeholders to incorporate the suggestions of the private sector while amending the Food Hygiene and Quality Bill. The federation insisted on implementing the suggestions arguing that the bill introduced in the parliament is to amend and unify the food hygiene and quality law and it should not be passed as it is.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">A delegation led by Anjan Shrestha, vice president of FNCCI, met former Prime Minister and Chairman of Nepal Communist Party (UML) KP Sharma Oli on Saturday and made such request. The federation said that if the proposed provisions of the bill are passed, the food and food-related industries/businesses will be closed. Therefore, the recommendations prepared by the federation regarding the bill need to be incorporated, said Shrestha.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to Shrestha, the issues to be amended in the bill were discussed with the officers of the Legislation Committee of the National Assembly. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“Suggestions were submitted by three parties regarding the amendment of the bill. However, when a bill like this is presented in the parliament without any amendment, no food-related industries can operate in the country,” said Shrestha.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The federation suggested that there should be a legal arrangement to reveal the maximum best-before date for consumption on the packaging food items mentioned in the 'Food Handler Protocols and Food Safety Rules'. The federation also suggested arranging compensation for the loss caused to the seller when the sale and distribution of food products is stopped only on the basis of suspicion. The federation says that the system of demanding the return of food items by publishing public notices should be removed.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">FNCCI mentioned that due to various technical problems, there is no consistency in the lab test reports in the country, so there should be a review of the order issued on the basis of such reports. It is mentioned in the proposed bill that compensation will be paid if the consumption of contaminated food/low-quality food causes damage to the health of the consumer.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">FNCCI suggested, “It is unfair to punish with imprisonment and excessive fines and this system should be removed.” The federation was against arresting entrepreneurs, businessmen and traders and imprisoning and detaining them for the entire duration of the case. In relation to the offenses mentioned in it, the federation put forward suggestions such as the provision of prosecution only in accordance with this Act, and the removal of the provision of prosecuting offenses under other acts/laws.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-19', 'modified' => '2023-02-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16805', 'image' => '20230219063821_T321763914_g.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-19 18:37:49', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17065', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Dharan Expo to Be Held From February 23 to March 4', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Sunsari Chapter of Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FNCCI) is all set to organize 10-day ‘Dharan Expo-2079’ to promote Dharan bazaar in Dharan.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">February 19: Sunsari Chapter of Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FNCCI) is all set to organize 10-day ‘Dharan Expo-2079’ to promote Dharan bazaar in Dharan.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Organisers say that they are preparing to organize the expo with the objective of making financial activities of Dharan mobile and providing international products at a fair price to the customers. </span></span><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The expo will be held at Dharan stadium-16 from February 23 to March 4. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The expo will have 70 stalls of agricultural products, agriculture tools, and products of small and medium industries, readymade textiles, banks, vehicles, and domestic utensils, according to Stall Management Committee Coordinator Bishnu Baral.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“The primary aim of the expo is to send out the message that Dharan can organize international level exhibition,” Baral added. </span></span><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Expo Coordinator Gopal Shrestha said that transaction worth Rs 100 million would take place during the expo. Around 30,000 individuals are expected to visit the expo on a daily basis. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Entrepreneurs and traders from India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Pakistan will participate in the expo, Shrestha informed. </span></span><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">During the expo, various seminars and workshops will be held. “A tourism workshop will be held incorporating hotel, tempo and buss entrepreneurs,” Shestha added. </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-19', 'modified' => '2023-02-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16804', 'image' => '20230219054605_collage - 2023-02-19T162159.914.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-19 17:42:55', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17064', 'article_category_id' => '218', 'title' => 'Govind Gurung Appointed CEO of Agricultural Development Bank', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Govind Gurung has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Agricultural Development Bank. The meeting of the Board of Directors has appointed Gurung for next four-year term.', 'content' => '<p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">February 19: Govind Gurung has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Agricultural Development Bank. The meeting of the Board of Directors has appointed Gurung for next four-year term. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">As many as 22 individuals had applied for the post of ADBL’s CEO. Out of them, five were shortlisted for the coveted post. Along with Gurung, Pratap Subedi, Yagya Prakash Nupane, Badri Gurgai and Bishnu Dev Yadav were shortlisted for the CEO’s post.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Interview of the five shortlisted candidates took place on Saturday. Gurung was selected for the top job of the Agricultural Development Bank from the interview. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Gurung had served as the Chief Executive Officer of the Civil Bank Limited. He had also worked as Chief Executive Officer of Myanmar Citizens Bank in Myanmar for one and a half years. </span></span><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Gurung has 26 years’ experience of working in the different commercial banks. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Gurung has completed Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Nepal Commerce Campus under Tribhuvan University. He had started his banking career from Himalayan Bank Limited.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Gurung will take charge of the Agricultural Development Bank from Monday. The post of the Chief Executive Officer was vacant after erstwhile CEO Anil Kumar Upadhayay’s tenure came to an end.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-19', 'modified' => '2023-02-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16803', 'image' => '20230219042456_collage - 2023-02-19T155028.444.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-19 16:21:30', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17063', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Deposit Collection of Banks up by Rs 200 Billion in 7 Months', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 19: Deposit collection of commercial banks increased by about Rs 2 billion in the first seven months of the current fiscal year. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">February 19: Deposit collection of commercial banks increased by about Rs 2 billion in the first seven months of the current fiscal year. The banks, which faced liquidity problem in the last fiscal year, have shown improvement in the current fiscal year.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to Nepal Bankers Association, the umbrella organization of commercial banks, the total deposits of commercial banks increased from Rs 4541.44 billion in mid-July last year to Rs 4741.90 billion rupees by mid-February.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In the last fiscal year, the deposits of commercial banks increased by Rs 340 billion. But in the first seven months, it increased only Rs 110 billion. Despite the increase in deposits this year, banks have not been able to increase their lending. In the seven months of the current fiscal year, commercial banks have extended loans of only Rs 115 billion. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The total credit flow of commercial banks, which was Rs 4175 billion in mid-July last year, increased to Rs 4290 billion by mid-February.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">During last year, the banks disbursed loans of Rs 445 billion including Rs 434 billion in the first seven months. Banks had started to reduce lending from mid-January of last year.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Recently, there has been an improvement in the deposits of the banks, but there has not been an improvement in the lending. Sunil KC, President of Nepal Bankers Association and Chief Executive Officer of NMB Bank said that there is no demand for loans in banks in recent times. He said, “With the improvement in the economy, deposits in the bank increased as well. But, at the moment, the demand for loans in the bank is low.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">President KC said that even though the liquidity situation seems to be somewhat comfortable, banks are still in a wait-and-watch situation. He said that while the economic indicators are positive, the government has removed the ban on imports and this will put on foreign exchange reserves. He added that the monetary policy has also kept the policy rates unchanged.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">KC claims that recently banks have been reducing the interest rate of deposits and that will gradually make loans cheaper. “As the interest rate of deposits decreases, the interest rate of loans also decreases. However, as businessmen say, it is not possible for the interest rate of loans to drop to a single digit immediately,” said KC.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-19', 'modified' => '2023-02-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16802', 'image' => '20230219034446_Banks.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-19 15:44:02', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17062', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Tourism Promotion in Russia', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 19: The Nepalese Embassy in Moscow, Russia on Saturday, 18 February, organized a program named “'Nepal Promotion Event-2023” with the aim of promoting Nepali tourism.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">February 19: The Nepalese Embassy in Moscow, Russia on Saturday, 18 February, organized a program named “'Nepal Promotion Event-2023” with the aim of promoting Nepali tourism.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The embassy informed that the programme was attended by distinguished Russian tourism businessmen from Moscow, representatives of various airlines flying in Nepal and interested in flying, tourism journalists, mountain climbers, diplomats, businessmen, and representatives of Non-Resident Nepalese Association. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">During the programme, Nepal’s Ambassador to Russia Milan Raj Tuladhar requested that since there are many opportunities for Russian tourists and tourism professionals in Nepal, they should make good use of it.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The program was attended by Soviet hero and cosmonaut Vladimir Aleksandrovich Dzhanibekov, former ambassador of the Russian Federation to Nepal Sergey Velichkin Vasilievich, Chairman of the International Coordination Council of the Non-Resident Nepali Association, Dr. Badri KC, President of Non-Resident Nepali Association’s National Coordinating Council of Russia Shiva Mani Bhurtel, Russian climber Ivan Trofimovich Dusarin and others distinguished personalities. They discussed the potential and current situation of Nepal's tourism, mountain climbing, culture and other aspects.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Leonid Myasnikov and Sergey Peskevich, the leading tourism businessmen who send Russian tourists to Nepal, presented videos and other materials related to the promotion of Nepal. The embassy informed that the Russian banker and businessman Yuriy Gusev gave a presentation on investment opportunities in Nepal.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In order to give a glimpse of Nepali culture, the living goddess “Kumari” was exhibited and Nepali cultural dances were presented along with the arrangement of dinner with Nepali dishes.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-19', 'modified' => '2023-02-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16801', 'image' => '20230219025031_Untitled.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-19 14:49:38', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17061', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Collection of Details for Expansion of Suryabinayak-Dhulikhel Road Begins', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 19: The Department of Roads has said that the process of expanding the Suryabinayak-Dhulikhel road section along the Araniko Highway has started.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">February 19: The Department of Roads has said that the process of expanding the Suryabinayak-Dhulikhel road section along the Araniko Highway has started. </span></span><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the department, the Suryabinayak-Sindhuli-Bardibas Project has started collecting details for the expansion of road in two phases.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">After calling for tender bids last September, the government signed separate agreements to complete the expansion of the road section, which was built 25 years ago, in two phases. The deadline for the expansion work is three years.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">In the first phase, the road will be expanded from Sanga to Dhulikhel and then from Sanga to Suryabinayak in the second phase, the project office said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Out of the total 15.5 km road to be expanded from Suryabinayak to Dhulikhel, Lama Construction has won the contract to complete the 8.4 km road from Sanga to Dhulikhel. The contract is worth Rs 4.5 billion, said Spokesperson for the Department of Roads, Bhimarjun Adhikari.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">In the second phase, an agreement has been signed to complete the 7.5 km Suryabinayak-Sanga road at the cost of over Rs 3.8 billion, said the department.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The project office has written letters to four local levels within the project site to help collect details about the road in line with the set standards. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Removing buildings and structures built violating the road standards has begun, said the project office. The road will be expanded to six lanes, said the project's senior divisional engineer Radhika Prajapati.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">After the completion of the road expansion work, it is expected to ease traffic congestion, said Mayor of Banepa Municipality Shanti Ratna Kayastha.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Separate bidding will be announced to construct bridges along the road, said the project office. The estimated cost to construct bridges is Rs 9 million.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the detailed project report, around Rs 1 billion is required to acquire 17 ropanis of land for the road expansion project.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">It may be noted that the project had issued a 35-day notice last July urging the owners to remove unauthorized structures from both sides of the highway. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The Department of Roads had initiated the process to expand the road from Dhulikhel to Bhaktapur via Banepa some years ago taking into consideration huge traffic pressure. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">It has been learnt that the Department of Roads intensified preparation for the road expansion drive on its own using internal resources after the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) pulled out of the project. -- RSS</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-19', 'modified' => '2023-02-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16800', 'image' => '20230219013913_20220831041752_dhulikhel.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-19 13:38:21', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17060', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '40 Arrested for Vandalizing Lotse Mall, Torching Police Vans', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 18: The police have arrested 40 people involved in vandalizing and looting Lotse Mall located at New Bus Park area in Balaju as well as for torching police vehicles on February 13. ', 'content' => '<h2><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">February 18: The police have arrested 40 people involved in vandalizing and looting Lotse Mall located at New Bus Park area in Balaju as well as for torching police vehicles on February 13. </span></span></span></span></h2> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">They were arrested on Friday evening on the charge of torching two police vans, vandalizing Lotse Mall and looting mobile sets during a protest launched by transport workers. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The agitators had vandalized ACDC Mobile Pvt Ltd, Diamond Mobile Pvt Ltd, Kathmandu Supermarket Pvt Ltd and looted mobile sets, chargers, earphone as well as other accessories. They also set on fire police vehicles (Ba 2 Jha 144) and (Ba 1 Jha 7224) of Balaju Police Circle. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Similarly, a temporary police post at Balaju Chowk was also torched by the protesters. Superintendent of Police Sitaram Rijal, who is the spokesperson for the District Police Office, Kathmandu, said 29 people were arrested on the charge of their involvement in arson and vandalism and 11 for their involvement in looting mobile sets. Investigations into the cases are currently underway. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Other people involved in arson and vandalism have already been identified and they would be arrested soon, added SP Rijal. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">An unruly mass of people had vandalized Lotse Mall, looted mobile sets and set the police vehicles on fire during the protest launched jointly by the Nepal Transport Workers' Association, All Nepal Transport Workers' Association, and Nepal Transport Independent Workers' Organisation. -- RSS</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-19', 'modified' => '2023-02-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16799', 'image' => '20230219114528_nepal police.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-19 11:44:24', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17059', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'IFR at Pokhara International Airport ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 19: Pokhara International Airport will be equipped with the Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) system in a week.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">February 19: Pokhara Regional International Airport will be equipped with the Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) system in a week. Preparations for the operation of the IFR system at the newly-opened international airport in Pokhara have been completed, the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">CAAN spokesperson Jagannath Niraula informed RSS that the implementation of IFR in Pokhara international airport will come into effect from February 23. As a result, many airline companies have shown interest in carrying out regular international flights to and from Pokhara. The Korean Air, Biz Air, Himalaya and the state-owned Nepal Airlines Corporation and others have shown interest to start their services from the airport. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The IFR system is a fully mechanical operating system and compared to Visual Flight Rules (VFR) it is relatively safe and comfortable despite taking more time, the CAAN said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The airport came into operation from January 1, 2023 with only domestic services currently being provided by Buddha, Yeti, Shree, Sourya, Guna and other domestic airlines. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-19', 'modified' => '2023-02-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16798', 'image' => '20230219084821_Pokhara-Airport-800X533.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-19 08:47:14', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17058', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Over 14,000 Trees Felled for Under Construction Hydropower Projects in Sankhuwasabha', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'More than 14,000 trees are felled for the under construction Arun III Hydropower Project and for the expansion of various hydropower projects along the Koshi corridor in Sankhuwasabha. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">February 19: More than 14,000 trees are felled for the under construction Arun III Hydropower Project and for the expansion of various hydropower projects along the Koshi corridor in Sankhuwasabha. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Earlier, the Council of Ministers had taken the decision to fell the trees of the community and private forests in the district. </span></span><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The trees were logged for the construction of 900 megawatt Arun-III Hydropower Project and 220 megawatt Koshi Corridor Transmission line. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">As many as 14,627 trees of 18 community forests and some private forests were felled for the Arun-III Hydropower Project and Koshi Corridor Transmission Line, said Division Forest Office Sankhuwasabha Chief Dr Indra Sapkota.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Dr Sapkota said that 11 hydropower projects have used forest areas of six local levels. A total of 5,400 trees were felled for the expansion of electricity in the government forests.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Trees have been cleared at 123.22 hectares of the lands at Fyaksinda of Makalu Rural Municiplaity-5 and Diding Pukhuwa of Chichila Rural Municipality for Arun-III, according to Satluj, which is constructing the hydropower. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Arun-III Hydropower project has used 44 hectares of the land at Makalu Barun National Park in Sankhuwasabha. </span></span><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The existing regulations have it that users of the forest users’ committees can use the felled trees. As many as 994 trees were cut down for the 33 KV transmission line of the Arun-III Hydropower project. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">During the project construction and operation, if trees are cut down, tree saplings have to be planted in other places. </span></span><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">For the transmission line expansion, an agreement was signed to fell trees in the area having two kilometers length and 46 meters breadth. Hydropower will cut down the trees, said District Forest Office Sankhuwasabha. </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-19', 'modified' => '2023-02-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16797', 'image' => '20230219061503_collage.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-19 06:08:17', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17057', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'All Four Doors of Pashupatinath Open since 3 AM ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 18: On the occasion of Mahashivratri festival, all four doors of the Pashupatinath temple have been opened from 3 am early today. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">February 18: On the occasion of Mahashivratri festival, all four doors of the Pashupatinath temple have been opened from 3 am early today. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT) Information Officer Gauri Shankar Parajuli shared that the devotees had gathered for worship since before 3 o'clock in the morning. He informed that worshipping Lord Pashupatinath is possible within half an hour of queuing from Jayabageshwari and 45 minutes to one hour from Tilganga area. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Thousands of devotees have gathered in Pashupati area since early morning. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Some 5,000 security personnel and 4,000 volunteers have been deployed to ensure orderly management of the devotees that come to the Pashupatinath temple for worshipping today. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Health camps have also been set up on the Pashupatinath temple premises. Along with Pashupatinath, other temples of Lord Shiva in the capital are also crowded with devotees to mark the Shivaratri festival. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-18', 'modified' => '2023-02-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16796', 'image' => '20230218111548_IMG_20230218_065613.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-18 11:15:12', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17056', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Maha Shivaratri Festival being Observed across the Country Today', 'sub_title' => 'Nepalese Army to mark the Army Day on this occasion', 'summary' => 'February 18: Nepalis are celebrating the Maha Shivaratri festival across the country today with much fanfare.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">February 18: Nepalis are celebrating the Maha Shivaratri festival across the country today with much fanfare. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">On this day, devotees worship Lord Shiva one of the three gods of trinity. Lord Shiva, in Vedic tradition, is considered to be destroyer of the world. Yet, Shiva is also considered the embodiment of Shaumya and Raudra forms which represent both creative and destructive forces. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">It is believed that Lord Shiva took the current from on the night of Shivaratri, which falls on the fourth day of the waning moon in the 11th month of the Nepali calendar each year.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">According to the Nepal Calendar Determination Committee, Lord Brahma – the creator of the world – took the form of Shiva (the destroyer) in the midnight of Krishna Chaturdashi of Fagun (fourth day of the waning moon). So this day is observed with prayers, pooja, and visit to Lord Shiva's shrines. Hindus believe that the observation of the Mahashivaratri brings peace and prosperity to one's life. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">A large number of devotees visit the Pashupatinath temple in Kathmandu today to worship Lord Shiva. Devotees come to this famed temple from as far as India.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">People also make bonfire at home, on public squares and at temples, and chant hymns on the occasion. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Meanwhile, the Nepalese Army will be celebrating the Army Day by organizing various programs across the country today. On the occasion of the Army Day, various cultural programs including parade, artillery display and drill will be conducted at the army pavilion in Tundikhek.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Four retired army chiefs of the Indian Army have already arrived in Kathmandu at the invitation of the Nepalese Army this year to observe the parade at Tundikhel.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">President Bidya Devi Bhandari will attend a special function at Tundikhel on the occasion of the Army Day. President Bhandari is the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Army. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">President Bhandari has extended her best wishes to all Nepalis at home and abroad on the occasion of Maha Shivaratri festival today. In a message of best wishes, President Bhandari wished that the Maha Shivaratri may lead our society to the path of progress and may it spread the light of spiritual awakening in the lives of all Nepalis. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-18', 'modified' => '2023-02-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16795', 'image' => '20230218110820_RishiramBaral_Kaski_RSS_06_20230218_082533.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-18 11:07:35', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17055', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Sale of Substandard LPG Cylinders Prohibited ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 18: A joint market monitoring committee has banned the sale and distribution of substandard cooking gas cylinders in Banke district. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">February 18: A joint market monitoring committee has banned the sale and distribution of substandard cooking gas cylinders in Banke district. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Following the recent incident of gas leakage and explosion, the committee carried out a monitoring of the LPG industries in the district. LPG cylinders found to be defective during monitoring were asked to be discarded, Information Officer of Commerce, Supply and Consumer Protection Office, Nepalgunj, Devilal Chaulagain said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">During the visit, the team issued instruction to bring a gas leakage testing machine at the Mankamana Gas Industry into use as soon as possible and dispose off a total of 210 cylinders that were found not appropriate for use. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The committee also instructed to not bring into use around 3,000 LPG cylinders which were found defective at the Bheri Gas Industry. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-18', 'modified' => '2023-02-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16794', 'image' => '20230218105808_RakeshkumarMishra_Khajura_RSS_06_GasAnugaman.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-18 10:57:23', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17054', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Industrialists, and Entrepreneurs Hold Protest Rally Against High Interest Rates ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Entrepreneurs, traders and industrialists staged a protest rally against banks and financial institutions at Maitighar Mandala, Kathmandu, on Friday. ', 'content' => '<p>February 17: Entrepreneurs, traders and industrialists staged a protest rally against banks and financial institutions at Maitighar Mandala, Kathmandu, on Friday. </p> <p>Agitating traders and industrialists shouted slogans against banks and financial institutions saying that high interest rates had put their businesses on the verge of collapse. </p> <p>At a corner meeting organized after the rally, protesting industrialists and traders demanded to lower the interest rates to single digit, among others and provide subsidies to overcome challenges facing their businesses and enterprises. <br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-17', 'modified' => '2023-02-17', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16793', 'image' => '20230217064043_collage - 2023-02-17T183937.789.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-17 18:38:08', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = false $xml = falsesimplexml_load_file - [internal], line ?? include - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 133 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
| Currency | Unit |
Buy | Sell |
| U.S. Dollar | 1 | 121.23 | 121.83 |
| European Euro | 1 | 131.65 | 132.31 |
| UK Pound Sterling | 1 | 142.47 | 143.18 |
| Swiss Franc | 1 | 124.29 | 124.90 |
| Australian Dollar | 1 | 71.69 | 72.05 |
| Canadian Dollar | 1 | 83.90 | 84.32 |
| Japanese Yen | 10 | 10.94 | 11.00 |
| Chinese Yuan | 1 | 17.17 | 17.26 |
| Saudi Arabian Riyal | 1 | 32.27 | 32.43 |
| UAE Dirham | 1 | 33.01 | 33.17 |
| Malaysian Ringgit | 1 | 27.36 | 27.50 |
| South Korean Won | 100 | 9.77 | 9.82 |
Update: 2020-03-25 | Source: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB)
| Fine Gold | 1 tola | 77000.00 |
| Tejabi Gold | 1 tola | 76700.00 |
| Silver | 1 tola | 720.00 |
Update : 2020-03-25
Source: Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers' Association
| Petrol | 1 Liter | 106.00 |
| Diesel | 1 Liter | 95.00 |
| Kerosene | 1 Liter | 95.00 |
| LP Gas | 1 Cylinder | 1375.00 |
Update : 2020-03-25
