January 27: The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has filed a graft case at the Special Court against employees of the Department of Mines and Geology (DMG) including its director general.…
January 27: The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has filed a graft case at the Special Court against employees of the Department of Mines and Geology (DMG) including its director general.…
January 26: A recent study carried out at carpet and garment industries of Nepal shows that child labour is…
January 26: The corruption index of Nepal has not decreased, shows a…
January 26: Rasuwa customs office has collected revenue of Rs 4.33 billion although the exports have been nil.…
January 26: Nepal's population has reached 29.19 million (29,192,480) as per the preliminary results of the National Census…
January 26: The Supreme Court has issued an order in the name of the government to make essential medicines like cetamol and paracetamol easily…
January 26: The Government of Nepal has signed an agreement with Japan for a concessional loan of Rs 10.39 billion.…
January 26: The Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) is preparing to unveil the preliminary report of the National Census-2021 today (January…
January 25: Fertilizer weighing 7,591 metric tonnes dumped at the Birgunj dry port for the past one and a half years has yet to be properly managed, thanks to the negligence of the authorities…
January 25: Himalaya Airlines has become the first airline in Nepal to successfully achieve ISO 9001-2015 QMS…
January 25: The net profit of eight development banks has increased by 16.87 percent till the second quarter of the current fiscal year…
January 25: Nepal imported luxurious and consumable goods worth almost Rs 400 billion within the first 6 months of the current fiscal…
January 25: Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) is now going to enter into power purchase agreement (PPA) with solar plant projects on the basis of…
January 25: The Federation of Nepalese National Transport Entrepreneurs (FNNTE) has demanded the government to withdraw the hike in the price of petroleum…
January 25: Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC), the state-owned oil monopoly of the country, has paid Rs 13.2 billion to the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) for the purchase of crude…
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', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px">January 27: The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has filed a graft case at the Special Court against employees of the Department of Mines and Geology (DMG) including its director general. The anti-graft body has claimed over Rs 1.2 billion from the accused. <br /> The DMG's employees in question have been charged with waiving fines amounting to over Rs 1.2 billion to nine cement industries for extracting limestone by breaching the rules. <br /> As a result, the government had to incur losses of over Rs 1.2 billion in fine from the cement factories, said a three-member committee formed to investigate the matter. The cement factories in question are found to have paid only Rs 1.8 million in fines, said the DMG's deputy spokesperson Bed Prasad Bhandari. <br /> The CIAA has filed cases against the then superintendent mining engineer of the DMG Jayaraj Ghimire, undersecretary (law department under the DMG) Sapana Adhikari, senior division mechanic engineer Prashanta Bohora, account officer Shree Bhadra Gautam, research officer Basanta Adhikari, geologist Dr Sainik Bhandari and employee Dharma Raj Khadka and deputy attorney Chandra Kumari Pokharel. It has claimed over Rs 1.2 billion from the accused. <br /> Similarly, the CIAA has also taken action against nine industries that have been found involved in the case. <br /> It has claimed over Rs 163 million from Bishnu Prasad Neupane, owner of Sarbottam Cement; over Rs 494 million from Pashpati Murarka, owner of Siddhartha Minerals Pvt Ltd; over Rs 205 million from Sharad Gogal, owner of Maruti Cement; over Rs 111 million from Rishi Agrawal, owner of Annapurna Quarries; over Rs 17 million from Prabal Jung Pandey, owner of Udayapur Minerals; over Rs 96 million from Naresh Dugad, owner of United Cement; over Rs 69 million from Nipesh Tayal, owner of Sonapur Cement; over Rs 30 million from Bhim Bahadur Thapa Chhetri, owner of Kanchan Quarries and over Rs 54 million from Man Bahadur Shrestha, owner of Dolomite Limestone Industry. -- RSS </span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-27', 'modified' => '2022-01-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14418', 'image' => '20220127113738_CIAA.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-27 11:36:27', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14674', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Child Labour Declining in Carpet and Garment Industries: Study ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 26: A recent study carried out at carpet and garment industries of Nepal shows that child labour is declining. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">January 26: A recent study carried out at carpet and garment industries of Nepal shows that child labour is declining. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The study recently conducted by assistant lecturer of Nepal Commerce Campus and researcher Dilaram Bhandari shows that use of children below 18 years at carpet industries and garment industries has declined by 6.66 per cent and 1.63 per cent respectively. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The study was conducted as part of a programme of the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security with technical support of the Central Bureau of Statistics. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The use of child labour below 18 years, which was 50 per cent in carpet industries in 1993, has dropped to 6.66 per cent in 2021, said researcher Bhandari. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The study was carried out at 290 carpet industries and 183 garment industries of 20 districts, he shared. Bhandari added that child labour is decreasing every year due to social awareness and education. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The study took into consideration the issues such as gender, age, region, income, education and social security of 8,483 workers working in production sector of industries, shared researcher Bhandari. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Around 4.75 per cent Indians were found working in these industries while 0.02 per cent was from other countries and the remaining were Nepali workers. The study shows that among the Nepali labourers, a majority were from the Tamang, Magar, Gurung and Sherpa communities. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The worker of 20-49 years age group constituted 80 per cent of the human resource and they worked 52 hours in average in a week, Bhandari said adding that the working hours were more than that stipulated by the Labour Act of Nepal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Nepal’s law has determined an average of 48 hours of work in a week. The monthly income of male labourers working at carpet industries was found to be Rs 15,923 per month while it was Rs 17,632 at garment industries, Bhandari shared. --RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-26', 'modified' => '2022-01-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14417', 'image' => '20220126060628_21880622161_29591fec39_b.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-26 18:05:34', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14672', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Survey Shows Nepal as One of the Most Corrupt Countries in the World ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 26: The corruption index of Nepal has not decreased, shows a report. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">January 26: The corruption index of Nepal has not decreased, shows a report. The Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) report released by Transparency International (TI) on Tuesday shows that Nepal is one of the most corrupt countries in the world. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Nepal was ranked 117th out of 180 countries last year. This year too, Nepal is in the same position. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the report, out of 180 countries, Denmark, Finland and New Zealand are the least corrupt with 88 points out of 100. South Sudan is ranked as the most corrupt country with 11 points. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">TI has been publishing this list every year since 1995 where Nepal has been included since 2004. The report states that Nepal received 33 point (117th) in the last one year (2020/21), based on a survey conducted by six organizations including the World Bank, World Economic Forum, Global Insight, Bertelsmann Foundation, World Justice Project and VDEM, Nepal was ranked in the same position in the last year as well. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The survey shows that there exists corruption and abuse of power in the public sector, bribery in business, lack of action, lack of access to information, and lack of control over political corruption. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Transparency International has also raised questions about public officials and suggested ways to control trans-national corruption, control power, and increase transparency in government spending. The CPI has informed that human rights and democracy are at stake due to laxity in anti-corruption efforts around the world. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Corruption has not decreased worldwide and 86 percent of the countries have not made any progress in a decade. The CPI also informed that human rights are being violated, democratic rights are declining, authoritarianism and corruption are on the rise in countries where civil rights are weak. </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-26', 'modified' => '2022-01-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14416', 'image' => '20220126033556_Corruption-Index20211643115119-0.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-26 15:35:17', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14673', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Rasuwa Customs Office Collects Rs 4.33 billion from Imports', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 26: Rasuwa customs office has collected revenue of Rs 4.33 billion although the exports have been nil. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">January 26: Rasuwa customs office has collected revenue of Rs 4.33 billion although the exports have been nil. The revenue was collected from the customs valuation of Chinese goods imported from Rasuwagadhi checkpoint from mid-July to mid-December of the current fiscal year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to Chief Customs Officer Ram Prasad Mainali, Rs 4,33,45,09,000 has been collected within the span of six months. Since the onset of the Covid-19 infection, the Chinese party has been delivering only nine containers of goods to the Friendship Bridge in Rasuwagadhi on a daily basis.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The revenue was collected from traders, businessmen and private companies. However, the export to China remains zero.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Nevertheless, the revenue collection has increased by almost two and a half times compared to the last year. During the corresponding period of last fiscal year, revenue worth Rs 1.72 billion was collected by the customs office.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the customs office, a wide range of small and big products are imported via the Rasuwa customs point. Some of the imported products include vehicles, hydropower equipment, apples, walnut, ready-made garments, footwear, children's toys, fabric rolls, electrical goods etc.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The customs office has set a target to collect Rs 6.81 billion revenue from customs duty this year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The increase in revenue is a direct impact of an increase in import of vehicles. The customs office informed that more than 1,000 vehicles including cranes, tippers, ambulances, microbuses, minibuses, jeeps and cars have been imported since last year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Only quarantined workers have been deployed at the Friendship Bridge with the purpose of controlling the Covid-19 infection. The office also informed that only the Nepal Police, Armed Police Force and customs officials are allowed to enter the place alongside the drivers and workers wearing PPE.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-26', 'modified' => '2022-01-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14415', 'image' => '20220126054454_20200917034324_1600292304.Clipboard04.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-26 17:44:13', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14671', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal's Population Climbs to 29.19 Million ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 26: Nepal's population has reached 29.19 million (29,192,480) as per the preliminary results of the National Census 2021.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">January 26: Nepal's population has reached 29.19 million (29,192,480) as per the preliminary results of the National Census 2021. A report made public by the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) under the National Planning Commission on Wednesday (January 26) shows that the population is less by around 800,000 than the projected population of 30 million. The CBS informed that this data might be slightly changed in the final result. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The population of Nepal as per the 2011 National Census was 26.94 million (26,940,504). </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">As compared to the previous census, Bhaktapur has the highest population growth rate while Ramechhap district reported the most declining rate of population. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The first phase of field work of the 2021 Census was carried out from September 15 to October 4 and the second phase of field work was done from November 11 to 17, 2021. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Province-wise, Madhes Province has the largest population while Karnali Province has the least. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">NPC Vice Chairman Dr Bishwonath Poudel expressed his gratitude to all those involved in making the National Census 2021 successful and announced that the preliminary results of the census show that Nepal is the heartbeat of over 29.1 million people. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">CBS Director General Nebin Lal Shrestha said they conducted the population census of Lipulek, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura, the territories included in the new administrative map of Nepal, as well and were awaiting for the detailed information. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Responding to a query from a journalist, Director General Shrestha said that discrimination between son and daughter is found to be declining and the population might not have increased as projected also because the trend of producing children in preference of son has minimized. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">This is the first population census conducted after the promulgation of the Constitution of Nepal, 2015. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-26', 'modified' => '2022-01-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14414', 'image' => '20220126012940_20160920031111_ncell.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-26 13:28:47', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14670', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Supreme Court Orders Government to Avail Essential Medicine ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 26: The Supreme Court has issued an order in the name of the government to make essential medicines like cetamol and paracetamol easily available.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">January 26: The Supreme Court has issued an order in the name of the government to make essential medicines like cetamol and paracetamol easily available, the state-owned national news agency RSS reported. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">A single bench of Justice Manoj Kumar Sharma passed the order in the name of the government on Tuesday. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The court issued the order after hearing a writ petition filed by Advocate Tika Bahadur Kunwar on Monday seeking an order to provide essential medicines including cetamol to the citizens. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The market is currently reeling under shortage of some essential medicines. A similar situation had surfaced during the first and second waves of Covid-19.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">During last June, there was a shortage of paracetamol due to production cuts, artificial shortage and high demand for the essential drug in the market. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">There was a massive surge in demand for paracetamol, a primary drug used for containing fever, during the second wave as well.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-26', 'modified' => '2022-01-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14413', 'image' => '20220126121032_Supreme Court.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-26 12:09:41', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14668', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal to Receive Concessional Loan of Rs 10.39 Billion from Japan ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 26: The Government of Nepal has signed an agreement with Japan for a concessional loan of Rs 10.39 billion. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">January 26: The Government of Nepal has signed an agreement with Japan for a concessional loan of Rs 10.39 billion. Japan has agreed to extend the loan for the promotion of economic growth and to support the development efforts undertaken by the Government of Nepal. The agreement to this effect was signed and exchanged on Tuesday, January 25. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Finance Secretary Madhu Kumar Marasini and Japanese Ambassador to Nepal Kikuta Yutaka exchanged the Notes and Records of Discussion in this regard on behalf of their respective governments. The loan agreement to this effect was signed by Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Finance Ishwori Prasad Aryal and Chief Representative of JICA Nepal Asakuma Yumiko, according to the Ministry of Finance. The signing ceremony was held virtually. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The objective of this assistance is to strengthen the government’s effort in reforming economic and financial policies and institutions as well as strengthening domestic industrial bases and to protect the poor and vulnerable people. It also aims at contributing to the country’s long-term economic growth through fostering resilience and economic stabilization. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the ministry, the proceeds of loan will be utilized in the form of co-financing with the World Bank’s support for carrying out the activities of economic growth, recovery and resilience. The assistance is budgetary support in nature and can be used to cover the budgetary expenditures of the Government of Nepal. It entails 0.01 percent interest rate per annum and the repayment period expands up to 40 years, including a grace period for 10 years. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The Government of Nepal has expressed its sincere appreciation to the Government of Japan for its continuous support in socioeconomic development endeavours of Nepal. -- RSS </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-26', 'modified' => '2022-01-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14412', 'image' => '20220126080349_Flag-Pins-Nepal-Japan.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-26 08:03:07', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14669', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => ' CBS to Unveil Preliminary Report of National Census on Jan 26', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 26: The Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) is preparing to unveil the preliminary report of the National Census-2021 today (January 26).', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">January 26: The Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) is preparing to unveil the preliminary report of the National Census-2021 today (January 26).</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">However, it will take around nine months to prepare the final report, CBS stated.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The bureau under the National Planning Commission had conducted the first round of census from September 15 to October 4, 2021 while the second phase of census was held from November 11 to 25 last year. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">CBS Director Dundiraj Lamichhane confirmed that the preliminary report of the census would be unveiled virtually on January 26. The census is first since the promulgation of new constitution of Nepal in 2015. </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-26', 'modified' => '2022-01-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14411', 'image' => '20220126080837_20211126095913_20211109080004_20211108052804_National-Census-2021.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-26 08:07:59', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14667', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'A Case of Government Negligence: Over 7,000 Tonnes Fertilizer Dumped at Birgunj Dry Port', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 25: Fertilizer weighing 7,591 metric tonnes dumped at the Birgunj dry port for the past one and a half years has yet to be properly managed, thanks to the negligence of the authorities concerned. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">January 25: Fertilizer weighing 7,591 metric tonnes dumped at the Birgunj dry port for the past one and a half years has yet to be properly managed, thanks to the negligence of the authorities concerned. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">It has been learnt that repeated calls to the ministries of finance and agriculture to manage the fertilizer have fallen in deaf ears. Lack of coordination among the ministries and other concerned authorities has made the matter worse, according to the customs office. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The fertilizer packed in sacks imported by the Salt Trading Corporation Limited (STC) and the Agriculture Inputs Company Limited (AICL) has been dumped under the open sky. As a result, the exposure to sun and rainfall has damaged the fertilizer. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Delegated Legislations and Government Assurance Committee under the federal parliament had time and again held discussions and directed secretaries of the ministries and office bearers of the STC and AICL to take necessary measures in this regard, but to no avail, said officials of the customs office. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Ministry of Finance had taken a decision a month ago to hand over the fertilizer to the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, but no effective efforts to this end seems to have been undertaken. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development has not accepted the Finance Ministry's latest decision to hand over the dumped fertilizer, saying it neglected this matter by not taking the decision on time. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">officials of the Agriculture Ministry informed the parliamentary committee that they have written letter to the Ministry of Finance in this regard for more than 40 times but their letters have not been addressed. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The fertilizer was delivered by the UAE-based Swiss Singapore Overseas Enterprises Pvt Ltd through a tender. The consignment was brought for the Salt Trading Corporation and the Agriculture Inputs Company Limited. The quality of the fertilizer had deteriorated as it got wet due to the Amphan cyclone in the Bay of Bengal on May 16, 2020. Questions have been raised regarding the quality of 7,591 tons of fertilizer out of the 25,000 metric tonnes imported in course of customs check. This amount of fertilizer has remained unattended. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the Customs Office, the fertilizer has remained unattended and neglected as the company that acquired the tender and the two state-owned corporations that imported it failed to give due attention to the consignment in time. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The price of chemical fertilizer has increased almost by three times in the international market at present. However, a large quantity of fertilizer remains neglected at the customs office when most of the fertilizer producing countries do not want to export it citing increase in their domestic consumption. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Experts are of the view that this fertilizer can still be used although its quality has somewhat deteriorated. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-25', 'modified' => '2022-01-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14410', 'image' => '20220125052802_20220104123705_20210526042706_20200817122726_1597613093.Clipboard02.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-25 17:27:22', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14666', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Himalaya Airlines Awarded ISO 9001:2015 QMS Certification ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 25: Himalaya Airlines has become the first airline in Nepal to successfully achieve ISO 9001-2015 QMS certification. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">January 25: Himalaya Airlines has become the first airline in Nepal to successfully achieve ISO 9001-2015 QMS certification. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Nepal-China-Joint Venture airline received the certificate on December 29, 2021 in recognition of the organization’s Quality Management System (QMS) which complies with ISO 9001-2015, Himalaya Airlines said in a press release on Monday (January 24). The airlines earned the ISO certificate for “Providing Air Transport for Traveling Passengers and Freight, including Aviation Related Training Services”. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Prior to this, Himalaya Airlines had acquired its first ISO certification for Quality Management System of Aircraft Maintenance and Engineering Services in August 2020. ISO 9001:2015 is a globally recognized quality management standard developed and published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) which ensures that the products and services meet the needs of customers, through an effective quality management system. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">ISO 9001:2015 certificate No 120057/A/0001/UK/En was issued to Himalaya Airlines by United Registrar of System and United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS). </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Congratulating the team for ISO certification, President of Himalaya Airlines, Zhou Enyong said, “It is a proud moment for Himalaya to receive ISO 9001-2015 certification and a noteworthy achievement of the team effort. It is a continuing process for the company and we shall continue to optimize the standardization of work with due compliance at all levels.” </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Vijay Shrestha, vice president of Himalaya Airlines, said, “This indeed is a remarkable accomplishment for Team Himalaya. With the collaborative efforts of the team to maintain high documentation standards companywide, H9 has been able to acquire this ISO certification. This demonstrates Himalaya’s dedication for high performance work practices and is a significant confirmation of our ongoing commitment to quality.” -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-25', 'modified' => '2022-01-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14409', 'image' => '20220125051310_2113_n.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-25 17:12:19', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14665', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Profit of 8 Development Banks Increases by 16 Percent', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 25: The net profit of eight development banks has increased by 16.87 percent till the second quarter of the current fiscal year 2021/22.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">January 25: The net profit of eight development banks has increased by 16.87 percent till the second quarter of the current fiscal year 2021/22.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the financial statements released by the development banks, Garima, Mahalakshmi, Lumbini, Muktinath, Jyoti, Kamana Seva, Shine Resunga, and Shangrila development banks have earned a profit of Rs 3.20 billion. In the corresponding period of the last fiscal year, the profit of these banks was Rs 2.73 billion.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Although the profit of these eight development banks has increased, the distributable profit has decreased. The distributable profit of Kamana, Jyoti and Muktinath development banks has declined heavily as compared to the second quarter of the last fiscal year. These eight development banks had earned a total of Rs 174 billion distributable profit in the last year which has decreased to Rs 169 billion this year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The profit of Muktinath Development Bank, which is leading among the eight most profitable development banks, has decreased by 2.14 percent compared to last year. The bank has raised Rs 602 million profit until the second quarter of the current fiscal year against Rs 615 million in the same period of last year. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Garima Development Bank is the second most profitable development bank. It has earned a profit of Rs 492 million, an increase from Rs 393 million compared to the same period of last year. The bank's profit has increased by 25.25 percent until the second quarter of the current fiscal year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Likewise, Mahalakshmi Development Bank's profit has increased by 31.55 percent against the corresponding period of last fiscal year. Compared to the two quarters of the last fiscal year, the profit of Lumbini Development Bank has increased by 34.31 percent until the second quarter of the current fiscal year. It had earned a profit Rs 261 million in the corresponding period of the previous year which has increased to Rs 351 million in the current fiscal year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The profit of Shine Resunga Development Bank, Jyoti Development Bank, Shangrila Development Bank has increased by 33.59 percent, 12.57 percent, and 58.87 percent respectively. Meanwhile, the profit of Kamana Sewa Development Bank has decreased by 11.89 percent. It had earned a profit of Rs 397 million until the second quarter in last year which has decreased to Rs 343 million in the review period of the current fiscal year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The distributable profit of Mahalakshmi Development Bank has increased by 120.54 percent. It had made a profit of Rs 124.7 million in the review period of last year which has increased to Rs 275 million in the current fiscal year. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, Lumbini Development Bank has made a distributable profit of Rs 249 million, an increase of 52.51 percent. Shangrila Development Bank, Shine Resunga and Garima Development Bank have made a distributable profit of Rs 184 million, Rs 218 million and Rs 356 million respectively. All these banks witnessed a growth in the profit to be distributed in the review period of the current fiscal year. It had earned a profit of Rs 271 million in the review period which declined to Rs 967 million until the second quarter of the current fiscal year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Among the eight national level development banks, the distributable profit of three banks has declined in the current fiscal year. Kamana Sewa Development Bank has witnessed a sharp decline by 64.41 percent in the distributable profit. Likewise, Muktinath and Jyoti Bikash Bank have witnessed a decline by 57.72 percent and 36.20 percent respectively.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-25', 'modified' => '2022-01-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14408', 'image' => '20220125045407_Banks - Copy.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-25 16:53:19', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14664', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Spends Rs 400 Billion on Luxurious Goods', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 25: Nepal imported luxurious and consumable goods worth almost Rs 400 billion within the first 6 months of the current fiscal year.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">January 25: Nepal imported luxurious and consumable goods worth almost Rs 400 billion within the first 6 months of the current fiscal year. Mainly, imports of petroleum products, mobiles, automobiles and parts, iron and steel sheets, crude soybean oil, palm oil, paddy-rice and gold and silver amounting to Rs 388 billion have been made so far.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the data of the Department of Customs, mobile sets worth more than Rs 25 billion have been imported to Nepal in the last six months. This is an increase of Rs 5 billion as compared to that of last fiscal year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">By mid-January of the last fiscal year, 3.66 million mobile sets worth Rs 20.63 billion were imported in Nepal. In the corresponding period of the current fiscal year, 3.56 million mobile sets worth Rs 25.62 billion have been imported.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Although the import of mobile sets has declined numerically, its value and customs duty have gone up by more than Rs 5 billion as compared to that of last year. The government has collected more than Rs 4.55 billion revenue from the import of mobile sets.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">During the review period, Nepal has spent Rs 126 billion on vehicles and Rs 72 billion on spare parts. Similarly, Rs 40.92 billion has been used for the import of iron and steel sheet / coil. Crude soybean oil worth Rs 36.54 billion, palm oil worth Rs 27.49 billion, rice worth Rs 23.14 billion, gold worth Rs 22.03 billion and silver worth Rs 150 million have been imported in the review period.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Altogether goods worth Rs 999.34 billion have been imported from July to December. This is 51.13 percent more than that of the same period of last year. Goods worth Rs 661.24 billion were imported in the first six months of the last fiscal year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The government had introduced a polict in the first week of December to control imports. However, the statistics do not show much change. Goods worth Rs 161 billion have been imported in December alone. The trade deficit has widened due to rising imports and weak exports. According to the statistics of the department, Nepal's trade deficit has reached Rs 880.49 billion in the last six months. This is 46.64 percent more than that of the same period of the last fiscal year.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-25', 'modified' => '2022-01-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14407', 'image' => '20220125023820_20190128034626__DSC7854 (1).jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-25 14:37:39', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14663', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NEA to Invite Tenders for PPA with Solar Plants', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 25: Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) is now going to enter into power purchase agreement (PPA) with solar plant projects on the basis of competition.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">January 25: Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) is now going to enter into power purchase agreement (PPA) with solar plant projects on the basis of competition. A meeting of the board of directors of NEA on Sunday has decided to purchase electricity generated from such projects through competition. NEA had earlier been signing PPA at Rs 7.30 per unit.</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"">However, now NEA has decided to sign PPA on competition basis. The NEA aims to make the electricity tariff universally accessible by meeting international standard, public demand, and by ensuring the balance between demand and supply of electricity.</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"">NEA Executive Director Kulman Ghising confirmed that a decision has been taken to sign PPA with solar projects through competition. NEA will now fix the base rate for PPA for the solar energy sector. NEA will then invite tender bids for PPA without increasing the base rate. According to the NEA, PPA will be signed with the project with the lowest bidders.</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"">If the NEA fixes the base rate at Rs 6 per unit, bidders will have to participate in the tender by mentioning the same rate or less than that. </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"">Ghising said that a separate committee has been formed to decide the base rate. He said that the committee would determine the base rate after conducting necessary study and then proceed with the process of inviting tenders.</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 a directive issued by the Ministry of Energy, the energy produced by the solar projects must constitute at least 10 percent of total capacity of NEA. The NEA has said that PPA will be signed with the solar project accordingly.</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"">At present, the installed capacity of electricity in the national grid is about 2200 MW. Accordingly, NEA will be able to bring 220 MW of electricity from the solar projects immediately. </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"">NEA is currently purchasing 150 MW of electricity from solar projects. Ghising said that tender bids to fill the remaining quota would be called after completing the necessary procedures. If the connection capacity of electricity in the national grid increases, the quota of solar energy will also increase in the same proportion.</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"">This is the first time that a PPA has been decided through competition in Nepal. The private sector was also demanding the same. </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"">"Now that PPA is done through competition, electricity becomes cheaper and NEA can provide electricity to the customers at cheaper rates," said Madhu Prasad Bhetuwal, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation. "It should be taken positively." </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, the price of electricity generated from solar has been gradually declining due to the advancement of technology in the international market. That is why the NEA says that the electricity of the solar project is being bought through competition.</span></span></span></p> <p><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-25', 'modified' => '2022-01-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14406', 'image' => '20220125124321_NEA.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-25 12:42:29', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14662', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'FNNTE Demands Withdrawal of Price Hike of Petroleum Products ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 25: The Federation of Nepalese National Transport Entrepreneurs (FNNTE) has demanded the government to withdraw the hike in the price of petroleum products. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">January 25: The Federation of Nepalese National Transport Entrepreneurs (FNNTE) has demanded the government to withdraw the hike in the price of petroleum products. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Issuing a press statement on Monday, the federation's Chairperson Yogendra Nath Karmacharya asked the government to immediately withdraw the price hike of petroleum products made till now in the current fiscal year, adding that entrepreneurs have not been able to pay the interest and installment of banks and financial institutions due to coronavirus pandemic. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">“It is unfortunate to increase the price of petroleum products by Nepal Oil Corporation time and again directly affecting the transport entrepreneurs and general consumers. The price hike should be withdrawn immediately,” reads the statement. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The federation has warned of launching agitation if the price hike of petroleum products is not withdrawn. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-25', 'modified' => '2022-01-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14405', 'image' => '20220125075952_20211030080715_202609_20190503125003_Petrol-Price-Increase.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-25 07:59:25', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14661', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NOC Pays Over Rs 13 Billion to IOC with Government’s Assistance ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 25: Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC), the state-owned oil monopoly of the country, has paid Rs 13.2 billion to the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) for the purchase of crude oil.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">January 25: Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC), the state-owned oil monopoly of the country, has paid Rs 13.2 billion to the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) for the purchase of crude oil. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The NOC, which has reportedly suffered losses, sought Rs 1.8 billion from the government and paid installment to the IOC, informed NOC’s spokesperson Binit Mani Upadhyay. NOC received the amount from the price stabilization fund of the government. It sent the second installment to the IOC on Monday, January 24. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A meeting of the board of directors of the price stabilization fund on Friday decided to provide Rs 1.8 million to the NOC. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The corporation has been reportedly incurring losses as prices of petroleum products have increased in the international market. It would further endure losses if the prices of petroleum products are not adjusted following the increment in the purchase price, according to experts. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Meanwhile, the NOC is reportedly worried about how to pay the third installment to the IOC for need of money. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-25', 'modified' => '2022-01-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14404', 'image' => '20220125074826_20200804040802_1596492171.Clipboard01.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-25 07:47:44', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = falseinclude - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 60 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
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', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px">January 27: The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has filed a graft case at the Special Court against employees of the Department of Mines and Geology (DMG) including its director general. The anti-graft body has claimed over Rs 1.2 billion from the accused. <br /> The DMG's employees in question have been charged with waiving fines amounting to over Rs 1.2 billion to nine cement industries for extracting limestone by breaching the rules. <br /> As a result, the government had to incur losses of over Rs 1.2 billion in fine from the cement factories, said a three-member committee formed to investigate the matter. The cement factories in question are found to have paid only Rs 1.8 million in fines, said the DMG's deputy spokesperson Bed Prasad Bhandari. <br /> The CIAA has filed cases against the then superintendent mining engineer of the DMG Jayaraj Ghimire, undersecretary (law department under the DMG) Sapana Adhikari, senior division mechanic engineer Prashanta Bohora, account officer Shree Bhadra Gautam, research officer Basanta Adhikari, geologist Dr Sainik Bhandari and employee Dharma Raj Khadka and deputy attorney Chandra Kumari Pokharel. It has claimed over Rs 1.2 billion from the accused. <br /> Similarly, the CIAA has also taken action against nine industries that have been found involved in the case. <br /> It has claimed over Rs 163 million from Bishnu Prasad Neupane, owner of Sarbottam Cement; over Rs 494 million from Pashpati Murarka, owner of Siddhartha Minerals Pvt Ltd; over Rs 205 million from Sharad Gogal, owner of Maruti Cement; over Rs 111 million from Rishi Agrawal, owner of Annapurna Quarries; over Rs 17 million from Prabal Jung Pandey, owner of Udayapur Minerals; over Rs 96 million from Naresh Dugad, owner of United Cement; over Rs 69 million from Nipesh Tayal, owner of Sonapur Cement; over Rs 30 million from Bhim Bahadur Thapa Chhetri, owner of Kanchan Quarries and over Rs 54 million from Man Bahadur Shrestha, owner of Dolomite Limestone Industry. -- RSS </span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-27', 'modified' => '2022-01-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14418', 'image' => '20220127113738_CIAA.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-27 11:36:27', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14674', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Child Labour Declining in Carpet and Garment Industries: Study ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 26: A recent study carried out at carpet and garment industries of Nepal shows that child labour is declining. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">January 26: A recent study carried out at carpet and garment industries of Nepal shows that child labour is declining. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The study recently conducted by assistant lecturer of Nepal Commerce Campus and researcher Dilaram Bhandari shows that use of children below 18 years at carpet industries and garment industries has declined by 6.66 per cent and 1.63 per cent respectively. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The study was conducted as part of a programme of the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security with technical support of the Central Bureau of Statistics. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The use of child labour below 18 years, which was 50 per cent in carpet industries in 1993, has dropped to 6.66 per cent in 2021, said researcher Bhandari. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The study was carried out at 290 carpet industries and 183 garment industries of 20 districts, he shared. Bhandari added that child labour is decreasing every year due to social awareness and education. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The study took into consideration the issues such as gender, age, region, income, education and social security of 8,483 workers working in production sector of industries, shared researcher Bhandari. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Around 4.75 per cent Indians were found working in these industries while 0.02 per cent was from other countries and the remaining were Nepali workers. The study shows that among the Nepali labourers, a majority were from the Tamang, Magar, Gurung and Sherpa communities. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The worker of 20-49 years age group constituted 80 per cent of the human resource and they worked 52 hours in average in a week, Bhandari said adding that the working hours were more than that stipulated by the Labour Act of Nepal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Nepal’s law has determined an average of 48 hours of work in a week. The monthly income of male labourers working at carpet industries was found to be Rs 15,923 per month while it was Rs 17,632 at garment industries, Bhandari shared. --RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-26', 'modified' => '2022-01-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14417', 'image' => '20220126060628_21880622161_29591fec39_b.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-26 18:05:34', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14672', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Survey Shows Nepal as One of the Most Corrupt Countries in the World ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 26: The corruption index of Nepal has not decreased, shows a report. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">January 26: The corruption index of Nepal has not decreased, shows a report. The Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) report released by Transparency International (TI) on Tuesday shows that Nepal is one of the most corrupt countries in the world. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Nepal was ranked 117th out of 180 countries last year. This year too, Nepal is in the same position. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the report, out of 180 countries, Denmark, Finland and New Zealand are the least corrupt with 88 points out of 100. South Sudan is ranked as the most corrupt country with 11 points. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">TI has been publishing this list every year since 1995 where Nepal has been included since 2004. The report states that Nepal received 33 point (117th) in the last one year (2020/21), based on a survey conducted by six organizations including the World Bank, World Economic Forum, Global Insight, Bertelsmann Foundation, World Justice Project and VDEM, Nepal was ranked in the same position in the last year as well. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The survey shows that there exists corruption and abuse of power in the public sector, bribery in business, lack of action, lack of access to information, and lack of control over political corruption. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Transparency International has also raised questions about public officials and suggested ways to control trans-national corruption, control power, and increase transparency in government spending. The CPI has informed that human rights and democracy are at stake due to laxity in anti-corruption efforts around the world. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Corruption has not decreased worldwide and 86 percent of the countries have not made any progress in a decade. The CPI also informed that human rights are being violated, democratic rights are declining, authoritarianism and corruption are on the rise in countries where civil rights are weak. </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-26', 'modified' => '2022-01-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14416', 'image' => '20220126033556_Corruption-Index20211643115119-0.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-26 15:35:17', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14673', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Rasuwa Customs Office Collects Rs 4.33 billion from Imports', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 26: Rasuwa customs office has collected revenue of Rs 4.33 billion although the exports have been nil. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">January 26: Rasuwa customs office has collected revenue of Rs 4.33 billion although the exports have been nil. The revenue was collected from the customs valuation of Chinese goods imported from Rasuwagadhi checkpoint from mid-July to mid-December of the current fiscal year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to Chief Customs Officer Ram Prasad Mainali, Rs 4,33,45,09,000 has been collected within the span of six months. Since the onset of the Covid-19 infection, the Chinese party has been delivering only nine containers of goods to the Friendship Bridge in Rasuwagadhi on a daily basis.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The revenue was collected from traders, businessmen and private companies. However, the export to China remains zero.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Nevertheless, the revenue collection has increased by almost two and a half times compared to the last year. During the corresponding period of last fiscal year, revenue worth Rs 1.72 billion was collected by the customs office.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the customs office, a wide range of small and big products are imported via the Rasuwa customs point. Some of the imported products include vehicles, hydropower equipment, apples, walnut, ready-made garments, footwear, children's toys, fabric rolls, electrical goods etc.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The customs office has set a target to collect Rs 6.81 billion revenue from customs duty this year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The increase in revenue is a direct impact of an increase in import of vehicles. The customs office informed that more than 1,000 vehicles including cranes, tippers, ambulances, microbuses, minibuses, jeeps and cars have been imported since last year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Only quarantined workers have been deployed at the Friendship Bridge with the purpose of controlling the Covid-19 infection. The office also informed that only the Nepal Police, Armed Police Force and customs officials are allowed to enter the place alongside the drivers and workers wearing PPE.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-26', 'modified' => '2022-01-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14415', 'image' => '20220126054454_20200917034324_1600292304.Clipboard04.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-26 17:44:13', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14671', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal's Population Climbs to 29.19 Million ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 26: Nepal's population has reached 29.19 million (29,192,480) as per the preliminary results of the National Census 2021.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">January 26: Nepal's population has reached 29.19 million (29,192,480) as per the preliminary results of the National Census 2021. A report made public by the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) under the National Planning Commission on Wednesday (January 26) shows that the population is less by around 800,000 than the projected population of 30 million. The CBS informed that this data might be slightly changed in the final result. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The population of Nepal as per the 2011 National Census was 26.94 million (26,940,504). </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">As compared to the previous census, Bhaktapur has the highest population growth rate while Ramechhap district reported the most declining rate of population. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The first phase of field work of the 2021 Census was carried out from September 15 to October 4 and the second phase of field work was done from November 11 to 17, 2021. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Province-wise, Madhes Province has the largest population while Karnali Province has the least. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">NPC Vice Chairman Dr Bishwonath Poudel expressed his gratitude to all those involved in making the National Census 2021 successful and announced that the preliminary results of the census show that Nepal is the heartbeat of over 29.1 million people. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">CBS Director General Nebin Lal Shrestha said they conducted the population census of Lipulek, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura, the territories included in the new administrative map of Nepal, as well and were awaiting for the detailed information. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Responding to a query from a journalist, Director General Shrestha said that discrimination between son and daughter is found to be declining and the population might not have increased as projected also because the trend of producing children in preference of son has minimized. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">This is the first population census conducted after the promulgation of the Constitution of Nepal, 2015. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-26', 'modified' => '2022-01-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14414', 'image' => '20220126012940_20160920031111_ncell.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-26 13:28:47', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14670', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Supreme Court Orders Government to Avail Essential Medicine ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 26: The Supreme Court has issued an order in the name of the government to make essential medicines like cetamol and paracetamol easily available.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">January 26: The Supreme Court has issued an order in the name of the government to make essential medicines like cetamol and paracetamol easily available, the state-owned national news agency RSS reported. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">A single bench of Justice Manoj Kumar Sharma passed the order in the name of the government on Tuesday. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The court issued the order after hearing a writ petition filed by Advocate Tika Bahadur Kunwar on Monday seeking an order to provide essential medicines including cetamol to the citizens. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The market is currently reeling under shortage of some essential medicines. A similar situation had surfaced during the first and second waves of Covid-19.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">During last June, there was a shortage of paracetamol due to production cuts, artificial shortage and high demand for the essential drug in the market. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">There was a massive surge in demand for paracetamol, a primary drug used for containing fever, during the second wave as well.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-26', 'modified' => '2022-01-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14413', 'image' => '20220126121032_Supreme Court.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-26 12:09:41', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14668', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal to Receive Concessional Loan of Rs 10.39 Billion from Japan ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 26: The Government of Nepal has signed an agreement with Japan for a concessional loan of Rs 10.39 billion. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">January 26: The Government of Nepal has signed an agreement with Japan for a concessional loan of Rs 10.39 billion. Japan has agreed to extend the loan for the promotion of economic growth and to support the development efforts undertaken by the Government of Nepal. The agreement to this effect was signed and exchanged on Tuesday, January 25. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Finance Secretary Madhu Kumar Marasini and Japanese Ambassador to Nepal Kikuta Yutaka exchanged the Notes and Records of Discussion in this regard on behalf of their respective governments. The loan agreement to this effect was signed by Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Finance Ishwori Prasad Aryal and Chief Representative of JICA Nepal Asakuma Yumiko, according to the Ministry of Finance. The signing ceremony was held virtually. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The objective of this assistance is to strengthen the government’s effort in reforming economic and financial policies and institutions as well as strengthening domestic industrial bases and to protect the poor and vulnerable people. It also aims at contributing to the country’s long-term economic growth through fostering resilience and economic stabilization. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the ministry, the proceeds of loan will be utilized in the form of co-financing with the World Bank’s support for carrying out the activities of economic growth, recovery and resilience. The assistance is budgetary support in nature and can be used to cover the budgetary expenditures of the Government of Nepal. It entails 0.01 percent interest rate per annum and the repayment period expands up to 40 years, including a grace period for 10 years. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The Government of Nepal has expressed its sincere appreciation to the Government of Japan for its continuous support in socioeconomic development endeavours of Nepal. -- RSS </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-26', 'modified' => '2022-01-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14412', 'image' => '20220126080349_Flag-Pins-Nepal-Japan.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-26 08:03:07', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14669', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => ' CBS to Unveil Preliminary Report of National Census on Jan 26', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 26: The Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) is preparing to unveil the preliminary report of the National Census-2021 today (January 26).', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">January 26: The Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) is preparing to unveil the preliminary report of the National Census-2021 today (January 26).</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">However, it will take around nine months to prepare the final report, CBS stated.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The bureau under the National Planning Commission had conducted the first round of census from September 15 to October 4, 2021 while the second phase of census was held from November 11 to 25 last year. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">CBS Director Dundiraj Lamichhane confirmed that the preliminary report of the census would be unveiled virtually on January 26. The census is first since the promulgation of new constitution of Nepal in 2015. </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-26', 'modified' => '2022-01-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14411', 'image' => '20220126080837_20211126095913_20211109080004_20211108052804_National-Census-2021.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-26 08:07:59', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14667', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'A Case of Government Negligence: Over 7,000 Tonnes Fertilizer Dumped at Birgunj Dry Port', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 25: Fertilizer weighing 7,591 metric tonnes dumped at the Birgunj dry port for the past one and a half years has yet to be properly managed, thanks to the negligence of the authorities concerned. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">January 25: Fertilizer weighing 7,591 metric tonnes dumped at the Birgunj dry port for the past one and a half years has yet to be properly managed, thanks to the negligence of the authorities concerned. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">It has been learnt that repeated calls to the ministries of finance and agriculture to manage the fertilizer have fallen in deaf ears. Lack of coordination among the ministries and other concerned authorities has made the matter worse, according to the customs office. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The fertilizer packed in sacks imported by the Salt Trading Corporation Limited (STC) and the Agriculture Inputs Company Limited (AICL) has been dumped under the open sky. As a result, the exposure to sun and rainfall has damaged the fertilizer. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Delegated Legislations and Government Assurance Committee under the federal parliament had time and again held discussions and directed secretaries of the ministries and office bearers of the STC and AICL to take necessary measures in this regard, but to no avail, said officials of the customs office. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Ministry of Finance had taken a decision a month ago to hand over the fertilizer to the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, but no effective efforts to this end seems to have been undertaken. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development has not accepted the Finance Ministry's latest decision to hand over the dumped fertilizer, saying it neglected this matter by not taking the decision on time. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">officials of the Agriculture Ministry informed the parliamentary committee that they have written letter to the Ministry of Finance in this regard for more than 40 times but their letters have not been addressed. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The fertilizer was delivered by the UAE-based Swiss Singapore Overseas Enterprises Pvt Ltd through a tender. The consignment was brought for the Salt Trading Corporation and the Agriculture Inputs Company Limited. The quality of the fertilizer had deteriorated as it got wet due to the Amphan cyclone in the Bay of Bengal on May 16, 2020. Questions have been raised regarding the quality of 7,591 tons of fertilizer out of the 25,000 metric tonnes imported in course of customs check. This amount of fertilizer has remained unattended. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the Customs Office, the fertilizer has remained unattended and neglected as the company that acquired the tender and the two state-owned corporations that imported it failed to give due attention to the consignment in time. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The price of chemical fertilizer has increased almost by three times in the international market at present. However, a large quantity of fertilizer remains neglected at the customs office when most of the fertilizer producing countries do not want to export it citing increase in their domestic consumption. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Experts are of the view that this fertilizer can still be used although its quality has somewhat deteriorated. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-25', 'modified' => '2022-01-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14410', 'image' => '20220125052802_20220104123705_20210526042706_20200817122726_1597613093.Clipboard02.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-25 17:27:22', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14666', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Himalaya Airlines Awarded ISO 9001:2015 QMS Certification ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 25: Himalaya Airlines has become the first airline in Nepal to successfully achieve ISO 9001-2015 QMS certification. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">January 25: Himalaya Airlines has become the first airline in Nepal to successfully achieve ISO 9001-2015 QMS certification. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Nepal-China-Joint Venture airline received the certificate on December 29, 2021 in recognition of the organization’s Quality Management System (QMS) which complies with ISO 9001-2015, Himalaya Airlines said in a press release on Monday (January 24). The airlines earned the ISO certificate for “Providing Air Transport for Traveling Passengers and Freight, including Aviation Related Training Services”. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Prior to this, Himalaya Airlines had acquired its first ISO certification for Quality Management System of Aircraft Maintenance and Engineering Services in August 2020. ISO 9001:2015 is a globally recognized quality management standard developed and published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) which ensures that the products and services meet the needs of customers, through an effective quality management system. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">ISO 9001:2015 certificate No 120057/A/0001/UK/En was issued to Himalaya Airlines by United Registrar of System and United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS). </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Congratulating the team for ISO certification, President of Himalaya Airlines, Zhou Enyong said, “It is a proud moment for Himalaya to receive ISO 9001-2015 certification and a noteworthy achievement of the team effort. It is a continuing process for the company and we shall continue to optimize the standardization of work with due compliance at all levels.” </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Vijay Shrestha, vice president of Himalaya Airlines, said, “This indeed is a remarkable accomplishment for Team Himalaya. With the collaborative efforts of the team to maintain high documentation standards companywide, H9 has been able to acquire this ISO certification. This demonstrates Himalaya’s dedication for high performance work practices and is a significant confirmation of our ongoing commitment to quality.” -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-25', 'modified' => '2022-01-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14409', 'image' => '20220125051310_2113_n.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-25 17:12:19', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14665', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Profit of 8 Development Banks Increases by 16 Percent', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 25: The net profit of eight development banks has increased by 16.87 percent till the second quarter of the current fiscal year 2021/22.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">January 25: The net profit of eight development banks has increased by 16.87 percent till the second quarter of the current fiscal year 2021/22.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the financial statements released by the development banks, Garima, Mahalakshmi, Lumbini, Muktinath, Jyoti, Kamana Seva, Shine Resunga, and Shangrila development banks have earned a profit of Rs 3.20 billion. In the corresponding period of the last fiscal year, the profit of these banks was Rs 2.73 billion.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Although the profit of these eight development banks has increased, the distributable profit has decreased. The distributable profit of Kamana, Jyoti and Muktinath development banks has declined heavily as compared to the second quarter of the last fiscal year. These eight development banks had earned a total of Rs 174 billion distributable profit in the last year which has decreased to Rs 169 billion this year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The profit of Muktinath Development Bank, which is leading among the eight most profitable development banks, has decreased by 2.14 percent compared to last year. The bank has raised Rs 602 million profit until the second quarter of the current fiscal year against Rs 615 million in the same period of last year. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Garima Development Bank is the second most profitable development bank. It has earned a profit of Rs 492 million, an increase from Rs 393 million compared to the same period of last year. The bank's profit has increased by 25.25 percent until the second quarter of the current fiscal year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Likewise, Mahalakshmi Development Bank's profit has increased by 31.55 percent against the corresponding period of last fiscal year. Compared to the two quarters of the last fiscal year, the profit of Lumbini Development Bank has increased by 34.31 percent until the second quarter of the current fiscal year. It had earned a profit Rs 261 million in the corresponding period of the previous year which has increased to Rs 351 million in the current fiscal year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The profit of Shine Resunga Development Bank, Jyoti Development Bank, Shangrila Development Bank has increased by 33.59 percent, 12.57 percent, and 58.87 percent respectively. Meanwhile, the profit of Kamana Sewa Development Bank has decreased by 11.89 percent. It had earned a profit of Rs 397 million until the second quarter in last year which has decreased to Rs 343 million in the review period of the current fiscal year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The distributable profit of Mahalakshmi Development Bank has increased by 120.54 percent. It had made a profit of Rs 124.7 million in the review period of last year which has increased to Rs 275 million in the current fiscal year. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, Lumbini Development Bank has made a distributable profit of Rs 249 million, an increase of 52.51 percent. Shangrila Development Bank, Shine Resunga and Garima Development Bank have made a distributable profit of Rs 184 million, Rs 218 million and Rs 356 million respectively. All these banks witnessed a growth in the profit to be distributed in the review period of the current fiscal year. It had earned a profit of Rs 271 million in the review period which declined to Rs 967 million until the second quarter of the current fiscal year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Among the eight national level development banks, the distributable profit of three banks has declined in the current fiscal year. Kamana Sewa Development Bank has witnessed a sharp decline by 64.41 percent in the distributable profit. Likewise, Muktinath and Jyoti Bikash Bank have witnessed a decline by 57.72 percent and 36.20 percent respectively.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-25', 'modified' => '2022-01-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14408', 'image' => '20220125045407_Banks - Copy.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-25 16:53:19', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14664', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Spends Rs 400 Billion on Luxurious Goods', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 25: Nepal imported luxurious and consumable goods worth almost Rs 400 billion within the first 6 months of the current fiscal year.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">January 25: Nepal imported luxurious and consumable goods worth almost Rs 400 billion within the first 6 months of the current fiscal year. Mainly, imports of petroleum products, mobiles, automobiles and parts, iron and steel sheets, crude soybean oil, palm oil, paddy-rice and gold and silver amounting to Rs 388 billion have been made so far.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the data of the Department of Customs, mobile sets worth more than Rs 25 billion have been imported to Nepal in the last six months. This is an increase of Rs 5 billion as compared to that of last fiscal year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">By mid-January of the last fiscal year, 3.66 million mobile sets worth Rs 20.63 billion were imported in Nepal. In the corresponding period of the current fiscal year, 3.56 million mobile sets worth Rs 25.62 billion have been imported.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Although the import of mobile sets has declined numerically, its value and customs duty have gone up by more than Rs 5 billion as compared to that of last year. The government has collected more than Rs 4.55 billion revenue from the import of mobile sets.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">During the review period, Nepal has spent Rs 126 billion on vehicles and Rs 72 billion on spare parts. Similarly, Rs 40.92 billion has been used for the import of iron and steel sheet / coil. Crude soybean oil worth Rs 36.54 billion, palm oil worth Rs 27.49 billion, rice worth Rs 23.14 billion, gold worth Rs 22.03 billion and silver worth Rs 150 million have been imported in the review period.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Altogether goods worth Rs 999.34 billion have been imported from July to December. This is 51.13 percent more than that of the same period of last year. Goods worth Rs 661.24 billion were imported in the first six months of the last fiscal year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The government had introduced a polict in the first week of December to control imports. However, the statistics do not show much change. Goods worth Rs 161 billion have been imported in December alone. The trade deficit has widened due to rising imports and weak exports. According to the statistics of the department, Nepal's trade deficit has reached Rs 880.49 billion in the last six months. This is 46.64 percent more than that of the same period of the last fiscal year.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-25', 'modified' => '2022-01-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14407', 'image' => '20220125023820_20190128034626__DSC7854 (1).jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-25 14:37:39', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14663', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NEA to Invite Tenders for PPA with Solar Plants', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 25: Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) is now going to enter into power purchase agreement (PPA) with solar plant projects on the basis of competition.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">January 25: Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) is now going to enter into power purchase agreement (PPA) with solar plant projects on the basis of competition. A meeting of the board of directors of NEA on Sunday has decided to purchase electricity generated from such projects through competition. NEA had earlier been signing PPA at Rs 7.30 per unit.</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"">However, now NEA has decided to sign PPA on competition basis. The NEA aims to make the electricity tariff universally accessible by meeting international standard, public demand, and by ensuring the balance between demand and supply of electricity.</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"">NEA Executive Director Kulman Ghising confirmed that a decision has been taken to sign PPA with solar projects through competition. NEA will now fix the base rate for PPA for the solar energy sector. NEA will then invite tender bids for PPA without increasing the base rate. According to the NEA, PPA will be signed with the project with the lowest bidders.</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"">If the NEA fixes the base rate at Rs 6 per unit, bidders will have to participate in the tender by mentioning the same rate or less than that. </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"">Ghising said that a separate committee has been formed to decide the base rate. He said that the committee would determine the base rate after conducting necessary study and then proceed with the process of inviting tenders.</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 a directive issued by the Ministry of Energy, the energy produced by the solar projects must constitute at least 10 percent of total capacity of NEA. The NEA has said that PPA will be signed with the solar project accordingly.</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"">At present, the installed capacity of electricity in the national grid is about 2200 MW. Accordingly, NEA will be able to bring 220 MW of electricity from the solar projects immediately. </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"">NEA is currently purchasing 150 MW of electricity from solar projects. Ghising said that tender bids to fill the remaining quota would be called after completing the necessary procedures. If the connection capacity of electricity in the national grid increases, the quota of solar energy will also increase in the same proportion.</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"">This is the first time that a PPA has been decided through competition in Nepal. The private sector was also demanding the same. </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"">"Now that PPA is done through competition, electricity becomes cheaper and NEA can provide electricity to the customers at cheaper rates," said Madhu Prasad Bhetuwal, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation. "It should be taken positively." </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, the price of electricity generated from solar has been gradually declining due to the advancement of technology in the international market. That is why the NEA says that the electricity of the solar project is being bought through competition.</span></span></span></p> <p><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-25', 'modified' => '2022-01-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14406', 'image' => '20220125124321_NEA.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-25 12:42:29', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14662', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'FNNTE Demands Withdrawal of Price Hike of Petroleum Products ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 25: The Federation of Nepalese National Transport Entrepreneurs (FNNTE) has demanded the government to withdraw the hike in the price of petroleum products. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">January 25: The Federation of Nepalese National Transport Entrepreneurs (FNNTE) has demanded the government to withdraw the hike in the price of petroleum products. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Issuing a press statement on Monday, the federation's Chairperson Yogendra Nath Karmacharya asked the government to immediately withdraw the price hike of petroleum products made till now in the current fiscal year, adding that entrepreneurs have not been able to pay the interest and installment of banks and financial institutions due to coronavirus pandemic. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">“It is unfortunate to increase the price of petroleum products by Nepal Oil Corporation time and again directly affecting the transport entrepreneurs and general consumers. The price hike should be withdrawn immediately,” reads the statement. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The federation has warned of launching agitation if the price hike of petroleum products is not withdrawn. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-25', 'modified' => '2022-01-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14405', 'image' => '20220125075952_20211030080715_202609_20190503125003_Petrol-Price-Increase.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-25 07:59:25', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14661', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NOC Pays Over Rs 13 Billion to IOC with Government’s Assistance ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 25: Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC), the state-owned oil monopoly of the country, has paid Rs 13.2 billion to the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) for the purchase of crude oil.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">January 25: Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC), the state-owned oil monopoly of the country, has paid Rs 13.2 billion to the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) for the purchase of crude oil. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The NOC, which has reportedly suffered losses, sought Rs 1.8 billion from the government and paid installment to the IOC, informed NOC’s spokesperson Binit Mani Upadhyay. NOC received the amount from the price stabilization fund of the government. It sent the second installment to the IOC on Monday, January 24. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A meeting of the board of directors of the price stabilization fund on Friday decided to provide Rs 1.8 million to the NOC. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The corporation has been reportedly incurring losses as prices of petroleum products have increased in the international market. It would further endure losses if the prices of petroleum products are not adjusted following the increment in the purchase price, according to experts. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Meanwhile, the NOC is reportedly worried about how to pay the third installment to the IOC for need of money. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-25', 'modified' => '2022-01-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14404', 'image' => '20220125074826_20200804040802_1596492171.Clipboard01.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-25 07:47:44', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = falsesimplexml_load_file - [internal], line ?? include - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 60 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
Notice (8): Undefined variable: file [APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 133]Code Context// $file = 'http://aabhiyan:QUVLg8Wzs2F7G9N7@nepalstock.com.np/api/subindexdata.xml';if(!$xml = simplexml_load_file($file)){$viewFile = '/var/www/html/newbusinessage.com/app/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'articles' => array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ) ), 'current_user' => null, 'logged_in' => false ) $articles = array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14675', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'CIAA Files Graft Cases against DMG's Employees ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 27: The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has filed a graft case at the Special Court against employees of the Department of Mines and Geology (DMG) including its director general. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px">January 27: The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has filed a graft case at the Special Court against employees of the Department of Mines and Geology (DMG) including its director general. The anti-graft body has claimed over Rs 1.2 billion from the accused. <br /> The DMG's employees in question have been charged with waiving fines amounting to over Rs 1.2 billion to nine cement industries for extracting limestone by breaching the rules. <br /> As a result, the government had to incur losses of over Rs 1.2 billion in fine from the cement factories, said a three-member committee formed to investigate the matter. The cement factories in question are found to have paid only Rs 1.8 million in fines, said the DMG's deputy spokesperson Bed Prasad Bhandari. <br /> The CIAA has filed cases against the then superintendent mining engineer of the DMG Jayaraj Ghimire, undersecretary (law department under the DMG) Sapana Adhikari, senior division mechanic engineer Prashanta Bohora, account officer Shree Bhadra Gautam, research officer Basanta Adhikari, geologist Dr Sainik Bhandari and employee Dharma Raj Khadka and deputy attorney Chandra Kumari Pokharel. It has claimed over Rs 1.2 billion from the accused. <br /> Similarly, the CIAA has also taken action against nine industries that have been found involved in the case. <br /> It has claimed over Rs 163 million from Bishnu Prasad Neupane, owner of Sarbottam Cement; over Rs 494 million from Pashpati Murarka, owner of Siddhartha Minerals Pvt Ltd; over Rs 205 million from Sharad Gogal, owner of Maruti Cement; over Rs 111 million from Rishi Agrawal, owner of Annapurna Quarries; over Rs 17 million from Prabal Jung Pandey, owner of Udayapur Minerals; over Rs 96 million from Naresh Dugad, owner of United Cement; over Rs 69 million from Nipesh Tayal, owner of Sonapur Cement; over Rs 30 million from Bhim Bahadur Thapa Chhetri, owner of Kanchan Quarries and over Rs 54 million from Man Bahadur Shrestha, owner of Dolomite Limestone Industry. -- RSS </span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-27', 'modified' => '2022-01-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14418', 'image' => '20220127113738_CIAA.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-27 11:36:27', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14674', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Child Labour Declining in Carpet and Garment Industries: Study ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 26: A recent study carried out at carpet and garment industries of Nepal shows that child labour is declining. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">January 26: A recent study carried out at carpet and garment industries of Nepal shows that child labour is declining. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The study recently conducted by assistant lecturer of Nepal Commerce Campus and researcher Dilaram Bhandari shows that use of children below 18 years at carpet industries and garment industries has declined by 6.66 per cent and 1.63 per cent respectively. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The study was conducted as part of a programme of the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security with technical support of the Central Bureau of Statistics. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The use of child labour below 18 years, which was 50 per cent in carpet industries in 1993, has dropped to 6.66 per cent in 2021, said researcher Bhandari. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The study was carried out at 290 carpet industries and 183 garment industries of 20 districts, he shared. Bhandari added that child labour is decreasing every year due to social awareness and education. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The study took into consideration the issues such as gender, age, region, income, education and social security of 8,483 workers working in production sector of industries, shared researcher Bhandari. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Around 4.75 per cent Indians were found working in these industries while 0.02 per cent was from other countries and the remaining were Nepali workers. The study shows that among the Nepali labourers, a majority were from the Tamang, Magar, Gurung and Sherpa communities. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The worker of 20-49 years age group constituted 80 per cent of the human resource and they worked 52 hours in average in a week, Bhandari said adding that the working hours were more than that stipulated by the Labour Act of Nepal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Nepal’s law has determined an average of 48 hours of work in a week. The monthly income of male labourers working at carpet industries was found to be Rs 15,923 per month while it was Rs 17,632 at garment industries, Bhandari shared. --RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-26', 'modified' => '2022-01-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14417', 'image' => '20220126060628_21880622161_29591fec39_b.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-26 18:05:34', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14672', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Survey Shows Nepal as One of the Most Corrupt Countries in the World ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 26: The corruption index of Nepal has not decreased, shows a report. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">January 26: The corruption index of Nepal has not decreased, shows a report. The Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) report released by Transparency International (TI) on Tuesday shows that Nepal is one of the most corrupt countries in the world. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Nepal was ranked 117th out of 180 countries last year. This year too, Nepal is in the same position. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the report, out of 180 countries, Denmark, Finland and New Zealand are the least corrupt with 88 points out of 100. South Sudan is ranked as the most corrupt country with 11 points. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">TI has been publishing this list every year since 1995 where Nepal has been included since 2004. The report states that Nepal received 33 point (117th) in the last one year (2020/21), based on a survey conducted by six organizations including the World Bank, World Economic Forum, Global Insight, Bertelsmann Foundation, World Justice Project and VDEM, Nepal was ranked in the same position in the last year as well. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The survey shows that there exists corruption and abuse of power in the public sector, bribery in business, lack of action, lack of access to information, and lack of control over political corruption. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Transparency International has also raised questions about public officials and suggested ways to control trans-national corruption, control power, and increase transparency in government spending. The CPI has informed that human rights and democracy are at stake due to laxity in anti-corruption efforts around the world. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Corruption has not decreased worldwide and 86 percent of the countries have not made any progress in a decade. The CPI also informed that human rights are being violated, democratic rights are declining, authoritarianism and corruption are on the rise in countries where civil rights are weak. </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-26', 'modified' => '2022-01-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14416', 'image' => '20220126033556_Corruption-Index20211643115119-0.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-26 15:35:17', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14673', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Rasuwa Customs Office Collects Rs 4.33 billion from Imports', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 26: Rasuwa customs office has collected revenue of Rs 4.33 billion although the exports have been nil. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">January 26: Rasuwa customs office has collected revenue of Rs 4.33 billion although the exports have been nil. The revenue was collected from the customs valuation of Chinese goods imported from Rasuwagadhi checkpoint from mid-July to mid-December of the current fiscal year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to Chief Customs Officer Ram Prasad Mainali, Rs 4,33,45,09,000 has been collected within the span of six months. Since the onset of the Covid-19 infection, the Chinese party has been delivering only nine containers of goods to the Friendship Bridge in Rasuwagadhi on a daily basis.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The revenue was collected from traders, businessmen and private companies. However, the export to China remains zero.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Nevertheless, the revenue collection has increased by almost two and a half times compared to the last year. During the corresponding period of last fiscal year, revenue worth Rs 1.72 billion was collected by the customs office.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the customs office, a wide range of small and big products are imported via the Rasuwa customs point. Some of the imported products include vehicles, hydropower equipment, apples, walnut, ready-made garments, footwear, children's toys, fabric rolls, electrical goods etc.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The customs office has set a target to collect Rs 6.81 billion revenue from customs duty this year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The increase in revenue is a direct impact of an increase in import of vehicles. The customs office informed that more than 1,000 vehicles including cranes, tippers, ambulances, microbuses, minibuses, jeeps and cars have been imported since last year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Only quarantined workers have been deployed at the Friendship Bridge with the purpose of controlling the Covid-19 infection. The office also informed that only the Nepal Police, Armed Police Force and customs officials are allowed to enter the place alongside the drivers and workers wearing PPE.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-26', 'modified' => '2022-01-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14415', 'image' => '20220126054454_20200917034324_1600292304.Clipboard04.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-26 17:44:13', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14671', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal's Population Climbs to 29.19 Million ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 26: Nepal's population has reached 29.19 million (29,192,480) as per the preliminary results of the National Census 2021.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">January 26: Nepal's population has reached 29.19 million (29,192,480) as per the preliminary results of the National Census 2021. A report made public by the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) under the National Planning Commission on Wednesday (January 26) shows that the population is less by around 800,000 than the projected population of 30 million. The CBS informed that this data might be slightly changed in the final result. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The population of Nepal as per the 2011 National Census was 26.94 million (26,940,504). </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">As compared to the previous census, Bhaktapur has the highest population growth rate while Ramechhap district reported the most declining rate of population. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The first phase of field work of the 2021 Census was carried out from September 15 to October 4 and the second phase of field work was done from November 11 to 17, 2021. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Province-wise, Madhes Province has the largest population while Karnali Province has the least. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">NPC Vice Chairman Dr Bishwonath Poudel expressed his gratitude to all those involved in making the National Census 2021 successful and announced that the preliminary results of the census show that Nepal is the heartbeat of over 29.1 million people. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">CBS Director General Nebin Lal Shrestha said they conducted the population census of Lipulek, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura, the territories included in the new administrative map of Nepal, as well and were awaiting for the detailed information. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Responding to a query from a journalist, Director General Shrestha said that discrimination between son and daughter is found to be declining and the population might not have increased as projected also because the trend of producing children in preference of son has minimized. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">This is the first population census conducted after the promulgation of the Constitution of Nepal, 2015. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-26', 'modified' => '2022-01-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14414', 'image' => '20220126012940_20160920031111_ncell.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-26 13:28:47', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14670', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Supreme Court Orders Government to Avail Essential Medicine ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 26: The Supreme Court has issued an order in the name of the government to make essential medicines like cetamol and paracetamol easily available.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">January 26: The Supreme Court has issued an order in the name of the government to make essential medicines like cetamol and paracetamol easily available, the state-owned national news agency RSS reported. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">A single bench of Justice Manoj Kumar Sharma passed the order in the name of the government on Tuesday. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The court issued the order after hearing a writ petition filed by Advocate Tika Bahadur Kunwar on Monday seeking an order to provide essential medicines including cetamol to the citizens. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The market is currently reeling under shortage of some essential medicines. A similar situation had surfaced during the first and second waves of Covid-19.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">During last June, there was a shortage of paracetamol due to production cuts, artificial shortage and high demand for the essential drug in the market. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">There was a massive surge in demand for paracetamol, a primary drug used for containing fever, during the second wave as well.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-26', 'modified' => '2022-01-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14413', 'image' => '20220126121032_Supreme Court.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-26 12:09:41', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14668', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal to Receive Concessional Loan of Rs 10.39 Billion from Japan ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 26: The Government of Nepal has signed an agreement with Japan for a concessional loan of Rs 10.39 billion. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">January 26: The Government of Nepal has signed an agreement with Japan for a concessional loan of Rs 10.39 billion. Japan has agreed to extend the loan for the promotion of economic growth and to support the development efforts undertaken by the Government of Nepal. The agreement to this effect was signed and exchanged on Tuesday, January 25. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Finance Secretary Madhu Kumar Marasini and Japanese Ambassador to Nepal Kikuta Yutaka exchanged the Notes and Records of Discussion in this regard on behalf of their respective governments. The loan agreement to this effect was signed by Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Finance Ishwori Prasad Aryal and Chief Representative of JICA Nepal Asakuma Yumiko, according to the Ministry of Finance. The signing ceremony was held virtually. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The objective of this assistance is to strengthen the government’s effort in reforming economic and financial policies and institutions as well as strengthening domestic industrial bases and to protect the poor and vulnerable people. It also aims at contributing to the country’s long-term economic growth through fostering resilience and economic stabilization. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the ministry, the proceeds of loan will be utilized in the form of co-financing with the World Bank’s support for carrying out the activities of economic growth, recovery and resilience. The assistance is budgetary support in nature and can be used to cover the budgetary expenditures of the Government of Nepal. It entails 0.01 percent interest rate per annum and the repayment period expands up to 40 years, including a grace period for 10 years. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The Government of Nepal has expressed its sincere appreciation to the Government of Japan for its continuous support in socioeconomic development endeavours of Nepal. -- RSS </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-26', 'modified' => '2022-01-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14412', 'image' => '20220126080349_Flag-Pins-Nepal-Japan.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-26 08:03:07', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14669', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => ' CBS to Unveil Preliminary Report of National Census on Jan 26', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 26: The Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) is preparing to unveil the preliminary report of the National Census-2021 today (January 26).', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">January 26: The Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) is preparing to unveil the preliminary report of the National Census-2021 today (January 26).</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">However, it will take around nine months to prepare the final report, CBS stated.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The bureau under the National Planning Commission had conducted the first round of census from September 15 to October 4, 2021 while the second phase of census was held from November 11 to 25 last year. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">CBS Director Dundiraj Lamichhane confirmed that the preliminary report of the census would be unveiled virtually on January 26. The census is first since the promulgation of new constitution of Nepal in 2015. </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-26', 'modified' => '2022-01-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14411', 'image' => '20220126080837_20211126095913_20211109080004_20211108052804_National-Census-2021.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-26 08:07:59', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14667', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'A Case of Government Negligence: Over 7,000 Tonnes Fertilizer Dumped at Birgunj Dry Port', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 25: Fertilizer weighing 7,591 metric tonnes dumped at the Birgunj dry port for the past one and a half years has yet to be properly managed, thanks to the negligence of the authorities concerned. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">January 25: Fertilizer weighing 7,591 metric tonnes dumped at the Birgunj dry port for the past one and a half years has yet to be properly managed, thanks to the negligence of the authorities concerned. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">It has been learnt that repeated calls to the ministries of finance and agriculture to manage the fertilizer have fallen in deaf ears. Lack of coordination among the ministries and other concerned authorities has made the matter worse, according to the customs office. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The fertilizer packed in sacks imported by the Salt Trading Corporation Limited (STC) and the Agriculture Inputs Company Limited (AICL) has been dumped under the open sky. As a result, the exposure to sun and rainfall has damaged the fertilizer. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Delegated Legislations and Government Assurance Committee under the federal parliament had time and again held discussions and directed secretaries of the ministries and office bearers of the STC and AICL to take necessary measures in this regard, but to no avail, said officials of the customs office. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Ministry of Finance had taken a decision a month ago to hand over the fertilizer to the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, but no effective efforts to this end seems to have been undertaken. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development has not accepted the Finance Ministry's latest decision to hand over the dumped fertilizer, saying it neglected this matter by not taking the decision on time. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">officials of the Agriculture Ministry informed the parliamentary committee that they have written letter to the Ministry of Finance in this regard for more than 40 times but their letters have not been addressed. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The fertilizer was delivered by the UAE-based Swiss Singapore Overseas Enterprises Pvt Ltd through a tender. The consignment was brought for the Salt Trading Corporation and the Agriculture Inputs Company Limited. The quality of the fertilizer had deteriorated as it got wet due to the Amphan cyclone in the Bay of Bengal on May 16, 2020. Questions have been raised regarding the quality of 7,591 tons of fertilizer out of the 25,000 metric tonnes imported in course of customs check. This amount of fertilizer has remained unattended. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the Customs Office, the fertilizer has remained unattended and neglected as the company that acquired the tender and the two state-owned corporations that imported it failed to give due attention to the consignment in time. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The price of chemical fertilizer has increased almost by three times in the international market at present. However, a large quantity of fertilizer remains neglected at the customs office when most of the fertilizer producing countries do not want to export it citing increase in their domestic consumption. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Experts are of the view that this fertilizer can still be used although its quality has somewhat deteriorated. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-25', 'modified' => '2022-01-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14410', 'image' => '20220125052802_20220104123705_20210526042706_20200817122726_1597613093.Clipboard02.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-25 17:27:22', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14666', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Himalaya Airlines Awarded ISO 9001:2015 QMS Certification ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 25: Himalaya Airlines has become the first airline in Nepal to successfully achieve ISO 9001-2015 QMS certification. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">January 25: Himalaya Airlines has become the first airline in Nepal to successfully achieve ISO 9001-2015 QMS certification. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Nepal-China-Joint Venture airline received the certificate on December 29, 2021 in recognition of the organization’s Quality Management System (QMS) which complies with ISO 9001-2015, Himalaya Airlines said in a press release on Monday (January 24). The airlines earned the ISO certificate for “Providing Air Transport for Traveling Passengers and Freight, including Aviation Related Training Services”. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Prior to this, Himalaya Airlines had acquired its first ISO certification for Quality Management System of Aircraft Maintenance and Engineering Services in August 2020. ISO 9001:2015 is a globally recognized quality management standard developed and published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) which ensures that the products and services meet the needs of customers, through an effective quality management system. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">ISO 9001:2015 certificate No 120057/A/0001/UK/En was issued to Himalaya Airlines by United Registrar of System and United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS). </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Congratulating the team for ISO certification, President of Himalaya Airlines, Zhou Enyong said, “It is a proud moment for Himalaya to receive ISO 9001-2015 certification and a noteworthy achievement of the team effort. It is a continuing process for the company and we shall continue to optimize the standardization of work with due compliance at all levels.” </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Vijay Shrestha, vice president of Himalaya Airlines, said, “This indeed is a remarkable accomplishment for Team Himalaya. With the collaborative efforts of the team to maintain high documentation standards companywide, H9 has been able to acquire this ISO certification. This demonstrates Himalaya’s dedication for high performance work practices and is a significant confirmation of our ongoing commitment to quality.” -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-25', 'modified' => '2022-01-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14409', 'image' => '20220125051310_2113_n.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-25 17:12:19', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14665', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Profit of 8 Development Banks Increases by 16 Percent', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 25: The net profit of eight development banks has increased by 16.87 percent till the second quarter of the current fiscal year 2021/22.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">January 25: The net profit of eight development banks has increased by 16.87 percent till the second quarter of the current fiscal year 2021/22.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the financial statements released by the development banks, Garima, Mahalakshmi, Lumbini, Muktinath, Jyoti, Kamana Seva, Shine Resunga, and Shangrila development banks have earned a profit of Rs 3.20 billion. In the corresponding period of the last fiscal year, the profit of these banks was Rs 2.73 billion.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Although the profit of these eight development banks has increased, the distributable profit has decreased. The distributable profit of Kamana, Jyoti and Muktinath development banks has declined heavily as compared to the second quarter of the last fiscal year. These eight development banks had earned a total of Rs 174 billion distributable profit in the last year which has decreased to Rs 169 billion this year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The profit of Muktinath Development Bank, which is leading among the eight most profitable development banks, has decreased by 2.14 percent compared to last year. The bank has raised Rs 602 million profit until the second quarter of the current fiscal year against Rs 615 million in the same period of last year. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Garima Development Bank is the second most profitable development bank. It has earned a profit of Rs 492 million, an increase from Rs 393 million compared to the same period of last year. The bank's profit has increased by 25.25 percent until the second quarter of the current fiscal year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Likewise, Mahalakshmi Development Bank's profit has increased by 31.55 percent against the corresponding period of last fiscal year. Compared to the two quarters of the last fiscal year, the profit of Lumbini Development Bank has increased by 34.31 percent until the second quarter of the current fiscal year. It had earned a profit Rs 261 million in the corresponding period of the previous year which has increased to Rs 351 million in the current fiscal year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The profit of Shine Resunga Development Bank, Jyoti Development Bank, Shangrila Development Bank has increased by 33.59 percent, 12.57 percent, and 58.87 percent respectively. Meanwhile, the profit of Kamana Sewa Development Bank has decreased by 11.89 percent. It had earned a profit of Rs 397 million until the second quarter in last year which has decreased to Rs 343 million in the review period of the current fiscal year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The distributable profit of Mahalakshmi Development Bank has increased by 120.54 percent. It had made a profit of Rs 124.7 million in the review period of last year which has increased to Rs 275 million in the current fiscal year. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, Lumbini Development Bank has made a distributable profit of Rs 249 million, an increase of 52.51 percent. Shangrila Development Bank, Shine Resunga and Garima Development Bank have made a distributable profit of Rs 184 million, Rs 218 million and Rs 356 million respectively. All these banks witnessed a growth in the profit to be distributed in the review period of the current fiscal year. It had earned a profit of Rs 271 million in the review period which declined to Rs 967 million until the second quarter of the current fiscal year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Among the eight national level development banks, the distributable profit of three banks has declined in the current fiscal year. Kamana Sewa Development Bank has witnessed a sharp decline by 64.41 percent in the distributable profit. Likewise, Muktinath and Jyoti Bikash Bank have witnessed a decline by 57.72 percent and 36.20 percent respectively.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-25', 'modified' => '2022-01-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14408', 'image' => '20220125045407_Banks - Copy.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-25 16:53:19', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14664', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Spends Rs 400 Billion on Luxurious Goods', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 25: Nepal imported luxurious and consumable goods worth almost Rs 400 billion within the first 6 months of the current fiscal year.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">January 25: Nepal imported luxurious and consumable goods worth almost Rs 400 billion within the first 6 months of the current fiscal year. Mainly, imports of petroleum products, mobiles, automobiles and parts, iron and steel sheets, crude soybean oil, palm oil, paddy-rice and gold and silver amounting to Rs 388 billion have been made so far.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the data of the Department of Customs, mobile sets worth more than Rs 25 billion have been imported to Nepal in the last six months. This is an increase of Rs 5 billion as compared to that of last fiscal year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">By mid-January of the last fiscal year, 3.66 million mobile sets worth Rs 20.63 billion were imported in Nepal. In the corresponding period of the current fiscal year, 3.56 million mobile sets worth Rs 25.62 billion have been imported.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Although the import of mobile sets has declined numerically, its value and customs duty have gone up by more than Rs 5 billion as compared to that of last year. The government has collected more than Rs 4.55 billion revenue from the import of mobile sets.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">During the review period, Nepal has spent Rs 126 billion on vehicles and Rs 72 billion on spare parts. Similarly, Rs 40.92 billion has been used for the import of iron and steel sheet / coil. Crude soybean oil worth Rs 36.54 billion, palm oil worth Rs 27.49 billion, rice worth Rs 23.14 billion, gold worth Rs 22.03 billion and silver worth Rs 150 million have been imported in the review period.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Altogether goods worth Rs 999.34 billion have been imported from July to December. This is 51.13 percent more than that of the same period of last year. Goods worth Rs 661.24 billion were imported in the first six months of the last fiscal year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The government had introduced a polict in the first week of December to control imports. However, the statistics do not show much change. Goods worth Rs 161 billion have been imported in December alone. The trade deficit has widened due to rising imports and weak exports. According to the statistics of the department, Nepal's trade deficit has reached Rs 880.49 billion in the last six months. This is 46.64 percent more than that of the same period of the last fiscal year.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-25', 'modified' => '2022-01-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14407', 'image' => '20220125023820_20190128034626__DSC7854 (1).jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-25 14:37:39', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14663', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NEA to Invite Tenders for PPA with Solar Plants', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 25: Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) is now going to enter into power purchase agreement (PPA) with solar plant projects on the basis of competition.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">January 25: Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) is now going to enter into power purchase agreement (PPA) with solar plant projects on the basis of competition. A meeting of the board of directors of NEA on Sunday has decided to purchase electricity generated from such projects through competition. NEA had earlier been signing PPA at Rs 7.30 per unit.</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"">However, now NEA has decided to sign PPA on competition basis. The NEA aims to make the electricity tariff universally accessible by meeting international standard, public demand, and by ensuring the balance between demand and supply of electricity.</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"">NEA Executive Director Kulman Ghising confirmed that a decision has been taken to sign PPA with solar projects through competition. NEA will now fix the base rate for PPA for the solar energy sector. NEA will then invite tender bids for PPA without increasing the base rate. According to the NEA, PPA will be signed with the project with the lowest bidders.</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"">If the NEA fixes the base rate at Rs 6 per unit, bidders will have to participate in the tender by mentioning the same rate or less than that. </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"">Ghising said that a separate committee has been formed to decide the base rate. He said that the committee would determine the base rate after conducting necessary study and then proceed with the process of inviting tenders.</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 a directive issued by the Ministry of Energy, the energy produced by the solar projects must constitute at least 10 percent of total capacity of NEA. The NEA has said that PPA will be signed with the solar project accordingly.</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"">At present, the installed capacity of electricity in the national grid is about 2200 MW. Accordingly, NEA will be able to bring 220 MW of electricity from the solar projects immediately. </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"">NEA is currently purchasing 150 MW of electricity from solar projects. Ghising said that tender bids to fill the remaining quota would be called after completing the necessary procedures. If the connection capacity of electricity in the national grid increases, the quota of solar energy will also increase in the same proportion.</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"">This is the first time that a PPA has been decided through competition in Nepal. The private sector was also demanding the same. </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"">"Now that PPA is done through competition, electricity becomes cheaper and NEA can provide electricity to the customers at cheaper rates," said Madhu Prasad Bhetuwal, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation. "It should be taken positively." </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, the price of electricity generated from solar has been gradually declining due to the advancement of technology in the international market. That is why the NEA says that the electricity of the solar project is being bought through competition.</span></span></span></p> <p><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-25', 'modified' => '2022-01-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14406', 'image' => '20220125124321_NEA.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-25 12:42:29', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14662', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'FNNTE Demands Withdrawal of Price Hike of Petroleum Products ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 25: The Federation of Nepalese National Transport Entrepreneurs (FNNTE) has demanded the government to withdraw the hike in the price of petroleum products. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">January 25: The Federation of Nepalese National Transport Entrepreneurs (FNNTE) has demanded the government to withdraw the hike in the price of petroleum products. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Issuing a press statement on Monday, the federation's Chairperson Yogendra Nath Karmacharya asked the government to immediately withdraw the price hike of petroleum products made till now in the current fiscal year, adding that entrepreneurs have not been able to pay the interest and installment of banks and financial institutions due to coronavirus pandemic. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">“It is unfortunate to increase the price of petroleum products by Nepal Oil Corporation time and again directly affecting the transport entrepreneurs and general consumers. The price hike should be withdrawn immediately,” reads the statement. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The federation has warned of launching agitation if the price hike of petroleum products is not withdrawn. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-25', 'modified' => '2022-01-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14405', 'image' => '20220125075952_20211030080715_202609_20190503125003_Petrol-Price-Increase.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-25 07:59:25', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14661', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NOC Pays Over Rs 13 Billion to IOC with Government’s Assistance ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 25: Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC), the state-owned oil monopoly of the country, has paid Rs 13.2 billion to the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) for the purchase of crude oil.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">January 25: Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC), the state-owned oil monopoly of the country, has paid Rs 13.2 billion to the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) for the purchase of crude oil. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The NOC, which has reportedly suffered losses, sought Rs 1.8 billion from the government and paid installment to the IOC, informed NOC’s spokesperson Binit Mani Upadhyay. NOC received the amount from the price stabilization fund of the government. It sent the second installment to the IOC on Monday, January 24. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A meeting of the board of directors of the price stabilization fund on Friday decided to provide Rs 1.8 million to the NOC. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The corporation has been reportedly incurring losses as prices of petroleum products have increased in the international market. It would further endure losses if the prices of petroleum products are not adjusted following the increment in the purchase price, according to experts. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Meanwhile, the NOC is reportedly worried about how to pay the third installment to the IOC for need of money. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-25', 'modified' => '2022-01-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14404', 'image' => '20220125074826_20200804040802_1596492171.Clipboard01.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-25 07:47:44', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = false $xml = falseinclude - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 133 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
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', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px">January 27: The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has filed a graft case at the Special Court against employees of the Department of Mines and Geology (DMG) including its director general. The anti-graft body has claimed over Rs 1.2 billion from the accused. <br /> The DMG's employees in question have been charged with waiving fines amounting to over Rs 1.2 billion to nine cement industries for extracting limestone by breaching the rules. <br /> As a result, the government had to incur losses of over Rs 1.2 billion in fine from the cement factories, said a three-member committee formed to investigate the matter. The cement factories in question are found to have paid only Rs 1.8 million in fines, said the DMG's deputy spokesperson Bed Prasad Bhandari. <br /> The CIAA has filed cases against the then superintendent mining engineer of the DMG Jayaraj Ghimire, undersecretary (law department under the DMG) Sapana Adhikari, senior division mechanic engineer Prashanta Bohora, account officer Shree Bhadra Gautam, research officer Basanta Adhikari, geologist Dr Sainik Bhandari and employee Dharma Raj Khadka and deputy attorney Chandra Kumari Pokharel. It has claimed over Rs 1.2 billion from the accused. <br /> Similarly, the CIAA has also taken action against nine industries that have been found involved in the case. <br /> It has claimed over Rs 163 million from Bishnu Prasad Neupane, owner of Sarbottam Cement; over Rs 494 million from Pashpati Murarka, owner of Siddhartha Minerals Pvt Ltd; over Rs 205 million from Sharad Gogal, owner of Maruti Cement; over Rs 111 million from Rishi Agrawal, owner of Annapurna Quarries; over Rs 17 million from Prabal Jung Pandey, owner of Udayapur Minerals; over Rs 96 million from Naresh Dugad, owner of United Cement; over Rs 69 million from Nipesh Tayal, owner of Sonapur Cement; over Rs 30 million from Bhim Bahadur Thapa Chhetri, owner of Kanchan Quarries and over Rs 54 million from Man Bahadur Shrestha, owner of Dolomite Limestone Industry. -- RSS </span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-27', 'modified' => '2022-01-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14418', 'image' => '20220127113738_CIAA.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-27 11:36:27', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14674', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Child Labour Declining in Carpet and Garment Industries: Study ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 26: A recent study carried out at carpet and garment industries of Nepal shows that child labour is declining. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">January 26: A recent study carried out at carpet and garment industries of Nepal shows that child labour is declining. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The study recently conducted by assistant lecturer of Nepal Commerce Campus and researcher Dilaram Bhandari shows that use of children below 18 years at carpet industries and garment industries has declined by 6.66 per cent and 1.63 per cent respectively. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The study was conducted as part of a programme of the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security with technical support of the Central Bureau of Statistics. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The use of child labour below 18 years, which was 50 per cent in carpet industries in 1993, has dropped to 6.66 per cent in 2021, said researcher Bhandari. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The study was carried out at 290 carpet industries and 183 garment industries of 20 districts, he shared. Bhandari added that child labour is decreasing every year due to social awareness and education. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The study took into consideration the issues such as gender, age, region, income, education and social security of 8,483 workers working in production sector of industries, shared researcher Bhandari. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Around 4.75 per cent Indians were found working in these industries while 0.02 per cent was from other countries and the remaining were Nepali workers. The study shows that among the Nepali labourers, a majority were from the Tamang, Magar, Gurung and Sherpa communities. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The worker of 20-49 years age group constituted 80 per cent of the human resource and they worked 52 hours in average in a week, Bhandari said adding that the working hours were more than that stipulated by the Labour Act of Nepal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Nepal’s law has determined an average of 48 hours of work in a week. The monthly income of male labourers working at carpet industries was found to be Rs 15,923 per month while it was Rs 17,632 at garment industries, Bhandari shared. --RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-26', 'modified' => '2022-01-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14417', 'image' => '20220126060628_21880622161_29591fec39_b.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-26 18:05:34', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14672', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Survey Shows Nepal as One of the Most Corrupt Countries in the World ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 26: The corruption index of Nepal has not decreased, shows a report. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">January 26: The corruption index of Nepal has not decreased, shows a report. The Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) report released by Transparency International (TI) on Tuesday shows that Nepal is one of the most corrupt countries in the world. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Nepal was ranked 117th out of 180 countries last year. This year too, Nepal is in the same position. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the report, out of 180 countries, Denmark, Finland and New Zealand are the least corrupt with 88 points out of 100. South Sudan is ranked as the most corrupt country with 11 points. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">TI has been publishing this list every year since 1995 where Nepal has been included since 2004. The report states that Nepal received 33 point (117th) in the last one year (2020/21), based on a survey conducted by six organizations including the World Bank, World Economic Forum, Global Insight, Bertelsmann Foundation, World Justice Project and VDEM, Nepal was ranked in the same position in the last year as well. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The survey shows that there exists corruption and abuse of power in the public sector, bribery in business, lack of action, lack of access to information, and lack of control over political corruption. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Transparency International has also raised questions about public officials and suggested ways to control trans-national corruption, control power, and increase transparency in government spending. The CPI has informed that human rights and democracy are at stake due to laxity in anti-corruption efforts around the world. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Corruption has not decreased worldwide and 86 percent of the countries have not made any progress in a decade. The CPI also informed that human rights are being violated, democratic rights are declining, authoritarianism and corruption are on the rise in countries where civil rights are weak. </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-26', 'modified' => '2022-01-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14416', 'image' => '20220126033556_Corruption-Index20211643115119-0.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-26 15:35:17', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14673', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Rasuwa Customs Office Collects Rs 4.33 billion from Imports', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 26: Rasuwa customs office has collected revenue of Rs 4.33 billion although the exports have been nil. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">January 26: Rasuwa customs office has collected revenue of Rs 4.33 billion although the exports have been nil. The revenue was collected from the customs valuation of Chinese goods imported from Rasuwagadhi checkpoint from mid-July to mid-December of the current fiscal year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to Chief Customs Officer Ram Prasad Mainali, Rs 4,33,45,09,000 has been collected within the span of six months. Since the onset of the Covid-19 infection, the Chinese party has been delivering only nine containers of goods to the Friendship Bridge in Rasuwagadhi on a daily basis.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The revenue was collected from traders, businessmen and private companies. However, the export to China remains zero.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Nevertheless, the revenue collection has increased by almost two and a half times compared to the last year. During the corresponding period of last fiscal year, revenue worth Rs 1.72 billion was collected by the customs office.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the customs office, a wide range of small and big products are imported via the Rasuwa customs point. Some of the imported products include vehicles, hydropower equipment, apples, walnut, ready-made garments, footwear, children's toys, fabric rolls, electrical goods etc.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The customs office has set a target to collect Rs 6.81 billion revenue from customs duty this year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The increase in revenue is a direct impact of an increase in import of vehicles. The customs office informed that more than 1,000 vehicles including cranes, tippers, ambulances, microbuses, minibuses, jeeps and cars have been imported since last year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Only quarantined workers have been deployed at the Friendship Bridge with the purpose of controlling the Covid-19 infection. The office also informed that only the Nepal Police, Armed Police Force and customs officials are allowed to enter the place alongside the drivers and workers wearing PPE.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-26', 'modified' => '2022-01-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14415', 'image' => '20220126054454_20200917034324_1600292304.Clipboard04.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-26 17:44:13', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14671', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal's Population Climbs to 29.19 Million ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 26: Nepal's population has reached 29.19 million (29,192,480) as per the preliminary results of the National Census 2021.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">January 26: Nepal's population has reached 29.19 million (29,192,480) as per the preliminary results of the National Census 2021. A report made public by the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) under the National Planning Commission on Wednesday (January 26) shows that the population is less by around 800,000 than the projected population of 30 million. The CBS informed that this data might be slightly changed in the final result. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The population of Nepal as per the 2011 National Census was 26.94 million (26,940,504). </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">As compared to the previous census, Bhaktapur has the highest population growth rate while Ramechhap district reported the most declining rate of population. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The first phase of field work of the 2021 Census was carried out from September 15 to October 4 and the second phase of field work was done from November 11 to 17, 2021. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Province-wise, Madhes Province has the largest population while Karnali Province has the least. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">NPC Vice Chairman Dr Bishwonath Poudel expressed his gratitude to all those involved in making the National Census 2021 successful and announced that the preliminary results of the census show that Nepal is the heartbeat of over 29.1 million people. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">CBS Director General Nebin Lal Shrestha said they conducted the population census of Lipulek, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura, the territories included in the new administrative map of Nepal, as well and were awaiting for the detailed information. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Responding to a query from a journalist, Director General Shrestha said that discrimination between son and daughter is found to be declining and the population might not have increased as projected also because the trend of producing children in preference of son has minimized. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">This is the first population census conducted after the promulgation of the Constitution of Nepal, 2015. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-26', 'modified' => '2022-01-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14414', 'image' => '20220126012940_20160920031111_ncell.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-26 13:28:47', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14670', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Supreme Court Orders Government to Avail Essential Medicine ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 26: The Supreme Court has issued an order in the name of the government to make essential medicines like cetamol and paracetamol easily available.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">January 26: The Supreme Court has issued an order in the name of the government to make essential medicines like cetamol and paracetamol easily available, the state-owned national news agency RSS reported. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">A single bench of Justice Manoj Kumar Sharma passed the order in the name of the government on Tuesday. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The court issued the order after hearing a writ petition filed by Advocate Tika Bahadur Kunwar on Monday seeking an order to provide essential medicines including cetamol to the citizens. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The market is currently reeling under shortage of some essential medicines. A similar situation had surfaced during the first and second waves of Covid-19.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">During last June, there was a shortage of paracetamol due to production cuts, artificial shortage and high demand for the essential drug in the market. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">There was a massive surge in demand for paracetamol, a primary drug used for containing fever, during the second wave as well.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-26', 'modified' => '2022-01-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14413', 'image' => '20220126121032_Supreme Court.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-26 12:09:41', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14668', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal to Receive Concessional Loan of Rs 10.39 Billion from Japan ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 26: The Government of Nepal has signed an agreement with Japan for a concessional loan of Rs 10.39 billion. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">January 26: The Government of Nepal has signed an agreement with Japan for a concessional loan of Rs 10.39 billion. Japan has agreed to extend the loan for the promotion of economic growth and to support the development efforts undertaken by the Government of Nepal. The agreement to this effect was signed and exchanged on Tuesday, January 25. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Finance Secretary Madhu Kumar Marasini and Japanese Ambassador to Nepal Kikuta Yutaka exchanged the Notes and Records of Discussion in this regard on behalf of their respective governments. The loan agreement to this effect was signed by Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Finance Ishwori Prasad Aryal and Chief Representative of JICA Nepal Asakuma Yumiko, according to the Ministry of Finance. The signing ceremony was held virtually. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The objective of this assistance is to strengthen the government’s effort in reforming economic and financial policies and institutions as well as strengthening domestic industrial bases and to protect the poor and vulnerable people. It also aims at contributing to the country’s long-term economic growth through fostering resilience and economic stabilization. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the ministry, the proceeds of loan will be utilized in the form of co-financing with the World Bank’s support for carrying out the activities of economic growth, recovery and resilience. The assistance is budgetary support in nature and can be used to cover the budgetary expenditures of the Government of Nepal. It entails 0.01 percent interest rate per annum and the repayment period expands up to 40 years, including a grace period for 10 years. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The Government of Nepal has expressed its sincere appreciation to the Government of Japan for its continuous support in socioeconomic development endeavours of Nepal. -- RSS </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-26', 'modified' => '2022-01-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14412', 'image' => '20220126080349_Flag-Pins-Nepal-Japan.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-26 08:03:07', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14669', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => ' CBS to Unveil Preliminary Report of National Census on Jan 26', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 26: The Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) is preparing to unveil the preliminary report of the National Census-2021 today (January 26).', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">January 26: The Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) is preparing to unveil the preliminary report of the National Census-2021 today (January 26).</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">However, it will take around nine months to prepare the final report, CBS stated.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The bureau under the National Planning Commission had conducted the first round of census from September 15 to October 4, 2021 while the second phase of census was held from November 11 to 25 last year. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">CBS Director Dundiraj Lamichhane confirmed that the preliminary report of the census would be unveiled virtually on January 26. The census is first since the promulgation of new constitution of Nepal in 2015. </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-26', 'modified' => '2022-01-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14411', 'image' => '20220126080837_20211126095913_20211109080004_20211108052804_National-Census-2021.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-26 08:07:59', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14667', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'A Case of Government Negligence: Over 7,000 Tonnes Fertilizer Dumped at Birgunj Dry Port', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 25: Fertilizer weighing 7,591 metric tonnes dumped at the Birgunj dry port for the past one and a half years has yet to be properly managed, thanks to the negligence of the authorities concerned. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">January 25: Fertilizer weighing 7,591 metric tonnes dumped at the Birgunj dry port for the past one and a half years has yet to be properly managed, thanks to the negligence of the authorities concerned. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">It has been learnt that repeated calls to the ministries of finance and agriculture to manage the fertilizer have fallen in deaf ears. Lack of coordination among the ministries and other concerned authorities has made the matter worse, according to the customs office. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The fertilizer packed in sacks imported by the Salt Trading Corporation Limited (STC) and the Agriculture Inputs Company Limited (AICL) has been dumped under the open sky. As a result, the exposure to sun and rainfall has damaged the fertilizer. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Delegated Legislations and Government Assurance Committee under the federal parliament had time and again held discussions and directed secretaries of the ministries and office bearers of the STC and AICL to take necessary measures in this regard, but to no avail, said officials of the customs office. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Ministry of Finance had taken a decision a month ago to hand over the fertilizer to the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, but no effective efforts to this end seems to have been undertaken. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development has not accepted the Finance Ministry's latest decision to hand over the dumped fertilizer, saying it neglected this matter by not taking the decision on time. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">officials of the Agriculture Ministry informed the parliamentary committee that they have written letter to the Ministry of Finance in this regard for more than 40 times but their letters have not been addressed. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The fertilizer was delivered by the UAE-based Swiss Singapore Overseas Enterprises Pvt Ltd through a tender. The consignment was brought for the Salt Trading Corporation and the Agriculture Inputs Company Limited. The quality of the fertilizer had deteriorated as it got wet due to the Amphan cyclone in the Bay of Bengal on May 16, 2020. Questions have been raised regarding the quality of 7,591 tons of fertilizer out of the 25,000 metric tonnes imported in course of customs check. This amount of fertilizer has remained unattended. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the Customs Office, the fertilizer has remained unattended and neglected as the company that acquired the tender and the two state-owned corporations that imported it failed to give due attention to the consignment in time. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The price of chemical fertilizer has increased almost by three times in the international market at present. However, a large quantity of fertilizer remains neglected at the customs office when most of the fertilizer producing countries do not want to export it citing increase in their domestic consumption. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Experts are of the view that this fertilizer can still be used although its quality has somewhat deteriorated. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-25', 'modified' => '2022-01-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14410', 'image' => '20220125052802_20220104123705_20210526042706_20200817122726_1597613093.Clipboard02.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-25 17:27:22', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14666', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Himalaya Airlines Awarded ISO 9001:2015 QMS Certification ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 25: Himalaya Airlines has become the first airline in Nepal to successfully achieve ISO 9001-2015 QMS certification. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">January 25: Himalaya Airlines has become the first airline in Nepal to successfully achieve ISO 9001-2015 QMS certification. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Nepal-China-Joint Venture airline received the certificate on December 29, 2021 in recognition of the organization’s Quality Management System (QMS) which complies with ISO 9001-2015, Himalaya Airlines said in a press release on Monday (January 24). The airlines earned the ISO certificate for “Providing Air Transport for Traveling Passengers and Freight, including Aviation Related Training Services”. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Prior to this, Himalaya Airlines had acquired its first ISO certification for Quality Management System of Aircraft Maintenance and Engineering Services in August 2020. ISO 9001:2015 is a globally recognized quality management standard developed and published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) which ensures that the products and services meet the needs of customers, through an effective quality management system. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">ISO 9001:2015 certificate No 120057/A/0001/UK/En was issued to Himalaya Airlines by United Registrar of System and United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS). </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Congratulating the team for ISO certification, President of Himalaya Airlines, Zhou Enyong said, “It is a proud moment for Himalaya to receive ISO 9001-2015 certification and a noteworthy achievement of the team effort. It is a continuing process for the company and we shall continue to optimize the standardization of work with due compliance at all levels.” </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Vijay Shrestha, vice president of Himalaya Airlines, said, “This indeed is a remarkable accomplishment for Team Himalaya. With the collaborative efforts of the team to maintain high documentation standards companywide, H9 has been able to acquire this ISO certification. This demonstrates Himalaya’s dedication for high performance work practices and is a significant confirmation of our ongoing commitment to quality.” -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-25', 'modified' => '2022-01-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14409', 'image' => '20220125051310_2113_n.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-25 17:12:19', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14665', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Profit of 8 Development Banks Increases by 16 Percent', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 25: The net profit of eight development banks has increased by 16.87 percent till the second quarter of the current fiscal year 2021/22.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">January 25: The net profit of eight development banks has increased by 16.87 percent till the second quarter of the current fiscal year 2021/22.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the financial statements released by the development banks, Garima, Mahalakshmi, Lumbini, Muktinath, Jyoti, Kamana Seva, Shine Resunga, and Shangrila development banks have earned a profit of Rs 3.20 billion. In the corresponding period of the last fiscal year, the profit of these banks was Rs 2.73 billion.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Although the profit of these eight development banks has increased, the distributable profit has decreased. The distributable profit of Kamana, Jyoti and Muktinath development banks has declined heavily as compared to the second quarter of the last fiscal year. These eight development banks had earned a total of Rs 174 billion distributable profit in the last year which has decreased to Rs 169 billion this year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The profit of Muktinath Development Bank, which is leading among the eight most profitable development banks, has decreased by 2.14 percent compared to last year. The bank has raised Rs 602 million profit until the second quarter of the current fiscal year against Rs 615 million in the same period of last year. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Garima Development Bank is the second most profitable development bank. It has earned a profit of Rs 492 million, an increase from Rs 393 million compared to the same period of last year. The bank's profit has increased by 25.25 percent until the second quarter of the current fiscal year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Likewise, Mahalakshmi Development Bank's profit has increased by 31.55 percent against the corresponding period of last fiscal year. Compared to the two quarters of the last fiscal year, the profit of Lumbini Development Bank has increased by 34.31 percent until the second quarter of the current fiscal year. It had earned a profit Rs 261 million in the corresponding period of the previous year which has increased to Rs 351 million in the current fiscal year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The profit of Shine Resunga Development Bank, Jyoti Development Bank, Shangrila Development Bank has increased by 33.59 percent, 12.57 percent, and 58.87 percent respectively. Meanwhile, the profit of Kamana Sewa Development Bank has decreased by 11.89 percent. It had earned a profit of Rs 397 million until the second quarter in last year which has decreased to Rs 343 million in the review period of the current fiscal year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The distributable profit of Mahalakshmi Development Bank has increased by 120.54 percent. It had made a profit of Rs 124.7 million in the review period of last year which has increased to Rs 275 million in the current fiscal year. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, Lumbini Development Bank has made a distributable profit of Rs 249 million, an increase of 52.51 percent. Shangrila Development Bank, Shine Resunga and Garima Development Bank have made a distributable profit of Rs 184 million, Rs 218 million and Rs 356 million respectively. All these banks witnessed a growth in the profit to be distributed in the review period of the current fiscal year. It had earned a profit of Rs 271 million in the review period which declined to Rs 967 million until the second quarter of the current fiscal year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Among the eight national level development banks, the distributable profit of three banks has declined in the current fiscal year. Kamana Sewa Development Bank has witnessed a sharp decline by 64.41 percent in the distributable profit. Likewise, Muktinath and Jyoti Bikash Bank have witnessed a decline by 57.72 percent and 36.20 percent respectively.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-25', 'modified' => '2022-01-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14408', 'image' => '20220125045407_Banks - Copy.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-25 16:53:19', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14664', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Spends Rs 400 Billion on Luxurious Goods', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 25: Nepal imported luxurious and consumable goods worth almost Rs 400 billion within the first 6 months of the current fiscal year.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">January 25: Nepal imported luxurious and consumable goods worth almost Rs 400 billion within the first 6 months of the current fiscal year. Mainly, imports of petroleum products, mobiles, automobiles and parts, iron and steel sheets, crude soybean oil, palm oil, paddy-rice and gold and silver amounting to Rs 388 billion have been made so far.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the data of the Department of Customs, mobile sets worth more than Rs 25 billion have been imported to Nepal in the last six months. This is an increase of Rs 5 billion as compared to that of last fiscal year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">By mid-January of the last fiscal year, 3.66 million mobile sets worth Rs 20.63 billion were imported in Nepal. In the corresponding period of the current fiscal year, 3.56 million mobile sets worth Rs 25.62 billion have been imported.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Although the import of mobile sets has declined numerically, its value and customs duty have gone up by more than Rs 5 billion as compared to that of last year. The government has collected more than Rs 4.55 billion revenue from the import of mobile sets.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">During the review period, Nepal has spent Rs 126 billion on vehicles and Rs 72 billion on spare parts. Similarly, Rs 40.92 billion has been used for the import of iron and steel sheet / coil. Crude soybean oil worth Rs 36.54 billion, palm oil worth Rs 27.49 billion, rice worth Rs 23.14 billion, gold worth Rs 22.03 billion and silver worth Rs 150 million have been imported in the review period.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Altogether goods worth Rs 999.34 billion have been imported from July to December. This is 51.13 percent more than that of the same period of last year. Goods worth Rs 661.24 billion were imported in the first six months of the last fiscal year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The government had introduced a polict in the first week of December to control imports. However, the statistics do not show much change. Goods worth Rs 161 billion have been imported in December alone. The trade deficit has widened due to rising imports and weak exports. According to the statistics of the department, Nepal's trade deficit has reached Rs 880.49 billion in the last six months. This is 46.64 percent more than that of the same period of the last fiscal year.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-25', 'modified' => '2022-01-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14407', 'image' => '20220125023820_20190128034626__DSC7854 (1).jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-25 14:37:39', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14663', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NEA to Invite Tenders for PPA with Solar Plants', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 25: Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) is now going to enter into power purchase agreement (PPA) with solar plant projects on the basis of competition.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">January 25: Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) is now going to enter into power purchase agreement (PPA) with solar plant projects on the basis of competition. A meeting of the board of directors of NEA on Sunday has decided to purchase electricity generated from such projects through competition. NEA had earlier been signing PPA at Rs 7.30 per unit.</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"">However, now NEA has decided to sign PPA on competition basis. The NEA aims to make the electricity tariff universally accessible by meeting international standard, public demand, and by ensuring the balance between demand and supply of electricity.</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"">NEA Executive Director Kulman Ghising confirmed that a decision has been taken to sign PPA with solar projects through competition. NEA will now fix the base rate for PPA for the solar energy sector. NEA will then invite tender bids for PPA without increasing the base rate. According to the NEA, PPA will be signed with the project with the lowest bidders.</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"">If the NEA fixes the base rate at Rs 6 per unit, bidders will have to participate in the tender by mentioning the same rate or less than that. </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"">Ghising said that a separate committee has been formed to decide the base rate. He said that the committee would determine the base rate after conducting necessary study and then proceed with the process of inviting tenders.</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 a directive issued by the Ministry of Energy, the energy produced by the solar projects must constitute at least 10 percent of total capacity of NEA. The NEA has said that PPA will be signed with the solar project accordingly.</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"">At present, the installed capacity of electricity in the national grid is about 2200 MW. Accordingly, NEA will be able to bring 220 MW of electricity from the solar projects immediately. </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"">NEA is currently purchasing 150 MW of electricity from solar projects. Ghising said that tender bids to fill the remaining quota would be called after completing the necessary procedures. If the connection capacity of electricity in the national grid increases, the quota of solar energy will also increase in the same proportion.</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"">This is the first time that a PPA has been decided through competition in Nepal. The private sector was also demanding the same. </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"">"Now that PPA is done through competition, electricity becomes cheaper and NEA can provide electricity to the customers at cheaper rates," said Madhu Prasad Bhetuwal, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation. "It should be taken positively." </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, the price of electricity generated from solar has been gradually declining due to the advancement of technology in the international market. That is why the NEA says that the electricity of the solar project is being bought through competition.</span></span></span></p> <p><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-25', 'modified' => '2022-01-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14406', 'image' => '20220125124321_NEA.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-25 12:42:29', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14662', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'FNNTE Demands Withdrawal of Price Hike of Petroleum Products ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 25: The Federation of Nepalese National Transport Entrepreneurs (FNNTE) has demanded the government to withdraw the hike in the price of petroleum products. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">January 25: The Federation of Nepalese National Transport Entrepreneurs (FNNTE) has demanded the government to withdraw the hike in the price of petroleum products. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Issuing a press statement on Monday, the federation's Chairperson Yogendra Nath Karmacharya asked the government to immediately withdraw the price hike of petroleum products made till now in the current fiscal year, adding that entrepreneurs have not been able to pay the interest and installment of banks and financial institutions due to coronavirus pandemic. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">“It is unfortunate to increase the price of petroleum products by Nepal Oil Corporation time and again directly affecting the transport entrepreneurs and general consumers. The price hike should be withdrawn immediately,” reads the statement. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The federation has warned of launching agitation if the price hike of petroleum products is not withdrawn. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-25', 'modified' => '2022-01-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14405', 'image' => '20220125075952_20211030080715_202609_20190503125003_Petrol-Price-Increase.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-25 07:59:25', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14661', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NOC Pays Over Rs 13 Billion to IOC with Government’s Assistance ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 25: Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC), the state-owned oil monopoly of the country, has paid Rs 13.2 billion to the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) for the purchase of crude oil.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">January 25: Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC), the state-owned oil monopoly of the country, has paid Rs 13.2 billion to the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) for the purchase of crude oil. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The NOC, which has reportedly suffered losses, sought Rs 1.8 billion from the government and paid installment to the IOC, informed NOC’s spokesperson Binit Mani Upadhyay. NOC received the amount from the price stabilization fund of the government. It sent the second installment to the IOC on Monday, January 24. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A meeting of the board of directors of the price stabilization fund on Friday decided to provide Rs 1.8 million to the NOC. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The corporation has been reportedly incurring losses as prices of petroleum products have increased in the international market. It would further endure losses if the prices of petroleum products are not adjusted following the increment in the purchase price, according to experts. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Meanwhile, the NOC is reportedly worried about how to pay the third installment to the IOC for need of money. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-25', 'modified' => '2022-01-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14404', 'image' => '20220125074826_20200804040802_1596492171.Clipboard01.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-25 07:47:44', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = false $xml = falsesimplexml_load_file - [internal], line ?? include - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 133 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
| Currency | Unit |
Buy | Sell |
| U.S. Dollar | 1 | 121.23 | 121.83 |
| European Euro | 1 | 131.65 | 132.31 |
| UK Pound Sterling | 1 | 142.47 | 143.18 |
| Swiss Franc | 1 | 124.29 | 124.90 |
| Australian Dollar | 1 | 71.69 | 72.05 |
| Canadian Dollar | 1 | 83.90 | 84.32 |
| Japanese Yen | 10 | 10.94 | 11.00 |
| Chinese Yuan | 1 | 17.17 | 17.26 |
| Saudi Arabian Riyal | 1 | 32.27 | 32.43 |
| UAE Dirham | 1 | 33.01 | 33.17 |
| Malaysian Ringgit | 1 | 27.36 | 27.50 |
| South Korean Won | 100 | 9.77 | 9.82 |
Update: 2020-03-25 | Source: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB)
| Fine Gold | 1 tola | 77000.00 |
| Tejabi Gold | 1 tola | 76700.00 |
| Silver | 1 tola | 720.00 |
Update : 2020-03-25
Source: Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers' Association
| Petrol | 1 Liter | 106.00 |
| Diesel | 1 Liter | 95.00 |
| Kerosene | 1 Liter | 95.00 |
| LP Gas | 1 Cylinder | 1375.00 |
Update : 2020-03-25
