BANGKOK: One person was killed and 30 injured Tuesday when a Singapore Airlines Boeing 777 hit severe turbulence on a flight from London and was forced to make an emergency landing in…
BANGKOK: One person was killed and 30 injured Tuesday when a Singapore Airlines Boeing 777 hit severe turbulence on a flight from London and was forced to make an emergency landing in…
Nepal, renowned for its rich cultural heritage and spiritual traditions, provides an ideal backdrop for promoting…
KATHMANDU: Nepal Media Society and Media Alliance have protested the arrest of Kantipur Media Group’s Chairman Kailash…
JOMSOM: The road linking Jomsom, the district headquarters of Mustang, with the religious and tourism destination Kagbeni in the Muktichhetra rural municipality is being…
KATHMANDU: A police team deployed from the Valley Crime Investigation Office, Kathmandu on Tuesday arrested Chairman of Kantipur Publication, Kailash Sirohiya, on charge of citizenship-related…
The Birgunj Customs Office, a major border point for imports and exports, has failed to meet its revenue target for the first ten months of the current fiscal year 2080/81. The office has achieved only 62.82% of its revenue…
KATHMANDU: The Government of Nepal and the World Bank together launched the Institutionalizing Gender-Based Violence Response in Federal Nepal Project on…
KATHMANDU: Ram Chandra Pokharel is a member of the problematic Deurali Savings and Credit Cooperative. He said that he deposited his hard-earned money of Rs 3 million in the cooperative but he has not been able to get it back…
KATHMANDU: The government has granted permission to the Nepal Electricity Authority to charge the tariff for electricity distributed to industries from dedicated feeder and trunk lines from mid-January 2016 to mid-May…
The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) witnessed a gain of 23.94 points, equivalent to 1.14%, closing at 2115.94 on the third trading day of the week,…
KATHMANDU: The Embassy of Nepal in Beijing, in collaboration with the Nepal Tourism Board and Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATTA) of Gandaki province, hosted a tourism promotion event under the theme "Nepal Sales Mission 2024: Gandaki Province" at the Embassy on…
KATHMANDU: With less than two months left for the current fiscal year (FY) to end, the government is yet to spend Rs 435 billion to meet the revised target of budget…
KATHMANDU: The office of the Manaslu Conservation Area Project has collected more than Rs 25 million in revenue in nine months of the current fiscal…
KATHMANDU: The price of gold hit a record high in the international market Monday as the shock death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash boosted support for the precious metal seen as a safe haven…
KATHMANDU: As much as 14 percent of the total health equipment are left unused in the country, a study has revealed.…
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', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">BANGKOK: One person was killed and 30 injured Tuesday when a Singapore Airlines Boeing 777 hit severe turbulence on a flight from London and was forced to make an emergency landing in Bangkok. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Emergency vehicles raced onto the tarmac at the Thai capital's main airport with lights flashing and sirens blaring after Singapore-bound flight SQ321 touched down at 3:45 pm (0845 GMT). </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">It is the latest drama involving a Boeing plane, after a fuselage panel blew out of an Alaska Airlines 737 MAX in January as well as two fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Singapore Airlines said the flight took off from London's Heathrow airport and "encountered severe turbulence en route". </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">"We can confirm that there are injuries and one fatality on board the Boeing 777-300ER. There were a total of 211 passengers and 18 crew on board," the airline said in a statement. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The carrier said "18 individuals have been hospitalised. Another 12 are being treated in hospitals," without giving details of the nature and severity of the injuries. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">"We deeply apologise for the traumatic experience that our passengers and crew members suffered on this flight. We are providing all necessary assistance during this difficult time," the airline said. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Flight tracking data suggested the plane dropped more than 1,800 metres (6,000 feet) in just five minutes over the Andaman Sea. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The incident came as parts of Thailand were buffeted by thunderstorms as the country's annual rainy season gets under way. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">"At 3:35 pm the airport received a distress call from the Singapore Airlines flight saying there were passengers on board injured by turbulence, and requesting an emergency landing," Suvarnabhumi Airport said in a statement. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">"The plane landed at the airport and the medical team was sent to treat all the injured." </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The airport statement described the dead passenger as a foreigner -- meaning a non-Thai. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Singapore's transport minister Chee Hong Tat said in a Facebook post that he was "deeply saddened" by the incident and offered his condolences to the family of the fatality. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Boeing woes </span></strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">US aviation giant Boeing has been rocked by a series of problems in recent years and in March announced the departure of CEO Dave Calhoun as it faces intense scrutiny on safety and manufacturing standards. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The change in leadership came in the wake of the near-catastrophic incident in January when a fuselage panel on a Boeing 737 MAX 9 Alaska Airlines jet blew off mid-flight. Fatal crashes in Indonesia in 2018 and Ethiopia in 2019 -- which killed 346 people in total -- led to a lengthy grounding for the 737 MAX fleet worldwide. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The company has a late May deadline to present a plan required by the US Federal Aviation Administration, which has capped MAX production until the company shows progress on safety and quality control. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">In July, the US Justice Department will make a final determination on whether to criminally prosecute Boeing. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">And in September, the company faces a potential strike of 30,000 workers if it is unable to reach a contract with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers. – AFP/RSS </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-22', 'modified' => '2024-05-22', 'keywords' => 'Singapore, Airlines, accident, turbulence, safety', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20781', 'image' => '20240522010030_Singapore-Airlines-Sydney-Photo-credit-to-photographer-NIGEL-COGHLAN-Singapore-Airlines-B777-300ER-at-Sydney-Airport.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-22 12:59:07', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21055', 'article_category_id' => '251', 'title' => 'Promoting Mindfulness in Nepal: A Holistic Approach', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Nepal, renowned for its rich cultural heritage and spiritual traditions, provides an ideal backdrop for promoting mindfulness.', 'content' => '<p><img alt="" src="https://www.newbusinessage.com/img/mindfulness-pic.jpg" style="width:300px" /></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">By Sweksha Lakhe and</span></strong> <strong><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Aasha Kiran Chapain</span></strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong> </strong></span></span><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Introduction</span></strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Nepal, renowned for its rich cultural heritage and spiritual traditions, provides an ideal backdrop for promoting mindfulness. This ancient practice, deeply rooted in the meditative traditions of Buddhism and Hinduism, has garnered renewed interest as a powerful tool for mental health and wellness. By integrating mindfulness with traditional healing practices, modern therapeutic approaches, and innovative business models, Nepal can cultivate a holistic framework for mental well-being. Traditional healing in Nepal, woven into the cultural fabric, often incorporates mindfulness elements. Practices such as yoga, meditation, and rituals performed by shamans and Ayurvedic healers emphasize mental and spiritual balance, aligning closely with the principles of mindfulness. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Leveraging these age-old practices, mental health professionals can create culturally resonant approaches to mindfulness that respect and utilize Nepal’s rich heritage. Modern therapeutic techniques, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), can complement traditional practices. These evidence-based methods help manage stress, anxiety, and depression, promoting a comprehensive mental health strategy. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Training local therapists in these modern techniques and integrating them with traditional practices can offer a unique and effective approach to mental wellness. Additionally, the growing wellness tourism industry in Nepal presents valuable business opportunities for promoting mindfulness. Wellness retreats and mindfulness centers can attract both locals and international visitors seeking spiritual and mental rejuvenation. These centers can serve as hubs for teaching mindfulness practices, blending traditional and modern methods, and fostering a supportive community. By integrating traditional healing practices, modern therapies, and innovative business models, Nepal can effectively nurture mindfulness. This multifaceted approach enhances mental health and wellness services while preserving and promoting the country’s rich cultural heritage, positioning Nepal as a leading destination for mindfulness and holistic well-being.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Main Issue</span></strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The main issue lies in the slow adoption of mindfulness practices into mainstream Nepalese society despite their significant potential to enhance mental health and well-being. Mindfulness, a practice that cultivates present-moment awareness, holds the promise of reducing stress and promoting mental clarity by helping individuals anchor themselves in the present. This practice mitigates the impact of past regrets and future anxieties, fostering a state of calm and balance that is crucial in today’s fast-paced world. Mindfulness enables individuals to pause, breathe, and observe their thoughts without judgment, leading to clearer and more focused minds, improved emotional regulation, and better responses to situations with greater patience and understanding.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Moreover, mindfulness enhances empathy, a critical component for strengthening relationships. By being fully present during interactions, individuals become more attuned to the emotions and needs of others, enhancing their capacity for compassion and connection. This heightened empathy not only improves personal relationships but also fosters a more harmonious community atmosphere. Additionally, practicing mindfulness contributes to better focus and decision-making as individuals become adept at filtering out distractions and concentrating on tasks, leading to increased productivity and efficiency in both professional and personal contexts.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Despite these myriad benefits, the integration of mindfulness into Nepalese society faces several challenges. Cultural, educational, and socio-economic factors contribute to the slow adoption of mindfulness practices. Traditional Nepalese culture, while deeply spiritual, may not yet fully embrace contemporary mindfulness practices as part of daily life. Furthermore, there might be a lack of awareness or access to structured mindfulness programs. To address this issue, concerted efforts in education, advocacy, and the creation of accessible mindfulness initiatives are required. Such efforts would bridge the gap, promoting mindfulness's benefits and enhancing the overall well-being and quality of life for all Nepalese individuals.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Recommendations</span></strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Mindfulness-Based Interventions (MBIs) Integration</span></strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Establish dedicated centers that offer mindfulness training workshops, meditation sessions, and yoga classes. These centers can serve as hubs for holistic wellness.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Collaborate with traditional healers and Ayurvedic practitioners to create comprehensive wellness programs. By combining ancient wisdom with modern practices, you can address physical, mental, and emotional well-being.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Integrate mindfulness practices into existing mental health services. Emphasize present-moment awareness, non-judgment, and self-compassion. This can enhance therapeutic outcomes and promote resilience.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Holistic Cafés and Restaurants</span></strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Imagine serene dining spaces within healing centers or standalone restaurants, designed to promote mindfulness during meals.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Holistic Café and Juice Bar</span></strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Offer fresh, organic juices, smoothies, and herbal teas. Prioritize ingredients that nourish the body and mind.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Create a calming ambiance using natural materials, soothing colors, and soft music. Consider incorporating elements like indoor plants or a small water fountain.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Dedicate a corner for wellness resources—a mini library with books on mindfulness, nutrition, and holistic living.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Plant-Based Restaurant</span></strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Focus on plant-based dishes that promote health and vitality. Collaborate with local farmers to source seasonal, organic produce.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Craft a menu that celebrates the flavors of Nepal while aligning with mindful eating principles.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Educate diners about the benefits of plant-based nutrition and its positive impact on overall well-being.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Mindful Movement and Activities</span></strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Organize meditation retreats in serene locations across Nepal. Participants can immerse themselves in mindfulness practices such as guided meditations, breath awareness, and walking meditations during morning and afternoon meditation sessions.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Mindful activities:</span></strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt"> Yoga, tai chi, or qigong. Encourage participants to connect with their bodies and the present moment.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Communal meals:</span></strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt"> Practice mindful eating together, savoring each bite and appreciating the nourishment.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Community Engagement and Cultural Sensitivity: </span></strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Involve local communities in designing and implementing mindfulness programs. Seek their input and adapt practices to align with Nepalese traditions.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Collaborate with monasteries, temples, and spiritual leaders. Their guidance can enrich mindfulness practices and foster community support.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Respect cultural norms and sensitivities. Mindfulness should be accessible and inclusive, honoring diverse backgrounds and beliefs.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Conclusion</span></strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">By highlighting the intrinsic connection between food, well-being, and mindfulness, Nepal has the potential to become a global hub for holistic wellness. This transformation necessitates collective efforts from various sectors, including government, local communities, and wellness practitioners. Collaboration among these stakeholders can foster an environment where the rich cultural heritage of Nepal is seamlessly integrated with modern wellness practices. Understanding and respecting cultural nuances are crucial, as they form the backbone of Nepalese society and influence people's daily lives and practices. As Nepal increasingly embraces mindfulness, its citizens can experience profound benefits. Mindfulness practices, deeply rooted in Nepal's spiritual traditions, can enhance resilience, helping individuals better manage stress and adversity. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Furthermore, these practices can promote balance in daily life, fostering a harmonious relationship between mind, body, and environment. By focusing on mindful eating and well-being, people can achieve greater fulfillment, leading to a healthier, more content society. The holistic approach to wellness in Nepal not only nurtures individual health but also contributes to a more sustainable and compassionate community. As mindfulness permeates various aspects of life, from dietary choices to interpersonal relationships, it fosters a culture of awareness and intentional living. This cultural shift can position Nepal as a beacon of holistic wellness, attracting visitors seeking authentic and transformative health experiences. Ultimately, by embracing the synergy of food, well-being, and mindfulness, Nepal can inspire a global movement towards more integrated and mindful living, benefiting not only its own people but also setting a precedent for other nations to follow.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><em><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">(Sweksha Lakhe is an MBA student at South Asian Institute of Management with specialization in HR and Aasha Kiran Chapain is an MBA student at South Asian Institute of Management with specialization in Finance)</span></em></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-22', 'modified' => '2024-05-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20779', 'image' => '20240522025819_consciousness-meditation-neurosicnce.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-22 14:57:12', 'homepage' => true, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21051', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Media Organisations Protest Arrest of Kailash Sirohiya, Express Concern Over Attack on Press Freedom', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'KATHMANDU: Nepal Media Society and Media Alliance have protested the arrest of Kantipur Media Group’s Chairman Kailash Sirohiya.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">KATHMANDU: Nepal Media Society and Media Alliance have protested the arrest of Kantipur Media Group’s Chairman Kailash Sirohiya.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Organising a press conference at the office premises of Kantipur in Thapathali on Wednesday, both the organizations deplored the arrest and detention of the media tycoon by the police.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Speaking at the press conference, Chairman of ABC Media Group as well as the Media Society Subha Shankar Kandel said that the incident of Sirohiya’s arrest gave a glimpse of the reign of former king Gyanendra when the police administration entered the media house and worked in the newsroom.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"This is the first time that the police entered the media house after 2058, when the government arrested the then managing director Sirohiya, director Binodraj Gyawali and editor Yuvraj Ghimire for publishing the views of the then underground Maoist leader Baburam Bhattarai in Kantipur Daily," he said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Kandel said that it is highly objectionable for the political party leaders to treat the media house like this especially after they pledged to build a new Nepal after doing away with the old system.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">He alleged that the government intervened in Kantipur Media and prosecuted Sirohiya in retaliation for publishing the news that at least Rs 958 million were embezzled from the deposits made by the general public in cooperatives.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Speaking at the press conference, General Secretary of Media Alliance Nepal Direklal Shrestha also said that no one is above the law and if found guilty by the police investigation regarding dual citizenship, everyone should face the punishment. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">He added that he was not showing solidarity with Kailas Sirohiya alone but against the state's attack on press freedom. A person from media background himself that attacking freedom of press today is like spitting on the plate that he himself ate from.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Similarly, Rishi Dhamala, the founder of Reports Club, said that Rabi Lamichhane became the home minister because of the struggle of Nepali media against the monarchy. He added that Lamichhane’s attempt to stifle press freedom nothing but the misuse of state authority.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">He said that it is not good for the police administration to try to suppress the media just for the coverage of the news related to the co-operative fraud case, and said that they should instead help investigate the allegations against the cooperatives.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Speaking at the press conference, RK Shrestha, president of the Valley Radio Broadcasting Forum, said that it was unfortunate that the police administration entered the media house with weapons. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Similarly, General Secretary of Nepal Media Society Madan Lamsal said that Sirohiya was arrested in the style of the then Panchayat system. Speaking at the press conference, General Secretary Lamsal said that the home ministry and the government took steps in the wrong direction.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Lamsal said that the law allows the government to interrogate and investigate anyone but Sirohiya was arrested in a dictatorial style.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Stating that all the media-related organizations were unanimous in terming this move as a wrongful act, he said that till the owner of Kantipur Media House, Kailash Sirohiya, should be released with honor. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">”We will strongly resist and oppose it,” he said.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-22', 'modified' => '2024-05-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20778', 'image' => '20240522123213_0_kQUCCCQpfK7vWZTi.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-22 12:31:35', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21050', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Blacktopping of Jomsom-Kagbeni Road Begins', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'JOMSOM: The road linking Jomsom, the district headquarters of Mustang, with the religious and tourism destination Kagbeni in the Muktichhetra rural municipality is being blacktopped.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">JOMSOM: The road linking Jomsom, the district headquarters of Mustang, with the religious and tourism destination Kagbeni in the Muktichhetra rural municipality is being blacktopped. The 13-km-long Jomsom-Kagbeni road has been widened to 11 meters and is being blacktopped using asphalt technology.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Rautah-Atreya JV was awarded a contract worth Rs 281.4 million in August 2022 to blacktop the Jomsom-Kagbeni section of the Beni-Jomsom-Korala road, a national pride project. According to Sanjay Bhatta, the project manager for the contractor company, they have already applied the prime coat on two kilometers of road in the Eklebhatti area. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">"We have placed the prime coat along two kilometers of the road section," Bhatta stated. "We imported bitumen and managed the necessary equipment for blacktopping the entire road section."</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The task of preparing the base and sub-base has been completed, and preparations are underway to blacktop the Jomsom-Kagbeni section within the current fiscal year. The company, which was awarded an eighteen-month contract, started blacktopping the road after receiving repeated warnings from the Beni-Jomsom-Korala road project to confiscate the deposit and blacklist the contractor if the work was not completed on time.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Project chief Dhruba Kumar Jha reported that 75 kilometers of the 110-kilometer road connecting Jomsom to the Korala border in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China have been graveled. Additionally, almost 85 percent of the 25-kilometer Charang-Chhoser section has been completed. Jha informed RSS that all sections connecting the Jomsom-Korala road will be graveled after the upgradation of this section. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-22', 'modified' => '2024-05-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20777', 'image' => '20240522112130_SG_MYAGDI_.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-22 11:20:54', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21049', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Publisher of Kantipur Publications Sirohiya Arrested ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'KATHMANDU: A police team deployed from the Valley Crime Investigation Office, Kathmandu on Tuesday arrested Chairman of Kantipur Publication, Kailash Sirohiya, on charge of citizenship-related offense. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">KATHMANDU: A police team deployed from the Valley Crime Investigation Office, Kathmandu on Tuesday arrested Chairman of Kantipur Publication, Kailash Sirohiya, on charge of citizenship-related offense. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The police <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">team led Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Sanuram Bhattarai and Superintendent of Police (SP) Rabindra Regmi nabbed publisher Sirohiya from the latter's office in Thapathali, Kathmandu. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">SP Regmi stated that Sirohiya was arrested for an investigation on the citizenship issue and added that preparations were underway to take Sirohiya to Janakpur. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">During his arrest, Sirohiya expressed his serious objection to the step taken by the government despite his pledge to cooperate with the government agencies for the probe. </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"">Sirohiya claimed that Deputy Prime Minister Ravi Lamichhane arrested him with mala fide intention for the news coverage by Kantiour Media regarding the cooperative scam involving the deputy prime minister.</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 home minister has a case over dual passport. I am hopeful that an arrest warrant will be issued against him as well,” said Sirohiya. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Earlier on Tuesday, a single bench of Judge Chitra Bahadur Gurung of the Dhanusha District Court had given permission to the police to issue an arrest warrant against Sirohiya. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Following the arrest warrant, Sirohiya lodged a petition at the Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday itself demanding to vacate the order of the Dhanusha District Court. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Information Officer of SC Govinda Prasad Ghimire said that the decision will be taken on Wednesday whether or not to register the writ petition. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The District Police Office, Dhanusha, sought approval from the court to arrest Sirohiya after the citizenship number of Sirohiya and another person was found to be identical. <em>(With inputs from RSS)</em></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-22', 'modified' => '2024-05-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20776', 'image' => '20240522110456_maxresdefault.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-22 11:04:18', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21048', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Birgunj Customs Office Misses Revenue Target, Collects Only 62%', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'The Birgunj Customs Office, a major border point for imports and exports, has failed to meet its revenue target for the first ten months of the current fiscal year 2080/81. The office has achieved only 62.82% of its revenue goal.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Birgunj: The Birgunj Customs Office, a major border point for imports and exports, has failed to meet its revenue target for the first ten months of the current fiscal year 2080/81. The office has achieved only 62.82% of its revenue goal.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the data on its website, the customs office aimed to collect Rs 202.9 billion by the end of Baisakh. However, only Rs 127.46 billion was collected. </span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Specifically, the customs office collected Rs 47.2372 billion in import duties, which is 60.88% of the target set at Rs 77.5877 billion.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The highest revenue came from Value Added Tax (VAT), with Rs 54.2658 billion collected, achieving 63.99% of the target. </span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">For excise duties, the office collected Rs 8.5208 billion, against a target of Rs 12.1157 billion.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Apart from the road construction and maintenance fees, the customs office did not meet its revenue targets in any category. It collected revenue under various headings, including advance income tax, health risk tax, infrastructure tax, export duties, agricultural improvement fees, road repair and maintenance fees, and luxury fees.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Officials said that the decline in imports of vehicles, fuel, and industrial raw materials, which are the main items imported through Birgunj, impacted the revenue. On the export side, processed edible oil, juice, pulp, and fabrics are the main items. However, Nepal's exports have decreased as Indian traders are importing oil from third countries due to India's zero customs duty policy on oil imports.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-22', 'modified' => '2024-05-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20775', 'image' => '20240522084206_collage (7).jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-22 08:40:07', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21047', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government of Nepal and World Bank Launch $4.6 Million Project to Strengthen Response to GBV', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'KATHMANDU: The Government of Nepal and the World Bank together launched the Institutionalizing Gender-Based Violence Response in Federal Nepal Project on Tuesday.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">KATHMANDU: The Government of Nepal (GoN) and the World Bank (WB) together launched the Institutionalizing Gender-Based Violence Response in Federal Nepal Project on Tuesday.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Issuing a joint statement, the GoN and the WB said that the project was jointly launched by Minister for Women, Children, and Senior Citizens, Bhagbati Chaudhary and World Bank’s Country Director for the Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, Faris Hadad-Zervos.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to the World Bank, the three-year project will help increase women’s and girls’ access to multisectoral gender-based violence (GBV) response services such as legal aid, psychosocial counseling, and medical support in six municipalities in Koshi and Lumbini provinces. It aims to benefit 49,000 women and girls who have experienced violence through better access to quality services.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">“Addressing gender-based violence is a priority for the government of Nepal. This project will help establish a functioning coordination system to link GBV response mechanisms at the municipal, provincial, and federal levels,” said</span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> Bhagbati Chaudhary, Minister for Women, Children, and Senior Citizens.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The project is financed by a $4.6 million grant from the State and Peacebuilding Trust Fund and will be implemented by the Ministry of Women, Children, and Senior Citizens.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The project will help strengthen institutional frameworks and capacity, pilot innovative GBV service models with a focus on improving service coverage and quality, and promote behavior change among first responders and local stakeholders for improved GBV response, the statement added.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">“This project will help empower women and girls to readily access GBV services, report violence, and seek help, especially in the most remote and hard to reach areas. This is key to supporting Nepal’s development that is green, resilient, and inclusive,</span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">” </span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">said Faris Hadad-Zervos.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The Government of Nepal and the World Bank signed the financing agreements for the project on April 24, 2024.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-21', 'modified' => '2024-05-21', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20774', 'image' => '20240521085600_GOGs7zGbAAADCYP.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-21 20:55:20', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21046', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'CIB Investigation into Cooperatives Fraud Finds Embezzlement of Billions of Rupees', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'KATHMANDU: Ram Chandra Pokharel is a member of the problematic Deurali Savings and Credit Cooperative. He said that he deposited his hard-earned money of Rs 3 million in the cooperative but he has not been able to get it back yet.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">BIJAY DAMASE</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">KATHMANDU: Ram Chandra Pokharel is a member of the problematic Deurali Savings and Credit Cooperative. He said that he deposited his hard-earned money of Rs 3 million in the cooperative but he has not been able to get it back yet.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">Pokharel said that even though he went from pillar to post knocking the doors of the Department of Cooperatives as well as the municipality to get back his money, the cooperative is yet to release the amount. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">"The fraudulent operators of the cooperative have political protection, that's why they are not in favor of returning the money," he accused. The deposits of hundreds of other depositors are also trapped in the cooperative. The directors of Deurali have been accused of embezzling more than Rs 2 billion of the depositors.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">Similarly, Rakesh Murarka said that he worked day and night for five years to earn Rs 8 million and deposited the money in National Development Cooperative Cooperative. He says that he requested all concerned bodies to return his money but was denied justice.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">"I even visited political party leaders but in vain," he said expressing his pain. According to Murarka, the depositors of the National Cooperative have lodged a police complaint against its director for embezzlement of Rs 332.22 million. However, the cooperative has not returned their savings yet.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police is currently investigating the irregularities in about a dozen cooperatives including these two. CIB's research has shown that most of the cooperatives have collapsed due to indiscriminate and excessive investment in unproductive sectors. It has been found that many co-operatives had given loans without collateral and many such debtors have run away.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">The police investigation has also revealed that the operators of the problematic cooperatives were found withdrawing money from the cooperatives arbitrarily and investing the money at their whims, which risked billions of rupees deposited by the members. The investigation also found that the cooperatives lacked any kind of regulatory mechanism and auditing.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">Superintendent of Police at the CIB Hobindra Bogati told New Business Age that billions of rupees of the depositors were trapped in cooperatives and the police had trouble verifying the details. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">"During the investigation, it was found that the operators of cooperatives had purchased luxury vehicles with the money deposited in the cooperatives. They also used the money for usury, and bought land in the name of third persons," Bogati said.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">The investigation of the police has also shown that the family businesses were opened in the name of the parents, sisters, in-laws of the operators of cooperatives while some cooperatives were opened with the motive of embezzling the money of unsuspecting depositors. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">The police concluded that the country's economy has been negatively affected due to the problems in cooperatives. "The problem surfaced due to the dumping of the money in non-productive areas, as a result of which the economy has slumped," said Bogati.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">Lalitpur's Deurali Cooperative was found to have embezzled more than Rs 2 billion and the owner of Shiva Shikhar Cooperative, which had a network spread across 35 districts, had embezzled billions of rupees.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">According to the police data, since mid-July of the current fiscal year, cases have been registered all over the country saying that co-operative operators have cheated Rs 6 billion. A total of 148 people have been arrested in this connection. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">During last fiscal year, the police registered cases related to cooperative fraud worth Rs 7 billion. The cases are sent to the police only after failing to resolve the issue by the local and state governments as well as the Department of Cooperative. The police investigation has shown that by the time all those agencies investigate, the operators of the cooperatives manage to sell their property. As a result, they were unable to return the savings to the victims.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">According to government data, there are 31,373 cooperatives in operation across the country. They have a collected Rs 478 billion from the depositors and invested Rs 426 billion in loans. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">Although the Department of Cooperatives has estimated that around 500 cooperatives are facing problems, it is not known how much money exactly has been embezzled. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">According to the police officials involved in investigation, the cooperatives have 73,81,218 depositors. Stakeholders say that thousands of depositors have not been able to get back their money due to political intervention.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">CPN (UML) whip Mahesh Bertaula said that even though his party was serious about the issue of cooperatives, the Nepali Congress has become the obstacle in resolving this issue.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">On the other hand, Chief Whip of Nepali Congress Ramesh Lekhak claims that the ruling parties are busy protecting the co-operative thugs. According to him, the Congress is effortful to ensure justice to the cooperative victims. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">Former Secretary Gopinath Mainali sees the need to form a committee to remove the legal obstacles rather than focusing on individuals to solve the problems of cooperatives. "Those with vested interests should not sit in such a committee," he said.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">He said that the state side has not taken any concrete steps to resolve the problems while the main opposition party is linking the issue of cooperatives with the government. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">“Why are the political parties not ready to take action by amending the law immediately?" he questioned, adding, "There is no law that allows immediate freezing of the property of directors and officials as soon as cooperatives are declared problematic. The state should make such laws. Legal arrangements should be made to bring those who invest recklessly against the norms of the cooperative to the court.”</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">The government has announced the creation of a special regulatory agency to control irregularities in the cooperatives sector. According to Mainali, although the matter of creating such a body was included in the budget many times, the political leadership never implemented it. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">"Even though many committees were formed to solve the problem and submitted reports, it was kept in the drawer," said Mainali.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-21', 'modified' => '2024-05-21', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20773', 'image' => '20240521071737_20220506015945_Cooperative.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-21 19:17:14', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21045', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Electricity Dispute Resolution Commission Tells NEA not to Charge Fees after End of Load Shedding', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'KATHMANDU: The government has granted permission to the Nepal Electricity Authority to charge the tariff for electricity distributed to industries from dedicated feeder and trunk lines from mid-January 2016 to mid-May 2018.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">KATHMANDU: The government has granted permission to the Nepal Electricity Authority to charge the tariff for electricity distributed to industries from dedicated feeder and trunk lines from mid-January </span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">20</span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">16 to mid-May </span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">20</span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">18</span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">The NEA cannot levy the full tariff it claims the industries a liable to pay after the Council of Ministers decided last week to implement the recommendations made by the commission chaired by former judge Girish Chandra Lal resolve the electricity tariff dispute.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">The commission submitted its report to Energy Minister Shakti Bahadur Basnet on May 5</span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">. </span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">The government formed the commission on January 9 with the mandate to study and submit a report on the disputes related to the tariff of electricity supply through dedicated feeder and trunk lines</span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">Sushil Chandra Tiwari, secretary at the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation said that the Council of Ministers has sent a letter to the ministry to implement the report of the 'Electricity Tariff Dispute Resolution Commission, </span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">2080</span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">' regarding the electricity tariff dispute of dedicated feeder and trunk line.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">According to him, after the report was approved by the Council of Ministers, a letter was sent to the ministry for implementation last Friday. As mentioned in the report, the industrialist will have to pay to the electricity dues to the NEA only from mid-January </span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">20</span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">16 to mid-May </span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">20</span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">18</span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">. </span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">“The report submitted by the commission has been approved by the Council of Ministers. Now the report will be implemented," said Energy Secretary Tiwari told New Business Age. According to him, the outstanding electricity tariff from mid-January </span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">20</span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">16 to mid-May </span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">20</span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">18 is Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">6</span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">.</span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">41</span></span> <span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">billion. The industrialists will have to pay interest and </span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">25</span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif""> percent penalty to the amount.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">According to Tiwari, commission's report has suggested that it is not appropriate to collect fees twice from the industrialists, especially after mid-May </span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">20</span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">18 to mid-May </span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">2020</span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif""> after the NEA announced an end to loadshedding. The NEA has been demanding an additional Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">8</span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">.</span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">44</span></span> <span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">billion from the industrialists as electricity charge for this period, which the commission report does not allow the state-owned utility to collect.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">There has been a dispute between the industrialists and the electricity authority on this issue for a long time. The authority even disconnected the lines of some industries after the industrialists took a stand of not paying the electricity tariff.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-21', 'modified' => '2024-05-21', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20772', 'image' => '20240521041228_20220330051709_c1d0e043-electricity.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-21 16:11:05', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21044', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NEPSE Surges by 23.94 Points to Close at 2115.94', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) witnessed a gain of 23.94 points, equivalent to 1.14%, closing at 2115.94 on the third trading day of the week, Tuesday.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px">May 21: The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) witnessed a gain of 23.94 points, equivalent to 1.14%, closing at 2115.94 on the third trading day of the week, Tuesday.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">During today’s trading, 317 scrips were traded on the NEPSE through 73,667 transactions. As many as 13,241,217 shares changed hands, resulting in a total turnover of Rs 5.20 billion.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">Pokhara Finance Limited (PFL) led the turnover amount with total transactions worth Rs 24 crores. Janaki Finance Limited (JFL), Nerude Mirmire Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited (NMLBBL), and Samudayik Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited (SLBSL) each gained 10% and hit the positive circuit for the day.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">Conversely, Shine Resunga Development Bank (SHINE) faced the highest loss of 4.28%, closing at a market price of Rs 400 per share.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">In terms of sector indices, all sectors closed in positive territory except the Development Bank Index and the Trading Index.</span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-21', 'modified' => '2024-05-21', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20771', 'image' => '20240521033434_collage.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-21 15:25:14', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21043', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Tourism Promotion Event on Nepal held in Beijing ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'KATHMANDU: The Embassy of Nepal in Beijing, in collaboration with the Nepal Tourism Board and Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATTA) of Gandaki province, hosted a tourism promotion event under the theme "Nepal Sales Mission 2024: Gandaki Province" at the Embassy on Monday.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">KATHMANDU: The Embassy of Nepal in Beijing, in collaboration with the Nepal Tourism Board and Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATTA) of Gandaki province, hosted a tourism promotion event under the theme "Nepal Sales Mission 2024: Gandaki Province" at the Embassy on Monday. </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 event aimed to develop network among tour and travel operators of Nepal and China, the Embassy of Nepal in Beijing, states a press release issued by the organisers. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">On the occasion, Ambassador of Nepal to the People's Republic of China, Bishnu Pukar Shrestha, highlighted the major tourism attractions of Nepal and encouraged the participants to jointly cooperate to make the upcoming Visit Nepal Year 2025 a success, which was jointly declared by Nepal and China. He also urged the participants to build network as to enhance tourism cooperation between the two countries. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">During the event, NTB Senior Officer Kundan Sharma Mishra made a presentation promoting Nepal as an attractive tourism destination focusing on Pokhara which was recently declared as the tourism capital of Nepal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">On the occasion, NATTA president Hari Ram Adhikari and member Khim Bahadur Nepali delivered statements about Nepal's tourism potentials. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The programme was followed by an interactive B2B session. The event was attended by approximately 150 participants including Nepali and Chinese tour and travel operators, business persons working in tourism sector as well as media representatives. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-21', 'modified' => '2024-05-21', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20770', 'image' => '20240521031857_20231001020729_20230714012959_20221227011524_Flag-Pins-Nepal-China.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-21 15:18:21', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21042', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Yet to Spend Rs 435 Billion Budget with Two Months Left for Current FY to End', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'KATHMANDU: With less than two months left for the current fiscal year (FY) to end, the government is yet to spend Rs 435 billion to meet the revised target of budget expenditure.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">KATHMANDU: With less than two months left for the current fiscal year (FY) to end, the government is yet to spend Rs 435 billion to meet the revised target of budget expenditure.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The government announced a budget of Rs 1751 billion for the current year and revised it to Rs 1530 billion in January through the mid-tern review of budget.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">According to the Financial Comptroller General Office, the constitutional body that keeps track of government’s expenditure, the government has spent only Rs 1095 billion as of last Sunday. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">With only two months remaining in the current fiscal year and signs of increasing political instability, questions have arisen about how the government will spend the rest of the budget. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal took the vote of confidence in the House of Representatives on Monday amid the obstruction of parliament by the main opposition Nepali Congress. Three governments have been formed in one year under the leadership of Prime Minister Dahal. Due to political instability, government spending is affected due to lack of timely decisions.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">As the government has allocated a budget of Rs 1141 billion for the current expenses. After the mid-tern review, the estimate expenditure under this heading has been fixed at Rs 1007 billion. The FCGO has said that the government has already spent Rs 770 billion under the current expenses as of Sunday. According to the FCGO, the government has allocated 302 billion under the heading of capital expenditure for in the current fiscal year, but has spent only Rs 119 billion so far. According to the revised estimate, the government has to spend Rs 254 billion.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">In Nepal, the capital expenditure for development works is mostly spent in the months of March, April, May and June. However, even at this period, the capital expenditure has not been much encouraging. According to the revised estimate, the government will have to spend Rs 135 billion under the heading of capital expenditure. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Similarly, a the government had allocated a budget of Rs 307 billion for financial management, which was revised to Rs 268 billion through the mid-tern review. According to the data of the FCGO, the government has already spent Rs 205 billion has under this heading as of Sunday.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Government officials are blaming each other for the lackluster expenditure. According to the Ministry of Finance, there is no reason to stop the expenditure as the Minister for Finance and the ministry have repeatedly instructed the secretaries of the related ministries and heads of agencies to increase the expenditure.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">"Recently, the Finance Ministry instructed the Department of Roads to send a report on work progress along with recommendations to resolve the problems it faces. However, the department has not yet submitted its report," an official of the budget division of the Ministry of Finance told New Business Age. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">According to him, no project and work has been stopped due to lack of budget.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">However, the expenditure situation is not satisfactory. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Economist Bimal Koirala highlights that the unspent budget is due to errors in the government’s budget formulation process, lack of political will, and structural issues.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"> “Due to errors in budgeting, there is no capital expenditure and no development. That is what has happened so far," he said. "The size of the budget has become an arbitrary number and the trend of reducing it through the mid-term review is not a good practice. The government should bring a realistic budget."</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Koirala says that due to the fact that the government has not properly implemented the report of the Expenditure Review Commission, the problems have been persisting for years. "This situation will continue until the government identifies the problems in the budget spending system and takes initiatives to solve them," he said.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-21', 'modified' => '2024-05-21', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20769', 'image' => '20240521010943_budget.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-21 13:09:04', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21041', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Manaslu Conservation Area Collects over Rs 25 Million in Revenue ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'KATHMANDU: The office of the Manaslu Conservation Area Project has collected more than Rs 25 million in revenue in nine months of the current fiscal year.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">KATHMANDU: The office of the Manaslu Conservation Area Project has collected more than Rs 25 million in revenue in nine months of the current fiscal year. The office collected the amount as entry fee from tourists visiting the area from July 17, 2023 to April 12, 2024. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A total of 8,302 foreign tourists visited the area during the review period, according to the office. It collected Rs 24.9 million from them. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, 152 foreign tourists of SAARC countries had visited the Manaslu Conservation Area during this period. A total of Rs 152,000 in revenue was collected from them, said MCAP Chief Santosh Sherchan. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The office has determined Rs 1,000 as entry fee for a tourist of SAARC countries visiting the area while tourists from other countries have to pay Rs 3,000 per person. It has already collected more revenue in nine months this year as compared to previous year as number of tourists visiting Manaslu conservation area has increased this year. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Sherchan shared that more than 12,000 foreign tourists have been expected at Manaslu conservation area this year. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-21', 'modified' => '2024-05-21', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20768', 'image' => '20240521121934_20221101102053_manaslu.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-21 12:19:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21040', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Gold Hits Record High as Iran Shock Triggers Safe Haven Investment', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'KATHMANDU: The price of gold hit a record high in the international market Monday as the shock death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash boosted support for the precious metal seen as a safe haven investment.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">KATHMANDU: The price of gold hit a record high in the international market Monday as the shock death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash boosted support for the precious metal seen as a safe haven investment.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">According to AFP, copper also struck an all-time peak and silver jumped to the highest level in more than 11 years -- with markets generally gaining from a brighter economic outlook.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Gold had already hit a series of record highs this year and Nepal was not an exception.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">The country also witnessed a record-high price of gold on Monday with the precious yellow metal traded at Rs </span><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">141,800 per tola</span> (11.66 grams) before shedding Rs 1200 per tola on Tuesday.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Asian and European stock markets began the week higher, having recently struck all-time peaks along with indices on Wall Street.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">The metals are priced in the dollar, which has come under pressure recently from expectations that the US Federal Reserve will soon start to cut interest rates as inflation cools.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Gold struck a record $2,450.07 an ounce in the international market on Monday, while copper's all-time high stood at $11,104 per tonne.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Raisi was confirmed dead on Monday after search and rescue teams found his crashed helicopter in a fog-shrouded western mountain region, sparking mourning in the Islamic republic, AFP added.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Foreign countries had been closely following the search at a time of high regional tensions over the Gaza war raging between Israel and Hamas since October 7.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">"Gold and copper have hit record highs, (and) silver jumped to an 11-year high... after the death of Iran's president in a helicopter crash," AFP quoted Neil Wilson, chief market analyst at Finalto trading group, as saying.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">"There is a clear geopolitical premium since October 7th," he said, adding that "expectations the Fed will cut rates soon is helping".</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Analysts said market sentiment was boosted additionally by China's plan to support its struggling property sector.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">The positive start to the week for equities came after Wall Street's Dow index ended above 40,000 points for the first time on Friday.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Oil prices dipped after initially jumping on the Iran news, added the news agency.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Investors are looking to the release Wednesday of minutes from the Federal Reserve's May policy decision, hoping for some insight into the thinking of decision-makers.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">The release comes after data last week showed US inflation easing in April, reviving hopes the central bank would cut interest rates twice this year.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-21', 'modified' => '2024-05-21', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20767', 'image' => '20240521114649_20240310065333_20240307024448_gold newwww.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-21 11:45:16', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21039', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Country's 14% of Health Equipment Remains Unused ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'KATHMANDU: As much as 14 percent of the total health equipment are left unused in the country, a study has revealed. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">KATHMANDU: As much as 14 percent of the total health equipment are left unused in the country, a study has revealed. The survey of biomedical equipment in Nepal's public health institutions conducted by the Department of Health Services in collaboration with Lifeline Enterprises showed that 2,645 health equipment in the country are still not installed in the health institutions. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Chairperson of Lifeline Enterprises Anjali Tiwariwal said that data were collected from 11 hospitals of Bagmati, Koshi, Madhesh, Gandaki and Sudurpaschim provinces adding that 1,823 health equipment are dysfunctional. The study carried out from October 2023 to April 2024 surveyed the status of 19,174 hospitals. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Bhaskar Rijal, a biomedical engineer involved in the study team, said that 1,174 sets of equipment are unused despite being in proper condition. </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"">"Those equipment imported during the time of COVID-19 are left unused for lack of Covid-19 patients," Rijal added. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Rijal further stated that the CT scan machines of Bir Hospital, APF Hospital and Koshi Hospital have turned dysfunctional with severe complaints about the charger board and battery. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Meanwhile, Director of Bir Hospital Dr Santosh Poudel shared that the hospital lacks biomedical engineers to repair and run such equipment. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-21', 'modified' => '2024-05-21', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20766', 'image' => '20240521111257_20200224061638_Clipboard24.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-21 11:12:20', '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:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">BANGKOK: One person was killed and 30 injured Tuesday when a Singapore Airlines Boeing 777 hit severe turbulence on a flight from London and was forced to make an emergency landing in Bangkok. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Emergency vehicles raced onto the tarmac at the Thai capital's main airport with lights flashing and sirens blaring after Singapore-bound flight SQ321 touched down at 3:45 pm (0845 GMT). </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">It is the latest drama involving a Boeing plane, after a fuselage panel blew out of an Alaska Airlines 737 MAX in January as well as two fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Singapore Airlines said the flight took off from London's Heathrow airport and "encountered severe turbulence en route". </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">"We can confirm that there are injuries and one fatality on board the Boeing 777-300ER. There were a total of 211 passengers and 18 crew on board," the airline said in a statement. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The carrier said "18 individuals have been hospitalised. Another 12 are being treated in hospitals," without giving details of the nature and severity of the injuries. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">"We deeply apologise for the traumatic experience that our passengers and crew members suffered on this flight. We are providing all necessary assistance during this difficult time," the airline said. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Flight tracking data suggested the plane dropped more than 1,800 metres (6,000 feet) in just five minutes over the Andaman Sea. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The incident came as parts of Thailand were buffeted by thunderstorms as the country's annual rainy season gets under way. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">"At 3:35 pm the airport received a distress call from the Singapore Airlines flight saying there were passengers on board injured by turbulence, and requesting an emergency landing," Suvarnabhumi Airport said in a statement. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">"The plane landed at the airport and the medical team was sent to treat all the injured." </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The airport statement described the dead passenger as a foreigner -- meaning a non-Thai. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Singapore's transport minister Chee Hong Tat said in a Facebook post that he was "deeply saddened" by the incident and offered his condolences to the family of the fatality. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Boeing woes </span></strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">US aviation giant Boeing has been rocked by a series of problems in recent years and in March announced the departure of CEO Dave Calhoun as it faces intense scrutiny on safety and manufacturing standards. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The change in leadership came in the wake of the near-catastrophic incident in January when a fuselage panel on a Boeing 737 MAX 9 Alaska Airlines jet blew off mid-flight. Fatal crashes in Indonesia in 2018 and Ethiopia in 2019 -- which killed 346 people in total -- led to a lengthy grounding for the 737 MAX fleet worldwide. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The company has a late May deadline to present a plan required by the US Federal Aviation Administration, which has capped MAX production until the company shows progress on safety and quality control. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">In July, the US Justice Department will make a final determination on whether to criminally prosecute Boeing. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">And in September, the company faces a potential strike of 30,000 workers if it is unable to reach a contract with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers. – AFP/RSS </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-22', 'modified' => '2024-05-22', 'keywords' => 'Singapore, Airlines, accident, turbulence, safety', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20781', 'image' => '20240522010030_Singapore-Airlines-Sydney-Photo-credit-to-photographer-NIGEL-COGHLAN-Singapore-Airlines-B777-300ER-at-Sydney-Airport.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-22 12:59:07', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21055', 'article_category_id' => '251', 'title' => 'Promoting Mindfulness in Nepal: A Holistic Approach', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Nepal, renowned for its rich cultural heritage and spiritual traditions, provides an ideal backdrop for promoting mindfulness.', 'content' => '<p><img alt="" src="https://www.newbusinessage.com/img/mindfulness-pic.jpg" style="width:300px" /></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">By Sweksha Lakhe and</span></strong> <strong><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Aasha Kiran Chapain</span></strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong> </strong></span></span><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Introduction</span></strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Nepal, renowned for its rich cultural heritage and spiritual traditions, provides an ideal backdrop for promoting mindfulness. This ancient practice, deeply rooted in the meditative traditions of Buddhism and Hinduism, has garnered renewed interest as a powerful tool for mental health and wellness. By integrating mindfulness with traditional healing practices, modern therapeutic approaches, and innovative business models, Nepal can cultivate a holistic framework for mental well-being. Traditional healing in Nepal, woven into the cultural fabric, often incorporates mindfulness elements. Practices such as yoga, meditation, and rituals performed by shamans and Ayurvedic healers emphasize mental and spiritual balance, aligning closely with the principles of mindfulness. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Leveraging these age-old practices, mental health professionals can create culturally resonant approaches to mindfulness that respect and utilize Nepal’s rich heritage. Modern therapeutic techniques, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), can complement traditional practices. These evidence-based methods help manage stress, anxiety, and depression, promoting a comprehensive mental health strategy. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Training local therapists in these modern techniques and integrating them with traditional practices can offer a unique and effective approach to mental wellness. Additionally, the growing wellness tourism industry in Nepal presents valuable business opportunities for promoting mindfulness. Wellness retreats and mindfulness centers can attract both locals and international visitors seeking spiritual and mental rejuvenation. These centers can serve as hubs for teaching mindfulness practices, blending traditional and modern methods, and fostering a supportive community. By integrating traditional healing practices, modern therapies, and innovative business models, Nepal can effectively nurture mindfulness. This multifaceted approach enhances mental health and wellness services while preserving and promoting the country’s rich cultural heritage, positioning Nepal as a leading destination for mindfulness and holistic well-being.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Main Issue</span></strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The main issue lies in the slow adoption of mindfulness practices into mainstream Nepalese society despite their significant potential to enhance mental health and well-being. Mindfulness, a practice that cultivates present-moment awareness, holds the promise of reducing stress and promoting mental clarity by helping individuals anchor themselves in the present. This practice mitigates the impact of past regrets and future anxieties, fostering a state of calm and balance that is crucial in today’s fast-paced world. Mindfulness enables individuals to pause, breathe, and observe their thoughts without judgment, leading to clearer and more focused minds, improved emotional regulation, and better responses to situations with greater patience and understanding.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Moreover, mindfulness enhances empathy, a critical component for strengthening relationships. By being fully present during interactions, individuals become more attuned to the emotions and needs of others, enhancing their capacity for compassion and connection. This heightened empathy not only improves personal relationships but also fosters a more harmonious community atmosphere. Additionally, practicing mindfulness contributes to better focus and decision-making as individuals become adept at filtering out distractions and concentrating on tasks, leading to increased productivity and efficiency in both professional and personal contexts.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Despite these myriad benefits, the integration of mindfulness into Nepalese society faces several challenges. Cultural, educational, and socio-economic factors contribute to the slow adoption of mindfulness practices. Traditional Nepalese culture, while deeply spiritual, may not yet fully embrace contemporary mindfulness practices as part of daily life. Furthermore, there might be a lack of awareness or access to structured mindfulness programs. To address this issue, concerted efforts in education, advocacy, and the creation of accessible mindfulness initiatives are required. Such efforts would bridge the gap, promoting mindfulness's benefits and enhancing the overall well-being and quality of life for all Nepalese individuals.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Recommendations</span></strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Mindfulness-Based Interventions (MBIs) Integration</span></strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Establish dedicated centers that offer mindfulness training workshops, meditation sessions, and yoga classes. These centers can serve as hubs for holistic wellness.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Collaborate with traditional healers and Ayurvedic practitioners to create comprehensive wellness programs. By combining ancient wisdom with modern practices, you can address physical, mental, and emotional well-being.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Integrate mindfulness practices into existing mental health services. Emphasize present-moment awareness, non-judgment, and self-compassion. This can enhance therapeutic outcomes and promote resilience.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Holistic Cafés and Restaurants</span></strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Imagine serene dining spaces within healing centers or standalone restaurants, designed to promote mindfulness during meals.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Holistic Café and Juice Bar</span></strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Offer fresh, organic juices, smoothies, and herbal teas. Prioritize ingredients that nourish the body and mind.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Create a calming ambiance using natural materials, soothing colors, and soft music. Consider incorporating elements like indoor plants or a small water fountain.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Dedicate a corner for wellness resources—a mini library with books on mindfulness, nutrition, and holistic living.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Plant-Based Restaurant</span></strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Focus on plant-based dishes that promote health and vitality. Collaborate with local farmers to source seasonal, organic produce.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Craft a menu that celebrates the flavors of Nepal while aligning with mindful eating principles.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Educate diners about the benefits of plant-based nutrition and its positive impact on overall well-being.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Mindful Movement and Activities</span></strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Organize meditation retreats in serene locations across Nepal. Participants can immerse themselves in mindfulness practices such as guided meditations, breath awareness, and walking meditations during morning and afternoon meditation sessions.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Mindful activities:</span></strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt"> Yoga, tai chi, or qigong. Encourage participants to connect with their bodies and the present moment.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Communal meals:</span></strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt"> Practice mindful eating together, savoring each bite and appreciating the nourishment.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Community Engagement and Cultural Sensitivity: </span></strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Involve local communities in designing and implementing mindfulness programs. Seek their input and adapt practices to align with Nepalese traditions.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Collaborate with monasteries, temples, and spiritual leaders. Their guidance can enrich mindfulness practices and foster community support.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Respect cultural norms and sensitivities. Mindfulness should be accessible and inclusive, honoring diverse backgrounds and beliefs.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Conclusion</span></strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">By highlighting the intrinsic connection between food, well-being, and mindfulness, Nepal has the potential to become a global hub for holistic wellness. This transformation necessitates collective efforts from various sectors, including government, local communities, and wellness practitioners. Collaboration among these stakeholders can foster an environment where the rich cultural heritage of Nepal is seamlessly integrated with modern wellness practices. Understanding and respecting cultural nuances are crucial, as they form the backbone of Nepalese society and influence people's daily lives and practices. As Nepal increasingly embraces mindfulness, its citizens can experience profound benefits. Mindfulness practices, deeply rooted in Nepal's spiritual traditions, can enhance resilience, helping individuals better manage stress and adversity. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Furthermore, these practices can promote balance in daily life, fostering a harmonious relationship between mind, body, and environment. By focusing on mindful eating and well-being, people can achieve greater fulfillment, leading to a healthier, more content society. The holistic approach to wellness in Nepal not only nurtures individual health but also contributes to a more sustainable and compassionate community. As mindfulness permeates various aspects of life, from dietary choices to interpersonal relationships, it fosters a culture of awareness and intentional living. This cultural shift can position Nepal as a beacon of holistic wellness, attracting visitors seeking authentic and transformative health experiences. Ultimately, by embracing the synergy of food, well-being, and mindfulness, Nepal can inspire a global movement towards more integrated and mindful living, benefiting not only its own people but also setting a precedent for other nations to follow.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><em><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">(Sweksha Lakhe is an MBA student at South Asian Institute of Management with specialization in HR and Aasha Kiran Chapain is an MBA student at South Asian Institute of Management with specialization in Finance)</span></em></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-22', 'modified' => '2024-05-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20779', 'image' => '20240522025819_consciousness-meditation-neurosicnce.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-22 14:57:12', 'homepage' => true, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21051', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Media Organisations Protest Arrest of Kailash Sirohiya, Express Concern Over Attack on Press Freedom', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'KATHMANDU: Nepal Media Society and Media Alliance have protested the arrest of Kantipur Media Group’s Chairman Kailash Sirohiya.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">KATHMANDU: Nepal Media Society and Media Alliance have protested the arrest of Kantipur Media Group’s Chairman Kailash Sirohiya.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Organising a press conference at the office premises of Kantipur in Thapathali on Wednesday, both the organizations deplored the arrest and detention of the media tycoon by the police.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Speaking at the press conference, Chairman of ABC Media Group as well as the Media Society Subha Shankar Kandel said that the incident of Sirohiya’s arrest gave a glimpse of the reign of former king Gyanendra when the police administration entered the media house and worked in the newsroom.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"This is the first time that the police entered the media house after 2058, when the government arrested the then managing director Sirohiya, director Binodraj Gyawali and editor Yuvraj Ghimire for publishing the views of the then underground Maoist leader Baburam Bhattarai in Kantipur Daily," he said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Kandel said that it is highly objectionable for the political party leaders to treat the media house like this especially after they pledged to build a new Nepal after doing away with the old system.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">He alleged that the government intervened in Kantipur Media and prosecuted Sirohiya in retaliation for publishing the news that at least Rs 958 million were embezzled from the deposits made by the general public in cooperatives.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Speaking at the press conference, General Secretary of Media Alliance Nepal Direklal Shrestha also said that no one is above the law and if found guilty by the police investigation regarding dual citizenship, everyone should face the punishment. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">He added that he was not showing solidarity with Kailas Sirohiya alone but against the state's attack on press freedom. A person from media background himself that attacking freedom of press today is like spitting on the plate that he himself ate from.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Similarly, Rishi Dhamala, the founder of Reports Club, said that Rabi Lamichhane became the home minister because of the struggle of Nepali media against the monarchy. He added that Lamichhane’s attempt to stifle press freedom nothing but the misuse of state authority.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">He said that it is not good for the police administration to try to suppress the media just for the coverage of the news related to the co-operative fraud case, and said that they should instead help investigate the allegations against the cooperatives.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Speaking at the press conference, RK Shrestha, president of the Valley Radio Broadcasting Forum, said that it was unfortunate that the police administration entered the media house with weapons. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Similarly, General Secretary of Nepal Media Society Madan Lamsal said that Sirohiya was arrested in the style of the then Panchayat system. Speaking at the press conference, General Secretary Lamsal said that the home ministry and the government took steps in the wrong direction.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Lamsal said that the law allows the government to interrogate and investigate anyone but Sirohiya was arrested in a dictatorial style.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Stating that all the media-related organizations were unanimous in terming this move as a wrongful act, he said that till the owner of Kantipur Media House, Kailash Sirohiya, should be released with honor. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">”We will strongly resist and oppose it,” he said.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-22', 'modified' => '2024-05-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20778', 'image' => '20240522123213_0_kQUCCCQpfK7vWZTi.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-22 12:31:35', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21050', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Blacktopping of Jomsom-Kagbeni Road Begins', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'JOMSOM: The road linking Jomsom, the district headquarters of Mustang, with the religious and tourism destination Kagbeni in the Muktichhetra rural municipality is being blacktopped.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">JOMSOM: The road linking Jomsom, the district headquarters of Mustang, with the religious and tourism destination Kagbeni in the Muktichhetra rural municipality is being blacktopped. The 13-km-long Jomsom-Kagbeni road has been widened to 11 meters and is being blacktopped using asphalt technology.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Rautah-Atreya JV was awarded a contract worth Rs 281.4 million in August 2022 to blacktop the Jomsom-Kagbeni section of the Beni-Jomsom-Korala road, a national pride project. According to Sanjay Bhatta, the project manager for the contractor company, they have already applied the prime coat on two kilometers of road in the Eklebhatti area. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">"We have placed the prime coat along two kilometers of the road section," Bhatta stated. "We imported bitumen and managed the necessary equipment for blacktopping the entire road section."</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The task of preparing the base and sub-base has been completed, and preparations are underway to blacktop the Jomsom-Kagbeni section within the current fiscal year. The company, which was awarded an eighteen-month contract, started blacktopping the road after receiving repeated warnings from the Beni-Jomsom-Korala road project to confiscate the deposit and blacklist the contractor if the work was not completed on time.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Project chief Dhruba Kumar Jha reported that 75 kilometers of the 110-kilometer road connecting Jomsom to the Korala border in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China have been graveled. Additionally, almost 85 percent of the 25-kilometer Charang-Chhoser section has been completed. Jha informed RSS that all sections connecting the Jomsom-Korala road will be graveled after the upgradation of this section. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-22', 'modified' => '2024-05-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20777', 'image' => '20240522112130_SG_MYAGDI_.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-22 11:20:54', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21049', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Publisher of Kantipur Publications Sirohiya Arrested ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'KATHMANDU: A police team deployed from the Valley Crime Investigation Office, Kathmandu on Tuesday arrested Chairman of Kantipur Publication, Kailash Sirohiya, on charge of citizenship-related offense. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">KATHMANDU: A police team deployed from the Valley Crime Investigation Office, Kathmandu on Tuesday arrested Chairman of Kantipur Publication, Kailash Sirohiya, on charge of citizenship-related offense. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The police <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">team led Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Sanuram Bhattarai and Superintendent of Police (SP) Rabindra Regmi nabbed publisher Sirohiya from the latter's office in Thapathali, Kathmandu. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">SP Regmi stated that Sirohiya was arrested for an investigation on the citizenship issue and added that preparations were underway to take Sirohiya to Janakpur. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">During his arrest, Sirohiya expressed his serious objection to the step taken by the government despite his pledge to cooperate with the government agencies for the probe. </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"">Sirohiya claimed that Deputy Prime Minister Ravi Lamichhane arrested him with mala fide intention for the news coverage by Kantiour Media regarding the cooperative scam involving the deputy prime minister.</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 home minister has a case over dual passport. I am hopeful that an arrest warrant will be issued against him as well,” said Sirohiya. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Earlier on Tuesday, a single bench of Judge Chitra Bahadur Gurung of the Dhanusha District Court had given permission to the police to issue an arrest warrant against Sirohiya. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Following the arrest warrant, Sirohiya lodged a petition at the Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday itself demanding to vacate the order of the Dhanusha District Court. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Information Officer of SC Govinda Prasad Ghimire said that the decision will be taken on Wednesday whether or not to register the writ petition. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The District Police Office, Dhanusha, sought approval from the court to arrest Sirohiya after the citizenship number of Sirohiya and another person was found to be identical. <em>(With inputs from RSS)</em></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-22', 'modified' => '2024-05-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20776', 'image' => '20240522110456_maxresdefault.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-22 11:04:18', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21048', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Birgunj Customs Office Misses Revenue Target, Collects Only 62%', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'The Birgunj Customs Office, a major border point for imports and exports, has failed to meet its revenue target for the first ten months of the current fiscal year 2080/81. The office has achieved only 62.82% of its revenue goal.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Birgunj: The Birgunj Customs Office, a major border point for imports and exports, has failed to meet its revenue target for the first ten months of the current fiscal year 2080/81. The office has achieved only 62.82% of its revenue goal.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the data on its website, the customs office aimed to collect Rs 202.9 billion by the end of Baisakh. However, only Rs 127.46 billion was collected. </span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Specifically, the customs office collected Rs 47.2372 billion in import duties, which is 60.88% of the target set at Rs 77.5877 billion.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The highest revenue came from Value Added Tax (VAT), with Rs 54.2658 billion collected, achieving 63.99% of the target. </span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">For excise duties, the office collected Rs 8.5208 billion, against a target of Rs 12.1157 billion.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Apart from the road construction and maintenance fees, the customs office did not meet its revenue targets in any category. It collected revenue under various headings, including advance income tax, health risk tax, infrastructure tax, export duties, agricultural improvement fees, road repair and maintenance fees, and luxury fees.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Officials said that the decline in imports of vehicles, fuel, and industrial raw materials, which are the main items imported through Birgunj, impacted the revenue. On the export side, processed edible oil, juice, pulp, and fabrics are the main items. However, Nepal's exports have decreased as Indian traders are importing oil from third countries due to India's zero customs duty policy on oil imports.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-22', 'modified' => '2024-05-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20775', 'image' => '20240522084206_collage (7).jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-22 08:40:07', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21047', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government of Nepal and World Bank Launch $4.6 Million Project to Strengthen Response to GBV', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'KATHMANDU: The Government of Nepal and the World Bank together launched the Institutionalizing Gender-Based Violence Response in Federal Nepal Project on Tuesday.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">KATHMANDU: The Government of Nepal (GoN) and the World Bank (WB) together launched the Institutionalizing Gender-Based Violence Response in Federal Nepal Project on Tuesday.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Issuing a joint statement, the GoN and the WB said that the project was jointly launched by Minister for Women, Children, and Senior Citizens, Bhagbati Chaudhary and World Bank’s Country Director for the Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, Faris Hadad-Zervos.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to the World Bank, the three-year project will help increase women’s and girls’ access to multisectoral gender-based violence (GBV) response services such as legal aid, psychosocial counseling, and medical support in six municipalities in Koshi and Lumbini provinces. It aims to benefit 49,000 women and girls who have experienced violence through better access to quality services.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">“Addressing gender-based violence is a priority for the government of Nepal. This project will help establish a functioning coordination system to link GBV response mechanisms at the municipal, provincial, and federal levels,” said</span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> Bhagbati Chaudhary, Minister for Women, Children, and Senior Citizens.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The project is financed by a $4.6 million grant from the State and Peacebuilding Trust Fund and will be implemented by the Ministry of Women, Children, and Senior Citizens.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The project will help strengthen institutional frameworks and capacity, pilot innovative GBV service models with a focus on improving service coverage and quality, and promote behavior change among first responders and local stakeholders for improved GBV response, the statement added.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">“This project will help empower women and girls to readily access GBV services, report violence, and seek help, especially in the most remote and hard to reach areas. This is key to supporting Nepal’s development that is green, resilient, and inclusive,</span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">” </span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">said Faris Hadad-Zervos.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The Government of Nepal and the World Bank signed the financing agreements for the project on April 24, 2024.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-21', 'modified' => '2024-05-21', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20774', 'image' => '20240521085600_GOGs7zGbAAADCYP.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-21 20:55:20', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21046', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'CIB Investigation into Cooperatives Fraud Finds Embezzlement of Billions of Rupees', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'KATHMANDU: Ram Chandra Pokharel is a member of the problematic Deurali Savings and Credit Cooperative. He said that he deposited his hard-earned money of Rs 3 million in the cooperative but he has not been able to get it back yet.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">BIJAY DAMASE</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">KATHMANDU: Ram Chandra Pokharel is a member of the problematic Deurali Savings and Credit Cooperative. He said that he deposited his hard-earned money of Rs 3 million in the cooperative but he has not been able to get it back yet.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">Pokharel said that even though he went from pillar to post knocking the doors of the Department of Cooperatives as well as the municipality to get back his money, the cooperative is yet to release the amount. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">"The fraudulent operators of the cooperative have political protection, that's why they are not in favor of returning the money," he accused. The deposits of hundreds of other depositors are also trapped in the cooperative. The directors of Deurali have been accused of embezzling more than Rs 2 billion of the depositors.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">Similarly, Rakesh Murarka said that he worked day and night for five years to earn Rs 8 million and deposited the money in National Development Cooperative Cooperative. He says that he requested all concerned bodies to return his money but was denied justice.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">"I even visited political party leaders but in vain," he said expressing his pain. According to Murarka, the depositors of the National Cooperative have lodged a police complaint against its director for embezzlement of Rs 332.22 million. However, the cooperative has not returned their savings yet.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police is currently investigating the irregularities in about a dozen cooperatives including these two. CIB's research has shown that most of the cooperatives have collapsed due to indiscriminate and excessive investment in unproductive sectors. It has been found that many co-operatives had given loans without collateral and many such debtors have run away.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">The police investigation has also revealed that the operators of the problematic cooperatives were found withdrawing money from the cooperatives arbitrarily and investing the money at their whims, which risked billions of rupees deposited by the members. The investigation also found that the cooperatives lacked any kind of regulatory mechanism and auditing.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">Superintendent of Police at the CIB Hobindra Bogati told New Business Age that billions of rupees of the depositors were trapped in cooperatives and the police had trouble verifying the details. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">"During the investigation, it was found that the operators of cooperatives had purchased luxury vehicles with the money deposited in the cooperatives. They also used the money for usury, and bought land in the name of third persons," Bogati said.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">The investigation of the police has also shown that the family businesses were opened in the name of the parents, sisters, in-laws of the operators of cooperatives while some cooperatives were opened with the motive of embezzling the money of unsuspecting depositors. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">The police concluded that the country's economy has been negatively affected due to the problems in cooperatives. "The problem surfaced due to the dumping of the money in non-productive areas, as a result of which the economy has slumped," said Bogati.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">Lalitpur's Deurali Cooperative was found to have embezzled more than Rs 2 billion and the owner of Shiva Shikhar Cooperative, which had a network spread across 35 districts, had embezzled billions of rupees.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">According to the police data, since mid-July of the current fiscal year, cases have been registered all over the country saying that co-operative operators have cheated Rs 6 billion. A total of 148 people have been arrested in this connection. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">During last fiscal year, the police registered cases related to cooperative fraud worth Rs 7 billion. The cases are sent to the police only after failing to resolve the issue by the local and state governments as well as the Department of Cooperative. The police investigation has shown that by the time all those agencies investigate, the operators of the cooperatives manage to sell their property. As a result, they were unable to return the savings to the victims.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">According to government data, there are 31,373 cooperatives in operation across the country. They have a collected Rs 478 billion from the depositors and invested Rs 426 billion in loans. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">Although the Department of Cooperatives has estimated that around 500 cooperatives are facing problems, it is not known how much money exactly has been embezzled. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">According to the police officials involved in investigation, the cooperatives have 73,81,218 depositors. Stakeholders say that thousands of depositors have not been able to get back their money due to political intervention.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">CPN (UML) whip Mahesh Bertaula said that even though his party was serious about the issue of cooperatives, the Nepali Congress has become the obstacle in resolving this issue.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">On the other hand, Chief Whip of Nepali Congress Ramesh Lekhak claims that the ruling parties are busy protecting the co-operative thugs. According to him, the Congress is effortful to ensure justice to the cooperative victims. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">Former Secretary Gopinath Mainali sees the need to form a committee to remove the legal obstacles rather than focusing on individuals to solve the problems of cooperatives. "Those with vested interests should not sit in such a committee," he said.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">He said that the state side has not taken any concrete steps to resolve the problems while the main opposition party is linking the issue of cooperatives with the government. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">“Why are the political parties not ready to take action by amending the law immediately?" he questioned, adding, "There is no law that allows immediate freezing of the property of directors and officials as soon as cooperatives are declared problematic. The state should make such laws. Legal arrangements should be made to bring those who invest recklessly against the norms of the cooperative to the court.”</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">The government has announced the creation of a special regulatory agency to control irregularities in the cooperatives sector. According to Mainali, although the matter of creating such a body was included in the budget many times, the political leadership never implemented it. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">"Even though many committees were formed to solve the problem and submitted reports, it was kept in the drawer," said Mainali.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-21', 'modified' => '2024-05-21', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20773', 'image' => '20240521071737_20220506015945_Cooperative.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-21 19:17:14', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21045', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Electricity Dispute Resolution Commission Tells NEA not to Charge Fees after End of Load Shedding', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'KATHMANDU: The government has granted permission to the Nepal Electricity Authority to charge the tariff for electricity distributed to industries from dedicated feeder and trunk lines from mid-January 2016 to mid-May 2018.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">KATHMANDU: The government has granted permission to the Nepal Electricity Authority to charge the tariff for electricity distributed to industries from dedicated feeder and trunk lines from mid-January </span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">20</span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">16 to mid-May </span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">20</span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">18</span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">The NEA cannot levy the full tariff it claims the industries a liable to pay after the Council of Ministers decided last week to implement the recommendations made by the commission chaired by former judge Girish Chandra Lal resolve the electricity tariff dispute.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">The commission submitted its report to Energy Minister Shakti Bahadur Basnet on May 5</span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">. </span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">The government formed the commission on January 9 with the mandate to study and submit a report on the disputes related to the tariff of electricity supply through dedicated feeder and trunk lines</span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">Sushil Chandra Tiwari, secretary at the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation said that the Council of Ministers has sent a letter to the ministry to implement the report of the 'Electricity Tariff Dispute Resolution Commission, </span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">2080</span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">' regarding the electricity tariff dispute of dedicated feeder and trunk line.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">According to him, after the report was approved by the Council of Ministers, a letter was sent to the ministry for implementation last Friday. As mentioned in the report, the industrialist will have to pay to the electricity dues to the NEA only from mid-January </span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">20</span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">16 to mid-May </span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">20</span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">18</span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">. </span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">“The report submitted by the commission has been approved by the Council of Ministers. Now the report will be implemented," said Energy Secretary Tiwari told New Business Age. According to him, the outstanding electricity tariff from mid-January </span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">20</span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">16 to mid-May </span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">20</span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">18 is Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">6</span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">.</span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">41</span></span> <span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">billion. The industrialists will have to pay interest and </span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">25</span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif""> percent penalty to the amount.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">According to Tiwari, commission's report has suggested that it is not appropriate to collect fees twice from the industrialists, especially after mid-May </span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">20</span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">18 to mid-May </span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">2020</span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif""> after the NEA announced an end to loadshedding. The NEA has been demanding an additional Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">8</span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">.</span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">44</span></span> <span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">billion from the industrialists as electricity charge for this period, which the commission report does not allow the state-owned utility to collect.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">There has been a dispute between the industrialists and the electricity authority on this issue for a long time. The authority even disconnected the lines of some industries after the industrialists took a stand of not paying the electricity tariff.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-21', 'modified' => '2024-05-21', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20772', 'image' => '20240521041228_20220330051709_c1d0e043-electricity.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-21 16:11:05', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21044', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NEPSE Surges by 23.94 Points to Close at 2115.94', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) witnessed a gain of 23.94 points, equivalent to 1.14%, closing at 2115.94 on the third trading day of the week, Tuesday.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px">May 21: The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) witnessed a gain of 23.94 points, equivalent to 1.14%, closing at 2115.94 on the third trading day of the week, Tuesday.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">During today’s trading, 317 scrips were traded on the NEPSE through 73,667 transactions. As many as 13,241,217 shares changed hands, resulting in a total turnover of Rs 5.20 billion.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">Pokhara Finance Limited (PFL) led the turnover amount with total transactions worth Rs 24 crores. Janaki Finance Limited (JFL), Nerude Mirmire Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited (NMLBBL), and Samudayik Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited (SLBSL) each gained 10% and hit the positive circuit for the day.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">Conversely, Shine Resunga Development Bank (SHINE) faced the highest loss of 4.28%, closing at a market price of Rs 400 per share.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">In terms of sector indices, all sectors closed in positive territory except the Development Bank Index and the Trading Index.</span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-21', 'modified' => '2024-05-21', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20771', 'image' => '20240521033434_collage.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-21 15:25:14', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21043', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Tourism Promotion Event on Nepal held in Beijing ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'KATHMANDU: The Embassy of Nepal in Beijing, in collaboration with the Nepal Tourism Board and Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATTA) of Gandaki province, hosted a tourism promotion event under the theme "Nepal Sales Mission 2024: Gandaki Province" at the Embassy on Monday.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">KATHMANDU: The Embassy of Nepal in Beijing, in collaboration with the Nepal Tourism Board and Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATTA) of Gandaki province, hosted a tourism promotion event under the theme "Nepal Sales Mission 2024: Gandaki Province" at the Embassy on Monday. </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 event aimed to develop network among tour and travel operators of Nepal and China, the Embassy of Nepal in Beijing, states a press release issued by the organisers. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">On the occasion, Ambassador of Nepal to the People's Republic of China, Bishnu Pukar Shrestha, highlighted the major tourism attractions of Nepal and encouraged the participants to jointly cooperate to make the upcoming Visit Nepal Year 2025 a success, which was jointly declared by Nepal and China. He also urged the participants to build network as to enhance tourism cooperation between the two countries. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">During the event, NTB Senior Officer Kundan Sharma Mishra made a presentation promoting Nepal as an attractive tourism destination focusing on Pokhara which was recently declared as the tourism capital of Nepal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">On the occasion, NATTA president Hari Ram Adhikari and member Khim Bahadur Nepali delivered statements about Nepal's tourism potentials. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The programme was followed by an interactive B2B session. The event was attended by approximately 150 participants including Nepali and Chinese tour and travel operators, business persons working in tourism sector as well as media representatives. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-21', 'modified' => '2024-05-21', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20770', 'image' => '20240521031857_20231001020729_20230714012959_20221227011524_Flag-Pins-Nepal-China.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-21 15:18:21', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21042', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Yet to Spend Rs 435 Billion Budget with Two Months Left for Current FY to End', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'KATHMANDU: With less than two months left for the current fiscal year (FY) to end, the government is yet to spend Rs 435 billion to meet the revised target of budget expenditure.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">KATHMANDU: With less than two months left for the current fiscal year (FY) to end, the government is yet to spend Rs 435 billion to meet the revised target of budget expenditure.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The government announced a budget of Rs 1751 billion for the current year and revised it to Rs 1530 billion in January through the mid-tern review of budget.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">According to the Financial Comptroller General Office, the constitutional body that keeps track of government’s expenditure, the government has spent only Rs 1095 billion as of last Sunday. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">With only two months remaining in the current fiscal year and signs of increasing political instability, questions have arisen about how the government will spend the rest of the budget. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal took the vote of confidence in the House of Representatives on Monday amid the obstruction of parliament by the main opposition Nepali Congress. Three governments have been formed in one year under the leadership of Prime Minister Dahal. Due to political instability, government spending is affected due to lack of timely decisions.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">As the government has allocated a budget of Rs 1141 billion for the current expenses. After the mid-tern review, the estimate expenditure under this heading has been fixed at Rs 1007 billion. The FCGO has said that the government has already spent Rs 770 billion under the current expenses as of Sunday. According to the FCGO, the government has allocated 302 billion under the heading of capital expenditure for in the current fiscal year, but has spent only Rs 119 billion so far. According to the revised estimate, the government has to spend Rs 254 billion.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">In Nepal, the capital expenditure for development works is mostly spent in the months of March, April, May and June. However, even at this period, the capital expenditure has not been much encouraging. According to the revised estimate, the government will have to spend Rs 135 billion under the heading of capital expenditure. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Similarly, a the government had allocated a budget of Rs 307 billion for financial management, which was revised to Rs 268 billion through the mid-tern review. According to the data of the FCGO, the government has already spent Rs 205 billion has under this heading as of Sunday.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Government officials are blaming each other for the lackluster expenditure. According to the Ministry of Finance, there is no reason to stop the expenditure as the Minister for Finance and the ministry have repeatedly instructed the secretaries of the related ministries and heads of agencies to increase the expenditure.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">"Recently, the Finance Ministry instructed the Department of Roads to send a report on work progress along with recommendations to resolve the problems it faces. However, the department has not yet submitted its report," an official of the budget division of the Ministry of Finance told New Business Age. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">According to him, no project and work has been stopped due to lack of budget.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">However, the expenditure situation is not satisfactory. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Economist Bimal Koirala highlights that the unspent budget is due to errors in the government’s budget formulation process, lack of political will, and structural issues.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"> “Due to errors in budgeting, there is no capital expenditure and no development. That is what has happened so far," he said. "The size of the budget has become an arbitrary number and the trend of reducing it through the mid-term review is not a good practice. The government should bring a realistic budget."</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Koirala says that due to the fact that the government has not properly implemented the report of the Expenditure Review Commission, the problems have been persisting for years. "This situation will continue until the government identifies the problems in the budget spending system and takes initiatives to solve them," he said.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-21', 'modified' => '2024-05-21', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20769', 'image' => '20240521010943_budget.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-21 13:09:04', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21041', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Manaslu Conservation Area Collects over Rs 25 Million in Revenue ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'KATHMANDU: The office of the Manaslu Conservation Area Project has collected more than Rs 25 million in revenue in nine months of the current fiscal year.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">KATHMANDU: The office of the Manaslu Conservation Area Project has collected more than Rs 25 million in revenue in nine months of the current fiscal year. The office collected the amount as entry fee from tourists visiting the area from July 17, 2023 to April 12, 2024. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A total of 8,302 foreign tourists visited the area during the review period, according to the office. It collected Rs 24.9 million from them. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, 152 foreign tourists of SAARC countries had visited the Manaslu Conservation Area during this period. A total of Rs 152,000 in revenue was collected from them, said MCAP Chief Santosh Sherchan. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The office has determined Rs 1,000 as entry fee for a tourist of SAARC countries visiting the area while tourists from other countries have to pay Rs 3,000 per person. It has already collected more revenue in nine months this year as compared to previous year as number of tourists visiting Manaslu conservation area has increased this year. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Sherchan shared that more than 12,000 foreign tourists have been expected at Manaslu conservation area this year. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-21', 'modified' => '2024-05-21', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20768', 'image' => '20240521121934_20221101102053_manaslu.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-21 12:19:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21040', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Gold Hits Record High as Iran Shock Triggers Safe Haven Investment', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'KATHMANDU: The price of gold hit a record high in the international market Monday as the shock death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash boosted support for the precious metal seen as a safe haven investment.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">KATHMANDU: The price of gold hit a record high in the international market Monday as the shock death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash boosted support for the precious metal seen as a safe haven investment.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">According to AFP, copper also struck an all-time peak and silver jumped to the highest level in more than 11 years -- with markets generally gaining from a brighter economic outlook.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Gold had already hit a series of record highs this year and Nepal was not an exception.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">The country also witnessed a record-high price of gold on Monday with the precious yellow metal traded at Rs </span><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">141,800 per tola</span> (11.66 grams) before shedding Rs 1200 per tola on Tuesday.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Asian and European stock markets began the week higher, having recently struck all-time peaks along with indices on Wall Street.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">The metals are priced in the dollar, which has come under pressure recently from expectations that the US Federal Reserve will soon start to cut interest rates as inflation cools.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Gold struck a record $2,450.07 an ounce in the international market on Monday, while copper's all-time high stood at $11,104 per tonne.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Raisi was confirmed dead on Monday after search and rescue teams found his crashed helicopter in a fog-shrouded western mountain region, sparking mourning in the Islamic republic, AFP added.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Foreign countries had been closely following the search at a time of high regional tensions over the Gaza war raging between Israel and Hamas since October 7.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">"Gold and copper have hit record highs, (and) silver jumped to an 11-year high... after the death of Iran's president in a helicopter crash," AFP quoted Neil Wilson, chief market analyst at Finalto trading group, as saying.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">"There is a clear geopolitical premium since October 7th," he said, adding that "expectations the Fed will cut rates soon is helping".</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Analysts said market sentiment was boosted additionally by China's plan to support its struggling property sector.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">The positive start to the week for equities came after Wall Street's Dow index ended above 40,000 points for the first time on Friday.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Oil prices dipped after initially jumping on the Iran news, added the news agency.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Investors are looking to the release Wednesday of minutes from the Federal Reserve's May policy decision, hoping for some insight into the thinking of decision-makers.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">The release comes after data last week showed US inflation easing in April, reviving hopes the central bank would cut interest rates twice this year.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-21', 'modified' => '2024-05-21', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20767', 'image' => '20240521114649_20240310065333_20240307024448_gold newwww.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-21 11:45:16', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21039', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Country's 14% of Health Equipment Remains Unused ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'KATHMANDU: As much as 14 percent of the total health equipment are left unused in the country, a study has revealed. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">KATHMANDU: As much as 14 percent of the total health equipment are left unused in the country, a study has revealed. The survey of biomedical equipment in Nepal's public health institutions conducted by the Department of Health Services in collaboration with Lifeline Enterprises showed that 2,645 health equipment in the country are still not installed in the health institutions. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Chairperson of Lifeline Enterprises Anjali Tiwariwal said that data were collected from 11 hospitals of Bagmati, Koshi, Madhesh, Gandaki and Sudurpaschim provinces adding that 1,823 health equipment are dysfunctional. The study carried out from October 2023 to April 2024 surveyed the status of 19,174 hospitals. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Bhaskar Rijal, a biomedical engineer involved in the study team, said that 1,174 sets of equipment are unused despite being in proper condition. </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"">"Those equipment imported during the time of COVID-19 are left unused for lack of Covid-19 patients," Rijal added. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Rijal further stated that the CT scan machines of Bir Hospital, APF Hospital and Koshi Hospital have turned dysfunctional with severe complaints about the charger board and battery. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Meanwhile, Director of Bir Hospital Dr Santosh Poudel shared that the hospital lacks biomedical engineers to repair and run such equipment. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-21', 'modified' => '2024-05-21', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20766', 'image' => '20240521111257_20200224061638_Clipboard24.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-21 11:12:20', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = falsesimplexml_load_file - [internal], line ?? include - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 60 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
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', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">BANGKOK: One person was killed and 30 injured Tuesday when a Singapore Airlines Boeing 777 hit severe turbulence on a flight from London and was forced to make an emergency landing in Bangkok. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Emergency vehicles raced onto the tarmac at the Thai capital's main airport with lights flashing and sirens blaring after Singapore-bound flight SQ321 touched down at 3:45 pm (0845 GMT). </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">It is the latest drama involving a Boeing plane, after a fuselage panel blew out of an Alaska Airlines 737 MAX in January as well as two fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Singapore Airlines said the flight took off from London's Heathrow airport and "encountered severe turbulence en route". </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">"We can confirm that there are injuries and one fatality on board the Boeing 777-300ER. There were a total of 211 passengers and 18 crew on board," the airline said in a statement. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The carrier said "18 individuals have been hospitalised. Another 12 are being treated in hospitals," without giving details of the nature and severity of the injuries. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">"We deeply apologise for the traumatic experience that our passengers and crew members suffered on this flight. We are providing all necessary assistance during this difficult time," the airline said. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Flight tracking data suggested the plane dropped more than 1,800 metres (6,000 feet) in just five minutes over the Andaman Sea. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The incident came as parts of Thailand were buffeted by thunderstorms as the country's annual rainy season gets under way. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">"At 3:35 pm the airport received a distress call from the Singapore Airlines flight saying there were passengers on board injured by turbulence, and requesting an emergency landing," Suvarnabhumi Airport said in a statement. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">"The plane landed at the airport and the medical team was sent to treat all the injured." </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The airport statement described the dead passenger as a foreigner -- meaning a non-Thai. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Singapore's transport minister Chee Hong Tat said in a Facebook post that he was "deeply saddened" by the incident and offered his condolences to the family of the fatality. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Boeing woes </span></strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">US aviation giant Boeing has been rocked by a series of problems in recent years and in March announced the departure of CEO Dave Calhoun as it faces intense scrutiny on safety and manufacturing standards. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The change in leadership came in the wake of the near-catastrophic incident in January when a fuselage panel on a Boeing 737 MAX 9 Alaska Airlines jet blew off mid-flight. Fatal crashes in Indonesia in 2018 and Ethiopia in 2019 -- which killed 346 people in total -- led to a lengthy grounding for the 737 MAX fleet worldwide. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The company has a late May deadline to present a plan required by the US Federal Aviation Administration, which has capped MAX production until the company shows progress on safety and quality control. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">In July, the US Justice Department will make a final determination on whether to criminally prosecute Boeing. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">And in September, the company faces a potential strike of 30,000 workers if it is unable to reach a contract with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers. – AFP/RSS </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-22', 'modified' => '2024-05-22', 'keywords' => 'Singapore, Airlines, accident, turbulence, safety', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20781', 'image' => '20240522010030_Singapore-Airlines-Sydney-Photo-credit-to-photographer-NIGEL-COGHLAN-Singapore-Airlines-B777-300ER-at-Sydney-Airport.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-22 12:59:07', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21055', 'article_category_id' => '251', 'title' => 'Promoting Mindfulness in Nepal: A Holistic Approach', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Nepal, renowned for its rich cultural heritage and spiritual traditions, provides an ideal backdrop for promoting mindfulness.', 'content' => '<p><img alt="" src="https://www.newbusinessage.com/img/mindfulness-pic.jpg" style="width:300px" /></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">By Sweksha Lakhe and</span></strong> <strong><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Aasha Kiran Chapain</span></strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong> </strong></span></span><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Introduction</span></strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Nepal, renowned for its rich cultural heritage and spiritual traditions, provides an ideal backdrop for promoting mindfulness. This ancient practice, deeply rooted in the meditative traditions of Buddhism and Hinduism, has garnered renewed interest as a powerful tool for mental health and wellness. By integrating mindfulness with traditional healing practices, modern therapeutic approaches, and innovative business models, Nepal can cultivate a holistic framework for mental well-being. Traditional healing in Nepal, woven into the cultural fabric, often incorporates mindfulness elements. Practices such as yoga, meditation, and rituals performed by shamans and Ayurvedic healers emphasize mental and spiritual balance, aligning closely with the principles of mindfulness. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Leveraging these age-old practices, mental health professionals can create culturally resonant approaches to mindfulness that respect and utilize Nepal’s rich heritage. Modern therapeutic techniques, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), can complement traditional practices. These evidence-based methods help manage stress, anxiety, and depression, promoting a comprehensive mental health strategy. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Training local therapists in these modern techniques and integrating them with traditional practices can offer a unique and effective approach to mental wellness. Additionally, the growing wellness tourism industry in Nepal presents valuable business opportunities for promoting mindfulness. Wellness retreats and mindfulness centers can attract both locals and international visitors seeking spiritual and mental rejuvenation. These centers can serve as hubs for teaching mindfulness practices, blending traditional and modern methods, and fostering a supportive community. By integrating traditional healing practices, modern therapies, and innovative business models, Nepal can effectively nurture mindfulness. This multifaceted approach enhances mental health and wellness services while preserving and promoting the country’s rich cultural heritage, positioning Nepal as a leading destination for mindfulness and holistic well-being.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Main Issue</span></strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The main issue lies in the slow adoption of mindfulness practices into mainstream Nepalese society despite their significant potential to enhance mental health and well-being. Mindfulness, a practice that cultivates present-moment awareness, holds the promise of reducing stress and promoting mental clarity by helping individuals anchor themselves in the present. This practice mitigates the impact of past regrets and future anxieties, fostering a state of calm and balance that is crucial in today’s fast-paced world. Mindfulness enables individuals to pause, breathe, and observe their thoughts without judgment, leading to clearer and more focused minds, improved emotional regulation, and better responses to situations with greater patience and understanding.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Moreover, mindfulness enhances empathy, a critical component for strengthening relationships. By being fully present during interactions, individuals become more attuned to the emotions and needs of others, enhancing their capacity for compassion and connection. This heightened empathy not only improves personal relationships but also fosters a more harmonious community atmosphere. Additionally, practicing mindfulness contributes to better focus and decision-making as individuals become adept at filtering out distractions and concentrating on tasks, leading to increased productivity and efficiency in both professional and personal contexts.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Despite these myriad benefits, the integration of mindfulness into Nepalese society faces several challenges. Cultural, educational, and socio-economic factors contribute to the slow adoption of mindfulness practices. Traditional Nepalese culture, while deeply spiritual, may not yet fully embrace contemporary mindfulness practices as part of daily life. Furthermore, there might be a lack of awareness or access to structured mindfulness programs. To address this issue, concerted efforts in education, advocacy, and the creation of accessible mindfulness initiatives are required. Such efforts would bridge the gap, promoting mindfulness's benefits and enhancing the overall well-being and quality of life for all Nepalese individuals.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Recommendations</span></strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Mindfulness-Based Interventions (MBIs) Integration</span></strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Establish dedicated centers that offer mindfulness training workshops, meditation sessions, and yoga classes. These centers can serve as hubs for holistic wellness.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Collaborate with traditional healers and Ayurvedic practitioners to create comprehensive wellness programs. By combining ancient wisdom with modern practices, you can address physical, mental, and emotional well-being.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Integrate mindfulness practices into existing mental health services. Emphasize present-moment awareness, non-judgment, and self-compassion. This can enhance therapeutic outcomes and promote resilience.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Holistic Cafés and Restaurants</span></strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Imagine serene dining spaces within healing centers or standalone restaurants, designed to promote mindfulness during meals.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Holistic Café and Juice Bar</span></strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Offer fresh, organic juices, smoothies, and herbal teas. Prioritize ingredients that nourish the body and mind.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Create a calming ambiance using natural materials, soothing colors, and soft music. Consider incorporating elements like indoor plants or a small water fountain.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Dedicate a corner for wellness resources—a mini library with books on mindfulness, nutrition, and holistic living.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Plant-Based Restaurant</span></strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Focus on plant-based dishes that promote health and vitality. Collaborate with local farmers to source seasonal, organic produce.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Craft a menu that celebrates the flavors of Nepal while aligning with mindful eating principles.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Educate diners about the benefits of plant-based nutrition and its positive impact on overall well-being.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Mindful Movement and Activities</span></strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Organize meditation retreats in serene locations across Nepal. Participants can immerse themselves in mindfulness practices such as guided meditations, breath awareness, and walking meditations during morning and afternoon meditation sessions.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Mindful activities:</span></strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt"> Yoga, tai chi, or qigong. Encourage participants to connect with their bodies and the present moment.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Communal meals:</span></strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt"> Practice mindful eating together, savoring each bite and appreciating the nourishment.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Community Engagement and Cultural Sensitivity: </span></strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Involve local communities in designing and implementing mindfulness programs. Seek their input and adapt practices to align with Nepalese traditions.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Collaborate with monasteries, temples, and spiritual leaders. Their guidance can enrich mindfulness practices and foster community support.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Respect cultural norms and sensitivities. Mindfulness should be accessible and inclusive, honoring diverse backgrounds and beliefs.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Conclusion</span></strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">By highlighting the intrinsic connection between food, well-being, and mindfulness, Nepal has the potential to become a global hub for holistic wellness. This transformation necessitates collective efforts from various sectors, including government, local communities, and wellness practitioners. Collaboration among these stakeholders can foster an environment where the rich cultural heritage of Nepal is seamlessly integrated with modern wellness practices. Understanding and respecting cultural nuances are crucial, as they form the backbone of Nepalese society and influence people's daily lives and practices. As Nepal increasingly embraces mindfulness, its citizens can experience profound benefits. Mindfulness practices, deeply rooted in Nepal's spiritual traditions, can enhance resilience, helping individuals better manage stress and adversity. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Furthermore, these practices can promote balance in daily life, fostering a harmonious relationship between mind, body, and environment. By focusing on mindful eating and well-being, people can achieve greater fulfillment, leading to a healthier, more content society. The holistic approach to wellness in Nepal not only nurtures individual health but also contributes to a more sustainable and compassionate community. As mindfulness permeates various aspects of life, from dietary choices to interpersonal relationships, it fosters a culture of awareness and intentional living. This cultural shift can position Nepal as a beacon of holistic wellness, attracting visitors seeking authentic and transformative health experiences. Ultimately, by embracing the synergy of food, well-being, and mindfulness, Nepal can inspire a global movement towards more integrated and mindful living, benefiting not only its own people but also setting a precedent for other nations to follow.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><em><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">(Sweksha Lakhe is an MBA student at South Asian Institute of Management with specialization in HR and Aasha Kiran Chapain is an MBA student at South Asian Institute of Management with specialization in Finance)</span></em></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-22', 'modified' => '2024-05-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20779', 'image' => '20240522025819_consciousness-meditation-neurosicnce.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-22 14:57:12', 'homepage' => true, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21051', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Media Organisations Protest Arrest of Kailash Sirohiya, Express Concern Over Attack on Press Freedom', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'KATHMANDU: Nepal Media Society and Media Alliance have protested the arrest of Kantipur Media Group’s Chairman Kailash Sirohiya.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">KATHMANDU: Nepal Media Society and Media Alliance have protested the arrest of Kantipur Media Group’s Chairman Kailash Sirohiya.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Organising a press conference at the office premises of Kantipur in Thapathali on Wednesday, both the organizations deplored the arrest and detention of the media tycoon by the police.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Speaking at the press conference, Chairman of ABC Media Group as well as the Media Society Subha Shankar Kandel said that the incident of Sirohiya’s arrest gave a glimpse of the reign of former king Gyanendra when the police administration entered the media house and worked in the newsroom.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"This is the first time that the police entered the media house after 2058, when the government arrested the then managing director Sirohiya, director Binodraj Gyawali and editor Yuvraj Ghimire for publishing the views of the then underground Maoist leader Baburam Bhattarai in Kantipur Daily," he said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Kandel said that it is highly objectionable for the political party leaders to treat the media house like this especially after they pledged to build a new Nepal after doing away with the old system.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">He alleged that the government intervened in Kantipur Media and prosecuted Sirohiya in retaliation for publishing the news that at least Rs 958 million were embezzled from the deposits made by the general public in cooperatives.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Speaking at the press conference, General Secretary of Media Alliance Nepal Direklal Shrestha also said that no one is above the law and if found guilty by the police investigation regarding dual citizenship, everyone should face the punishment. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">He added that he was not showing solidarity with Kailas Sirohiya alone but against the state's attack on press freedom. A person from media background himself that attacking freedom of press today is like spitting on the plate that he himself ate from.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Similarly, Rishi Dhamala, the founder of Reports Club, said that Rabi Lamichhane became the home minister because of the struggle of Nepali media against the monarchy. He added that Lamichhane’s attempt to stifle press freedom nothing but the misuse of state authority.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">He said that it is not good for the police administration to try to suppress the media just for the coverage of the news related to the co-operative fraud case, and said that they should instead help investigate the allegations against the cooperatives.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Speaking at the press conference, RK Shrestha, president of the Valley Radio Broadcasting Forum, said that it was unfortunate that the police administration entered the media house with weapons. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Similarly, General Secretary of Nepal Media Society Madan Lamsal said that Sirohiya was arrested in the style of the then Panchayat system. Speaking at the press conference, General Secretary Lamsal said that the home ministry and the government took steps in the wrong direction.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Lamsal said that the law allows the government to interrogate and investigate anyone but Sirohiya was arrested in a dictatorial style.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Stating that all the media-related organizations were unanimous in terming this move as a wrongful act, he said that till the owner of Kantipur Media House, Kailash Sirohiya, should be released with honor. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">”We will strongly resist and oppose it,” he said.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-22', 'modified' => '2024-05-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20778', 'image' => '20240522123213_0_kQUCCCQpfK7vWZTi.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-22 12:31:35', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21050', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Blacktopping of Jomsom-Kagbeni Road Begins', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'JOMSOM: The road linking Jomsom, the district headquarters of Mustang, with the religious and tourism destination Kagbeni in the Muktichhetra rural municipality is being blacktopped.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">JOMSOM: The road linking Jomsom, the district headquarters of Mustang, with the religious and tourism destination Kagbeni in the Muktichhetra rural municipality is being blacktopped. The 13-km-long Jomsom-Kagbeni road has been widened to 11 meters and is being blacktopped using asphalt technology.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Rautah-Atreya JV was awarded a contract worth Rs 281.4 million in August 2022 to blacktop the Jomsom-Kagbeni section of the Beni-Jomsom-Korala road, a national pride project. According to Sanjay Bhatta, the project manager for the contractor company, they have already applied the prime coat on two kilometers of road in the Eklebhatti area. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">"We have placed the prime coat along two kilometers of the road section," Bhatta stated. "We imported bitumen and managed the necessary equipment for blacktopping the entire road section."</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The task of preparing the base and sub-base has been completed, and preparations are underway to blacktop the Jomsom-Kagbeni section within the current fiscal year. The company, which was awarded an eighteen-month contract, started blacktopping the road after receiving repeated warnings from the Beni-Jomsom-Korala road project to confiscate the deposit and blacklist the contractor if the work was not completed on time.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Project chief Dhruba Kumar Jha reported that 75 kilometers of the 110-kilometer road connecting Jomsom to the Korala border in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China have been graveled. Additionally, almost 85 percent of the 25-kilometer Charang-Chhoser section has been completed. Jha informed RSS that all sections connecting the Jomsom-Korala road will be graveled after the upgradation of this section. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-22', 'modified' => '2024-05-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20777', 'image' => '20240522112130_SG_MYAGDI_.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-22 11:20:54', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21049', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Publisher of Kantipur Publications Sirohiya Arrested ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'KATHMANDU: A police team deployed from the Valley Crime Investigation Office, Kathmandu on Tuesday arrested Chairman of Kantipur Publication, Kailash Sirohiya, on charge of citizenship-related offense. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">KATHMANDU: A police team deployed from the Valley Crime Investigation Office, Kathmandu on Tuesday arrested Chairman of Kantipur Publication, Kailash Sirohiya, on charge of citizenship-related offense. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The police <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">team led Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Sanuram Bhattarai and Superintendent of Police (SP) Rabindra Regmi nabbed publisher Sirohiya from the latter's office in Thapathali, Kathmandu. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">SP Regmi stated that Sirohiya was arrested for an investigation on the citizenship issue and added that preparations were underway to take Sirohiya to Janakpur. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">During his arrest, Sirohiya expressed his serious objection to the step taken by the government despite his pledge to cooperate with the government agencies for the probe. </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"">Sirohiya claimed that Deputy Prime Minister Ravi Lamichhane arrested him with mala fide intention for the news coverage by Kantiour Media regarding the cooperative scam involving the deputy prime minister.</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 home minister has a case over dual passport. I am hopeful that an arrest warrant will be issued against him as well,” said Sirohiya. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Earlier on Tuesday, a single bench of Judge Chitra Bahadur Gurung of the Dhanusha District Court had given permission to the police to issue an arrest warrant against Sirohiya. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Following the arrest warrant, Sirohiya lodged a petition at the Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday itself demanding to vacate the order of the Dhanusha District Court. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Information Officer of SC Govinda Prasad Ghimire said that the decision will be taken on Wednesday whether or not to register the writ petition. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The District Police Office, Dhanusha, sought approval from the court to arrest Sirohiya after the citizenship number of Sirohiya and another person was found to be identical. <em>(With inputs from RSS)</em></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-22', 'modified' => '2024-05-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20776', 'image' => '20240522110456_maxresdefault.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-22 11:04:18', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21048', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Birgunj Customs Office Misses Revenue Target, Collects Only 62%', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'The Birgunj Customs Office, a major border point for imports and exports, has failed to meet its revenue target for the first ten months of the current fiscal year 2080/81. The office has achieved only 62.82% of its revenue goal.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Birgunj: The Birgunj Customs Office, a major border point for imports and exports, has failed to meet its revenue target for the first ten months of the current fiscal year 2080/81. The office has achieved only 62.82% of its revenue goal.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the data on its website, the customs office aimed to collect Rs 202.9 billion by the end of Baisakh. However, only Rs 127.46 billion was collected. </span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Specifically, the customs office collected Rs 47.2372 billion in import duties, which is 60.88% of the target set at Rs 77.5877 billion.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The highest revenue came from Value Added Tax (VAT), with Rs 54.2658 billion collected, achieving 63.99% of the target. </span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">For excise duties, the office collected Rs 8.5208 billion, against a target of Rs 12.1157 billion.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Apart from the road construction and maintenance fees, the customs office did not meet its revenue targets in any category. It collected revenue under various headings, including advance income tax, health risk tax, infrastructure tax, export duties, agricultural improvement fees, road repair and maintenance fees, and luxury fees.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Officials said that the decline in imports of vehicles, fuel, and industrial raw materials, which are the main items imported through Birgunj, impacted the revenue. On the export side, processed edible oil, juice, pulp, and fabrics are the main items. However, Nepal's exports have decreased as Indian traders are importing oil from third countries due to India's zero customs duty policy on oil imports.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-22', 'modified' => '2024-05-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20775', 'image' => '20240522084206_collage (7).jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-22 08:40:07', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21047', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government of Nepal and World Bank Launch $4.6 Million Project to Strengthen Response to GBV', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'KATHMANDU: The Government of Nepal and the World Bank together launched the Institutionalizing Gender-Based Violence Response in Federal Nepal Project on Tuesday.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">KATHMANDU: The Government of Nepal (GoN) and the World Bank (WB) together launched the Institutionalizing Gender-Based Violence Response in Federal Nepal Project on Tuesday.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Issuing a joint statement, the GoN and the WB said that the project was jointly launched by Minister for Women, Children, and Senior Citizens, Bhagbati Chaudhary and World Bank’s Country Director for the Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, Faris Hadad-Zervos.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to the World Bank, the three-year project will help increase women’s and girls’ access to multisectoral gender-based violence (GBV) response services such as legal aid, psychosocial counseling, and medical support in six municipalities in Koshi and Lumbini provinces. It aims to benefit 49,000 women and girls who have experienced violence through better access to quality services.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">“Addressing gender-based violence is a priority for the government of Nepal. This project will help establish a functioning coordination system to link GBV response mechanisms at the municipal, provincial, and federal levels,” said</span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> Bhagbati Chaudhary, Minister for Women, Children, and Senior Citizens.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The project is financed by a $4.6 million grant from the State and Peacebuilding Trust Fund and will be implemented by the Ministry of Women, Children, and Senior Citizens.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The project will help strengthen institutional frameworks and capacity, pilot innovative GBV service models with a focus on improving service coverage and quality, and promote behavior change among first responders and local stakeholders for improved GBV response, the statement added.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">“This project will help empower women and girls to readily access GBV services, report violence, and seek help, especially in the most remote and hard to reach areas. This is key to supporting Nepal’s development that is green, resilient, and inclusive,</span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">” </span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">said Faris Hadad-Zervos.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The Government of Nepal and the World Bank signed the financing agreements for the project on April 24, 2024.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-21', 'modified' => '2024-05-21', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20774', 'image' => '20240521085600_GOGs7zGbAAADCYP.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-21 20:55:20', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21046', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'CIB Investigation into Cooperatives Fraud Finds Embezzlement of Billions of Rupees', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'KATHMANDU: Ram Chandra Pokharel is a member of the problematic Deurali Savings and Credit Cooperative. He said that he deposited his hard-earned money of Rs 3 million in the cooperative but he has not been able to get it back yet.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">BIJAY DAMASE</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">KATHMANDU: Ram Chandra Pokharel is a member of the problematic Deurali Savings and Credit Cooperative. He said that he deposited his hard-earned money of Rs 3 million in the cooperative but he has not been able to get it back yet.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">Pokharel said that even though he went from pillar to post knocking the doors of the Department of Cooperatives as well as the municipality to get back his money, the cooperative is yet to release the amount. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">"The fraudulent operators of the cooperative have political protection, that's why they are not in favor of returning the money," he accused. The deposits of hundreds of other depositors are also trapped in the cooperative. The directors of Deurali have been accused of embezzling more than Rs 2 billion of the depositors.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">Similarly, Rakesh Murarka said that he worked day and night for five years to earn Rs 8 million and deposited the money in National Development Cooperative Cooperative. He says that he requested all concerned bodies to return his money but was denied justice.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">"I even visited political party leaders but in vain," he said expressing his pain. According to Murarka, the depositors of the National Cooperative have lodged a police complaint against its director for embezzlement of Rs 332.22 million. However, the cooperative has not returned their savings yet.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police is currently investigating the irregularities in about a dozen cooperatives including these two. CIB's research has shown that most of the cooperatives have collapsed due to indiscriminate and excessive investment in unproductive sectors. It has been found that many co-operatives had given loans without collateral and many such debtors have run away.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">The police investigation has also revealed that the operators of the problematic cooperatives were found withdrawing money from the cooperatives arbitrarily and investing the money at their whims, which risked billions of rupees deposited by the members. The investigation also found that the cooperatives lacked any kind of regulatory mechanism and auditing.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">Superintendent of Police at the CIB Hobindra Bogati told New Business Age that billions of rupees of the depositors were trapped in cooperatives and the police had trouble verifying the details. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">"During the investigation, it was found that the operators of cooperatives had purchased luxury vehicles with the money deposited in the cooperatives. They also used the money for usury, and bought land in the name of third persons," Bogati said.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">The investigation of the police has also shown that the family businesses were opened in the name of the parents, sisters, in-laws of the operators of cooperatives while some cooperatives were opened with the motive of embezzling the money of unsuspecting depositors. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">The police concluded that the country's economy has been negatively affected due to the problems in cooperatives. "The problem surfaced due to the dumping of the money in non-productive areas, as a result of which the economy has slumped," said Bogati.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">Lalitpur's Deurali Cooperative was found to have embezzled more than Rs 2 billion and the owner of Shiva Shikhar Cooperative, which had a network spread across 35 districts, had embezzled billions of rupees.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">According to the police data, since mid-July of the current fiscal year, cases have been registered all over the country saying that co-operative operators have cheated Rs 6 billion. A total of 148 people have been arrested in this connection. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">During last fiscal year, the police registered cases related to cooperative fraud worth Rs 7 billion. The cases are sent to the police only after failing to resolve the issue by the local and state governments as well as the Department of Cooperative. The police investigation has shown that by the time all those agencies investigate, the operators of the cooperatives manage to sell their property. As a result, they were unable to return the savings to the victims.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">According to government data, there are 31,373 cooperatives in operation across the country. They have a collected Rs 478 billion from the depositors and invested Rs 426 billion in loans. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">Although the Department of Cooperatives has estimated that around 500 cooperatives are facing problems, it is not known how much money exactly has been embezzled. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">According to the police officials involved in investigation, the cooperatives have 73,81,218 depositors. Stakeholders say that thousands of depositors have not been able to get back their money due to political intervention.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">CPN (UML) whip Mahesh Bertaula said that even though his party was serious about the issue of cooperatives, the Nepali Congress has become the obstacle in resolving this issue.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">On the other hand, Chief Whip of Nepali Congress Ramesh Lekhak claims that the ruling parties are busy protecting the co-operative thugs. According to him, the Congress is effortful to ensure justice to the cooperative victims. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">Former Secretary Gopinath Mainali sees the need to form a committee to remove the legal obstacles rather than focusing on individuals to solve the problems of cooperatives. "Those with vested interests should not sit in such a committee," he said.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">He said that the state side has not taken any concrete steps to resolve the problems while the main opposition party is linking the issue of cooperatives with the government. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">“Why are the political parties not ready to take action by amending the law immediately?" he questioned, adding, "There is no law that allows immediate freezing of the property of directors and officials as soon as cooperatives are declared problematic. The state should make such laws. Legal arrangements should be made to bring those who invest recklessly against the norms of the cooperative to the court.”</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">The government has announced the creation of a special regulatory agency to control irregularities in the cooperatives sector. According to Mainali, although the matter of creating such a body was included in the budget many times, the political leadership never implemented it. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">"Even though many committees were formed to solve the problem and submitted reports, it was kept in the drawer," said Mainali.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-21', 'modified' => '2024-05-21', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20773', 'image' => '20240521071737_20220506015945_Cooperative.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-21 19:17:14', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21045', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Electricity Dispute Resolution Commission Tells NEA not to Charge Fees after End of Load Shedding', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'KATHMANDU: The government has granted permission to the Nepal Electricity Authority to charge the tariff for electricity distributed to industries from dedicated feeder and trunk lines from mid-January 2016 to mid-May 2018.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">KATHMANDU: The government has granted permission to the Nepal Electricity Authority to charge the tariff for electricity distributed to industries from dedicated feeder and trunk lines from mid-January </span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">20</span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">16 to mid-May </span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">20</span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">18</span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">The NEA cannot levy the full tariff it claims the industries a liable to pay after the Council of Ministers decided last week to implement the recommendations made by the commission chaired by former judge Girish Chandra Lal resolve the electricity tariff dispute.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">The commission submitted its report to Energy Minister Shakti Bahadur Basnet on May 5</span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">. </span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">The government formed the commission on January 9 with the mandate to study and submit a report on the disputes related to the tariff of electricity supply through dedicated feeder and trunk lines</span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">Sushil Chandra Tiwari, secretary at the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation said that the Council of Ministers has sent a letter to the ministry to implement the report of the 'Electricity Tariff Dispute Resolution Commission, </span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">2080</span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">' regarding the electricity tariff dispute of dedicated feeder and trunk line.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">According to him, after the report was approved by the Council of Ministers, a letter was sent to the ministry for implementation last Friday. As mentioned in the report, the industrialist will have to pay to the electricity dues to the NEA only from mid-January </span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">20</span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">16 to mid-May </span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">20</span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">18</span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">. </span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">“The report submitted by the commission has been approved by the Council of Ministers. Now the report will be implemented," said Energy Secretary Tiwari told New Business Age. According to him, the outstanding electricity tariff from mid-January </span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">20</span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">16 to mid-May </span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">20</span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">18 is Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">6</span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">.</span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">41</span></span> <span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">billion. The industrialists will have to pay interest and </span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">25</span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif""> percent penalty to the amount.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">According to Tiwari, commission's report has suggested that it is not appropriate to collect fees twice from the industrialists, especially after mid-May </span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">20</span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">18 to mid-May </span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">2020</span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif""> after the NEA announced an end to loadshedding. The NEA has been demanding an additional Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">8</span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">.</span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">44</span></span> <span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">billion from the industrialists as electricity charge for this period, which the commission report does not allow the state-owned utility to collect.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">There has been a dispute between the industrialists and the electricity authority on this issue for a long time. The authority even disconnected the lines of some industries after the industrialists took a stand of not paying the electricity tariff.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-21', 'modified' => '2024-05-21', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20772', 'image' => '20240521041228_20220330051709_c1d0e043-electricity.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-21 16:11:05', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21044', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NEPSE Surges by 23.94 Points to Close at 2115.94', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) witnessed a gain of 23.94 points, equivalent to 1.14%, closing at 2115.94 on the third trading day of the week, Tuesday.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px">May 21: The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) witnessed a gain of 23.94 points, equivalent to 1.14%, closing at 2115.94 on the third trading day of the week, Tuesday.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">During today’s trading, 317 scrips were traded on the NEPSE through 73,667 transactions. As many as 13,241,217 shares changed hands, resulting in a total turnover of Rs 5.20 billion.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">Pokhara Finance Limited (PFL) led the turnover amount with total transactions worth Rs 24 crores. Janaki Finance Limited (JFL), Nerude Mirmire Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited (NMLBBL), and Samudayik Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited (SLBSL) each gained 10% and hit the positive circuit for the day.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">Conversely, Shine Resunga Development Bank (SHINE) faced the highest loss of 4.28%, closing at a market price of Rs 400 per share.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">In terms of sector indices, all sectors closed in positive territory except the Development Bank Index and the Trading Index.</span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-21', 'modified' => '2024-05-21', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20771', 'image' => '20240521033434_collage.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-21 15:25:14', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21043', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Tourism Promotion Event on Nepal held in Beijing ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'KATHMANDU: The Embassy of Nepal in Beijing, in collaboration with the Nepal Tourism Board and Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATTA) of Gandaki province, hosted a tourism promotion event under the theme "Nepal Sales Mission 2024: Gandaki Province" at the Embassy on Monday.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">KATHMANDU: The Embassy of Nepal in Beijing, in collaboration with the Nepal Tourism Board and Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATTA) of Gandaki province, hosted a tourism promotion event under the theme "Nepal Sales Mission 2024: Gandaki Province" at the Embassy on Monday. </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 event aimed to develop network among tour and travel operators of Nepal and China, the Embassy of Nepal in Beijing, states a press release issued by the organisers. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">On the occasion, Ambassador of Nepal to the People's Republic of China, Bishnu Pukar Shrestha, highlighted the major tourism attractions of Nepal and encouraged the participants to jointly cooperate to make the upcoming Visit Nepal Year 2025 a success, which was jointly declared by Nepal and China. He also urged the participants to build network as to enhance tourism cooperation between the two countries. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">During the event, NTB Senior Officer Kundan Sharma Mishra made a presentation promoting Nepal as an attractive tourism destination focusing on Pokhara which was recently declared as the tourism capital of Nepal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">On the occasion, NATTA president Hari Ram Adhikari and member Khim Bahadur Nepali delivered statements about Nepal's tourism potentials. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The programme was followed by an interactive B2B session. The event was attended by approximately 150 participants including Nepali and Chinese tour and travel operators, business persons working in tourism sector as well as media representatives. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-21', 'modified' => '2024-05-21', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20770', 'image' => '20240521031857_20231001020729_20230714012959_20221227011524_Flag-Pins-Nepal-China.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-21 15:18:21', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21042', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Yet to Spend Rs 435 Billion Budget with Two Months Left for Current FY to End', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'KATHMANDU: With less than two months left for the current fiscal year (FY) to end, the government is yet to spend Rs 435 billion to meet the revised target of budget expenditure.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">KATHMANDU: With less than two months left for the current fiscal year (FY) to end, the government is yet to spend Rs 435 billion to meet the revised target of budget expenditure.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The government announced a budget of Rs 1751 billion for the current year and revised it to Rs 1530 billion in January through the mid-tern review of budget.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">According to the Financial Comptroller General Office, the constitutional body that keeps track of government’s expenditure, the government has spent only Rs 1095 billion as of last Sunday. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">With only two months remaining in the current fiscal year and signs of increasing political instability, questions have arisen about how the government will spend the rest of the budget. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal took the vote of confidence in the House of Representatives on Monday amid the obstruction of parliament by the main opposition Nepali Congress. Three governments have been formed in one year under the leadership of Prime Minister Dahal. Due to political instability, government spending is affected due to lack of timely decisions.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">As the government has allocated a budget of Rs 1141 billion for the current expenses. After the mid-tern review, the estimate expenditure under this heading has been fixed at Rs 1007 billion. The FCGO has said that the government has already spent Rs 770 billion under the current expenses as of Sunday. According to the FCGO, the government has allocated 302 billion under the heading of capital expenditure for in the current fiscal year, but has spent only Rs 119 billion so far. According to the revised estimate, the government has to spend Rs 254 billion.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">In Nepal, the capital expenditure for development works is mostly spent in the months of March, April, May and June. However, even at this period, the capital expenditure has not been much encouraging. According to the revised estimate, the government will have to spend Rs 135 billion under the heading of capital expenditure. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Similarly, a the government had allocated a budget of Rs 307 billion for financial management, which was revised to Rs 268 billion through the mid-tern review. According to the data of the FCGO, the government has already spent Rs 205 billion has under this heading as of Sunday.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Government officials are blaming each other for the lackluster expenditure. According to the Ministry of Finance, there is no reason to stop the expenditure as the Minister for Finance and the ministry have repeatedly instructed the secretaries of the related ministries and heads of agencies to increase the expenditure.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">"Recently, the Finance Ministry instructed the Department of Roads to send a report on work progress along with recommendations to resolve the problems it faces. However, the department has not yet submitted its report," an official of the budget division of the Ministry of Finance told New Business Age. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">According to him, no project and work has been stopped due to lack of budget.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">However, the expenditure situation is not satisfactory. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Economist Bimal Koirala highlights that the unspent budget is due to errors in the government’s budget formulation process, lack of political will, and structural issues.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"> “Due to errors in budgeting, there is no capital expenditure and no development. That is what has happened so far," he said. "The size of the budget has become an arbitrary number and the trend of reducing it through the mid-term review is not a good practice. The government should bring a realistic budget."</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Koirala says that due to the fact that the government has not properly implemented the report of the Expenditure Review Commission, the problems have been persisting for years. "This situation will continue until the government identifies the problems in the budget spending system and takes initiatives to solve them," he said.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-21', 'modified' => '2024-05-21', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20769', 'image' => '20240521010943_budget.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-21 13:09:04', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21041', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Manaslu Conservation Area Collects over Rs 25 Million in Revenue ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'KATHMANDU: The office of the Manaslu Conservation Area Project has collected more than Rs 25 million in revenue in nine months of the current fiscal year.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">KATHMANDU: The office of the Manaslu Conservation Area Project has collected more than Rs 25 million in revenue in nine months of the current fiscal year. The office collected the amount as entry fee from tourists visiting the area from July 17, 2023 to April 12, 2024. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A total of 8,302 foreign tourists visited the area during the review period, according to the office. It collected Rs 24.9 million from them. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, 152 foreign tourists of SAARC countries had visited the Manaslu Conservation Area during this period. A total of Rs 152,000 in revenue was collected from them, said MCAP Chief Santosh Sherchan. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The office has determined Rs 1,000 as entry fee for a tourist of SAARC countries visiting the area while tourists from other countries have to pay Rs 3,000 per person. It has already collected more revenue in nine months this year as compared to previous year as number of tourists visiting Manaslu conservation area has increased this year. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Sherchan shared that more than 12,000 foreign tourists have been expected at Manaslu conservation area this year. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-21', 'modified' => '2024-05-21', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20768', 'image' => '20240521121934_20221101102053_manaslu.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-21 12:19:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21040', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Gold Hits Record High as Iran Shock Triggers Safe Haven Investment', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'KATHMANDU: The price of gold hit a record high in the international market Monday as the shock death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash boosted support for the precious metal seen as a safe haven investment.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">KATHMANDU: The price of gold hit a record high in the international market Monday as the shock death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash boosted support for the precious metal seen as a safe haven investment.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">According to AFP, copper also struck an all-time peak and silver jumped to the highest level in more than 11 years -- with markets generally gaining from a brighter economic outlook.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Gold had already hit a series of record highs this year and Nepal was not an exception.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">The country also witnessed a record-high price of gold on Monday with the precious yellow metal traded at Rs </span><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">141,800 per tola</span> (11.66 grams) before shedding Rs 1200 per tola on Tuesday.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Asian and European stock markets began the week higher, having recently struck all-time peaks along with indices on Wall Street.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">The metals are priced in the dollar, which has come under pressure recently from expectations that the US Federal Reserve will soon start to cut interest rates as inflation cools.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Gold struck a record $2,450.07 an ounce in the international market on Monday, while copper's all-time high stood at $11,104 per tonne.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Raisi was confirmed dead on Monday after search and rescue teams found his crashed helicopter in a fog-shrouded western mountain region, sparking mourning in the Islamic republic, AFP added.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Foreign countries had been closely following the search at a time of high regional tensions over the Gaza war raging between Israel and Hamas since October 7.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">"Gold and copper have hit record highs, (and) silver jumped to an 11-year high... after the death of Iran's president in a helicopter crash," AFP quoted Neil Wilson, chief market analyst at Finalto trading group, as saying.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">"There is a clear geopolitical premium since October 7th," he said, adding that "expectations the Fed will cut rates soon is helping".</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Analysts said market sentiment was boosted additionally by China's plan to support its struggling property sector.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">The positive start to the week for equities came after Wall Street's Dow index ended above 40,000 points for the first time on Friday.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Oil prices dipped after initially jumping on the Iran news, added the news agency.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Investors are looking to the release Wednesday of minutes from the Federal Reserve's May policy decision, hoping for some insight into the thinking of decision-makers.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">The release comes after data last week showed US inflation easing in April, reviving hopes the central bank would cut interest rates twice this year.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-21', 'modified' => '2024-05-21', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20767', 'image' => '20240521114649_20240310065333_20240307024448_gold newwww.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-21 11:45:16', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21039', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Country's 14% of Health Equipment Remains Unused ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'KATHMANDU: As much as 14 percent of the total health equipment are left unused in the country, a study has revealed. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">KATHMANDU: As much as 14 percent of the total health equipment are left unused in the country, a study has revealed. The survey of biomedical equipment in Nepal's public health institutions conducted by the Department of Health Services in collaboration with Lifeline Enterprises showed that 2,645 health equipment in the country are still not installed in the health institutions. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Chairperson of Lifeline Enterprises Anjali Tiwariwal said that data were collected from 11 hospitals of Bagmati, Koshi, Madhesh, Gandaki and Sudurpaschim provinces adding that 1,823 health equipment are dysfunctional. The study carried out from October 2023 to April 2024 surveyed the status of 19,174 hospitals. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Bhaskar Rijal, a biomedical engineer involved in the study team, said that 1,174 sets of equipment are unused despite being in proper condition. </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"">"Those equipment imported during the time of COVID-19 are left unused for lack of Covid-19 patients," Rijal added. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Rijal further stated that the CT scan machines of Bir Hospital, APF Hospital and Koshi Hospital have turned dysfunctional with severe complaints about the charger board and battery. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Meanwhile, Director of Bir Hospital Dr Santosh Poudel shared that the hospital lacks biomedical engineers to repair and run such equipment. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-21', 'modified' => '2024-05-21', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20766', 'image' => '20240521111257_20200224061638_Clipboard24.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-21 11:12:20', '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:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">BANGKOK: One person was killed and 30 injured Tuesday when a Singapore Airlines Boeing 777 hit severe turbulence on a flight from London and was forced to make an emergency landing in Bangkok. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Emergency vehicles raced onto the tarmac at the Thai capital's main airport with lights flashing and sirens blaring after Singapore-bound flight SQ321 touched down at 3:45 pm (0845 GMT). </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">It is the latest drama involving a Boeing plane, after a fuselage panel blew out of an Alaska Airlines 737 MAX in January as well as two fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Singapore Airlines said the flight took off from London's Heathrow airport and "encountered severe turbulence en route". </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">"We can confirm that there are injuries and one fatality on board the Boeing 777-300ER. There were a total of 211 passengers and 18 crew on board," the airline said in a statement. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The carrier said "18 individuals have been hospitalised. Another 12 are being treated in hospitals," without giving details of the nature and severity of the injuries. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">"We deeply apologise for the traumatic experience that our passengers and crew members suffered on this flight. We are providing all necessary assistance during this difficult time," the airline said. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Flight tracking data suggested the plane dropped more than 1,800 metres (6,000 feet) in just five minutes over the Andaman Sea. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The incident came as parts of Thailand were buffeted by thunderstorms as the country's annual rainy season gets under way. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">"At 3:35 pm the airport received a distress call from the Singapore Airlines flight saying there were passengers on board injured by turbulence, and requesting an emergency landing," Suvarnabhumi Airport said in a statement. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">"The plane landed at the airport and the medical team was sent to treat all the injured." </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The airport statement described the dead passenger as a foreigner -- meaning a non-Thai. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Singapore's transport minister Chee Hong Tat said in a Facebook post that he was "deeply saddened" by the incident and offered his condolences to the family of the fatality. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Boeing woes </span></strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">US aviation giant Boeing has been rocked by a series of problems in recent years and in March announced the departure of CEO Dave Calhoun as it faces intense scrutiny on safety and manufacturing standards. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The change in leadership came in the wake of the near-catastrophic incident in January when a fuselage panel on a Boeing 737 MAX 9 Alaska Airlines jet blew off mid-flight. Fatal crashes in Indonesia in 2018 and Ethiopia in 2019 -- which killed 346 people in total -- led to a lengthy grounding for the 737 MAX fleet worldwide. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The company has a late May deadline to present a plan required by the US Federal Aviation Administration, which has capped MAX production until the company shows progress on safety and quality control. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">In July, the US Justice Department will make a final determination on whether to criminally prosecute Boeing. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">And in September, the company faces a potential strike of 30,000 workers if it is unable to reach a contract with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers. – AFP/RSS </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-22', 'modified' => '2024-05-22', 'keywords' => 'Singapore, Airlines, accident, turbulence, safety', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20781', 'image' => '20240522010030_Singapore-Airlines-Sydney-Photo-credit-to-photographer-NIGEL-COGHLAN-Singapore-Airlines-B777-300ER-at-Sydney-Airport.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-22 12:59:07', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21055', 'article_category_id' => '251', 'title' => 'Promoting Mindfulness in Nepal: A Holistic Approach', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Nepal, renowned for its rich cultural heritage and spiritual traditions, provides an ideal backdrop for promoting mindfulness.', 'content' => '<p><img alt="" src="https://www.newbusinessage.com/img/mindfulness-pic.jpg" style="width:300px" /></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">By Sweksha Lakhe and</span></strong> <strong><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Aasha Kiran Chapain</span></strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong> </strong></span></span><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Introduction</span></strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Nepal, renowned for its rich cultural heritage and spiritual traditions, provides an ideal backdrop for promoting mindfulness. This ancient practice, deeply rooted in the meditative traditions of Buddhism and Hinduism, has garnered renewed interest as a powerful tool for mental health and wellness. By integrating mindfulness with traditional healing practices, modern therapeutic approaches, and innovative business models, Nepal can cultivate a holistic framework for mental well-being. Traditional healing in Nepal, woven into the cultural fabric, often incorporates mindfulness elements. Practices such as yoga, meditation, and rituals performed by shamans and Ayurvedic healers emphasize mental and spiritual balance, aligning closely with the principles of mindfulness. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Leveraging these age-old practices, mental health professionals can create culturally resonant approaches to mindfulness that respect and utilize Nepal’s rich heritage. Modern therapeutic techniques, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), can complement traditional practices. These evidence-based methods help manage stress, anxiety, and depression, promoting a comprehensive mental health strategy. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Training local therapists in these modern techniques and integrating them with traditional practices can offer a unique and effective approach to mental wellness. Additionally, the growing wellness tourism industry in Nepal presents valuable business opportunities for promoting mindfulness. Wellness retreats and mindfulness centers can attract both locals and international visitors seeking spiritual and mental rejuvenation. These centers can serve as hubs for teaching mindfulness practices, blending traditional and modern methods, and fostering a supportive community. By integrating traditional healing practices, modern therapies, and innovative business models, Nepal can effectively nurture mindfulness. This multifaceted approach enhances mental health and wellness services while preserving and promoting the country’s rich cultural heritage, positioning Nepal as a leading destination for mindfulness and holistic well-being.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Main Issue</span></strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The main issue lies in the slow adoption of mindfulness practices into mainstream Nepalese society despite their significant potential to enhance mental health and well-being. Mindfulness, a practice that cultivates present-moment awareness, holds the promise of reducing stress and promoting mental clarity by helping individuals anchor themselves in the present. This practice mitigates the impact of past regrets and future anxieties, fostering a state of calm and balance that is crucial in today’s fast-paced world. Mindfulness enables individuals to pause, breathe, and observe their thoughts without judgment, leading to clearer and more focused minds, improved emotional regulation, and better responses to situations with greater patience and understanding.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Moreover, mindfulness enhances empathy, a critical component for strengthening relationships. By being fully present during interactions, individuals become more attuned to the emotions and needs of others, enhancing their capacity for compassion and connection. This heightened empathy not only improves personal relationships but also fosters a more harmonious community atmosphere. Additionally, practicing mindfulness contributes to better focus and decision-making as individuals become adept at filtering out distractions and concentrating on tasks, leading to increased productivity and efficiency in both professional and personal contexts.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Despite these myriad benefits, the integration of mindfulness into Nepalese society faces several challenges. Cultural, educational, and socio-economic factors contribute to the slow adoption of mindfulness practices. Traditional Nepalese culture, while deeply spiritual, may not yet fully embrace contemporary mindfulness practices as part of daily life. Furthermore, there might be a lack of awareness or access to structured mindfulness programs. To address this issue, concerted efforts in education, advocacy, and the creation of accessible mindfulness initiatives are required. Such efforts would bridge the gap, promoting mindfulness's benefits and enhancing the overall well-being and quality of life for all Nepalese individuals.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Recommendations</span></strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Mindfulness-Based Interventions (MBIs) Integration</span></strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Establish dedicated centers that offer mindfulness training workshops, meditation sessions, and yoga classes. These centers can serve as hubs for holistic wellness.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Collaborate with traditional healers and Ayurvedic practitioners to create comprehensive wellness programs. By combining ancient wisdom with modern practices, you can address physical, mental, and emotional well-being.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Integrate mindfulness practices into existing mental health services. Emphasize present-moment awareness, non-judgment, and self-compassion. This can enhance therapeutic outcomes and promote resilience.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Holistic Cafés and Restaurants</span></strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Imagine serene dining spaces within healing centers or standalone restaurants, designed to promote mindfulness during meals.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Holistic Café and Juice Bar</span></strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Offer fresh, organic juices, smoothies, and herbal teas. Prioritize ingredients that nourish the body and mind.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Create a calming ambiance using natural materials, soothing colors, and soft music. Consider incorporating elements like indoor plants or a small water fountain.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Dedicate a corner for wellness resources—a mini library with books on mindfulness, nutrition, and holistic living.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Plant-Based Restaurant</span></strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Focus on plant-based dishes that promote health and vitality. Collaborate with local farmers to source seasonal, organic produce.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Craft a menu that celebrates the flavors of Nepal while aligning with mindful eating principles.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Educate diners about the benefits of plant-based nutrition and its positive impact on overall well-being.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Mindful Movement and Activities</span></strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Organize meditation retreats in serene locations across Nepal. Participants can immerse themselves in mindfulness practices such as guided meditations, breath awareness, and walking meditations during morning and afternoon meditation sessions.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Mindful activities:</span></strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt"> Yoga, tai chi, or qigong. Encourage participants to connect with their bodies and the present moment.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Communal meals:</span></strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt"> Practice mindful eating together, savoring each bite and appreciating the nourishment.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Community Engagement and Cultural Sensitivity: </span></strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Involve local communities in designing and implementing mindfulness programs. Seek their input and adapt practices to align with Nepalese traditions.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Collaborate with monasteries, temples, and spiritual leaders. Their guidance can enrich mindfulness practices and foster community support.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Respect cultural norms and sensitivities. Mindfulness should be accessible and inclusive, honoring diverse backgrounds and beliefs.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Conclusion</span></strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">By highlighting the intrinsic connection between food, well-being, and mindfulness, Nepal has the potential to become a global hub for holistic wellness. This transformation necessitates collective efforts from various sectors, including government, local communities, and wellness practitioners. Collaboration among these stakeholders can foster an environment where the rich cultural heritage of Nepal is seamlessly integrated with modern wellness practices. Understanding and respecting cultural nuances are crucial, as they form the backbone of Nepalese society and influence people's daily lives and practices. As Nepal increasingly embraces mindfulness, its citizens can experience profound benefits. Mindfulness practices, deeply rooted in Nepal's spiritual traditions, can enhance resilience, helping individuals better manage stress and adversity. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Furthermore, these practices can promote balance in daily life, fostering a harmonious relationship between mind, body, and environment. By focusing on mindful eating and well-being, people can achieve greater fulfillment, leading to a healthier, more content society. The holistic approach to wellness in Nepal not only nurtures individual health but also contributes to a more sustainable and compassionate community. As mindfulness permeates various aspects of life, from dietary choices to interpersonal relationships, it fosters a culture of awareness and intentional living. This cultural shift can position Nepal as a beacon of holistic wellness, attracting visitors seeking authentic and transformative health experiences. Ultimately, by embracing the synergy of food, well-being, and mindfulness, Nepal can inspire a global movement towards more integrated and mindful living, benefiting not only its own people but also setting a precedent for other nations to follow.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><em><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">(Sweksha Lakhe is an MBA student at South Asian Institute of Management with specialization in HR and Aasha Kiran Chapain is an MBA student at South Asian Institute of Management with specialization in Finance)</span></em></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-22', 'modified' => '2024-05-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20779', 'image' => '20240522025819_consciousness-meditation-neurosicnce.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-22 14:57:12', 'homepage' => true, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21051', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Media Organisations Protest Arrest of Kailash Sirohiya, Express Concern Over Attack on Press Freedom', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'KATHMANDU: Nepal Media Society and Media Alliance have protested the arrest of Kantipur Media Group’s Chairman Kailash Sirohiya.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">KATHMANDU: Nepal Media Society and Media Alliance have protested the arrest of Kantipur Media Group’s Chairman Kailash Sirohiya.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Organising a press conference at the office premises of Kantipur in Thapathali on Wednesday, both the organizations deplored the arrest and detention of the media tycoon by the police.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Speaking at the press conference, Chairman of ABC Media Group as well as the Media Society Subha Shankar Kandel said that the incident of Sirohiya’s arrest gave a glimpse of the reign of former king Gyanendra when the police administration entered the media house and worked in the newsroom.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"This is the first time that the police entered the media house after 2058, when the government arrested the then managing director Sirohiya, director Binodraj Gyawali and editor Yuvraj Ghimire for publishing the views of the then underground Maoist leader Baburam Bhattarai in Kantipur Daily," he said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Kandel said that it is highly objectionable for the political party leaders to treat the media house like this especially after they pledged to build a new Nepal after doing away with the old system.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">He alleged that the government intervened in Kantipur Media and prosecuted Sirohiya in retaliation for publishing the news that at least Rs 958 million were embezzled from the deposits made by the general public in cooperatives.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Speaking at the press conference, General Secretary of Media Alliance Nepal Direklal Shrestha also said that no one is above the law and if found guilty by the police investigation regarding dual citizenship, everyone should face the punishment. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">He added that he was not showing solidarity with Kailas Sirohiya alone but against the state's attack on press freedom. A person from media background himself that attacking freedom of press today is like spitting on the plate that he himself ate from.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Similarly, Rishi Dhamala, the founder of Reports Club, said that Rabi Lamichhane became the home minister because of the struggle of Nepali media against the monarchy. He added that Lamichhane’s attempt to stifle press freedom nothing but the misuse of state authority.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">He said that it is not good for the police administration to try to suppress the media just for the coverage of the news related to the co-operative fraud case, and said that they should instead help investigate the allegations against the cooperatives.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Speaking at the press conference, RK Shrestha, president of the Valley Radio Broadcasting Forum, said that it was unfortunate that the police administration entered the media house with weapons. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Similarly, General Secretary of Nepal Media Society Madan Lamsal said that Sirohiya was arrested in the style of the then Panchayat system. Speaking at the press conference, General Secretary Lamsal said that the home ministry and the government took steps in the wrong direction.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Lamsal said that the law allows the government to interrogate and investigate anyone but Sirohiya was arrested in a dictatorial style.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Stating that all the media-related organizations were unanimous in terming this move as a wrongful act, he said that till the owner of Kantipur Media House, Kailash Sirohiya, should be released with honor. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">”We will strongly resist and oppose it,” he said.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-22', 'modified' => '2024-05-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20778', 'image' => '20240522123213_0_kQUCCCQpfK7vWZTi.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-22 12:31:35', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21050', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Blacktopping of Jomsom-Kagbeni Road Begins', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'JOMSOM: The road linking Jomsom, the district headquarters of Mustang, with the religious and tourism destination Kagbeni in the Muktichhetra rural municipality is being blacktopped.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">JOMSOM: The road linking Jomsom, the district headquarters of Mustang, with the religious and tourism destination Kagbeni in the Muktichhetra rural municipality is being blacktopped. The 13-km-long Jomsom-Kagbeni road has been widened to 11 meters and is being blacktopped using asphalt technology.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Rautah-Atreya JV was awarded a contract worth Rs 281.4 million in August 2022 to blacktop the Jomsom-Kagbeni section of the Beni-Jomsom-Korala road, a national pride project. According to Sanjay Bhatta, the project manager for the contractor company, they have already applied the prime coat on two kilometers of road in the Eklebhatti area. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">"We have placed the prime coat along two kilometers of the road section," Bhatta stated. "We imported bitumen and managed the necessary equipment for blacktopping the entire road section."</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The task of preparing the base and sub-base has been completed, and preparations are underway to blacktop the Jomsom-Kagbeni section within the current fiscal year. The company, which was awarded an eighteen-month contract, started blacktopping the road after receiving repeated warnings from the Beni-Jomsom-Korala road project to confiscate the deposit and blacklist the contractor if the work was not completed on time.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Project chief Dhruba Kumar Jha reported that 75 kilometers of the 110-kilometer road connecting Jomsom to the Korala border in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China have been graveled. Additionally, almost 85 percent of the 25-kilometer Charang-Chhoser section has been completed. Jha informed RSS that all sections connecting the Jomsom-Korala road will be graveled after the upgradation of this section. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-22', 'modified' => '2024-05-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20777', 'image' => '20240522112130_SG_MYAGDI_.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-22 11:20:54', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21049', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Publisher of Kantipur Publications Sirohiya Arrested ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'KATHMANDU: A police team deployed from the Valley Crime Investigation Office, Kathmandu on Tuesday arrested Chairman of Kantipur Publication, Kailash Sirohiya, on charge of citizenship-related offense. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">KATHMANDU: A police team deployed from the Valley Crime Investigation Office, Kathmandu on Tuesday arrested Chairman of Kantipur Publication, Kailash Sirohiya, on charge of citizenship-related offense. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The police <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">team led Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Sanuram Bhattarai and Superintendent of Police (SP) Rabindra Regmi nabbed publisher Sirohiya from the latter's office in Thapathali, Kathmandu. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">SP Regmi stated that Sirohiya was arrested for an investigation on the citizenship issue and added that preparations were underway to take Sirohiya to Janakpur. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">During his arrest, Sirohiya expressed his serious objection to the step taken by the government despite his pledge to cooperate with the government agencies for the probe. </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"">Sirohiya claimed that Deputy Prime Minister Ravi Lamichhane arrested him with mala fide intention for the news coverage by Kantiour Media regarding the cooperative scam involving the deputy prime minister.</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 home minister has a case over dual passport. I am hopeful that an arrest warrant will be issued against him as well,” said Sirohiya. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Earlier on Tuesday, a single bench of Judge Chitra Bahadur Gurung of the Dhanusha District Court had given permission to the police to issue an arrest warrant against Sirohiya. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Following the arrest warrant, Sirohiya lodged a petition at the Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday itself demanding to vacate the order of the Dhanusha District Court. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Information Officer of SC Govinda Prasad Ghimire said that the decision will be taken on Wednesday whether or not to register the writ petition. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The District Police Office, Dhanusha, sought approval from the court to arrest Sirohiya after the citizenship number of Sirohiya and another person was found to be identical. <em>(With inputs from RSS)</em></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-22', 'modified' => '2024-05-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20776', 'image' => '20240522110456_maxresdefault.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-22 11:04:18', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21048', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Birgunj Customs Office Misses Revenue Target, Collects Only 62%', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'The Birgunj Customs Office, a major border point for imports and exports, has failed to meet its revenue target for the first ten months of the current fiscal year 2080/81. The office has achieved only 62.82% of its revenue goal.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Birgunj: The Birgunj Customs Office, a major border point for imports and exports, has failed to meet its revenue target for the first ten months of the current fiscal year 2080/81. The office has achieved only 62.82% of its revenue goal.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the data on its website, the customs office aimed to collect Rs 202.9 billion by the end of Baisakh. However, only Rs 127.46 billion was collected. </span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Specifically, the customs office collected Rs 47.2372 billion in import duties, which is 60.88% of the target set at Rs 77.5877 billion.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The highest revenue came from Value Added Tax (VAT), with Rs 54.2658 billion collected, achieving 63.99% of the target. </span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">For excise duties, the office collected Rs 8.5208 billion, against a target of Rs 12.1157 billion.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Apart from the road construction and maintenance fees, the customs office did not meet its revenue targets in any category. It collected revenue under various headings, including advance income tax, health risk tax, infrastructure tax, export duties, agricultural improvement fees, road repair and maintenance fees, and luxury fees.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Officials said that the decline in imports of vehicles, fuel, and industrial raw materials, which are the main items imported through Birgunj, impacted the revenue. On the export side, processed edible oil, juice, pulp, and fabrics are the main items. However, Nepal's exports have decreased as Indian traders are importing oil from third countries due to India's zero customs duty policy on oil imports.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-22', 'modified' => '2024-05-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20775', 'image' => '20240522084206_collage (7).jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-22 08:40:07', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21047', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government of Nepal and World Bank Launch $4.6 Million Project to Strengthen Response to GBV', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'KATHMANDU: The Government of Nepal and the World Bank together launched the Institutionalizing Gender-Based Violence Response in Federal Nepal Project on Tuesday.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">KATHMANDU: The Government of Nepal (GoN) and the World Bank (WB) together launched the Institutionalizing Gender-Based Violence Response in Federal Nepal Project on Tuesday.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Issuing a joint statement, the GoN and the WB said that the project was jointly launched by Minister for Women, Children, and Senior Citizens, Bhagbati Chaudhary and World Bank’s Country Director for the Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, Faris Hadad-Zervos.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to the World Bank, the three-year project will help increase women’s and girls’ access to multisectoral gender-based violence (GBV) response services such as legal aid, psychosocial counseling, and medical support in six municipalities in Koshi and Lumbini provinces. It aims to benefit 49,000 women and girls who have experienced violence through better access to quality services.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">“Addressing gender-based violence is a priority for the government of Nepal. This project will help establish a functioning coordination system to link GBV response mechanisms at the municipal, provincial, and federal levels,” said</span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> Bhagbati Chaudhary, Minister for Women, Children, and Senior Citizens.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The project is financed by a $4.6 million grant from the State and Peacebuilding Trust Fund and will be implemented by the Ministry of Women, Children, and Senior Citizens.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The project will help strengthen institutional frameworks and capacity, pilot innovative GBV service models with a focus on improving service coverage and quality, and promote behavior change among first responders and local stakeholders for improved GBV response, the statement added.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">“This project will help empower women and girls to readily access GBV services, report violence, and seek help, especially in the most remote and hard to reach areas. This is key to supporting Nepal’s development that is green, resilient, and inclusive,</span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">” </span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">said Faris Hadad-Zervos.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The Government of Nepal and the World Bank signed the financing agreements for the project on April 24, 2024.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-21', 'modified' => '2024-05-21', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20774', 'image' => '20240521085600_GOGs7zGbAAADCYP.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-21 20:55:20', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21046', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'CIB Investigation into Cooperatives Fraud Finds Embezzlement of Billions of Rupees', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'KATHMANDU: Ram Chandra Pokharel is a member of the problematic Deurali Savings and Credit Cooperative. He said that he deposited his hard-earned money of Rs 3 million in the cooperative but he has not been able to get it back yet.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">BIJAY DAMASE</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">KATHMANDU: Ram Chandra Pokharel is a member of the problematic Deurali Savings and Credit Cooperative. He said that he deposited his hard-earned money of Rs 3 million in the cooperative but he has not been able to get it back yet.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">Pokharel said that even though he went from pillar to post knocking the doors of the Department of Cooperatives as well as the municipality to get back his money, the cooperative is yet to release the amount. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">"The fraudulent operators of the cooperative have political protection, that's why they are not in favor of returning the money," he accused. The deposits of hundreds of other depositors are also trapped in the cooperative. The directors of Deurali have been accused of embezzling more than Rs 2 billion of the depositors.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">Similarly, Rakesh Murarka said that he worked day and night for five years to earn Rs 8 million and deposited the money in National Development Cooperative Cooperative. He says that he requested all concerned bodies to return his money but was denied justice.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">"I even visited political party leaders but in vain," he said expressing his pain. According to Murarka, the depositors of the National Cooperative have lodged a police complaint against its director for embezzlement of Rs 332.22 million. However, the cooperative has not returned their savings yet.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police is currently investigating the irregularities in about a dozen cooperatives including these two. CIB's research has shown that most of the cooperatives have collapsed due to indiscriminate and excessive investment in unproductive sectors. It has been found that many co-operatives had given loans without collateral and many such debtors have run away.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">The police investigation has also revealed that the operators of the problematic cooperatives were found withdrawing money from the cooperatives arbitrarily and investing the money at their whims, which risked billions of rupees deposited by the members. The investigation also found that the cooperatives lacked any kind of regulatory mechanism and auditing.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">Superintendent of Police at the CIB Hobindra Bogati told New Business Age that billions of rupees of the depositors were trapped in cooperatives and the police had trouble verifying the details. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">"During the investigation, it was found that the operators of cooperatives had purchased luxury vehicles with the money deposited in the cooperatives. They also used the money for usury, and bought land in the name of third persons," Bogati said.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">The investigation of the police has also shown that the family businesses were opened in the name of the parents, sisters, in-laws of the operators of cooperatives while some cooperatives were opened with the motive of embezzling the money of unsuspecting depositors. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">The police concluded that the country's economy has been negatively affected due to the problems in cooperatives. "The problem surfaced due to the dumping of the money in non-productive areas, as a result of which the economy has slumped," said Bogati.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">Lalitpur's Deurali Cooperative was found to have embezzled more than Rs 2 billion and the owner of Shiva Shikhar Cooperative, which had a network spread across 35 districts, had embezzled billions of rupees.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">According to the police data, since mid-July of the current fiscal year, cases have been registered all over the country saying that co-operative operators have cheated Rs 6 billion. A total of 148 people have been arrested in this connection. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">During last fiscal year, the police registered cases related to cooperative fraud worth Rs 7 billion. The cases are sent to the police only after failing to resolve the issue by the local and state governments as well as the Department of Cooperative. The police investigation has shown that by the time all those agencies investigate, the operators of the cooperatives manage to sell their property. As a result, they were unable to return the savings to the victims.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">According to government data, there are 31,373 cooperatives in operation across the country. They have a collected Rs 478 billion from the depositors and invested Rs 426 billion in loans. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">Although the Department of Cooperatives has estimated that around 500 cooperatives are facing problems, it is not known how much money exactly has been embezzled. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">According to the police officials involved in investigation, the cooperatives have 73,81,218 depositors. Stakeholders say that thousands of depositors have not been able to get back their money due to political intervention.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">CPN (UML) whip Mahesh Bertaula said that even though his party was serious about the issue of cooperatives, the Nepali Congress has become the obstacle in resolving this issue.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">On the other hand, Chief Whip of Nepali Congress Ramesh Lekhak claims that the ruling parties are busy protecting the co-operative thugs. According to him, the Congress is effortful to ensure justice to the cooperative victims. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">Former Secretary Gopinath Mainali sees the need to form a committee to remove the legal obstacles rather than focusing on individuals to solve the problems of cooperatives. "Those with vested interests should not sit in such a committee," he said.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">He said that the state side has not taken any concrete steps to resolve the problems while the main opposition party is linking the issue of cooperatives with the government. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">“Why are the political parties not ready to take action by amending the law immediately?" he questioned, adding, "There is no law that allows immediate freezing of the property of directors and officials as soon as cooperatives are declared problematic. The state should make such laws. Legal arrangements should be made to bring those who invest recklessly against the norms of the cooperative to the court.”</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">The government has announced the creation of a special regulatory agency to control irregularities in the cooperatives sector. According to Mainali, although the matter of creating such a body was included in the budget many times, the political leadership never implemented it. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">"Even though many committees were formed to solve the problem and submitted reports, it was kept in the drawer," said Mainali.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-21', 'modified' => '2024-05-21', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20773', 'image' => '20240521071737_20220506015945_Cooperative.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-21 19:17:14', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21045', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Electricity Dispute Resolution Commission Tells NEA not to Charge Fees after End of Load Shedding', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'KATHMANDU: The government has granted permission to the Nepal Electricity Authority to charge the tariff for electricity distributed to industries from dedicated feeder and trunk lines from mid-January 2016 to mid-May 2018.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">KATHMANDU: The government has granted permission to the Nepal Electricity Authority to charge the tariff for electricity distributed to industries from dedicated feeder and trunk lines from mid-January </span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">20</span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">16 to mid-May </span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">20</span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">18</span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">The NEA cannot levy the full tariff it claims the industries a liable to pay after the Council of Ministers decided last week to implement the recommendations made by the commission chaired by former judge Girish Chandra Lal resolve the electricity tariff dispute.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">The commission submitted its report to Energy Minister Shakti Bahadur Basnet on May 5</span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">. </span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">The government formed the commission on January 9 with the mandate to study and submit a report on the disputes related to the tariff of electricity supply through dedicated feeder and trunk lines</span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">Sushil Chandra Tiwari, secretary at the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation said that the Council of Ministers has sent a letter to the ministry to implement the report of the 'Electricity Tariff Dispute Resolution Commission, </span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">2080</span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">' regarding the electricity tariff dispute of dedicated feeder and trunk line.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">According to him, after the report was approved by the Council of Ministers, a letter was sent to the ministry for implementation last Friday. As mentioned in the report, the industrialist will have to pay to the electricity dues to the NEA only from mid-January </span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">20</span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">16 to mid-May </span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">20</span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">18</span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">. </span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">“The report submitted by the commission has been approved by the Council of Ministers. Now the report will be implemented," said Energy Secretary Tiwari told New Business Age. According to him, the outstanding electricity tariff from mid-January </span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">20</span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">16 to mid-May </span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">20</span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">18 is Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">6</span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">.</span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">41</span></span> <span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">billion. The industrialists will have to pay interest and </span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">25</span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif""> percent penalty to the amount.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">According to Tiwari, commission's report has suggested that it is not appropriate to collect fees twice from the industrialists, especially after mid-May </span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">20</span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">18 to mid-May </span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">2020</span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif""> after the NEA announced an end to loadshedding. The NEA has been demanding an additional Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">8</span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">.</span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">44</span></span> <span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">billion from the industrialists as electricity charge for this period, which the commission report does not allow the state-owned utility to collect.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">There has been a dispute between the industrialists and the electricity authority on this issue for a long time. The authority even disconnected the lines of some industries after the industrialists took a stand of not paying the electricity tariff.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-21', 'modified' => '2024-05-21', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20772', 'image' => '20240521041228_20220330051709_c1d0e043-electricity.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-21 16:11:05', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21044', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NEPSE Surges by 23.94 Points to Close at 2115.94', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) witnessed a gain of 23.94 points, equivalent to 1.14%, closing at 2115.94 on the third trading day of the week, Tuesday.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px">May 21: The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) witnessed a gain of 23.94 points, equivalent to 1.14%, closing at 2115.94 on the third trading day of the week, Tuesday.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">During today’s trading, 317 scrips were traded on the NEPSE through 73,667 transactions. As many as 13,241,217 shares changed hands, resulting in a total turnover of Rs 5.20 billion.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">Pokhara Finance Limited (PFL) led the turnover amount with total transactions worth Rs 24 crores. Janaki Finance Limited (JFL), Nerude Mirmire Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited (NMLBBL), and Samudayik Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited (SLBSL) each gained 10% and hit the positive circuit for the day.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">Conversely, Shine Resunga Development Bank (SHINE) faced the highest loss of 4.28%, closing at a market price of Rs 400 per share.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">In terms of sector indices, all sectors closed in positive territory except the Development Bank Index and the Trading Index.</span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-21', 'modified' => '2024-05-21', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20771', 'image' => '20240521033434_collage.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-21 15:25:14', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21043', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Tourism Promotion Event on Nepal held in Beijing ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'KATHMANDU: The Embassy of Nepal in Beijing, in collaboration with the Nepal Tourism Board and Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATTA) of Gandaki province, hosted a tourism promotion event under the theme "Nepal Sales Mission 2024: Gandaki Province" at the Embassy on Monday.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">KATHMANDU: The Embassy of Nepal in Beijing, in collaboration with the Nepal Tourism Board and Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATTA) of Gandaki province, hosted a tourism promotion event under the theme "Nepal Sales Mission 2024: Gandaki Province" at the Embassy on Monday. </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 event aimed to develop network among tour and travel operators of Nepal and China, the Embassy of Nepal in Beijing, states a press release issued by the organisers. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">On the occasion, Ambassador of Nepal to the People's Republic of China, Bishnu Pukar Shrestha, highlighted the major tourism attractions of Nepal and encouraged the participants to jointly cooperate to make the upcoming Visit Nepal Year 2025 a success, which was jointly declared by Nepal and China. He also urged the participants to build network as to enhance tourism cooperation between the two countries. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">During the event, NTB Senior Officer Kundan Sharma Mishra made a presentation promoting Nepal as an attractive tourism destination focusing on Pokhara which was recently declared as the tourism capital of Nepal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">On the occasion, NATTA president Hari Ram Adhikari and member Khim Bahadur Nepali delivered statements about Nepal's tourism potentials. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The programme was followed by an interactive B2B session. The event was attended by approximately 150 participants including Nepali and Chinese tour and travel operators, business persons working in tourism sector as well as media representatives. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-21', 'modified' => '2024-05-21', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20770', 'image' => '20240521031857_20231001020729_20230714012959_20221227011524_Flag-Pins-Nepal-China.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-21 15:18:21', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21042', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Yet to Spend Rs 435 Billion Budget with Two Months Left for Current FY to End', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'KATHMANDU: With less than two months left for the current fiscal year (FY) to end, the government is yet to spend Rs 435 billion to meet the revised target of budget expenditure.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">KATHMANDU: With less than two months left for the current fiscal year (FY) to end, the government is yet to spend Rs 435 billion to meet the revised target of budget expenditure.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The government announced a budget of Rs 1751 billion for the current year and revised it to Rs 1530 billion in January through the mid-tern review of budget.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">According to the Financial Comptroller General Office, the constitutional body that keeps track of government’s expenditure, the government has spent only Rs 1095 billion as of last Sunday. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">With only two months remaining in the current fiscal year and signs of increasing political instability, questions have arisen about how the government will spend the rest of the budget. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal took the vote of confidence in the House of Representatives on Monday amid the obstruction of parliament by the main opposition Nepali Congress. Three governments have been formed in one year under the leadership of Prime Minister Dahal. Due to political instability, government spending is affected due to lack of timely decisions.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">As the government has allocated a budget of Rs 1141 billion for the current expenses. After the mid-tern review, the estimate expenditure under this heading has been fixed at Rs 1007 billion. The FCGO has said that the government has already spent Rs 770 billion under the current expenses as of Sunday. According to the FCGO, the government has allocated 302 billion under the heading of capital expenditure for in the current fiscal year, but has spent only Rs 119 billion so far. According to the revised estimate, the government has to spend Rs 254 billion.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">In Nepal, the capital expenditure for development works is mostly spent in the months of March, April, May and June. However, even at this period, the capital expenditure has not been much encouraging. According to the revised estimate, the government will have to spend Rs 135 billion under the heading of capital expenditure. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Similarly, a the government had allocated a budget of Rs 307 billion for financial management, which was revised to Rs 268 billion through the mid-tern review. According to the data of the FCGO, the government has already spent Rs 205 billion has under this heading as of Sunday.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Government officials are blaming each other for the lackluster expenditure. According to the Ministry of Finance, there is no reason to stop the expenditure as the Minister for Finance and the ministry have repeatedly instructed the secretaries of the related ministries and heads of agencies to increase the expenditure.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">"Recently, the Finance Ministry instructed the Department of Roads to send a report on work progress along with recommendations to resolve the problems it faces. However, the department has not yet submitted its report," an official of the budget division of the Ministry of Finance told New Business Age. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">According to him, no project and work has been stopped due to lack of budget.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">However, the expenditure situation is not satisfactory. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Economist Bimal Koirala highlights that the unspent budget is due to errors in the government’s budget formulation process, lack of political will, and structural issues.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"> “Due to errors in budgeting, there is no capital expenditure and no development. That is what has happened so far," he said. "The size of the budget has become an arbitrary number and the trend of reducing it through the mid-term review is not a good practice. The government should bring a realistic budget."</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Koirala says that due to the fact that the government has not properly implemented the report of the Expenditure Review Commission, the problems have been persisting for years. "This situation will continue until the government identifies the problems in the budget spending system and takes initiatives to solve them," he said.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-21', 'modified' => '2024-05-21', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20769', 'image' => '20240521010943_budget.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-21 13:09:04', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21041', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Manaslu Conservation Area Collects over Rs 25 Million in Revenue ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'KATHMANDU: The office of the Manaslu Conservation Area Project has collected more than Rs 25 million in revenue in nine months of the current fiscal year.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">KATHMANDU: The office of the Manaslu Conservation Area Project has collected more than Rs 25 million in revenue in nine months of the current fiscal year. The office collected the amount as entry fee from tourists visiting the area from July 17, 2023 to April 12, 2024. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A total of 8,302 foreign tourists visited the area during the review period, according to the office. It collected Rs 24.9 million from them. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, 152 foreign tourists of SAARC countries had visited the Manaslu Conservation Area during this period. A total of Rs 152,000 in revenue was collected from them, said MCAP Chief Santosh Sherchan. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The office has determined Rs 1,000 as entry fee for a tourist of SAARC countries visiting the area while tourists from other countries have to pay Rs 3,000 per person. It has already collected more revenue in nine months this year as compared to previous year as number of tourists visiting Manaslu conservation area has increased this year. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Sherchan shared that more than 12,000 foreign tourists have been expected at Manaslu conservation area this year. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-21', 'modified' => '2024-05-21', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20768', 'image' => '20240521121934_20221101102053_manaslu.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-21 12:19:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21040', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Gold Hits Record High as Iran Shock Triggers Safe Haven Investment', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'KATHMANDU: The price of gold hit a record high in the international market Monday as the shock death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash boosted support for the precious metal seen as a safe haven investment.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">KATHMANDU: The price of gold hit a record high in the international market Monday as the shock death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash boosted support for the precious metal seen as a safe haven investment.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">According to AFP, copper also struck an all-time peak and silver jumped to the highest level in more than 11 years -- with markets generally gaining from a brighter economic outlook.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Gold had already hit a series of record highs this year and Nepal was not an exception.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">The country also witnessed a record-high price of gold on Monday with the precious yellow metal traded at Rs </span><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">141,800 per tola</span> (11.66 grams) before shedding Rs 1200 per tola on Tuesday.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Asian and European stock markets began the week higher, having recently struck all-time peaks along with indices on Wall Street.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">The metals are priced in the dollar, which has come under pressure recently from expectations that the US Federal Reserve will soon start to cut interest rates as inflation cools.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Gold struck a record $2,450.07 an ounce in the international market on Monday, while copper's all-time high stood at $11,104 per tonne.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Raisi was confirmed dead on Monday after search and rescue teams found his crashed helicopter in a fog-shrouded western mountain region, sparking mourning in the Islamic republic, AFP added.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Foreign countries had been closely following the search at a time of high regional tensions over the Gaza war raging between Israel and Hamas since October 7.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">"Gold and copper have hit record highs, (and) silver jumped to an 11-year high... after the death of Iran's president in a helicopter crash," AFP quoted Neil Wilson, chief market analyst at Finalto trading group, as saying.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">"There is a clear geopolitical premium since October 7th," he said, adding that "expectations the Fed will cut rates soon is helping".</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Analysts said market sentiment was boosted additionally by China's plan to support its struggling property sector.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">The positive start to the week for equities came after Wall Street's Dow index ended above 40,000 points for the first time on Friday.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Oil prices dipped after initially jumping on the Iran news, added the news agency.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Investors are looking to the release Wednesday of minutes from the Federal Reserve's May policy decision, hoping for some insight into the thinking of decision-makers.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">The release comes after data last week showed US inflation easing in April, reviving hopes the central bank would cut interest rates twice this year.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-21', 'modified' => '2024-05-21', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20767', 'image' => '20240521114649_20240310065333_20240307024448_gold newwww.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-21 11:45:16', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '21039', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Country's 14% of Health Equipment Remains Unused ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'KATHMANDU: As much as 14 percent of the total health equipment are left unused in the country, a study has revealed. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">KATHMANDU: As much as 14 percent of the total health equipment are left unused in the country, a study has revealed. The survey of biomedical equipment in Nepal's public health institutions conducted by the Department of Health Services in collaboration with Lifeline Enterprises showed that 2,645 health equipment in the country are still not installed in the health institutions. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Chairperson of Lifeline Enterprises Anjali Tiwariwal said that data were collected from 11 hospitals of Bagmati, Koshi, Madhesh, Gandaki and Sudurpaschim provinces adding that 1,823 health equipment are dysfunctional. The study carried out from October 2023 to April 2024 surveyed the status of 19,174 hospitals. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Bhaskar Rijal, a biomedical engineer involved in the study team, said that 1,174 sets of equipment are unused despite being in proper condition. </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"">"Those equipment imported during the time of COVID-19 are left unused for lack of Covid-19 patients," Rijal added. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Rijal further stated that the CT scan machines of Bir Hospital, APF Hospital and Koshi Hospital have turned dysfunctional with severe complaints about the charger board and battery. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Meanwhile, Director of Bir Hospital Dr Santosh Poudel shared that the hospital lacks biomedical engineers to repair and run such equipment. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-21', 'modified' => '2024-05-21', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20766', 'image' => '20240521111257_20200224061638_Clipboard24.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-21 11:12:20', '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
