January 29: Nepal has made improvements in reducing hunger with a score of 19.1 in the 2022 Global Hunger Index (GHI), a drop from 21.2 in…
January 29: Nepal has made improvements in reducing hunger with a score of 19.1 in the 2022 Global Hunger Index (GHI), a drop from 21.2 in…
January 28: The World Health Organisation (WHO) has said that nine of the 16 countries – including Nepal – with the highest estimated proportion of coronary heart disease deaths caused by trans fat intake were not implementing best-practice…
January 28: Nepal Chamber of Commerce (NCC) has drawn the attention of the government and authorities concerned to ease commercial…
January 27: The Supreme Court has ruled that Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) and Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane is ineligible to be a member of parliament because of his citizenship…
The Ministry of Finance has started preparations for a half-yearly review of the budget for the current fiscal…
January 27: Tiptala pass along the Nepal-China border in Taplejung district has remained closed for three years, causing inconvenience to the locals living in the border…
January 27: Four youths aged between 25 to 35 years have introduced a new product in the footwear industry of Nepal under the brand…
January 27: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has issued reverse repo (repurchase agreement) after 18 months indicating an end to the liquidity crisis in the…
January 27: The Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) has removed 9,000 hoarding boards in three months.…
January 27: The Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport has formed an expert-led panel to seek recommendations to bring about reforms in the country’s public transportation…
January 27: Electricity service has been disrupted in Jumla district due to…
Maya Khola Hydropower Company Limited has opened sale of its Initial Public Offering (IPO) to the general public from…
January 26: Although the construction of hydropower projects in Nepal has accelerated recently, the construction of reservoir-based projects is very…
The price of gold reached an all-time high in Nepali market on Thursday. The price of yellow metal was fixed at over 106 thousand per tola (11.66…
January 26: Daayitwa, a not for profit non-governmental organization that envisions an enterprising Nepal, successfully organized the Fellowship Symposium to celebrate the graduation of the 12th Cohort of Public Policy…
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', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">January 29: Nepal has made improvements in reducing hunger with a score of 19.1 in the 2022 Global Hunger Index (GHI), a drop from 21.2 in 2014. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The country is ranked 81st out of 121 countries and is ahead of some South Asian countries including India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. However, it is behind Sri Lanka which is ranked 64th with 13.6 points. India's position has depleted as it fell to 107th position with 29.1 points. Similarly, Bangladesh is ranked 84th with a score of 19.6, while Pakistan is ranked 99th with 26.1 points. Afghanistan is ranked 1.9th with 29.9 points. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The GHI report was published jointly by the Concern Worldwide and Welthungerhilfe amid a function organised by the NGO Federation of Nepal. The index less than 10 points reflects low hunger, and between 10 and 19.9 moderate hunger. Similarly, from 20 to 34.9 indicates serious hunger, and from 35 to 49.9 alarming. Above 50 reveals extremely alarming level of hunger. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The aim of the GHI is to trigger action to end hunger around the world, it was shared during the event. The 2022 Global Hunger Index (GHI) shows Nepal has a moderate level of hunger with a score of 19.1 on the GHI.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Nepal has continued making improvements on the GHI scores over the past 22 years. Nepal scored 37 on the GHI Trend in 2000. The score dropped to 30 in 2007, 21.2 in 2014 and 19.1 in 2022. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Although Nepal has made some progress in reducing hunger, it is not satisfactory, said Dr Yamuna Ghale, an expert on food security. GHI scores are calculated based on a formula combining four indicators—undernourishment, child stunting, child wasting and child mortality—that together capture the multidimensional nature of hunger, she said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">When we look at data of stunting rates regionally, there is a grim picture, she said. Stunting rates vary across the provinces with the range of 22.6 and 22.9 percent in Gandaki and Bagmati provinces respectively, and the figure jumps to more than double at 47.8 percent in Karnali Province. This is not a matter of satisfaction, she said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, children consuming foods rich in iron and iron supplements are low across provinces. According to her, Province 1 and 2 have the lowest percentage in the case of women and children respectively. Women and children in Province 1 and 2 were also found the most anemic in the country, which could be due to less or no iron intakes, she said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Cooperation, coordination and collaboration among related stakeholders, ensuring localised, sustainable, inclusive and resilient food system and understanding relevant stakeholders in the realisation of human rights to food could be a way out, Ghale suggested. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-29', 'modified' => '2023-01-29', 'keywords' => 'Nepal, Global, Hunger, Index, GHI, Rank, progress, South Asia', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16609', 'image' => '20230129094133_20221016111519_GHI-2-1.jpeg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-29 09:40:39', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16868', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Billions Exposed to Toxic Trans Fat: WHO', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 28: The World Health Organisation (WHO) has said that nine of the 16 countries – including Nepal – with the highest estimated proportion of coronary heart disease deaths caused by trans fat intake were not implementing best-practice policies.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">January 28: The World Health Organisation (WHO) has said that nine of the 16 countries – including Nepal – with the highest estimated proportion of coronary heart disease deaths caused by trans fat intake were not implementing best-practice policies.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The countries in the list include Australia, Azerbaijan, Bhutan, Ecuador, Egypt, Iran, Nepal, Pakistan and South Korea in alphabetical order.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The WHO said that billions of people are still exposed to the toxic fat which kills half a million people each year while people with conditions linked with trans fat, such as heart disease, are at more risk of serious illness or death from COVID-19.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“Protecting people from these harmful substances is therefore important not just for protecting against heart disease, but also for protecting against the impact of epidemics and pandemics, said WHO Director General Ghebreyesus in his opening remarks at virtual launch event - Countdown to 2023: WHO Report on Global Trans Fat Elimination.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Industrially-produced trans fat is often used in packaged foods, baked goods, cooking oils and spreads, AFP reported.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the French news agency, best practice means either a mandatory national limit of two grammes of industrially-produced trans fat per 100 grammes of total fat in all foods; or a national ban on the production or use of partially-hydrogenated oils, which are a major source of trans fat.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The UN health agency said efforts to eliminate industrially-produced fat have a long way to go with five billion people exposed to toxic fat added to many food products.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The inaugural progress report of WHO showed most of the policy action against trans fat had been in high-income countries. No low-income country and only three lower-middle-income countries (India, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan) have trans fat policies, the WHO said in an earlier report. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">However, lower-middle income countries have been leading the way recently, WHO Director General Ghebreyesus said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“Last year, India became the first lower-middle income country to adopt best-practice policy. Bangladesh, Philippines and Ukraine have all passed policies that will come into force in in the coming years, and Nigeria and Sri Lanka are expected to pass their policies soon.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The WHO called in 2018 for harmful trans fatty acids to be wiped out by 2023, the AFP reported adding, “They are thought to be responsible for around 500,000 premature deaths from coronary heart disease each year.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"Trans fat has no known benefit, and huge health risks that incur huge costs for health systems," AFP quoted WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus as saying.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"By contrast, eliminating trans fat is cost effective and has enormous benefits for health. Put simply, trans fat is a toxic chemical that kills, and should have no place in food. It's time to get rid of it once and for all," he added.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Although 43 countries with combined populations of 2.8 billion people have now implemented best-practice policies, most of the world remains unprotected, WHO said, acknowledging in an annual progress report that the goal was still out of sight.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"There are some regions of the world which do not believe the problem is there," AFP quoted Francesco Branca, WHO’s nutrition and food safety director, as saying. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"It is easy for them to take action to prevent these products being dumped onto them."</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-28', 'modified' => '2023-01-28', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16607', 'image' => '20230128013817_food-pic.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-28 13:36:13', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16867', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NCC Calls for Enabling Business-Friendly Environment ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 28: Nepal Chamber of Commerce (NCC) has drawn the attention of the government and authorities concerned to ease commercial activities.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">January 28: Nepal Chamber of Commerce (NCC) has drawn the attention of the government and authorities concerned to ease commercial activities. Noting that commercial activities have not appeared smooth of late, the chamber has laid emphasis on economic and financial discipline. NCC said that it was unfortunate for the country to see the situation of self-immolation of a young entrepreneur due to entrepreneurial difficulties. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In a statement issued on Friday, NCC said, "The longstanding problems surfaced in financial institutions have brought serious problems in the industry and business sector. It was saddening for the entire country to see the situation of self-immolation". </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The chamber has also asked the state mechanisms to end the policy hassles faced by entrepreneurs who want to do something in the country. The banks and financial institutions should also make the lending process service-oriented, the chamber said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In the statement, the chamber shared that it has been drawing the attention of the state agencies to check high interest rates and enable investment-friendly climate. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">NCC Chairperson Rajendra Malla urged the concerned authorities to encourage digital system in financial transactions. The chamber has reiterated that the central bank and BFIs should create atmosphere to stabilize bank interest rates and promote investment. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-28', 'modified' => '2023-01-28', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16606', 'image' => '20230128013610_20220720115910_NCCC.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-28 13:35:19', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16866', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Rabi Lamichhane is ineligible to Become an MP: Supreme Court', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 27: The Supreme Court has ruled that Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) and Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane is ineligible to be a member of parliament because of his citizenship issue.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">January 27: The Supreme Court has ruled that Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) and Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane is ineligible to be a member of parliament because of his citizenship issue.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">As the court has dismissed him from the membership of parliament, Lamichhane will no longer be allowed to discharge his duties as the DPM and home minister.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Issuing a final verdict in a case related to his citizenship on Friday, the apex court said that Lamichhane must begin a new process to acquire citizenship after renouncing his American citizenship.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">A Constitutional Bench of SC comprising Acting Chief Justice Hari Krishna Karki and justices Bishwambhar Prasad Shrestha, Ishwar Prasad Khatiwada, Dr Ananda Mohan Bhattarai and Anil Kumar Sinha concluded that Lamichhane could not furnish any evidence of starting a new process of acquiring Nepali citizenship after renouncing American citizenship. Therefore, the court ruled that he is not fit to become an MP.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Lamichhane was elected as a member of parliament from Chitwan constituency-2 during the November 20 election last year. He is the president of Rastriya Swatantra Party which is currently the fourth largest party in parliament after the Nepali Congress, CPN-UML and CPN (Maoist Centre). </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-27', 'modified' => '2023-01-28', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16605', 'image' => '20230127063038_1674821039.Rabi lamichhane.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-27 18:30:09', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16865', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Prepares For Half-yearly Budget Review', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'The Ministry of Finance has started preparations for a half-yearly review of the budget for the current fiscal 2022-23. ', 'content' => '<p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">January 27: The Ministry of Finance has started preparations for a half-yearly review of the budget for the current fiscal 2022-23. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">The Ministry has formed a committee to proceed with the review. The team is led by the Chief of Budget and Programme Division, according to Ministry Spokesperson Anand Kafle. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">According to Kafle, the Committee is assigned to review the budget till mid-January. The further review will be based on the committee’s report. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">The committee coordinated by Division Chief Ritesh Kumar Shakya comprises one representative each from the Nepal Rastra Bank, National Planning Commission, and the Office of the Auditor General and the Public Debt Management Office.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Besides, the committee incorporates all secretaries from the Finance Ministry and the Division under-secretaries. --RSS</span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-27', 'modified' => '2023-01-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16604', 'image' => '20230127052759_collage (70).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-27 17:24:20', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16863', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Closure of Tiptala Pass Impacts Socio-Economic Life in Northern Taplejung ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 27: Tiptala pass along the Nepal-China border in Taplejung district has remained closed for three years, causing inconvenience to the locals living in the border areas. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">January 27: Tiptala pass along the Nepal-China border in Taplejung district has remained closed for three years, causing inconvenience to the locals living in the border areas. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">It was shut by China owing to the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic three years ago. People of Olangchung Gola, Yanga, and Ghunsa have been affected the most by the closure of the transit point as they largely depended on the imports of food stuffs, garments and daily consumables from the Tibetan Riu market. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">With the closure of the border, they have switched to the supply from Phungling, the district headquarters. The imports from the district headquarters have caused them additional financial burden than from Tibet as it increases the transportation cost. It costs Rs 30 per kg for iodized salt in Phungling which climbs to Rs 100 after it is transported to Olangchung Gola. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The closure of the pass has its implications on the socio-economic life of the people. Exports from the villages have been hampered. Prior to the pandemic, they would supply medicinal herbs, Nepali carpets and livestock to Tibet, according to Olangchung Gola’s outgoing ward chair Chheten Sherpa. He says the transportation cost from Phungling to Olangchung Gola is at least Rs 60 per kg and it will go high if it needs to be transported up to Yanga. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Yanga, Ghunsa and Olangchung Gola are yet to be connected with the road network. Animal husbandry, herbs collection and carpet production are major occupations of the people here. Before the border was sealed, they would supply dairy products such as ghee and cheese from their house. Now their trade has been largely disturbed. Carpet business is totally down. They have numerous challenges to supply the products to domestic markets due to geographical issues. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In addition to this, medicinal herbs collected by farmers and suppliers in Ilam and Panchthar districts were being supplied to Tibet. Now these two districts supply the collections to domestic markets via Birtamod of Jhapa. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Tiptala folks expect the government to take initiations for reopening the border to normalize their life. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">It takes around two days to reach Olangchung Gola from Phungling as the transportation service is available only up to Lepe of Phungling while it takes two to three days to reach Yanga, Ghunsa and Thudam. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Olangchung Gola is home to 53 families while 13 families reside in Yanga. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-27', 'modified' => '2023-01-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16602', 'image' => '20230127042851_12196216_1047303095302377_7673986938681974796_n.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-27 16:28:14', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16862', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Neco Brand Shoes in Market', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 27: Four youths aged between 25 to 35 years have introduced a new product in the footwear industry of Nepal under the brand 'Neco'.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">January 27: Four youths aged between 25 to 35 years have introduced a new product in the footwear industry of Nepal under the brand 'Neco'.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Jaydev Kalauni of Kanchanpur, Shakshi Basnet of Dang, Pradeep Koirala of Pokhara and Niraj Jaiswal of Birgunj established the shoe industry -- Neco Creation Pvt Ltd – which produces Neco brand shoes. Having established an industry in Birgunj, they have set a goal of selling shoes from three outlets in Kathmandu.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Neco inaugurated its first outlet on the third floor of Kathmandu Mall on Thursday. Jaydev Kalauni, president of Neco Creation said that Neco brand shoes will be sold and distributed from 33 showrooms across the country by next April.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He studied the market of premium shoes in Nepal when all businesses halted due to Covid-19. There, he found that shoes up to Rs 3000 are easily available, but when looking for more expensive shoes, the market has shoes amounting to Rs 12000/15000.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">After realizing that there were no options for shoes ranging between Rs 4000 to Rs 10,000 Kalauni decided to produce the shoes of that range in Nepal, which cost more than Rs 10,000 when imported from abroad. Kalauni started the industry by proposing investment with a 25-year-old footwear company in Bangladesh.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The industry, which started with an investment of Rs 10 million, including foreign investment of Rs 5 million from Bangladesh, can produce 180,000 pairs of shoes annually. Altogether 100 people are given immediate employment in the industry, including 20 Bangladeshi citizens.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Among the four founders of the company, Pradeep Koirala is a Chartered Accountant and Niraj Jaiswal is a BBA student. Shakshi has studied hotel management while Kalauni has completed his master's degree in management.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><strong>If you don't like shoes worth Rs 3000 and can’t buy shoes worth Rs 10,000</strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Among the shoes produced by Nepali companies, there are shoes in the market for those who are looking for the cheapest price around Rs 1000 to Rs 1500, for the middle range price around Rs 2000 to Rs 3000.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">However, the upper middle class population is neither satisfied with shoes worth Rs 3,000, nor they can wear foreign shoes by spending Rs 12000/15000. Kalauni says that Neco Shoes debuted in the market to fill this gap.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Kalauni said, “Our concept is to provide consumers with high-end shoes than the available shoes and low-cost shoes than imported ones. In other words, the main objective is to sell premium shoes at affordable prices to middle/upper middle class people.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The company is currently producing only formal, semi-formal leather shoes and casual sports shoes made of fine leather. The price of these ranges from Rs 4,500 to 8,000 for leather shoes and 2,000 to 4,500 for sports shoes. On the occasion of the inauguration of the outlet, a 20 percent discount is arranged for the purchase of shoes for 10 days.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><strong>Partnering with experienced companies, using new technology</strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Neco shoes is established in Nepal in partnership with an experienced company that has been producing shoes for 25 years in Bangladesh.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The company manufactures shoes, keeping up with the latest technology. Kalauni said that Neco recently purchased machinery worth more than Rs million based on new technology.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He said that he has established an industry in Birgunj so that it will be easy to export shoes in the future.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">If the industrial environment in Nepal does not improve, the company plans to export shoes to other countries in the next few days or set up an industry in Bangladesh itself and engage in export business.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-27', 'modified' => '2023-01-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16601', 'image' => '20230127032624_WhatsApp Image 2023-01-26 at 15.34.26_1674743638.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-27 15:25:46', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16861', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NRB Issues Reverse Repo after 18 Months', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 27: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has issued reverse repo (repurchase agreement) after 18 months indicating an end to the liquidity crisis in the market.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">January 27: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has issued reverse repo (repurchase agreement) after 18 months indicating an end to the liquidity crisis in the market. After the interbank interest rates of banks and financial institutions fell below the monetary policy target, NRB decided to mop the excess liquidity from the market.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">NRB raised Rs 5 billion from the market through a 7-day reverse repo via bidding on Thursday. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Seven banks and financial institutions were ready to bid Rs 15.6 billion for the reverse repo issued on Thursday.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The bidders proposed the maximum interest rate of 4.46 percent and the minimum of 4.24 percent while the average interest rate proposed was 4.32 percent, NRB said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The last time NRB mopped excess liquidity from the market through reverse repo and deposit collection tools was during July 2021. The central bank had mopped Rs 28.35 billion from the market through reverse repo on July 20, 2021 and Rs 31.65 billion was collected from the market on July 28 and August 5 through deposit collection tools. After that, NRB has been continuously injecting liquidity to the market.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Although there has been improvement in remittance inflow and an increase in deposit collection of banks, the banks were unable to expand credit due to high interest rates. Due to this, treasury bills and interbank interest rates are also decreasing. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">NRB claimed that the reverse repo was issued after the interbank rate fell below the limit set by the monetary policy. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“Now there is no more liquidity in the market. Reverse repo was issued after the interbank rate fell below the monetary policy limit,” said a source at the NRB.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In the monetary policy of the current fiscal year, there is a provision to issue repo/reverse repo if the average interest rate of interbank transactions fluctuates more than 2 percentage points than the policy rate. NRB said that the average interest rate of inter-bank transactions of banks fell to 4.7 percent on Wednesday.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In the monetary policy of the current fiscal year, the target has been set to maintain the upper limit of the interest rate corridor, i.e. the bank rate at 8.5 percent and the lower limit, i.e. the deposit collection rate, at 5.5 percent.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">By December of the current fiscal year, while deposits of banks and financial institutions increased by Rs 111.15 billion, they credit flow was limited to only Rs 73.3 billion.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-27', 'modified' => '2023-01-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16600', 'image' => '20230127023414_Nepal_Rastra_Bank2 2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-27 14:32:59', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16860', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Kathmandu Metropolis Removes 9,000 Hoarding Boards in Three Months ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 27: The Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) has removed 9,000 hoarding boards in three months. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">January 27: The Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) has removed 9,000 hoarding boards in three months. KMC said that it removed such boards that were placed violating the rules. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The local government has mobilised a four-member team that visits the city each day, assesses the hoarding boards installed in violation of the rules and removes them. The campaign aims to maintain the beauty of the metropolis. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the chief of the Revenue Department of KMC Dr Shiba Raj Adhikari, the campaign to pullout hoarding boards placed against the rules was mainly centered in New Baneshwar, Koteshwar, Putali Sadak, Bagbazar and Maharajgunj areas. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The local government on September 23 last year fixed the standards for placement of hoarding boards and charge for them. Issuing a 30-day public notice, it urged bodies concerned to follow the standards. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">As per the Economic Act-2079 BS, the Metropolis annually charges Rs 500 for a hoarding board up to six square feet, Rs 1,500 for up to 15 square feet and Rs 1,000 per foot for a hoarding board from 15-30 square feet. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The local government collects revenue under 36 headings including property tax, house rent tax, enterprise tax, advertisement tax and entertainment tax. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The metropolis in the current fiscal year has set a target of collecting the revenue of Rs 550 million. As of mid-January, the revenue collection of KMC stands at Rs 314.02 million. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">It is said the collection of entertainment tax which was challenging for a long has been possible lately due to the frequent efforts of the local government. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-27', 'modified' => '2023-01-27', 'keywords' => 'KMC, hoarding, board, removal, illegal', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16599', 'image' => '20230127011237_maxresdefault.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-27 13:11:43', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16859', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government forms Panel to Reform Public Transport ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 27: The Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport has formed an expert-led panel to seek recommendations to bring about reforms in the country’s public transportation system. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">January 27: The Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport has formed an expert-led panel to seek recommendations to bring about reforms in the country’s public transportation system. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Narayan Kaji Shrestha formed the ‘study taskforce on vehicle pollution, road safety and road accident reduction’. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Former secretary Sharad Chandra Paudel is the coordinator of the seven-member taskforce. The taskforce is assigned to prepare a report based on its study. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Former Additional Inspector General (AIG) of Nepal Police Bigyan Raj Sharma, Prof Dr Padam Bahadur Shahi of Pulchowk Engineering Campus, public transport expert Madhu Sudan Acharya and engineer Bijay Gautam are the members of the taskforce. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The taskforce shall have a representative from the public transport entrepreneur. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Director General of the Department of Transport Management Dr Tokraj Pandey is the member-secretary of the taskforce, the ministry said in a press statement. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-27', 'modified' => '2023-01-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16598', 'image' => '20230127114004_transportvvvv.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-27 11:39:06', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16858', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Snowfall Disrupts Power Supply in Jumla ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 27: Electricity service has been disrupted in Jumla district due to snowfall. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">January 27: Electricity service has been disrupted in Jumla district due to snowfall. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Jumla folks are compelled to stay in dark due to disruption in electricity supply in the national grid due to continuous snowfall since Tuesday. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Chief of Nepal Electricity Authority, Jumla Distribution Centre, Naresh Dutta Rawal, said electricity poles and wires have been damaged at different places including Micha of Chandannath Municipality, Dansanghu of Tila Rural Municipality and Phoimahadev of Kalikot. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"We have deployed employees at these areas for the maintenance. Snowfall has created problem. Power supply will resume after technicians of NEA Jumla and Kalikot carry out maintenance of the damaged wire and electric poles," he said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Jumla is blanketed with snow. Farmers are elated as the crops they have planted would get better after snowfall, according to the Agricultural Development Office. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-27', 'modified' => '2023-01-27', 'keywords' => 'snowfall, snow, Jumla, power, supply, Nepal, Electricity, Authority, pole, disruption', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16597', 'image' => '20230127103653_VajayRawat_Jumla_RSS_12_IMG_20230126_082318_088 (1).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-27 10:35:36', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16857', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Maya Khola Hydropower Opens IPO for General Public', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Maya Khola Hydropower Company Limited has opened sale of its Initial Public Offering (IPO) to the general public from Friday.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px">January 27: Maya Khola Hydropower Company Limited has opened sale of its Initial Public Offering (IPO) to the general public from Friday.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Following the allotment of IPO shares to the project-affected locals and Nepali citizens working in foreign countries, the hydropower has issued IPO shares to the general public in the second phase.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">The hydropower company had decided to float 34,00,000 units of shares worth Rs 34,00,00,000 out of its total issued capital of Rs 1,00,00,00,000 to the public. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">The company has already issued and allotted 10,00,000 shares worth Rs 10,00,00,000 to the project-affected locals and a total of 2,40,000 units of shares to Nepali citizens working in foreign countries out of the 34,00,000 units of shares.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">The hydropower company has allotted as many as 120,000 units of shares to the mutual funds, while 48,000 units of shares worth Rs 48,00,000 to the company’s employees. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">The company is issuing a total of 19,92,000 units of shares to the general public. Interested individuals can apply for a minimum of 10 shares and a maximum of 1,00,000 units of shares.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">The IPO Offering will close on January 31. If the IPO is not fully subscribed by then, the deadline will extend till February 10. Prabhu Capital Limited is issue and sales manager.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Investors can apply for the IPO from issue manager and all banks and financial institutions that are C-ASBA members approved by Securities Board of Nepal (SEBON). </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Investors can also apply for the IPO through Mero Share. The company is constructing the hydropower of 14.9 megawatt in Sankhuwasabha. The estimated cost of the hydropower stands at Rs 20.13 crore per megawatt.</span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-27', 'modified' => '2023-01-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16596', 'image' => '20230127060448_collage (8) (2).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-27 05:59:25', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16854', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Why are Reservoir-based Hydropower Projects Less in Number?', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 26: Although the construction of hydropower projects in Nepal has accelerated recently, the construction of reservoir-based projects is very less.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">January 26: Although the construction of hydropower projects in Nepal has accelerated recently, the construction of reservoir-based projects is very less. Most of the hydropower projects built in the country are based on river flow system, resulting in production of more electricity when the water in river is high and vice versa.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">At present, hydropower projects in Nepal produce more electricity than required during the rainy season while there is a compulsion to import electricity during the dry season. Reservoir-based hydropower projects are necessary to end the import of electricity by producing enough energy even in the dry season.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Although there is enough potential and need, the construction of reservoir-based projects seems to take place at a very slow pace. According to hydropower expert Anup Upadhyaya, there are many reasons for not constructing reservoir-based projects.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“Reservoir-based projects require huge investment, which is the main challenge. Since more areas will be affected by such projects, we should also work for the management of locals and there are administrative hurdles. Another thing is the market guarantee. There is also a problem of continuous flow of water for the construction of hydropower projects with large reservoirs.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to experts, some political parties and non-governmental organizations are playing a negative role in the construction of hydropower projects with reservoirs. In terms of relocation of project-affected settlements, political parties are delaying and obstructing the process by taking unnecessary steps.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, some raise issues such as environmental protection, destruction of wildlife habitats to discourage investors and disrupt the investment environment even before the initiation of the project.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Foreign investors look for market guarantee before starting a project. India is the biggest and easiest market for electricity produced in Nepal. However, the electricity trade agreement and experience with India is not so encouraging.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">From time to time, the issue of having to think seriously about the option of completing the project by bringing in the investment from international financial institutions like the World Bank and Asian Development Bank (ADB) is raised. However, Upadhyaya says that those organizations are not much interested in investing in reservoir-based hydropower projects considering the issue of continuous flow of water and 'social safeguard policy'. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Independent Power Producers’ Association, Nepal (IPPAN), an organization of energy entrepreneurs who have produced a large amount of electricity in the country, argues that the Government of Nepal is not interested in the issue of reservoir-based projects. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Ganesh Karki, vice president of IPPAAN says, “The government has not set a target for large-scale hydropower production. The current target of generating 6,500 megawatts of electricity will be met through the existing process.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Karki pointed out the lack of liquidity in the banking system, the inability to raise large investments and the difficulties in land acquisition have been discouraging the hydropower projects of reservoir type.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) stated that the reservoir-based project is its priority. Suresh Bhattarai, spokesperson for the NEA said, “Some projects are being studied, some are in the pipeline.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Spokesperson Bhattarai, however, admitted that the construction is being delayed due to the lack of coordination between various agencies of the state. He said that if there is effective coordination, the construction of the hydropower project will proceed at a quick pace.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-26', 'modified' => '2023-01-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16594', 'image' => '20230126064827_hydro.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-26 18:47:40', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16852', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Gold Price Sets New Record ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'The price of gold reached an all-time high in Nepali market on Thursday. The price of yellow metal was fixed at over 106 thousand per tola (11.66 grams).', 'content' => '<p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">January 26: The price of gold reached an all-time high in Nepali market on Thursday. The price of yellow metal was fixed at over 106 thousand per tola (11.66 grams).</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers Associations, the fine gold is traded at Rs 106 thousand 900 per tola following a rise of Rs 700 per tola from the price of the prior day.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Likewise, the price of worked gold is Rs 106 thousand 400 today against Rs 105 thousand 700 on Wednesday. Similarly, silver is being traded at Rs 1,380 per tola today following a rise Rs 15 per tola the previous day. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">According to Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers Associations Chair Manik Ratna Shakya, the prices of gold and silver have soared in the Nepali market due to the rise in the international market. <br /> Prices of gold and silver are determined based on the international market prices. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">In the last two months, the price of precious metal has gone up by Rs 7,000 per tola. Looking its upward trend, gold and silver entrepreneurs estimate that the price of yellow metal will rise further. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">A survey conducted a few days ago had indicated that the price of gold would continue to increase. The survey has estimated that the price of precious metal will touch Rs 200 thousand per tola. Nepali gold entrepreneurs, however, say that they cannot predict how high the gold price will go. </span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-26', 'modified' => '2023-01-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16591', 'image' => '20230126043339_collage (90).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-26 16:31:08', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16850', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Daayitwa Organises Fellowship Symposium', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 26: Daayitwa, a not for profit non-governmental organization that envisions an enterprising Nepal, successfully organized the Fellowship Symposium to celebrate the graduation of the 12th Cohort of Public Policy Fellows.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">January 26: Daayitwa, a not for profit non-governmental organization that envisions an enterprising Nepal, successfully organized the Fellowship Symposium to celebrate the graduation of the 12th Cohort of Public Policy Fellows and the inauguration of Daayitwa Nepal Public Service Fellowship (DNPSF) Alumni Council. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The Daayitwa Nepal Public Policy Fellowship 2022, which started from June 2022, successfully placed six fellows, including three parliamentarians Gagan Thapa, Gokarna Bista and Kamala Roka, selected from a record 200+ applicants at three government institutions -- the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies and the National Planning Commission. Over the six months, these youth researchers conducted evidence-based policy research and submitted their policy findings and recommendations to their host institutions.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The fellowship programme recognized the policy issues and conducted research in the topics of access to investment, women’s economic empowerment, enterprise value chain, youth employment, and economic governance. The organization partnered with public agencies and parliamentarians to produce meaningful research on pressing policy issues with the key motive of “My Government, My Responsibility.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The Symposium brought together stakeholders from public, private, and social sectors that discussed and recommended ways to strengthen youth-government relationships and promote evidence-based policy decisions. An ad-hoc committee has been formed to take forward the Alumni. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Dr Baikuntha Aryal, secretary at the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology stated that the research done by the Daayitwa fellows has profoundly facilitated the work of the Nepal government. He emphasized on increasing the number of fellows as well. He stated, “It is our own responsibility to make the country better, we cannot rely on others to do it.”</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-26', 'modified' => '2023-01-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16590', 'image' => '20230126025938_Daayitwaa.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-26 14:58:53', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = falseinclude - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 60 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
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', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">January 29: Nepal has made improvements in reducing hunger with a score of 19.1 in the 2022 Global Hunger Index (GHI), a drop from 21.2 in 2014. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The country is ranked 81st out of 121 countries and is ahead of some South Asian countries including India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. However, it is behind Sri Lanka which is ranked 64th with 13.6 points. India's position has depleted as it fell to 107th position with 29.1 points. Similarly, Bangladesh is ranked 84th with a score of 19.6, while Pakistan is ranked 99th with 26.1 points. Afghanistan is ranked 1.9th with 29.9 points. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The GHI report was published jointly by the Concern Worldwide and Welthungerhilfe amid a function organised by the NGO Federation of Nepal. The index less than 10 points reflects low hunger, and between 10 and 19.9 moderate hunger. Similarly, from 20 to 34.9 indicates serious hunger, and from 35 to 49.9 alarming. Above 50 reveals extremely alarming level of hunger. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The aim of the GHI is to trigger action to end hunger around the world, it was shared during the event. The 2022 Global Hunger Index (GHI) shows Nepal has a moderate level of hunger with a score of 19.1 on the GHI.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Nepal has continued making improvements on the GHI scores over the past 22 years. Nepal scored 37 on the GHI Trend in 2000. The score dropped to 30 in 2007, 21.2 in 2014 and 19.1 in 2022. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Although Nepal has made some progress in reducing hunger, it is not satisfactory, said Dr Yamuna Ghale, an expert on food security. GHI scores are calculated based on a formula combining four indicators—undernourishment, child stunting, child wasting and child mortality—that together capture the multidimensional nature of hunger, she said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">When we look at data of stunting rates regionally, there is a grim picture, she said. Stunting rates vary across the provinces with the range of 22.6 and 22.9 percent in Gandaki and Bagmati provinces respectively, and the figure jumps to more than double at 47.8 percent in Karnali Province. This is not a matter of satisfaction, she said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, children consuming foods rich in iron and iron supplements are low across provinces. According to her, Province 1 and 2 have the lowest percentage in the case of women and children respectively. Women and children in Province 1 and 2 were also found the most anemic in the country, which could be due to less or no iron intakes, she said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Cooperation, coordination and collaboration among related stakeholders, ensuring localised, sustainable, inclusive and resilient food system and understanding relevant stakeholders in the realisation of human rights to food could be a way out, Ghale suggested. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-29', 'modified' => '2023-01-29', 'keywords' => 'Nepal, Global, Hunger, Index, GHI, Rank, progress, South Asia', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16609', 'image' => '20230129094133_20221016111519_GHI-2-1.jpeg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-29 09:40:39', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16868', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Billions Exposed to Toxic Trans Fat: WHO', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 28: The World Health Organisation (WHO) has said that nine of the 16 countries – including Nepal – with the highest estimated proportion of coronary heart disease deaths caused by trans fat intake were not implementing best-practice policies.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">January 28: The World Health Organisation (WHO) has said that nine of the 16 countries – including Nepal – with the highest estimated proportion of coronary heart disease deaths caused by trans fat intake were not implementing best-practice policies.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The countries in the list include Australia, Azerbaijan, Bhutan, Ecuador, Egypt, Iran, Nepal, Pakistan and South Korea in alphabetical order.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The WHO said that billions of people are still exposed to the toxic fat which kills half a million people each year while people with conditions linked with trans fat, such as heart disease, are at more risk of serious illness or death from COVID-19.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“Protecting people from these harmful substances is therefore important not just for protecting against heart disease, but also for protecting against the impact of epidemics and pandemics, said WHO Director General Ghebreyesus in his opening remarks at virtual launch event - Countdown to 2023: WHO Report on Global Trans Fat Elimination.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Industrially-produced trans fat is often used in packaged foods, baked goods, cooking oils and spreads, AFP reported.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the French news agency, best practice means either a mandatory national limit of two grammes of industrially-produced trans fat per 100 grammes of total fat in all foods; or a national ban on the production or use of partially-hydrogenated oils, which are a major source of trans fat.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The UN health agency said efforts to eliminate industrially-produced fat have a long way to go with five billion people exposed to toxic fat added to many food products.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The inaugural progress report of WHO showed most of the policy action against trans fat had been in high-income countries. No low-income country and only three lower-middle-income countries (India, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan) have trans fat policies, the WHO said in an earlier report. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">However, lower-middle income countries have been leading the way recently, WHO Director General Ghebreyesus said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“Last year, India became the first lower-middle income country to adopt best-practice policy. Bangladesh, Philippines and Ukraine have all passed policies that will come into force in in the coming years, and Nigeria and Sri Lanka are expected to pass their policies soon.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The WHO called in 2018 for harmful trans fatty acids to be wiped out by 2023, the AFP reported adding, “They are thought to be responsible for around 500,000 premature deaths from coronary heart disease each year.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"Trans fat has no known benefit, and huge health risks that incur huge costs for health systems," AFP quoted WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus as saying.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"By contrast, eliminating trans fat is cost effective and has enormous benefits for health. Put simply, trans fat is a toxic chemical that kills, and should have no place in food. It's time to get rid of it once and for all," he added.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Although 43 countries with combined populations of 2.8 billion people have now implemented best-practice policies, most of the world remains unprotected, WHO said, acknowledging in an annual progress report that the goal was still out of sight.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"There are some regions of the world which do not believe the problem is there," AFP quoted Francesco Branca, WHO’s nutrition and food safety director, as saying. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"It is easy for them to take action to prevent these products being dumped onto them."</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-28', 'modified' => '2023-01-28', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16607', 'image' => '20230128013817_food-pic.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-28 13:36:13', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16867', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NCC Calls for Enabling Business-Friendly Environment ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 28: Nepal Chamber of Commerce (NCC) has drawn the attention of the government and authorities concerned to ease commercial activities.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">January 28: Nepal Chamber of Commerce (NCC) has drawn the attention of the government and authorities concerned to ease commercial activities. Noting that commercial activities have not appeared smooth of late, the chamber has laid emphasis on economic and financial discipline. NCC said that it was unfortunate for the country to see the situation of self-immolation of a young entrepreneur due to entrepreneurial difficulties. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In a statement issued on Friday, NCC said, "The longstanding problems surfaced in financial institutions have brought serious problems in the industry and business sector. It was saddening for the entire country to see the situation of self-immolation". </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The chamber has also asked the state mechanisms to end the policy hassles faced by entrepreneurs who want to do something in the country. The banks and financial institutions should also make the lending process service-oriented, the chamber said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In the statement, the chamber shared that it has been drawing the attention of the state agencies to check high interest rates and enable investment-friendly climate. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">NCC Chairperson Rajendra Malla urged the concerned authorities to encourage digital system in financial transactions. The chamber has reiterated that the central bank and BFIs should create atmosphere to stabilize bank interest rates and promote investment. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-28', 'modified' => '2023-01-28', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16606', 'image' => '20230128013610_20220720115910_NCCC.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-28 13:35:19', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16866', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Rabi Lamichhane is ineligible to Become an MP: Supreme Court', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 27: The Supreme Court has ruled that Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) and Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane is ineligible to be a member of parliament because of his citizenship issue.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">January 27: The Supreme Court has ruled that Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) and Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane is ineligible to be a member of parliament because of his citizenship issue.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">As the court has dismissed him from the membership of parliament, Lamichhane will no longer be allowed to discharge his duties as the DPM and home minister.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Issuing a final verdict in a case related to his citizenship on Friday, the apex court said that Lamichhane must begin a new process to acquire citizenship after renouncing his American citizenship.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">A Constitutional Bench of SC comprising Acting Chief Justice Hari Krishna Karki and justices Bishwambhar Prasad Shrestha, Ishwar Prasad Khatiwada, Dr Ananda Mohan Bhattarai and Anil Kumar Sinha concluded that Lamichhane could not furnish any evidence of starting a new process of acquiring Nepali citizenship after renouncing American citizenship. Therefore, the court ruled that he is not fit to become an MP.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Lamichhane was elected as a member of parliament from Chitwan constituency-2 during the November 20 election last year. He is the president of Rastriya Swatantra Party which is currently the fourth largest party in parliament after the Nepali Congress, CPN-UML and CPN (Maoist Centre). </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-27', 'modified' => '2023-01-28', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16605', 'image' => '20230127063038_1674821039.Rabi lamichhane.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-27 18:30:09', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16865', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Prepares For Half-yearly Budget Review', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'The Ministry of Finance has started preparations for a half-yearly review of the budget for the current fiscal 2022-23. ', 'content' => '<p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">January 27: The Ministry of Finance has started preparations for a half-yearly review of the budget for the current fiscal 2022-23. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">The Ministry has formed a committee to proceed with the review. The team is led by the Chief of Budget and Programme Division, according to Ministry Spokesperson Anand Kafle. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">According to Kafle, the Committee is assigned to review the budget till mid-January. The further review will be based on the committee’s report. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">The committee coordinated by Division Chief Ritesh Kumar Shakya comprises one representative each from the Nepal Rastra Bank, National Planning Commission, and the Office of the Auditor General and the Public Debt Management Office.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Besides, the committee incorporates all secretaries from the Finance Ministry and the Division under-secretaries. --RSS</span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-27', 'modified' => '2023-01-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16604', 'image' => '20230127052759_collage (70).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-27 17:24:20', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16863', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Closure of Tiptala Pass Impacts Socio-Economic Life in Northern Taplejung ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 27: Tiptala pass along the Nepal-China border in Taplejung district has remained closed for three years, causing inconvenience to the locals living in the border areas. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">January 27: Tiptala pass along the Nepal-China border in Taplejung district has remained closed for three years, causing inconvenience to the locals living in the border areas. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">It was shut by China owing to the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic three years ago. People of Olangchung Gola, Yanga, and Ghunsa have been affected the most by the closure of the transit point as they largely depended on the imports of food stuffs, garments and daily consumables from the Tibetan Riu market. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">With the closure of the border, they have switched to the supply from Phungling, the district headquarters. The imports from the district headquarters have caused them additional financial burden than from Tibet as it increases the transportation cost. It costs Rs 30 per kg for iodized salt in Phungling which climbs to Rs 100 after it is transported to Olangchung Gola. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The closure of the pass has its implications on the socio-economic life of the people. Exports from the villages have been hampered. Prior to the pandemic, they would supply medicinal herbs, Nepali carpets and livestock to Tibet, according to Olangchung Gola’s outgoing ward chair Chheten Sherpa. He says the transportation cost from Phungling to Olangchung Gola is at least Rs 60 per kg and it will go high if it needs to be transported up to Yanga. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Yanga, Ghunsa and Olangchung Gola are yet to be connected with the road network. Animal husbandry, herbs collection and carpet production are major occupations of the people here. Before the border was sealed, they would supply dairy products such as ghee and cheese from their house. Now their trade has been largely disturbed. Carpet business is totally down. They have numerous challenges to supply the products to domestic markets due to geographical issues. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In addition to this, medicinal herbs collected by farmers and suppliers in Ilam and Panchthar districts were being supplied to Tibet. Now these two districts supply the collections to domestic markets via Birtamod of Jhapa. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Tiptala folks expect the government to take initiations for reopening the border to normalize their life. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">It takes around two days to reach Olangchung Gola from Phungling as the transportation service is available only up to Lepe of Phungling while it takes two to three days to reach Yanga, Ghunsa and Thudam. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Olangchung Gola is home to 53 families while 13 families reside in Yanga. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-27', 'modified' => '2023-01-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16602', 'image' => '20230127042851_12196216_1047303095302377_7673986938681974796_n.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-27 16:28:14', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16862', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Neco Brand Shoes in Market', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 27: Four youths aged between 25 to 35 years have introduced a new product in the footwear industry of Nepal under the brand 'Neco'.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">January 27: Four youths aged between 25 to 35 years have introduced a new product in the footwear industry of Nepal under the brand 'Neco'.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Jaydev Kalauni of Kanchanpur, Shakshi Basnet of Dang, Pradeep Koirala of Pokhara and Niraj Jaiswal of Birgunj established the shoe industry -- Neco Creation Pvt Ltd – which produces Neco brand shoes. Having established an industry in Birgunj, they have set a goal of selling shoes from three outlets in Kathmandu.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Neco inaugurated its first outlet on the third floor of Kathmandu Mall on Thursday. Jaydev Kalauni, president of Neco Creation said that Neco brand shoes will be sold and distributed from 33 showrooms across the country by next April.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He studied the market of premium shoes in Nepal when all businesses halted due to Covid-19. There, he found that shoes up to Rs 3000 are easily available, but when looking for more expensive shoes, the market has shoes amounting to Rs 12000/15000.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">After realizing that there were no options for shoes ranging between Rs 4000 to Rs 10,000 Kalauni decided to produce the shoes of that range in Nepal, which cost more than Rs 10,000 when imported from abroad. Kalauni started the industry by proposing investment with a 25-year-old footwear company in Bangladesh.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The industry, which started with an investment of Rs 10 million, including foreign investment of Rs 5 million from Bangladesh, can produce 180,000 pairs of shoes annually. Altogether 100 people are given immediate employment in the industry, including 20 Bangladeshi citizens.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Among the four founders of the company, Pradeep Koirala is a Chartered Accountant and Niraj Jaiswal is a BBA student. Shakshi has studied hotel management while Kalauni has completed his master's degree in management.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><strong>If you don't like shoes worth Rs 3000 and can’t buy shoes worth Rs 10,000</strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Among the shoes produced by Nepali companies, there are shoes in the market for those who are looking for the cheapest price around Rs 1000 to Rs 1500, for the middle range price around Rs 2000 to Rs 3000.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">However, the upper middle class population is neither satisfied with shoes worth Rs 3,000, nor they can wear foreign shoes by spending Rs 12000/15000. Kalauni says that Neco Shoes debuted in the market to fill this gap.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Kalauni said, “Our concept is to provide consumers with high-end shoes than the available shoes and low-cost shoes than imported ones. In other words, the main objective is to sell premium shoes at affordable prices to middle/upper middle class people.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The company is currently producing only formal, semi-formal leather shoes and casual sports shoes made of fine leather. The price of these ranges from Rs 4,500 to 8,000 for leather shoes and 2,000 to 4,500 for sports shoes. On the occasion of the inauguration of the outlet, a 20 percent discount is arranged for the purchase of shoes for 10 days.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><strong>Partnering with experienced companies, using new technology</strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Neco shoes is established in Nepal in partnership with an experienced company that has been producing shoes for 25 years in Bangladesh.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The company manufactures shoes, keeping up with the latest technology. Kalauni said that Neco recently purchased machinery worth more than Rs million based on new technology.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He said that he has established an industry in Birgunj so that it will be easy to export shoes in the future.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">If the industrial environment in Nepal does not improve, the company plans to export shoes to other countries in the next few days or set up an industry in Bangladesh itself and engage in export business.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-27', 'modified' => '2023-01-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16601', 'image' => '20230127032624_WhatsApp Image 2023-01-26 at 15.34.26_1674743638.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-27 15:25:46', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16861', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NRB Issues Reverse Repo after 18 Months', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 27: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has issued reverse repo (repurchase agreement) after 18 months indicating an end to the liquidity crisis in the market.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">January 27: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has issued reverse repo (repurchase agreement) after 18 months indicating an end to the liquidity crisis in the market. After the interbank interest rates of banks and financial institutions fell below the monetary policy target, NRB decided to mop the excess liquidity from the market.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">NRB raised Rs 5 billion from the market through a 7-day reverse repo via bidding on Thursday. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Seven banks and financial institutions were ready to bid Rs 15.6 billion for the reverse repo issued on Thursday.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The bidders proposed the maximum interest rate of 4.46 percent and the minimum of 4.24 percent while the average interest rate proposed was 4.32 percent, NRB said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The last time NRB mopped excess liquidity from the market through reverse repo and deposit collection tools was during July 2021. The central bank had mopped Rs 28.35 billion from the market through reverse repo on July 20, 2021 and Rs 31.65 billion was collected from the market on July 28 and August 5 through deposit collection tools. After that, NRB has been continuously injecting liquidity to the market.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Although there has been improvement in remittance inflow and an increase in deposit collection of banks, the banks were unable to expand credit due to high interest rates. Due to this, treasury bills and interbank interest rates are also decreasing. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">NRB claimed that the reverse repo was issued after the interbank rate fell below the limit set by the monetary policy. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“Now there is no more liquidity in the market. Reverse repo was issued after the interbank rate fell below the monetary policy limit,” said a source at the NRB.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In the monetary policy of the current fiscal year, there is a provision to issue repo/reverse repo if the average interest rate of interbank transactions fluctuates more than 2 percentage points than the policy rate. NRB said that the average interest rate of inter-bank transactions of banks fell to 4.7 percent on Wednesday.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In the monetary policy of the current fiscal year, the target has been set to maintain the upper limit of the interest rate corridor, i.e. the bank rate at 8.5 percent and the lower limit, i.e. the deposit collection rate, at 5.5 percent.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">By December of the current fiscal year, while deposits of banks and financial institutions increased by Rs 111.15 billion, they credit flow was limited to only Rs 73.3 billion.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-27', 'modified' => '2023-01-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16600', 'image' => '20230127023414_Nepal_Rastra_Bank2 2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-27 14:32:59', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16860', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Kathmandu Metropolis Removes 9,000 Hoarding Boards in Three Months ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 27: The Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) has removed 9,000 hoarding boards in three months. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">January 27: The Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) has removed 9,000 hoarding boards in three months. KMC said that it removed such boards that were placed violating the rules. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The local government has mobilised a four-member team that visits the city each day, assesses the hoarding boards installed in violation of the rules and removes them. The campaign aims to maintain the beauty of the metropolis. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the chief of the Revenue Department of KMC Dr Shiba Raj Adhikari, the campaign to pullout hoarding boards placed against the rules was mainly centered in New Baneshwar, Koteshwar, Putali Sadak, Bagbazar and Maharajgunj areas. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The local government on September 23 last year fixed the standards for placement of hoarding boards and charge for them. Issuing a 30-day public notice, it urged bodies concerned to follow the standards. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">As per the Economic Act-2079 BS, the Metropolis annually charges Rs 500 for a hoarding board up to six square feet, Rs 1,500 for up to 15 square feet and Rs 1,000 per foot for a hoarding board from 15-30 square feet. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The local government collects revenue under 36 headings including property tax, house rent tax, enterprise tax, advertisement tax and entertainment tax. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The metropolis in the current fiscal year has set a target of collecting the revenue of Rs 550 million. As of mid-January, the revenue collection of KMC stands at Rs 314.02 million. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">It is said the collection of entertainment tax which was challenging for a long has been possible lately due to the frequent efforts of the local government. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-27', 'modified' => '2023-01-27', 'keywords' => 'KMC, hoarding, board, removal, illegal', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16599', 'image' => '20230127011237_maxresdefault.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-27 13:11:43', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16859', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government forms Panel to Reform Public Transport ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 27: The Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport has formed an expert-led panel to seek recommendations to bring about reforms in the country’s public transportation system. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">January 27: The Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport has formed an expert-led panel to seek recommendations to bring about reforms in the country’s public transportation system. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Narayan Kaji Shrestha formed the ‘study taskforce on vehicle pollution, road safety and road accident reduction’. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Former secretary Sharad Chandra Paudel is the coordinator of the seven-member taskforce. The taskforce is assigned to prepare a report based on its study. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Former Additional Inspector General (AIG) of Nepal Police Bigyan Raj Sharma, Prof Dr Padam Bahadur Shahi of Pulchowk Engineering Campus, public transport expert Madhu Sudan Acharya and engineer Bijay Gautam are the members of the taskforce. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The taskforce shall have a representative from the public transport entrepreneur. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Director General of the Department of Transport Management Dr Tokraj Pandey is the member-secretary of the taskforce, the ministry said in a press statement. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-27', 'modified' => '2023-01-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16598', 'image' => '20230127114004_transportvvvv.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-27 11:39:06', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16858', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Snowfall Disrupts Power Supply in Jumla ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 27: Electricity service has been disrupted in Jumla district due to snowfall. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">January 27: Electricity service has been disrupted in Jumla district due to snowfall. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Jumla folks are compelled to stay in dark due to disruption in electricity supply in the national grid due to continuous snowfall since Tuesday. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Chief of Nepal Electricity Authority, Jumla Distribution Centre, Naresh Dutta Rawal, said electricity poles and wires have been damaged at different places including Micha of Chandannath Municipality, Dansanghu of Tila Rural Municipality and Phoimahadev of Kalikot. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"We have deployed employees at these areas for the maintenance. Snowfall has created problem. Power supply will resume after technicians of NEA Jumla and Kalikot carry out maintenance of the damaged wire and electric poles," he said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Jumla is blanketed with snow. Farmers are elated as the crops they have planted would get better after snowfall, according to the Agricultural Development Office. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-27', 'modified' => '2023-01-27', 'keywords' => 'snowfall, snow, Jumla, power, supply, Nepal, Electricity, Authority, pole, disruption', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16597', 'image' => '20230127103653_VajayRawat_Jumla_RSS_12_IMG_20230126_082318_088 (1).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-27 10:35:36', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16857', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Maya Khola Hydropower Opens IPO for General Public', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Maya Khola Hydropower Company Limited has opened sale of its Initial Public Offering (IPO) to the general public from Friday.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px">January 27: Maya Khola Hydropower Company Limited has opened sale of its Initial Public Offering (IPO) to the general public from Friday.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Following the allotment of IPO shares to the project-affected locals and Nepali citizens working in foreign countries, the hydropower has issued IPO shares to the general public in the second phase.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">The hydropower company had decided to float 34,00,000 units of shares worth Rs 34,00,00,000 out of its total issued capital of Rs 1,00,00,00,000 to the public. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">The company has already issued and allotted 10,00,000 shares worth Rs 10,00,00,000 to the project-affected locals and a total of 2,40,000 units of shares to Nepali citizens working in foreign countries out of the 34,00,000 units of shares.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">The hydropower company has allotted as many as 120,000 units of shares to the mutual funds, while 48,000 units of shares worth Rs 48,00,000 to the company’s employees. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">The company is issuing a total of 19,92,000 units of shares to the general public. Interested individuals can apply for a minimum of 10 shares and a maximum of 1,00,000 units of shares.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">The IPO Offering will close on January 31. If the IPO is not fully subscribed by then, the deadline will extend till February 10. Prabhu Capital Limited is issue and sales manager.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Investors can apply for the IPO from issue manager and all banks and financial institutions that are C-ASBA members approved by Securities Board of Nepal (SEBON). </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Investors can also apply for the IPO through Mero Share. The company is constructing the hydropower of 14.9 megawatt in Sankhuwasabha. The estimated cost of the hydropower stands at Rs 20.13 crore per megawatt.</span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-27', 'modified' => '2023-01-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16596', 'image' => '20230127060448_collage (8) (2).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-27 05:59:25', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16854', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Why are Reservoir-based Hydropower Projects Less in Number?', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 26: Although the construction of hydropower projects in Nepal has accelerated recently, the construction of reservoir-based projects is very less.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">January 26: Although the construction of hydropower projects in Nepal has accelerated recently, the construction of reservoir-based projects is very less. Most of the hydropower projects built in the country are based on river flow system, resulting in production of more electricity when the water in river is high and vice versa.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">At present, hydropower projects in Nepal produce more electricity than required during the rainy season while there is a compulsion to import electricity during the dry season. Reservoir-based hydropower projects are necessary to end the import of electricity by producing enough energy even in the dry season.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Although there is enough potential and need, the construction of reservoir-based projects seems to take place at a very slow pace. According to hydropower expert Anup Upadhyaya, there are many reasons for not constructing reservoir-based projects.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“Reservoir-based projects require huge investment, which is the main challenge. Since more areas will be affected by such projects, we should also work for the management of locals and there are administrative hurdles. Another thing is the market guarantee. There is also a problem of continuous flow of water for the construction of hydropower projects with large reservoirs.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to experts, some political parties and non-governmental organizations are playing a negative role in the construction of hydropower projects with reservoirs. In terms of relocation of project-affected settlements, political parties are delaying and obstructing the process by taking unnecessary steps.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, some raise issues such as environmental protection, destruction of wildlife habitats to discourage investors and disrupt the investment environment even before the initiation of the project.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Foreign investors look for market guarantee before starting a project. India is the biggest and easiest market for electricity produced in Nepal. However, the electricity trade agreement and experience with India is not so encouraging.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">From time to time, the issue of having to think seriously about the option of completing the project by bringing in the investment from international financial institutions like the World Bank and Asian Development Bank (ADB) is raised. However, Upadhyaya says that those organizations are not much interested in investing in reservoir-based hydropower projects considering the issue of continuous flow of water and 'social safeguard policy'. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Independent Power Producers’ Association, Nepal (IPPAN), an organization of energy entrepreneurs who have produced a large amount of electricity in the country, argues that the Government of Nepal is not interested in the issue of reservoir-based projects. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Ganesh Karki, vice president of IPPAAN says, “The government has not set a target for large-scale hydropower production. The current target of generating 6,500 megawatts of electricity will be met through the existing process.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Karki pointed out the lack of liquidity in the banking system, the inability to raise large investments and the difficulties in land acquisition have been discouraging the hydropower projects of reservoir type.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) stated that the reservoir-based project is its priority. Suresh Bhattarai, spokesperson for the NEA said, “Some projects are being studied, some are in the pipeline.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Spokesperson Bhattarai, however, admitted that the construction is being delayed due to the lack of coordination between various agencies of the state. He said that if there is effective coordination, the construction of the hydropower project will proceed at a quick pace.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-26', 'modified' => '2023-01-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16594', 'image' => '20230126064827_hydro.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-26 18:47:40', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16852', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Gold Price Sets New Record ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'The price of gold reached an all-time high in Nepali market on Thursday. The price of yellow metal was fixed at over 106 thousand per tola (11.66 grams).', 'content' => '<p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">January 26: The price of gold reached an all-time high in Nepali market on Thursday. The price of yellow metal was fixed at over 106 thousand per tola (11.66 grams).</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers Associations, the fine gold is traded at Rs 106 thousand 900 per tola following a rise of Rs 700 per tola from the price of the prior day.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Likewise, the price of worked gold is Rs 106 thousand 400 today against Rs 105 thousand 700 on Wednesday. Similarly, silver is being traded at Rs 1,380 per tola today following a rise Rs 15 per tola the previous day. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">According to Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers Associations Chair Manik Ratna Shakya, the prices of gold and silver have soared in the Nepali market due to the rise in the international market. <br /> Prices of gold and silver are determined based on the international market prices. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">In the last two months, the price of precious metal has gone up by Rs 7,000 per tola. Looking its upward trend, gold and silver entrepreneurs estimate that the price of yellow metal will rise further. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">A survey conducted a few days ago had indicated that the price of gold would continue to increase. The survey has estimated that the price of precious metal will touch Rs 200 thousand per tola. Nepali gold entrepreneurs, however, say that they cannot predict how high the gold price will go. </span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-26', 'modified' => '2023-01-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16591', 'image' => '20230126043339_collage (90).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-26 16:31:08', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16850', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Daayitwa Organises Fellowship Symposium', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 26: Daayitwa, a not for profit non-governmental organization that envisions an enterprising Nepal, successfully organized the Fellowship Symposium to celebrate the graduation of the 12th Cohort of Public Policy Fellows.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">January 26: Daayitwa, a not for profit non-governmental organization that envisions an enterprising Nepal, successfully organized the Fellowship Symposium to celebrate the graduation of the 12th Cohort of Public Policy Fellows and the inauguration of Daayitwa Nepal Public Service Fellowship (DNPSF) Alumni Council. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The Daayitwa Nepal Public Policy Fellowship 2022, which started from June 2022, successfully placed six fellows, including three parliamentarians Gagan Thapa, Gokarna Bista and Kamala Roka, selected from a record 200+ applicants at three government institutions -- the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies and the National Planning Commission. Over the six months, these youth researchers conducted evidence-based policy research and submitted their policy findings and recommendations to their host institutions.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The fellowship programme recognized the policy issues and conducted research in the topics of access to investment, women’s economic empowerment, enterprise value chain, youth employment, and economic governance. The organization partnered with public agencies and parliamentarians to produce meaningful research on pressing policy issues with the key motive of “My Government, My Responsibility.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The Symposium brought together stakeholders from public, private, and social sectors that discussed and recommended ways to strengthen youth-government relationships and promote evidence-based policy decisions. An ad-hoc committee has been formed to take forward the Alumni. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Dr Baikuntha Aryal, secretary at the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology stated that the research done by the Daayitwa fellows has profoundly facilitated the work of the Nepal government. He emphasized on increasing the number of fellows as well. He stated, “It is our own responsibility to make the country better, we cannot rely on others to do it.”</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-26', 'modified' => '2023-01-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16590', 'image' => '20230126025938_Daayitwaa.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-26 14:58:53', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = falsesimplexml_load_file - [internal], line ?? include - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 60 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
Notice (8): Undefined variable: file [APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 133]Code Context// $file = 'http://aabhiyan:QUVLg8Wzs2F7G9N7@nepalstock.com.np/api/subindexdata.xml';if(!$xml = simplexml_load_file($file)){$viewFile = '/var/www/html/newbusinessage.com/app/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'articles' => array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ) ), 'current_user' => null, 'logged_in' => false ) $articles = array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16870', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Progresses in Hunger Reduction as it Climbs to 81st Rank in 2022 Hunger Index ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 29: Nepal has made improvements in reducing hunger with a score of 19.1 in the 2022 Global Hunger Index (GHI), a drop from 21.2 in 2014. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">January 29: Nepal has made improvements in reducing hunger with a score of 19.1 in the 2022 Global Hunger Index (GHI), a drop from 21.2 in 2014. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The country is ranked 81st out of 121 countries and is ahead of some South Asian countries including India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. However, it is behind Sri Lanka which is ranked 64th with 13.6 points. India's position has depleted as it fell to 107th position with 29.1 points. Similarly, Bangladesh is ranked 84th with a score of 19.6, while Pakistan is ranked 99th with 26.1 points. Afghanistan is ranked 1.9th with 29.9 points. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The GHI report was published jointly by the Concern Worldwide and Welthungerhilfe amid a function organised by the NGO Federation of Nepal. The index less than 10 points reflects low hunger, and between 10 and 19.9 moderate hunger. Similarly, from 20 to 34.9 indicates serious hunger, and from 35 to 49.9 alarming. Above 50 reveals extremely alarming level of hunger. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The aim of the GHI is to trigger action to end hunger around the world, it was shared during the event. The 2022 Global Hunger Index (GHI) shows Nepal has a moderate level of hunger with a score of 19.1 on the GHI.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Nepal has continued making improvements on the GHI scores over the past 22 years. Nepal scored 37 on the GHI Trend in 2000. The score dropped to 30 in 2007, 21.2 in 2014 and 19.1 in 2022. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Although Nepal has made some progress in reducing hunger, it is not satisfactory, said Dr Yamuna Ghale, an expert on food security. GHI scores are calculated based on a formula combining four indicators—undernourishment, child stunting, child wasting and child mortality—that together capture the multidimensional nature of hunger, she said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">When we look at data of stunting rates regionally, there is a grim picture, she said. Stunting rates vary across the provinces with the range of 22.6 and 22.9 percent in Gandaki and Bagmati provinces respectively, and the figure jumps to more than double at 47.8 percent in Karnali Province. This is not a matter of satisfaction, she said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, children consuming foods rich in iron and iron supplements are low across provinces. According to her, Province 1 and 2 have the lowest percentage in the case of women and children respectively. Women and children in Province 1 and 2 were also found the most anemic in the country, which could be due to less or no iron intakes, she said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Cooperation, coordination and collaboration among related stakeholders, ensuring localised, sustainable, inclusive and resilient food system and understanding relevant stakeholders in the realisation of human rights to food could be a way out, Ghale suggested. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-29', 'modified' => '2023-01-29', 'keywords' => 'Nepal, Global, Hunger, Index, GHI, Rank, progress, South Asia', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16609', 'image' => '20230129094133_20221016111519_GHI-2-1.jpeg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-29 09:40:39', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16868', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Billions Exposed to Toxic Trans Fat: WHO', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 28: The World Health Organisation (WHO) has said that nine of the 16 countries – including Nepal – with the highest estimated proportion of coronary heart disease deaths caused by trans fat intake were not implementing best-practice policies.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">January 28: The World Health Organisation (WHO) has said that nine of the 16 countries – including Nepal – with the highest estimated proportion of coronary heart disease deaths caused by trans fat intake were not implementing best-practice policies.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The countries in the list include Australia, Azerbaijan, Bhutan, Ecuador, Egypt, Iran, Nepal, Pakistan and South Korea in alphabetical order.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The WHO said that billions of people are still exposed to the toxic fat which kills half a million people each year while people with conditions linked with trans fat, such as heart disease, are at more risk of serious illness or death from COVID-19.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“Protecting people from these harmful substances is therefore important not just for protecting against heart disease, but also for protecting against the impact of epidemics and pandemics, said WHO Director General Ghebreyesus in his opening remarks at virtual launch event - Countdown to 2023: WHO Report on Global Trans Fat Elimination.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Industrially-produced trans fat is often used in packaged foods, baked goods, cooking oils and spreads, AFP reported.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the French news agency, best practice means either a mandatory national limit of two grammes of industrially-produced trans fat per 100 grammes of total fat in all foods; or a national ban on the production or use of partially-hydrogenated oils, which are a major source of trans fat.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The UN health agency said efforts to eliminate industrially-produced fat have a long way to go with five billion people exposed to toxic fat added to many food products.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The inaugural progress report of WHO showed most of the policy action against trans fat had been in high-income countries. No low-income country and only three lower-middle-income countries (India, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan) have trans fat policies, the WHO said in an earlier report. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">However, lower-middle income countries have been leading the way recently, WHO Director General Ghebreyesus said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“Last year, India became the first lower-middle income country to adopt best-practice policy. Bangladesh, Philippines and Ukraine have all passed policies that will come into force in in the coming years, and Nigeria and Sri Lanka are expected to pass their policies soon.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The WHO called in 2018 for harmful trans fatty acids to be wiped out by 2023, the AFP reported adding, “They are thought to be responsible for around 500,000 premature deaths from coronary heart disease each year.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"Trans fat has no known benefit, and huge health risks that incur huge costs for health systems," AFP quoted WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus as saying.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"By contrast, eliminating trans fat is cost effective and has enormous benefits for health. Put simply, trans fat is a toxic chemical that kills, and should have no place in food. It's time to get rid of it once and for all," he added.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Although 43 countries with combined populations of 2.8 billion people have now implemented best-practice policies, most of the world remains unprotected, WHO said, acknowledging in an annual progress report that the goal was still out of sight.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"There are some regions of the world which do not believe the problem is there," AFP quoted Francesco Branca, WHO’s nutrition and food safety director, as saying. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"It is easy for them to take action to prevent these products being dumped onto them."</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-28', 'modified' => '2023-01-28', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16607', 'image' => '20230128013817_food-pic.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-28 13:36:13', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16867', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NCC Calls for Enabling Business-Friendly Environment ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 28: Nepal Chamber of Commerce (NCC) has drawn the attention of the government and authorities concerned to ease commercial activities.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">January 28: Nepal Chamber of Commerce (NCC) has drawn the attention of the government and authorities concerned to ease commercial activities. Noting that commercial activities have not appeared smooth of late, the chamber has laid emphasis on economic and financial discipline. NCC said that it was unfortunate for the country to see the situation of self-immolation of a young entrepreneur due to entrepreneurial difficulties. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In a statement issued on Friday, NCC said, "The longstanding problems surfaced in financial institutions have brought serious problems in the industry and business sector. It was saddening for the entire country to see the situation of self-immolation". </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The chamber has also asked the state mechanisms to end the policy hassles faced by entrepreneurs who want to do something in the country. The banks and financial institutions should also make the lending process service-oriented, the chamber said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In the statement, the chamber shared that it has been drawing the attention of the state agencies to check high interest rates and enable investment-friendly climate. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">NCC Chairperson Rajendra Malla urged the concerned authorities to encourage digital system in financial transactions. The chamber has reiterated that the central bank and BFIs should create atmosphere to stabilize bank interest rates and promote investment. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-28', 'modified' => '2023-01-28', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16606', 'image' => '20230128013610_20220720115910_NCCC.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-28 13:35:19', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16866', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Rabi Lamichhane is ineligible to Become an MP: Supreme Court', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 27: The Supreme Court has ruled that Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) and Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane is ineligible to be a member of parliament because of his citizenship issue.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">January 27: The Supreme Court has ruled that Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) and Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane is ineligible to be a member of parliament because of his citizenship issue.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">As the court has dismissed him from the membership of parliament, Lamichhane will no longer be allowed to discharge his duties as the DPM and home minister.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Issuing a final verdict in a case related to his citizenship on Friday, the apex court said that Lamichhane must begin a new process to acquire citizenship after renouncing his American citizenship.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">A Constitutional Bench of SC comprising Acting Chief Justice Hari Krishna Karki and justices Bishwambhar Prasad Shrestha, Ishwar Prasad Khatiwada, Dr Ananda Mohan Bhattarai and Anil Kumar Sinha concluded that Lamichhane could not furnish any evidence of starting a new process of acquiring Nepali citizenship after renouncing American citizenship. Therefore, the court ruled that he is not fit to become an MP.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Lamichhane was elected as a member of parliament from Chitwan constituency-2 during the November 20 election last year. He is the president of Rastriya Swatantra Party which is currently the fourth largest party in parliament after the Nepali Congress, CPN-UML and CPN (Maoist Centre). </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-27', 'modified' => '2023-01-28', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16605', 'image' => '20230127063038_1674821039.Rabi lamichhane.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-27 18:30:09', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16865', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Prepares For Half-yearly Budget Review', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'The Ministry of Finance has started preparations for a half-yearly review of the budget for the current fiscal 2022-23. ', 'content' => '<p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">January 27: The Ministry of Finance has started preparations for a half-yearly review of the budget for the current fiscal 2022-23. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">The Ministry has formed a committee to proceed with the review. The team is led by the Chief of Budget and Programme Division, according to Ministry Spokesperson Anand Kafle. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">According to Kafle, the Committee is assigned to review the budget till mid-January. The further review will be based on the committee’s report. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">The committee coordinated by Division Chief Ritesh Kumar Shakya comprises one representative each from the Nepal Rastra Bank, National Planning Commission, and the Office of the Auditor General and the Public Debt Management Office.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Besides, the committee incorporates all secretaries from the Finance Ministry and the Division under-secretaries. --RSS</span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-27', 'modified' => '2023-01-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16604', 'image' => '20230127052759_collage (70).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-27 17:24:20', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16863', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Closure of Tiptala Pass Impacts Socio-Economic Life in Northern Taplejung ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 27: Tiptala pass along the Nepal-China border in Taplejung district has remained closed for three years, causing inconvenience to the locals living in the border areas. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">January 27: Tiptala pass along the Nepal-China border in Taplejung district has remained closed for three years, causing inconvenience to the locals living in the border areas. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">It was shut by China owing to the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic three years ago. People of Olangchung Gola, Yanga, and Ghunsa have been affected the most by the closure of the transit point as they largely depended on the imports of food stuffs, garments and daily consumables from the Tibetan Riu market. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">With the closure of the border, they have switched to the supply from Phungling, the district headquarters. The imports from the district headquarters have caused them additional financial burden than from Tibet as it increases the transportation cost. It costs Rs 30 per kg for iodized salt in Phungling which climbs to Rs 100 after it is transported to Olangchung Gola. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The closure of the pass has its implications on the socio-economic life of the people. Exports from the villages have been hampered. Prior to the pandemic, they would supply medicinal herbs, Nepali carpets and livestock to Tibet, according to Olangchung Gola’s outgoing ward chair Chheten Sherpa. He says the transportation cost from Phungling to Olangchung Gola is at least Rs 60 per kg and it will go high if it needs to be transported up to Yanga. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Yanga, Ghunsa and Olangchung Gola are yet to be connected with the road network. Animal husbandry, herbs collection and carpet production are major occupations of the people here. Before the border was sealed, they would supply dairy products such as ghee and cheese from their house. Now their trade has been largely disturbed. Carpet business is totally down. They have numerous challenges to supply the products to domestic markets due to geographical issues. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In addition to this, medicinal herbs collected by farmers and suppliers in Ilam and Panchthar districts were being supplied to Tibet. Now these two districts supply the collections to domestic markets via Birtamod of Jhapa. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Tiptala folks expect the government to take initiations for reopening the border to normalize their life. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">It takes around two days to reach Olangchung Gola from Phungling as the transportation service is available only up to Lepe of Phungling while it takes two to three days to reach Yanga, Ghunsa and Thudam. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Olangchung Gola is home to 53 families while 13 families reside in Yanga. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-27', 'modified' => '2023-01-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16602', 'image' => '20230127042851_12196216_1047303095302377_7673986938681974796_n.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-27 16:28:14', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16862', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Neco Brand Shoes in Market', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 27: Four youths aged between 25 to 35 years have introduced a new product in the footwear industry of Nepal under the brand 'Neco'.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">January 27: Four youths aged between 25 to 35 years have introduced a new product in the footwear industry of Nepal under the brand 'Neco'.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Jaydev Kalauni of Kanchanpur, Shakshi Basnet of Dang, Pradeep Koirala of Pokhara and Niraj Jaiswal of Birgunj established the shoe industry -- Neco Creation Pvt Ltd – which produces Neco brand shoes. Having established an industry in Birgunj, they have set a goal of selling shoes from three outlets in Kathmandu.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Neco inaugurated its first outlet on the third floor of Kathmandu Mall on Thursday. Jaydev Kalauni, president of Neco Creation said that Neco brand shoes will be sold and distributed from 33 showrooms across the country by next April.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He studied the market of premium shoes in Nepal when all businesses halted due to Covid-19. There, he found that shoes up to Rs 3000 are easily available, but when looking for more expensive shoes, the market has shoes amounting to Rs 12000/15000.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">After realizing that there were no options for shoes ranging between Rs 4000 to Rs 10,000 Kalauni decided to produce the shoes of that range in Nepal, which cost more than Rs 10,000 when imported from abroad. Kalauni started the industry by proposing investment with a 25-year-old footwear company in Bangladesh.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The industry, which started with an investment of Rs 10 million, including foreign investment of Rs 5 million from Bangladesh, can produce 180,000 pairs of shoes annually. Altogether 100 people are given immediate employment in the industry, including 20 Bangladeshi citizens.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Among the four founders of the company, Pradeep Koirala is a Chartered Accountant and Niraj Jaiswal is a BBA student. Shakshi has studied hotel management while Kalauni has completed his master's degree in management.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><strong>If you don't like shoes worth Rs 3000 and can’t buy shoes worth Rs 10,000</strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Among the shoes produced by Nepali companies, there are shoes in the market for those who are looking for the cheapest price around Rs 1000 to Rs 1500, for the middle range price around Rs 2000 to Rs 3000.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">However, the upper middle class population is neither satisfied with shoes worth Rs 3,000, nor they can wear foreign shoes by spending Rs 12000/15000. Kalauni says that Neco Shoes debuted in the market to fill this gap.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Kalauni said, “Our concept is to provide consumers with high-end shoes than the available shoes and low-cost shoes than imported ones. In other words, the main objective is to sell premium shoes at affordable prices to middle/upper middle class people.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The company is currently producing only formal, semi-formal leather shoes and casual sports shoes made of fine leather. The price of these ranges from Rs 4,500 to 8,000 for leather shoes and 2,000 to 4,500 for sports shoes. On the occasion of the inauguration of the outlet, a 20 percent discount is arranged for the purchase of shoes for 10 days.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><strong>Partnering with experienced companies, using new technology</strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Neco shoes is established in Nepal in partnership with an experienced company that has been producing shoes for 25 years in Bangladesh.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The company manufactures shoes, keeping up with the latest technology. Kalauni said that Neco recently purchased machinery worth more than Rs million based on new technology.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He said that he has established an industry in Birgunj so that it will be easy to export shoes in the future.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">If the industrial environment in Nepal does not improve, the company plans to export shoes to other countries in the next few days or set up an industry in Bangladesh itself and engage in export business.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-27', 'modified' => '2023-01-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16601', 'image' => '20230127032624_WhatsApp Image 2023-01-26 at 15.34.26_1674743638.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-27 15:25:46', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16861', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NRB Issues Reverse Repo after 18 Months', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 27: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has issued reverse repo (repurchase agreement) after 18 months indicating an end to the liquidity crisis in the market.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">January 27: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has issued reverse repo (repurchase agreement) after 18 months indicating an end to the liquidity crisis in the market. After the interbank interest rates of banks and financial institutions fell below the monetary policy target, NRB decided to mop the excess liquidity from the market.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">NRB raised Rs 5 billion from the market through a 7-day reverse repo via bidding on Thursday. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Seven banks and financial institutions were ready to bid Rs 15.6 billion for the reverse repo issued on Thursday.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The bidders proposed the maximum interest rate of 4.46 percent and the minimum of 4.24 percent while the average interest rate proposed was 4.32 percent, NRB said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The last time NRB mopped excess liquidity from the market through reverse repo and deposit collection tools was during July 2021. The central bank had mopped Rs 28.35 billion from the market through reverse repo on July 20, 2021 and Rs 31.65 billion was collected from the market on July 28 and August 5 through deposit collection tools. After that, NRB has been continuously injecting liquidity to the market.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Although there has been improvement in remittance inflow and an increase in deposit collection of banks, the banks were unable to expand credit due to high interest rates. Due to this, treasury bills and interbank interest rates are also decreasing. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">NRB claimed that the reverse repo was issued after the interbank rate fell below the limit set by the monetary policy. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“Now there is no more liquidity in the market. Reverse repo was issued after the interbank rate fell below the monetary policy limit,” said a source at the NRB.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In the monetary policy of the current fiscal year, there is a provision to issue repo/reverse repo if the average interest rate of interbank transactions fluctuates more than 2 percentage points than the policy rate. NRB said that the average interest rate of inter-bank transactions of banks fell to 4.7 percent on Wednesday.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In the monetary policy of the current fiscal year, the target has been set to maintain the upper limit of the interest rate corridor, i.e. the bank rate at 8.5 percent and the lower limit, i.e. the deposit collection rate, at 5.5 percent.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">By December of the current fiscal year, while deposits of banks and financial institutions increased by Rs 111.15 billion, they credit flow was limited to only Rs 73.3 billion.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-27', 'modified' => '2023-01-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16600', 'image' => '20230127023414_Nepal_Rastra_Bank2 2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-27 14:32:59', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16860', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Kathmandu Metropolis Removes 9,000 Hoarding Boards in Three Months ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 27: The Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) has removed 9,000 hoarding boards in three months. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">January 27: The Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) has removed 9,000 hoarding boards in three months. KMC said that it removed such boards that were placed violating the rules. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The local government has mobilised a four-member team that visits the city each day, assesses the hoarding boards installed in violation of the rules and removes them. The campaign aims to maintain the beauty of the metropolis. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the chief of the Revenue Department of KMC Dr Shiba Raj Adhikari, the campaign to pullout hoarding boards placed against the rules was mainly centered in New Baneshwar, Koteshwar, Putali Sadak, Bagbazar and Maharajgunj areas. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The local government on September 23 last year fixed the standards for placement of hoarding boards and charge for them. Issuing a 30-day public notice, it urged bodies concerned to follow the standards. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">As per the Economic Act-2079 BS, the Metropolis annually charges Rs 500 for a hoarding board up to six square feet, Rs 1,500 for up to 15 square feet and Rs 1,000 per foot for a hoarding board from 15-30 square feet. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The local government collects revenue under 36 headings including property tax, house rent tax, enterprise tax, advertisement tax and entertainment tax. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The metropolis in the current fiscal year has set a target of collecting the revenue of Rs 550 million. As of mid-January, the revenue collection of KMC stands at Rs 314.02 million. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">It is said the collection of entertainment tax which was challenging for a long has been possible lately due to the frequent efforts of the local government. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-27', 'modified' => '2023-01-27', 'keywords' => 'KMC, hoarding, board, removal, illegal', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16599', 'image' => '20230127011237_maxresdefault.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-27 13:11:43', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16859', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government forms Panel to Reform Public Transport ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 27: The Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport has formed an expert-led panel to seek recommendations to bring about reforms in the country’s public transportation system. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">January 27: The Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport has formed an expert-led panel to seek recommendations to bring about reforms in the country’s public transportation system. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Narayan Kaji Shrestha formed the ‘study taskforce on vehicle pollution, road safety and road accident reduction’. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Former secretary Sharad Chandra Paudel is the coordinator of the seven-member taskforce. The taskforce is assigned to prepare a report based on its study. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Former Additional Inspector General (AIG) of Nepal Police Bigyan Raj Sharma, Prof Dr Padam Bahadur Shahi of Pulchowk Engineering Campus, public transport expert Madhu Sudan Acharya and engineer Bijay Gautam are the members of the taskforce. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The taskforce shall have a representative from the public transport entrepreneur. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Director General of the Department of Transport Management Dr Tokraj Pandey is the member-secretary of the taskforce, the ministry said in a press statement. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-27', 'modified' => '2023-01-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16598', 'image' => '20230127114004_transportvvvv.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-27 11:39:06', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16858', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Snowfall Disrupts Power Supply in Jumla ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 27: Electricity service has been disrupted in Jumla district due to snowfall. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">January 27: Electricity service has been disrupted in Jumla district due to snowfall. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Jumla folks are compelled to stay in dark due to disruption in electricity supply in the national grid due to continuous snowfall since Tuesday. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Chief of Nepal Electricity Authority, Jumla Distribution Centre, Naresh Dutta Rawal, said electricity poles and wires have been damaged at different places including Micha of Chandannath Municipality, Dansanghu of Tila Rural Municipality and Phoimahadev of Kalikot. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"We have deployed employees at these areas for the maintenance. Snowfall has created problem. Power supply will resume after technicians of NEA Jumla and Kalikot carry out maintenance of the damaged wire and electric poles," he said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Jumla is blanketed with snow. Farmers are elated as the crops they have planted would get better after snowfall, according to the Agricultural Development Office. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-27', 'modified' => '2023-01-27', 'keywords' => 'snowfall, snow, Jumla, power, supply, Nepal, Electricity, Authority, pole, disruption', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16597', 'image' => '20230127103653_VajayRawat_Jumla_RSS_12_IMG_20230126_082318_088 (1).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-27 10:35:36', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16857', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Maya Khola Hydropower Opens IPO for General Public', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Maya Khola Hydropower Company Limited has opened sale of its Initial Public Offering (IPO) to the general public from Friday.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px">January 27: Maya Khola Hydropower Company Limited has opened sale of its Initial Public Offering (IPO) to the general public from Friday.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Following the allotment of IPO shares to the project-affected locals and Nepali citizens working in foreign countries, the hydropower has issued IPO shares to the general public in the second phase.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">The hydropower company had decided to float 34,00,000 units of shares worth Rs 34,00,00,000 out of its total issued capital of Rs 1,00,00,00,000 to the public. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">The company has already issued and allotted 10,00,000 shares worth Rs 10,00,00,000 to the project-affected locals and a total of 2,40,000 units of shares to Nepali citizens working in foreign countries out of the 34,00,000 units of shares.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">The hydropower company has allotted as many as 120,000 units of shares to the mutual funds, while 48,000 units of shares worth Rs 48,00,000 to the company’s employees. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">The company is issuing a total of 19,92,000 units of shares to the general public. Interested individuals can apply for a minimum of 10 shares and a maximum of 1,00,000 units of shares.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">The IPO Offering will close on January 31. If the IPO is not fully subscribed by then, the deadline will extend till February 10. Prabhu Capital Limited is issue and sales manager.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Investors can apply for the IPO from issue manager and all banks and financial institutions that are C-ASBA members approved by Securities Board of Nepal (SEBON). </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Investors can also apply for the IPO through Mero Share. The company is constructing the hydropower of 14.9 megawatt in Sankhuwasabha. The estimated cost of the hydropower stands at Rs 20.13 crore per megawatt.</span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-27', 'modified' => '2023-01-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16596', 'image' => '20230127060448_collage (8) (2).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-27 05:59:25', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16854', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Why are Reservoir-based Hydropower Projects Less in Number?', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 26: Although the construction of hydropower projects in Nepal has accelerated recently, the construction of reservoir-based projects is very less.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">January 26: Although the construction of hydropower projects in Nepal has accelerated recently, the construction of reservoir-based projects is very less. Most of the hydropower projects built in the country are based on river flow system, resulting in production of more electricity when the water in river is high and vice versa.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">At present, hydropower projects in Nepal produce more electricity than required during the rainy season while there is a compulsion to import electricity during the dry season. Reservoir-based hydropower projects are necessary to end the import of electricity by producing enough energy even in the dry season.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Although there is enough potential and need, the construction of reservoir-based projects seems to take place at a very slow pace. According to hydropower expert Anup Upadhyaya, there are many reasons for not constructing reservoir-based projects.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“Reservoir-based projects require huge investment, which is the main challenge. Since more areas will be affected by such projects, we should also work for the management of locals and there are administrative hurdles. Another thing is the market guarantee. There is also a problem of continuous flow of water for the construction of hydropower projects with large reservoirs.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to experts, some political parties and non-governmental organizations are playing a negative role in the construction of hydropower projects with reservoirs. In terms of relocation of project-affected settlements, political parties are delaying and obstructing the process by taking unnecessary steps.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, some raise issues such as environmental protection, destruction of wildlife habitats to discourage investors and disrupt the investment environment even before the initiation of the project.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Foreign investors look for market guarantee before starting a project. India is the biggest and easiest market for electricity produced in Nepal. However, the electricity trade agreement and experience with India is not so encouraging.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">From time to time, the issue of having to think seriously about the option of completing the project by bringing in the investment from international financial institutions like the World Bank and Asian Development Bank (ADB) is raised. However, Upadhyaya says that those organizations are not much interested in investing in reservoir-based hydropower projects considering the issue of continuous flow of water and 'social safeguard policy'. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Independent Power Producers’ Association, Nepal (IPPAN), an organization of energy entrepreneurs who have produced a large amount of electricity in the country, argues that the Government of Nepal is not interested in the issue of reservoir-based projects. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Ganesh Karki, vice president of IPPAAN says, “The government has not set a target for large-scale hydropower production. The current target of generating 6,500 megawatts of electricity will be met through the existing process.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Karki pointed out the lack of liquidity in the banking system, the inability to raise large investments and the difficulties in land acquisition have been discouraging the hydropower projects of reservoir type.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) stated that the reservoir-based project is its priority. Suresh Bhattarai, spokesperson for the NEA said, “Some projects are being studied, some are in the pipeline.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Spokesperson Bhattarai, however, admitted that the construction is being delayed due to the lack of coordination between various agencies of the state. He said that if there is effective coordination, the construction of the hydropower project will proceed at a quick pace.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-26', 'modified' => '2023-01-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16594', 'image' => '20230126064827_hydro.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-26 18:47:40', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16852', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Gold Price Sets New Record ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'The price of gold reached an all-time high in Nepali market on Thursday. The price of yellow metal was fixed at over 106 thousand per tola (11.66 grams).', 'content' => '<p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">January 26: The price of gold reached an all-time high in Nepali market on Thursday. The price of yellow metal was fixed at over 106 thousand per tola (11.66 grams).</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers Associations, the fine gold is traded at Rs 106 thousand 900 per tola following a rise of Rs 700 per tola from the price of the prior day.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Likewise, the price of worked gold is Rs 106 thousand 400 today against Rs 105 thousand 700 on Wednesday. Similarly, silver is being traded at Rs 1,380 per tola today following a rise Rs 15 per tola the previous day. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">According to Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers Associations Chair Manik Ratna Shakya, the prices of gold and silver have soared in the Nepali market due to the rise in the international market. <br /> Prices of gold and silver are determined based on the international market prices. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">In the last two months, the price of precious metal has gone up by Rs 7,000 per tola. Looking its upward trend, gold and silver entrepreneurs estimate that the price of yellow metal will rise further. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">A survey conducted a few days ago had indicated that the price of gold would continue to increase. The survey has estimated that the price of precious metal will touch Rs 200 thousand per tola. Nepali gold entrepreneurs, however, say that they cannot predict how high the gold price will go. </span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-26', 'modified' => '2023-01-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16591', 'image' => '20230126043339_collage (90).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-26 16:31:08', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16850', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Daayitwa Organises Fellowship Symposium', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 26: Daayitwa, a not for profit non-governmental organization that envisions an enterprising Nepal, successfully organized the Fellowship Symposium to celebrate the graduation of the 12th Cohort of Public Policy Fellows.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">January 26: Daayitwa, a not for profit non-governmental organization that envisions an enterprising Nepal, successfully organized the Fellowship Symposium to celebrate the graduation of the 12th Cohort of Public Policy Fellows and the inauguration of Daayitwa Nepal Public Service Fellowship (DNPSF) Alumni Council. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The Daayitwa Nepal Public Policy Fellowship 2022, which started from June 2022, successfully placed six fellows, including three parliamentarians Gagan Thapa, Gokarna Bista and Kamala Roka, selected from a record 200+ applicants at three government institutions -- the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies and the National Planning Commission. Over the six months, these youth researchers conducted evidence-based policy research and submitted their policy findings and recommendations to their host institutions.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The fellowship programme recognized the policy issues and conducted research in the topics of access to investment, women’s economic empowerment, enterprise value chain, youth employment, and economic governance. The organization partnered with public agencies and parliamentarians to produce meaningful research on pressing policy issues with the key motive of “My Government, My Responsibility.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The Symposium brought together stakeholders from public, private, and social sectors that discussed and recommended ways to strengthen youth-government relationships and promote evidence-based policy decisions. An ad-hoc committee has been formed to take forward the Alumni. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Dr Baikuntha Aryal, secretary at the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology stated that the research done by the Daayitwa fellows has profoundly facilitated the work of the Nepal government. He emphasized on increasing the number of fellows as well. He stated, “It is our own responsibility to make the country better, we cannot rely on others to do it.”</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-26', 'modified' => '2023-01-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16590', 'image' => '20230126025938_Daayitwaa.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-26 14:58:53', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = false $xml = falseinclude - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 133 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
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', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">January 29: Nepal has made improvements in reducing hunger with a score of 19.1 in the 2022 Global Hunger Index (GHI), a drop from 21.2 in 2014. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The country is ranked 81st out of 121 countries and is ahead of some South Asian countries including India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. However, it is behind Sri Lanka which is ranked 64th with 13.6 points. India's position has depleted as it fell to 107th position with 29.1 points. Similarly, Bangladesh is ranked 84th with a score of 19.6, while Pakistan is ranked 99th with 26.1 points. Afghanistan is ranked 1.9th with 29.9 points. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The GHI report was published jointly by the Concern Worldwide and Welthungerhilfe amid a function organised by the NGO Federation of Nepal. The index less than 10 points reflects low hunger, and between 10 and 19.9 moderate hunger. Similarly, from 20 to 34.9 indicates serious hunger, and from 35 to 49.9 alarming. Above 50 reveals extremely alarming level of hunger. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The aim of the GHI is to trigger action to end hunger around the world, it was shared during the event. The 2022 Global Hunger Index (GHI) shows Nepal has a moderate level of hunger with a score of 19.1 on the GHI.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Nepal has continued making improvements on the GHI scores over the past 22 years. Nepal scored 37 on the GHI Trend in 2000. The score dropped to 30 in 2007, 21.2 in 2014 and 19.1 in 2022. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Although Nepal has made some progress in reducing hunger, it is not satisfactory, said Dr Yamuna Ghale, an expert on food security. GHI scores are calculated based on a formula combining four indicators—undernourishment, child stunting, child wasting and child mortality—that together capture the multidimensional nature of hunger, she said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">When we look at data of stunting rates regionally, there is a grim picture, she said. Stunting rates vary across the provinces with the range of 22.6 and 22.9 percent in Gandaki and Bagmati provinces respectively, and the figure jumps to more than double at 47.8 percent in Karnali Province. This is not a matter of satisfaction, she said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, children consuming foods rich in iron and iron supplements are low across provinces. According to her, Province 1 and 2 have the lowest percentage in the case of women and children respectively. Women and children in Province 1 and 2 were also found the most anemic in the country, which could be due to less or no iron intakes, she said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Cooperation, coordination and collaboration among related stakeholders, ensuring localised, sustainable, inclusive and resilient food system and understanding relevant stakeholders in the realisation of human rights to food could be a way out, Ghale suggested. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-29', 'modified' => '2023-01-29', 'keywords' => 'Nepal, Global, Hunger, Index, GHI, Rank, progress, South Asia', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16609', 'image' => '20230129094133_20221016111519_GHI-2-1.jpeg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-29 09:40:39', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16868', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Billions Exposed to Toxic Trans Fat: WHO', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 28: The World Health Organisation (WHO) has said that nine of the 16 countries – including Nepal – with the highest estimated proportion of coronary heart disease deaths caused by trans fat intake were not implementing best-practice policies.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">January 28: The World Health Organisation (WHO) has said that nine of the 16 countries – including Nepal – with the highest estimated proportion of coronary heart disease deaths caused by trans fat intake were not implementing best-practice policies.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The countries in the list include Australia, Azerbaijan, Bhutan, Ecuador, Egypt, Iran, Nepal, Pakistan and South Korea in alphabetical order.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The WHO said that billions of people are still exposed to the toxic fat which kills half a million people each year while people with conditions linked with trans fat, such as heart disease, are at more risk of serious illness or death from COVID-19.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“Protecting people from these harmful substances is therefore important not just for protecting against heart disease, but also for protecting against the impact of epidemics and pandemics, said WHO Director General Ghebreyesus in his opening remarks at virtual launch event - Countdown to 2023: WHO Report on Global Trans Fat Elimination.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Industrially-produced trans fat is often used in packaged foods, baked goods, cooking oils and spreads, AFP reported.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the French news agency, best practice means either a mandatory national limit of two grammes of industrially-produced trans fat per 100 grammes of total fat in all foods; or a national ban on the production or use of partially-hydrogenated oils, which are a major source of trans fat.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The UN health agency said efforts to eliminate industrially-produced fat have a long way to go with five billion people exposed to toxic fat added to many food products.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The inaugural progress report of WHO showed most of the policy action against trans fat had been in high-income countries. No low-income country and only three lower-middle-income countries (India, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan) have trans fat policies, the WHO said in an earlier report. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">However, lower-middle income countries have been leading the way recently, WHO Director General Ghebreyesus said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“Last year, India became the first lower-middle income country to adopt best-practice policy. Bangladesh, Philippines and Ukraine have all passed policies that will come into force in in the coming years, and Nigeria and Sri Lanka are expected to pass their policies soon.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The WHO called in 2018 for harmful trans fatty acids to be wiped out by 2023, the AFP reported adding, “They are thought to be responsible for around 500,000 premature deaths from coronary heart disease each year.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"Trans fat has no known benefit, and huge health risks that incur huge costs for health systems," AFP quoted WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus as saying.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"By contrast, eliminating trans fat is cost effective and has enormous benefits for health. Put simply, trans fat is a toxic chemical that kills, and should have no place in food. It's time to get rid of it once and for all," he added.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Although 43 countries with combined populations of 2.8 billion people have now implemented best-practice policies, most of the world remains unprotected, WHO said, acknowledging in an annual progress report that the goal was still out of sight.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"There are some regions of the world which do not believe the problem is there," AFP quoted Francesco Branca, WHO’s nutrition and food safety director, as saying. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"It is easy for them to take action to prevent these products being dumped onto them."</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-28', 'modified' => '2023-01-28', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16607', 'image' => '20230128013817_food-pic.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-28 13:36:13', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16867', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NCC Calls for Enabling Business-Friendly Environment ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 28: Nepal Chamber of Commerce (NCC) has drawn the attention of the government and authorities concerned to ease commercial activities.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">January 28: Nepal Chamber of Commerce (NCC) has drawn the attention of the government and authorities concerned to ease commercial activities. Noting that commercial activities have not appeared smooth of late, the chamber has laid emphasis on economic and financial discipline. NCC said that it was unfortunate for the country to see the situation of self-immolation of a young entrepreneur due to entrepreneurial difficulties. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In a statement issued on Friday, NCC said, "The longstanding problems surfaced in financial institutions have brought serious problems in the industry and business sector. It was saddening for the entire country to see the situation of self-immolation". </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The chamber has also asked the state mechanisms to end the policy hassles faced by entrepreneurs who want to do something in the country. The banks and financial institutions should also make the lending process service-oriented, the chamber said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In the statement, the chamber shared that it has been drawing the attention of the state agencies to check high interest rates and enable investment-friendly climate. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">NCC Chairperson Rajendra Malla urged the concerned authorities to encourage digital system in financial transactions. The chamber has reiterated that the central bank and BFIs should create atmosphere to stabilize bank interest rates and promote investment. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-28', 'modified' => '2023-01-28', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16606', 'image' => '20230128013610_20220720115910_NCCC.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-28 13:35:19', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16866', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Rabi Lamichhane is ineligible to Become an MP: Supreme Court', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 27: The Supreme Court has ruled that Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) and Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane is ineligible to be a member of parliament because of his citizenship issue.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">January 27: The Supreme Court has ruled that Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) and Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane is ineligible to be a member of parliament because of his citizenship issue.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">As the court has dismissed him from the membership of parliament, Lamichhane will no longer be allowed to discharge his duties as the DPM and home minister.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Issuing a final verdict in a case related to his citizenship on Friday, the apex court said that Lamichhane must begin a new process to acquire citizenship after renouncing his American citizenship.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">A Constitutional Bench of SC comprising Acting Chief Justice Hari Krishna Karki and justices Bishwambhar Prasad Shrestha, Ishwar Prasad Khatiwada, Dr Ananda Mohan Bhattarai and Anil Kumar Sinha concluded that Lamichhane could not furnish any evidence of starting a new process of acquiring Nepali citizenship after renouncing American citizenship. Therefore, the court ruled that he is not fit to become an MP.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Lamichhane was elected as a member of parliament from Chitwan constituency-2 during the November 20 election last year. He is the president of Rastriya Swatantra Party which is currently the fourth largest party in parliament after the Nepali Congress, CPN-UML and CPN (Maoist Centre). </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-27', 'modified' => '2023-01-28', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16605', 'image' => '20230127063038_1674821039.Rabi lamichhane.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-27 18:30:09', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16865', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Prepares For Half-yearly Budget Review', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'The Ministry of Finance has started preparations for a half-yearly review of the budget for the current fiscal 2022-23. ', 'content' => '<p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">January 27: The Ministry of Finance has started preparations for a half-yearly review of the budget for the current fiscal 2022-23. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">The Ministry has formed a committee to proceed with the review. The team is led by the Chief of Budget and Programme Division, according to Ministry Spokesperson Anand Kafle. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">According to Kafle, the Committee is assigned to review the budget till mid-January. The further review will be based on the committee’s report. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">The committee coordinated by Division Chief Ritesh Kumar Shakya comprises one representative each from the Nepal Rastra Bank, National Planning Commission, and the Office of the Auditor General and the Public Debt Management Office.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Besides, the committee incorporates all secretaries from the Finance Ministry and the Division under-secretaries. --RSS</span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-27', 'modified' => '2023-01-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16604', 'image' => '20230127052759_collage (70).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-27 17:24:20', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16863', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Closure of Tiptala Pass Impacts Socio-Economic Life in Northern Taplejung ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 27: Tiptala pass along the Nepal-China border in Taplejung district has remained closed for three years, causing inconvenience to the locals living in the border areas. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">January 27: Tiptala pass along the Nepal-China border in Taplejung district has remained closed for three years, causing inconvenience to the locals living in the border areas. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">It was shut by China owing to the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic three years ago. People of Olangchung Gola, Yanga, and Ghunsa have been affected the most by the closure of the transit point as they largely depended on the imports of food stuffs, garments and daily consumables from the Tibetan Riu market. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">With the closure of the border, they have switched to the supply from Phungling, the district headquarters. The imports from the district headquarters have caused them additional financial burden than from Tibet as it increases the transportation cost. It costs Rs 30 per kg for iodized salt in Phungling which climbs to Rs 100 after it is transported to Olangchung Gola. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The closure of the pass has its implications on the socio-economic life of the people. Exports from the villages have been hampered. Prior to the pandemic, they would supply medicinal herbs, Nepali carpets and livestock to Tibet, according to Olangchung Gola’s outgoing ward chair Chheten Sherpa. He says the transportation cost from Phungling to Olangchung Gola is at least Rs 60 per kg and it will go high if it needs to be transported up to Yanga. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Yanga, Ghunsa and Olangchung Gola are yet to be connected with the road network. Animal husbandry, herbs collection and carpet production are major occupations of the people here. Before the border was sealed, they would supply dairy products such as ghee and cheese from their house. Now their trade has been largely disturbed. Carpet business is totally down. They have numerous challenges to supply the products to domestic markets due to geographical issues. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In addition to this, medicinal herbs collected by farmers and suppliers in Ilam and Panchthar districts were being supplied to Tibet. Now these two districts supply the collections to domestic markets via Birtamod of Jhapa. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Tiptala folks expect the government to take initiations for reopening the border to normalize their life. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">It takes around two days to reach Olangchung Gola from Phungling as the transportation service is available only up to Lepe of Phungling while it takes two to three days to reach Yanga, Ghunsa and Thudam. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Olangchung Gola is home to 53 families while 13 families reside in Yanga. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-27', 'modified' => '2023-01-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16602', 'image' => '20230127042851_12196216_1047303095302377_7673986938681974796_n.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-27 16:28:14', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16862', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Neco Brand Shoes in Market', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 27: Four youths aged between 25 to 35 years have introduced a new product in the footwear industry of Nepal under the brand 'Neco'.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">January 27: Four youths aged between 25 to 35 years have introduced a new product in the footwear industry of Nepal under the brand 'Neco'.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Jaydev Kalauni of Kanchanpur, Shakshi Basnet of Dang, Pradeep Koirala of Pokhara and Niraj Jaiswal of Birgunj established the shoe industry -- Neco Creation Pvt Ltd – which produces Neco brand shoes. Having established an industry in Birgunj, they have set a goal of selling shoes from three outlets in Kathmandu.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Neco inaugurated its first outlet on the third floor of Kathmandu Mall on Thursday. Jaydev Kalauni, president of Neco Creation said that Neco brand shoes will be sold and distributed from 33 showrooms across the country by next April.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He studied the market of premium shoes in Nepal when all businesses halted due to Covid-19. There, he found that shoes up to Rs 3000 are easily available, but when looking for more expensive shoes, the market has shoes amounting to Rs 12000/15000.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">After realizing that there were no options for shoes ranging between Rs 4000 to Rs 10,000 Kalauni decided to produce the shoes of that range in Nepal, which cost more than Rs 10,000 when imported from abroad. Kalauni started the industry by proposing investment with a 25-year-old footwear company in Bangladesh.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The industry, which started with an investment of Rs 10 million, including foreign investment of Rs 5 million from Bangladesh, can produce 180,000 pairs of shoes annually. Altogether 100 people are given immediate employment in the industry, including 20 Bangladeshi citizens.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Among the four founders of the company, Pradeep Koirala is a Chartered Accountant and Niraj Jaiswal is a BBA student. Shakshi has studied hotel management while Kalauni has completed his master's degree in management.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><strong>If you don't like shoes worth Rs 3000 and can’t buy shoes worth Rs 10,000</strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Among the shoes produced by Nepali companies, there are shoes in the market for those who are looking for the cheapest price around Rs 1000 to Rs 1500, for the middle range price around Rs 2000 to Rs 3000.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">However, the upper middle class population is neither satisfied with shoes worth Rs 3,000, nor they can wear foreign shoes by spending Rs 12000/15000. Kalauni says that Neco Shoes debuted in the market to fill this gap.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Kalauni said, “Our concept is to provide consumers with high-end shoes than the available shoes and low-cost shoes than imported ones. In other words, the main objective is to sell premium shoes at affordable prices to middle/upper middle class people.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The company is currently producing only formal, semi-formal leather shoes and casual sports shoes made of fine leather. The price of these ranges from Rs 4,500 to 8,000 for leather shoes and 2,000 to 4,500 for sports shoes. On the occasion of the inauguration of the outlet, a 20 percent discount is arranged for the purchase of shoes for 10 days.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><strong>Partnering with experienced companies, using new technology</strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Neco shoes is established in Nepal in partnership with an experienced company that has been producing shoes for 25 years in Bangladesh.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The company manufactures shoes, keeping up with the latest technology. Kalauni said that Neco recently purchased machinery worth more than Rs million based on new technology.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He said that he has established an industry in Birgunj so that it will be easy to export shoes in the future.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">If the industrial environment in Nepal does not improve, the company plans to export shoes to other countries in the next few days or set up an industry in Bangladesh itself and engage in export business.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-27', 'modified' => '2023-01-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16601', 'image' => '20230127032624_WhatsApp Image 2023-01-26 at 15.34.26_1674743638.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-27 15:25:46', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16861', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NRB Issues Reverse Repo after 18 Months', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 27: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has issued reverse repo (repurchase agreement) after 18 months indicating an end to the liquidity crisis in the market.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">January 27: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has issued reverse repo (repurchase agreement) after 18 months indicating an end to the liquidity crisis in the market. After the interbank interest rates of banks and financial institutions fell below the monetary policy target, NRB decided to mop the excess liquidity from the market.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">NRB raised Rs 5 billion from the market through a 7-day reverse repo via bidding on Thursday. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Seven banks and financial institutions were ready to bid Rs 15.6 billion for the reverse repo issued on Thursday.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The bidders proposed the maximum interest rate of 4.46 percent and the minimum of 4.24 percent while the average interest rate proposed was 4.32 percent, NRB said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The last time NRB mopped excess liquidity from the market through reverse repo and deposit collection tools was during July 2021. The central bank had mopped Rs 28.35 billion from the market through reverse repo on July 20, 2021 and Rs 31.65 billion was collected from the market on July 28 and August 5 through deposit collection tools. After that, NRB has been continuously injecting liquidity to the market.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Although there has been improvement in remittance inflow and an increase in deposit collection of banks, the banks were unable to expand credit due to high interest rates. Due to this, treasury bills and interbank interest rates are also decreasing. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">NRB claimed that the reverse repo was issued after the interbank rate fell below the limit set by the monetary policy. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“Now there is no more liquidity in the market. Reverse repo was issued after the interbank rate fell below the monetary policy limit,” said a source at the NRB.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In the monetary policy of the current fiscal year, there is a provision to issue repo/reverse repo if the average interest rate of interbank transactions fluctuates more than 2 percentage points than the policy rate. NRB said that the average interest rate of inter-bank transactions of banks fell to 4.7 percent on Wednesday.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In the monetary policy of the current fiscal year, the target has been set to maintain the upper limit of the interest rate corridor, i.e. the bank rate at 8.5 percent and the lower limit, i.e. the deposit collection rate, at 5.5 percent.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">By December of the current fiscal year, while deposits of banks and financial institutions increased by Rs 111.15 billion, they credit flow was limited to only Rs 73.3 billion.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-27', 'modified' => '2023-01-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16600', 'image' => '20230127023414_Nepal_Rastra_Bank2 2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-27 14:32:59', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16860', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Kathmandu Metropolis Removes 9,000 Hoarding Boards in Three Months ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 27: The Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) has removed 9,000 hoarding boards in three months. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">January 27: The Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) has removed 9,000 hoarding boards in three months. KMC said that it removed such boards that were placed violating the rules. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The local government has mobilised a four-member team that visits the city each day, assesses the hoarding boards installed in violation of the rules and removes them. The campaign aims to maintain the beauty of the metropolis. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the chief of the Revenue Department of KMC Dr Shiba Raj Adhikari, the campaign to pullout hoarding boards placed against the rules was mainly centered in New Baneshwar, Koteshwar, Putali Sadak, Bagbazar and Maharajgunj areas. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The local government on September 23 last year fixed the standards for placement of hoarding boards and charge for them. Issuing a 30-day public notice, it urged bodies concerned to follow the standards. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">As per the Economic Act-2079 BS, the Metropolis annually charges Rs 500 for a hoarding board up to six square feet, Rs 1,500 for up to 15 square feet and Rs 1,000 per foot for a hoarding board from 15-30 square feet. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The local government collects revenue under 36 headings including property tax, house rent tax, enterprise tax, advertisement tax and entertainment tax. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The metropolis in the current fiscal year has set a target of collecting the revenue of Rs 550 million. As of mid-January, the revenue collection of KMC stands at Rs 314.02 million. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">It is said the collection of entertainment tax which was challenging for a long has been possible lately due to the frequent efforts of the local government. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-27', 'modified' => '2023-01-27', 'keywords' => 'KMC, hoarding, board, removal, illegal', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16599', 'image' => '20230127011237_maxresdefault.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-27 13:11:43', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16859', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government forms Panel to Reform Public Transport ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 27: The Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport has formed an expert-led panel to seek recommendations to bring about reforms in the country’s public transportation system. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">January 27: The Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport has formed an expert-led panel to seek recommendations to bring about reforms in the country’s public transportation system. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Narayan Kaji Shrestha formed the ‘study taskforce on vehicle pollution, road safety and road accident reduction’. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Former secretary Sharad Chandra Paudel is the coordinator of the seven-member taskforce. The taskforce is assigned to prepare a report based on its study. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Former Additional Inspector General (AIG) of Nepal Police Bigyan Raj Sharma, Prof Dr Padam Bahadur Shahi of Pulchowk Engineering Campus, public transport expert Madhu Sudan Acharya and engineer Bijay Gautam are the members of the taskforce. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The taskforce shall have a representative from the public transport entrepreneur. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Director General of the Department of Transport Management Dr Tokraj Pandey is the member-secretary of the taskforce, the ministry said in a press statement. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-27', 'modified' => '2023-01-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16598', 'image' => '20230127114004_transportvvvv.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-27 11:39:06', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16858', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Snowfall Disrupts Power Supply in Jumla ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 27: Electricity service has been disrupted in Jumla district due to snowfall. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">January 27: Electricity service has been disrupted in Jumla district due to snowfall. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Jumla folks are compelled to stay in dark due to disruption in electricity supply in the national grid due to continuous snowfall since Tuesday. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Chief of Nepal Electricity Authority, Jumla Distribution Centre, Naresh Dutta Rawal, said electricity poles and wires have been damaged at different places including Micha of Chandannath Municipality, Dansanghu of Tila Rural Municipality and Phoimahadev of Kalikot. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"We have deployed employees at these areas for the maintenance. Snowfall has created problem. Power supply will resume after technicians of NEA Jumla and Kalikot carry out maintenance of the damaged wire and electric poles," he said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Jumla is blanketed with snow. Farmers are elated as the crops they have planted would get better after snowfall, according to the Agricultural Development Office. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-27', 'modified' => '2023-01-27', 'keywords' => 'snowfall, snow, Jumla, power, supply, Nepal, Electricity, Authority, pole, disruption', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16597', 'image' => '20230127103653_VajayRawat_Jumla_RSS_12_IMG_20230126_082318_088 (1).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-27 10:35:36', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16857', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Maya Khola Hydropower Opens IPO for General Public', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Maya Khola Hydropower Company Limited has opened sale of its Initial Public Offering (IPO) to the general public from Friday.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px">January 27: Maya Khola Hydropower Company Limited has opened sale of its Initial Public Offering (IPO) to the general public from Friday.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Following the allotment of IPO shares to the project-affected locals and Nepali citizens working in foreign countries, the hydropower has issued IPO shares to the general public in the second phase.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">The hydropower company had decided to float 34,00,000 units of shares worth Rs 34,00,00,000 out of its total issued capital of Rs 1,00,00,00,000 to the public. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">The company has already issued and allotted 10,00,000 shares worth Rs 10,00,00,000 to the project-affected locals and a total of 2,40,000 units of shares to Nepali citizens working in foreign countries out of the 34,00,000 units of shares.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">The hydropower company has allotted as many as 120,000 units of shares to the mutual funds, while 48,000 units of shares worth Rs 48,00,000 to the company’s employees. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">The company is issuing a total of 19,92,000 units of shares to the general public. Interested individuals can apply for a minimum of 10 shares and a maximum of 1,00,000 units of shares.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">The IPO Offering will close on January 31. If the IPO is not fully subscribed by then, the deadline will extend till February 10. Prabhu Capital Limited is issue and sales manager.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Investors can apply for the IPO from issue manager and all banks and financial institutions that are C-ASBA members approved by Securities Board of Nepal (SEBON). </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Investors can also apply for the IPO through Mero Share. The company is constructing the hydropower of 14.9 megawatt in Sankhuwasabha. The estimated cost of the hydropower stands at Rs 20.13 crore per megawatt.</span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-27', 'modified' => '2023-01-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16596', 'image' => '20230127060448_collage (8) (2).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-27 05:59:25', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16854', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Why are Reservoir-based Hydropower Projects Less in Number?', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 26: Although the construction of hydropower projects in Nepal has accelerated recently, the construction of reservoir-based projects is very less.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">January 26: Although the construction of hydropower projects in Nepal has accelerated recently, the construction of reservoir-based projects is very less. Most of the hydropower projects built in the country are based on river flow system, resulting in production of more electricity when the water in river is high and vice versa.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">At present, hydropower projects in Nepal produce more electricity than required during the rainy season while there is a compulsion to import electricity during the dry season. Reservoir-based hydropower projects are necessary to end the import of electricity by producing enough energy even in the dry season.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Although there is enough potential and need, the construction of reservoir-based projects seems to take place at a very slow pace. According to hydropower expert Anup Upadhyaya, there are many reasons for not constructing reservoir-based projects.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“Reservoir-based projects require huge investment, which is the main challenge. Since more areas will be affected by such projects, we should also work for the management of locals and there are administrative hurdles. Another thing is the market guarantee. There is also a problem of continuous flow of water for the construction of hydropower projects with large reservoirs.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to experts, some political parties and non-governmental organizations are playing a negative role in the construction of hydropower projects with reservoirs. In terms of relocation of project-affected settlements, political parties are delaying and obstructing the process by taking unnecessary steps.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, some raise issues such as environmental protection, destruction of wildlife habitats to discourage investors and disrupt the investment environment even before the initiation of the project.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Foreign investors look for market guarantee before starting a project. India is the biggest and easiest market for electricity produced in Nepal. However, the electricity trade agreement and experience with India is not so encouraging.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">From time to time, the issue of having to think seriously about the option of completing the project by bringing in the investment from international financial institutions like the World Bank and Asian Development Bank (ADB) is raised. However, Upadhyaya says that those organizations are not much interested in investing in reservoir-based hydropower projects considering the issue of continuous flow of water and 'social safeguard policy'. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Independent Power Producers’ Association, Nepal (IPPAN), an organization of energy entrepreneurs who have produced a large amount of electricity in the country, argues that the Government of Nepal is not interested in the issue of reservoir-based projects. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Ganesh Karki, vice president of IPPAAN says, “The government has not set a target for large-scale hydropower production. The current target of generating 6,500 megawatts of electricity will be met through the existing process.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Karki pointed out the lack of liquidity in the banking system, the inability to raise large investments and the difficulties in land acquisition have been discouraging the hydropower projects of reservoir type.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) stated that the reservoir-based project is its priority. Suresh Bhattarai, spokesperson for the NEA said, “Some projects are being studied, some are in the pipeline.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Spokesperson Bhattarai, however, admitted that the construction is being delayed due to the lack of coordination between various agencies of the state. He said that if there is effective coordination, the construction of the hydropower project will proceed at a quick pace.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-26', 'modified' => '2023-01-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16594', 'image' => '20230126064827_hydro.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-26 18:47:40', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16852', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Gold Price Sets New Record ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'The price of gold reached an all-time high in Nepali market on Thursday. The price of yellow metal was fixed at over 106 thousand per tola (11.66 grams).', 'content' => '<p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">January 26: The price of gold reached an all-time high in Nepali market on Thursday. The price of yellow metal was fixed at over 106 thousand per tola (11.66 grams).</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers Associations, the fine gold is traded at Rs 106 thousand 900 per tola following a rise of Rs 700 per tola from the price of the prior day.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Likewise, the price of worked gold is Rs 106 thousand 400 today against Rs 105 thousand 700 on Wednesday. Similarly, silver is being traded at Rs 1,380 per tola today following a rise Rs 15 per tola the previous day. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">According to Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers Associations Chair Manik Ratna Shakya, the prices of gold and silver have soared in the Nepali market due to the rise in the international market. <br /> Prices of gold and silver are determined based on the international market prices. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">In the last two months, the price of precious metal has gone up by Rs 7,000 per tola. Looking its upward trend, gold and silver entrepreneurs estimate that the price of yellow metal will rise further. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">A survey conducted a few days ago had indicated that the price of gold would continue to increase. The survey has estimated that the price of precious metal will touch Rs 200 thousand per tola. Nepali gold entrepreneurs, however, say that they cannot predict how high the gold price will go. </span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-26', 'modified' => '2023-01-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16591', 'image' => '20230126043339_collage (90).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-26 16:31:08', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16850', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Daayitwa Organises Fellowship Symposium', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 26: Daayitwa, a not for profit non-governmental organization that envisions an enterprising Nepal, successfully organized the Fellowship Symposium to celebrate the graduation of the 12th Cohort of Public Policy Fellows.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">January 26: Daayitwa, a not for profit non-governmental organization that envisions an enterprising Nepal, successfully organized the Fellowship Symposium to celebrate the graduation of the 12th Cohort of Public Policy Fellows and the inauguration of Daayitwa Nepal Public Service Fellowship (DNPSF) Alumni Council. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The Daayitwa Nepal Public Policy Fellowship 2022, which started from June 2022, successfully placed six fellows, including three parliamentarians Gagan Thapa, Gokarna Bista and Kamala Roka, selected from a record 200+ applicants at three government institutions -- the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies and the National Planning Commission. Over the six months, these youth researchers conducted evidence-based policy research and submitted their policy findings and recommendations to their host institutions.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The fellowship programme recognized the policy issues and conducted research in the topics of access to investment, women’s economic empowerment, enterprise value chain, youth employment, and economic governance. The organization partnered with public agencies and parliamentarians to produce meaningful research on pressing policy issues with the key motive of “My Government, My Responsibility.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The Symposium brought together stakeholders from public, private, and social sectors that discussed and recommended ways to strengthen youth-government relationships and promote evidence-based policy decisions. An ad-hoc committee has been formed to take forward the Alumni. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Dr Baikuntha Aryal, secretary at the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology stated that the research done by the Daayitwa fellows has profoundly facilitated the work of the Nepal government. He emphasized on increasing the number of fellows as well. He stated, “It is our own responsibility to make the country better, we cannot rely on others to do it.”</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-26', 'modified' => '2023-01-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16590', 'image' => '20230126025938_Daayitwaa.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-26 14:58:53', '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
