NEWS

Light Snowfall Forecast in Mountainous Regions

Nov 30, 2021 0 57 seconds to read

November 30: Light snowfall has been forecast in a few places of high mountainous regions of Province 1, Gandaki Province and Karnali Province today (November…

Government Warns of Blacklisting Manpower Companies that do not Fulfill Contractual Agreement

Nov 30, 2021 0 1 minutes 44 seconds to read

November 30: The government has started seeking solutions to the problems faced by the Nepali migrant workers who opt for foreign…

Non-tariff Barriers on Nepali Tea Removed

Nov 29, 2021 0 2 minutes 42 seconds to read

November 29: The non-tariff barrier imposed by India on export of Nepali tea has been resolved for the time…

Exhibition of Goods made of Dhaka Fabric in Offing

Nov 29, 2021 0 1 minutes 20 seconds to read

November 29: Nepal Handloom and Dhaka Cloth Entrepreneurs and Traders Association is organizing an exhibition of various goods made out of the Dhaka fabric and…

Over 1,300 Business Firms Monitored in First Four Months of Current FY

Nov 29, 2021 0 1 minutes 37 seconds to read

November 29: The Department of Commerce, Supplies and Consumer Protection has carried out monitoring of 1,355 trade and business firms in the first four months of the current fiscal year (FY) starting July…

Buddha Air Focuses its Service in Rural Areas

Nov 29, 2021 0 2 minutes 33 seconds to read

November 29: Buddha Air has shifted its focus on flights to rural areas after getting a lukewarm response in its international flights to Indian…

Dispute between Transport Companies hit Imports from Tatopani Customs

Nov 29, 2021 0 3 minutes 4 seconds to read

November 29: The import of goods from China through Tatopani checkpoint, the northern border of Nepal, is likely to be affected due to the dispute between transport…

Experts for Launching Agriculture Campaign to Ensure Food Security

Nov 29, 2021 0 2 minutes 33 seconds to read

November 29: Agriculture scientists studying food and agriculture sector of the country have initiated policy advocacy for the 'Agriculture Campaign for…

Government Cancels Licence of Hello Nepal

Nov 29, 2021 0 2 minutes 49 seconds to read

November 29: The government has scrapped the licence of Nepal Satellite Telecom Pvt Ltd (Hello…

Arrears of Department of Roads Account for 20 percent of its Total Budget

Nov 28, 2021 0 4 minutes 8 seconds to read

November 28: The arrears of the Department of Roads, which mobilizes a large budget for infrastructure projects, is 20.89 percent of its total budget.…

Three Years On, Many Employers still Reluctant to Join Social Security Fund

Nov 28, 2021 0 6 minutes 38 seconds to read

November 28: It has been three years since the government started implementing the contribution-based Social Security Fund (SSF) that was introduced to provide pensions to the workers of the private…

Tourism Activities Increasing in Bhaktapur

Nov 28, 2021 0 3 minutes 26 seconds to read

November 28: The Covid-19 pandemic had caused a major impact on the tourism sector of Nepal.…

Opportunities and Challenges of Graduating Nepal into a Middle-Income Developing Nation

Nov 28, 2021 0 4 minutes 13 seconds to read

November 28: The 40th plenary meeting of the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) unanimously adopted a resolution on Thursday endorsing the graduation of Nepal from the Least Developed Country (LDC) category with the preparatory period of five…

Health Ministry Urges People to Stay Alert after New Variant of Covid-19 Reported in South Africa

Nov 28, 2021 0 1 minutes 25 seconds to read

November 28: In the wake of a new variant of COVID-19 reported in South Africa, the Ministry of Health and Population has urged people to remain cautious and strictly follow the health…

Herbs Production and Processing Company Starts Making Profit after 40 Years

Nov 28, 2021 0 3 minutes 31 seconds to read

November 28: The state-owned Herbs Production and Processing Company Ltd has started making profit since the past three…

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No Laughing Matter

The Sweet Rewards of Power

By Madan Lamsal

. . .
read more »

NEPSE

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			'title' => 'Light Snowfall Forecast in Mountainous Regions   ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'November 30: Light snowfall has been forecast in a few places of high mountainous regions of Province 1, Gandaki Province and Karnali Province today (November 30).',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">November 30: Light snowfall has been forecast in a few places of high mountainous regions of Province 1, Gandaki Province and Karnali Province today (November 30). According to the Meteorological Forecasting Division under the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, the country is currently witnessing the influence of a low pressure system based in Bangladesh and its surrounding areas and the partial impact of a low pressure system in the Arabian Sea and its surroundings.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Stating that the intensity of cold has been rising across the country, the division has urged the people to take preventive measures against cold.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Similarly, there will be partly cloudy weather across the country today (November 30) with a possibility of light rainfall at one or two places of Gandaki Province.&nbsp; -- RSS&nbsp; &nbsp;</span></span></span><br />
&nbsp;</p>
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			'id' => '14387',
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			'title' => 'Government Warns of Blacklisting Manpower Companies that do not Fulfill Contractual Agreement',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'November 30: The government has started seeking solutions to the problems faced by the Nepali migrant workers who opt for foreign employment.    ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">November 30: The government has started seeking solutions to the problems faced by the Nepali migrant workers who opt for foreign employment.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Minister for Labour, Employment and Social Security, Krishna Kumar Shrestha, has started discussions with stakeholders in order to improve the labour sector. He held discussion with returnee workers on Monday in this regard.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">On the occasion, Nepali migrant workers complained about anomalies in foreign employment such as cheating right from the beginning of the process of foreign employment until their return and not getting the service and facilities as determined by the government. They urged the government to create employment opportunities within the country and to rehabilitate the returnee youths. Returnee migrants said that they did not get their salary while returning home after losing job due to coronavirus pandemic.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">They also said that they faced problems in foreign countries due to lack of skills and were not provided with benefits on par with workers of other countries.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">After hearing the plights of Nepali migrant workers, Minister Shrestha shared that the companies not providing services and facilities as per the agreement would be blacklisted and Nepali workers would not be sent through such companies. He added that the ministry has been preparing work procedure to reintegrate the returnee migrants.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Representatives of the civil society organisations working in favour of migrant workers were also present on the occasion.&nbsp; -- RSS&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>
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			'id' => '14385',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Non-tariff Barriers on Nepali Tea Removed ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'November 29: The non-tariff barrier imposed by India on export of Nepali tea has been resolved for the time being.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">November 29: The non-tariff barrier imposed by India on export of Nepali tea has been resolved for the time being. Tea export from Kakadbhitta has resumed through diplomatic initiatives of Nepal.&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">According to Ishwar Raj Poudel, Nepal&#39;s Consul General in Kolkata, India, a diplomatic initiative was taken through the Ministry of External Affairs to resolve the issue. After the Indian side agreed to Nepal&rsquo;s proposal, 18 trucks packed with tea that were stopped at Kakadbhitta checkpoint have been allowed to enter India.&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">According to the Mechi Customs Office, the tea is being exported after the Indian side agreed not to obstruct the import of tea from Nepal. Chief Customs Officer at the Mechi Customs Office, Keshav Raj Oli said that tea export has been smooth since last Tuesday and 3/4 trucks of tea are being exported to India daily.&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">The Department of Commerce, India had written letters to its subordinate bodies on November 3, questioning the quality of tea coming from Nepal.&nbsp;The trucks carrying tea were stuck at the checkpoint after the department instructed them to import tea only after completing the required processes including quality check.&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Tea exported from Nepal are sold by Indian businessmen under the brand name &#39;Darjeeling Tea&#39; in Indian and foreign markets. The Nepali tea producers claim that the recent increase in tea production in India has created obstruction in the name of quality control.&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Stating that the quality of Darjeeling tea has deteriorated, the Indian side had instructed to import the tea from Nepal only after testing the quality. Officials say the problem has been resolved for the moment after the Nepalese embassy in New Delhi took the issue at the Indian Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian side agreed to allow the import of tea.&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Even though the problem has been resolved for the time being, Nepali producers have complained that India has been obstructing the export of Nepali tea from time to time. According to Nepali producers, India has created obstruction under the pretext of quality check and related processes after production has increased in its market.&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">According to the statistics of the Department of Customs, tea worth Rs 3.79 billion was exported from Nepal in the last fiscal year 2077/78. Of that, 80 percent was exported to India.&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'id' => '14386',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Exhibition of Goods made of Dhaka Fabric in Offing   ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'November 29: Nepal Handloom and Dhaka Cloth Entrepreneurs and Traders Association is organizing an exhibition of various goods made out of the Dhaka fabric and handloom.    ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">November 29: Nepal Handloom and Dhaka Cloth Entrepreneurs and Traders Association is organizing an exhibition of various goods made out of the Dhaka fabric and handloom.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The exhibition would be held from December 17 to 19 in New Baneshwor in the federal capital. It is being organized with the objective of preserving and promoting the unique Dhaka products. Forty stalls would be kept in the expo, Association coordinator Ramesh Shrestha informed the media at a news conference on Sunday.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Stating that the Dhaka cloth has been weaved in the country since ancient times, he said the goods produced from this and the employment it generates would help make the national economy dynamic.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">According to Shrestha, opportunities for business interaction would also be available during the event in which the entrepreneurs from several places can talk about the developments and explore potentials in this sector.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">There are around 50,000 entrepreneurs involved in the Dhaka business. A national gathering of the entrepreneurs and traders would also be held coinciding with the exhibition. -- RSS&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '14383',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Over 1,300 Business Firms Monitored in First Four Months of Current FY   ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'November 29: The Department of Commerce, Supplies and Consumer Protection has carried out monitoring of 1,355 trade and business firms in the first four months of the current fiscal year (FY) starting July 16.   ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">November 29: The Department of Commerce, Supplies and Consumer Protection has carried out monitoring of 1,355 trade and business firms in the first four months of the current fiscal year (FY) starting July 16.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The monitoring was carried out in the Kathmandu Valley and several places of the country. The department monitored 388 firms in the month of Kartik (October 18 to November 16) and took action against 176 of them for wrongdoing.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The department collected revenue of Rs 7.11 million from fine slapped on those business firms found involved in unfair trade practices. Of the total firms monitored, nearly half were fined, informed the director of the Department Hari Pangeni.</span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">According to Pangeni, the department fined 667 firms and reprimanded 668 firms in the last four months. Similarly, samples of goods were collected from 10 firms for lab test, three people involved in business malpractice were arrested and 10 firms were sealed during the period.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Groceries, department stores, goat market, the fruits and vegetable markets, meat shops, liquor stores, marts, hardware stores, sweet shops and electronics goods stores, among others were monitored during the festive period.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The department had mobilized three separate market monitoring teams in the three districts of the Kathmandu Valley during the festive period. These teams are still active although the festive season is already over, added Pangeni. -- RSS&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>
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			'id' => '14384',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Buddha Air Focuses its Service in Rural Areas',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'November 29: Buddha Air has shifted its focus on flights to rural areas after getting a lukewarm response in its international flights to Indian cities',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">November 29: Buddha Air has shifted its focus on flights to rural areas after getting a lukewarm response in its international flights to Indian cities</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Buddha Air had started international flights between Kathmandu and Beneras of India for the first time on June 29, 2021. It also gave priority to international flights to Indian cities of Kolkata and New Delhi but did not get business as per the expectations of the company.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">In addition to loss in business, India refused to give permit to Buddha Air to carry passengers to New Delhi.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Buddha Air, which has been operating flights since the last 24 years, had started Kathmandu-Kolkata flights from May of 2019. The company reported a shortage of passengers from Kolkata that resulted in loss. Therefore, the flights were canceled in November after just six months of operation. Similarly, the company, which has also put forward a plan to fly from Nepalgunj to Delhi, has not started flights yet as India has not given permission yet.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Giving high importance to international flights, Buddha Air had also put forward a plan to set up Buddha Air International in Pokhara, targeting such flights. With the exception of the Kathmandu-Beneras flights, Buddha Air has now decided to come up with plans targeting flights to remote areas. Meanwhile, the company has decided to put on hold to other international flights.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">The company has started selecting airports of rural areas after deciding to purchase a 19-seater Twin-Otter aircraft to flying to remote destinations. According to Dipendra Kumar Karna, the communication manager of the company, Buddha Air has already started its homework on the purchase of Twin-Otter aircraft, airport selection, pilots and manpower preparation to operate flights to remote areas. He also informed that 26 airports have been selected for such flights.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Stating that necessary preparations including selection of pilots and airports will be completed within a year along with the purchase of aircraft, after which the destinations will be confirmed. The Buddha Air will fly on the STOL route by making Nepalgunj as its hub for the far west areas, Pokhara for the west and Manthali of Ramechhap for the east. The company is planning to fly from Manthali to Solukhumbu and Taplejung, from Nepalgunj to Humla and Simikot and from Pokhara to Jomsom.</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'id' => '14382',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Dispute between Transport Companies hit Imports from Tatopani Customs ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'November 29: The import of goods from China through Tatopani checkpoint, the northern border of Nepal, is likely to be affected due to the dispute between transport companies. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">November 29: The import of goods from China through Tatopani checkpoint, the northern border of Nepal, is likely to be affected due to the dispute between transport companies.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">The dispute started a few months ago after two other transport companies were allowed to bring goods at this checkpoint where only Silk Transport has been importing goods since some years. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Silk Transport, Namaste Global Logistics and Rivanje Transport have been allowed to bring goods at Tatopani checkpoint from China. The dispute erupted between the transport companies after Namaste Transport proposed sending containers for importing goods as per the demand from China while Silk Transport wanted to import goods by queuing vehicles. There are 52 containers of Silk Transport, 32 containers of Namaste Global Logistics and 12 containers of Rivanje Transport that have been bringing goods up to the border point.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Danorbu Sherpa, director of Namaste Transport, said that although a team comprising representatives of all the three transport companies and officials of the Tatopani customs office held talks to resolve the dispute, no solution was found. &ldquo;We feel that we should be able to send the containers as per the demand of the clients, but the operators of Silk Transport do not support this. So the dispute has not been resolved,&rdquo; said Sherpa.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">As they have to pay RMB 2,000 per day while they queue their vehicles in China, he said that they decided to send containers only as per the demand.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">&ldquo;Our only wish is to import goods through open competition,&rdquo; Sherpa said.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">On the other hand, Silk Transport&#39;s Kalyan Silwal said that the problem arose because other transport companies that came to compete at the checkpoint were trying to boss around. &ldquo;They have created the dispute themselves. We are asking them to work together,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Chief of Tatopani Customs Narad Gautam said that the import was affected due to the dispute between the transport companies. He said that the first container to pass the Chinese customs arrives at the Friendship Bridge first and the arrangements to transport goods are made accordingly. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 7 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '14381',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Experts for Launching Agriculture Campaign to Ensure Food Security   ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'November 29: Agriculture scientists studying food and agriculture sector of the country have initiated policy advocacy for the 'Agriculture Campaign for Food'.   ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">November 29: Agriculture scientists studying food and agriculture sector of the country have initiated policy advocacy for the &#39;Agriculture Campaign for Food&#39;.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">In a discussion programme with journalists based in Karnali province, the scientists described the campaign as a strong practice for policy advocacy. The programme was organized with the support of Environmental Resources Institute in Birendranagar, Surkhet on Sunday.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Agricultural expert Dr Krishna Prasad Poudel on the occasion said that the human race has deviated from sustainable agricultural practices since 500 years. &quot;We have been eating junk food these days due to the sheer ego that we can triumph over the Earth. The fact is that our agriculture is being done merely for money. Rather it should have been a means of survival but it has become our destiny,&quot; he said, expressing concern over the unsustainable practices in agriculture.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Dr Poudel also argued that over-exploitation of resources for food and the &#39;mad development&#39; were the main reasons for climate change.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Executive Director of Collaborative Actions for Dignity (CAD Nepal) Jumla and agriculture campaigner, Dhan Bahadur Gautam said they have been providing policy support to the government since the last decade for promoting self-sufficiency in agriculture, conservation of indigenous crops and organic farming. He said the government should better invest more in boosting agriculture products in the mountainous districts of Karnali province rather than wasting money in supplying rice worth millions of rupees to these districts.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Representative of Environmental Resources Institute, Sujata Tamang informed that the campaign has been involved in conducting debates and discussions as well as action-oriented research on agriculture and food issues. She said they have also been raising issues of emerging problems, challenges and opportunities in agriculture.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">On the occasion, media persons suggested to the campaigners for devising ways for attracting the youth force to agriculture, expanding irrigation coverage, preparing policy framework for making agriculture a dignified profession and implementing the same.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">They pointed out to the sad reality of the country that 82 per cent of the population involved in agriculture was struggling with hand-to-mouth existence whereas five per cent population involved in agriculture in countries attaining self-sufficiency in agriculture were providing food to 95 per cent population. -- RSS</span></span></span></p>
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	(int) 8 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '14380',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Government Cancels Licence of Hello Nepal   ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'November 29: The government has scrapped the licence of Nepal Satellite Telecom Pvt Ltd (Hello Nepal).',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">November 29: The government has scrapped the licence of Nepal Satellite Telecom Pvt Ltd (Hello Nepal). The decision was taken after the failure of Hello Nepal to pay its longstanding dues to the government, informed the Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA).&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">A meeting of the NTA board of directors on Friday took a decision to this effect. After the company failed to pay the dues until mid-July, the NTA on October 29 sought clarification from the company as per a decision taken by the NTA board on October 22. The company was given a 15-day timeframe to submit its clarification. The company responded that the NTA could not scrap its licence as it has demanded additional time period to pay the dues in installment in line with the cabinet decision, said the NTA Spokesperson Santosh Poudel.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Unsatisfied with the response sent by the company, the NTA cancelled its licence citing other clauses in the the decision taken by the same Council of Ministers two years ago.</span></span></span><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The company owns dues under several headings to the NTA. It is yet to pay frequency charge, royalty, amount to be deposited in the Rural Telecommunications Fund and license renewal fees.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Prior to this, in July-August, 2019, a meeting of the NTA Board of Directors decided to rescind the license of the company. As per the provision, any company can apply to the Council of Ministers for the review of the NTA decision to repeal the license within 35 days of the decision. Based on the same provision, the company had proceeded for the review.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Acting on the company&rsquo;s appeal, a meeting of the Council of Ministers on January 6, 2020 agreed to give a facility of time extension to the company for repaying the dues while keeping the license validated.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The company was advised to pay the first installment within in the same fiscal year (2019-20) and to clear all dues within the next five years. In case of the non-payment of dues within the given timeframe, the license would be automatically cancelled.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Abiding by the Council of Ministers&#39; decision, NTA had given it five years to pay Rs 1.387 billion. The company, however, had paid Rs 2.15 million to the NTA as the first installment&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The NTA decided to cancel the license citing the non-clearance of dues as demanded by the Council of Ministers. -- RSS&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><br />
&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 9 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '14379',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Arrears of Department of Roads Account for 20 percent of its Total Budget',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'November 28: The arrears of the Department of Roads, which mobilizes a large budget for infrastructure projects, is 20.89 percent of its total budget. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">November 28: The arrears of the Department of Roads, which mobilizes a large budget for infrastructure projects, is 20.89 percent of its total budget. In the current Fiscal Year (FY 2078/79), the total amount received by the Road Department is Rs 133 billion.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">According to the annual report of the department for the last fiscal year, the arrears of the department was Rs 27.79 billion. The arrears was Rs 37.48 billion in the previous fiscal year. Such undeclared expense which was earlier settled and dropped to Rs 23.18 billion has increased again. However, the department has had such arrears since FY 2059/60. The department, which has been managing projects of national priority including national highways and tunnels, is yet to be clear the arrears.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Arjun Jung Thapa, director general of the department, claims that the increase in arrears was not due to any foul play but due to procedural hurdles.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">He said, &ldquo;The arrears are not due to wrong intentions in spending, but due to some procedural ups and downs. We demand the budget in the beginning of the fiscal year, but the budget is received only around mid-July. However, the construction entrepreneurs need to be paid within 28 days of request which is seen as arrears from the point of view of the auditor general.&rdquo; He claimed that 99 percent of the department&#39;s irregularities are due to such reasons.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">He said if they do not pay the construction entrepreneurs within 28 days, then the department needs to pay the interest.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Similarly, arrears is seen in the case of providing compensation for land acquisition as well as capital gains tax. The department&rsquo;s spending seems to be irregular because of the need to manage budget from other headings to address these problems.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">The arrear is also seen in the contract of design and build method. Stating that the Kothiya Bridge and Dhobikhola Bridge of Karnali built in the same model still have arrears, he said that the rules of Auditor General and the method of audit are impractical.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Infrastructure expert Surya Raj Acharya says that the arrears are clearly a sign of irregularity. However, he said that the arrears should not be viewed negatively as the development budget is very large and different conditions and technical problems are bound be created while working.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">&ldquo;Another indication is that there will be natural problems in the development work but the economic laws and regulations that address them are conservative,&rdquo; he said, adding that the arrears in development and other bodies would have a negative impact on financial administration and project management.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">He also stressed on the need to clarify the financial acts to address the uncertainty in infrastructure projects. </span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Shiva Nepal, spokesperson of the department, said that the arrears are created as the related laws, bidding process, interpretation of financial act, standards of international contract management are treated differently in our country.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">He says that among the various methods of contract, there is a big difference due to the design and build model. &ldquo;The Office of Auditor General has said that the contract amount of this model cannot be increased,&rdquo; said Nepal, adding, &ldquo;The department cannot comply with the demand of the Auditor General as it is an international practice and the arrears remains unchanged.&rdquo;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">However, he admitted that the volume of undocumented payment was huge due to the negligence and weakness of some project heads and officials. He shared that such amount is more than 20 percent of the total budget.</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '14378',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Three Years On, Many Employers still Reluctant to Join Social Security Fund ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'November 28: It has been three years since the government started implementing the contribution-based Social Security Fund (SSF) that was introduced to provide pensions to the workers of the private sector.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">November 28: It has been three years since the government started implementing the contribution-based Social Security Fund (SSF) that was introduced to provide pensions to the workers of the private sector. However, voluntary participation in the Social Security Fund has not yet increased significantly.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">In the last four years, 15,831 employers and 295,764 workers have joined the fund. According to the Economic Census 2075, there are 923,000 business establishments operating in Nepal. A total of 462,000 organisations are registered with the government. However, only 15,008 organisations have been listed in the fund so far. From the fact that only 3.5 percent of the formally registered organisations are listed, it is clear that the Social Security Fund has not progressed as expected.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><strong><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Billions collected, zero operations</span></strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">So far, billions of rupees have been collected by the SSF from the contributors, but it has not been properly mobilized. The fund has so far collected Rs 10.10 billion from affiliated employers and workers.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">However, this amount has not been used for any purpose other than receiving interest from the banks. Showing the lack of policy required to mobilize the money, the government is only receiving interest by keeping the contributors&rsquo; money as &#39;fixed deposits&#39;.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><strong><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Obligation to rely on debt remains</span></strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">It has been four years since the Social Security Fund started its scheme but it has not become self-sufficient. Although the office of the Social Security Fund has been established and the staff has been managed, the SSF is still relying on loans to run day-to-day operations.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">As per the decision of the Government of Nepal on 2076/9/11, the SSF needs to repay the loan amount within 5 years at the annual interest rate of 3 percent. As per this decision, the fund took the loan of Rs 50 million in 2076/77 for the first time and spent Rs 23 million on administrative operations and management.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Similarly, the SSF operated in loan in FY 2077/78 as well. This year too, the fund has taken a loan of Rs 150 million from the Government of Nepal.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">This amount has been spent on office operation, office rent, employees&rsquo; salary, services and facilities and the fund is preparing to take an additional loan of Rs 220 million for the current Fiscal Year 2078/79. This loan is being taken in installments.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><strong><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Lack of ownership among the ministers</span></strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">During the tenure of the then Minister for Labour, Employment and Social Security Gokarna Bista, there were daily trainings and seminars on social security schemes but after Rameshwor Raya Yadav became labour minister, he did not give any attention to it. After that, Gauri Shankar Chaudhary and now Krishna Kumar Shrestha is the Labor Minister, but none of these ministers seem to be committed to advancing the social security scheme, which is why the fund has become inactive.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><strong><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Program at the Ministry on the occasion of the annual festival</span></strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">On the occasion of the 4</span><sup><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">th</span></sup><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"> annual meeting of the SSF, a low-key program was held at the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security on Saturday. Some private sector representatives and Labor Minister Krishna Kumar Shrestha attended the program.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">On the occasion, Minister Shrestha did not hesitate to admit that there were some shortcomings. He also said that the government would expand its branches in all the states and address the issue of banks and financial institutions.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Secretary at the Ministry Surya Prasad Gautam claimed that the social security scheme was successful. Kapil Mani Gyawali, executive director of the fund, expressed his commitment to make the fund contribution-friendly by revising and modifying the work procedures of the fund and claimed that the three-year journey of the fund was successful.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><strong><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Emphasis on the need to improve weaknesses</span></strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">At a program held at the Ministry, the representatives of the private sector and trade unions said that the Social Security Fund has not been effective yet and stressed on the need to move forward by rectifying the shortcomings of the past.&nbsp;</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Senior Vice President of the Federation of Nepali Chambers of Commerce and Industry Chandra Dhakal, said that the fund should be implemented effectively in Nepal and added that the fund was effective after a long time of its implementation even in the developed nations.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Jagat Singh Simkhada, president of the All Nepal Federation of Trade Unions, said that only a small number of establishments were affiliated to the SSF in Nepal, and questioned the functioning of the fund. Stating that there is a lot of ambiguity in the fund, he said that there is a delay in removing the ambiguity on part of the government.&nbsp;</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 11 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '14377',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Tourism Activities Increasing in Bhaktapur',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'November 28: The Covid-19 pandemic had caused a major impact on the tourism sector of Nepal. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">November 28: The Covid-19 pandemic had caused a major impact on the tourism sector of Nepal. Tourism activities, which received a major blow from the pandemic, remained halted for almost two years. Bhaktapur, which is listed in the World Heritage Site, has finally started getting tourists. Bhaktapur area which is one of the major tourist destinations is being visited by 60 to 90 tourists on a daily basis.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Gautam Lasiba, the head of Tourism Information Center of the municipality, shared that the Bhaktapur area has got back its charm after the arrival of foreign tourists. The municipality has put forward a plan to operate the tourism business safely and keep the tourists safe from Covid-19. The municipality has made necessary preparations to create a safe environment for tourists. It has been holding discussions with hoteliers to manage the tourists in a way to keep them safe from Covid-19. However, most of the tourists who come to Bhaktapur return back without spending the night. The hotel business has not been able to come into full operation as the number of tourists staying overnight is only few in number.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">The municipality, which has been collecting revenue of around Rs 260 million annually from foreign tourists, has been facing loss for two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Lasiba said, &ldquo;Tourism fee of around Rs 260 million was collected in the fiscal year 2076/77. The amount was reduced to 2.9 million after the Covid-19 outbreak.&rdquo;</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">He informed that the municipality has been spending the money raised from tourism fees on education, health and heritage conservation. According to Lasiba, the number of tourists visiting Bhaktapur this year has been gradually increasing each month. This year, 228 tourists arrived from mid- July to mid-August, 380 from mid-August to mid-September, 964 from mid-September to mid-October and 1,923 from mid-October to mid-November.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Before the first lockdown, more than 3,000 tourists used to visit Bhaktapur daily and more than 200,000 annually. The municipality has been collecting a fee of Rs 500 per tourist belonging to the SAARC countries and China and Rs 1,500 per tourist from other countries. In the previous years, most of the tourists came from China, followed by India, the USA, France, Spain and other countries.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">The municipality has been reconstructing the infrastructure destroyed by the earthquake and has also started rebuilding some of the important heritage sites that have been buried which include Bhaju Pokhari situated at Dudhpati. Preparations are being made to reconstruct the Ranipokhari situated inside the camp of Nepal Army and open it for the purpose of sightseeing for foreign tourists.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">In Nepal, the period between late October to early December is considered as the peak season for tourism. Tourists who come to Nepal in October and November return home at the end of December to celebrate Christmas. According to the Center, in the past, about 35 percent of the tourists visiting Nepal used to come to Bhaktapur to see the heritage sites and most of them used to spend only three or four hours there.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Opportunities and Challenges of Graduating Nepal into a Middle-Income Developing Nation',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'November 28: The 40th plenary meeting of the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) unanimously adopted a resolution on Thursday endorsing the graduation of Nepal from the Least Developed Country (LDC) category with the preparatory period of five years.',
			'content' => '<p><em>Bouddhanath Stupa amidst the backdorp of the HImalayas. Photo Courtesy: ADB</em></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">November 28: The 40th plenary meeting of the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) unanimously adopted a resolution on Thursday (November 25) endorsing the graduation of Nepal from the Least Developed Country (LDC) category with the preparatory period of five years. With the unanimous adoption of the proposal, it has become inevitable to focus the vision of all political players in the activities of national income generation and maintaining political stability in the next five years.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The meeting approved Nepal&#39;s proposal on the basis of Gross National Income, Human Asset and Economic and Environmental Vulnerability, in view of the unwavering plan of the Government of Nepal to realize the national aspirations of &#39;Prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepal&#39; reflected in the 15th Periodic Plan.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">It is a matter of pride for all Nepalis that Nepal, which has been a victim of poverty and backwardness for more than five decades, is moving towards a transformation into a middle-income developing country. Not only has the country&#39;s elevation been a sign of progress, but it has also sent a positive message to the world community about Nepal&#39;s development prospects.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Although the challenge for Nepal is to increase the income of every Nepali, free the general people from the vicious cycle of poverty and keep them busy in sustainable income generation, upgrading can be marketed as an attractive destination for foreign direct investment. There is also ample opportunity to increase domestic investment from the private sector for the smooth up-gradation.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">There is no alternative to moving forward for sustainable and irreversible development by gradually devising development strategies, expediting policy and procedural reforms and adjustments in cooperation with Nepal&#39;s development and trade partners, and creating a conducive environment for investment.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">It has become imperative for the country&#39;s political leadership to immediately engage in dialogue with Nepal&#39;s bilateral and multilateral development and trade partners to ensure that the common &#39;agenda&#39; of national development remains the same, despite political differences. For that, strong will and sincerity must be demonstrated. Nepal&#39;s political leadership, which has been able to resolve the decade-long armed conflict peacefully, once again can take advantage of the opportunity to exhibit that they are not divided in order to remove Nepal from the list of poor countries and restore its lost image to the world community.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Even though Nepal, as a least developed country, will continue receiving favor, facilities, concessions and assistance from the international community till December 2026, it will be reduced thereafter. In order to work with a clear action plan focusing on the country&#39;s abundant water resources, commercialization of agriculture, optimum utilisation of forest and forest products including herbal medicine and tourism sectors, it has become imperative to formulate a national transition strategy of upgrading in collaboration with bilateral, regional and multilateral development and trade partners, including the UN system.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The five-year preparatory period is provided for a smooth transition, recognizing the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting need to implement policies and strategies to reverse the pandemic&rsquo;s damage to the economic and social sectors. The five-year transition period is provided on an exceptional basis mainly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, which would normally be for three years.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The resolution has mandated the Committee on Development Policy, a subsidiary body of the Economic and Social Council, to analyze the adequacy of the preparatory period at its 2024 triennial review and recommend further extension if necessary. The resolution also invites Nepal and the other two graduating countries to prepare smooth national transition strategies, with the support of the United Nations system and in cooperation with their bilateral, regional, and multilateral development and trading partners.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">After the adoption of the resolution, Nepal has reiterated her commitment to making an all-out effort for smooth graduation with the enhanced level of support from the development partners including the UN. -- RSS&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>
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			'title' => 'Health Ministry Urges People to Stay Alert after New Variant of Covid-19 Reported in South Africa',
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			'summary' => 'November 28: In the wake of a new variant of COVID-19 reported in South Africa, the Ministry of Health and Population has urged people to remain cautious and strictly follow the health protocols.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">November 28: In the wake of a new variant of COVID-19 reported in South Africa, the Ministry of Health and Population has urged people to remain cautious and strictly follow the health protocols. </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The ministry warned that the variant classified as B 1.1.529 could spread to Nepal as well. So people visiting Nepal through South Africa should compulsorily stay in a week-long quarantine facility, said the Ministry.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">&nbsp;Nepal is at risk when a virus variant is reported anywhere across the globe, said Joint Secretary at the Ministry, Dr Samir Adhikari. So caution is necessary, he added.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">According to the ministry, the World Health Organisation has classified the variant as &#39;of concern&#39;. &quot;Following this, we have stepped up vigil on people visiting Nepal through South Africa,&quot; he said.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The ministry further said that there is no need to worry as the variant has not been reported in Nepal. But caution is necessary, said Adhikari. At present, the number of COVID-19 cases is decreasing. But the risks still persist. So there is a need to follow the health protocols, said Adhikari.&nbsp; -- RSS&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><br />
&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'title' => 'Herbs Production and Processing Company Starts Making Profit after 40 Years',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'November 28: The state-owned Herbs Production and Processing Company Ltd has started making profit since the past three years.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">November 28: The state-owned Herbs Production and Processing Company Ltd has started making profit since the past three years.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Established in 2038 BS, the company has started making profit since fiscal year 2075/76 BS, the state-owned national news agency RSS reported.&nbsp; The company&#39;s Manager Gyaneshwor Karki said that the company had earned Rs 19.2 million for the first time after paying tax on its income.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Similarly, the company made Rs 12.2 million profit in the fiscal year 2076/77 BS while audit of the fiscal year 2077/78 BS is underway. The company has made profit this fiscal year as well. Among the government&#39;s public organisations in the industrial sector, this is the only institution that is making profit, RSS further stated.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The company has started distributing dividends to shareholders from the fiscal year 2076/77 BS. The company is making preparations to issue share to the general public once the audit report is finalized. The company said that it is working towards increasing its capital by selling the company&#39;s share to the public.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">According to RSS, Nepal is home to around 2,000 species of herbal, medicinal and aromatic plants. The concerned department of the government has verified 819 types of such plants till date. Altogether 300 varieties of plants are being used commercially. Among them, the company has been trading in 13 types of aromatic and essential oil-based products, shared General Manager Karki.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">According to a report, the demand for the aromatic and essential oils in the global market amounts to US$ 17.2 billion. The demand is expected to increase by 7.5 per cent annually till 2027, RSS reported adding that Nepal had exported aromatic oil worth USD 5 million in 2015 which is 0.02 per cent of the global demand.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">&quot;Looking at this statistics, Nepal has much possibility of herbal production and processing. There is high demand of herbal oil and products in the international market. Therefore, we are working towards establishing the company as one of the established companies in the whole of South Asia in terms of production of essential oils and herbal products,&quot; he said.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">General Manager Karki shared that the company was moving ahead towards raising the socio-economic condition of the poor and low-income people by creating maximum jobs while implementing the internationally-established good practices in sustainable harvesting of herbs, their cultivation, processing, production and sale and distribution.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The government had provided Rs 180 million to the company last year for achieving its objectives, RSS reported. This amount was received for investment as per the business plan submitted to the Finance Ministry by General Manager Karki via the Ministry of Forests and Environment. The business plan focuses on the company&#39;s development, expansion and its structural reform.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Out of the amount provided by the government, Rs 80 million is in the form of loan.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The company has the target of annual transaction equivalent to Rs 1 billion after the business plan comes into full operation.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><br />
&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">&nbsp; </span></span></p>
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			'title' => 'Light Snowfall Forecast in Mountainous Regions   ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'November 30: Light snowfall has been forecast in a few places of high mountainous regions of Province 1, Gandaki Province and Karnali Province today (November 30).',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">November 30: Light snowfall has been forecast in a few places of high mountainous regions of Province 1, Gandaki Province and Karnali Province today (November 30). According to the Meteorological Forecasting Division under the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, the country is currently witnessing the influence of a low pressure system based in Bangladesh and its surrounding areas and the partial impact of a low pressure system in the Arabian Sea and its surroundings.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Stating that the intensity of cold has been rising across the country, the division has urged the people to take preventive measures against cold.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Similarly, there will be partly cloudy weather across the country today (November 30) with a possibility of light rainfall at one or two places of Gandaki Province.&nbsp; -- RSS&nbsp; &nbsp;</span></span></span><br />
&nbsp;</p>
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			'title' => 'Government Warns of Blacklisting Manpower Companies that do not Fulfill Contractual Agreement',
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			'summary' => 'November 30: The government has started seeking solutions to the problems faced by the Nepali migrant workers who opt for foreign employment.    ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">November 30: The government has started seeking solutions to the problems faced by the Nepali migrant workers who opt for foreign employment.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Minister for Labour, Employment and Social Security, Krishna Kumar Shrestha, has started discussions with stakeholders in order to improve the labour sector. He held discussion with returnee workers on Monday in this regard.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">On the occasion, Nepali migrant workers complained about anomalies in foreign employment such as cheating right from the beginning of the process of foreign employment until their return and not getting the service and facilities as determined by the government. They urged the government to create employment opportunities within the country and to rehabilitate the returnee youths. Returnee migrants said that they did not get their salary while returning home after losing job due to coronavirus pandemic.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">They also said that they faced problems in foreign countries due to lack of skills and were not provided with benefits on par with workers of other countries.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">After hearing the plights of Nepali migrant workers, Minister Shrestha shared that the companies not providing services and facilities as per the agreement would be blacklisted and Nepali workers would not be sent through such companies. He added that the ministry has been preparing work procedure to reintegrate the returnee migrants.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Representatives of the civil society organisations working in favour of migrant workers were also present on the occasion.&nbsp; -- RSS&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>
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			'title' => 'Non-tariff Barriers on Nepali Tea Removed ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'November 29: The non-tariff barrier imposed by India on export of Nepali tea has been resolved for the time being.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">November 29: The non-tariff barrier imposed by India on export of Nepali tea has been resolved for the time being. Tea export from Kakadbhitta has resumed through diplomatic initiatives of Nepal.&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">According to Ishwar Raj Poudel, Nepal&#39;s Consul General in Kolkata, India, a diplomatic initiative was taken through the Ministry of External Affairs to resolve the issue. After the Indian side agreed to Nepal&rsquo;s proposal, 18 trucks packed with tea that were stopped at Kakadbhitta checkpoint have been allowed to enter India.&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">According to the Mechi Customs Office, the tea is being exported after the Indian side agreed not to obstruct the import of tea from Nepal. Chief Customs Officer at the Mechi Customs Office, Keshav Raj Oli said that tea export has been smooth since last Tuesday and 3/4 trucks of tea are being exported to India daily.&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">The Department of Commerce, India had written letters to its subordinate bodies on November 3, questioning the quality of tea coming from Nepal.&nbsp;The trucks carrying tea were stuck at the checkpoint after the department instructed them to import tea only after completing the required processes including quality check.&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Tea exported from Nepal are sold by Indian businessmen under the brand name &#39;Darjeeling Tea&#39; in Indian and foreign markets. The Nepali tea producers claim that the recent increase in tea production in India has created obstruction in the name of quality control.&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Stating that the quality of Darjeeling tea has deteriorated, the Indian side had instructed to import the tea from Nepal only after testing the quality. Officials say the problem has been resolved for the moment after the Nepalese embassy in New Delhi took the issue at the Indian Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian side agreed to allow the import of tea.&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Even though the problem has been resolved for the time being, Nepali producers have complained that India has been obstructing the export of Nepali tea from time to time. According to Nepali producers, India has created obstruction under the pretext of quality check and related processes after production has increased in its market.&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">According to the statistics of the Department of Customs, tea worth Rs 3.79 billion was exported from Nepal in the last fiscal year 2077/78. Of that, 80 percent was exported to India.&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '14386',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Exhibition of Goods made of Dhaka Fabric in Offing   ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'November 29: Nepal Handloom and Dhaka Cloth Entrepreneurs and Traders Association is organizing an exhibition of various goods made out of the Dhaka fabric and handloom.    ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">November 29: Nepal Handloom and Dhaka Cloth Entrepreneurs and Traders Association is organizing an exhibition of various goods made out of the Dhaka fabric and handloom.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The exhibition would be held from December 17 to 19 in New Baneshwor in the federal capital. It is being organized with the objective of preserving and promoting the unique Dhaka products. Forty stalls would be kept in the expo, Association coordinator Ramesh Shrestha informed the media at a news conference on Sunday.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Stating that the Dhaka cloth has been weaved in the country since ancient times, he said the goods produced from this and the employment it generates would help make the national economy dynamic.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">According to Shrestha, opportunities for business interaction would also be available during the event in which the entrepreneurs from several places can talk about the developments and explore potentials in this sector.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">There are around 50,000 entrepreneurs involved in the Dhaka business. A national gathering of the entrepreneurs and traders would also be held coinciding with the exhibition. -- RSS&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>
',
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			'description' => '',
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			'image' => '20211129022705_Dhaka Made in Nepal 2 Mero Kuraa.jpg',
			'article_date' => '2021-11-29 14:26:26',
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	(int) 4 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '14383',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Over 1,300 Business Firms Monitored in First Four Months of Current FY   ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'November 29: The Department of Commerce, Supplies and Consumer Protection has carried out monitoring of 1,355 trade and business firms in the first four months of the current fiscal year (FY) starting July 16.   ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">November 29: The Department of Commerce, Supplies and Consumer Protection has carried out monitoring of 1,355 trade and business firms in the first four months of the current fiscal year (FY) starting July 16.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The monitoring was carried out in the Kathmandu Valley and several places of the country. The department monitored 388 firms in the month of Kartik (October 18 to November 16) and took action against 176 of them for wrongdoing.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The department collected revenue of Rs 7.11 million from fine slapped on those business firms found involved in unfair trade practices. Of the total firms monitored, nearly half were fined, informed the director of the Department Hari Pangeni.</span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">According to Pangeni, the department fined 667 firms and reprimanded 668 firms in the last four months. Similarly, samples of goods were collected from 10 firms for lab test, three people involved in business malpractice were arrested and 10 firms were sealed during the period.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Groceries, department stores, goat market, the fruits and vegetable markets, meat shops, liquor stores, marts, hardware stores, sweet shops and electronics goods stores, among others were monitored during the festive period.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The department had mobilized three separate market monitoring teams in the three districts of the Kathmandu Valley during the festive period. These teams are still active although the festive season is already over, added Pangeni. -- RSS&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>
',
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	(int) 5 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '14384',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Buddha Air Focuses its Service in Rural Areas',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'November 29: Buddha Air has shifted its focus on flights to rural areas after getting a lukewarm response in its international flights to Indian cities',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">November 29: Buddha Air has shifted its focus on flights to rural areas after getting a lukewarm response in its international flights to Indian cities</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Buddha Air had started international flights between Kathmandu and Beneras of India for the first time on June 29, 2021. It also gave priority to international flights to Indian cities of Kolkata and New Delhi but did not get business as per the expectations of the company.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">In addition to loss in business, India refused to give permit to Buddha Air to carry passengers to New Delhi.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Buddha Air, which has been operating flights since the last 24 years, had started Kathmandu-Kolkata flights from May of 2019. The company reported a shortage of passengers from Kolkata that resulted in loss. Therefore, the flights were canceled in November after just six months of operation. Similarly, the company, which has also put forward a plan to fly from Nepalgunj to Delhi, has not started flights yet as India has not given permission yet.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Giving high importance to international flights, Buddha Air had also put forward a plan to set up Buddha Air International in Pokhara, targeting such flights. With the exception of the Kathmandu-Beneras flights, Buddha Air has now decided to come up with plans targeting flights to remote areas. Meanwhile, the company has decided to put on hold to other international flights.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">The company has started selecting airports of rural areas after deciding to purchase a 19-seater Twin-Otter aircraft to flying to remote destinations. According to Dipendra Kumar Karna, the communication manager of the company, Buddha Air has already started its homework on the purchase of Twin-Otter aircraft, airport selection, pilots and manpower preparation to operate flights to remote areas. He also informed that 26 airports have been selected for such flights.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Stating that necessary preparations including selection of pilots and airports will be completed within a year along with the purchase of aircraft, after which the destinations will be confirmed. The Buddha Air will fly on the STOL route by making Nepalgunj as its hub for the far west areas, Pokhara for the west and Manthali of Ramechhap for the east. The company is planning to fly from Manthali to Solukhumbu and Taplejung, from Nepalgunj to Humla and Simikot and from Pokhara to Jomsom.</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
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	(int) 6 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '14382',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Dispute between Transport Companies hit Imports from Tatopani Customs ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'November 29: The import of goods from China through Tatopani checkpoint, the northern border of Nepal, is likely to be affected due to the dispute between transport companies. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">November 29: The import of goods from China through Tatopani checkpoint, the northern border of Nepal, is likely to be affected due to the dispute between transport companies.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">The dispute started a few months ago after two other transport companies were allowed to bring goods at this checkpoint where only Silk Transport has been importing goods since some years. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Silk Transport, Namaste Global Logistics and Rivanje Transport have been allowed to bring goods at Tatopani checkpoint from China. The dispute erupted between the transport companies after Namaste Transport proposed sending containers for importing goods as per the demand from China while Silk Transport wanted to import goods by queuing vehicles. There are 52 containers of Silk Transport, 32 containers of Namaste Global Logistics and 12 containers of Rivanje Transport that have been bringing goods up to the border point.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Danorbu Sherpa, director of Namaste Transport, said that although a team comprising representatives of all the three transport companies and officials of the Tatopani customs office held talks to resolve the dispute, no solution was found. &ldquo;We feel that we should be able to send the containers as per the demand of the clients, but the operators of Silk Transport do not support this. So the dispute has not been resolved,&rdquo; said Sherpa.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">As they have to pay RMB 2,000 per day while they queue their vehicles in China, he said that they decided to send containers only as per the demand.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">&ldquo;Our only wish is to import goods through open competition,&rdquo; Sherpa said.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">On the other hand, Silk Transport&#39;s Kalyan Silwal said that the problem arose because other transport companies that came to compete at the checkpoint were trying to boss around. &ldquo;They have created the dispute themselves. We are asking them to work together,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Chief of Tatopani Customs Narad Gautam said that the import was affected due to the dispute between the transport companies. He said that the first container to pass the Chinese customs arrives at the Friendship Bridge first and the arrangements to transport goods are made accordingly. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
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	(int) 7 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '14381',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Experts for Launching Agriculture Campaign to Ensure Food Security   ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'November 29: Agriculture scientists studying food and agriculture sector of the country have initiated policy advocacy for the 'Agriculture Campaign for Food'.   ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">November 29: Agriculture scientists studying food and agriculture sector of the country have initiated policy advocacy for the &#39;Agriculture Campaign for Food&#39;.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">In a discussion programme with journalists based in Karnali province, the scientists described the campaign as a strong practice for policy advocacy. The programme was organized with the support of Environmental Resources Institute in Birendranagar, Surkhet on Sunday.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Agricultural expert Dr Krishna Prasad Poudel on the occasion said that the human race has deviated from sustainable agricultural practices since 500 years. &quot;We have been eating junk food these days due to the sheer ego that we can triumph over the Earth. The fact is that our agriculture is being done merely for money. Rather it should have been a means of survival but it has become our destiny,&quot; he said, expressing concern over the unsustainable practices in agriculture.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Dr Poudel also argued that over-exploitation of resources for food and the &#39;mad development&#39; were the main reasons for climate change.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Executive Director of Collaborative Actions for Dignity (CAD Nepal) Jumla and agriculture campaigner, Dhan Bahadur Gautam said they have been providing policy support to the government since the last decade for promoting self-sufficiency in agriculture, conservation of indigenous crops and organic farming. He said the government should better invest more in boosting agriculture products in the mountainous districts of Karnali province rather than wasting money in supplying rice worth millions of rupees to these districts.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Representative of Environmental Resources Institute, Sujata Tamang informed that the campaign has been involved in conducting debates and discussions as well as action-oriented research on agriculture and food issues. She said they have also been raising issues of emerging problems, challenges and opportunities in agriculture.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">On the occasion, media persons suggested to the campaigners for devising ways for attracting the youth force to agriculture, expanding irrigation coverage, preparing policy framework for making agriculture a dignified profession and implementing the same.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">They pointed out to the sad reality of the country that 82 per cent of the population involved in agriculture was struggling with hand-to-mouth existence whereas five per cent population involved in agriculture in countries attaining self-sufficiency in agriculture were providing food to 95 per cent population. -- RSS</span></span></span></p>
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	(int) 8 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '14380',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Government Cancels Licence of Hello Nepal   ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'November 29: The government has scrapped the licence of Nepal Satellite Telecom Pvt Ltd (Hello Nepal).',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">November 29: The government has scrapped the licence of Nepal Satellite Telecom Pvt Ltd (Hello Nepal). The decision was taken after the failure of Hello Nepal to pay its longstanding dues to the government, informed the Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA).&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">A meeting of the NTA board of directors on Friday took a decision to this effect. After the company failed to pay the dues until mid-July, the NTA on October 29 sought clarification from the company as per a decision taken by the NTA board on October 22. The company was given a 15-day timeframe to submit its clarification. The company responded that the NTA could not scrap its licence as it has demanded additional time period to pay the dues in installment in line with the cabinet decision, said the NTA Spokesperson Santosh Poudel.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Unsatisfied with the response sent by the company, the NTA cancelled its licence citing other clauses in the the decision taken by the same Council of Ministers two years ago.</span></span></span><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The company owns dues under several headings to the NTA. It is yet to pay frequency charge, royalty, amount to be deposited in the Rural Telecommunications Fund and license renewal fees.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Prior to this, in July-August, 2019, a meeting of the NTA Board of Directors decided to rescind the license of the company. As per the provision, any company can apply to the Council of Ministers for the review of the NTA decision to repeal the license within 35 days of the decision. Based on the same provision, the company had proceeded for the review.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Acting on the company&rsquo;s appeal, a meeting of the Council of Ministers on January 6, 2020 agreed to give a facility of time extension to the company for repaying the dues while keeping the license validated.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The company was advised to pay the first installment within in the same fiscal year (2019-20) and to clear all dues within the next five years. In case of the non-payment of dues within the given timeframe, the license would be automatically cancelled.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Abiding by the Council of Ministers&#39; decision, NTA had given it five years to pay Rs 1.387 billion. The company, however, had paid Rs 2.15 million to the NTA as the first installment&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The NTA decided to cancel the license citing the non-clearance of dues as demanded by the Council of Ministers. -- RSS&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><br />
&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 9 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '14379',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Arrears of Department of Roads Account for 20 percent of its Total Budget',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'November 28: The arrears of the Department of Roads, which mobilizes a large budget for infrastructure projects, is 20.89 percent of its total budget. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">November 28: The arrears of the Department of Roads, which mobilizes a large budget for infrastructure projects, is 20.89 percent of its total budget. In the current Fiscal Year (FY 2078/79), the total amount received by the Road Department is Rs 133 billion.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">According to the annual report of the department for the last fiscal year, the arrears of the department was Rs 27.79 billion. The arrears was Rs 37.48 billion in the previous fiscal year. Such undeclared expense which was earlier settled and dropped to Rs 23.18 billion has increased again. However, the department has had such arrears since FY 2059/60. The department, which has been managing projects of national priority including national highways and tunnels, is yet to be clear the arrears.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Arjun Jung Thapa, director general of the department, claims that the increase in arrears was not due to any foul play but due to procedural hurdles.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">He said, &ldquo;The arrears are not due to wrong intentions in spending, but due to some procedural ups and downs. We demand the budget in the beginning of the fiscal year, but the budget is received only around mid-July. However, the construction entrepreneurs need to be paid within 28 days of request which is seen as arrears from the point of view of the auditor general.&rdquo; He claimed that 99 percent of the department&#39;s irregularities are due to such reasons.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">He said if they do not pay the construction entrepreneurs within 28 days, then the department needs to pay the interest.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Similarly, arrears is seen in the case of providing compensation for land acquisition as well as capital gains tax. The department&rsquo;s spending seems to be irregular because of the need to manage budget from other headings to address these problems.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">The arrear is also seen in the contract of design and build method. Stating that the Kothiya Bridge and Dhobikhola Bridge of Karnali built in the same model still have arrears, he said that the rules of Auditor General and the method of audit are impractical.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Infrastructure expert Surya Raj Acharya says that the arrears are clearly a sign of irregularity. However, he said that the arrears should not be viewed negatively as the development budget is very large and different conditions and technical problems are bound be created while working.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">&ldquo;Another indication is that there will be natural problems in the development work but the economic laws and regulations that address them are conservative,&rdquo; he said, adding that the arrears in development and other bodies would have a negative impact on financial administration and project management.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">He also stressed on the need to clarify the financial acts to address the uncertainty in infrastructure projects. </span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Shiva Nepal, spokesperson of the department, said that the arrears are created as the related laws, bidding process, interpretation of financial act, standards of international contract management are treated differently in our country.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">He says that among the various methods of contract, there is a big difference due to the design and build model. &ldquo;The Office of Auditor General has said that the contract amount of this model cannot be increased,&rdquo; said Nepal, adding, &ldquo;The department cannot comply with the demand of the Auditor General as it is an international practice and the arrears remains unchanged.&rdquo;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">However, he admitted that the volume of undocumented payment was huge due to the negligence and weakness of some project heads and officials. He shared that such amount is more than 20 percent of the total budget.</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '14378',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Three Years On, Many Employers still Reluctant to Join Social Security Fund ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'November 28: It has been three years since the government started implementing the contribution-based Social Security Fund (SSF) that was introduced to provide pensions to the workers of the private sector.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">November 28: It has been three years since the government started implementing the contribution-based Social Security Fund (SSF) that was introduced to provide pensions to the workers of the private sector. However, voluntary participation in the Social Security Fund has not yet increased significantly.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">In the last four years, 15,831 employers and 295,764 workers have joined the fund. According to the Economic Census 2075, there are 923,000 business establishments operating in Nepal. A total of 462,000 organisations are registered with the government. However, only 15,008 organisations have been listed in the fund so far. From the fact that only 3.5 percent of the formally registered organisations are listed, it is clear that the Social Security Fund has not progressed as expected.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><strong><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Billions collected, zero operations</span></strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">So far, billions of rupees have been collected by the SSF from the contributors, but it has not been properly mobilized. The fund has so far collected Rs 10.10 billion from affiliated employers and workers.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">However, this amount has not been used for any purpose other than receiving interest from the banks. Showing the lack of policy required to mobilize the money, the government is only receiving interest by keeping the contributors&rsquo; money as &#39;fixed deposits&#39;.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><strong><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Obligation to rely on debt remains</span></strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">It has been four years since the Social Security Fund started its scheme but it has not become self-sufficient. Although the office of the Social Security Fund has been established and the staff has been managed, the SSF is still relying on loans to run day-to-day operations.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">As per the decision of the Government of Nepal on 2076/9/11, the SSF needs to repay the loan amount within 5 years at the annual interest rate of 3 percent. As per this decision, the fund took the loan of Rs 50 million in 2076/77 for the first time and spent Rs 23 million on administrative operations and management.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Similarly, the SSF operated in loan in FY 2077/78 as well. This year too, the fund has taken a loan of Rs 150 million from the Government of Nepal.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">This amount has been spent on office operation, office rent, employees&rsquo; salary, services and facilities and the fund is preparing to take an additional loan of Rs 220 million for the current Fiscal Year 2078/79. This loan is being taken in installments.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><strong><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Lack of ownership among the ministers</span></strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">During the tenure of the then Minister for Labour, Employment and Social Security Gokarna Bista, there were daily trainings and seminars on social security schemes but after Rameshwor Raya Yadav became labour minister, he did not give any attention to it. After that, Gauri Shankar Chaudhary and now Krishna Kumar Shrestha is the Labor Minister, but none of these ministers seem to be committed to advancing the social security scheme, which is why the fund has become inactive.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><strong><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Program at the Ministry on the occasion of the annual festival</span></strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">On the occasion of the 4</span><sup><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">th</span></sup><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"> annual meeting of the SSF, a low-key program was held at the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security on Saturday. Some private sector representatives and Labor Minister Krishna Kumar Shrestha attended the program.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">On the occasion, Minister Shrestha did not hesitate to admit that there were some shortcomings. He also said that the government would expand its branches in all the states and address the issue of banks and financial institutions.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Secretary at the Ministry Surya Prasad Gautam claimed that the social security scheme was successful. Kapil Mani Gyawali, executive director of the fund, expressed his commitment to make the fund contribution-friendly by revising and modifying the work procedures of the fund and claimed that the three-year journey of the fund was successful.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><strong><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Emphasis on the need to improve weaknesses</span></strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">At a program held at the Ministry, the representatives of the private sector and trade unions said that the Social Security Fund has not been effective yet and stressed on the need to move forward by rectifying the shortcomings of the past.&nbsp;</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Senior Vice President of the Federation of Nepali Chambers of Commerce and Industry Chandra Dhakal, said that the fund should be implemented effectively in Nepal and added that the fund was effective after a long time of its implementation even in the developed nations.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Jagat Singh Simkhada, president of the All Nepal Federation of Trade Unions, said that only a small number of establishments were affiliated to the SSF in Nepal, and questioned the functioning of the fund. Stating that there is a lot of ambiguity in the fund, he said that there is a delay in removing the ambiguity on part of the government.&nbsp;</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'id' => '14377',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Tourism Activities Increasing in Bhaktapur',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'November 28: The Covid-19 pandemic had caused a major impact on the tourism sector of Nepal. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">November 28: The Covid-19 pandemic had caused a major impact on the tourism sector of Nepal. Tourism activities, which received a major blow from the pandemic, remained halted for almost two years. Bhaktapur, which is listed in the World Heritage Site, has finally started getting tourists. Bhaktapur area which is one of the major tourist destinations is being visited by 60 to 90 tourists on a daily basis.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Gautam Lasiba, the head of Tourism Information Center of the municipality, shared that the Bhaktapur area has got back its charm after the arrival of foreign tourists. The municipality has put forward a plan to operate the tourism business safely and keep the tourists safe from Covid-19. The municipality has made necessary preparations to create a safe environment for tourists. It has been holding discussions with hoteliers to manage the tourists in a way to keep them safe from Covid-19. However, most of the tourists who come to Bhaktapur return back without spending the night. The hotel business has not been able to come into full operation as the number of tourists staying overnight is only few in number.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">The municipality, which has been collecting revenue of around Rs 260 million annually from foreign tourists, has been facing loss for two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Lasiba said, &ldquo;Tourism fee of around Rs 260 million was collected in the fiscal year 2076/77. The amount was reduced to 2.9 million after the Covid-19 outbreak.&rdquo;</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">He informed that the municipality has been spending the money raised from tourism fees on education, health and heritage conservation. According to Lasiba, the number of tourists visiting Bhaktapur this year has been gradually increasing each month. This year, 228 tourists arrived from mid- July to mid-August, 380 from mid-August to mid-September, 964 from mid-September to mid-October and 1,923 from mid-October to mid-November.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Before the first lockdown, more than 3,000 tourists used to visit Bhaktapur daily and more than 200,000 annually. The municipality has been collecting a fee of Rs 500 per tourist belonging to the SAARC countries and China and Rs 1,500 per tourist from other countries. In the previous years, most of the tourists came from China, followed by India, the USA, France, Spain and other countries.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">The municipality has been reconstructing the infrastructure destroyed by the earthquake and has also started rebuilding some of the important heritage sites that have been buried which include Bhaju Pokhari situated at Dudhpati. Preparations are being made to reconstruct the Ranipokhari situated inside the camp of Nepal Army and open it for the purpose of sightseeing for foreign tourists.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">In Nepal, the period between late October to early December is considered as the peak season for tourism. Tourists who come to Nepal in October and November return home at the end of December to celebrate Christmas. According to the Center, in the past, about 35 percent of the tourists visiting Nepal used to come to Bhaktapur to see the heritage sites and most of them used to spend only three or four hours there.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		'Article' => array(
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			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Opportunities and Challenges of Graduating Nepal into a Middle-Income Developing Nation',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'November 28: The 40th plenary meeting of the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) unanimously adopted a resolution on Thursday endorsing the graduation of Nepal from the Least Developed Country (LDC) category with the preparatory period of five years.',
			'content' => '<p><em>Bouddhanath Stupa amidst the backdorp of the HImalayas. Photo Courtesy: ADB</em></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">November 28: The 40th plenary meeting of the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) unanimously adopted a resolution on Thursday (November 25) endorsing the graduation of Nepal from the Least Developed Country (LDC) category with the preparatory period of five years. With the unanimous adoption of the proposal, it has become inevitable to focus the vision of all political players in the activities of national income generation and maintaining political stability in the next five years.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The meeting approved Nepal&#39;s proposal on the basis of Gross National Income, Human Asset and Economic and Environmental Vulnerability, in view of the unwavering plan of the Government of Nepal to realize the national aspirations of &#39;Prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepal&#39; reflected in the 15th Periodic Plan.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">It is a matter of pride for all Nepalis that Nepal, which has been a victim of poverty and backwardness for more than five decades, is moving towards a transformation into a middle-income developing country. Not only has the country&#39;s elevation been a sign of progress, but it has also sent a positive message to the world community about Nepal&#39;s development prospects.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Although the challenge for Nepal is to increase the income of every Nepali, free the general people from the vicious cycle of poverty and keep them busy in sustainable income generation, upgrading can be marketed as an attractive destination for foreign direct investment. There is also ample opportunity to increase domestic investment from the private sector for the smooth up-gradation.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">There is no alternative to moving forward for sustainable and irreversible development by gradually devising development strategies, expediting policy and procedural reforms and adjustments in cooperation with Nepal&#39;s development and trade partners, and creating a conducive environment for investment.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">It has become imperative for the country&#39;s political leadership to immediately engage in dialogue with Nepal&#39;s bilateral and multilateral development and trade partners to ensure that the common &#39;agenda&#39; of national development remains the same, despite political differences. For that, strong will and sincerity must be demonstrated. Nepal&#39;s political leadership, which has been able to resolve the decade-long armed conflict peacefully, once again can take advantage of the opportunity to exhibit that they are not divided in order to remove Nepal from the list of poor countries and restore its lost image to the world community.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Even though Nepal, as a least developed country, will continue receiving favor, facilities, concessions and assistance from the international community till December 2026, it will be reduced thereafter. In order to work with a clear action plan focusing on the country&#39;s abundant water resources, commercialization of agriculture, optimum utilisation of forest and forest products including herbal medicine and tourism sectors, it has become imperative to formulate a national transition strategy of upgrading in collaboration with bilateral, regional and multilateral development and trade partners, including the UN system.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The five-year preparatory period is provided for a smooth transition, recognizing the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting need to implement policies and strategies to reverse the pandemic&rsquo;s damage to the economic and social sectors. The five-year transition period is provided on an exceptional basis mainly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, which would normally be for three years.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The resolution has mandated the Committee on Development Policy, a subsidiary body of the Economic and Social Council, to analyze the adequacy of the preparatory period at its 2024 triennial review and recommend further extension if necessary. The resolution also invites Nepal and the other two graduating countries to prepare smooth national transition strategies, with the support of the United Nations system and in cooperation with their bilateral, regional, and multilateral development and trading partners.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">After the adoption of the resolution, Nepal has reiterated her commitment to making an all-out effort for smooth graduation with the enhanced level of support from the development partners including the UN. -- RSS&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>
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			'id' => '14374',
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			'title' => 'Health Ministry Urges People to Stay Alert after New Variant of Covid-19 Reported in South Africa',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'November 28: In the wake of a new variant of COVID-19 reported in South Africa, the Ministry of Health and Population has urged people to remain cautious and strictly follow the health protocols.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">November 28: In the wake of a new variant of COVID-19 reported in South Africa, the Ministry of Health and Population has urged people to remain cautious and strictly follow the health protocols. </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The ministry warned that the variant classified as B 1.1.529 could spread to Nepal as well. So people visiting Nepal through South Africa should compulsorily stay in a week-long quarantine facility, said the Ministry.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">&nbsp;Nepal is at risk when a virus variant is reported anywhere across the globe, said Joint Secretary at the Ministry, Dr Samir Adhikari. So caution is necessary, he added.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">According to the ministry, the World Health Organisation has classified the variant as &#39;of concern&#39;. &quot;Following this, we have stepped up vigil on people visiting Nepal through South Africa,&quot; he said.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The ministry further said that there is no need to worry as the variant has not been reported in Nepal. But caution is necessary, said Adhikari. At present, the number of COVID-19 cases is decreasing. But the risks still persist. So there is a need to follow the health protocols, said Adhikari.&nbsp; -- RSS&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><br />
&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'title' => 'Herbs Production and Processing Company Starts Making Profit after 40 Years',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'November 28: The state-owned Herbs Production and Processing Company Ltd has started making profit since the past three years.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">November 28: The state-owned Herbs Production and Processing Company Ltd has started making profit since the past three years.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Established in 2038 BS, the company has started making profit since fiscal year 2075/76 BS, the state-owned national news agency RSS reported.&nbsp; The company&#39;s Manager Gyaneshwor Karki said that the company had earned Rs 19.2 million for the first time after paying tax on its income.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Similarly, the company made Rs 12.2 million profit in the fiscal year 2076/77 BS while audit of the fiscal year 2077/78 BS is underway. The company has made profit this fiscal year as well. Among the government&#39;s public organisations in the industrial sector, this is the only institution that is making profit, RSS further stated.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The company has started distributing dividends to shareholders from the fiscal year 2076/77 BS. The company is making preparations to issue share to the general public once the audit report is finalized. The company said that it is working towards increasing its capital by selling the company&#39;s share to the public.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">According to RSS, Nepal is home to around 2,000 species of herbal, medicinal and aromatic plants. The concerned department of the government has verified 819 types of such plants till date. Altogether 300 varieties of plants are being used commercially. Among them, the company has been trading in 13 types of aromatic and essential oil-based products, shared General Manager Karki.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">According to a report, the demand for the aromatic and essential oils in the global market amounts to US$ 17.2 billion. The demand is expected to increase by 7.5 per cent annually till 2027, RSS reported adding that Nepal had exported aromatic oil worth USD 5 million in 2015 which is 0.02 per cent of the global demand.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">&quot;Looking at this statistics, Nepal has much possibility of herbal production and processing. There is high demand of herbal oil and products in the international market. Therefore, we are working towards establishing the company as one of the established companies in the whole of South Asia in terms of production of essential oils and herbal products,&quot; he said.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">General Manager Karki shared that the company was moving ahead towards raising the socio-economic condition of the poor and low-income people by creating maximum jobs while implementing the internationally-established good practices in sustainable harvesting of herbs, their cultivation, processing, production and sale and distribution.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The government had provided Rs 180 million to the company last year for achieving its objectives, RSS reported. This amount was received for investment as per the business plan submitted to the Finance Ministry by General Manager Karki via the Ministry of Forests and Environment. The business plan focuses on the company&#39;s development, expansion and its structural reform.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Out of the amount provided by the government, Rs 80 million is in the form of loan.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The company has the target of annual transaction equivalent to Rs 1 billion after the business plan comes into full operation.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><br />
&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">&nbsp; </span></span></p>
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			'id' => '14388',
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			'title' => 'Light Snowfall Forecast in Mountainous Regions   ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'November 30: Light snowfall has been forecast in a few places of high mountainous regions of Province 1, Gandaki Province and Karnali Province today (November 30).',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">November 30: Light snowfall has been forecast in a few places of high mountainous regions of Province 1, Gandaki Province and Karnali Province today (November 30). According to the Meteorological Forecasting Division under the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, the country is currently witnessing the influence of a low pressure system based in Bangladesh and its surrounding areas and the partial impact of a low pressure system in the Arabian Sea and its surroundings.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Stating that the intensity of cold has been rising across the country, the division has urged the people to take preventive measures against cold.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Similarly, there will be partly cloudy weather across the country today (November 30) with a possibility of light rainfall at one or two places of Gandaki Province.&nbsp; -- RSS&nbsp; &nbsp;</span></span></span><br />
&nbsp;</p>
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			'created' => '2021-11-30',
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			'sortorder' => '14133',
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			'title' => 'Government Warns of Blacklisting Manpower Companies that do not Fulfill Contractual Agreement',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'November 30: The government has started seeking solutions to the problems faced by the Nepali migrant workers who opt for foreign employment.    ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">November 30: The government has started seeking solutions to the problems faced by the Nepali migrant workers who opt for foreign employment.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Minister for Labour, Employment and Social Security, Krishna Kumar Shrestha, has started discussions with stakeholders in order to improve the labour sector. He held discussion with returnee workers on Monday in this regard.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">On the occasion, Nepali migrant workers complained about anomalies in foreign employment such as cheating right from the beginning of the process of foreign employment until their return and not getting the service and facilities as determined by the government. They urged the government to create employment opportunities within the country and to rehabilitate the returnee youths. Returnee migrants said that they did not get their salary while returning home after losing job due to coronavirus pandemic.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">They also said that they faced problems in foreign countries due to lack of skills and were not provided with benefits on par with workers of other countries.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">After hearing the plights of Nepali migrant workers, Minister Shrestha shared that the companies not providing services and facilities as per the agreement would be blacklisted and Nepali workers would not be sent through such companies. He added that the ministry has been preparing work procedure to reintegrate the returnee migrants.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Representatives of the civil society organisations working in favour of migrant workers were also present on the occasion.&nbsp; -- RSS&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>
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			'id' => '14385',
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			'title' => 'Non-tariff Barriers on Nepali Tea Removed ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'November 29: The non-tariff barrier imposed by India on export of Nepali tea has been resolved for the time being.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">November 29: The non-tariff barrier imposed by India on export of Nepali tea has been resolved for the time being. Tea export from Kakadbhitta has resumed through diplomatic initiatives of Nepal.&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">According to Ishwar Raj Poudel, Nepal&#39;s Consul General in Kolkata, India, a diplomatic initiative was taken through the Ministry of External Affairs to resolve the issue. After the Indian side agreed to Nepal&rsquo;s proposal, 18 trucks packed with tea that were stopped at Kakadbhitta checkpoint have been allowed to enter India.&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">According to the Mechi Customs Office, the tea is being exported after the Indian side agreed not to obstruct the import of tea from Nepal. Chief Customs Officer at the Mechi Customs Office, Keshav Raj Oli said that tea export has been smooth since last Tuesday and 3/4 trucks of tea are being exported to India daily.&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">The Department of Commerce, India had written letters to its subordinate bodies on November 3, questioning the quality of tea coming from Nepal.&nbsp;The trucks carrying tea were stuck at the checkpoint after the department instructed them to import tea only after completing the required processes including quality check.&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Tea exported from Nepal are sold by Indian businessmen under the brand name &#39;Darjeeling Tea&#39; in Indian and foreign markets. The Nepali tea producers claim that the recent increase in tea production in India has created obstruction in the name of quality control.&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Stating that the quality of Darjeeling tea has deteriorated, the Indian side had instructed to import the tea from Nepal only after testing the quality. Officials say the problem has been resolved for the moment after the Nepalese embassy in New Delhi took the issue at the Indian Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian side agreed to allow the import of tea.&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Even though the problem has been resolved for the time being, Nepali producers have complained that India has been obstructing the export of Nepali tea from time to time. According to Nepali producers, India has created obstruction under the pretext of quality check and related processes after production has increased in its market.&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">According to the statistics of the Department of Customs, tea worth Rs 3.79 billion was exported from Nepal in the last fiscal year 2077/78. Of that, 80 percent was exported to India.&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'id' => '14386',
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			'title' => 'Exhibition of Goods made of Dhaka Fabric in Offing   ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'November 29: Nepal Handloom and Dhaka Cloth Entrepreneurs and Traders Association is organizing an exhibition of various goods made out of the Dhaka fabric and handloom.    ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">November 29: Nepal Handloom and Dhaka Cloth Entrepreneurs and Traders Association is organizing an exhibition of various goods made out of the Dhaka fabric and handloom.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The exhibition would be held from December 17 to 19 in New Baneshwor in the federal capital. It is being organized with the objective of preserving and promoting the unique Dhaka products. Forty stalls would be kept in the expo, Association coordinator Ramesh Shrestha informed the media at a news conference on Sunday.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Stating that the Dhaka cloth has been weaved in the country since ancient times, he said the goods produced from this and the employment it generates would help make the national economy dynamic.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">According to Shrestha, opportunities for business interaction would also be available during the event in which the entrepreneurs from several places can talk about the developments and explore potentials in this sector.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">There are around 50,000 entrepreneurs involved in the Dhaka business. A national gathering of the entrepreneurs and traders would also be held coinciding with the exhibition. -- RSS&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>
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			'id' => '14383',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Over 1,300 Business Firms Monitored in First Four Months of Current FY   ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'November 29: The Department of Commerce, Supplies and Consumer Protection has carried out monitoring of 1,355 trade and business firms in the first four months of the current fiscal year (FY) starting July 16.   ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">November 29: The Department of Commerce, Supplies and Consumer Protection has carried out monitoring of 1,355 trade and business firms in the first four months of the current fiscal year (FY) starting July 16.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The monitoring was carried out in the Kathmandu Valley and several places of the country. The department monitored 388 firms in the month of Kartik (October 18 to November 16) and took action against 176 of them for wrongdoing.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The department collected revenue of Rs 7.11 million from fine slapped on those business firms found involved in unfair trade practices. Of the total firms monitored, nearly half were fined, informed the director of the Department Hari Pangeni.</span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">According to Pangeni, the department fined 667 firms and reprimanded 668 firms in the last four months. Similarly, samples of goods were collected from 10 firms for lab test, three people involved in business malpractice were arrested and 10 firms were sealed during the period.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Groceries, department stores, goat market, the fruits and vegetable markets, meat shops, liquor stores, marts, hardware stores, sweet shops and electronics goods stores, among others were monitored during the festive period.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The department had mobilized three separate market monitoring teams in the three districts of the Kathmandu Valley during the festive period. These teams are still active although the festive season is already over, added Pangeni. -- RSS&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>
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			'id' => '14384',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Buddha Air Focuses its Service in Rural Areas',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'November 29: Buddha Air has shifted its focus on flights to rural areas after getting a lukewarm response in its international flights to Indian cities',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">November 29: Buddha Air has shifted its focus on flights to rural areas after getting a lukewarm response in its international flights to Indian cities</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Buddha Air had started international flights between Kathmandu and Beneras of India for the first time on June 29, 2021. It also gave priority to international flights to Indian cities of Kolkata and New Delhi but did not get business as per the expectations of the company.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">In addition to loss in business, India refused to give permit to Buddha Air to carry passengers to New Delhi.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Buddha Air, which has been operating flights since the last 24 years, had started Kathmandu-Kolkata flights from May of 2019. The company reported a shortage of passengers from Kolkata that resulted in loss. Therefore, the flights were canceled in November after just six months of operation. Similarly, the company, which has also put forward a plan to fly from Nepalgunj to Delhi, has not started flights yet as India has not given permission yet.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Giving high importance to international flights, Buddha Air had also put forward a plan to set up Buddha Air International in Pokhara, targeting such flights. With the exception of the Kathmandu-Beneras flights, Buddha Air has now decided to come up with plans targeting flights to remote areas. Meanwhile, the company has decided to put on hold to other international flights.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">The company has started selecting airports of rural areas after deciding to purchase a 19-seater Twin-Otter aircraft to flying to remote destinations. According to Dipendra Kumar Karna, the communication manager of the company, Buddha Air has already started its homework on the purchase of Twin-Otter aircraft, airport selection, pilots and manpower preparation to operate flights to remote areas. He also informed that 26 airports have been selected for such flights.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Stating that necessary preparations including selection of pilots and airports will be completed within a year along with the purchase of aircraft, after which the destinations will be confirmed. The Buddha Air will fly on the STOL route by making Nepalgunj as its hub for the far west areas, Pokhara for the west and Manthali of Ramechhap for the east. The company is planning to fly from Manthali to Solukhumbu and Taplejung, from Nepalgunj to Humla and Simikot and from Pokhara to Jomsom.</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'id' => '14382',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Dispute between Transport Companies hit Imports from Tatopani Customs ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'November 29: The import of goods from China through Tatopani checkpoint, the northern border of Nepal, is likely to be affected due to the dispute between transport companies. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">November 29: The import of goods from China through Tatopani checkpoint, the northern border of Nepal, is likely to be affected due to the dispute between transport companies.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">The dispute started a few months ago after two other transport companies were allowed to bring goods at this checkpoint where only Silk Transport has been importing goods since some years. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Silk Transport, Namaste Global Logistics and Rivanje Transport have been allowed to bring goods at Tatopani checkpoint from China. The dispute erupted between the transport companies after Namaste Transport proposed sending containers for importing goods as per the demand from China while Silk Transport wanted to import goods by queuing vehicles. There are 52 containers of Silk Transport, 32 containers of Namaste Global Logistics and 12 containers of Rivanje Transport that have been bringing goods up to the border point.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Danorbu Sherpa, director of Namaste Transport, said that although a team comprising representatives of all the three transport companies and officials of the Tatopani customs office held talks to resolve the dispute, no solution was found. &ldquo;We feel that we should be able to send the containers as per the demand of the clients, but the operators of Silk Transport do not support this. So the dispute has not been resolved,&rdquo; said Sherpa.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">As they have to pay RMB 2,000 per day while they queue their vehicles in China, he said that they decided to send containers only as per the demand.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">&ldquo;Our only wish is to import goods through open competition,&rdquo; Sherpa said.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">On the other hand, Silk Transport&#39;s Kalyan Silwal said that the problem arose because other transport companies that came to compete at the checkpoint were trying to boss around. &ldquo;They have created the dispute themselves. We are asking them to work together,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Chief of Tatopani Customs Narad Gautam said that the import was affected due to the dispute between the transport companies. He said that the first container to pass the Chinese customs arrives at the Friendship Bridge first and the arrangements to transport goods are made accordingly. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 7 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '14381',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Experts for Launching Agriculture Campaign to Ensure Food Security   ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'November 29: Agriculture scientists studying food and agriculture sector of the country have initiated policy advocacy for the 'Agriculture Campaign for Food'.   ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">November 29: Agriculture scientists studying food and agriculture sector of the country have initiated policy advocacy for the &#39;Agriculture Campaign for Food&#39;.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">In a discussion programme with journalists based in Karnali province, the scientists described the campaign as a strong practice for policy advocacy. The programme was organized with the support of Environmental Resources Institute in Birendranagar, Surkhet on Sunday.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Agricultural expert Dr Krishna Prasad Poudel on the occasion said that the human race has deviated from sustainable agricultural practices since 500 years. &quot;We have been eating junk food these days due to the sheer ego that we can triumph over the Earth. The fact is that our agriculture is being done merely for money. Rather it should have been a means of survival but it has become our destiny,&quot; he said, expressing concern over the unsustainable practices in agriculture.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Dr Poudel also argued that over-exploitation of resources for food and the &#39;mad development&#39; were the main reasons for climate change.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Executive Director of Collaborative Actions for Dignity (CAD Nepal) Jumla and agriculture campaigner, Dhan Bahadur Gautam said they have been providing policy support to the government since the last decade for promoting self-sufficiency in agriculture, conservation of indigenous crops and organic farming. He said the government should better invest more in boosting agriculture products in the mountainous districts of Karnali province rather than wasting money in supplying rice worth millions of rupees to these districts.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Representative of Environmental Resources Institute, Sujata Tamang informed that the campaign has been involved in conducting debates and discussions as well as action-oriented research on agriculture and food issues. She said they have also been raising issues of emerging problems, challenges and opportunities in agriculture.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">On the occasion, media persons suggested to the campaigners for devising ways for attracting the youth force to agriculture, expanding irrigation coverage, preparing policy framework for making agriculture a dignified profession and implementing the same.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">They pointed out to the sad reality of the country that 82 per cent of the population involved in agriculture was struggling with hand-to-mouth existence whereas five per cent population involved in agriculture in countries attaining self-sufficiency in agriculture were providing food to 95 per cent population. -- RSS</span></span></span></p>
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	(int) 8 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '14380',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Government Cancels Licence of Hello Nepal   ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'November 29: The government has scrapped the licence of Nepal Satellite Telecom Pvt Ltd (Hello Nepal).',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">November 29: The government has scrapped the licence of Nepal Satellite Telecom Pvt Ltd (Hello Nepal). The decision was taken after the failure of Hello Nepal to pay its longstanding dues to the government, informed the Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA).&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">A meeting of the NTA board of directors on Friday took a decision to this effect. After the company failed to pay the dues until mid-July, the NTA on October 29 sought clarification from the company as per a decision taken by the NTA board on October 22. The company was given a 15-day timeframe to submit its clarification. The company responded that the NTA could not scrap its licence as it has demanded additional time period to pay the dues in installment in line with the cabinet decision, said the NTA Spokesperson Santosh Poudel.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Unsatisfied with the response sent by the company, the NTA cancelled its licence citing other clauses in the the decision taken by the same Council of Ministers two years ago.</span></span></span><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The company owns dues under several headings to the NTA. It is yet to pay frequency charge, royalty, amount to be deposited in the Rural Telecommunications Fund and license renewal fees.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Prior to this, in July-August, 2019, a meeting of the NTA Board of Directors decided to rescind the license of the company. As per the provision, any company can apply to the Council of Ministers for the review of the NTA decision to repeal the license within 35 days of the decision. Based on the same provision, the company had proceeded for the review.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Acting on the company&rsquo;s appeal, a meeting of the Council of Ministers on January 6, 2020 agreed to give a facility of time extension to the company for repaying the dues while keeping the license validated.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The company was advised to pay the first installment within in the same fiscal year (2019-20) and to clear all dues within the next five years. In case of the non-payment of dues within the given timeframe, the license would be automatically cancelled.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Abiding by the Council of Ministers&#39; decision, NTA had given it five years to pay Rs 1.387 billion. The company, however, had paid Rs 2.15 million to the NTA as the first installment&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The NTA decided to cancel the license citing the non-clearance of dues as demanded by the Council of Ministers. -- RSS&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><br />
&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 9 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '14379',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Arrears of Department of Roads Account for 20 percent of its Total Budget',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'November 28: The arrears of the Department of Roads, which mobilizes a large budget for infrastructure projects, is 20.89 percent of its total budget. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">November 28: The arrears of the Department of Roads, which mobilizes a large budget for infrastructure projects, is 20.89 percent of its total budget. In the current Fiscal Year (FY 2078/79), the total amount received by the Road Department is Rs 133 billion.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">According to the annual report of the department for the last fiscal year, the arrears of the department was Rs 27.79 billion. The arrears was Rs 37.48 billion in the previous fiscal year. Such undeclared expense which was earlier settled and dropped to Rs 23.18 billion has increased again. However, the department has had such arrears since FY 2059/60. The department, which has been managing projects of national priority including national highways and tunnels, is yet to be clear the arrears.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Arjun Jung Thapa, director general of the department, claims that the increase in arrears was not due to any foul play but due to procedural hurdles.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">He said, &ldquo;The arrears are not due to wrong intentions in spending, but due to some procedural ups and downs. We demand the budget in the beginning of the fiscal year, but the budget is received only around mid-July. However, the construction entrepreneurs need to be paid within 28 days of request which is seen as arrears from the point of view of the auditor general.&rdquo; He claimed that 99 percent of the department&#39;s irregularities are due to such reasons.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">He said if they do not pay the construction entrepreneurs within 28 days, then the department needs to pay the interest.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Similarly, arrears is seen in the case of providing compensation for land acquisition as well as capital gains tax. The department&rsquo;s spending seems to be irregular because of the need to manage budget from other headings to address these problems.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">The arrear is also seen in the contract of design and build method. Stating that the Kothiya Bridge and Dhobikhola Bridge of Karnali built in the same model still have arrears, he said that the rules of Auditor General and the method of audit are impractical.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Infrastructure expert Surya Raj Acharya says that the arrears are clearly a sign of irregularity. However, he said that the arrears should not be viewed negatively as the development budget is very large and different conditions and technical problems are bound be created while working.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">&ldquo;Another indication is that there will be natural problems in the development work but the economic laws and regulations that address them are conservative,&rdquo; he said, adding that the arrears in development and other bodies would have a negative impact on financial administration and project management.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">He also stressed on the need to clarify the financial acts to address the uncertainty in infrastructure projects. </span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Shiva Nepal, spokesperson of the department, said that the arrears are created as the related laws, bidding process, interpretation of financial act, standards of international contract management are treated differently in our country.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">He says that among the various methods of contract, there is a big difference due to the design and build model. &ldquo;The Office of Auditor General has said that the contract amount of this model cannot be increased,&rdquo; said Nepal, adding, &ldquo;The department cannot comply with the demand of the Auditor General as it is an international practice and the arrears remains unchanged.&rdquo;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">However, he admitted that the volume of undocumented payment was huge due to the negligence and weakness of some project heads and officials. He shared that such amount is more than 20 percent of the total budget.</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '14378',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Three Years On, Many Employers still Reluctant to Join Social Security Fund ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'November 28: It has been three years since the government started implementing the contribution-based Social Security Fund (SSF) that was introduced to provide pensions to the workers of the private sector.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">November 28: It has been three years since the government started implementing the contribution-based Social Security Fund (SSF) that was introduced to provide pensions to the workers of the private sector. However, voluntary participation in the Social Security Fund has not yet increased significantly.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">In the last four years, 15,831 employers and 295,764 workers have joined the fund. According to the Economic Census 2075, there are 923,000 business establishments operating in Nepal. A total of 462,000 organisations are registered with the government. However, only 15,008 organisations have been listed in the fund so far. From the fact that only 3.5 percent of the formally registered organisations are listed, it is clear that the Social Security Fund has not progressed as expected.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><strong><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Billions collected, zero operations</span></strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">So far, billions of rupees have been collected by the SSF from the contributors, but it has not been properly mobilized. The fund has so far collected Rs 10.10 billion from affiliated employers and workers.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">However, this amount has not been used for any purpose other than receiving interest from the banks. Showing the lack of policy required to mobilize the money, the government is only receiving interest by keeping the contributors&rsquo; money as &#39;fixed deposits&#39;.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><strong><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Obligation to rely on debt remains</span></strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">It has been four years since the Social Security Fund started its scheme but it has not become self-sufficient. Although the office of the Social Security Fund has been established and the staff has been managed, the SSF is still relying on loans to run day-to-day operations.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">As per the decision of the Government of Nepal on 2076/9/11, the SSF needs to repay the loan amount within 5 years at the annual interest rate of 3 percent. As per this decision, the fund took the loan of Rs 50 million in 2076/77 for the first time and spent Rs 23 million on administrative operations and management.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Similarly, the SSF operated in loan in FY 2077/78 as well. This year too, the fund has taken a loan of Rs 150 million from the Government of Nepal.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">This amount has been spent on office operation, office rent, employees&rsquo; salary, services and facilities and the fund is preparing to take an additional loan of Rs 220 million for the current Fiscal Year 2078/79. This loan is being taken in installments.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><strong><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Lack of ownership among the ministers</span></strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">During the tenure of the then Minister for Labour, Employment and Social Security Gokarna Bista, there were daily trainings and seminars on social security schemes but after Rameshwor Raya Yadav became labour minister, he did not give any attention to it. After that, Gauri Shankar Chaudhary and now Krishna Kumar Shrestha is the Labor Minister, but none of these ministers seem to be committed to advancing the social security scheme, which is why the fund has become inactive.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><strong><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Program at the Ministry on the occasion of the annual festival</span></strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">On the occasion of the 4</span><sup><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">th</span></sup><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"> annual meeting of the SSF, a low-key program was held at the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security on Saturday. Some private sector representatives and Labor Minister Krishna Kumar Shrestha attended the program.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">On the occasion, Minister Shrestha did not hesitate to admit that there were some shortcomings. He also said that the government would expand its branches in all the states and address the issue of banks and financial institutions.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Secretary at the Ministry Surya Prasad Gautam claimed that the social security scheme was successful. Kapil Mani Gyawali, executive director of the fund, expressed his commitment to make the fund contribution-friendly by revising and modifying the work procedures of the fund and claimed that the three-year journey of the fund was successful.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><strong><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Emphasis on the need to improve weaknesses</span></strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">At a program held at the Ministry, the representatives of the private sector and trade unions said that the Social Security Fund has not been effective yet and stressed on the need to move forward by rectifying the shortcomings of the past.&nbsp;</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Senior Vice President of the Federation of Nepali Chambers of Commerce and Industry Chandra Dhakal, said that the fund should be implemented effectively in Nepal and added that the fund was effective after a long time of its implementation even in the developed nations.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Jagat Singh Simkhada, president of the All Nepal Federation of Trade Unions, said that only a small number of establishments were affiliated to the SSF in Nepal, and questioned the functioning of the fund. Stating that there is a lot of ambiguity in the fund, he said that there is a delay in removing the ambiguity on part of the government.&nbsp;</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Tourism Activities Increasing in Bhaktapur',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'November 28: The Covid-19 pandemic had caused a major impact on the tourism sector of Nepal. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">November 28: The Covid-19 pandemic had caused a major impact on the tourism sector of Nepal. Tourism activities, which received a major blow from the pandemic, remained halted for almost two years. Bhaktapur, which is listed in the World Heritage Site, has finally started getting tourists. Bhaktapur area which is one of the major tourist destinations is being visited by 60 to 90 tourists on a daily basis.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Gautam Lasiba, the head of Tourism Information Center of the municipality, shared that the Bhaktapur area has got back its charm after the arrival of foreign tourists. The municipality has put forward a plan to operate the tourism business safely and keep the tourists safe from Covid-19. The municipality has made necessary preparations to create a safe environment for tourists. It has been holding discussions with hoteliers to manage the tourists in a way to keep them safe from Covid-19. However, most of the tourists who come to Bhaktapur return back without spending the night. The hotel business has not been able to come into full operation as the number of tourists staying overnight is only few in number.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">The municipality, which has been collecting revenue of around Rs 260 million annually from foreign tourists, has been facing loss for two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Lasiba said, &ldquo;Tourism fee of around Rs 260 million was collected in the fiscal year 2076/77. The amount was reduced to 2.9 million after the Covid-19 outbreak.&rdquo;</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">He informed that the municipality has been spending the money raised from tourism fees on education, health and heritage conservation. According to Lasiba, the number of tourists visiting Bhaktapur this year has been gradually increasing each month. This year, 228 tourists arrived from mid- July to mid-August, 380 from mid-August to mid-September, 964 from mid-September to mid-October and 1,923 from mid-October to mid-November.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Before the first lockdown, more than 3,000 tourists used to visit Bhaktapur daily and more than 200,000 annually. The municipality has been collecting a fee of Rs 500 per tourist belonging to the SAARC countries and China and Rs 1,500 per tourist from other countries. In the previous years, most of the tourists came from China, followed by India, the USA, France, Spain and other countries.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">The municipality has been reconstructing the infrastructure destroyed by the earthquake and has also started rebuilding some of the important heritage sites that have been buried which include Bhaju Pokhari situated at Dudhpati. Preparations are being made to reconstruct the Ranipokhari situated inside the camp of Nepal Army and open it for the purpose of sightseeing for foreign tourists.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">In Nepal, the period between late October to early December is considered as the peak season for tourism. Tourists who come to Nepal in October and November return home at the end of December to celebrate Christmas. According to the Center, in the past, about 35 percent of the tourists visiting Nepal used to come to Bhaktapur to see the heritage sites and most of them used to spend only three or four hours there.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Opportunities and Challenges of Graduating Nepal into a Middle-Income Developing Nation',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'November 28: The 40th plenary meeting of the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) unanimously adopted a resolution on Thursday endorsing the graduation of Nepal from the Least Developed Country (LDC) category with the preparatory period of five years.',
			'content' => '<p><em>Bouddhanath Stupa amidst the backdorp of the HImalayas. Photo Courtesy: ADB</em></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">November 28: The 40th plenary meeting of the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) unanimously adopted a resolution on Thursday (November 25) endorsing the graduation of Nepal from the Least Developed Country (LDC) category with the preparatory period of five years. With the unanimous adoption of the proposal, it has become inevitable to focus the vision of all political players in the activities of national income generation and maintaining political stability in the next five years.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The meeting approved Nepal&#39;s proposal on the basis of Gross National Income, Human Asset and Economic and Environmental Vulnerability, in view of the unwavering plan of the Government of Nepal to realize the national aspirations of &#39;Prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepal&#39; reflected in the 15th Periodic Plan.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">It is a matter of pride for all Nepalis that Nepal, which has been a victim of poverty and backwardness for more than five decades, is moving towards a transformation into a middle-income developing country. Not only has the country&#39;s elevation been a sign of progress, but it has also sent a positive message to the world community about Nepal&#39;s development prospects.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Although the challenge for Nepal is to increase the income of every Nepali, free the general people from the vicious cycle of poverty and keep them busy in sustainable income generation, upgrading can be marketed as an attractive destination for foreign direct investment. There is also ample opportunity to increase domestic investment from the private sector for the smooth up-gradation.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">There is no alternative to moving forward for sustainable and irreversible development by gradually devising development strategies, expediting policy and procedural reforms and adjustments in cooperation with Nepal&#39;s development and trade partners, and creating a conducive environment for investment.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">It has become imperative for the country&#39;s political leadership to immediately engage in dialogue with Nepal&#39;s bilateral and multilateral development and trade partners to ensure that the common &#39;agenda&#39; of national development remains the same, despite political differences. For that, strong will and sincerity must be demonstrated. Nepal&#39;s political leadership, which has been able to resolve the decade-long armed conflict peacefully, once again can take advantage of the opportunity to exhibit that they are not divided in order to remove Nepal from the list of poor countries and restore its lost image to the world community.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Even though Nepal, as a least developed country, will continue receiving favor, facilities, concessions and assistance from the international community till December 2026, it will be reduced thereafter. In order to work with a clear action plan focusing on the country&#39;s abundant water resources, commercialization of agriculture, optimum utilisation of forest and forest products including herbal medicine and tourism sectors, it has become imperative to formulate a national transition strategy of upgrading in collaboration with bilateral, regional and multilateral development and trade partners, including the UN system.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The five-year preparatory period is provided for a smooth transition, recognizing the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting need to implement policies and strategies to reverse the pandemic&rsquo;s damage to the economic and social sectors. The five-year transition period is provided on an exceptional basis mainly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, which would normally be for three years.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The resolution has mandated the Committee on Development Policy, a subsidiary body of the Economic and Social Council, to analyze the adequacy of the preparatory period at its 2024 triennial review and recommend further extension if necessary. The resolution also invites Nepal and the other two graduating countries to prepare smooth national transition strategies, with the support of the United Nations system and in cooperation with their bilateral, regional, and multilateral development and trading partners.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">After the adoption of the resolution, Nepal has reiterated her commitment to making an all-out effort for smooth graduation with the enhanced level of support from the development partners including the UN. -- RSS&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>
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			'title' => 'Health Ministry Urges People to Stay Alert after New Variant of Covid-19 Reported in South Africa',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'November 28: In the wake of a new variant of COVID-19 reported in South Africa, the Ministry of Health and Population has urged people to remain cautious and strictly follow the health protocols.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">November 28: In the wake of a new variant of COVID-19 reported in South Africa, the Ministry of Health and Population has urged people to remain cautious and strictly follow the health protocols. </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The ministry warned that the variant classified as B 1.1.529 could spread to Nepal as well. So people visiting Nepal through South Africa should compulsorily stay in a week-long quarantine facility, said the Ministry.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">&nbsp;Nepal is at risk when a virus variant is reported anywhere across the globe, said Joint Secretary at the Ministry, Dr Samir Adhikari. So caution is necessary, he added.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">According to the ministry, the World Health Organisation has classified the variant as &#39;of concern&#39;. &quot;Following this, we have stepped up vigil on people visiting Nepal through South Africa,&quot; he said.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The ministry further said that there is no need to worry as the variant has not been reported in Nepal. But caution is necessary, said Adhikari. At present, the number of COVID-19 cases is decreasing. But the risks still persist. So there is a need to follow the health protocols, said Adhikari.&nbsp; -- RSS&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><br />
&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'title' => 'Herbs Production and Processing Company Starts Making Profit after 40 Years',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'November 28: The state-owned Herbs Production and Processing Company Ltd has started making profit since the past three years.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">November 28: The state-owned Herbs Production and Processing Company Ltd has started making profit since the past three years.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Established in 2038 BS, the company has started making profit since fiscal year 2075/76 BS, the state-owned national news agency RSS reported.&nbsp; The company&#39;s Manager Gyaneshwor Karki said that the company had earned Rs 19.2 million for the first time after paying tax on its income.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Similarly, the company made Rs 12.2 million profit in the fiscal year 2076/77 BS while audit of the fiscal year 2077/78 BS is underway. The company has made profit this fiscal year as well. Among the government&#39;s public organisations in the industrial sector, this is the only institution that is making profit, RSS further stated.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The company has started distributing dividends to shareholders from the fiscal year 2076/77 BS. The company is making preparations to issue share to the general public once the audit report is finalized. The company said that it is working towards increasing its capital by selling the company&#39;s share to the public.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">According to RSS, Nepal is home to around 2,000 species of herbal, medicinal and aromatic plants. The concerned department of the government has verified 819 types of such plants till date. Altogether 300 varieties of plants are being used commercially. Among them, the company has been trading in 13 types of aromatic and essential oil-based products, shared General Manager Karki.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">According to a report, the demand for the aromatic and essential oils in the global market amounts to US$ 17.2 billion. The demand is expected to increase by 7.5 per cent annually till 2027, RSS reported adding that Nepal had exported aromatic oil worth USD 5 million in 2015 which is 0.02 per cent of the global demand.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">&quot;Looking at this statistics, Nepal has much possibility of herbal production and processing. There is high demand of herbal oil and products in the international market. Therefore, we are working towards establishing the company as one of the established companies in the whole of South Asia in terms of production of essential oils and herbal products,&quot; he said.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">General Manager Karki shared that the company was moving ahead towards raising the socio-economic condition of the poor and low-income people by creating maximum jobs while implementing the internationally-established good practices in sustainable harvesting of herbs, their cultivation, processing, production and sale and distribution.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The government had provided Rs 180 million to the company last year for achieving its objectives, RSS reported. This amount was received for investment as per the business plan submitted to the Finance Ministry by General Manager Karki via the Ministry of Forests and Environment. The business plan focuses on the company&#39;s development, expansion and its structural reform.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Out of the amount provided by the government, Rs 80 million is in the form of loan.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The company has the target of annual transaction equivalent to Rs 1 billion after the business plan comes into full operation.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><br />
&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">&nbsp; </span></span></p>
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			'title' => 'Light Snowfall Forecast in Mountainous Regions   ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'November 30: Light snowfall has been forecast in a few places of high mountainous regions of Province 1, Gandaki Province and Karnali Province today (November 30).',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">November 30: Light snowfall has been forecast in a few places of high mountainous regions of Province 1, Gandaki Province and Karnali Province today (November 30). According to the Meteorological Forecasting Division under the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, the country is currently witnessing the influence of a low pressure system based in Bangladesh and its surrounding areas and the partial impact of a low pressure system in the Arabian Sea and its surroundings.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Stating that the intensity of cold has been rising across the country, the division has urged the people to take preventive measures against cold.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Similarly, there will be partly cloudy weather across the country today (November 30) with a possibility of light rainfall at one or two places of Gandaki Province.&nbsp; -- RSS&nbsp; &nbsp;</span></span></span><br />
&nbsp;</p>
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			'title' => 'Government Warns of Blacklisting Manpower Companies that do not Fulfill Contractual Agreement',
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			'summary' => 'November 30: The government has started seeking solutions to the problems faced by the Nepali migrant workers who opt for foreign employment.    ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">November 30: The government has started seeking solutions to the problems faced by the Nepali migrant workers who opt for foreign employment.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Minister for Labour, Employment and Social Security, Krishna Kumar Shrestha, has started discussions with stakeholders in order to improve the labour sector. He held discussion with returnee workers on Monday in this regard.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">On the occasion, Nepali migrant workers complained about anomalies in foreign employment such as cheating right from the beginning of the process of foreign employment until their return and not getting the service and facilities as determined by the government. They urged the government to create employment opportunities within the country and to rehabilitate the returnee youths. Returnee migrants said that they did not get their salary while returning home after losing job due to coronavirus pandemic.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">They also said that they faced problems in foreign countries due to lack of skills and were not provided with benefits on par with workers of other countries.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">After hearing the plights of Nepali migrant workers, Minister Shrestha shared that the companies not providing services and facilities as per the agreement would be blacklisted and Nepali workers would not be sent through such companies. He added that the ministry has been preparing work procedure to reintegrate the returnee migrants.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Representatives of the civil society organisations working in favour of migrant workers were also present on the occasion.&nbsp; -- RSS&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>
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			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Non-tariff Barriers on Nepali Tea Removed ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'November 29: The non-tariff barrier imposed by India on export of Nepali tea has been resolved for the time being.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">November 29: The non-tariff barrier imposed by India on export of Nepali tea has been resolved for the time being. Tea export from Kakadbhitta has resumed through diplomatic initiatives of Nepal.&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">According to Ishwar Raj Poudel, Nepal&#39;s Consul General in Kolkata, India, a diplomatic initiative was taken through the Ministry of External Affairs to resolve the issue. After the Indian side agreed to Nepal&rsquo;s proposal, 18 trucks packed with tea that were stopped at Kakadbhitta checkpoint have been allowed to enter India.&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">According to the Mechi Customs Office, the tea is being exported after the Indian side agreed not to obstruct the import of tea from Nepal. Chief Customs Officer at the Mechi Customs Office, Keshav Raj Oli said that tea export has been smooth since last Tuesday and 3/4 trucks of tea are being exported to India daily.&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">The Department of Commerce, India had written letters to its subordinate bodies on November 3, questioning the quality of tea coming from Nepal.&nbsp;The trucks carrying tea were stuck at the checkpoint after the department instructed them to import tea only after completing the required processes including quality check.&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Tea exported from Nepal are sold by Indian businessmen under the brand name &#39;Darjeeling Tea&#39; in Indian and foreign markets. The Nepali tea producers claim that the recent increase in tea production in India has created obstruction in the name of quality control.&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Stating that the quality of Darjeeling tea has deteriorated, the Indian side had instructed to import the tea from Nepal only after testing the quality. Officials say the problem has been resolved for the moment after the Nepalese embassy in New Delhi took the issue at the Indian Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian side agreed to allow the import of tea.&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Even though the problem has been resolved for the time being, Nepali producers have complained that India has been obstructing the export of Nepali tea from time to time. According to Nepali producers, India has created obstruction under the pretext of quality check and related processes after production has increased in its market.&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">According to the statistics of the Department of Customs, tea worth Rs 3.79 billion was exported from Nepal in the last fiscal year 2077/78. Of that, 80 percent was exported to India.&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 3 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '14386',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Exhibition of Goods made of Dhaka Fabric in Offing   ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'November 29: Nepal Handloom and Dhaka Cloth Entrepreneurs and Traders Association is organizing an exhibition of various goods made out of the Dhaka fabric and handloom.    ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">November 29: Nepal Handloom and Dhaka Cloth Entrepreneurs and Traders Association is organizing an exhibition of various goods made out of the Dhaka fabric and handloom.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The exhibition would be held from December 17 to 19 in New Baneshwor in the federal capital. It is being organized with the objective of preserving and promoting the unique Dhaka products. Forty stalls would be kept in the expo, Association coordinator Ramesh Shrestha informed the media at a news conference on Sunday.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Stating that the Dhaka cloth has been weaved in the country since ancient times, he said the goods produced from this and the employment it generates would help make the national economy dynamic.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">According to Shrestha, opportunities for business interaction would also be available during the event in which the entrepreneurs from several places can talk about the developments and explore potentials in this sector.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">There are around 50,000 entrepreneurs involved in the Dhaka business. A national gathering of the entrepreneurs and traders would also be held coinciding with the exhibition. -- RSS&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>
',
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			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '14130',
			'image' => '20211129022705_Dhaka Made in Nepal 2 Mero Kuraa.jpg',
			'article_date' => '2021-11-29 14:26:26',
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	(int) 4 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '14383',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Over 1,300 Business Firms Monitored in First Four Months of Current FY   ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'November 29: The Department of Commerce, Supplies and Consumer Protection has carried out monitoring of 1,355 trade and business firms in the first four months of the current fiscal year (FY) starting July 16.   ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">November 29: The Department of Commerce, Supplies and Consumer Protection has carried out monitoring of 1,355 trade and business firms in the first four months of the current fiscal year (FY) starting July 16.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The monitoring was carried out in the Kathmandu Valley and several places of the country. The department monitored 388 firms in the month of Kartik (October 18 to November 16) and took action against 176 of them for wrongdoing.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The department collected revenue of Rs 7.11 million from fine slapped on those business firms found involved in unfair trade practices. Of the total firms monitored, nearly half were fined, informed the director of the Department Hari Pangeni.</span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">According to Pangeni, the department fined 667 firms and reprimanded 668 firms in the last four months. Similarly, samples of goods were collected from 10 firms for lab test, three people involved in business malpractice were arrested and 10 firms were sealed during the period.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Groceries, department stores, goat market, the fruits and vegetable markets, meat shops, liquor stores, marts, hardware stores, sweet shops and electronics goods stores, among others were monitored during the festive period.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The department had mobilized three separate market monitoring teams in the three districts of the Kathmandu Valley during the festive period. These teams are still active although the festive season is already over, added Pangeni. -- RSS&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>
',
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			'article_date' => '2021-11-29 12:34:30',
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	(int) 5 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '14384',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Buddha Air Focuses its Service in Rural Areas',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'November 29: Buddha Air has shifted its focus on flights to rural areas after getting a lukewarm response in its international flights to Indian cities',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">November 29: Buddha Air has shifted its focus on flights to rural areas after getting a lukewarm response in its international flights to Indian cities</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Buddha Air had started international flights between Kathmandu and Beneras of India for the first time on June 29, 2021. It also gave priority to international flights to Indian cities of Kolkata and New Delhi but did not get business as per the expectations of the company.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">In addition to loss in business, India refused to give permit to Buddha Air to carry passengers to New Delhi.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Buddha Air, which has been operating flights since the last 24 years, had started Kathmandu-Kolkata flights from May of 2019. The company reported a shortage of passengers from Kolkata that resulted in loss. Therefore, the flights were canceled in November after just six months of operation. Similarly, the company, which has also put forward a plan to fly from Nepalgunj to Delhi, has not started flights yet as India has not given permission yet.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Giving high importance to international flights, Buddha Air had also put forward a plan to set up Buddha Air International in Pokhara, targeting such flights. With the exception of the Kathmandu-Beneras flights, Buddha Air has now decided to come up with plans targeting flights to remote areas. Meanwhile, the company has decided to put on hold to other international flights.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">The company has started selecting airports of rural areas after deciding to purchase a 19-seater Twin-Otter aircraft to flying to remote destinations. According to Dipendra Kumar Karna, the communication manager of the company, Buddha Air has already started its homework on the purchase of Twin-Otter aircraft, airport selection, pilots and manpower preparation to operate flights to remote areas. He also informed that 26 airports have been selected for such flights.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Stating that necessary preparations including selection of pilots and airports will be completed within a year along with the purchase of aircraft, after which the destinations will be confirmed. The Buddha Air will fly on the STOL route by making Nepalgunj as its hub for the far west areas, Pokhara for the west and Manthali of Ramechhap for the east. The company is planning to fly from Manthali to Solukhumbu and Taplejung, from Nepalgunj to Humla and Simikot and from Pokhara to Jomsom.</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
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	(int) 6 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '14382',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Dispute between Transport Companies hit Imports from Tatopani Customs ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'November 29: The import of goods from China through Tatopani checkpoint, the northern border of Nepal, is likely to be affected due to the dispute between transport companies. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">November 29: The import of goods from China through Tatopani checkpoint, the northern border of Nepal, is likely to be affected due to the dispute between transport companies.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">The dispute started a few months ago after two other transport companies were allowed to bring goods at this checkpoint where only Silk Transport has been importing goods since some years. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Silk Transport, Namaste Global Logistics and Rivanje Transport have been allowed to bring goods at Tatopani checkpoint from China. The dispute erupted between the transport companies after Namaste Transport proposed sending containers for importing goods as per the demand from China while Silk Transport wanted to import goods by queuing vehicles. There are 52 containers of Silk Transport, 32 containers of Namaste Global Logistics and 12 containers of Rivanje Transport that have been bringing goods up to the border point.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Danorbu Sherpa, director of Namaste Transport, said that although a team comprising representatives of all the three transport companies and officials of the Tatopani customs office held talks to resolve the dispute, no solution was found. &ldquo;We feel that we should be able to send the containers as per the demand of the clients, but the operators of Silk Transport do not support this. So the dispute has not been resolved,&rdquo; said Sherpa.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">As they have to pay RMB 2,000 per day while they queue their vehicles in China, he said that they decided to send containers only as per the demand.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">&ldquo;Our only wish is to import goods through open competition,&rdquo; Sherpa said.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">On the other hand, Silk Transport&#39;s Kalyan Silwal said that the problem arose because other transport companies that came to compete at the checkpoint were trying to boss around. &ldquo;They have created the dispute themselves. We are asking them to work together,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Chief of Tatopani Customs Narad Gautam said that the import was affected due to the dispute between the transport companies. He said that the first container to pass the Chinese customs arrives at the Friendship Bridge first and the arrangements to transport goods are made accordingly. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
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	(int) 7 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '14381',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Experts for Launching Agriculture Campaign to Ensure Food Security   ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'November 29: Agriculture scientists studying food and agriculture sector of the country have initiated policy advocacy for the 'Agriculture Campaign for Food'.   ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">November 29: Agriculture scientists studying food and agriculture sector of the country have initiated policy advocacy for the &#39;Agriculture Campaign for Food&#39;.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">In a discussion programme with journalists based in Karnali province, the scientists described the campaign as a strong practice for policy advocacy. The programme was organized with the support of Environmental Resources Institute in Birendranagar, Surkhet on Sunday.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Agricultural expert Dr Krishna Prasad Poudel on the occasion said that the human race has deviated from sustainable agricultural practices since 500 years. &quot;We have been eating junk food these days due to the sheer ego that we can triumph over the Earth. The fact is that our agriculture is being done merely for money. Rather it should have been a means of survival but it has become our destiny,&quot; he said, expressing concern over the unsustainable practices in agriculture.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Dr Poudel also argued that over-exploitation of resources for food and the &#39;mad development&#39; were the main reasons for climate change.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Executive Director of Collaborative Actions for Dignity (CAD Nepal) Jumla and agriculture campaigner, Dhan Bahadur Gautam said they have been providing policy support to the government since the last decade for promoting self-sufficiency in agriculture, conservation of indigenous crops and organic farming. He said the government should better invest more in boosting agriculture products in the mountainous districts of Karnali province rather than wasting money in supplying rice worth millions of rupees to these districts.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Representative of Environmental Resources Institute, Sujata Tamang informed that the campaign has been involved in conducting debates and discussions as well as action-oriented research on agriculture and food issues. She said they have also been raising issues of emerging problems, challenges and opportunities in agriculture.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">On the occasion, media persons suggested to the campaigners for devising ways for attracting the youth force to agriculture, expanding irrigation coverage, preparing policy framework for making agriculture a dignified profession and implementing the same.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">They pointed out to the sad reality of the country that 82 per cent of the population involved in agriculture was struggling with hand-to-mouth existence whereas five per cent population involved in agriculture in countries attaining self-sufficiency in agriculture were providing food to 95 per cent population. -- RSS</span></span></span></p>
',
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			'image' => '20211129110851_Agri.jpg',
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	(int) 8 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '14380',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Government Cancels Licence of Hello Nepal   ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'November 29: The government has scrapped the licence of Nepal Satellite Telecom Pvt Ltd (Hello Nepal).',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">November 29: The government has scrapped the licence of Nepal Satellite Telecom Pvt Ltd (Hello Nepal). The decision was taken after the failure of Hello Nepal to pay its longstanding dues to the government, informed the Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA).&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">A meeting of the NTA board of directors on Friday took a decision to this effect. After the company failed to pay the dues until mid-July, the NTA on October 29 sought clarification from the company as per a decision taken by the NTA board on October 22. The company was given a 15-day timeframe to submit its clarification. The company responded that the NTA could not scrap its licence as it has demanded additional time period to pay the dues in installment in line with the cabinet decision, said the NTA Spokesperson Santosh Poudel.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Unsatisfied with the response sent by the company, the NTA cancelled its licence citing other clauses in the the decision taken by the same Council of Ministers two years ago.</span></span></span><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The company owns dues under several headings to the NTA. It is yet to pay frequency charge, royalty, amount to be deposited in the Rural Telecommunications Fund and license renewal fees.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Prior to this, in July-August, 2019, a meeting of the NTA Board of Directors decided to rescind the license of the company. As per the provision, any company can apply to the Council of Ministers for the review of the NTA decision to repeal the license within 35 days of the decision. Based on the same provision, the company had proceeded for the review.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Acting on the company&rsquo;s appeal, a meeting of the Council of Ministers on January 6, 2020 agreed to give a facility of time extension to the company for repaying the dues while keeping the license validated.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The company was advised to pay the first installment within in the same fiscal year (2019-20) and to clear all dues within the next five years. In case of the non-payment of dues within the given timeframe, the license would be automatically cancelled.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Abiding by the Council of Ministers&#39; decision, NTA had given it five years to pay Rs 1.387 billion. The company, however, had paid Rs 2.15 million to the NTA as the first installment&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The NTA decided to cancel the license citing the non-clearance of dues as demanded by the Council of Ministers. -- RSS&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><br />
&nbsp;</p>
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			'article_date' => '2021-11-29 08:17:00',
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	(int) 9 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '14379',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Arrears of Department of Roads Account for 20 percent of its Total Budget',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'November 28: The arrears of the Department of Roads, which mobilizes a large budget for infrastructure projects, is 20.89 percent of its total budget. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">November 28: The arrears of the Department of Roads, which mobilizes a large budget for infrastructure projects, is 20.89 percent of its total budget. In the current Fiscal Year (FY 2078/79), the total amount received by the Road Department is Rs 133 billion.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">According to the annual report of the department for the last fiscal year, the arrears of the department was Rs 27.79 billion. The arrears was Rs 37.48 billion in the previous fiscal year. Such undeclared expense which was earlier settled and dropped to Rs 23.18 billion has increased again. However, the department has had such arrears since FY 2059/60. The department, which has been managing projects of national priority including national highways and tunnels, is yet to be clear the arrears.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Arjun Jung Thapa, director general of the department, claims that the increase in arrears was not due to any foul play but due to procedural hurdles.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">He said, &ldquo;The arrears are not due to wrong intentions in spending, but due to some procedural ups and downs. We demand the budget in the beginning of the fiscal year, but the budget is received only around mid-July. However, the construction entrepreneurs need to be paid within 28 days of request which is seen as arrears from the point of view of the auditor general.&rdquo; He claimed that 99 percent of the department&#39;s irregularities are due to such reasons.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">He said if they do not pay the construction entrepreneurs within 28 days, then the department needs to pay the interest.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Similarly, arrears is seen in the case of providing compensation for land acquisition as well as capital gains tax. The department&rsquo;s spending seems to be irregular because of the need to manage budget from other headings to address these problems.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">The arrear is also seen in the contract of design and build method. Stating that the Kothiya Bridge and Dhobikhola Bridge of Karnali built in the same model still have arrears, he said that the rules of Auditor General and the method of audit are impractical.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Infrastructure expert Surya Raj Acharya says that the arrears are clearly a sign of irregularity. However, he said that the arrears should not be viewed negatively as the development budget is very large and different conditions and technical problems are bound be created while working.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">&ldquo;Another indication is that there will be natural problems in the development work but the economic laws and regulations that address them are conservative,&rdquo; he said, adding that the arrears in development and other bodies would have a negative impact on financial administration and project management.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">He also stressed on the need to clarify the financial acts to address the uncertainty in infrastructure projects. </span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Shiva Nepal, spokesperson of the department, said that the arrears are created as the related laws, bidding process, interpretation of financial act, standards of international contract management are treated differently in our country.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">He says that among the various methods of contract, there is a big difference due to the design and build model. &ldquo;The Office of Auditor General has said that the contract amount of this model cannot be increased,&rdquo; said Nepal, adding, &ldquo;The department cannot comply with the demand of the Auditor General as it is an international practice and the arrears remains unchanged.&rdquo;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">However, he admitted that the volume of undocumented payment was huge due to the negligence and weakness of some project heads and officials. He shared that such amount is more than 20 percent of the total budget.</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '14378',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Three Years On, Many Employers still Reluctant to Join Social Security Fund ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'November 28: It has been three years since the government started implementing the contribution-based Social Security Fund (SSF) that was introduced to provide pensions to the workers of the private sector.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">November 28: It has been three years since the government started implementing the contribution-based Social Security Fund (SSF) that was introduced to provide pensions to the workers of the private sector. However, voluntary participation in the Social Security Fund has not yet increased significantly.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">In the last four years, 15,831 employers and 295,764 workers have joined the fund. According to the Economic Census 2075, there are 923,000 business establishments operating in Nepal. A total of 462,000 organisations are registered with the government. However, only 15,008 organisations have been listed in the fund so far. From the fact that only 3.5 percent of the formally registered organisations are listed, it is clear that the Social Security Fund has not progressed as expected.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><strong><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Billions collected, zero operations</span></strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">So far, billions of rupees have been collected by the SSF from the contributors, but it has not been properly mobilized. The fund has so far collected Rs 10.10 billion from affiliated employers and workers.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">However, this amount has not been used for any purpose other than receiving interest from the banks. Showing the lack of policy required to mobilize the money, the government is only receiving interest by keeping the contributors&rsquo; money as &#39;fixed deposits&#39;.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><strong><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Obligation to rely on debt remains</span></strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">It has been four years since the Social Security Fund started its scheme but it has not become self-sufficient. Although the office of the Social Security Fund has been established and the staff has been managed, the SSF is still relying on loans to run day-to-day operations.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">As per the decision of the Government of Nepal on 2076/9/11, the SSF needs to repay the loan amount within 5 years at the annual interest rate of 3 percent. As per this decision, the fund took the loan of Rs 50 million in 2076/77 for the first time and spent Rs 23 million on administrative operations and management.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Similarly, the SSF operated in loan in FY 2077/78 as well. This year too, the fund has taken a loan of Rs 150 million from the Government of Nepal.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">This amount has been spent on office operation, office rent, employees&rsquo; salary, services and facilities and the fund is preparing to take an additional loan of Rs 220 million for the current Fiscal Year 2078/79. This loan is being taken in installments.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><strong><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Lack of ownership among the ministers</span></strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">During the tenure of the then Minister for Labour, Employment and Social Security Gokarna Bista, there were daily trainings and seminars on social security schemes but after Rameshwor Raya Yadav became labour minister, he did not give any attention to it. After that, Gauri Shankar Chaudhary and now Krishna Kumar Shrestha is the Labor Minister, but none of these ministers seem to be committed to advancing the social security scheme, which is why the fund has become inactive.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><strong><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Program at the Ministry on the occasion of the annual festival</span></strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">On the occasion of the 4</span><sup><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">th</span></sup><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"> annual meeting of the SSF, a low-key program was held at the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security on Saturday. Some private sector representatives and Labor Minister Krishna Kumar Shrestha attended the program.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">On the occasion, Minister Shrestha did not hesitate to admit that there were some shortcomings. He also said that the government would expand its branches in all the states and address the issue of banks and financial institutions.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Secretary at the Ministry Surya Prasad Gautam claimed that the social security scheme was successful. Kapil Mani Gyawali, executive director of the fund, expressed his commitment to make the fund contribution-friendly by revising and modifying the work procedures of the fund and claimed that the three-year journey of the fund was successful.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><strong><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Emphasis on the need to improve weaknesses</span></strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">At a program held at the Ministry, the representatives of the private sector and trade unions said that the Social Security Fund has not been effective yet and stressed on the need to move forward by rectifying the shortcomings of the past.&nbsp;</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Senior Vice President of the Federation of Nepali Chambers of Commerce and Industry Chandra Dhakal, said that the fund should be implemented effectively in Nepal and added that the fund was effective after a long time of its implementation even in the developed nations.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Jagat Singh Simkhada, president of the All Nepal Federation of Trade Unions, said that only a small number of establishments were affiliated to the SSF in Nepal, and questioned the functioning of the fund. Stating that there is a lot of ambiguity in the fund, he said that there is a delay in removing the ambiguity on part of the government.&nbsp;</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'id' => '14377',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Tourism Activities Increasing in Bhaktapur',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'November 28: The Covid-19 pandemic had caused a major impact on the tourism sector of Nepal. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">November 28: The Covid-19 pandemic had caused a major impact on the tourism sector of Nepal. Tourism activities, which received a major blow from the pandemic, remained halted for almost two years. Bhaktapur, which is listed in the World Heritage Site, has finally started getting tourists. Bhaktapur area which is one of the major tourist destinations is being visited by 60 to 90 tourists on a daily basis.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Gautam Lasiba, the head of Tourism Information Center of the municipality, shared that the Bhaktapur area has got back its charm after the arrival of foreign tourists. The municipality has put forward a plan to operate the tourism business safely and keep the tourists safe from Covid-19. The municipality has made necessary preparations to create a safe environment for tourists. It has been holding discussions with hoteliers to manage the tourists in a way to keep them safe from Covid-19. However, most of the tourists who come to Bhaktapur return back without spending the night. The hotel business has not been able to come into full operation as the number of tourists staying overnight is only few in number.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">The municipality, which has been collecting revenue of around Rs 260 million annually from foreign tourists, has been facing loss for two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Lasiba said, &ldquo;Tourism fee of around Rs 260 million was collected in the fiscal year 2076/77. The amount was reduced to 2.9 million after the Covid-19 outbreak.&rdquo;</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">He informed that the municipality has been spending the money raised from tourism fees on education, health and heritage conservation. According to Lasiba, the number of tourists visiting Bhaktapur this year has been gradually increasing each month. This year, 228 tourists arrived from mid- July to mid-August, 380 from mid-August to mid-September, 964 from mid-September to mid-October and 1,923 from mid-October to mid-November.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Before the first lockdown, more than 3,000 tourists used to visit Bhaktapur daily and more than 200,000 annually. The municipality has been collecting a fee of Rs 500 per tourist belonging to the SAARC countries and China and Rs 1,500 per tourist from other countries. In the previous years, most of the tourists came from China, followed by India, the USA, France, Spain and other countries.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">The municipality has been reconstructing the infrastructure destroyed by the earthquake and has also started rebuilding some of the important heritage sites that have been buried which include Bhaju Pokhari situated at Dudhpati. Preparations are being made to reconstruct the Ranipokhari situated inside the camp of Nepal Army and open it for the purpose of sightseeing for foreign tourists.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">In Nepal, the period between late October to early December is considered as the peak season for tourism. Tourists who come to Nepal in October and November return home at the end of December to celebrate Christmas. According to the Center, in the past, about 35 percent of the tourists visiting Nepal used to come to Bhaktapur to see the heritage sites and most of them used to spend only three or four hours there.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		'Article' => array(
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			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Opportunities and Challenges of Graduating Nepal into a Middle-Income Developing Nation',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'November 28: The 40th plenary meeting of the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) unanimously adopted a resolution on Thursday endorsing the graduation of Nepal from the Least Developed Country (LDC) category with the preparatory period of five years.',
			'content' => '<p><em>Bouddhanath Stupa amidst the backdorp of the HImalayas. Photo Courtesy: ADB</em></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">November 28: The 40th plenary meeting of the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) unanimously adopted a resolution on Thursday (November 25) endorsing the graduation of Nepal from the Least Developed Country (LDC) category with the preparatory period of five years. With the unanimous adoption of the proposal, it has become inevitable to focus the vision of all political players in the activities of national income generation and maintaining political stability in the next five years.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The meeting approved Nepal&#39;s proposal on the basis of Gross National Income, Human Asset and Economic and Environmental Vulnerability, in view of the unwavering plan of the Government of Nepal to realize the national aspirations of &#39;Prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepal&#39; reflected in the 15th Periodic Plan.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">It is a matter of pride for all Nepalis that Nepal, which has been a victim of poverty and backwardness for more than five decades, is moving towards a transformation into a middle-income developing country. Not only has the country&#39;s elevation been a sign of progress, but it has also sent a positive message to the world community about Nepal&#39;s development prospects.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Although the challenge for Nepal is to increase the income of every Nepali, free the general people from the vicious cycle of poverty and keep them busy in sustainable income generation, upgrading can be marketed as an attractive destination for foreign direct investment. There is also ample opportunity to increase domestic investment from the private sector for the smooth up-gradation.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">There is no alternative to moving forward for sustainable and irreversible development by gradually devising development strategies, expediting policy and procedural reforms and adjustments in cooperation with Nepal&#39;s development and trade partners, and creating a conducive environment for investment.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">It has become imperative for the country&#39;s political leadership to immediately engage in dialogue with Nepal&#39;s bilateral and multilateral development and trade partners to ensure that the common &#39;agenda&#39; of national development remains the same, despite political differences. For that, strong will and sincerity must be demonstrated. Nepal&#39;s political leadership, which has been able to resolve the decade-long armed conflict peacefully, once again can take advantage of the opportunity to exhibit that they are not divided in order to remove Nepal from the list of poor countries and restore its lost image to the world community.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Even though Nepal, as a least developed country, will continue receiving favor, facilities, concessions and assistance from the international community till December 2026, it will be reduced thereafter. In order to work with a clear action plan focusing on the country&#39;s abundant water resources, commercialization of agriculture, optimum utilisation of forest and forest products including herbal medicine and tourism sectors, it has become imperative to formulate a national transition strategy of upgrading in collaboration with bilateral, regional and multilateral development and trade partners, including the UN system.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The five-year preparatory period is provided for a smooth transition, recognizing the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting need to implement policies and strategies to reverse the pandemic&rsquo;s damage to the economic and social sectors. The five-year transition period is provided on an exceptional basis mainly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, which would normally be for three years.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The resolution has mandated the Committee on Development Policy, a subsidiary body of the Economic and Social Council, to analyze the adequacy of the preparatory period at its 2024 triennial review and recommend further extension if necessary. The resolution also invites Nepal and the other two graduating countries to prepare smooth national transition strategies, with the support of the United Nations system and in cooperation with their bilateral, regional, and multilateral development and trading partners.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">After the adoption of the resolution, Nepal has reiterated her commitment to making an all-out effort for smooth graduation with the enhanced level of support from the development partners including the UN. -- RSS&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>
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			'id' => '14374',
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			'title' => 'Health Ministry Urges People to Stay Alert after New Variant of Covid-19 Reported in South Africa',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'November 28: In the wake of a new variant of COVID-19 reported in South Africa, the Ministry of Health and Population has urged people to remain cautious and strictly follow the health protocols.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">November 28: In the wake of a new variant of COVID-19 reported in South Africa, the Ministry of Health and Population has urged people to remain cautious and strictly follow the health protocols. </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The ministry warned that the variant classified as B 1.1.529 could spread to Nepal as well. So people visiting Nepal through South Africa should compulsorily stay in a week-long quarantine facility, said the Ministry.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">&nbsp;Nepal is at risk when a virus variant is reported anywhere across the globe, said Joint Secretary at the Ministry, Dr Samir Adhikari. So caution is necessary, he added.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">According to the ministry, the World Health Organisation has classified the variant as &#39;of concern&#39;. &quot;Following this, we have stepped up vigil on people visiting Nepal through South Africa,&quot; he said.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The ministry further said that there is no need to worry as the variant has not been reported in Nepal. But caution is necessary, said Adhikari. At present, the number of COVID-19 cases is decreasing. But the risks still persist. So there is a need to follow the health protocols, said Adhikari.&nbsp; -- RSS&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><br />
&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'title' => 'Herbs Production and Processing Company Starts Making Profit after 40 Years',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'November 28: The state-owned Herbs Production and Processing Company Ltd has started making profit since the past three years.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">November 28: The state-owned Herbs Production and Processing Company Ltd has started making profit since the past three years.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Established in 2038 BS, the company has started making profit since fiscal year 2075/76 BS, the state-owned national news agency RSS reported.&nbsp; The company&#39;s Manager Gyaneshwor Karki said that the company had earned Rs 19.2 million for the first time after paying tax on its income.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Similarly, the company made Rs 12.2 million profit in the fiscal year 2076/77 BS while audit of the fiscal year 2077/78 BS is underway. The company has made profit this fiscal year as well. Among the government&#39;s public organisations in the industrial sector, this is the only institution that is making profit, RSS further stated.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The company has started distributing dividends to shareholders from the fiscal year 2076/77 BS. The company is making preparations to issue share to the general public once the audit report is finalized. The company said that it is working towards increasing its capital by selling the company&#39;s share to the public.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">According to RSS, Nepal is home to around 2,000 species of herbal, medicinal and aromatic plants. The concerned department of the government has verified 819 types of such plants till date. Altogether 300 varieties of plants are being used commercially. Among them, the company has been trading in 13 types of aromatic and essential oil-based products, shared General Manager Karki.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">According to a report, the demand for the aromatic and essential oils in the global market amounts to US$ 17.2 billion. The demand is expected to increase by 7.5 per cent annually till 2027, RSS reported adding that Nepal had exported aromatic oil worth USD 5 million in 2015 which is 0.02 per cent of the global demand.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">&quot;Looking at this statistics, Nepal has much possibility of herbal production and processing. There is high demand of herbal oil and products in the international market. Therefore, we are working towards establishing the company as one of the established companies in the whole of South Asia in terms of production of essential oils and herbal products,&quot; he said.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">General Manager Karki shared that the company was moving ahead towards raising the socio-economic condition of the poor and low-income people by creating maximum jobs while implementing the internationally-established good practices in sustainable harvesting of herbs, their cultivation, processing, production and sale and distribution.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The government had provided Rs 180 million to the company last year for achieving its objectives, RSS reported. This amount was received for investment as per the business plan submitted to the Finance Ministry by General Manager Karki via the Ministry of Forests and Environment. The business plan focuses on the company&#39;s development, expansion and its structural reform.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Out of the amount provided by the government, Rs 80 million is in the form of loan.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The company has the target of annual transaction equivalent to Rs 1 billion after the business plan comes into full operation.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><br />
&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">&nbsp; </span></span></p>
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