July 27: US Ambassador to Nepal, Randy Berry paid a courtesy to Finance Minister Janardan Sharma on Tuesday.…
July 27: US Ambassador to Nepal, Randy Berry paid a courtesy to Finance Minister Janardan Sharma on Tuesday.…
July 28: Israel has announced 1,000 job vacancies for aspiring Nepali…
July 28: Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Pampha Bhusal has said that she will focus on reducing the delay in development works faced by the energy…
sensitive towards the prevention and control of the…
July 27: Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Pampha Bhusal is preparing to bring a policy to provide special facilities to the people living below the poverty…
July 27: The government has honoured three companies with the Innovative Industries Award-2077.…
July 27: The volume of agricultural products exported from the eastern border point of Kakadbhitta has increased by fourfolds compared to the import from the same customs…
July 27: The government has decided to accept a loan assistance of US$ 60 million through the International Development Association of the World Bank…
July 27: The Government of Nepal has decided to bear the quarantine expenses of its citizens returning home from abroad through 'Deportation Centre' as well as those released from jail and who have run out of money in foreign…
July 27: The Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) has pledged to invest Rs 12 billion for the development of Tamakoshi 'V' Hydropower…
July 26: The Supreme Court has issued an interlocutory order to put on hold all the works related to the privatization of the state-owned Nepal Airlines Corporation…
July 26: As the rainy season continues this year, 26 bridges across the country have been damaged so far by floods.…
July 26: Transport entrepreneurs have handed over the keys of their vehicles to Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba with a seven-point demand.…
July 26: Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Pampha Bhusal has directed the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) to collect long-pending electricity tariff for the use of dedicated…
July 26: Government authorities have extended the ongoing prohibitory order in the Kathmandu Valley for 10 more…
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', 'content' => '<p><em>Finance Minister Janardan Sharma meets US Ambassador to Nepal Rany Berry on July 27. Photo Courtesy: Ministry of Finance</em></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 27: US Ambassador to Nepal, Randy Berry paid a courtesy to Finance Minister Janardan Sharma on Tuesday. During the meeting held at the Ministry, Finance Minister Sharma expressed his gratitude for America’s unforgettable assistance in the aftermath of the earthquake and during the Covid-19 pandemic.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Sharma said that the vaccine against covid-19 is Nepal's first priority and expressed confidence that the US government would provide more assistance and facilitation in the supply of vaccines. Minister Sharma expressed commitment to monitor and investigate projects implemented in Nepal with the assistance of the United States Government.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">During the meeting, Ambassador Berry said that the United States will stand with Nepal in the fight against Covid-19. Stating that the United States has been providing assistance to Nepal in the field of health and education for the past 70 years, he expressed his commitment to continue the same in upcoming days as well. He said the United States had provided 1.5 million doses of the vaccine to help with the vaccine campaign against in Nepal and added that they would continue to provide necessary assistance in the coming days.</span></span></span></p> <p><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-28', 'modified' => '2021-07-28', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13487', 'image' => '20210728015944_1627456308_1.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-28 13:58:42', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13740', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => ' Israel Announces 1,000 Job Vacancies for Nepalis ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 28: Israel has announced 1,000 job vacancies for aspiring Nepali workers.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">July 28: Israel has announced 1,000 job vacancies for aspiring Nepali workers. The Department of Foreign Employment on Tuesday formally informed about this through a notice. The hiring process will take place through G2G model. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The notice states that Israel has placed the demand for 700 females and 300 males as care givers in the first lot. The Government of Israel has said the monthly salary for selected worker is 5,300 New Israeli Sheqel (NIS) which is equivalent to Rs 193,000. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Aspiring Nepali workers will be getting the job offers in Israel after a long wait. The payment will be made on a weekly basis. It may be noted that the Government of Israel and Nepal last year had inked a labour pact and Israel had agreed to hire 500 workers in the first lot. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif""> The contract period for a selected worker will be of one year and it could be extended up to five years. The worker has to manage food on own while the accommodation will be managed by his/her employer. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Criteria for applicant </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Any Nepali citizen completing 25 years and not exceeding 45 years of age with at least 1.5 metres height, weighing 45 kilograms and having an ANM or CMA (medical) certificate after completing at least ten class or a plus two degree with at least three months' training on care giving from the government-certified training institute is eligible to apply for the job. Anyone already having worked in Israel and whose parents, spouses or daughters are residing in Israel or currently working there are suggested no to try for the job. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-28', 'modified' => '2021-07-28', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13486', 'image' => '20210728111533_20201001041928_1601479507.nepal isrel_g2g.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-28 11:14:44', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13741', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Energy Minister Expresses Commitment to Cut Red Tape', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => ' July 28: Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Pampha Bhusal has said that she will focus on reducing the delay in development works faced by the energy sector.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 28: Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Pampha Bhusal has said that she will focus on reducing the delay in development works faced by the energy sector. She said that delay in even a small task should be improved.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Speaking to a delegation of the Independent Power Producers’ Association of Nepal (IPPAN) at the Ministry on Tuesday, she said the delay should be treated like any other financial corruption. “The tendency of working irresponsibly is not good. The thinking that the service recipient will come back later if the work is not done and delaying is no less than financial corruption,” she said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The minister added that a working style will be developed by introducing a code of conduct. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“We have to work in accordance to a code of conduct,” she said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Moreover, she assured that inter-ministerial discussions would be held soon to end the situation where the private sector has to visit many ministries and departments for a particular project.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Minister Bhusal said, "Work has been halted for years. It has to be done quickly. It needs to be made objective and scientific."</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-28', 'modified' => '2021-07-28', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13485', 'image' => '20210728014716_484055608_n.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-28 13:46:01', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13739', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Confirms Kappa Variant of Coronavirus in Nepal', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'sensitive towards the prevention and control of the disease.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">July 28: The government has claimed that three additional variants of coronavirus have been detected in the country while urging all stakeholders to be remain sensitive towards the prevention and control of the disease. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Ministry of Health and Population on Tuesday said that 47 samples collected at the National Public Health Laboratory from different age groups were sent to New Delhi-based WHO recognized labs for sequencing. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Among those samples, all 47 samples had Delta variant in the genomic sequencing and three of them had new variant called K417N mutation. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">With this, Nepal has Alpha variant, Delta variant and Kappa variant in the country, the Ministry's Deputy Spokesperson Dr Samir Adhikari said in a press statement. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">All these variants are found to be more infectious and could impact people of all ages, the ministry said. </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-28', 'modified' => '2021-07-28', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13484', 'image' => '20210728111035_coronavirus-a_d.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-28 11:09:42', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13738', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'New Energy Minister Vows to Lower Electricity Tariff', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 27: Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Pampha Bhusal is preparing to bring a policy to provide special facilities to the people living below the poverty line.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 27: Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Pampha Bhusal is preparing to bring a policy to provide special facilities to the people living below the poverty line.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In a press conference held at the Ministry on Monday, she said that free electricity will be provided to such people.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> “Energy is the raw material for economic and industrial development,” she said. She stressed on the need to focus on making development plans so that the electricity generated in Nepal can be used in the country.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Minister Bhusal also said that the tariff of electricity will also be reconsidered. “Our electricity tariff is expensive. According to general economics, the higher the production, the lower is the cost price. My experience as a consumer is that the higher the consumption, the lower the rate should be, but this is not the case here,” she said, “The electricity tariff should be reconsidered. Electricity tariff should be adjusted.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Stating that the private sector has contributed to the country by investing heavily in the energy sector, she added, “We must protect the private sector. The government is also their guardian.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Minister Bhusal said that the government should facilitate in building large reservoir with the investment of the people.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Stating that she would work towards increasing production, fixing affordable rates, providing concessions and increasing the number of consumers, Bhusal said that the number of consumers and electricity consumption would also increase if the LP gas could be replaced.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">She also said that she is preparing to bring a policy to help in irrigation through energy. “It will be a great relief if we can provide irrigation facilities to agriculture. We don't have to rely on diesel and petrol,” she said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">She said that electricity will be made available to the people in the areas where electrification has not taken place by connecting the central transmission line as soon as possible. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-27', 'modified' => '2021-07-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13483', 'image' => '20210727020631_20200807030044_1596750181.Clipboard01.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-27 14:05:37', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13737', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Three Companies Bag ‘Innovative Industries Award’', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 27: The government has honoured three companies with the Innovative Industries Award-2077. ', 'content' => '<p><em>Winners of the Innovative Industries Award-2077. Photo Courtesy: MoICS</em></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 27: The government has honoured three companies with the Innovative Industries Award-2077 in recognition of their contribution to innovative approach. The award was presented to the companies by the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies amid a recent function.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The companies that were successful in bagging the award include Leaf Plus Pvt Ltd, Nepal's Handicraft Industries and Anugraha Handicraft. On Monday (July 26), the ministry notified in a press statement that the awards have been given to the representatives of each of the industry.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Secretary of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Arjun Prasad Pokharel said that the award-winning companies are expected to further contribute to local job creation by increasing and diversifying production and productivity through innovative entrepreneurship.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Of the three industries established in Kathmandu and Lalitpur, Leaf Plus has been producing plates of new design in various shapes from wasted betel leaves and exporting them to Germany, the Netherlands and Australia.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In the same way, Nepal Handicraft Industries has been making metal sculptures in various shapes and forms using unsaturated polyester. Anugraha Handicraft has been producing hand-knitted artistic sarees, kurtas, scarves, hats, bags, handkerchiefs and other materials of new design.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The ministry said it believes that this award will aid in encouraging those who are doing enterprises based on innovative thinking. Secretary Pokharel stated that industries including small, medium and large scale would also be honored and encouraged on the basis of their contribution to the fields of research, invention and innovation.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-27', 'modified' => '2021-07-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13482', 'image' => '20210727014257_img-20210725-171915jpg-1627301065.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-27 13:41:12', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13736', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Export of Agricultural Product Up by 4 Times through Eastern Border', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 27: The volume of agricultural products exported from the eastern border point of Kakadbhitta has increased by fourfolds compared to the import from the same customs point.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 27: The volume of agricultural products exported from the eastern border point of Kakadbhitta has increased by fourfolds compared to the import from the same customs point.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the Kakadbhitta quarantine office, agricultural products worth Rs 4.12 billion have been exported while goods worth Rs 10.19 million have been imported in the fiscal year 2020/21.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Meanwhile, in the fiscal year 2019/20, goods worth Rs. 5.26 billion were exported while goods worth Rs 20.99 million were imported, the data of the quarantine office shows. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Devendra Sahu, senior crop protection officer at the office, said that the increase in the price of agricultural products in the international market contributed to the increase in exports during the COVID-19 pandemic.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He said that agro products like cardamom, ginger, tea and herbs like chiraito (swertia), jatamansi (spikenard), amla (Indian gooseberry), pulses and other agricultural products are being exported to India and Bangladesh through the eastern border. He said that cardamom, tea, amriso (broom grass) are the major agricultural products exported from the eastern border.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><br /> <br /> <br /> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-27', 'modified' => '2021-07-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13481', 'image' => '20210727124750_Untitled.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-27 12:46:59', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13735', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Decides to Accept Loan Assistance of US$ 60 Million ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 27: The government has decided to accept a loan assistance of US$ 60 million through the International Development Association of the World Bank Group. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">July 27: The government has decided to accept a loan assistance of US$ 60 million through the International Development Association of the World Bank Group. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">While making public the decisions made by the Council of Ministers on July 26, government Spokesperson and Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Gyanendra Bahadur Karki, said that the cabinet meeting held at Singha Durbar decided to accept the loan assistance in order to run different projects. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, the government decided to approve the National Debt (Fifth Amendment) Regulations-2078 BS and Bond Priorities and Secondary Market (Third Amendment) Regulation-2078. </span></span></span><br /> <br /> <br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-27', 'modified' => '2021-07-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13480', 'image' => '20210727122911_kzCxV5Yw_400x400.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-27 12:27:58', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13734', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government to Bear Quarantine Expenses of Deported Citizens', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 27: The Government of Nepal has decided to bear the quarantine expenses of its citizens returning home from abroad through 'Deportation Centre' as well as those released from jail and who have run out of money in foreign countries.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18pt"><span style="font-family:Preeti"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">July 27: The Government of Nepal has decided to bear the quarantine expenses of its citizens returning home from abroad through 'Deportation Centre' as well as those released from jail and who have run out of money in foreign countries.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18pt"><span style="font-family:Preeti"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Government Spokesperson and Law Minister Gyanendra Bahadur Karki announced the decision after a cabinet meeting held at Singha Durbar on Monday (July 26).</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18pt"><span style="font-family:Preeti"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Minister Karki informed that the Ministry of Labor, Employment, and Social Security will make the necessary arrangements for the quarantine facility, while the Ministry of Finance will disburse the required budget.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18pt"><span style="font-family:Preeti"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The cabinet also decided to extend the deadline of government’s procurement agreements signed during the period of prohibitory order in various districts by six months considering the adverse impact of the restrictions imposed by the government to control the spread of coronavirus.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18pt"><span style="font-family:Preeti"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Similarly, the government has decided to appoint staffers at various commissions on contract basis. In this regard, the cabinet approved appointment of 35 temporary staff at the Truth and Reconciliation (TRC) Commission. Likewise, the cabinet has also approved appointment of 23 gazetted officers on contract basis at the Commission for the Investigation of Enforced Disappeared Persons (CIEDP).</span></span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-27', 'modified' => '2021-07-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13479', 'image' => '20210727102153_1627343795.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-27 10:20:52', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13733', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'EPF to Invest Rs 12 Billion in Tamakoshi 'V' Hydropower Project ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 27: The Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) has pledged to invest Rs 12 billion for the development of Tamakoshi 'V' Hydropower Project. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">July 27: The Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) has pledged to invest Rs 12 billion for the development of Tamakoshi 'V' Hydropower Project. <br /> This will be the EFP's lone investment in the hydropower project after Rasuwagadhi, Upper Sanzen, Sanzen and Bhotekoshi projects, according to the state-owned national news agency RSS. <br /> A tripartite agreement on investment was reached on Sunday (July 25) in the presence of Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Pampha Bhusal. <br /> Executive Director of Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) Hitendra Dev Shakya, EPF's Administrator Tulasi Prasad Gautam and Chief Executive Officer of Tamakoshi Hydropower Project Nasib Man Pradhan agreed on a deal for the development of the 100-megawatt project. It will be a cascade project of the Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower Project. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> Pradhan informed New Business Age that water coming from the tailrace after being used by the Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower Project will flow through the tunnel from Lamabagar.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Administrator Gautam said that the EPF was ready to make the investment adding that it was a very lucrative project. <br /> The estimated cost of the project is around Rs 16 billion, up from the initial projection of Rs 13 billion, and the NEA will invest Rs 4 billon for the project development. <br /> Officials claimed that Rs 160 million will be spent for the production of each megawatt power adding that the access route for the project is already readied while developing the Upper Tamakoshi Project. <br /> Administrator Gautam told RSS that the EPF decided to invest in this project as the transmission line was already prepared and the project was also cost-effective. He added that the project was selected as it was considered the best by various evaluations. <br /> The project will generate 540 Gigawatt of power annually. He added that the tender bid will be announced to begin the construction work within 10 months. <br /> A source at the project informed New Business Age that the Tamakoshi-V is cheap according to per unit electricity generation investment.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The investment of the hydropower project is expected to cost less as the project is being built without constructing a dam, which will automatically save nature as all the structures are constructed underground.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to the detailed project report (DPR), four units of 25 MW capacity each will be installed in the project. Water will be dropped from 160 m head through a 5.6 m diameter and 8.02 km tunnel from the Upper Tamakoshi Project.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The electricity generated will be linked to the Upper Tamakoshi substation through a 132 KV single circuit transmission line. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The construction of the project started in early 2017.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-27', 'modified' => '2021-07-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13478', 'image' => '20210727100514_20170427041606_tamakoshi.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-27 10:03:43', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13732', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Supreme Court Issues Stay Order Against Privatization of NAC', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 26: The Supreme Court has issued an interlocutory order to put on hold all the works related to the privatization of the state-owned Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC).', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 26: The Supreme Court has issued an interlocutory order to put on hold all the works related to the privatization of the state-owned Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC).</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Responding to a writ petition filed by advocate Atish Karki, a single bench of Supreme Court Justice Kumar Regmi issued an interim order on Sunday (July 26) to halt the process of privatization of the NAC.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">An interlocutory order has been issued in the name of the defendants to keep the status quo and not to take any decision regarding privatization of the Nepal Airlines Corporation before an interim order is issued after hearing both sides, the order reads.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The court is of the view that it would be appropriate to conclude the case after hearing both the parties on August 9.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The defendants have been asked to appear in the court as per Rule 49 (2) (c) of the Rules of Procedure of the Supreme Court 2074 BS. Similarly, the bench has also issued a show-cause order to the stakeholders. NAC has to submit clarification for the privatization of the airline company within 15 days.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Employees of the Nepal Airlines Corporation have been protesting against the privatization of the corporation. Nepal Airlines Corporation United Trade Union has demanded the resignation of Dim Prakash Poudel, general manager of NAC. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The trade union has alleged Poudel that he did not discuss this issue with the stakeholders even after preparing a draft to privatize the government-owned corporation.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">A meeting of the Board of Directors of NAC held on July 25 had decided to send the draft prepared to transform the Nepal Airlines Corporation into a 'public' company to the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation has said there is no plan to privatize the Nepal Airlines Corporation. A few days ago, the ministry issued a formal statement saying that there was no discussion on privatizing the corporation or converting it into a private company.</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-26', 'modified' => '2021-07-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13477', 'image' => '20210726015026_20180727021334_2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-26 13:49:29', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13731', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Floods, Landslides Damage 26 Bridges, Incur Losses worth Rs1 Billion ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 26: As the rainy season continues this year, 26 bridges across the country have been damaged so far by floods. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 26: As the rainy season continues this year, 26 bridges across the country have been damaged so far by floods. The damage due to the complete and partial collapse of the bridges has caused losses of billions of rupees. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to a preliminary report of the task force formed to study the extent of damage on bridges by rains and floods, eight motorable bridges that were under-construction have collapsed. Eight other motorable have also been damaged, the report stated. Shiva Prasad Nepal, deputy director general and spokesperson of the Department of Roads said that among other types of bridges, three wooden bridges, one Bailey bridge, two slab culverts and approach road of four bridges were damaged. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Although the exact data will be available only after a detailed study, Nepal said that the preliminary report shows the loss of around Rs 800 million. The bridges over Triyuga, Mahesh, Lodari, and Kamala rivers have collapsed while being constructed. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Although the approach road to Kothiya Ghat, Soti Ghat and Khelako bridge was damaged, the main structure was not damaged. A Bailey bridge and other wooden bridges have also collapsed due to floods in Manang. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Likewise, the bridge over the Trishuli River connecting Devghat in Tanahau and Thimura in Chitwan also collapsed last April. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The task force was formed under the initiative of former Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Basanta Kumar Nemwang on July 4 after road and bridges in different parts of the country collapsed in April. The task force was mandated to analyze the causes of the damage to the bridges and submit a recommendation by July 22. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“The team has returned from the field but the difficulty is that a detailed study seems impossible until the water level in the rivers and streams where the bridges collapsed decreases,” he said, “As the water level has risen, we couldn’t do more than look at it from the shore.” Spokesperson Nepal said that there is a possibility of a complete report only after September 1. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Moreover, he said that the deadline of the task force will be extended and the final report will be submitted only after the water level decreases and detailed data is collected. Discussions are underway at the secretary level to extend its terms. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the preliminary study, the first reason for the damage on the bridges is due to unnaturally heavy rains in June. Secondly, the activities in the watershed area have also contributed to the damages. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“Development works such as roads, irrigation and culverts are being carried out by the local government in the watershed area,” Nepal said, “Such damage has occurred after the level of the river increased when the soil and stones that came out of the tracks were not placed properly. At the same time, the damage has occurred as some bridges have been built long ago and now the pattern of the rains has changed. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“Another important thing that we lack is that we don’t have proper data on rain, and soil research,” he said, “We have to rely on secondary data and they may not match.” </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Stating that there may be some weakness in testing the soil by drilling while constructing the bridges, he said that there is no database of consultants and soil test reports. Around 250 to 300 motorable bridges are constructed annually under the department. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-26', 'modified' => '2021-07-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13476', 'image' => '20210726013558_20200728022209_1595887425.Clipboard11.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-26 13:35:03', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13730', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Agitating Transport Entrepreneurs Hand Over Vehicles’ Keys to PM', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 26: Transport entrepreneurs have handed over the keys of their vehicles to Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba with a seven-point demand. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 26: Transport entrepreneurs have handed over the keys of their vehicles to Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba with a seven-point demand. After they staged a demonstration protest at Maitighar Mandala in Kathmandu on July 25, they handed over a sample of the vehicles’ keys to the Prime Minister Deuba on Sunday. They handed over the keys through Chief District Officer (CDO) of Kathmandu, Kali Prasad Parajuli.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Entrepreneurs affiliated to the Central Federation of Public Transport have started protests with various demands. Giving an ultimatum till August 8 to fulfill the demand, they have warned of stern protest if their demands are not addressed. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Keshav Nepal, deputy general secretary of the federation, said that since the seven-point demand put forward by them was not addressed, the demo key of the vehicles was submitted. He also said that if their demands are not addressed by August 8, they will cease the transportation movement and will resort to protest.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The main demand put forth by the transportation entrepreneurs since July 8 is that all the drivers, helpers and employees associated with transport sector should be vaccinated against covid-19. Although the government has said that people involved in public transport have been given the vaccination since July 13, the federation says that there has been no satisfactory arrangement for the vaccination. The federation has also demanded that the transportation fares within the states should be adjusted with effect from July as the inter-state fare has been already adjusted.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, the additional demands of the transport entrepreneurs include solving their problems through monetary policy, provide tax exemption for the duration of the prohibitory period, and to arrange loans/refinancing by keeping the transport sector under the most affected areas. They have also demanded a waiver of renewal fee for the prohibitory period, a halt to the illegal ride-sharing business, adjusting taxi fares, a revision of the insurance policy, an extension of the 20-year term for vehicles and an amendment to the road safety laws.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The transport entrepreneurs had disrupted the traffic by organizing a rally on the roads of Kathmandu last Thursday.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-26', 'modified' => '2021-07-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13475', 'image' => '20210726012116_20200705035220_public transport.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-26 13:20:16', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13729', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Energy Minister Directs NEA to Collect Electricity Tariff ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 26: Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Pampha Bhusal has directed the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) to collect long-pending electricity tariff for the use of dedicated feeders.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">July 26: Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Pampha Bhusal has directed the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) to collect long-pending electricity tariff for the use of dedicated feeders. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to the national news agency (RSS), over Rs 15 billion remains to be collected from the industrialists for the use of dedicated feeders in the past when the country was facing long hours of load shedding. </span></span><br /> <span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">At a programme organized at NEA office on Sunday (July 25), Minister Bhusal demanded a clear explanation on why the responsible employees of the NEA could not claim the dues of the dedicated feeders and trunk line and why the electricity tariff collection process could not make any progress. <br /> The government has already decided to entrust Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) to collect electricity tariff of the dedicated feeders and trunk line despite objections from several quarters. <br /> A total of 309 industrialists and entrepreneurs had availed supply of electricity through dedicated feeder and trunk line during the height of power outage in the country during 2014 to 2018. <br /> The ministry had already assigned the NEA to form a research committee to study electricity tariff issues and to collect all the dues. Even the high court has paved way for the NEA to collect the tariff. <br /> However, the industrialists have been refusing to clear the dues, arguing why they should pay for the tariff when they have not used the electricity at all. </span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">There is a long dispute between industrialists and the NEA over the settlement of dues for using electricity from dedicated feeders and trunk lines. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Earlier on July 21, the Parliamentary Affairs Committee (PAC) had formed a sub-committee led by lawmaker Minendra Rijal to look into the issue of dedicated electricity tariff. Based on the report, the PAC, on April 4, instructed the government to collect all dues within a month. There was a total of Rs 10.14 billion outstanding dues that industrialists owe to the NEA. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><br /> <span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">NEA had supplied electricity to industries through dedicated feeder and trunk lines by charging a premium of 65 percent in the electricity tariffs. The NEA, which did not have authority to fix tariff, had got approval of its tariff rates from the then Electricity Tariff Fixation Commission in February 2016. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><br /> <span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Industrialists are at odds with the NEA over the tariffs that NEA has fixed prior to the approval from the Commission. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Some industrialists even claim that the NEA has billed them for the electricity that their industries did not use during the load shedding.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> </span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-26', 'modified' => '2021-07-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13474', 'image' => '20210726112533_20210514031053_NEA.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-26 11:24:18', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13725', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Prohibitory Order Extended in Kathmandu Valley until August 4', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 26: Government authorities have extended the ongoing prohibitory order in the Kathmandu Valley for 10 more days.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">July 26: Government authorities have extended the ongoing prohibitory order in the Kathmandu Valley for 10 more days.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A meeting of the chief district officers (CDOs) of the three districts of the Valley including Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur took a decision to this effect on Sunday (July 26). As per the decision, the prohibitory order has been extended until August 4. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to a press statement issued by the District Administration Office, Kathmandu, the government has restricted public gatherings, operation of party palaces, cinema halls, bars, clubs, swimming pools and museums among others. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the state-owned national news agency RSS, the order has also restricted the public from marking festivals with mass gathering and organizing protest programmes with in public places. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, the order has also restricted educational institutions from conducting classes in person until further notice. However, seminars, training and workshops can be organised virtually. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, shops have been allowed to remain open till 7:00 PM each day. However, medical stores and pharmacies can be opened round the clock. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Public vehicles can operate by carrying passengers based on their seating capacity while three-wheelers and micro buses are not permitted to carry more than nine people. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, the prohibitory order states that examinations can be conducted by managing a maximum of 25 students in one room. </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-26', 'modified' => '2021-07-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13473', 'image' => '20210726100917_20200903113103_1599056781.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-26 10:08:17', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = falseinclude - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 60 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
Warning (2): simplexml_load_file() [<a href='http://php.net/function.simplexml-load-file'>function.simplexml-load-file</a>]: I/O warning : failed to load external entity "" [APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 60]file not found!Code Context// $file = 'http://aabhiyan:QUVLg8Wzs2F7G9N7@nepalstock.com.np/api/indexdata.xml';if(!$xml = simplexml_load_file($file)){$viewFile = '/var/www/html/newbusinessage.com/app/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'articles' => array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ) ), 'current_user' => null, 'logged_in' => false ) $articles = array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13742', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'US Ambassador Pays Courtesy Call to Finance Minister', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 27: US Ambassador to Nepal, Randy Berry paid a courtesy to Finance Minister Janardan Sharma on Tuesday. ', 'content' => '<p><em>Finance Minister Janardan Sharma meets US Ambassador to Nepal Rany Berry on July 27. Photo Courtesy: Ministry of Finance</em></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 27: US Ambassador to Nepal, Randy Berry paid a courtesy to Finance Minister Janardan Sharma on Tuesday. During the meeting held at the Ministry, Finance Minister Sharma expressed his gratitude for America’s unforgettable assistance in the aftermath of the earthquake and during the Covid-19 pandemic.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Sharma said that the vaccine against covid-19 is Nepal's first priority and expressed confidence that the US government would provide more assistance and facilitation in the supply of vaccines. Minister Sharma expressed commitment to monitor and investigate projects implemented in Nepal with the assistance of the United States Government.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">During the meeting, Ambassador Berry said that the United States will stand with Nepal in the fight against Covid-19. Stating that the United States has been providing assistance to Nepal in the field of health and education for the past 70 years, he expressed his commitment to continue the same in upcoming days as well. He said the United States had provided 1.5 million doses of the vaccine to help with the vaccine campaign against in Nepal and added that they would continue to provide necessary assistance in the coming days.</span></span></span></p> <p><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-28', 'modified' => '2021-07-28', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13487', 'image' => '20210728015944_1627456308_1.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-28 13:58:42', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13740', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => ' Israel Announces 1,000 Job Vacancies for Nepalis ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 28: Israel has announced 1,000 job vacancies for aspiring Nepali workers.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">July 28: Israel has announced 1,000 job vacancies for aspiring Nepali workers. The Department of Foreign Employment on Tuesday formally informed about this through a notice. The hiring process will take place through G2G model. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The notice states that Israel has placed the demand for 700 females and 300 males as care givers in the first lot. The Government of Israel has said the monthly salary for selected worker is 5,300 New Israeli Sheqel (NIS) which is equivalent to Rs 193,000. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Aspiring Nepali workers will be getting the job offers in Israel after a long wait. The payment will be made on a weekly basis. It may be noted that the Government of Israel and Nepal last year had inked a labour pact and Israel had agreed to hire 500 workers in the first lot. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif""> The contract period for a selected worker will be of one year and it could be extended up to five years. The worker has to manage food on own while the accommodation will be managed by his/her employer. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Criteria for applicant </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Any Nepali citizen completing 25 years and not exceeding 45 years of age with at least 1.5 metres height, weighing 45 kilograms and having an ANM or CMA (medical) certificate after completing at least ten class or a plus two degree with at least three months' training on care giving from the government-certified training institute is eligible to apply for the job. Anyone already having worked in Israel and whose parents, spouses or daughters are residing in Israel or currently working there are suggested no to try for the job. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-28', 'modified' => '2021-07-28', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13486', 'image' => '20210728111533_20201001041928_1601479507.nepal isrel_g2g.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-28 11:14:44', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13741', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Energy Minister Expresses Commitment to Cut Red Tape', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => ' July 28: Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Pampha Bhusal has said that she will focus on reducing the delay in development works faced by the energy sector.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 28: Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Pampha Bhusal has said that she will focus on reducing the delay in development works faced by the energy sector. She said that delay in even a small task should be improved.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Speaking to a delegation of the Independent Power Producers’ Association of Nepal (IPPAN) at the Ministry on Tuesday, she said the delay should be treated like any other financial corruption. “The tendency of working irresponsibly is not good. The thinking that the service recipient will come back later if the work is not done and delaying is no less than financial corruption,” she said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The minister added that a working style will be developed by introducing a code of conduct. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“We have to work in accordance to a code of conduct,” she said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Moreover, she assured that inter-ministerial discussions would be held soon to end the situation where the private sector has to visit many ministries and departments for a particular project.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Minister Bhusal said, "Work has been halted for years. It has to be done quickly. It needs to be made objective and scientific."</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-28', 'modified' => '2021-07-28', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13485', 'image' => '20210728014716_484055608_n.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-28 13:46:01', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13739', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Confirms Kappa Variant of Coronavirus in Nepal', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'sensitive towards the prevention and control of the disease.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">July 28: The government has claimed that three additional variants of coronavirus have been detected in the country while urging all stakeholders to be remain sensitive towards the prevention and control of the disease. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Ministry of Health and Population on Tuesday said that 47 samples collected at the National Public Health Laboratory from different age groups were sent to New Delhi-based WHO recognized labs for sequencing. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Among those samples, all 47 samples had Delta variant in the genomic sequencing and three of them had new variant called K417N mutation. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">With this, Nepal has Alpha variant, Delta variant and Kappa variant in the country, the Ministry's Deputy Spokesperson Dr Samir Adhikari said in a press statement. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">All these variants are found to be more infectious and could impact people of all ages, the ministry said. </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-28', 'modified' => '2021-07-28', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13484', 'image' => '20210728111035_coronavirus-a_d.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-28 11:09:42', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13738', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'New Energy Minister Vows to Lower Electricity Tariff', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 27: Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Pampha Bhusal is preparing to bring a policy to provide special facilities to the people living below the poverty line.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 27: Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Pampha Bhusal is preparing to bring a policy to provide special facilities to the people living below the poverty line.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In a press conference held at the Ministry on Monday, she said that free electricity will be provided to such people.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> “Energy is the raw material for economic and industrial development,” she said. She stressed on the need to focus on making development plans so that the electricity generated in Nepal can be used in the country.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Minister Bhusal also said that the tariff of electricity will also be reconsidered. “Our electricity tariff is expensive. According to general economics, the higher the production, the lower is the cost price. My experience as a consumer is that the higher the consumption, the lower the rate should be, but this is not the case here,” she said, “The electricity tariff should be reconsidered. Electricity tariff should be adjusted.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Stating that the private sector has contributed to the country by investing heavily in the energy sector, she added, “We must protect the private sector. The government is also their guardian.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Minister Bhusal said that the government should facilitate in building large reservoir with the investment of the people.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Stating that she would work towards increasing production, fixing affordable rates, providing concessions and increasing the number of consumers, Bhusal said that the number of consumers and electricity consumption would also increase if the LP gas could be replaced.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">She also said that she is preparing to bring a policy to help in irrigation through energy. “It will be a great relief if we can provide irrigation facilities to agriculture. We don't have to rely on diesel and petrol,” she said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">She said that electricity will be made available to the people in the areas where electrification has not taken place by connecting the central transmission line as soon as possible. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-27', 'modified' => '2021-07-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13483', 'image' => '20210727020631_20200807030044_1596750181.Clipboard01.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-27 14:05:37', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13737', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Three Companies Bag ‘Innovative Industries Award’', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 27: The government has honoured three companies with the Innovative Industries Award-2077. ', 'content' => '<p><em>Winners of the Innovative Industries Award-2077. Photo Courtesy: MoICS</em></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 27: The government has honoured three companies with the Innovative Industries Award-2077 in recognition of their contribution to innovative approach. The award was presented to the companies by the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies amid a recent function.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The companies that were successful in bagging the award include Leaf Plus Pvt Ltd, Nepal's Handicraft Industries and Anugraha Handicraft. On Monday (July 26), the ministry notified in a press statement that the awards have been given to the representatives of each of the industry.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Secretary of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Arjun Prasad Pokharel said that the award-winning companies are expected to further contribute to local job creation by increasing and diversifying production and productivity through innovative entrepreneurship.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Of the three industries established in Kathmandu and Lalitpur, Leaf Plus has been producing plates of new design in various shapes from wasted betel leaves and exporting them to Germany, the Netherlands and Australia.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In the same way, Nepal Handicraft Industries has been making metal sculptures in various shapes and forms using unsaturated polyester. Anugraha Handicraft has been producing hand-knitted artistic sarees, kurtas, scarves, hats, bags, handkerchiefs and other materials of new design.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The ministry said it believes that this award will aid in encouraging those who are doing enterprises based on innovative thinking. Secretary Pokharel stated that industries including small, medium and large scale would also be honored and encouraged on the basis of their contribution to the fields of research, invention and innovation.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-27', 'modified' => '2021-07-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13482', 'image' => '20210727014257_img-20210725-171915jpg-1627301065.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-27 13:41:12', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13736', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Export of Agricultural Product Up by 4 Times through Eastern Border', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 27: The volume of agricultural products exported from the eastern border point of Kakadbhitta has increased by fourfolds compared to the import from the same customs point.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 27: The volume of agricultural products exported from the eastern border point of Kakadbhitta has increased by fourfolds compared to the import from the same customs point.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the Kakadbhitta quarantine office, agricultural products worth Rs 4.12 billion have been exported while goods worth Rs 10.19 million have been imported in the fiscal year 2020/21.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Meanwhile, in the fiscal year 2019/20, goods worth Rs. 5.26 billion were exported while goods worth Rs 20.99 million were imported, the data of the quarantine office shows. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Devendra Sahu, senior crop protection officer at the office, said that the increase in the price of agricultural products in the international market contributed to the increase in exports during the COVID-19 pandemic.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He said that agro products like cardamom, ginger, tea and herbs like chiraito (swertia), jatamansi (spikenard), amla (Indian gooseberry), pulses and other agricultural products are being exported to India and Bangladesh through the eastern border. He said that cardamom, tea, amriso (broom grass) are the major agricultural products exported from the eastern border.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><br /> <br /> <br /> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-27', 'modified' => '2021-07-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13481', 'image' => '20210727124750_Untitled.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-27 12:46:59', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13735', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Decides to Accept Loan Assistance of US$ 60 Million ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 27: The government has decided to accept a loan assistance of US$ 60 million through the International Development Association of the World Bank Group. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">July 27: The government has decided to accept a loan assistance of US$ 60 million through the International Development Association of the World Bank Group. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">While making public the decisions made by the Council of Ministers on July 26, government Spokesperson and Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Gyanendra Bahadur Karki, said that the cabinet meeting held at Singha Durbar decided to accept the loan assistance in order to run different projects. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, the government decided to approve the National Debt (Fifth Amendment) Regulations-2078 BS and Bond Priorities and Secondary Market (Third Amendment) Regulation-2078. </span></span></span><br /> <br /> <br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-27', 'modified' => '2021-07-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13480', 'image' => '20210727122911_kzCxV5Yw_400x400.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-27 12:27:58', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13734', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government to Bear Quarantine Expenses of Deported Citizens', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 27: The Government of Nepal has decided to bear the quarantine expenses of its citizens returning home from abroad through 'Deportation Centre' as well as those released from jail and who have run out of money in foreign countries.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18pt"><span style="font-family:Preeti"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">July 27: The Government of Nepal has decided to bear the quarantine expenses of its citizens returning home from abroad through 'Deportation Centre' as well as those released from jail and who have run out of money in foreign countries.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18pt"><span style="font-family:Preeti"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Government Spokesperson and Law Minister Gyanendra Bahadur Karki announced the decision after a cabinet meeting held at Singha Durbar on Monday (July 26).</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18pt"><span style="font-family:Preeti"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Minister Karki informed that the Ministry of Labor, Employment, and Social Security will make the necessary arrangements for the quarantine facility, while the Ministry of Finance will disburse the required budget.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18pt"><span style="font-family:Preeti"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The cabinet also decided to extend the deadline of government’s procurement agreements signed during the period of prohibitory order in various districts by six months considering the adverse impact of the restrictions imposed by the government to control the spread of coronavirus.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18pt"><span style="font-family:Preeti"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Similarly, the government has decided to appoint staffers at various commissions on contract basis. In this regard, the cabinet approved appointment of 35 temporary staff at the Truth and Reconciliation (TRC) Commission. Likewise, the cabinet has also approved appointment of 23 gazetted officers on contract basis at the Commission for the Investigation of Enforced Disappeared Persons (CIEDP).</span></span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-27', 'modified' => '2021-07-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13479', 'image' => '20210727102153_1627343795.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-27 10:20:52', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13733', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'EPF to Invest Rs 12 Billion in Tamakoshi 'V' Hydropower Project ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 27: The Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) has pledged to invest Rs 12 billion for the development of Tamakoshi 'V' Hydropower Project. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">July 27: The Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) has pledged to invest Rs 12 billion for the development of Tamakoshi 'V' Hydropower Project. <br /> This will be the EFP's lone investment in the hydropower project after Rasuwagadhi, Upper Sanzen, Sanzen and Bhotekoshi projects, according to the state-owned national news agency RSS. <br /> A tripartite agreement on investment was reached on Sunday (July 25) in the presence of Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Pampha Bhusal. <br /> Executive Director of Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) Hitendra Dev Shakya, EPF's Administrator Tulasi Prasad Gautam and Chief Executive Officer of Tamakoshi Hydropower Project Nasib Man Pradhan agreed on a deal for the development of the 100-megawatt project. It will be a cascade project of the Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower Project. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> Pradhan informed New Business Age that water coming from the tailrace after being used by the Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower Project will flow through the tunnel from Lamabagar.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Administrator Gautam said that the EPF was ready to make the investment adding that it was a very lucrative project. <br /> The estimated cost of the project is around Rs 16 billion, up from the initial projection of Rs 13 billion, and the NEA will invest Rs 4 billon for the project development. <br /> Officials claimed that Rs 160 million will be spent for the production of each megawatt power adding that the access route for the project is already readied while developing the Upper Tamakoshi Project. <br /> Administrator Gautam told RSS that the EPF decided to invest in this project as the transmission line was already prepared and the project was also cost-effective. He added that the project was selected as it was considered the best by various evaluations. <br /> The project will generate 540 Gigawatt of power annually. He added that the tender bid will be announced to begin the construction work within 10 months. <br /> A source at the project informed New Business Age that the Tamakoshi-V is cheap according to per unit electricity generation investment.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The investment of the hydropower project is expected to cost less as the project is being built without constructing a dam, which will automatically save nature as all the structures are constructed underground.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to the detailed project report (DPR), four units of 25 MW capacity each will be installed in the project. Water will be dropped from 160 m head through a 5.6 m diameter and 8.02 km tunnel from the Upper Tamakoshi Project.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The electricity generated will be linked to the Upper Tamakoshi substation through a 132 KV single circuit transmission line. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The construction of the project started in early 2017.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-27', 'modified' => '2021-07-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13478', 'image' => '20210727100514_20170427041606_tamakoshi.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-27 10:03:43', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13732', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Supreme Court Issues Stay Order Against Privatization of NAC', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 26: The Supreme Court has issued an interlocutory order to put on hold all the works related to the privatization of the state-owned Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC).', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 26: The Supreme Court has issued an interlocutory order to put on hold all the works related to the privatization of the state-owned Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC).</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Responding to a writ petition filed by advocate Atish Karki, a single bench of Supreme Court Justice Kumar Regmi issued an interim order on Sunday (July 26) to halt the process of privatization of the NAC.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">An interlocutory order has been issued in the name of the defendants to keep the status quo and not to take any decision regarding privatization of the Nepal Airlines Corporation before an interim order is issued after hearing both sides, the order reads.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The court is of the view that it would be appropriate to conclude the case after hearing both the parties on August 9.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The defendants have been asked to appear in the court as per Rule 49 (2) (c) of the Rules of Procedure of the Supreme Court 2074 BS. Similarly, the bench has also issued a show-cause order to the stakeholders. NAC has to submit clarification for the privatization of the airline company within 15 days.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Employees of the Nepal Airlines Corporation have been protesting against the privatization of the corporation. Nepal Airlines Corporation United Trade Union has demanded the resignation of Dim Prakash Poudel, general manager of NAC. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The trade union has alleged Poudel that he did not discuss this issue with the stakeholders even after preparing a draft to privatize the government-owned corporation.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">A meeting of the Board of Directors of NAC held on July 25 had decided to send the draft prepared to transform the Nepal Airlines Corporation into a 'public' company to the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation has said there is no plan to privatize the Nepal Airlines Corporation. A few days ago, the ministry issued a formal statement saying that there was no discussion on privatizing the corporation or converting it into a private company.</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-26', 'modified' => '2021-07-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13477', 'image' => '20210726015026_20180727021334_2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-26 13:49:29', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13731', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Floods, Landslides Damage 26 Bridges, Incur Losses worth Rs1 Billion ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 26: As the rainy season continues this year, 26 bridges across the country have been damaged so far by floods. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 26: As the rainy season continues this year, 26 bridges across the country have been damaged so far by floods. The damage due to the complete and partial collapse of the bridges has caused losses of billions of rupees. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to a preliminary report of the task force formed to study the extent of damage on bridges by rains and floods, eight motorable bridges that were under-construction have collapsed. Eight other motorable have also been damaged, the report stated. Shiva Prasad Nepal, deputy director general and spokesperson of the Department of Roads said that among other types of bridges, three wooden bridges, one Bailey bridge, two slab culverts and approach road of four bridges were damaged. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Although the exact data will be available only after a detailed study, Nepal said that the preliminary report shows the loss of around Rs 800 million. The bridges over Triyuga, Mahesh, Lodari, and Kamala rivers have collapsed while being constructed. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Although the approach road to Kothiya Ghat, Soti Ghat and Khelako bridge was damaged, the main structure was not damaged. A Bailey bridge and other wooden bridges have also collapsed due to floods in Manang. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Likewise, the bridge over the Trishuli River connecting Devghat in Tanahau and Thimura in Chitwan also collapsed last April. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The task force was formed under the initiative of former Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Basanta Kumar Nemwang on July 4 after road and bridges in different parts of the country collapsed in April. The task force was mandated to analyze the causes of the damage to the bridges and submit a recommendation by July 22. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“The team has returned from the field but the difficulty is that a detailed study seems impossible until the water level in the rivers and streams where the bridges collapsed decreases,” he said, “As the water level has risen, we couldn’t do more than look at it from the shore.” Spokesperson Nepal said that there is a possibility of a complete report only after September 1. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Moreover, he said that the deadline of the task force will be extended and the final report will be submitted only after the water level decreases and detailed data is collected. Discussions are underway at the secretary level to extend its terms. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the preliminary study, the first reason for the damage on the bridges is due to unnaturally heavy rains in June. Secondly, the activities in the watershed area have also contributed to the damages. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“Development works such as roads, irrigation and culverts are being carried out by the local government in the watershed area,” Nepal said, “Such damage has occurred after the level of the river increased when the soil and stones that came out of the tracks were not placed properly. At the same time, the damage has occurred as some bridges have been built long ago and now the pattern of the rains has changed. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“Another important thing that we lack is that we don’t have proper data on rain, and soil research,” he said, “We have to rely on secondary data and they may not match.” </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Stating that there may be some weakness in testing the soil by drilling while constructing the bridges, he said that there is no database of consultants and soil test reports. Around 250 to 300 motorable bridges are constructed annually under the department. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-26', 'modified' => '2021-07-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13476', 'image' => '20210726013558_20200728022209_1595887425.Clipboard11.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-26 13:35:03', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13730', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Agitating Transport Entrepreneurs Hand Over Vehicles’ Keys to PM', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 26: Transport entrepreneurs have handed over the keys of their vehicles to Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba with a seven-point demand. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 26: Transport entrepreneurs have handed over the keys of their vehicles to Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba with a seven-point demand. After they staged a demonstration protest at Maitighar Mandala in Kathmandu on July 25, they handed over a sample of the vehicles’ keys to the Prime Minister Deuba on Sunday. They handed over the keys through Chief District Officer (CDO) of Kathmandu, Kali Prasad Parajuli.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Entrepreneurs affiliated to the Central Federation of Public Transport have started protests with various demands. Giving an ultimatum till August 8 to fulfill the demand, they have warned of stern protest if their demands are not addressed. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Keshav Nepal, deputy general secretary of the federation, said that since the seven-point demand put forward by them was not addressed, the demo key of the vehicles was submitted. He also said that if their demands are not addressed by August 8, they will cease the transportation movement and will resort to protest.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The main demand put forth by the transportation entrepreneurs since July 8 is that all the drivers, helpers and employees associated with transport sector should be vaccinated against covid-19. Although the government has said that people involved in public transport have been given the vaccination since July 13, the federation says that there has been no satisfactory arrangement for the vaccination. The federation has also demanded that the transportation fares within the states should be adjusted with effect from July as the inter-state fare has been already adjusted.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, the additional demands of the transport entrepreneurs include solving their problems through monetary policy, provide tax exemption for the duration of the prohibitory period, and to arrange loans/refinancing by keeping the transport sector under the most affected areas. They have also demanded a waiver of renewal fee for the prohibitory period, a halt to the illegal ride-sharing business, adjusting taxi fares, a revision of the insurance policy, an extension of the 20-year term for vehicles and an amendment to the road safety laws.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The transport entrepreneurs had disrupted the traffic by organizing a rally on the roads of Kathmandu last Thursday.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-26', 'modified' => '2021-07-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13475', 'image' => '20210726012116_20200705035220_public transport.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-26 13:20:16', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13729', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Energy Minister Directs NEA to Collect Electricity Tariff ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 26: Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Pampha Bhusal has directed the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) to collect long-pending electricity tariff for the use of dedicated feeders.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">July 26: Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Pampha Bhusal has directed the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) to collect long-pending electricity tariff for the use of dedicated feeders. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to the national news agency (RSS), over Rs 15 billion remains to be collected from the industrialists for the use of dedicated feeders in the past when the country was facing long hours of load shedding. </span></span><br /> <span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">At a programme organized at NEA office on Sunday (July 25), Minister Bhusal demanded a clear explanation on why the responsible employees of the NEA could not claim the dues of the dedicated feeders and trunk line and why the electricity tariff collection process could not make any progress. <br /> The government has already decided to entrust Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) to collect electricity tariff of the dedicated feeders and trunk line despite objections from several quarters. <br /> A total of 309 industrialists and entrepreneurs had availed supply of electricity through dedicated feeder and trunk line during the height of power outage in the country during 2014 to 2018. <br /> The ministry had already assigned the NEA to form a research committee to study electricity tariff issues and to collect all the dues. Even the high court has paved way for the NEA to collect the tariff. <br /> However, the industrialists have been refusing to clear the dues, arguing why they should pay for the tariff when they have not used the electricity at all. </span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">There is a long dispute between industrialists and the NEA over the settlement of dues for using electricity from dedicated feeders and trunk lines. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Earlier on July 21, the Parliamentary Affairs Committee (PAC) had formed a sub-committee led by lawmaker Minendra Rijal to look into the issue of dedicated electricity tariff. Based on the report, the PAC, on April 4, instructed the government to collect all dues within a month. There was a total of Rs 10.14 billion outstanding dues that industrialists owe to the NEA. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><br /> <span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">NEA had supplied electricity to industries through dedicated feeder and trunk lines by charging a premium of 65 percent in the electricity tariffs. The NEA, which did not have authority to fix tariff, had got approval of its tariff rates from the then Electricity Tariff Fixation Commission in February 2016. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><br /> <span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Industrialists are at odds with the NEA over the tariffs that NEA has fixed prior to the approval from the Commission. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Some industrialists even claim that the NEA has billed them for the electricity that their industries did not use during the load shedding.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> </span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-26', 'modified' => '2021-07-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13474', 'image' => '20210726112533_20210514031053_NEA.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-26 11:24:18', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13725', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Prohibitory Order Extended in Kathmandu Valley until August 4', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 26: Government authorities have extended the ongoing prohibitory order in the Kathmandu Valley for 10 more days.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">July 26: Government authorities have extended the ongoing prohibitory order in the Kathmandu Valley for 10 more days.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A meeting of the chief district officers (CDOs) of the three districts of the Valley including Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur took a decision to this effect on Sunday (July 26). As per the decision, the prohibitory order has been extended until August 4. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to a press statement issued by the District Administration Office, Kathmandu, the government has restricted public gatherings, operation of party palaces, cinema halls, bars, clubs, swimming pools and museums among others. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the state-owned national news agency RSS, the order has also restricted the public from marking festivals with mass gathering and organizing protest programmes with in public places. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, the order has also restricted educational institutions from conducting classes in person until further notice. However, seminars, training and workshops can be organised virtually. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, shops have been allowed to remain open till 7:00 PM each day. However, medical stores and pharmacies can be opened round the clock. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Public vehicles can operate by carrying passengers based on their seating capacity while three-wheelers and micro buses are not permitted to carry more than nine people. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, the prohibitory order states that examinations can be conducted by managing a maximum of 25 students in one room. </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-26', 'modified' => '2021-07-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13473', 'image' => '20210726100917_20200903113103_1599056781.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-26 10:08:17', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = falsesimplexml_load_file - [internal], line ?? include - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 60 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
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', 'content' => '<p><em>Finance Minister Janardan Sharma meets US Ambassador to Nepal Rany Berry on July 27. Photo Courtesy: Ministry of Finance</em></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 27: US Ambassador to Nepal, Randy Berry paid a courtesy to Finance Minister Janardan Sharma on Tuesday. During the meeting held at the Ministry, Finance Minister Sharma expressed his gratitude for America’s unforgettable assistance in the aftermath of the earthquake and during the Covid-19 pandemic.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Sharma said that the vaccine against covid-19 is Nepal's first priority and expressed confidence that the US government would provide more assistance and facilitation in the supply of vaccines. Minister Sharma expressed commitment to monitor and investigate projects implemented in Nepal with the assistance of the United States Government.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">During the meeting, Ambassador Berry said that the United States will stand with Nepal in the fight against Covid-19. Stating that the United States has been providing assistance to Nepal in the field of health and education for the past 70 years, he expressed his commitment to continue the same in upcoming days as well. He said the United States had provided 1.5 million doses of the vaccine to help with the vaccine campaign against in Nepal and added that they would continue to provide necessary assistance in the coming days.</span></span></span></p> <p><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-28', 'modified' => '2021-07-28', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13487', 'image' => '20210728015944_1627456308_1.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-28 13:58:42', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13740', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => ' Israel Announces 1,000 Job Vacancies for Nepalis ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 28: Israel has announced 1,000 job vacancies for aspiring Nepali workers.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">July 28: Israel has announced 1,000 job vacancies for aspiring Nepali workers. The Department of Foreign Employment on Tuesday formally informed about this through a notice. The hiring process will take place through G2G model. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The notice states that Israel has placed the demand for 700 females and 300 males as care givers in the first lot. The Government of Israel has said the monthly salary for selected worker is 5,300 New Israeli Sheqel (NIS) which is equivalent to Rs 193,000. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Aspiring Nepali workers will be getting the job offers in Israel after a long wait. The payment will be made on a weekly basis. It may be noted that the Government of Israel and Nepal last year had inked a labour pact and Israel had agreed to hire 500 workers in the first lot. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif""> The contract period for a selected worker will be of one year and it could be extended up to five years. The worker has to manage food on own while the accommodation will be managed by his/her employer. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Criteria for applicant </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Any Nepali citizen completing 25 years and not exceeding 45 years of age with at least 1.5 metres height, weighing 45 kilograms and having an ANM or CMA (medical) certificate after completing at least ten class or a plus two degree with at least three months' training on care giving from the government-certified training institute is eligible to apply for the job. Anyone already having worked in Israel and whose parents, spouses or daughters are residing in Israel or currently working there are suggested no to try for the job. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-28', 'modified' => '2021-07-28', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13486', 'image' => '20210728111533_20201001041928_1601479507.nepal isrel_g2g.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-28 11:14:44', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13741', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Energy Minister Expresses Commitment to Cut Red Tape', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => ' July 28: Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Pampha Bhusal has said that she will focus on reducing the delay in development works faced by the energy sector.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 28: Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Pampha Bhusal has said that she will focus on reducing the delay in development works faced by the energy sector. She said that delay in even a small task should be improved.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Speaking to a delegation of the Independent Power Producers’ Association of Nepal (IPPAN) at the Ministry on Tuesday, she said the delay should be treated like any other financial corruption. “The tendency of working irresponsibly is not good. The thinking that the service recipient will come back later if the work is not done and delaying is no less than financial corruption,” she said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The minister added that a working style will be developed by introducing a code of conduct. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“We have to work in accordance to a code of conduct,” she said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Moreover, she assured that inter-ministerial discussions would be held soon to end the situation where the private sector has to visit many ministries and departments for a particular project.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Minister Bhusal said, "Work has been halted for years. It has to be done quickly. It needs to be made objective and scientific."</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-28', 'modified' => '2021-07-28', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13485', 'image' => '20210728014716_484055608_n.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-28 13:46:01', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13739', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Confirms Kappa Variant of Coronavirus in Nepal', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'sensitive towards the prevention and control of the disease.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">July 28: The government has claimed that three additional variants of coronavirus have been detected in the country while urging all stakeholders to be remain sensitive towards the prevention and control of the disease. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Ministry of Health and Population on Tuesday said that 47 samples collected at the National Public Health Laboratory from different age groups were sent to New Delhi-based WHO recognized labs for sequencing. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Among those samples, all 47 samples had Delta variant in the genomic sequencing and three of them had new variant called K417N mutation. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">With this, Nepal has Alpha variant, Delta variant and Kappa variant in the country, the Ministry's Deputy Spokesperson Dr Samir Adhikari said in a press statement. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">All these variants are found to be more infectious and could impact people of all ages, the ministry said. </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-28', 'modified' => '2021-07-28', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13484', 'image' => '20210728111035_coronavirus-a_d.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-28 11:09:42', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13738', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'New Energy Minister Vows to Lower Electricity Tariff', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 27: Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Pampha Bhusal is preparing to bring a policy to provide special facilities to the people living below the poverty line.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 27: Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Pampha Bhusal is preparing to bring a policy to provide special facilities to the people living below the poverty line.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In a press conference held at the Ministry on Monday, she said that free electricity will be provided to such people.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> “Energy is the raw material for economic and industrial development,” she said. She stressed on the need to focus on making development plans so that the electricity generated in Nepal can be used in the country.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Minister Bhusal also said that the tariff of electricity will also be reconsidered. “Our electricity tariff is expensive. According to general economics, the higher the production, the lower is the cost price. My experience as a consumer is that the higher the consumption, the lower the rate should be, but this is not the case here,” she said, “The electricity tariff should be reconsidered. Electricity tariff should be adjusted.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Stating that the private sector has contributed to the country by investing heavily in the energy sector, she added, “We must protect the private sector. The government is also their guardian.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Minister Bhusal said that the government should facilitate in building large reservoir with the investment of the people.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Stating that she would work towards increasing production, fixing affordable rates, providing concessions and increasing the number of consumers, Bhusal said that the number of consumers and electricity consumption would also increase if the LP gas could be replaced.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">She also said that she is preparing to bring a policy to help in irrigation through energy. “It will be a great relief if we can provide irrigation facilities to agriculture. We don't have to rely on diesel and petrol,” she said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">She said that electricity will be made available to the people in the areas where electrification has not taken place by connecting the central transmission line as soon as possible. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-27', 'modified' => '2021-07-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13483', 'image' => '20210727020631_20200807030044_1596750181.Clipboard01.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-27 14:05:37', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13737', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Three Companies Bag ‘Innovative Industries Award’', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 27: The government has honoured three companies with the Innovative Industries Award-2077. ', 'content' => '<p><em>Winners of the Innovative Industries Award-2077. Photo Courtesy: MoICS</em></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 27: The government has honoured three companies with the Innovative Industries Award-2077 in recognition of their contribution to innovative approach. The award was presented to the companies by the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies amid a recent function.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The companies that were successful in bagging the award include Leaf Plus Pvt Ltd, Nepal's Handicraft Industries and Anugraha Handicraft. On Monday (July 26), the ministry notified in a press statement that the awards have been given to the representatives of each of the industry.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Secretary of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Arjun Prasad Pokharel said that the award-winning companies are expected to further contribute to local job creation by increasing and diversifying production and productivity through innovative entrepreneurship.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Of the three industries established in Kathmandu and Lalitpur, Leaf Plus has been producing plates of new design in various shapes from wasted betel leaves and exporting them to Germany, the Netherlands and Australia.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In the same way, Nepal Handicraft Industries has been making metal sculptures in various shapes and forms using unsaturated polyester. Anugraha Handicraft has been producing hand-knitted artistic sarees, kurtas, scarves, hats, bags, handkerchiefs and other materials of new design.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The ministry said it believes that this award will aid in encouraging those who are doing enterprises based on innovative thinking. Secretary Pokharel stated that industries including small, medium and large scale would also be honored and encouraged on the basis of their contribution to the fields of research, invention and innovation.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-27', 'modified' => '2021-07-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13482', 'image' => '20210727014257_img-20210725-171915jpg-1627301065.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-27 13:41:12', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13736', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Export of Agricultural Product Up by 4 Times through Eastern Border', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 27: The volume of agricultural products exported from the eastern border point of Kakadbhitta has increased by fourfolds compared to the import from the same customs point.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 27: The volume of agricultural products exported from the eastern border point of Kakadbhitta has increased by fourfolds compared to the import from the same customs point.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the Kakadbhitta quarantine office, agricultural products worth Rs 4.12 billion have been exported while goods worth Rs 10.19 million have been imported in the fiscal year 2020/21.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Meanwhile, in the fiscal year 2019/20, goods worth Rs. 5.26 billion were exported while goods worth Rs 20.99 million were imported, the data of the quarantine office shows. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Devendra Sahu, senior crop protection officer at the office, said that the increase in the price of agricultural products in the international market contributed to the increase in exports during the COVID-19 pandemic.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He said that agro products like cardamom, ginger, tea and herbs like chiraito (swertia), jatamansi (spikenard), amla (Indian gooseberry), pulses and other agricultural products are being exported to India and Bangladesh through the eastern border. He said that cardamom, tea, amriso (broom grass) are the major agricultural products exported from the eastern border.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><br /> <br /> <br /> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-27', 'modified' => '2021-07-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13481', 'image' => '20210727124750_Untitled.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-27 12:46:59', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13735', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Decides to Accept Loan Assistance of US$ 60 Million ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 27: The government has decided to accept a loan assistance of US$ 60 million through the International Development Association of the World Bank Group. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">July 27: The government has decided to accept a loan assistance of US$ 60 million through the International Development Association of the World Bank Group. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">While making public the decisions made by the Council of Ministers on July 26, government Spokesperson and Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Gyanendra Bahadur Karki, said that the cabinet meeting held at Singha Durbar decided to accept the loan assistance in order to run different projects. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, the government decided to approve the National Debt (Fifth Amendment) Regulations-2078 BS and Bond Priorities and Secondary Market (Third Amendment) Regulation-2078. </span></span></span><br /> <br /> <br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-27', 'modified' => '2021-07-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13480', 'image' => '20210727122911_kzCxV5Yw_400x400.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-27 12:27:58', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13734', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government to Bear Quarantine Expenses of Deported Citizens', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 27: The Government of Nepal has decided to bear the quarantine expenses of its citizens returning home from abroad through 'Deportation Centre' as well as those released from jail and who have run out of money in foreign countries.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18pt"><span style="font-family:Preeti"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">July 27: The Government of Nepal has decided to bear the quarantine expenses of its citizens returning home from abroad through 'Deportation Centre' as well as those released from jail and who have run out of money in foreign countries.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18pt"><span style="font-family:Preeti"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Government Spokesperson and Law Minister Gyanendra Bahadur Karki announced the decision after a cabinet meeting held at Singha Durbar on Monday (July 26).</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18pt"><span style="font-family:Preeti"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Minister Karki informed that the Ministry of Labor, Employment, and Social Security will make the necessary arrangements for the quarantine facility, while the Ministry of Finance will disburse the required budget.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18pt"><span style="font-family:Preeti"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The cabinet also decided to extend the deadline of government’s procurement agreements signed during the period of prohibitory order in various districts by six months considering the adverse impact of the restrictions imposed by the government to control the spread of coronavirus.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18pt"><span style="font-family:Preeti"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Similarly, the government has decided to appoint staffers at various commissions on contract basis. In this regard, the cabinet approved appointment of 35 temporary staff at the Truth and Reconciliation (TRC) Commission. Likewise, the cabinet has also approved appointment of 23 gazetted officers on contract basis at the Commission for the Investigation of Enforced Disappeared Persons (CIEDP).</span></span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-27', 'modified' => '2021-07-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13479', 'image' => '20210727102153_1627343795.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-27 10:20:52', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13733', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'EPF to Invest Rs 12 Billion in Tamakoshi 'V' Hydropower Project ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 27: The Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) has pledged to invest Rs 12 billion for the development of Tamakoshi 'V' Hydropower Project. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">July 27: The Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) has pledged to invest Rs 12 billion for the development of Tamakoshi 'V' Hydropower Project. <br /> This will be the EFP's lone investment in the hydropower project after Rasuwagadhi, Upper Sanzen, Sanzen and Bhotekoshi projects, according to the state-owned national news agency RSS. <br /> A tripartite agreement on investment was reached on Sunday (July 25) in the presence of Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Pampha Bhusal. <br /> Executive Director of Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) Hitendra Dev Shakya, EPF's Administrator Tulasi Prasad Gautam and Chief Executive Officer of Tamakoshi Hydropower Project Nasib Man Pradhan agreed on a deal for the development of the 100-megawatt project. It will be a cascade project of the Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower Project. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> Pradhan informed New Business Age that water coming from the tailrace after being used by the Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower Project will flow through the tunnel from Lamabagar.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Administrator Gautam said that the EPF was ready to make the investment adding that it was a very lucrative project. <br /> The estimated cost of the project is around Rs 16 billion, up from the initial projection of Rs 13 billion, and the NEA will invest Rs 4 billon for the project development. <br /> Officials claimed that Rs 160 million will be spent for the production of each megawatt power adding that the access route for the project is already readied while developing the Upper Tamakoshi Project. <br /> Administrator Gautam told RSS that the EPF decided to invest in this project as the transmission line was already prepared and the project was also cost-effective. He added that the project was selected as it was considered the best by various evaluations. <br /> The project will generate 540 Gigawatt of power annually. He added that the tender bid will be announced to begin the construction work within 10 months. <br /> A source at the project informed New Business Age that the Tamakoshi-V is cheap according to per unit electricity generation investment.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The investment of the hydropower project is expected to cost less as the project is being built without constructing a dam, which will automatically save nature as all the structures are constructed underground.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to the detailed project report (DPR), four units of 25 MW capacity each will be installed in the project. Water will be dropped from 160 m head through a 5.6 m diameter and 8.02 km tunnel from the Upper Tamakoshi Project.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The electricity generated will be linked to the Upper Tamakoshi substation through a 132 KV single circuit transmission line. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The construction of the project started in early 2017.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-27', 'modified' => '2021-07-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13478', 'image' => '20210727100514_20170427041606_tamakoshi.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-27 10:03:43', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13732', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Supreme Court Issues Stay Order Against Privatization of NAC', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 26: The Supreme Court has issued an interlocutory order to put on hold all the works related to the privatization of the state-owned Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC).', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 26: The Supreme Court has issued an interlocutory order to put on hold all the works related to the privatization of the state-owned Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC).</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Responding to a writ petition filed by advocate Atish Karki, a single bench of Supreme Court Justice Kumar Regmi issued an interim order on Sunday (July 26) to halt the process of privatization of the NAC.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">An interlocutory order has been issued in the name of the defendants to keep the status quo and not to take any decision regarding privatization of the Nepal Airlines Corporation before an interim order is issued after hearing both sides, the order reads.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The court is of the view that it would be appropriate to conclude the case after hearing both the parties on August 9.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The defendants have been asked to appear in the court as per Rule 49 (2) (c) of the Rules of Procedure of the Supreme Court 2074 BS. Similarly, the bench has also issued a show-cause order to the stakeholders. NAC has to submit clarification for the privatization of the airline company within 15 days.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Employees of the Nepal Airlines Corporation have been protesting against the privatization of the corporation. Nepal Airlines Corporation United Trade Union has demanded the resignation of Dim Prakash Poudel, general manager of NAC. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The trade union has alleged Poudel that he did not discuss this issue with the stakeholders even after preparing a draft to privatize the government-owned corporation.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">A meeting of the Board of Directors of NAC held on July 25 had decided to send the draft prepared to transform the Nepal Airlines Corporation into a 'public' company to the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation has said there is no plan to privatize the Nepal Airlines Corporation. A few days ago, the ministry issued a formal statement saying that there was no discussion on privatizing the corporation or converting it into a private company.</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-26', 'modified' => '2021-07-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13477', 'image' => '20210726015026_20180727021334_2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-26 13:49:29', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13731', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Floods, Landslides Damage 26 Bridges, Incur Losses worth Rs1 Billion ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 26: As the rainy season continues this year, 26 bridges across the country have been damaged so far by floods. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 26: As the rainy season continues this year, 26 bridges across the country have been damaged so far by floods. The damage due to the complete and partial collapse of the bridges has caused losses of billions of rupees. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to a preliminary report of the task force formed to study the extent of damage on bridges by rains and floods, eight motorable bridges that were under-construction have collapsed. Eight other motorable have also been damaged, the report stated. Shiva Prasad Nepal, deputy director general and spokesperson of the Department of Roads said that among other types of bridges, three wooden bridges, one Bailey bridge, two slab culverts and approach road of four bridges were damaged. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Although the exact data will be available only after a detailed study, Nepal said that the preliminary report shows the loss of around Rs 800 million. The bridges over Triyuga, Mahesh, Lodari, and Kamala rivers have collapsed while being constructed. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Although the approach road to Kothiya Ghat, Soti Ghat and Khelako bridge was damaged, the main structure was not damaged. A Bailey bridge and other wooden bridges have also collapsed due to floods in Manang. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Likewise, the bridge over the Trishuli River connecting Devghat in Tanahau and Thimura in Chitwan also collapsed last April. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The task force was formed under the initiative of former Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Basanta Kumar Nemwang on July 4 after road and bridges in different parts of the country collapsed in April. The task force was mandated to analyze the causes of the damage to the bridges and submit a recommendation by July 22. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“The team has returned from the field but the difficulty is that a detailed study seems impossible until the water level in the rivers and streams where the bridges collapsed decreases,” he said, “As the water level has risen, we couldn’t do more than look at it from the shore.” Spokesperson Nepal said that there is a possibility of a complete report only after September 1. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Moreover, he said that the deadline of the task force will be extended and the final report will be submitted only after the water level decreases and detailed data is collected. Discussions are underway at the secretary level to extend its terms. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the preliminary study, the first reason for the damage on the bridges is due to unnaturally heavy rains in June. Secondly, the activities in the watershed area have also contributed to the damages. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“Development works such as roads, irrigation and culverts are being carried out by the local government in the watershed area,” Nepal said, “Such damage has occurred after the level of the river increased when the soil and stones that came out of the tracks were not placed properly. At the same time, the damage has occurred as some bridges have been built long ago and now the pattern of the rains has changed. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“Another important thing that we lack is that we don’t have proper data on rain, and soil research,” he said, “We have to rely on secondary data and they may not match.” </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Stating that there may be some weakness in testing the soil by drilling while constructing the bridges, he said that there is no database of consultants and soil test reports. Around 250 to 300 motorable bridges are constructed annually under the department. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-26', 'modified' => '2021-07-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13476', 'image' => '20210726013558_20200728022209_1595887425.Clipboard11.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-26 13:35:03', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13730', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Agitating Transport Entrepreneurs Hand Over Vehicles’ Keys to PM', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 26: Transport entrepreneurs have handed over the keys of their vehicles to Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba with a seven-point demand. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 26: Transport entrepreneurs have handed over the keys of their vehicles to Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba with a seven-point demand. After they staged a demonstration protest at Maitighar Mandala in Kathmandu on July 25, they handed over a sample of the vehicles’ keys to the Prime Minister Deuba on Sunday. They handed over the keys through Chief District Officer (CDO) of Kathmandu, Kali Prasad Parajuli.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Entrepreneurs affiliated to the Central Federation of Public Transport have started protests with various demands. Giving an ultimatum till August 8 to fulfill the demand, they have warned of stern protest if their demands are not addressed. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Keshav Nepal, deputy general secretary of the federation, said that since the seven-point demand put forward by them was not addressed, the demo key of the vehicles was submitted. He also said that if their demands are not addressed by August 8, they will cease the transportation movement and will resort to protest.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The main demand put forth by the transportation entrepreneurs since July 8 is that all the drivers, helpers and employees associated with transport sector should be vaccinated against covid-19. Although the government has said that people involved in public transport have been given the vaccination since July 13, the federation says that there has been no satisfactory arrangement for the vaccination. The federation has also demanded that the transportation fares within the states should be adjusted with effect from July as the inter-state fare has been already adjusted.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, the additional demands of the transport entrepreneurs include solving their problems through monetary policy, provide tax exemption for the duration of the prohibitory period, and to arrange loans/refinancing by keeping the transport sector under the most affected areas. They have also demanded a waiver of renewal fee for the prohibitory period, a halt to the illegal ride-sharing business, adjusting taxi fares, a revision of the insurance policy, an extension of the 20-year term for vehicles and an amendment to the road safety laws.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The transport entrepreneurs had disrupted the traffic by organizing a rally on the roads of Kathmandu last Thursday.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-26', 'modified' => '2021-07-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13475', 'image' => '20210726012116_20200705035220_public transport.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-26 13:20:16', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13729', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Energy Minister Directs NEA to Collect Electricity Tariff ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 26: Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Pampha Bhusal has directed the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) to collect long-pending electricity tariff for the use of dedicated feeders.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">July 26: Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Pampha Bhusal has directed the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) to collect long-pending electricity tariff for the use of dedicated feeders. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to the national news agency (RSS), over Rs 15 billion remains to be collected from the industrialists for the use of dedicated feeders in the past when the country was facing long hours of load shedding. </span></span><br /> <span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">At a programme organized at NEA office on Sunday (July 25), Minister Bhusal demanded a clear explanation on why the responsible employees of the NEA could not claim the dues of the dedicated feeders and trunk line and why the electricity tariff collection process could not make any progress. <br /> The government has already decided to entrust Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) to collect electricity tariff of the dedicated feeders and trunk line despite objections from several quarters. <br /> A total of 309 industrialists and entrepreneurs had availed supply of electricity through dedicated feeder and trunk line during the height of power outage in the country during 2014 to 2018. <br /> The ministry had already assigned the NEA to form a research committee to study electricity tariff issues and to collect all the dues. Even the high court has paved way for the NEA to collect the tariff. <br /> However, the industrialists have been refusing to clear the dues, arguing why they should pay for the tariff when they have not used the electricity at all. </span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">There is a long dispute between industrialists and the NEA over the settlement of dues for using electricity from dedicated feeders and trunk lines. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Earlier on July 21, the Parliamentary Affairs Committee (PAC) had formed a sub-committee led by lawmaker Minendra Rijal to look into the issue of dedicated electricity tariff. Based on the report, the PAC, on April 4, instructed the government to collect all dues within a month. There was a total of Rs 10.14 billion outstanding dues that industrialists owe to the NEA. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><br /> <span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">NEA had supplied electricity to industries through dedicated feeder and trunk lines by charging a premium of 65 percent in the electricity tariffs. The NEA, which did not have authority to fix tariff, had got approval of its tariff rates from the then Electricity Tariff Fixation Commission in February 2016. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><br /> <span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Industrialists are at odds with the NEA over the tariffs that NEA has fixed prior to the approval from the Commission. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Some industrialists even claim that the NEA has billed them for the electricity that their industries did not use during the load shedding.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> </span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-26', 'modified' => '2021-07-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13474', 'image' => '20210726112533_20210514031053_NEA.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-26 11:24:18', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13725', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Prohibitory Order Extended in Kathmandu Valley until August 4', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 26: Government authorities have extended the ongoing prohibitory order in the Kathmandu Valley for 10 more days.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">July 26: Government authorities have extended the ongoing prohibitory order in the Kathmandu Valley for 10 more days.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A meeting of the chief district officers (CDOs) of the three districts of the Valley including Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur took a decision to this effect on Sunday (July 26). As per the decision, the prohibitory order has been extended until August 4. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to a press statement issued by the District Administration Office, Kathmandu, the government has restricted public gatherings, operation of party palaces, cinema halls, bars, clubs, swimming pools and museums among others. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the state-owned national news agency RSS, the order has also restricted the public from marking festivals with mass gathering and organizing protest programmes with in public places. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, the order has also restricted educational institutions from conducting classes in person until further notice. However, seminars, training and workshops can be organised virtually. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, shops have been allowed to remain open till 7:00 PM each day. However, medical stores and pharmacies can be opened round the clock. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Public vehicles can operate by carrying passengers based on their seating capacity while three-wheelers and micro buses are not permitted to carry more than nine people. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, the prohibitory order states that examinations can be conducted by managing a maximum of 25 students in one room. </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-26', 'modified' => '2021-07-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13473', 'image' => '20210726100917_20200903113103_1599056781.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-26 10:08:17', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = false $xml = falseinclude - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 133 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
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', 'content' => '<p><em>Finance Minister Janardan Sharma meets US Ambassador to Nepal Rany Berry on July 27. Photo Courtesy: Ministry of Finance</em></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 27: US Ambassador to Nepal, Randy Berry paid a courtesy to Finance Minister Janardan Sharma on Tuesday. During the meeting held at the Ministry, Finance Minister Sharma expressed his gratitude for America’s unforgettable assistance in the aftermath of the earthquake and during the Covid-19 pandemic.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Sharma said that the vaccine against covid-19 is Nepal's first priority and expressed confidence that the US government would provide more assistance and facilitation in the supply of vaccines. Minister Sharma expressed commitment to monitor and investigate projects implemented in Nepal with the assistance of the United States Government.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">During the meeting, Ambassador Berry said that the United States will stand with Nepal in the fight against Covid-19. Stating that the United States has been providing assistance to Nepal in the field of health and education for the past 70 years, he expressed his commitment to continue the same in upcoming days as well. He said the United States had provided 1.5 million doses of the vaccine to help with the vaccine campaign against in Nepal and added that they would continue to provide necessary assistance in the coming days.</span></span></span></p> <p><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-28', 'modified' => '2021-07-28', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13487', 'image' => '20210728015944_1627456308_1.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-28 13:58:42', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13740', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => ' Israel Announces 1,000 Job Vacancies for Nepalis ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 28: Israel has announced 1,000 job vacancies for aspiring Nepali workers.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">July 28: Israel has announced 1,000 job vacancies for aspiring Nepali workers. The Department of Foreign Employment on Tuesday formally informed about this through a notice. The hiring process will take place through G2G model. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The notice states that Israel has placed the demand for 700 females and 300 males as care givers in the first lot. The Government of Israel has said the monthly salary for selected worker is 5,300 New Israeli Sheqel (NIS) which is equivalent to Rs 193,000. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Aspiring Nepali workers will be getting the job offers in Israel after a long wait. The payment will be made on a weekly basis. It may be noted that the Government of Israel and Nepal last year had inked a labour pact and Israel had agreed to hire 500 workers in the first lot. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif""> The contract period for a selected worker will be of one year and it could be extended up to five years. The worker has to manage food on own while the accommodation will be managed by his/her employer. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Criteria for applicant </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Any Nepali citizen completing 25 years and not exceeding 45 years of age with at least 1.5 metres height, weighing 45 kilograms and having an ANM or CMA (medical) certificate after completing at least ten class or a plus two degree with at least three months' training on care giving from the government-certified training institute is eligible to apply for the job. Anyone already having worked in Israel and whose parents, spouses or daughters are residing in Israel or currently working there are suggested no to try for the job. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-28', 'modified' => '2021-07-28', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13486', 'image' => '20210728111533_20201001041928_1601479507.nepal isrel_g2g.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-28 11:14:44', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13741', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Energy Minister Expresses Commitment to Cut Red Tape', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => ' July 28: Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Pampha Bhusal has said that she will focus on reducing the delay in development works faced by the energy sector.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 28: Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Pampha Bhusal has said that she will focus on reducing the delay in development works faced by the energy sector. She said that delay in even a small task should be improved.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Speaking to a delegation of the Independent Power Producers’ Association of Nepal (IPPAN) at the Ministry on Tuesday, she said the delay should be treated like any other financial corruption. “The tendency of working irresponsibly is not good. The thinking that the service recipient will come back later if the work is not done and delaying is no less than financial corruption,” she said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The minister added that a working style will be developed by introducing a code of conduct. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“We have to work in accordance to a code of conduct,” she said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Moreover, she assured that inter-ministerial discussions would be held soon to end the situation where the private sector has to visit many ministries and departments for a particular project.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Minister Bhusal said, "Work has been halted for years. It has to be done quickly. It needs to be made objective and scientific."</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-28', 'modified' => '2021-07-28', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13485', 'image' => '20210728014716_484055608_n.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-28 13:46:01', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13739', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Confirms Kappa Variant of Coronavirus in Nepal', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'sensitive towards the prevention and control of the disease.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">July 28: The government has claimed that three additional variants of coronavirus have been detected in the country while urging all stakeholders to be remain sensitive towards the prevention and control of the disease. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Ministry of Health and Population on Tuesday said that 47 samples collected at the National Public Health Laboratory from different age groups were sent to New Delhi-based WHO recognized labs for sequencing. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Among those samples, all 47 samples had Delta variant in the genomic sequencing and three of them had new variant called K417N mutation. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">With this, Nepal has Alpha variant, Delta variant and Kappa variant in the country, the Ministry's Deputy Spokesperson Dr Samir Adhikari said in a press statement. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">All these variants are found to be more infectious and could impact people of all ages, the ministry said. </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-28', 'modified' => '2021-07-28', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13484', 'image' => '20210728111035_coronavirus-a_d.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-28 11:09:42', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13738', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'New Energy Minister Vows to Lower Electricity Tariff', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 27: Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Pampha Bhusal is preparing to bring a policy to provide special facilities to the people living below the poverty line.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 27: Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Pampha Bhusal is preparing to bring a policy to provide special facilities to the people living below the poverty line.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In a press conference held at the Ministry on Monday, she said that free electricity will be provided to such people.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> “Energy is the raw material for economic and industrial development,” she said. She stressed on the need to focus on making development plans so that the electricity generated in Nepal can be used in the country.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Minister Bhusal also said that the tariff of electricity will also be reconsidered. “Our electricity tariff is expensive. According to general economics, the higher the production, the lower is the cost price. My experience as a consumer is that the higher the consumption, the lower the rate should be, but this is not the case here,” she said, “The electricity tariff should be reconsidered. Electricity tariff should be adjusted.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Stating that the private sector has contributed to the country by investing heavily in the energy sector, she added, “We must protect the private sector. The government is also their guardian.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Minister Bhusal said that the government should facilitate in building large reservoir with the investment of the people.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Stating that she would work towards increasing production, fixing affordable rates, providing concessions and increasing the number of consumers, Bhusal said that the number of consumers and electricity consumption would also increase if the LP gas could be replaced.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">She also said that she is preparing to bring a policy to help in irrigation through energy. “It will be a great relief if we can provide irrigation facilities to agriculture. We don't have to rely on diesel and petrol,” she said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">She said that electricity will be made available to the people in the areas where electrification has not taken place by connecting the central transmission line as soon as possible. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-27', 'modified' => '2021-07-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13483', 'image' => '20210727020631_20200807030044_1596750181.Clipboard01.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-27 14:05:37', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13737', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Three Companies Bag ‘Innovative Industries Award’', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 27: The government has honoured three companies with the Innovative Industries Award-2077. ', 'content' => '<p><em>Winners of the Innovative Industries Award-2077. Photo Courtesy: MoICS</em></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 27: The government has honoured three companies with the Innovative Industries Award-2077 in recognition of their contribution to innovative approach. The award was presented to the companies by the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies amid a recent function.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The companies that were successful in bagging the award include Leaf Plus Pvt Ltd, Nepal's Handicraft Industries and Anugraha Handicraft. On Monday (July 26), the ministry notified in a press statement that the awards have been given to the representatives of each of the industry.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Secretary of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Arjun Prasad Pokharel said that the award-winning companies are expected to further contribute to local job creation by increasing and diversifying production and productivity through innovative entrepreneurship.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Of the three industries established in Kathmandu and Lalitpur, Leaf Plus has been producing plates of new design in various shapes from wasted betel leaves and exporting them to Germany, the Netherlands and Australia.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In the same way, Nepal Handicraft Industries has been making metal sculptures in various shapes and forms using unsaturated polyester. Anugraha Handicraft has been producing hand-knitted artistic sarees, kurtas, scarves, hats, bags, handkerchiefs and other materials of new design.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The ministry said it believes that this award will aid in encouraging those who are doing enterprises based on innovative thinking. Secretary Pokharel stated that industries including small, medium and large scale would also be honored and encouraged on the basis of their contribution to the fields of research, invention and innovation.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-27', 'modified' => '2021-07-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13482', 'image' => '20210727014257_img-20210725-171915jpg-1627301065.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-27 13:41:12', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13736', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Export of Agricultural Product Up by 4 Times through Eastern Border', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 27: The volume of agricultural products exported from the eastern border point of Kakadbhitta has increased by fourfolds compared to the import from the same customs point.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 27: The volume of agricultural products exported from the eastern border point of Kakadbhitta has increased by fourfolds compared to the import from the same customs point.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the Kakadbhitta quarantine office, agricultural products worth Rs 4.12 billion have been exported while goods worth Rs 10.19 million have been imported in the fiscal year 2020/21.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Meanwhile, in the fiscal year 2019/20, goods worth Rs. 5.26 billion were exported while goods worth Rs 20.99 million were imported, the data of the quarantine office shows. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Devendra Sahu, senior crop protection officer at the office, said that the increase in the price of agricultural products in the international market contributed to the increase in exports during the COVID-19 pandemic.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He said that agro products like cardamom, ginger, tea and herbs like chiraito (swertia), jatamansi (spikenard), amla (Indian gooseberry), pulses and other agricultural products are being exported to India and Bangladesh through the eastern border. He said that cardamom, tea, amriso (broom grass) are the major agricultural products exported from the eastern border.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><br /> <br /> <br /> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-27', 'modified' => '2021-07-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13481', 'image' => '20210727124750_Untitled.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-27 12:46:59', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13735', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Decides to Accept Loan Assistance of US$ 60 Million ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 27: The government has decided to accept a loan assistance of US$ 60 million through the International Development Association of the World Bank Group. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">July 27: The government has decided to accept a loan assistance of US$ 60 million through the International Development Association of the World Bank Group. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">While making public the decisions made by the Council of Ministers on July 26, government Spokesperson and Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Gyanendra Bahadur Karki, said that the cabinet meeting held at Singha Durbar decided to accept the loan assistance in order to run different projects. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, the government decided to approve the National Debt (Fifth Amendment) Regulations-2078 BS and Bond Priorities and Secondary Market (Third Amendment) Regulation-2078. </span></span></span><br /> <br /> <br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-27', 'modified' => '2021-07-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13480', 'image' => '20210727122911_kzCxV5Yw_400x400.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-27 12:27:58', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13734', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government to Bear Quarantine Expenses of Deported Citizens', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 27: The Government of Nepal has decided to bear the quarantine expenses of its citizens returning home from abroad through 'Deportation Centre' as well as those released from jail and who have run out of money in foreign countries.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18pt"><span style="font-family:Preeti"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">July 27: The Government of Nepal has decided to bear the quarantine expenses of its citizens returning home from abroad through 'Deportation Centre' as well as those released from jail and who have run out of money in foreign countries.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18pt"><span style="font-family:Preeti"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Government Spokesperson and Law Minister Gyanendra Bahadur Karki announced the decision after a cabinet meeting held at Singha Durbar on Monday (July 26).</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18pt"><span style="font-family:Preeti"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Minister Karki informed that the Ministry of Labor, Employment, and Social Security will make the necessary arrangements for the quarantine facility, while the Ministry of Finance will disburse the required budget.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18pt"><span style="font-family:Preeti"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The cabinet also decided to extend the deadline of government’s procurement agreements signed during the period of prohibitory order in various districts by six months considering the adverse impact of the restrictions imposed by the government to control the spread of coronavirus.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18pt"><span style="font-family:Preeti"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Similarly, the government has decided to appoint staffers at various commissions on contract basis. In this regard, the cabinet approved appointment of 35 temporary staff at the Truth and Reconciliation (TRC) Commission. Likewise, the cabinet has also approved appointment of 23 gazetted officers on contract basis at the Commission for the Investigation of Enforced Disappeared Persons (CIEDP).</span></span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-27', 'modified' => '2021-07-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13479', 'image' => '20210727102153_1627343795.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-27 10:20:52', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13733', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'EPF to Invest Rs 12 Billion in Tamakoshi 'V' Hydropower Project ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 27: The Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) has pledged to invest Rs 12 billion for the development of Tamakoshi 'V' Hydropower Project. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">July 27: The Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) has pledged to invest Rs 12 billion for the development of Tamakoshi 'V' Hydropower Project. <br /> This will be the EFP's lone investment in the hydropower project after Rasuwagadhi, Upper Sanzen, Sanzen and Bhotekoshi projects, according to the state-owned national news agency RSS. <br /> A tripartite agreement on investment was reached on Sunday (July 25) in the presence of Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Pampha Bhusal. <br /> Executive Director of Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) Hitendra Dev Shakya, EPF's Administrator Tulasi Prasad Gautam and Chief Executive Officer of Tamakoshi Hydropower Project Nasib Man Pradhan agreed on a deal for the development of the 100-megawatt project. It will be a cascade project of the Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower Project. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> Pradhan informed New Business Age that water coming from the tailrace after being used by the Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower Project will flow through the tunnel from Lamabagar.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Administrator Gautam said that the EPF was ready to make the investment adding that it was a very lucrative project. <br /> The estimated cost of the project is around Rs 16 billion, up from the initial projection of Rs 13 billion, and the NEA will invest Rs 4 billon for the project development. <br /> Officials claimed that Rs 160 million will be spent for the production of each megawatt power adding that the access route for the project is already readied while developing the Upper Tamakoshi Project. <br /> Administrator Gautam told RSS that the EPF decided to invest in this project as the transmission line was already prepared and the project was also cost-effective. He added that the project was selected as it was considered the best by various evaluations. <br /> The project will generate 540 Gigawatt of power annually. He added that the tender bid will be announced to begin the construction work within 10 months. <br /> A source at the project informed New Business Age that the Tamakoshi-V is cheap according to per unit electricity generation investment.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The investment of the hydropower project is expected to cost less as the project is being built without constructing a dam, which will automatically save nature as all the structures are constructed underground.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to the detailed project report (DPR), four units of 25 MW capacity each will be installed in the project. Water will be dropped from 160 m head through a 5.6 m diameter and 8.02 km tunnel from the Upper Tamakoshi Project.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The electricity generated will be linked to the Upper Tamakoshi substation through a 132 KV single circuit transmission line. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The construction of the project started in early 2017.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-27', 'modified' => '2021-07-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13478', 'image' => '20210727100514_20170427041606_tamakoshi.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-27 10:03:43', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13732', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Supreme Court Issues Stay Order Against Privatization of NAC', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 26: The Supreme Court has issued an interlocutory order to put on hold all the works related to the privatization of the state-owned Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC).', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 26: The Supreme Court has issued an interlocutory order to put on hold all the works related to the privatization of the state-owned Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC).</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Responding to a writ petition filed by advocate Atish Karki, a single bench of Supreme Court Justice Kumar Regmi issued an interim order on Sunday (July 26) to halt the process of privatization of the NAC.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">An interlocutory order has been issued in the name of the defendants to keep the status quo and not to take any decision regarding privatization of the Nepal Airlines Corporation before an interim order is issued after hearing both sides, the order reads.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The court is of the view that it would be appropriate to conclude the case after hearing both the parties on August 9.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The defendants have been asked to appear in the court as per Rule 49 (2) (c) of the Rules of Procedure of the Supreme Court 2074 BS. Similarly, the bench has also issued a show-cause order to the stakeholders. NAC has to submit clarification for the privatization of the airline company within 15 days.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Employees of the Nepal Airlines Corporation have been protesting against the privatization of the corporation. Nepal Airlines Corporation United Trade Union has demanded the resignation of Dim Prakash Poudel, general manager of NAC. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The trade union has alleged Poudel that he did not discuss this issue with the stakeholders even after preparing a draft to privatize the government-owned corporation.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">A meeting of the Board of Directors of NAC held on July 25 had decided to send the draft prepared to transform the Nepal Airlines Corporation into a 'public' company to the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation has said there is no plan to privatize the Nepal Airlines Corporation. A few days ago, the ministry issued a formal statement saying that there was no discussion on privatizing the corporation or converting it into a private company.</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-26', 'modified' => '2021-07-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13477', 'image' => '20210726015026_20180727021334_2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-26 13:49:29', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13731', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Floods, Landslides Damage 26 Bridges, Incur Losses worth Rs1 Billion ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 26: As the rainy season continues this year, 26 bridges across the country have been damaged so far by floods. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 26: As the rainy season continues this year, 26 bridges across the country have been damaged so far by floods. The damage due to the complete and partial collapse of the bridges has caused losses of billions of rupees. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to a preliminary report of the task force formed to study the extent of damage on bridges by rains and floods, eight motorable bridges that were under-construction have collapsed. Eight other motorable have also been damaged, the report stated. Shiva Prasad Nepal, deputy director general and spokesperson of the Department of Roads said that among other types of bridges, three wooden bridges, one Bailey bridge, two slab culverts and approach road of four bridges were damaged. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Although the exact data will be available only after a detailed study, Nepal said that the preliminary report shows the loss of around Rs 800 million. The bridges over Triyuga, Mahesh, Lodari, and Kamala rivers have collapsed while being constructed. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Although the approach road to Kothiya Ghat, Soti Ghat and Khelako bridge was damaged, the main structure was not damaged. A Bailey bridge and other wooden bridges have also collapsed due to floods in Manang. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Likewise, the bridge over the Trishuli River connecting Devghat in Tanahau and Thimura in Chitwan also collapsed last April. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The task force was formed under the initiative of former Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Basanta Kumar Nemwang on July 4 after road and bridges in different parts of the country collapsed in April. The task force was mandated to analyze the causes of the damage to the bridges and submit a recommendation by July 22. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“The team has returned from the field but the difficulty is that a detailed study seems impossible until the water level in the rivers and streams where the bridges collapsed decreases,” he said, “As the water level has risen, we couldn’t do more than look at it from the shore.” Spokesperson Nepal said that there is a possibility of a complete report only after September 1. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Moreover, he said that the deadline of the task force will be extended and the final report will be submitted only after the water level decreases and detailed data is collected. Discussions are underway at the secretary level to extend its terms. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the preliminary study, the first reason for the damage on the bridges is due to unnaturally heavy rains in June. Secondly, the activities in the watershed area have also contributed to the damages. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“Development works such as roads, irrigation and culverts are being carried out by the local government in the watershed area,” Nepal said, “Such damage has occurred after the level of the river increased when the soil and stones that came out of the tracks were not placed properly. At the same time, the damage has occurred as some bridges have been built long ago and now the pattern of the rains has changed. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“Another important thing that we lack is that we don’t have proper data on rain, and soil research,” he said, “We have to rely on secondary data and they may not match.” </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Stating that there may be some weakness in testing the soil by drilling while constructing the bridges, he said that there is no database of consultants and soil test reports. Around 250 to 300 motorable bridges are constructed annually under the department. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-26', 'modified' => '2021-07-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13476', 'image' => '20210726013558_20200728022209_1595887425.Clipboard11.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-26 13:35:03', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13730', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Agitating Transport Entrepreneurs Hand Over Vehicles’ Keys to PM', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 26: Transport entrepreneurs have handed over the keys of their vehicles to Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba with a seven-point demand. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 26: Transport entrepreneurs have handed over the keys of their vehicles to Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba with a seven-point demand. After they staged a demonstration protest at Maitighar Mandala in Kathmandu on July 25, they handed over a sample of the vehicles’ keys to the Prime Minister Deuba on Sunday. They handed over the keys through Chief District Officer (CDO) of Kathmandu, Kali Prasad Parajuli.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Entrepreneurs affiliated to the Central Federation of Public Transport have started protests with various demands. Giving an ultimatum till August 8 to fulfill the demand, they have warned of stern protest if their demands are not addressed. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Keshav Nepal, deputy general secretary of the federation, said that since the seven-point demand put forward by them was not addressed, the demo key of the vehicles was submitted. He also said that if their demands are not addressed by August 8, they will cease the transportation movement and will resort to protest.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The main demand put forth by the transportation entrepreneurs since July 8 is that all the drivers, helpers and employees associated with transport sector should be vaccinated against covid-19. Although the government has said that people involved in public transport have been given the vaccination since July 13, the federation says that there has been no satisfactory arrangement for the vaccination. The federation has also demanded that the transportation fares within the states should be adjusted with effect from July as the inter-state fare has been already adjusted.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, the additional demands of the transport entrepreneurs include solving their problems through monetary policy, provide tax exemption for the duration of the prohibitory period, and to arrange loans/refinancing by keeping the transport sector under the most affected areas. They have also demanded a waiver of renewal fee for the prohibitory period, a halt to the illegal ride-sharing business, adjusting taxi fares, a revision of the insurance policy, an extension of the 20-year term for vehicles and an amendment to the road safety laws.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The transport entrepreneurs had disrupted the traffic by organizing a rally on the roads of Kathmandu last Thursday.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-26', 'modified' => '2021-07-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13475', 'image' => '20210726012116_20200705035220_public transport.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-26 13:20:16', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13729', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Energy Minister Directs NEA to Collect Electricity Tariff ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 26: Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Pampha Bhusal has directed the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) to collect long-pending electricity tariff for the use of dedicated feeders.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">July 26: Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Pampha Bhusal has directed the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) to collect long-pending electricity tariff for the use of dedicated feeders. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to the national news agency (RSS), over Rs 15 billion remains to be collected from the industrialists for the use of dedicated feeders in the past when the country was facing long hours of load shedding. </span></span><br /> <span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">At a programme organized at NEA office on Sunday (July 25), Minister Bhusal demanded a clear explanation on why the responsible employees of the NEA could not claim the dues of the dedicated feeders and trunk line and why the electricity tariff collection process could not make any progress. <br /> The government has already decided to entrust Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) to collect electricity tariff of the dedicated feeders and trunk line despite objections from several quarters. <br /> A total of 309 industrialists and entrepreneurs had availed supply of electricity through dedicated feeder and trunk line during the height of power outage in the country during 2014 to 2018. <br /> The ministry had already assigned the NEA to form a research committee to study electricity tariff issues and to collect all the dues. Even the high court has paved way for the NEA to collect the tariff. <br /> However, the industrialists have been refusing to clear the dues, arguing why they should pay for the tariff when they have not used the electricity at all. </span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">There is a long dispute between industrialists and the NEA over the settlement of dues for using electricity from dedicated feeders and trunk lines. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Earlier on July 21, the Parliamentary Affairs Committee (PAC) had formed a sub-committee led by lawmaker Minendra Rijal to look into the issue of dedicated electricity tariff. Based on the report, the PAC, on April 4, instructed the government to collect all dues within a month. There was a total of Rs 10.14 billion outstanding dues that industrialists owe to the NEA. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><br /> <span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">NEA had supplied electricity to industries through dedicated feeder and trunk lines by charging a premium of 65 percent in the electricity tariffs. The NEA, which did not have authority to fix tariff, had got approval of its tariff rates from the then Electricity Tariff Fixation Commission in February 2016. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><br /> <span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Industrialists are at odds with the NEA over the tariffs that NEA has fixed prior to the approval from the Commission. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Some industrialists even claim that the NEA has billed them for the electricity that their industries did not use during the load shedding.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> </span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-26', 'modified' => '2021-07-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13474', 'image' => '20210726112533_20210514031053_NEA.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-26 11:24:18', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13725', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Prohibitory Order Extended in Kathmandu Valley until August 4', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 26: Government authorities have extended the ongoing prohibitory order in the Kathmandu Valley for 10 more days.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">July 26: Government authorities have extended the ongoing prohibitory order in the Kathmandu Valley for 10 more days.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A meeting of the chief district officers (CDOs) of the three districts of the Valley including Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur took a decision to this effect on Sunday (July 26). As per the decision, the prohibitory order has been extended until August 4. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to a press statement issued by the District Administration Office, Kathmandu, the government has restricted public gatherings, operation of party palaces, cinema halls, bars, clubs, swimming pools and museums among others. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the state-owned national news agency RSS, the order has also restricted the public from marking festivals with mass gathering and organizing protest programmes with in public places. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, the order has also restricted educational institutions from conducting classes in person until further notice. However, seminars, training and workshops can be organised virtually. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, shops have been allowed to remain open till 7:00 PM each day. However, medical stores and pharmacies can be opened round the clock. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Public vehicles can operate by carrying passengers based on their seating capacity while three-wheelers and micro buses are not permitted to carry more than nine people. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, the prohibitory order states that examinations can be conducted by managing a maximum of 25 students in one room. </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-26', 'modified' => '2021-07-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13473', 'image' => '20210726100917_20200903113103_1599056781.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-26 10:08:17', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = false $xml = falsesimplexml_load_file - [internal], line ?? include - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 133 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
| Currency | Unit |
Buy | Sell |
| U.S. Dollar | 1 | 121.23 | 121.83 |
| European Euro | 1 | 131.65 | 132.31 |
| UK Pound Sterling | 1 | 142.47 | 143.18 |
| Swiss Franc | 1 | 124.29 | 124.90 |
| Australian Dollar | 1 | 71.69 | 72.05 |
| Canadian Dollar | 1 | 83.90 | 84.32 |
| Japanese Yen | 10 | 10.94 | 11.00 |
| Chinese Yuan | 1 | 17.17 | 17.26 |
| Saudi Arabian Riyal | 1 | 32.27 | 32.43 |
| UAE Dirham | 1 | 33.01 | 33.17 |
| Malaysian Ringgit | 1 | 27.36 | 27.50 |
| South Korean Won | 100 | 9.77 | 9.82 |
Update: 2020-03-25 | Source: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB)
| Fine Gold | 1 tola | 77000.00 |
| Tejabi Gold | 1 tola | 76700.00 |
| Silver | 1 tola | 720.00 |
Update : 2020-03-25
Source: Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers' Association
| Petrol | 1 Liter | 106.00 |
| Diesel | 1 Liter | 95.00 |
| Kerosene | 1 Liter | 95.00 |
| LP Gas | 1 Cylinder | 1375.00 |
Update : 2020-03-25
