July 12: Implementation of the ‘ten-day holiday package’ for the revival of the tourism industry is likely to be…
July 12: Implementation of the ‘ten-day holiday package’ for the revival of the tourism industry is likely to be…
July 12: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has stated that all citizens will be vaccinated by…
July 11: Employees of banks and financial institutions (BFIs) as well as insurance companies, who claim to have been forced to join the contribution-based social security scheme of the government, have decided to start the second phase of protest against the Social Security Fund…
July 11: Although many places in Kathmandu valley have started getting busier each day, the Thamel area still wears a deserted…
July 11: Four railway service providers of India are looking forward to transport cargo to Nepal, following the amendment of the Nepal-India Railway Service…
July 11: Workers of Hulas Wire Industries Pvt Ltd in Budiganga rural municipality, Morang continued their protest on Saturday demanding reinstatement of 93 workers who were expelled by the…
…
Ghorahi Sub-Metropolitan City has collected and purchased garbage from its residents as part of its campaign to rid the city of plastic bags.…
July 9: The government has prepared a work procedure to disburse loans to encourage those involved in startup business.…
July 9: Non-life insurance companies have received insurance claims worth Rs 2 billion for damage caused by floods and landslides in different parts of the…
July 9: The RTGS (Real Time Gross Settlement) system will remain open all day on this Friday and Saturday as well.…
July 9: Transport entrepreneurs have submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli requesting him to address their concerns related to the impact of COVID-19 on their…
July 9: The issue of restructuring the state-owned Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) has courted controversy yet…
July 9: Illegal and unregistered mobile phones will be blocked starting from July…
July 8: The Supreme Court has issued a show cause notice in the name of the government seeking its written response over the Kaligandaki-Tinau Diversion Multi-Purpose Project.…
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The government had announced the package for civil servants as well as employees of public institutions in the annual budget speech in order to aide the tourism industry battered by Covid-19. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">However, the government is yet to prepare a work procedure to implement the package.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">As the work procedure is not made yet, the employees will not be able to take this offer from the beginning of the next fiscal year. The holiday package will be implemented only after the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation prepares a work procedure and the Council of Ministers approves it. However, the procedure to be made by the ministry is still in the preliminary stage.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Stating that the work procedure for the implementation of holiday package is being drafted, Joint Secretary of the Ministry Laxmi Kumari Basnet said that they will finalize it soon by addressing the issues announced in the budget speech.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">"We are in the process of drafting the work procedure now," she said, “The draft will be prepared in 10 days.”</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">After the draft is ready, the ministry is planning to take suggestions from other stakeholders.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">She said that first the ministry would prepare the draft of the work procedure and then all the ministries and institutes would be informed and their opinions would be sought. “After that, the opinion from the finance ministry will be taken and sent to the cabinet,” she said. “Therefore, it will take some time for the implementation of the holiday package.”</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Although the holiday package is said to be implemented from July 16 as per the budget announcement, it will take some time to implement the package due to the delay in preparing the work procedure and its approval.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Additional budget is also required for this. Basnet said that the program will be implemented only after the budget is allocated and disbursed. According to her, the package will be implemented after the concerned ministries and agencies submit their programme to the Ministry of Finance after calculating the cost and expenses required for the employees while going for a tourism holiday.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The government had announced the budget for the upcoming fiscal year 2078/79 on May 29 and announced to provide 10 days’ holiday to promote domestic tourism. In the budget speech, it was mentioned that in order to promote domestic tourism, the civil servants, as well as employees of public institutions and organisations will be provided tourism holiday with an amount equal to 10 days' salary. Employees working in the private sector will also be encouraged to provide facilities accordingly.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">While there are no international tourists in the country due to Covid-19, the package was a relief to the tourism entrepreners.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Entrepreneurs were enthusiastic about the tourism holiday announced to help revive the sector through domestic tourism.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">However, with only four days left until the next fiscal year starts, they are disappointed that the procedure has not been finalized. Senior Vice President of the Hotel Association Nepal (HAN) Binayak Shah said that although the Desh Darshan program was announced in the current fiscal year it has not been implemented. “Only declaration is not enough, where is a concrete plan and procedure to implement it?” he asked. </span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-12', 'modified' => '2021-07-12', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13410', 'image' => '20210712015904_20180513122353_tourism.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-12 13:57:51', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13664', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'All Citizens will get Vaccines within 2021: PM Oli', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 12: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has stated that all citizens will be vaccinated by 2021.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">July 12: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has stated that all citizens will be vaccinated by 2021. Inaugurating the newly-constructed surgical building of Bir Hospital on Sunday, Prime Minister Oli said that vaccines would arrive regularly to meet the goal.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">He said that the government is monitoring the issue seriously. Thus, no one would be deprived of vaccination. "We have been providing the vaccine. It came yesterday, it came today, now it will come tomorrow as well,"</span> he said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">The government has been facing criticism from all quarters for not being able to meet the vaccination needs of citizens. Earlier, when the vaccination campaign was launched in the second week of January, Prime Minister Oli claimed that every Nepali would be vaccinated by April. Now, the PM claims that everyone will be vaccinated by the year-end; claiming that vaccines will arrive regularly.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">The government had started the vaccination programme with 1 million doses of Covishield vaccine that was provided by India on January 29. Despite paying for the purchase of 2 million additional doses of vaccine, India has provided only 1 million doses. One million vaccines are yet to be provided by India. Senior citizens who have received the first dose of vaccine have been outraged by the non-arrival of the Covishield vaccine from India.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">A total of 2.6 million vaccines have arrived in Nepal till date. Last year, 800,000 doses of vaccines were received in April, 1 million in May and 800,000 last Friday.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">Spokesman for the Ministry of Health and Population, Dr. Krishna Prasad Paudel said that the government has bought 4 million doses of Vero Cell vaccine from China. In addition, the United States will provide 1.5 million doses of Johnson & Johnson vaccine to Nepal.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">Only one dose of vaccine provided by the USA is enough against the Covid-.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">According to Poudel, apart from the above listed vaccines, it is not yet clear how many vaccines will come from where. Stating that they are trying to buy vaccines, he said that they are not sure about the purchase of additional vaccines.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">Spokesman Paudel said that 800,000 doses of vaccines brought from China on Friday will be given to citizens of the age group 60- to 64 years and the age group of 55-60 years. The date of the vaccination has not yet been fixed.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">Poudel also said that the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which is said to be coming from the United States, is being prepared to be given to those who previously missed the vaccine, and those who are at-risk as well as differently abled people.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-12', 'modified' => '2021-07-12', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13409', 'image' => '20210712114549_20210528053937_20201220030450_Corona3 (1).jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-12 11:43:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13663', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Bank Employees to Launch Second Phase of Protest against Social Security Fund', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 11: Employees of banks and financial institutions (BFIs) as well as insurance companies, who claim to have been forced to join the contribution-based social security scheme of the government, have decided to start the second phase of protest against the Social Security Fund (SSF).', 'content' => '<p>July 11: <span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">Employees of banks and financial institutions (BFIs) as well as insurance companies, who claim to have been forced to join the contribution-based social security scheme of the government, have decided to start the second phase of protest against the Social Security Fund (SSF).</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">The concerned employees are going to protest against the scheme of the Social Security Fund by wearing black armbands on their hands in their offices.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">They have been demanding amendment of most of the provisions of the fund and to make it optional. Earlier, the employees had protested in the office using banners with their demands written on it.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">The</span><strong> </strong>Financial Institute Employees Union of Nepal (FIEUN), which has been leading trade unions of 48 government and private sector banks, insurance and financial institutions, issued a statement on Friday saying that the second phase of the protest would be launched from today (Sunday, July 11). Accordingly, the employees are going to protest in front of their banks with black armbands on their hands from July 11 to 14.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">According to the union, it is the time to settle the annual accounts of the Government of Nepal, banks and financial institutions as mid-July approaches. Hence, a symbolic protest would be conducted with the question “Why do we disagree with the contribution-based social security scheme?”</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">FIEUN has also appealed to be mentally ready for the situation where additional protest programmes would be conducted in the coming days.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">Stating that the government is trying to force people to participate in the social security scheme by cutting down the institutionalized service facilities, the association has asked the authorities not to create a situation to protest against the activities of the fund.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-11', 'modified' => '2021-07-11', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13408', 'image' => '20210711042355_20200401094426_1585693701.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-11 16:21:54', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13662', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Tourist Hub Thamel still Wears a Deserted Look', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 11: Although many places in Kathmandu valley have started getting busier each day, the Thamel area still wears a deserted look.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">July 11: It’s been a while since the odd-even rule for vehicular movement has been removed. The activities and movement of people have been returning back to normal as well. Although many places in Kathmandu valley have started getting busier each day, the Thamel area still wears a deserted look.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">Businesses in many places have started picking up pace. But, the business activities in the Thamel area still seem to be null.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">Even though some small hotels are providing takeaway service during the daytime in the Thamel area, the night business is nil. All of the activities in Thamel have halted since the entire area focused on tourism-related activities. Before the pandemic, the daily turnover in the Thamel area was around Rs 200 million during the normal tourist season, while it was around Rs 100 million during the off-season.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">Bhabishwor Sharma, chairman of Thamel Tourism Development Council, told New Business Age that most of the traders in the region are on the verge of abandoning their business after the decline in trade since the start of the coronavirus pandemic in Nepal. According to him, more than 700 traders in the area had quit their business last year due to the pandemic. Business was completely halted after it became difficult to pay rent, electricity bills and bank loans and interest.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">There are almost 10,000 tourism merchants associated with hotel, restaurants, travel agencies, money exchange, and handicraft businesses in areas in and around Thamel, Paknajol, Chhetrapati, Kaldhara, and Nardevi.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">Since Thamel is the most famous tourist area, the rent in this area is much more expensive in comparison to other tourist areas, said Narendra Lama, a trader associated with the hotel business for 15 years. The traders are facing a lot of trouble to pay rent due to their business going downhill.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">According to him, there are traders who pay from Rs 15,000 to Rs 4500,000 per month. It means that on an average, one trader pays Rs 80,000 for rent each month.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">Traders in the Thamel area have demanded that the government provide loans of up to Rs 2500,000 at 5 percent interest rate to prevent them from abandoning their businesses. They also demanded that the bank's installments be paid only after the pandemic subsides and the business is fully operational.</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-11', 'modified' => '2021-07-11', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13407', 'image' => '20210711041456_20200817020449_Chinese.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-11 16:12:59', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13661', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Amendment to the Railway Agreement with India Expected to Reduce Transportation Cost ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 11: Four railway service providers of India are looking forward to transport cargo to Nepal, following the amendment of the Nepal-India Railway Service Agreement.', 'content' => '<p>July 11: <span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Four railway service providers of India are looking forward to transport cargo to Nepal, following the amendment of the Nepal-India Railway Service Agreement. Competition among the Indian companies is likely to increase as the agreement opens the door for Indian private carriers to transport cargo to Nepal. So far, the Indian Container Corporation Limited (Konkar) has been providing transportation services from the Indian seaports of Kolkata, Haldiya, and Visakhapatnam to Nepal. Until now, Konkar, a subsidiary of Indian Railways, had a monopoly on transportation through railway. Now, the other three companies are ready to provide services immediately.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Pristine Logistics InfraProjects, which is currently partnering in the operation of the Birgunj Dry Port, has started preparations for the operation of the railway service, said a senior official of the company.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The official also claimed that JN Buxi Group, which operates ports and railways in India, and Hind Terminal Pvt are interested in the cargo shipment service. Pristine Logistics holds the contract to operate the port for five years in partnership with the Valley Dryport. Pristine had been interested in railway services in Nepal. Pristine has 30 rail racks. At present, 15 private companies are providing railway transportation services in India. The amendment has opened the way for all those companies to opt for the service.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Province 2 Transport and Transit Committee expressed that Nepal's transit can benefit if competition increases after private companies operate their service. Coordinator Ashok Temani is dissatisfied with the fact that the amendment does not include the issue of transportation by private railway service providers of Nepal. Even though the amendment has made arrangements for Indian private companies to transport goods to Nepal, the agreement is silent on private railway service providers of Nepal. The agreement has been amended so that trains and wagons owned by Nepal Railway Company can provide services. Nepali importers and exporters had demanded an amendment a decade ago. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Now even private logistics companies in the country are willing and can provide services. It's the short-sightedness of the government officials that the agreement did not pave the way for the entry of private companies, he informed. </span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-11', 'modified' => '2021-07-11', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13406', 'image' => '20210711015013_1625954596.Clipboard12.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-11 13:47:52', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13660', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Workers Stage Protest against Hulas Wire for Fourth Day', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 11: Workers of Hulas Wire Industries Pvt Ltd in Budiganga rural municipality, Morang continued their protest on Saturday demanding reinstatement of 93 workers who were expelled by the industry.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 11: Workers of Hulas Wire Industries Pvt Ltd in Budiganga rural municipality, Morang continued their protest on Saturday demanding reinstatement of 93 workers who were expelled by the industry. The workers have been protesting at the gate of the industry since Wednesday.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Although two informal meetings between the industry administration and leader of the labour organization have taken place, no agreement has been reached between them as both parties did not want to compromise. The production of the industry has been halted due to the protest. Other 750 workers of the industry have also joined the protest. After the failed meeting, other trade unions have also joined the protest.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Workers have set up tents at the main entrance of the industry causing obstruction to the movement of people into the industry.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The workers had also lodged a complaint at the Labour and Employment Office, Biratnagar last Tuesday demanding services as per the appointment letter and law.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Suresh Majhi, vice president of the Nepal Factory Workers’ Union, said that instead of resolving the problem, the industry expelled the workers on the next day without any discussion and prior information.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to him, the industry that had agreed to provide appointment letters and minimum wage to the workers a year ago has not provided those letters or minimum service facilities to the workers who have been working for more than one and a half decades.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The industry had earlier agreed to provide minimum wages and appointment letters to the workers on July 5, 2020 after the Labor and Employment Office decided to take action against the industry after receiving the complaint from the workers. Majhi says that the situation was further complicated after the workers were expelled without following the agreement.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Currently, 750 workers are employed in the industry. Sri Prasad Sah, president of the Nepal Factory Workers' Union, Morang, complained that the industry has not complied with the preconditions of giving appointment letters to the workers according to the law and discuss with trade unions when appointing and retiring any workers. Despite repeated discussions and negotiations between the agitating workers and the industry administration, the problem has not been resolved.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">General Manager of the industry Mukesh Kothari did not want to comment on workers being expelled from the industry and the ongoing protest. Ram Prasad Timalsina, information officer at the Labor and Employment Office, Biratnagar, said that a letter has been sent to the industry to study the latest complaint lodged by the workers and provide details. He said that action would be taken against the industry if the workers were not given appointment letters and remuneration as per the agreement and rules.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-11', 'modified' => '2021-07-11', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13405', 'image' => '20210711012644_1625955234.Clipboard10.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-11 13:22:32', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13659', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => ' FNCCI Appreciates Amendment to Nepal-India Rail Service Agreement ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => '', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">July 11: The Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) has expressed happiness over the amendment in the much-hyped Nepal-India Rail Service Agreement. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">With the amendment to the agreement, all rail service providers can now transport goods two-way from Nepal to Indian seaports. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Issuing a press statement on Saturday, the FNCCI said the new provision would take the bilateral trade and transport relations to a new height. Stating that the demand raised by the FNCCI since a long time has been addressed, the FNCCI expressed gratitude to both the governments for the initiative. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">With the latest agreement, the rails and wagons under the ownership of Nepal Railway Company can provide rail service to Kolkata-Haldiya from Bigunj and Biratnagar, the state-owned national news agency RSS reported. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The FNCCI is hopeful that the recent amendment to the agreement would bring about a huge change in Nepal’s international trade. It has urged both the governments to fully implement the agreement. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The agreement to amend the India-Nepal Rail Services Agreement (RSA) 2004 was reached on July 9. Government authorities of Nepal and India signed Letter of Exchange in this regard amidst a virtual ceremony. </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-11', 'modified' => '2021-07-11', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13404', 'image' => '20210711075507_20210411051156_20210120113335_1611012622.Clipboard09.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-11 07:54:27', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13658', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Ghorahi Sub-metropolis Purchases Garbage Collected by Residents ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Ghorahi Sub-Metropolitan City has collected and purchased garbage from its residents as part of its campaign to rid the city of plastic bags. ', 'content' => '<p>July 10: Ghorahi Sub-Metropolitan City has collected and purchased garbage from its residents as part of its campaign to rid the city of plastic bags. <br /> Biodegradable waste will be used to produce gas and fertilisers and non-biodegradable garbage will be recycled. <br /> As informed earlier, volunteers mobilised by the sub-metropolis reached doorsteps of local people and purchased garbage they collected. <br /> The locals have been a happy lot as they have benefited from this campaign both ways—they have got rid of garbage and got money at the same time. <br /> Sita Rokka, who runs a hotel at New Bus Park in Ghorahi-14 was facing hard time to dispose of the waste. However, now she has been relieved of her problem of managing waste produced from her hotel as the sub-metropolis collected and purchased garbage from her. She recently got Rs 200 for 20 kilograms garbage. <br /> The sub-metropolis started purchasing garbage collected by local people three months ago. The budget for the current fiscal year has prioritised the drive. <br /> So far, garbage worth around Rs 20,000 has been purchased, said Laxman Adhikari, chief of the environment and sanitation division, the sub-metropolis. <br /> One kilogram soft and hard polythene bag fetches Rs 10 and Rs 5 respectively. Likewise, cover of tobacco products is sold for Rs 2 per kilogram and paper fetches from Rs 10 to Rs 20 per kilogram. <em><strong>-RSS </strong></em></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-10', 'modified' => '2021-07-10', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13403', 'image' => '20210710030656_Solid Waste.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-10 14:56:07', 'homepage' => true, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '35' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13657', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Prepares Draft of Work Procedure for Soft Loan to Startups ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 9: The government has prepared a work procedure to disburse loans to encourage those involved in startup business. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Georgia">July 9: The government has prepared a work procedure to disburse loans to encourage those involved in startup business. The loan will be provided as initial seed capital at a subsidized interest rate of 1 percent.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Georgia">A working committee was formed under the coordination of the officials of the Ministry of Finance to draft the work procedure. The committee has already prepared the work procedure and is preparing to present it to the cabinet meeting in a few days. This programme has been in the budget for a long time. However, it has not been implemented yet.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Georgia">In the budget brought by the ordinance for the fiscal year 2078/79, Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel had announced to give a loan at 1 percent interest rate under this program. The project has pledged to provide soft loans up to Rs 2.5 million as seed money to motivate young entrepreneurs to get involved in startup business.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Georgia">The implementation of this program, which has been kept in the budget for a long time, was hampered due to a lack of clear definition, procedures, and criteria. The drafting of the current work procedure seeks to define 'startup'. Young entrepreneurs with the latest knowledge, thinking, skills, and abilities fall under this category. However, this definition does not fully define startups.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Georgia">Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Finance Mahesh Acharya informed that the draft was finalized to clarify the definition. Although the draft was prepared by a task force comprising of officials from the Ministry of Finance, it has not been made public yet.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-09', 'modified' => '2021-07-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13402', 'image' => '20210709013508_20200327032654_5003_finance-ministy.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-09 13:34:34', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13656', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Flood Related Insurance Claims Total Rs 2.92 Billion ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 9: Non-life insurance companies have received insurance claims worth Rs 2 billion for damage caused by floods and landslides in different parts of the country.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">July 9: Non-life insurance companies have received insurance claims worth Rs 2 billion for damage caused by floods and landslides in different parts of the country.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">According to the data provided by the Insurance Board, the non-life insurance companies received a total of 331 insurance claims worth Rs 2.92 billion as of July 7. Executive director of the board, Raju Raman Poudel said that the victims of flood made claims for loss of property, motor, agriculture and livestock, and engineering.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">There are currently 20 non-life insurance companies operating in Nepal.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">According to the board, the claims will be paid after assessing the damage and completing the necessary process. Recent floods had damaged buildings, vehicles, agricultural lands, hydropower projects, other projects, projects under construction and other physical infrastructure. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The board said that as the flood in Nepal is still continuing, there are chances of receiving more claims.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Of the total insurance claims, the claim for engineering insurance is the highest with a total of Rs 1.21 billion.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The companies have received 107 claims worth Rs 907 million from under-construction projects. Likewise, Rs 117 million has been claimed from eight completed projects.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Similarly, claims worth Rs 88.43 million have been made for 18 heavy equipment used in the projects. According to the board, there are six other claims worth Rs 15.33 million in engineering.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">After engineering, there are more claims on home and commercial buildings, ie property insurance. The data shows that 141 claims worth Rs 693.6 million have been received under the heading of property insurance.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Likewise, 33 claims worth Rs 47.58 million have been registered for motor insurance. Five insurance claims for loss of livestock totaled Rs 23.8 million. In agriculture insurance, six claims amounting to Rs 16.25 million were made. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-09', 'modified' => '2021-07-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13401', 'image' => '20210709012659_1625787259.11.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-09 13:26:25', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13654', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'RTGS Operations to Run this Weekend ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 9: The RTGS (Real Time Gross Settlement) system will remain open all day on this Friday and Saturday as well. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Georgia">July 9</span></span>: <span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Georgia">The RTGS (Real Time Gross Settlement) system will remain open all day on this Friday and Saturday as well. The Payments System Department of Nepal Rastra Bank issued a notice on Thursday stating that RTGS transactions will continue throughout the day on July 9 and 10.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Georgia">According to the Payments System Department, this provision has been made there will be a lot of transactions with the current fiscal year coming to an end in mid-July. Therefore, the time for clearance of taxes and settlement of other financial issues has been extended to prevent delay in the payment.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Georgia">The central bank stated that they received complaints regarding lack of time for transaction which is higher towards the end of the fiscal year. Hence, the RTGS will continue to operate full day on Friday and Saturday.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Georgia">Such services were being provided by banks and financial institutions till 2 pm due to the prohibitory orders.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Georgia">A minimum of Rs 200,000 and more can be paid immediately through RTGS.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-09', 'modified' => '2021-07-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13399', 'image' => '20210709112817_My Effect.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-09 11:27:41', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13653', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Transport Entrepreneurs Submit 7-Point Memo to PM', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 9: Transport entrepreneurs have submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli requesting him to address their concerns related to the impact of COVID-19 on their business.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">July 9: Transport entrepreneurs have submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli requesting him to address their concerns related to the impact of COVID-19 on their business.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The entrepreneurs affiliated to the Federation of Nepalese National Transport Entrepreneurs on Thursday (July 8) submitted their seven-point demand by visiting the Office of the Prime Minister in Singha Durbar. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The transport entrepreneurs informed the prime minister that their investment of around Rs 1000 billion is at risk due to the pandemic and subsequent lockdowns imposed by the government. The delegation of transport entrepreneurs said that almost 900,000 people directly or indirectly involved in this business facing extreme hardship due to the measures taken by the government to control coronavirus.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The entrepreneurs complained that their demands have not been addressed although they have made repeated requests to the concerned government bodies.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The entrepreneurs have asked the government to immediately ensure vaccine against COVID-19 to the workers involved in transportation service. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Similarly, their other demands include hike in public transportation fare in the context that they have incurred huge amount of losses as the fare has not been reviewed for almost nine years. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Similarly, they have asked policy changes in financing including additional loan, refinance and subsidy in interest rate through the monetary policy by considering the lockdown period as a zero hour. </span></span></span><br /> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-09', 'modified' => '2021-07-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13398', 'image' => '20210709110857_20200705035220_public transport.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-09 11:06:34', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13652', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Dispute Arises over Restructuring of Nepal Airlines ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 9: The issue of restructuring the state-owned Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) has courted controversy yet again.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">July 9: The issue of restructuring the state-owned Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) has courted controversy yet again. Employees of the corporation have started protest against the proposal to privatize the flag carrier of Nepal. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">In a press release issued on July 7, General Manager Dim Prasad Poudel said that the NAC should be fully owned by the Government of Nepal.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation has claimed that the NAC will be converted into a company with 100 percent investment of the government. The ministry also assured that NAC will not be privatized.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Sources close to the ministry claim that there is no alternative than to restructure the NAC into a company to save the cash-strapped corporation. Nepal Airlines Corporation was formed as per the Airlines Act. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Investment from external sources can be accepted by restructuring the existing corporation into a company if any good international company is willing to cooperate.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">“The current structure of NAC does not allow foreign investment. Therefore, preparations are underway to restructure it,” said GM Poudel, adding, “Right now, we can bring expert team from abroad but we are not allowed to accept foreign investment. So, there is no point in protesting at the moment.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">GM Poudel claimed that they were only making an attempt to reform the institution by discouraging the trend of recruiting staff on contract basis.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The ministry has not renewed the contracts of 300 employees during the lockdown. An official said that the financial condition of the corporation is very fragile and it is being restructured to revive the NAC. Right now, the NAC has a loan of Rs 47 billion. The official said that an agreement has been reached to convert NAC into a public company for long-term benefit. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Stating that Nepal's private sector does not have the capacity to raise such a huge amount to operate NAC, the officials claimed that NAC’s privatization will not happen under any circumstances.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The official said that the corporation needs to compete with international airlines. It has to find a long-term solution as it needs to add more aircraft.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The government is planning to sell 51 percent stakes of the company to founder shareholders and 49 percent to private companies, former and current employees, and foreign airlines companies, if no single individual or company comes in to take full ownership. However, the employees of NAC claim that the government is trying to privatize the company. The agitating workers said that the draft of the proposal was rejected and they would continue protest until the current General Manager Dim Prasad Poudel resigns. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">While purchasing the Airbus aircraft, the corporation took loans from the Employees Provident Fund and Citizens Investment Fund. NAC procured two widebody Airbus aircraft with loans from these two organizations on a government guarantee.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-09', 'modified' => '2021-07-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13397', 'image' => '20210709080354_20180727021334_2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-09 08:03:17', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13651', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => ' Illegally-Imported Mobile Phones to be Blocked from July 16 ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 9: Illegal and unregistered mobile phones will be blocked starting from July 16.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">July 9: Illegal and unregistered mobile phones will be blocked starting from July 16. Such mobile phones cannot operate after the Mobile Device Management System (MDMS) comes into operation from the upcoming fiscal year. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Poudel during the budget announcement for the fiscal year 2021/22 had declared that the MDMS will come into operation from July 16. The implementation of MDMS is believed to control the use of illegal mobile sets and criminal activities using mobile phones. Customers can also track or block their mobile phones through IMEI, ESN, or MEID if the phone is lost. Moreover, it will remove the grey market and encourage official brands. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Nepal Telecommunication Authority (NTA) has a provision for International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) registration of mobile phones to discourage illegal import, sale and distribution of mobile sets. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The regulatory body says that every IMEI of mobile phones brought from outside the country has to be registered compulsorily. However, commercially imported mobile phones that are purchased and used in Nepal do not need to be re-registered. After increasing confusion among the users, NTA issued a notice on July 7 to clarify the issue. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Prior to this, the government had made the IMEI registration compulsory in April 2016 and said that the unregistered phone will be dysfunctional from April 1, 2017. However, no action was taken citing various reasons. </span></span></span></p> <p><strong><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Registering IMEI number online </span></span></span></strong></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">To register the IMEI number of a mobile phone, customers need to visit the NTA portal and press sign up for the login or register. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Before registering, a customer can check whether their device is already registered or not. For this, click on ‘Know your Device’ option and enter the IMEI number. If the number is not registered, sign up for new registration. To start the registration process, enter email address and password and click on ‘sign up’. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Upon signing up, two options will be shown – New Importer and Individual Application. Choose an individual application and fill up the details on the form and upload necessary documents such as citizenship, ID or passport. Provide valid email address and submit. After submitting the application, the customer will receive an email confirming that the documents are successfully submitted. NTA will register the IMEI number in their system once they review the documents.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">However, the online registration process is facing problems right now due to the excessive number of service seekers. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">In the notice issued on July 7, NTA said that a technical problems has surfaced due to the excessive number of people registering IMEI of their mobile sets in the Authority’s website. The notice further said that it will take some time for resumption of the service.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-09', 'modified' => '2021-07-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13396', 'image' => '20210709072551_imei-numbe.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-09 07:24:50', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13650', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Supreme Court Issues Showcause Notice to the Government over Kaligandaki Diversion Project', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 8: The Supreme Court has issued a show cause notice in the name of the government seeking its written response over the Kaligandaki-Tinau Diversion Multi-Purpose Project. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">July 8: The Supreme Court has issued a show cause notice in the name of the government seeking its written response over the Kaligandaki-Tinau Diversion Multi-Purpose Project. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">A single bench of Justice Tej Bahadur KC on Wednesday (July 7) issued the order, asking the government to submit its written response within 15 days. The apex court has also summoned both sides for discussions on July 19.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">The government plans to divert the water of Kaligandaki River to the Tinau River through a 27-kilometer tunnel by constructing a dam 2 km away from the Ramdi Bridge in Palpa.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Advocates Tulsiram Pokhrel, Ram Bahadur Shahi and Santosh Bhandari had filed the writ petition demanding that the project should be stopped immediately. According to the petitioners, the decision of the government to divert the water of Kaligandaki will bring an end to the existence of the Gandaki river which is related with the civilization and culture of the country. They also noted that the river holds religious significance among Hindu pilgrims.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">The petitioners have demanded an immediate halt in implementing the government's decision in this regard as the project is against the constitution, law and international treaties and agreements.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">They also argued that the project will negatively affect a significant population in Gandaki Province as well as the watershed area from Ramdi to Devghat. </span></span></span></span><br /> </p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Although this is not a new project, it has drawn attention after Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel inaugurated the project office in Butwal on June 26.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">The project has been dragged into controversy after the government tried to move ahead with the Kaligandaki-Tinau Diversion Multi-Purpose Project without any preparation. The feasibility study of the project and environmental impact assessment report required before starting the project have not been prepared. The Detailed Project Report is also yet to be prepared. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">As the central government tried to advance the project without taking other parties into confidence, the issue was dragged to the court. This multi-purpose project is being developed targeting areas such as Butwal, Rupandehi, Kapilvastu and Lumbini.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">The project aims to divert water from the Kaligandaki River to the Tinau River through a tunnel, irrigate the fields of Rupandehi and Kapilvastu and generate 126 MW of electricity. Officials of the project office have been saying that some of the water will be diverted into the Tinau river by constructing a huge reservoir in Dobhan and some water will be channeled through a 3 km tunnel to Belbas of Butwal for electricity generation.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-08', 'modified' => '2021-07-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13395', 'image' => '20210708014401_20201127115547_20200417094838_CKC_ktm.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-08 13:42:59', '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' => '13665', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Implementation of 10-Day Tourism Holiday Package for Civil Servants Delayed', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 12: Implementation of the ‘ten-day holiday package’ for the revival of the tourism industry is likely to be delayed.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 12: Implementation of the ‘ten-day holiday package’ for the revival of the tourism industry is likely to be delayed. The government had announced the package for civil servants as well as employees of public institutions in the annual budget speech in order to aide the tourism industry battered by Covid-19. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">However, the government is yet to prepare a work procedure to implement the package.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">As the work procedure is not made yet, the employees will not be able to take this offer from the beginning of the next fiscal year. The holiday package will be implemented only after the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation prepares a work procedure and the Council of Ministers approves it. However, the procedure to be made by the ministry is still in the preliminary stage.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Stating that the work procedure for the implementation of holiday package is being drafted, Joint Secretary of the Ministry Laxmi Kumari Basnet said that they will finalize it soon by addressing the issues announced in the budget speech.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">"We are in the process of drafting the work procedure now," she said, “The draft will be prepared in 10 days.”</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">After the draft is ready, the ministry is planning to take suggestions from other stakeholders.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">She said that first the ministry would prepare the draft of the work procedure and then all the ministries and institutes would be informed and their opinions would be sought. “After that, the opinion from the finance ministry will be taken and sent to the cabinet,” she said. “Therefore, it will take some time for the implementation of the holiday package.”</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Although the holiday package is said to be implemented from July 16 as per the budget announcement, it will take some time to implement the package due to the delay in preparing the work procedure and its approval.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Additional budget is also required for this. Basnet said that the program will be implemented only after the budget is allocated and disbursed. According to her, the package will be implemented after the concerned ministries and agencies submit their programme to the Ministry of Finance after calculating the cost and expenses required for the employees while going for a tourism holiday.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The government had announced the budget for the upcoming fiscal year 2078/79 on May 29 and announced to provide 10 days’ holiday to promote domestic tourism. In the budget speech, it was mentioned that in order to promote domestic tourism, the civil servants, as well as employees of public institutions and organisations will be provided tourism holiday with an amount equal to 10 days' salary. Employees working in the private sector will also be encouraged to provide facilities accordingly.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">While there are no international tourists in the country due to Covid-19, the package was a relief to the tourism entrepreners.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Entrepreneurs were enthusiastic about the tourism holiday announced to help revive the sector through domestic tourism.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">However, with only four days left until the next fiscal year starts, they are disappointed that the procedure has not been finalized. Senior Vice President of the Hotel Association Nepal (HAN) Binayak Shah said that although the Desh Darshan program was announced in the current fiscal year it has not been implemented. “Only declaration is not enough, where is a concrete plan and procedure to implement it?” he asked. </span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-12', 'modified' => '2021-07-12', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13410', 'image' => '20210712015904_20180513122353_tourism.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-12 13:57:51', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13664', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'All Citizens will get Vaccines within 2021: PM Oli', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 12: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has stated that all citizens will be vaccinated by 2021.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">July 12: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has stated that all citizens will be vaccinated by 2021. Inaugurating the newly-constructed surgical building of Bir Hospital on Sunday, Prime Minister Oli said that vaccines would arrive regularly to meet the goal.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">He said that the government is monitoring the issue seriously. Thus, no one would be deprived of vaccination. "We have been providing the vaccine. It came yesterday, it came today, now it will come tomorrow as well,"</span> he said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">The government has been facing criticism from all quarters for not being able to meet the vaccination needs of citizens. Earlier, when the vaccination campaign was launched in the second week of January, Prime Minister Oli claimed that every Nepali would be vaccinated by April. Now, the PM claims that everyone will be vaccinated by the year-end; claiming that vaccines will arrive regularly.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">The government had started the vaccination programme with 1 million doses of Covishield vaccine that was provided by India on January 29. Despite paying for the purchase of 2 million additional doses of vaccine, India has provided only 1 million doses. One million vaccines are yet to be provided by India. Senior citizens who have received the first dose of vaccine have been outraged by the non-arrival of the Covishield vaccine from India.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">A total of 2.6 million vaccines have arrived in Nepal till date. Last year, 800,000 doses of vaccines were received in April, 1 million in May and 800,000 last Friday.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">Spokesman for the Ministry of Health and Population, Dr. Krishna Prasad Paudel said that the government has bought 4 million doses of Vero Cell vaccine from China. In addition, the United States will provide 1.5 million doses of Johnson & Johnson vaccine to Nepal.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">Only one dose of vaccine provided by the USA is enough against the Covid-.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">According to Poudel, apart from the above listed vaccines, it is not yet clear how many vaccines will come from where. Stating that they are trying to buy vaccines, he said that they are not sure about the purchase of additional vaccines.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">Spokesman Paudel said that 800,000 doses of vaccines brought from China on Friday will be given to citizens of the age group 60- to 64 years and the age group of 55-60 years. The date of the vaccination has not yet been fixed.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">Poudel also said that the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which is said to be coming from the United States, is being prepared to be given to those who previously missed the vaccine, and those who are at-risk as well as differently abled people.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-12', 'modified' => '2021-07-12', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13409', 'image' => '20210712114549_20210528053937_20201220030450_Corona3 (1).jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-12 11:43:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13663', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Bank Employees to Launch Second Phase of Protest against Social Security Fund', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 11: Employees of banks and financial institutions (BFIs) as well as insurance companies, who claim to have been forced to join the contribution-based social security scheme of the government, have decided to start the second phase of protest against the Social Security Fund (SSF).', 'content' => '<p>July 11: <span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">Employees of banks and financial institutions (BFIs) as well as insurance companies, who claim to have been forced to join the contribution-based social security scheme of the government, have decided to start the second phase of protest against the Social Security Fund (SSF).</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">The concerned employees are going to protest against the scheme of the Social Security Fund by wearing black armbands on their hands in their offices.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">They have been demanding amendment of most of the provisions of the fund and to make it optional. Earlier, the employees had protested in the office using banners with their demands written on it.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">The</span><strong> </strong>Financial Institute Employees Union of Nepal (FIEUN), which has been leading trade unions of 48 government and private sector banks, insurance and financial institutions, issued a statement on Friday saying that the second phase of the protest would be launched from today (Sunday, July 11). Accordingly, the employees are going to protest in front of their banks with black armbands on their hands from July 11 to 14.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">According to the union, it is the time to settle the annual accounts of the Government of Nepal, banks and financial institutions as mid-July approaches. Hence, a symbolic protest would be conducted with the question “Why do we disagree with the contribution-based social security scheme?”</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">FIEUN has also appealed to be mentally ready for the situation where additional protest programmes would be conducted in the coming days.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">Stating that the government is trying to force people to participate in the social security scheme by cutting down the institutionalized service facilities, the association has asked the authorities not to create a situation to protest against the activities of the fund.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-11', 'modified' => '2021-07-11', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13408', 'image' => '20210711042355_20200401094426_1585693701.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-11 16:21:54', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13662', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Tourist Hub Thamel still Wears a Deserted Look', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 11: Although many places in Kathmandu valley have started getting busier each day, the Thamel area still wears a deserted look.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">July 11: It’s been a while since the odd-even rule for vehicular movement has been removed. The activities and movement of people have been returning back to normal as well. Although many places in Kathmandu valley have started getting busier each day, the Thamel area still wears a deserted look.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">Businesses in many places have started picking up pace. But, the business activities in the Thamel area still seem to be null.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">Even though some small hotels are providing takeaway service during the daytime in the Thamel area, the night business is nil. All of the activities in Thamel have halted since the entire area focused on tourism-related activities. Before the pandemic, the daily turnover in the Thamel area was around Rs 200 million during the normal tourist season, while it was around Rs 100 million during the off-season.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">Bhabishwor Sharma, chairman of Thamel Tourism Development Council, told New Business Age that most of the traders in the region are on the verge of abandoning their business after the decline in trade since the start of the coronavirus pandemic in Nepal. According to him, more than 700 traders in the area had quit their business last year due to the pandemic. Business was completely halted after it became difficult to pay rent, electricity bills and bank loans and interest.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">There are almost 10,000 tourism merchants associated with hotel, restaurants, travel agencies, money exchange, and handicraft businesses in areas in and around Thamel, Paknajol, Chhetrapati, Kaldhara, and Nardevi.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">Since Thamel is the most famous tourist area, the rent in this area is much more expensive in comparison to other tourist areas, said Narendra Lama, a trader associated with the hotel business for 15 years. The traders are facing a lot of trouble to pay rent due to their business going downhill.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">According to him, there are traders who pay from Rs 15,000 to Rs 4500,000 per month. It means that on an average, one trader pays Rs 80,000 for rent each month.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">Traders in the Thamel area have demanded that the government provide loans of up to Rs 2500,000 at 5 percent interest rate to prevent them from abandoning their businesses. They also demanded that the bank's installments be paid only after the pandemic subsides and the business is fully operational.</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-11', 'modified' => '2021-07-11', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13407', 'image' => '20210711041456_20200817020449_Chinese.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-11 16:12:59', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13661', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Amendment to the Railway Agreement with India Expected to Reduce Transportation Cost ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 11: Four railway service providers of India are looking forward to transport cargo to Nepal, following the amendment of the Nepal-India Railway Service Agreement.', 'content' => '<p>July 11: <span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Four railway service providers of India are looking forward to transport cargo to Nepal, following the amendment of the Nepal-India Railway Service Agreement. Competition among the Indian companies is likely to increase as the agreement opens the door for Indian private carriers to transport cargo to Nepal. So far, the Indian Container Corporation Limited (Konkar) has been providing transportation services from the Indian seaports of Kolkata, Haldiya, and Visakhapatnam to Nepal. Until now, Konkar, a subsidiary of Indian Railways, had a monopoly on transportation through railway. Now, the other three companies are ready to provide services immediately.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Pristine Logistics InfraProjects, which is currently partnering in the operation of the Birgunj Dry Port, has started preparations for the operation of the railway service, said a senior official of the company.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The official also claimed that JN Buxi Group, which operates ports and railways in India, and Hind Terminal Pvt are interested in the cargo shipment service. Pristine Logistics holds the contract to operate the port for five years in partnership with the Valley Dryport. Pristine had been interested in railway services in Nepal. Pristine has 30 rail racks. At present, 15 private companies are providing railway transportation services in India. The amendment has opened the way for all those companies to opt for the service.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Province 2 Transport and Transit Committee expressed that Nepal's transit can benefit if competition increases after private companies operate their service. Coordinator Ashok Temani is dissatisfied with the fact that the amendment does not include the issue of transportation by private railway service providers of Nepal. Even though the amendment has made arrangements for Indian private companies to transport goods to Nepal, the agreement is silent on private railway service providers of Nepal. The agreement has been amended so that trains and wagons owned by Nepal Railway Company can provide services. Nepali importers and exporters had demanded an amendment a decade ago. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Now even private logistics companies in the country are willing and can provide services. It's the short-sightedness of the government officials that the agreement did not pave the way for the entry of private companies, he informed. </span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-11', 'modified' => '2021-07-11', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13406', 'image' => '20210711015013_1625954596.Clipboard12.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-11 13:47:52', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13660', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Workers Stage Protest against Hulas Wire for Fourth Day', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 11: Workers of Hulas Wire Industries Pvt Ltd in Budiganga rural municipality, Morang continued their protest on Saturday demanding reinstatement of 93 workers who were expelled by the industry.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 11: Workers of Hulas Wire Industries Pvt Ltd in Budiganga rural municipality, Morang continued their protest on Saturday demanding reinstatement of 93 workers who were expelled by the industry. The workers have been protesting at the gate of the industry since Wednesday.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Although two informal meetings between the industry administration and leader of the labour organization have taken place, no agreement has been reached between them as both parties did not want to compromise. The production of the industry has been halted due to the protest. Other 750 workers of the industry have also joined the protest. After the failed meeting, other trade unions have also joined the protest.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Workers have set up tents at the main entrance of the industry causing obstruction to the movement of people into the industry.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The workers had also lodged a complaint at the Labour and Employment Office, Biratnagar last Tuesday demanding services as per the appointment letter and law.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Suresh Majhi, vice president of the Nepal Factory Workers’ Union, said that instead of resolving the problem, the industry expelled the workers on the next day without any discussion and prior information.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to him, the industry that had agreed to provide appointment letters and minimum wage to the workers a year ago has not provided those letters or minimum service facilities to the workers who have been working for more than one and a half decades.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The industry had earlier agreed to provide minimum wages and appointment letters to the workers on July 5, 2020 after the Labor and Employment Office decided to take action against the industry after receiving the complaint from the workers. Majhi says that the situation was further complicated after the workers were expelled without following the agreement.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Currently, 750 workers are employed in the industry. Sri Prasad Sah, president of the Nepal Factory Workers' Union, Morang, complained that the industry has not complied with the preconditions of giving appointment letters to the workers according to the law and discuss with trade unions when appointing and retiring any workers. Despite repeated discussions and negotiations between the agitating workers and the industry administration, the problem has not been resolved.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">General Manager of the industry Mukesh Kothari did not want to comment on workers being expelled from the industry and the ongoing protest. Ram Prasad Timalsina, information officer at the Labor and Employment Office, Biratnagar, said that a letter has been sent to the industry to study the latest complaint lodged by the workers and provide details. He said that action would be taken against the industry if the workers were not given appointment letters and remuneration as per the agreement and rules.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-11', 'modified' => '2021-07-11', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13405', 'image' => '20210711012644_1625955234.Clipboard10.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-11 13:22:32', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13659', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => ' FNCCI Appreciates Amendment to Nepal-India Rail Service Agreement ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => '', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">July 11: The Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) has expressed happiness over the amendment in the much-hyped Nepal-India Rail Service Agreement. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">With the amendment to the agreement, all rail service providers can now transport goods two-way from Nepal to Indian seaports. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Issuing a press statement on Saturday, the FNCCI said the new provision would take the bilateral trade and transport relations to a new height. Stating that the demand raised by the FNCCI since a long time has been addressed, the FNCCI expressed gratitude to both the governments for the initiative. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">With the latest agreement, the rails and wagons under the ownership of Nepal Railway Company can provide rail service to Kolkata-Haldiya from Bigunj and Biratnagar, the state-owned national news agency RSS reported. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The FNCCI is hopeful that the recent amendment to the agreement would bring about a huge change in Nepal’s international trade. It has urged both the governments to fully implement the agreement. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The agreement to amend the India-Nepal Rail Services Agreement (RSA) 2004 was reached on July 9. Government authorities of Nepal and India signed Letter of Exchange in this regard amidst a virtual ceremony. </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-11', 'modified' => '2021-07-11', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13404', 'image' => '20210711075507_20210411051156_20210120113335_1611012622.Clipboard09.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-11 07:54:27', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13658', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Ghorahi Sub-metropolis Purchases Garbage Collected by Residents ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Ghorahi Sub-Metropolitan City has collected and purchased garbage from its residents as part of its campaign to rid the city of plastic bags. ', 'content' => '<p>July 10: Ghorahi Sub-Metropolitan City has collected and purchased garbage from its residents as part of its campaign to rid the city of plastic bags. <br /> Biodegradable waste will be used to produce gas and fertilisers and non-biodegradable garbage will be recycled. <br /> As informed earlier, volunteers mobilised by the sub-metropolis reached doorsteps of local people and purchased garbage they collected. <br /> The locals have been a happy lot as they have benefited from this campaign both ways—they have got rid of garbage and got money at the same time. <br /> Sita Rokka, who runs a hotel at New Bus Park in Ghorahi-14 was facing hard time to dispose of the waste. However, now she has been relieved of her problem of managing waste produced from her hotel as the sub-metropolis collected and purchased garbage from her. She recently got Rs 200 for 20 kilograms garbage. <br /> The sub-metropolis started purchasing garbage collected by local people three months ago. The budget for the current fiscal year has prioritised the drive. <br /> So far, garbage worth around Rs 20,000 has been purchased, said Laxman Adhikari, chief of the environment and sanitation division, the sub-metropolis. <br /> One kilogram soft and hard polythene bag fetches Rs 10 and Rs 5 respectively. Likewise, cover of tobacco products is sold for Rs 2 per kilogram and paper fetches from Rs 10 to Rs 20 per kilogram. <em><strong>-RSS </strong></em></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-10', 'modified' => '2021-07-10', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13403', 'image' => '20210710030656_Solid Waste.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-10 14:56:07', 'homepage' => true, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '35' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13657', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Prepares Draft of Work Procedure for Soft Loan to Startups ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 9: The government has prepared a work procedure to disburse loans to encourage those involved in startup business. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Georgia">July 9: The government has prepared a work procedure to disburse loans to encourage those involved in startup business. The loan will be provided as initial seed capital at a subsidized interest rate of 1 percent.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Georgia">A working committee was formed under the coordination of the officials of the Ministry of Finance to draft the work procedure. The committee has already prepared the work procedure and is preparing to present it to the cabinet meeting in a few days. This programme has been in the budget for a long time. However, it has not been implemented yet.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Georgia">In the budget brought by the ordinance for the fiscal year 2078/79, Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel had announced to give a loan at 1 percent interest rate under this program. The project has pledged to provide soft loans up to Rs 2.5 million as seed money to motivate young entrepreneurs to get involved in startup business.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Georgia">The implementation of this program, which has been kept in the budget for a long time, was hampered due to a lack of clear definition, procedures, and criteria. The drafting of the current work procedure seeks to define 'startup'. Young entrepreneurs with the latest knowledge, thinking, skills, and abilities fall under this category. However, this definition does not fully define startups.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Georgia">Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Finance Mahesh Acharya informed that the draft was finalized to clarify the definition. Although the draft was prepared by a task force comprising of officials from the Ministry of Finance, it has not been made public yet.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-09', 'modified' => '2021-07-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13402', 'image' => '20210709013508_20200327032654_5003_finance-ministy.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-09 13:34:34', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13656', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Flood Related Insurance Claims Total Rs 2.92 Billion ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 9: Non-life insurance companies have received insurance claims worth Rs 2 billion for damage caused by floods and landslides in different parts of the country.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">July 9: Non-life insurance companies have received insurance claims worth Rs 2 billion for damage caused by floods and landslides in different parts of the country.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">According to the data provided by the Insurance Board, the non-life insurance companies received a total of 331 insurance claims worth Rs 2.92 billion as of July 7. Executive director of the board, Raju Raman Poudel said that the victims of flood made claims for loss of property, motor, agriculture and livestock, and engineering.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">There are currently 20 non-life insurance companies operating in Nepal.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">According to the board, the claims will be paid after assessing the damage and completing the necessary process. Recent floods had damaged buildings, vehicles, agricultural lands, hydropower projects, other projects, projects under construction and other physical infrastructure. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The board said that as the flood in Nepal is still continuing, there are chances of receiving more claims.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Of the total insurance claims, the claim for engineering insurance is the highest with a total of Rs 1.21 billion.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The companies have received 107 claims worth Rs 907 million from under-construction projects. Likewise, Rs 117 million has been claimed from eight completed projects.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Similarly, claims worth Rs 88.43 million have been made for 18 heavy equipment used in the projects. According to the board, there are six other claims worth Rs 15.33 million in engineering.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">After engineering, there are more claims on home and commercial buildings, ie property insurance. The data shows that 141 claims worth Rs 693.6 million have been received under the heading of property insurance.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Likewise, 33 claims worth Rs 47.58 million have been registered for motor insurance. Five insurance claims for loss of livestock totaled Rs 23.8 million. In agriculture insurance, six claims amounting to Rs 16.25 million were made. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-09', 'modified' => '2021-07-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13401', 'image' => '20210709012659_1625787259.11.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-09 13:26:25', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13654', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'RTGS Operations to Run this Weekend ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 9: The RTGS (Real Time Gross Settlement) system will remain open all day on this Friday and Saturday as well. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Georgia">July 9</span></span>: <span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Georgia">The RTGS (Real Time Gross Settlement) system will remain open all day on this Friday and Saturday as well. The Payments System Department of Nepal Rastra Bank issued a notice on Thursday stating that RTGS transactions will continue throughout the day on July 9 and 10.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Georgia">According to the Payments System Department, this provision has been made there will be a lot of transactions with the current fiscal year coming to an end in mid-July. Therefore, the time for clearance of taxes and settlement of other financial issues has been extended to prevent delay in the payment.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Georgia">The central bank stated that they received complaints regarding lack of time for transaction which is higher towards the end of the fiscal year. Hence, the RTGS will continue to operate full day on Friday and Saturday.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Georgia">Such services were being provided by banks and financial institutions till 2 pm due to the prohibitory orders.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Georgia">A minimum of Rs 200,000 and more can be paid immediately through RTGS.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-09', 'modified' => '2021-07-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13399', 'image' => '20210709112817_My Effect.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-09 11:27:41', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13653', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Transport Entrepreneurs Submit 7-Point Memo to PM', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 9: Transport entrepreneurs have submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli requesting him to address their concerns related to the impact of COVID-19 on their business.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">July 9: Transport entrepreneurs have submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli requesting him to address their concerns related to the impact of COVID-19 on their business.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The entrepreneurs affiliated to the Federation of Nepalese National Transport Entrepreneurs on Thursday (July 8) submitted their seven-point demand by visiting the Office of the Prime Minister in Singha Durbar. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The transport entrepreneurs informed the prime minister that their investment of around Rs 1000 billion is at risk due to the pandemic and subsequent lockdowns imposed by the government. The delegation of transport entrepreneurs said that almost 900,000 people directly or indirectly involved in this business facing extreme hardship due to the measures taken by the government to control coronavirus.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The entrepreneurs complained that their demands have not been addressed although they have made repeated requests to the concerned government bodies.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The entrepreneurs have asked the government to immediately ensure vaccine against COVID-19 to the workers involved in transportation service. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Similarly, their other demands include hike in public transportation fare in the context that they have incurred huge amount of losses as the fare has not been reviewed for almost nine years. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Similarly, they have asked policy changes in financing including additional loan, refinance and subsidy in interest rate through the monetary policy by considering the lockdown period as a zero hour. </span></span></span><br /> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-09', 'modified' => '2021-07-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13398', 'image' => '20210709110857_20200705035220_public transport.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-09 11:06:34', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13652', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Dispute Arises over Restructuring of Nepal Airlines ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 9: The issue of restructuring the state-owned Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) has courted controversy yet again.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">July 9: The issue of restructuring the state-owned Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) has courted controversy yet again. Employees of the corporation have started protest against the proposal to privatize the flag carrier of Nepal. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">In a press release issued on July 7, General Manager Dim Prasad Poudel said that the NAC should be fully owned by the Government of Nepal.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation has claimed that the NAC will be converted into a company with 100 percent investment of the government. The ministry also assured that NAC will not be privatized.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Sources close to the ministry claim that there is no alternative than to restructure the NAC into a company to save the cash-strapped corporation. Nepal Airlines Corporation was formed as per the Airlines Act. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Investment from external sources can be accepted by restructuring the existing corporation into a company if any good international company is willing to cooperate.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">“The current structure of NAC does not allow foreign investment. Therefore, preparations are underway to restructure it,” said GM Poudel, adding, “Right now, we can bring expert team from abroad but we are not allowed to accept foreign investment. So, there is no point in protesting at the moment.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">GM Poudel claimed that they were only making an attempt to reform the institution by discouraging the trend of recruiting staff on contract basis.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The ministry has not renewed the contracts of 300 employees during the lockdown. An official said that the financial condition of the corporation is very fragile and it is being restructured to revive the NAC. Right now, the NAC has a loan of Rs 47 billion. The official said that an agreement has been reached to convert NAC into a public company for long-term benefit. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Stating that Nepal's private sector does not have the capacity to raise such a huge amount to operate NAC, the officials claimed that NAC’s privatization will not happen under any circumstances.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The official said that the corporation needs to compete with international airlines. It has to find a long-term solution as it needs to add more aircraft.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The government is planning to sell 51 percent stakes of the company to founder shareholders and 49 percent to private companies, former and current employees, and foreign airlines companies, if no single individual or company comes in to take full ownership. However, the employees of NAC claim that the government is trying to privatize the company. The agitating workers said that the draft of the proposal was rejected and they would continue protest until the current General Manager Dim Prasad Poudel resigns. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">While purchasing the Airbus aircraft, the corporation took loans from the Employees Provident Fund and Citizens Investment Fund. NAC procured two widebody Airbus aircraft with loans from these two organizations on a government guarantee.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-09', 'modified' => '2021-07-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13397', 'image' => '20210709080354_20180727021334_2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-09 08:03:17', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13651', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => ' Illegally-Imported Mobile Phones to be Blocked from July 16 ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 9: Illegal and unregistered mobile phones will be blocked starting from July 16.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">July 9: Illegal and unregistered mobile phones will be blocked starting from July 16. Such mobile phones cannot operate after the Mobile Device Management System (MDMS) comes into operation from the upcoming fiscal year. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Poudel during the budget announcement for the fiscal year 2021/22 had declared that the MDMS will come into operation from July 16. The implementation of MDMS is believed to control the use of illegal mobile sets and criminal activities using mobile phones. Customers can also track or block their mobile phones through IMEI, ESN, or MEID if the phone is lost. Moreover, it will remove the grey market and encourage official brands. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Nepal Telecommunication Authority (NTA) has a provision for International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) registration of mobile phones to discourage illegal import, sale and distribution of mobile sets. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The regulatory body says that every IMEI of mobile phones brought from outside the country has to be registered compulsorily. However, commercially imported mobile phones that are purchased and used in Nepal do not need to be re-registered. After increasing confusion among the users, NTA issued a notice on July 7 to clarify the issue. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Prior to this, the government had made the IMEI registration compulsory in April 2016 and said that the unregistered phone will be dysfunctional from April 1, 2017. However, no action was taken citing various reasons. </span></span></span></p> <p><strong><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Registering IMEI number online </span></span></span></strong></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">To register the IMEI number of a mobile phone, customers need to visit the NTA portal and press sign up for the login or register. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Before registering, a customer can check whether their device is already registered or not. For this, click on ‘Know your Device’ option and enter the IMEI number. If the number is not registered, sign up for new registration. To start the registration process, enter email address and password and click on ‘sign up’. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Upon signing up, two options will be shown – New Importer and Individual Application. Choose an individual application and fill up the details on the form and upload necessary documents such as citizenship, ID or passport. Provide valid email address and submit. After submitting the application, the customer will receive an email confirming that the documents are successfully submitted. NTA will register the IMEI number in their system once they review the documents.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">However, the online registration process is facing problems right now due to the excessive number of service seekers. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">In the notice issued on July 7, NTA said that a technical problems has surfaced due to the excessive number of people registering IMEI of their mobile sets in the Authority’s website. The notice further said that it will take some time for resumption of the service.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-09', 'modified' => '2021-07-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13396', 'image' => '20210709072551_imei-numbe.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-09 07:24:50', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13650', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Supreme Court Issues Showcause Notice to the Government over Kaligandaki Diversion Project', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 8: The Supreme Court has issued a show cause notice in the name of the government seeking its written response over the Kaligandaki-Tinau Diversion Multi-Purpose Project. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">July 8: The Supreme Court has issued a show cause notice in the name of the government seeking its written response over the Kaligandaki-Tinau Diversion Multi-Purpose Project. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">A single bench of Justice Tej Bahadur KC on Wednesday (July 7) issued the order, asking the government to submit its written response within 15 days. The apex court has also summoned both sides for discussions on July 19.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">The government plans to divert the water of Kaligandaki River to the Tinau River through a 27-kilometer tunnel by constructing a dam 2 km away from the Ramdi Bridge in Palpa.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Advocates Tulsiram Pokhrel, Ram Bahadur Shahi and Santosh Bhandari had filed the writ petition demanding that the project should be stopped immediately. According to the petitioners, the decision of the government to divert the water of Kaligandaki will bring an end to the existence of the Gandaki river which is related with the civilization and culture of the country. They also noted that the river holds religious significance among Hindu pilgrims.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">The petitioners have demanded an immediate halt in implementing the government's decision in this regard as the project is against the constitution, law and international treaties and agreements.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">They also argued that the project will negatively affect a significant population in Gandaki Province as well as the watershed area from Ramdi to Devghat. </span></span></span></span><br /> </p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Although this is not a new project, it has drawn attention after Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel inaugurated the project office in Butwal on June 26.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">The project has been dragged into controversy after the government tried to move ahead with the Kaligandaki-Tinau Diversion Multi-Purpose Project without any preparation. The feasibility study of the project and environmental impact assessment report required before starting the project have not been prepared. The Detailed Project Report is also yet to be prepared. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">As the central government tried to advance the project without taking other parties into confidence, the issue was dragged to the court. This multi-purpose project is being developed targeting areas such as Butwal, Rupandehi, Kapilvastu and Lumbini.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">The project aims to divert water from the Kaligandaki River to the Tinau River through a tunnel, irrigate the fields of Rupandehi and Kapilvastu and generate 126 MW of electricity. Officials of the project office have been saying that some of the water will be diverted into the Tinau river by constructing a huge reservoir in Dobhan and some water will be channeled through a 3 km tunnel to Belbas of Butwal for electricity generation.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-08', 'modified' => '2021-07-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13395', 'image' => '20210708014401_20201127115547_20200417094838_CKC_ktm.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-08 13:42:59', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = falsesimplexml_load_file - [internal], line ?? include - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 60 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
Notice (8): Undefined variable: file [APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 133]Code Context// $file = 'http://aabhiyan:QUVLg8Wzs2F7G9N7@nepalstock.com.np/api/subindexdata.xml';if(!$xml = simplexml_load_file($file)){$viewFile = '/var/www/html/newbusinessage.com/app/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'articles' => array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ) ), 'current_user' => null, 'logged_in' => false ) $articles = array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13665', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Implementation of 10-Day Tourism Holiday Package for Civil Servants Delayed', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 12: Implementation of the ‘ten-day holiday package’ for the revival of the tourism industry is likely to be delayed.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 12: Implementation of the ‘ten-day holiday package’ for the revival of the tourism industry is likely to be delayed. The government had announced the package for civil servants as well as employees of public institutions in the annual budget speech in order to aide the tourism industry battered by Covid-19. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">However, the government is yet to prepare a work procedure to implement the package.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">As the work procedure is not made yet, the employees will not be able to take this offer from the beginning of the next fiscal year. The holiday package will be implemented only after the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation prepares a work procedure and the Council of Ministers approves it. However, the procedure to be made by the ministry is still in the preliminary stage.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Stating that the work procedure for the implementation of holiday package is being drafted, Joint Secretary of the Ministry Laxmi Kumari Basnet said that they will finalize it soon by addressing the issues announced in the budget speech.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">"We are in the process of drafting the work procedure now," she said, “The draft will be prepared in 10 days.”</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">After the draft is ready, the ministry is planning to take suggestions from other stakeholders.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">She said that first the ministry would prepare the draft of the work procedure and then all the ministries and institutes would be informed and their opinions would be sought. “After that, the opinion from the finance ministry will be taken and sent to the cabinet,” she said. “Therefore, it will take some time for the implementation of the holiday package.”</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Although the holiday package is said to be implemented from July 16 as per the budget announcement, it will take some time to implement the package due to the delay in preparing the work procedure and its approval.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Additional budget is also required for this. Basnet said that the program will be implemented only after the budget is allocated and disbursed. According to her, the package will be implemented after the concerned ministries and agencies submit their programme to the Ministry of Finance after calculating the cost and expenses required for the employees while going for a tourism holiday.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The government had announced the budget for the upcoming fiscal year 2078/79 on May 29 and announced to provide 10 days’ holiday to promote domestic tourism. In the budget speech, it was mentioned that in order to promote domestic tourism, the civil servants, as well as employees of public institutions and organisations will be provided tourism holiday with an amount equal to 10 days' salary. Employees working in the private sector will also be encouraged to provide facilities accordingly.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">While there are no international tourists in the country due to Covid-19, the package was a relief to the tourism entrepreners.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Entrepreneurs were enthusiastic about the tourism holiday announced to help revive the sector through domestic tourism.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">However, with only four days left until the next fiscal year starts, they are disappointed that the procedure has not been finalized. Senior Vice President of the Hotel Association Nepal (HAN) Binayak Shah said that although the Desh Darshan program was announced in the current fiscal year it has not been implemented. “Only declaration is not enough, where is a concrete plan and procedure to implement it?” he asked. </span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-12', 'modified' => '2021-07-12', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13410', 'image' => '20210712015904_20180513122353_tourism.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-12 13:57:51', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13664', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'All Citizens will get Vaccines within 2021: PM Oli', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 12: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has stated that all citizens will be vaccinated by 2021.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">July 12: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has stated that all citizens will be vaccinated by 2021. Inaugurating the newly-constructed surgical building of Bir Hospital on Sunday, Prime Minister Oli said that vaccines would arrive regularly to meet the goal.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">He said that the government is monitoring the issue seriously. Thus, no one would be deprived of vaccination. "We have been providing the vaccine. It came yesterday, it came today, now it will come tomorrow as well,"</span> he said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">The government has been facing criticism from all quarters for not being able to meet the vaccination needs of citizens. Earlier, when the vaccination campaign was launched in the second week of January, Prime Minister Oli claimed that every Nepali would be vaccinated by April. Now, the PM claims that everyone will be vaccinated by the year-end; claiming that vaccines will arrive regularly.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">The government had started the vaccination programme with 1 million doses of Covishield vaccine that was provided by India on January 29. Despite paying for the purchase of 2 million additional doses of vaccine, India has provided only 1 million doses. One million vaccines are yet to be provided by India. Senior citizens who have received the first dose of vaccine have been outraged by the non-arrival of the Covishield vaccine from India.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">A total of 2.6 million vaccines have arrived in Nepal till date. Last year, 800,000 doses of vaccines were received in April, 1 million in May and 800,000 last Friday.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">Spokesman for the Ministry of Health and Population, Dr. Krishna Prasad Paudel said that the government has bought 4 million doses of Vero Cell vaccine from China. In addition, the United States will provide 1.5 million doses of Johnson & Johnson vaccine to Nepal.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">Only one dose of vaccine provided by the USA is enough against the Covid-.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">According to Poudel, apart from the above listed vaccines, it is not yet clear how many vaccines will come from where. Stating that they are trying to buy vaccines, he said that they are not sure about the purchase of additional vaccines.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">Spokesman Paudel said that 800,000 doses of vaccines brought from China on Friday will be given to citizens of the age group 60- to 64 years and the age group of 55-60 years. The date of the vaccination has not yet been fixed.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">Poudel also said that the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which is said to be coming from the United States, is being prepared to be given to those who previously missed the vaccine, and those who are at-risk as well as differently abled people.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-12', 'modified' => '2021-07-12', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13409', 'image' => '20210712114549_20210528053937_20201220030450_Corona3 (1).jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-12 11:43:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13663', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Bank Employees to Launch Second Phase of Protest against Social Security Fund', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 11: Employees of banks and financial institutions (BFIs) as well as insurance companies, who claim to have been forced to join the contribution-based social security scheme of the government, have decided to start the second phase of protest against the Social Security Fund (SSF).', 'content' => '<p>July 11: <span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">Employees of banks and financial institutions (BFIs) as well as insurance companies, who claim to have been forced to join the contribution-based social security scheme of the government, have decided to start the second phase of protest against the Social Security Fund (SSF).</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">The concerned employees are going to protest against the scheme of the Social Security Fund by wearing black armbands on their hands in their offices.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">They have been demanding amendment of most of the provisions of the fund and to make it optional. Earlier, the employees had protested in the office using banners with their demands written on it.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">The</span><strong> </strong>Financial Institute Employees Union of Nepal (FIEUN), which has been leading trade unions of 48 government and private sector banks, insurance and financial institutions, issued a statement on Friday saying that the second phase of the protest would be launched from today (Sunday, July 11). Accordingly, the employees are going to protest in front of their banks with black armbands on their hands from July 11 to 14.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">According to the union, it is the time to settle the annual accounts of the Government of Nepal, banks and financial institutions as mid-July approaches. Hence, a symbolic protest would be conducted with the question “Why do we disagree with the contribution-based social security scheme?”</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">FIEUN has also appealed to be mentally ready for the situation where additional protest programmes would be conducted in the coming days.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">Stating that the government is trying to force people to participate in the social security scheme by cutting down the institutionalized service facilities, the association has asked the authorities not to create a situation to protest against the activities of the fund.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-11', 'modified' => '2021-07-11', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13408', 'image' => '20210711042355_20200401094426_1585693701.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-11 16:21:54', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13662', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Tourist Hub Thamel still Wears a Deserted Look', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 11: Although many places in Kathmandu valley have started getting busier each day, the Thamel area still wears a deserted look.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">July 11: It’s been a while since the odd-even rule for vehicular movement has been removed. The activities and movement of people have been returning back to normal as well. Although many places in Kathmandu valley have started getting busier each day, the Thamel area still wears a deserted look.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">Businesses in many places have started picking up pace. But, the business activities in the Thamel area still seem to be null.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">Even though some small hotels are providing takeaway service during the daytime in the Thamel area, the night business is nil. All of the activities in Thamel have halted since the entire area focused on tourism-related activities. Before the pandemic, the daily turnover in the Thamel area was around Rs 200 million during the normal tourist season, while it was around Rs 100 million during the off-season.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">Bhabishwor Sharma, chairman of Thamel Tourism Development Council, told New Business Age that most of the traders in the region are on the verge of abandoning their business after the decline in trade since the start of the coronavirus pandemic in Nepal. According to him, more than 700 traders in the area had quit their business last year due to the pandemic. Business was completely halted after it became difficult to pay rent, electricity bills and bank loans and interest.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">There are almost 10,000 tourism merchants associated with hotel, restaurants, travel agencies, money exchange, and handicraft businesses in areas in and around Thamel, Paknajol, Chhetrapati, Kaldhara, and Nardevi.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">Since Thamel is the most famous tourist area, the rent in this area is much more expensive in comparison to other tourist areas, said Narendra Lama, a trader associated with the hotel business for 15 years. The traders are facing a lot of trouble to pay rent due to their business going downhill.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">According to him, there are traders who pay from Rs 15,000 to Rs 4500,000 per month. It means that on an average, one trader pays Rs 80,000 for rent each month.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">Traders in the Thamel area have demanded that the government provide loans of up to Rs 2500,000 at 5 percent interest rate to prevent them from abandoning their businesses. They also demanded that the bank's installments be paid only after the pandemic subsides and the business is fully operational.</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-11', 'modified' => '2021-07-11', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13407', 'image' => '20210711041456_20200817020449_Chinese.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-11 16:12:59', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13661', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Amendment to the Railway Agreement with India Expected to Reduce Transportation Cost ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 11: Four railway service providers of India are looking forward to transport cargo to Nepal, following the amendment of the Nepal-India Railway Service Agreement.', 'content' => '<p>July 11: <span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Four railway service providers of India are looking forward to transport cargo to Nepal, following the amendment of the Nepal-India Railway Service Agreement. Competition among the Indian companies is likely to increase as the agreement opens the door for Indian private carriers to transport cargo to Nepal. So far, the Indian Container Corporation Limited (Konkar) has been providing transportation services from the Indian seaports of Kolkata, Haldiya, and Visakhapatnam to Nepal. Until now, Konkar, a subsidiary of Indian Railways, had a monopoly on transportation through railway. Now, the other three companies are ready to provide services immediately.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Pristine Logistics InfraProjects, which is currently partnering in the operation of the Birgunj Dry Port, has started preparations for the operation of the railway service, said a senior official of the company.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The official also claimed that JN Buxi Group, which operates ports and railways in India, and Hind Terminal Pvt are interested in the cargo shipment service. Pristine Logistics holds the contract to operate the port for five years in partnership with the Valley Dryport. Pristine had been interested in railway services in Nepal. Pristine has 30 rail racks. At present, 15 private companies are providing railway transportation services in India. The amendment has opened the way for all those companies to opt for the service.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Province 2 Transport and Transit Committee expressed that Nepal's transit can benefit if competition increases after private companies operate their service. Coordinator Ashok Temani is dissatisfied with the fact that the amendment does not include the issue of transportation by private railway service providers of Nepal. Even though the amendment has made arrangements for Indian private companies to transport goods to Nepal, the agreement is silent on private railway service providers of Nepal. The agreement has been amended so that trains and wagons owned by Nepal Railway Company can provide services. Nepali importers and exporters had demanded an amendment a decade ago. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Now even private logistics companies in the country are willing and can provide services. It's the short-sightedness of the government officials that the agreement did not pave the way for the entry of private companies, he informed. </span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-11', 'modified' => '2021-07-11', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13406', 'image' => '20210711015013_1625954596.Clipboard12.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-11 13:47:52', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13660', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Workers Stage Protest against Hulas Wire for Fourth Day', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 11: Workers of Hulas Wire Industries Pvt Ltd in Budiganga rural municipality, Morang continued their protest on Saturday demanding reinstatement of 93 workers who were expelled by the industry.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 11: Workers of Hulas Wire Industries Pvt Ltd in Budiganga rural municipality, Morang continued their protest on Saturday demanding reinstatement of 93 workers who were expelled by the industry. The workers have been protesting at the gate of the industry since Wednesday.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Although two informal meetings between the industry administration and leader of the labour organization have taken place, no agreement has been reached between them as both parties did not want to compromise. The production of the industry has been halted due to the protest. Other 750 workers of the industry have also joined the protest. After the failed meeting, other trade unions have also joined the protest.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Workers have set up tents at the main entrance of the industry causing obstruction to the movement of people into the industry.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The workers had also lodged a complaint at the Labour and Employment Office, Biratnagar last Tuesday demanding services as per the appointment letter and law.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Suresh Majhi, vice president of the Nepal Factory Workers’ Union, said that instead of resolving the problem, the industry expelled the workers on the next day without any discussion and prior information.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to him, the industry that had agreed to provide appointment letters and minimum wage to the workers a year ago has not provided those letters or minimum service facilities to the workers who have been working for more than one and a half decades.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The industry had earlier agreed to provide minimum wages and appointment letters to the workers on July 5, 2020 after the Labor and Employment Office decided to take action against the industry after receiving the complaint from the workers. Majhi says that the situation was further complicated after the workers were expelled without following the agreement.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Currently, 750 workers are employed in the industry. Sri Prasad Sah, president of the Nepal Factory Workers' Union, Morang, complained that the industry has not complied with the preconditions of giving appointment letters to the workers according to the law and discuss with trade unions when appointing and retiring any workers. Despite repeated discussions and negotiations between the agitating workers and the industry administration, the problem has not been resolved.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">General Manager of the industry Mukesh Kothari did not want to comment on workers being expelled from the industry and the ongoing protest. Ram Prasad Timalsina, information officer at the Labor and Employment Office, Biratnagar, said that a letter has been sent to the industry to study the latest complaint lodged by the workers and provide details. He said that action would be taken against the industry if the workers were not given appointment letters and remuneration as per the agreement and rules.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-11', 'modified' => '2021-07-11', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13405', 'image' => '20210711012644_1625955234.Clipboard10.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-11 13:22:32', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13659', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => ' FNCCI Appreciates Amendment to Nepal-India Rail Service Agreement ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => '', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">July 11: The Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) has expressed happiness over the amendment in the much-hyped Nepal-India Rail Service Agreement. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">With the amendment to the agreement, all rail service providers can now transport goods two-way from Nepal to Indian seaports. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Issuing a press statement on Saturday, the FNCCI said the new provision would take the bilateral trade and transport relations to a new height. Stating that the demand raised by the FNCCI since a long time has been addressed, the FNCCI expressed gratitude to both the governments for the initiative. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">With the latest agreement, the rails and wagons under the ownership of Nepal Railway Company can provide rail service to Kolkata-Haldiya from Bigunj and Biratnagar, the state-owned national news agency RSS reported. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The FNCCI is hopeful that the recent amendment to the agreement would bring about a huge change in Nepal’s international trade. It has urged both the governments to fully implement the agreement. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The agreement to amend the India-Nepal Rail Services Agreement (RSA) 2004 was reached on July 9. Government authorities of Nepal and India signed Letter of Exchange in this regard amidst a virtual ceremony. </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-11', 'modified' => '2021-07-11', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13404', 'image' => '20210711075507_20210411051156_20210120113335_1611012622.Clipboard09.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-11 07:54:27', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13658', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Ghorahi Sub-metropolis Purchases Garbage Collected by Residents ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Ghorahi Sub-Metropolitan City has collected and purchased garbage from its residents as part of its campaign to rid the city of plastic bags. ', 'content' => '<p>July 10: Ghorahi Sub-Metropolitan City has collected and purchased garbage from its residents as part of its campaign to rid the city of plastic bags. <br /> Biodegradable waste will be used to produce gas and fertilisers and non-biodegradable garbage will be recycled. <br /> As informed earlier, volunteers mobilised by the sub-metropolis reached doorsteps of local people and purchased garbage they collected. <br /> The locals have been a happy lot as they have benefited from this campaign both ways—they have got rid of garbage and got money at the same time. <br /> Sita Rokka, who runs a hotel at New Bus Park in Ghorahi-14 was facing hard time to dispose of the waste. However, now she has been relieved of her problem of managing waste produced from her hotel as the sub-metropolis collected and purchased garbage from her. She recently got Rs 200 for 20 kilograms garbage. <br /> The sub-metropolis started purchasing garbage collected by local people three months ago. The budget for the current fiscal year has prioritised the drive. <br /> So far, garbage worth around Rs 20,000 has been purchased, said Laxman Adhikari, chief of the environment and sanitation division, the sub-metropolis. <br /> One kilogram soft and hard polythene bag fetches Rs 10 and Rs 5 respectively. Likewise, cover of tobacco products is sold for Rs 2 per kilogram and paper fetches from Rs 10 to Rs 20 per kilogram. <em><strong>-RSS </strong></em></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-10', 'modified' => '2021-07-10', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13403', 'image' => '20210710030656_Solid Waste.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-10 14:56:07', 'homepage' => true, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '35' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13657', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Prepares Draft of Work Procedure for Soft Loan to Startups ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 9: The government has prepared a work procedure to disburse loans to encourage those involved in startup business. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Georgia">July 9: The government has prepared a work procedure to disburse loans to encourage those involved in startup business. The loan will be provided as initial seed capital at a subsidized interest rate of 1 percent.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Georgia">A working committee was formed under the coordination of the officials of the Ministry of Finance to draft the work procedure. The committee has already prepared the work procedure and is preparing to present it to the cabinet meeting in a few days. This programme has been in the budget for a long time. However, it has not been implemented yet.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Georgia">In the budget brought by the ordinance for the fiscal year 2078/79, Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel had announced to give a loan at 1 percent interest rate under this program. The project has pledged to provide soft loans up to Rs 2.5 million as seed money to motivate young entrepreneurs to get involved in startup business.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Georgia">The implementation of this program, which has been kept in the budget for a long time, was hampered due to a lack of clear definition, procedures, and criteria. The drafting of the current work procedure seeks to define 'startup'. Young entrepreneurs with the latest knowledge, thinking, skills, and abilities fall under this category. However, this definition does not fully define startups.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Georgia">Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Finance Mahesh Acharya informed that the draft was finalized to clarify the definition. Although the draft was prepared by a task force comprising of officials from the Ministry of Finance, it has not been made public yet.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-09', 'modified' => '2021-07-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13402', 'image' => '20210709013508_20200327032654_5003_finance-ministy.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-09 13:34:34', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13656', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Flood Related Insurance Claims Total Rs 2.92 Billion ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 9: Non-life insurance companies have received insurance claims worth Rs 2 billion for damage caused by floods and landslides in different parts of the country.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">July 9: Non-life insurance companies have received insurance claims worth Rs 2 billion for damage caused by floods and landslides in different parts of the country.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">According to the data provided by the Insurance Board, the non-life insurance companies received a total of 331 insurance claims worth Rs 2.92 billion as of July 7. Executive director of the board, Raju Raman Poudel said that the victims of flood made claims for loss of property, motor, agriculture and livestock, and engineering.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">There are currently 20 non-life insurance companies operating in Nepal.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">According to the board, the claims will be paid after assessing the damage and completing the necessary process. Recent floods had damaged buildings, vehicles, agricultural lands, hydropower projects, other projects, projects under construction and other physical infrastructure. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The board said that as the flood in Nepal is still continuing, there are chances of receiving more claims.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Of the total insurance claims, the claim for engineering insurance is the highest with a total of Rs 1.21 billion.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The companies have received 107 claims worth Rs 907 million from under-construction projects. Likewise, Rs 117 million has been claimed from eight completed projects.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Similarly, claims worth Rs 88.43 million have been made for 18 heavy equipment used in the projects. According to the board, there are six other claims worth Rs 15.33 million in engineering.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">After engineering, there are more claims on home and commercial buildings, ie property insurance. The data shows that 141 claims worth Rs 693.6 million have been received under the heading of property insurance.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Likewise, 33 claims worth Rs 47.58 million have been registered for motor insurance. Five insurance claims for loss of livestock totaled Rs 23.8 million. In agriculture insurance, six claims amounting to Rs 16.25 million were made. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-09', 'modified' => '2021-07-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13401', 'image' => '20210709012659_1625787259.11.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-09 13:26:25', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13654', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'RTGS Operations to Run this Weekend ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 9: The RTGS (Real Time Gross Settlement) system will remain open all day on this Friday and Saturday as well. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Georgia">July 9</span></span>: <span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Georgia">The RTGS (Real Time Gross Settlement) system will remain open all day on this Friday and Saturday as well. The Payments System Department of Nepal Rastra Bank issued a notice on Thursday stating that RTGS transactions will continue throughout the day on July 9 and 10.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Georgia">According to the Payments System Department, this provision has been made there will be a lot of transactions with the current fiscal year coming to an end in mid-July. Therefore, the time for clearance of taxes and settlement of other financial issues has been extended to prevent delay in the payment.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Georgia">The central bank stated that they received complaints regarding lack of time for transaction which is higher towards the end of the fiscal year. Hence, the RTGS will continue to operate full day on Friday and Saturday.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Georgia">Such services were being provided by banks and financial institutions till 2 pm due to the prohibitory orders.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Georgia">A minimum of Rs 200,000 and more can be paid immediately through RTGS.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-09', 'modified' => '2021-07-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13399', 'image' => '20210709112817_My Effect.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-09 11:27:41', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13653', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Transport Entrepreneurs Submit 7-Point Memo to PM', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 9: Transport entrepreneurs have submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli requesting him to address their concerns related to the impact of COVID-19 on their business.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">July 9: Transport entrepreneurs have submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli requesting him to address their concerns related to the impact of COVID-19 on their business.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The entrepreneurs affiliated to the Federation of Nepalese National Transport Entrepreneurs on Thursday (July 8) submitted their seven-point demand by visiting the Office of the Prime Minister in Singha Durbar. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The transport entrepreneurs informed the prime minister that their investment of around Rs 1000 billion is at risk due to the pandemic and subsequent lockdowns imposed by the government. The delegation of transport entrepreneurs said that almost 900,000 people directly or indirectly involved in this business facing extreme hardship due to the measures taken by the government to control coronavirus.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The entrepreneurs complained that their demands have not been addressed although they have made repeated requests to the concerned government bodies.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The entrepreneurs have asked the government to immediately ensure vaccine against COVID-19 to the workers involved in transportation service. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Similarly, their other demands include hike in public transportation fare in the context that they have incurred huge amount of losses as the fare has not been reviewed for almost nine years. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Similarly, they have asked policy changes in financing including additional loan, refinance and subsidy in interest rate through the monetary policy by considering the lockdown period as a zero hour. </span></span></span><br /> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-09', 'modified' => '2021-07-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13398', 'image' => '20210709110857_20200705035220_public transport.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-09 11:06:34', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13652', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Dispute Arises over Restructuring of Nepal Airlines ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 9: The issue of restructuring the state-owned Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) has courted controversy yet again.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">July 9: The issue of restructuring the state-owned Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) has courted controversy yet again. Employees of the corporation have started protest against the proposal to privatize the flag carrier of Nepal. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">In a press release issued on July 7, General Manager Dim Prasad Poudel said that the NAC should be fully owned by the Government of Nepal.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation has claimed that the NAC will be converted into a company with 100 percent investment of the government. The ministry also assured that NAC will not be privatized.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Sources close to the ministry claim that there is no alternative than to restructure the NAC into a company to save the cash-strapped corporation. Nepal Airlines Corporation was formed as per the Airlines Act. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Investment from external sources can be accepted by restructuring the existing corporation into a company if any good international company is willing to cooperate.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">“The current structure of NAC does not allow foreign investment. Therefore, preparations are underway to restructure it,” said GM Poudel, adding, “Right now, we can bring expert team from abroad but we are not allowed to accept foreign investment. So, there is no point in protesting at the moment.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">GM Poudel claimed that they were only making an attempt to reform the institution by discouraging the trend of recruiting staff on contract basis.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The ministry has not renewed the contracts of 300 employees during the lockdown. An official said that the financial condition of the corporation is very fragile and it is being restructured to revive the NAC. Right now, the NAC has a loan of Rs 47 billion. The official said that an agreement has been reached to convert NAC into a public company for long-term benefit. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Stating that Nepal's private sector does not have the capacity to raise such a huge amount to operate NAC, the officials claimed that NAC’s privatization will not happen under any circumstances.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The official said that the corporation needs to compete with international airlines. It has to find a long-term solution as it needs to add more aircraft.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The government is planning to sell 51 percent stakes of the company to founder shareholders and 49 percent to private companies, former and current employees, and foreign airlines companies, if no single individual or company comes in to take full ownership. However, the employees of NAC claim that the government is trying to privatize the company. The agitating workers said that the draft of the proposal was rejected and they would continue protest until the current General Manager Dim Prasad Poudel resigns. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">While purchasing the Airbus aircraft, the corporation took loans from the Employees Provident Fund and Citizens Investment Fund. NAC procured two widebody Airbus aircraft with loans from these two organizations on a government guarantee.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-09', 'modified' => '2021-07-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13397', 'image' => '20210709080354_20180727021334_2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-09 08:03:17', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13651', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => ' Illegally-Imported Mobile Phones to be Blocked from July 16 ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 9: Illegal and unregistered mobile phones will be blocked starting from July 16.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">July 9: Illegal and unregistered mobile phones will be blocked starting from July 16. Such mobile phones cannot operate after the Mobile Device Management System (MDMS) comes into operation from the upcoming fiscal year. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Poudel during the budget announcement for the fiscal year 2021/22 had declared that the MDMS will come into operation from July 16. The implementation of MDMS is believed to control the use of illegal mobile sets and criminal activities using mobile phones. Customers can also track or block their mobile phones through IMEI, ESN, or MEID if the phone is lost. Moreover, it will remove the grey market and encourage official brands. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Nepal Telecommunication Authority (NTA) has a provision for International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) registration of mobile phones to discourage illegal import, sale and distribution of mobile sets. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The regulatory body says that every IMEI of mobile phones brought from outside the country has to be registered compulsorily. However, commercially imported mobile phones that are purchased and used in Nepal do not need to be re-registered. After increasing confusion among the users, NTA issued a notice on July 7 to clarify the issue. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Prior to this, the government had made the IMEI registration compulsory in April 2016 and said that the unregistered phone will be dysfunctional from April 1, 2017. However, no action was taken citing various reasons. </span></span></span></p> <p><strong><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Registering IMEI number online </span></span></span></strong></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">To register the IMEI number of a mobile phone, customers need to visit the NTA portal and press sign up for the login or register. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Before registering, a customer can check whether their device is already registered or not. For this, click on ‘Know your Device’ option and enter the IMEI number. If the number is not registered, sign up for new registration. To start the registration process, enter email address and password and click on ‘sign up’. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Upon signing up, two options will be shown – New Importer and Individual Application. Choose an individual application and fill up the details on the form and upload necessary documents such as citizenship, ID or passport. Provide valid email address and submit. After submitting the application, the customer will receive an email confirming that the documents are successfully submitted. NTA will register the IMEI number in their system once they review the documents.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">However, the online registration process is facing problems right now due to the excessive number of service seekers. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">In the notice issued on July 7, NTA said that a technical problems has surfaced due to the excessive number of people registering IMEI of their mobile sets in the Authority’s website. The notice further said that it will take some time for resumption of the service.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-09', 'modified' => '2021-07-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13396', 'image' => '20210709072551_imei-numbe.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-09 07:24:50', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13650', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Supreme Court Issues Showcause Notice to the Government over Kaligandaki Diversion Project', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 8: The Supreme Court has issued a show cause notice in the name of the government seeking its written response over the Kaligandaki-Tinau Diversion Multi-Purpose Project. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">July 8: The Supreme Court has issued a show cause notice in the name of the government seeking its written response over the Kaligandaki-Tinau Diversion Multi-Purpose Project. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">A single bench of Justice Tej Bahadur KC on Wednesday (July 7) issued the order, asking the government to submit its written response within 15 days. The apex court has also summoned both sides for discussions on July 19.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">The government plans to divert the water of Kaligandaki River to the Tinau River through a 27-kilometer tunnel by constructing a dam 2 km away from the Ramdi Bridge in Palpa.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Advocates Tulsiram Pokhrel, Ram Bahadur Shahi and Santosh Bhandari had filed the writ petition demanding that the project should be stopped immediately. According to the petitioners, the decision of the government to divert the water of Kaligandaki will bring an end to the existence of the Gandaki river which is related with the civilization and culture of the country. They also noted that the river holds religious significance among Hindu pilgrims.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">The petitioners have demanded an immediate halt in implementing the government's decision in this regard as the project is against the constitution, law and international treaties and agreements.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">They also argued that the project will negatively affect a significant population in Gandaki Province as well as the watershed area from Ramdi to Devghat. </span></span></span></span><br /> </p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Although this is not a new project, it has drawn attention after Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel inaugurated the project office in Butwal on June 26.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">The project has been dragged into controversy after the government tried to move ahead with the Kaligandaki-Tinau Diversion Multi-Purpose Project without any preparation. The feasibility study of the project and environmental impact assessment report required before starting the project have not been prepared. The Detailed Project Report is also yet to be prepared. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">As the central government tried to advance the project without taking other parties into confidence, the issue was dragged to the court. This multi-purpose project is being developed targeting areas such as Butwal, Rupandehi, Kapilvastu and Lumbini.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">The project aims to divert water from the Kaligandaki River to the Tinau River through a tunnel, irrigate the fields of Rupandehi and Kapilvastu and generate 126 MW of electricity. Officials of the project office have been saying that some of the water will be diverted into the Tinau river by constructing a huge reservoir in Dobhan and some water will be channeled through a 3 km tunnel to Belbas of Butwal for electricity generation.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-08', 'modified' => '2021-07-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13395', 'image' => '20210708014401_20201127115547_20200417094838_CKC_ktm.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-08 13:42:59', '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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The government had announced the package for civil servants as well as employees of public institutions in the annual budget speech in order to aide the tourism industry battered by Covid-19. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">However, the government is yet to prepare a work procedure to implement the package.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">As the work procedure is not made yet, the employees will not be able to take this offer from the beginning of the next fiscal year. The holiday package will be implemented only after the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation prepares a work procedure and the Council of Ministers approves it. However, the procedure to be made by the ministry is still in the preliminary stage.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Stating that the work procedure for the implementation of holiday package is being drafted, Joint Secretary of the Ministry Laxmi Kumari Basnet said that they will finalize it soon by addressing the issues announced in the budget speech.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">"We are in the process of drafting the work procedure now," she said, “The draft will be prepared in 10 days.”</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">After the draft is ready, the ministry is planning to take suggestions from other stakeholders.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">She said that first the ministry would prepare the draft of the work procedure and then all the ministries and institutes would be informed and their opinions would be sought. “After that, the opinion from the finance ministry will be taken and sent to the cabinet,” she said. “Therefore, it will take some time for the implementation of the holiday package.”</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Although the holiday package is said to be implemented from July 16 as per the budget announcement, it will take some time to implement the package due to the delay in preparing the work procedure and its approval.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Additional budget is also required for this. Basnet said that the program will be implemented only after the budget is allocated and disbursed. According to her, the package will be implemented after the concerned ministries and agencies submit their programme to the Ministry of Finance after calculating the cost and expenses required for the employees while going for a tourism holiday.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The government had announced the budget for the upcoming fiscal year 2078/79 on May 29 and announced to provide 10 days’ holiday to promote domestic tourism. In the budget speech, it was mentioned that in order to promote domestic tourism, the civil servants, as well as employees of public institutions and organisations will be provided tourism holiday with an amount equal to 10 days' salary. Employees working in the private sector will also be encouraged to provide facilities accordingly.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">While there are no international tourists in the country due to Covid-19, the package was a relief to the tourism entrepreners.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Entrepreneurs were enthusiastic about the tourism holiday announced to help revive the sector through domestic tourism.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">However, with only four days left until the next fiscal year starts, they are disappointed that the procedure has not been finalized. Senior Vice President of the Hotel Association Nepal (HAN) Binayak Shah said that although the Desh Darshan program was announced in the current fiscal year it has not been implemented. “Only declaration is not enough, where is a concrete plan and procedure to implement it?” he asked. </span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-12', 'modified' => '2021-07-12', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13410', 'image' => '20210712015904_20180513122353_tourism.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-12 13:57:51', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13664', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'All Citizens will get Vaccines within 2021: PM Oli', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 12: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has stated that all citizens will be vaccinated by 2021.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">July 12: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has stated that all citizens will be vaccinated by 2021. Inaugurating the newly-constructed surgical building of Bir Hospital on Sunday, Prime Minister Oli said that vaccines would arrive regularly to meet the goal.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">He said that the government is monitoring the issue seriously. Thus, no one would be deprived of vaccination. "We have been providing the vaccine. It came yesterday, it came today, now it will come tomorrow as well,"</span> he said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">The government has been facing criticism from all quarters for not being able to meet the vaccination needs of citizens. Earlier, when the vaccination campaign was launched in the second week of January, Prime Minister Oli claimed that every Nepali would be vaccinated by April. Now, the PM claims that everyone will be vaccinated by the year-end; claiming that vaccines will arrive regularly.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">The government had started the vaccination programme with 1 million doses of Covishield vaccine that was provided by India on January 29. Despite paying for the purchase of 2 million additional doses of vaccine, India has provided only 1 million doses. One million vaccines are yet to be provided by India. Senior citizens who have received the first dose of vaccine have been outraged by the non-arrival of the Covishield vaccine from India.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">A total of 2.6 million vaccines have arrived in Nepal till date. Last year, 800,000 doses of vaccines were received in April, 1 million in May and 800,000 last Friday.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">Spokesman for the Ministry of Health and Population, Dr. Krishna Prasad Paudel said that the government has bought 4 million doses of Vero Cell vaccine from China. In addition, the United States will provide 1.5 million doses of Johnson & Johnson vaccine to Nepal.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">Only one dose of vaccine provided by the USA is enough against the Covid-.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">According to Poudel, apart from the above listed vaccines, it is not yet clear how many vaccines will come from where. Stating that they are trying to buy vaccines, he said that they are not sure about the purchase of additional vaccines.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">Spokesman Paudel said that 800,000 doses of vaccines brought from China on Friday will be given to citizens of the age group 60- to 64 years and the age group of 55-60 years. The date of the vaccination has not yet been fixed.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">Poudel also said that the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which is said to be coming from the United States, is being prepared to be given to those who previously missed the vaccine, and those who are at-risk as well as differently abled people.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-12', 'modified' => '2021-07-12', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13409', 'image' => '20210712114549_20210528053937_20201220030450_Corona3 (1).jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-12 11:43:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13663', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Bank Employees to Launch Second Phase of Protest against Social Security Fund', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 11: Employees of banks and financial institutions (BFIs) as well as insurance companies, who claim to have been forced to join the contribution-based social security scheme of the government, have decided to start the second phase of protest against the Social Security Fund (SSF).', 'content' => '<p>July 11: <span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">Employees of banks and financial institutions (BFIs) as well as insurance companies, who claim to have been forced to join the contribution-based social security scheme of the government, have decided to start the second phase of protest against the Social Security Fund (SSF).</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">The concerned employees are going to protest against the scheme of the Social Security Fund by wearing black armbands on their hands in their offices.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">They have been demanding amendment of most of the provisions of the fund and to make it optional. Earlier, the employees had protested in the office using banners with their demands written on it.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">The</span><strong> </strong>Financial Institute Employees Union of Nepal (FIEUN), which has been leading trade unions of 48 government and private sector banks, insurance and financial institutions, issued a statement on Friday saying that the second phase of the protest would be launched from today (Sunday, July 11). Accordingly, the employees are going to protest in front of their banks with black armbands on their hands from July 11 to 14.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">According to the union, it is the time to settle the annual accounts of the Government of Nepal, banks and financial institutions as mid-July approaches. Hence, a symbolic protest would be conducted with the question “Why do we disagree with the contribution-based social security scheme?”</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">FIEUN has also appealed to be mentally ready for the situation where additional protest programmes would be conducted in the coming days.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">Stating that the government is trying to force people to participate in the social security scheme by cutting down the institutionalized service facilities, the association has asked the authorities not to create a situation to protest against the activities of the fund.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-11', 'modified' => '2021-07-11', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13408', 'image' => '20210711042355_20200401094426_1585693701.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-11 16:21:54', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13662', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Tourist Hub Thamel still Wears a Deserted Look', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 11: Although many places in Kathmandu valley have started getting busier each day, the Thamel area still wears a deserted look.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">July 11: It’s been a while since the odd-even rule for vehicular movement has been removed. The activities and movement of people have been returning back to normal as well. Although many places in Kathmandu valley have started getting busier each day, the Thamel area still wears a deserted look.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">Businesses in many places have started picking up pace. But, the business activities in the Thamel area still seem to be null.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">Even though some small hotels are providing takeaway service during the daytime in the Thamel area, the night business is nil. All of the activities in Thamel have halted since the entire area focused on tourism-related activities. Before the pandemic, the daily turnover in the Thamel area was around Rs 200 million during the normal tourist season, while it was around Rs 100 million during the off-season.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">Bhabishwor Sharma, chairman of Thamel Tourism Development Council, told New Business Age that most of the traders in the region are on the verge of abandoning their business after the decline in trade since the start of the coronavirus pandemic in Nepal. According to him, more than 700 traders in the area had quit their business last year due to the pandemic. Business was completely halted after it became difficult to pay rent, electricity bills and bank loans and interest.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">There are almost 10,000 tourism merchants associated with hotel, restaurants, travel agencies, money exchange, and handicraft businesses in areas in and around Thamel, Paknajol, Chhetrapati, Kaldhara, and Nardevi.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">Since Thamel is the most famous tourist area, the rent in this area is much more expensive in comparison to other tourist areas, said Narendra Lama, a trader associated with the hotel business for 15 years. The traders are facing a lot of trouble to pay rent due to their business going downhill.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">According to him, there are traders who pay from Rs 15,000 to Rs 4500,000 per month. It means that on an average, one trader pays Rs 80,000 for rent each month.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">Traders in the Thamel area have demanded that the government provide loans of up to Rs 2500,000 at 5 percent interest rate to prevent them from abandoning their businesses. They also demanded that the bank's installments be paid only after the pandemic subsides and the business is fully operational.</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-11', 'modified' => '2021-07-11', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13407', 'image' => '20210711041456_20200817020449_Chinese.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-11 16:12:59', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13661', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Amendment to the Railway Agreement with India Expected to Reduce Transportation Cost ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 11: Four railway service providers of India are looking forward to transport cargo to Nepal, following the amendment of the Nepal-India Railway Service Agreement.', 'content' => '<p>July 11: <span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Four railway service providers of India are looking forward to transport cargo to Nepal, following the amendment of the Nepal-India Railway Service Agreement. Competition among the Indian companies is likely to increase as the agreement opens the door for Indian private carriers to transport cargo to Nepal. So far, the Indian Container Corporation Limited (Konkar) has been providing transportation services from the Indian seaports of Kolkata, Haldiya, and Visakhapatnam to Nepal. Until now, Konkar, a subsidiary of Indian Railways, had a monopoly on transportation through railway. Now, the other three companies are ready to provide services immediately.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Pristine Logistics InfraProjects, which is currently partnering in the operation of the Birgunj Dry Port, has started preparations for the operation of the railway service, said a senior official of the company.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The official also claimed that JN Buxi Group, which operates ports and railways in India, and Hind Terminal Pvt are interested in the cargo shipment service. Pristine Logistics holds the contract to operate the port for five years in partnership with the Valley Dryport. Pristine had been interested in railway services in Nepal. Pristine has 30 rail racks. At present, 15 private companies are providing railway transportation services in India. The amendment has opened the way for all those companies to opt for the service.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Province 2 Transport and Transit Committee expressed that Nepal's transit can benefit if competition increases after private companies operate their service. Coordinator Ashok Temani is dissatisfied with the fact that the amendment does not include the issue of transportation by private railway service providers of Nepal. Even though the amendment has made arrangements for Indian private companies to transport goods to Nepal, the agreement is silent on private railway service providers of Nepal. The agreement has been amended so that trains and wagons owned by Nepal Railway Company can provide services. Nepali importers and exporters had demanded an amendment a decade ago. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Now even private logistics companies in the country are willing and can provide services. It's the short-sightedness of the government officials that the agreement did not pave the way for the entry of private companies, he informed. </span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-11', 'modified' => '2021-07-11', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13406', 'image' => '20210711015013_1625954596.Clipboard12.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-11 13:47:52', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13660', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Workers Stage Protest against Hulas Wire for Fourth Day', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 11: Workers of Hulas Wire Industries Pvt Ltd in Budiganga rural municipality, Morang continued their protest on Saturday demanding reinstatement of 93 workers who were expelled by the industry.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 11: Workers of Hulas Wire Industries Pvt Ltd in Budiganga rural municipality, Morang continued their protest on Saturday demanding reinstatement of 93 workers who were expelled by the industry. The workers have been protesting at the gate of the industry since Wednesday.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Although two informal meetings between the industry administration and leader of the labour organization have taken place, no agreement has been reached between them as both parties did not want to compromise. The production of the industry has been halted due to the protest. Other 750 workers of the industry have also joined the protest. After the failed meeting, other trade unions have also joined the protest.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Workers have set up tents at the main entrance of the industry causing obstruction to the movement of people into the industry.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The workers had also lodged a complaint at the Labour and Employment Office, Biratnagar last Tuesday demanding services as per the appointment letter and law.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Suresh Majhi, vice president of the Nepal Factory Workers’ Union, said that instead of resolving the problem, the industry expelled the workers on the next day without any discussion and prior information.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to him, the industry that had agreed to provide appointment letters and minimum wage to the workers a year ago has not provided those letters or minimum service facilities to the workers who have been working for more than one and a half decades.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The industry had earlier agreed to provide minimum wages and appointment letters to the workers on July 5, 2020 after the Labor and Employment Office decided to take action against the industry after receiving the complaint from the workers. Majhi says that the situation was further complicated after the workers were expelled without following the agreement.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Currently, 750 workers are employed in the industry. Sri Prasad Sah, president of the Nepal Factory Workers' Union, Morang, complained that the industry has not complied with the preconditions of giving appointment letters to the workers according to the law and discuss with trade unions when appointing and retiring any workers. Despite repeated discussions and negotiations between the agitating workers and the industry administration, the problem has not been resolved.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">General Manager of the industry Mukesh Kothari did not want to comment on workers being expelled from the industry and the ongoing protest. Ram Prasad Timalsina, information officer at the Labor and Employment Office, Biratnagar, said that a letter has been sent to the industry to study the latest complaint lodged by the workers and provide details. He said that action would be taken against the industry if the workers were not given appointment letters and remuneration as per the agreement and rules.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-11', 'modified' => '2021-07-11', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13405', 'image' => '20210711012644_1625955234.Clipboard10.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-11 13:22:32', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13659', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => ' FNCCI Appreciates Amendment to Nepal-India Rail Service Agreement ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => '', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">July 11: The Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) has expressed happiness over the amendment in the much-hyped Nepal-India Rail Service Agreement. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">With the amendment to the agreement, all rail service providers can now transport goods two-way from Nepal to Indian seaports. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Issuing a press statement on Saturday, the FNCCI said the new provision would take the bilateral trade and transport relations to a new height. Stating that the demand raised by the FNCCI since a long time has been addressed, the FNCCI expressed gratitude to both the governments for the initiative. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">With the latest agreement, the rails and wagons under the ownership of Nepal Railway Company can provide rail service to Kolkata-Haldiya from Bigunj and Biratnagar, the state-owned national news agency RSS reported. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The FNCCI is hopeful that the recent amendment to the agreement would bring about a huge change in Nepal’s international trade. It has urged both the governments to fully implement the agreement. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The agreement to amend the India-Nepal Rail Services Agreement (RSA) 2004 was reached on July 9. Government authorities of Nepal and India signed Letter of Exchange in this regard amidst a virtual ceremony. </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-11', 'modified' => '2021-07-11', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13404', 'image' => '20210711075507_20210411051156_20210120113335_1611012622.Clipboard09.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-11 07:54:27', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13658', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Ghorahi Sub-metropolis Purchases Garbage Collected by Residents ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Ghorahi Sub-Metropolitan City has collected and purchased garbage from its residents as part of its campaign to rid the city of plastic bags. ', 'content' => '<p>July 10: Ghorahi Sub-Metropolitan City has collected and purchased garbage from its residents as part of its campaign to rid the city of plastic bags. <br /> Biodegradable waste will be used to produce gas and fertilisers and non-biodegradable garbage will be recycled. <br /> As informed earlier, volunteers mobilised by the sub-metropolis reached doorsteps of local people and purchased garbage they collected. <br /> The locals have been a happy lot as they have benefited from this campaign both ways—they have got rid of garbage and got money at the same time. <br /> Sita Rokka, who runs a hotel at New Bus Park in Ghorahi-14 was facing hard time to dispose of the waste. However, now she has been relieved of her problem of managing waste produced from her hotel as the sub-metropolis collected and purchased garbage from her. She recently got Rs 200 for 20 kilograms garbage. <br /> The sub-metropolis started purchasing garbage collected by local people three months ago. The budget for the current fiscal year has prioritised the drive. <br /> So far, garbage worth around Rs 20,000 has been purchased, said Laxman Adhikari, chief of the environment and sanitation division, the sub-metropolis. <br /> One kilogram soft and hard polythene bag fetches Rs 10 and Rs 5 respectively. Likewise, cover of tobacco products is sold for Rs 2 per kilogram and paper fetches from Rs 10 to Rs 20 per kilogram. <em><strong>-RSS </strong></em></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-10', 'modified' => '2021-07-10', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13403', 'image' => '20210710030656_Solid Waste.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-10 14:56:07', 'homepage' => true, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '35' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13657', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Prepares Draft of Work Procedure for Soft Loan to Startups ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 9: The government has prepared a work procedure to disburse loans to encourage those involved in startup business. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Georgia">July 9: The government has prepared a work procedure to disburse loans to encourage those involved in startup business. The loan will be provided as initial seed capital at a subsidized interest rate of 1 percent.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Georgia">A working committee was formed under the coordination of the officials of the Ministry of Finance to draft the work procedure. The committee has already prepared the work procedure and is preparing to present it to the cabinet meeting in a few days. This programme has been in the budget for a long time. However, it has not been implemented yet.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Georgia">In the budget brought by the ordinance for the fiscal year 2078/79, Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel had announced to give a loan at 1 percent interest rate under this program. The project has pledged to provide soft loans up to Rs 2.5 million as seed money to motivate young entrepreneurs to get involved in startup business.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Georgia">The implementation of this program, which has been kept in the budget for a long time, was hampered due to a lack of clear definition, procedures, and criteria. The drafting of the current work procedure seeks to define 'startup'. Young entrepreneurs with the latest knowledge, thinking, skills, and abilities fall under this category. However, this definition does not fully define startups.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Georgia">Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Finance Mahesh Acharya informed that the draft was finalized to clarify the definition. Although the draft was prepared by a task force comprising of officials from the Ministry of Finance, it has not been made public yet.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-09', 'modified' => '2021-07-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13402', 'image' => '20210709013508_20200327032654_5003_finance-ministy.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-09 13:34:34', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13656', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Flood Related Insurance Claims Total Rs 2.92 Billion ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 9: Non-life insurance companies have received insurance claims worth Rs 2 billion for damage caused by floods and landslides in different parts of the country.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">July 9: Non-life insurance companies have received insurance claims worth Rs 2 billion for damage caused by floods and landslides in different parts of the country.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">According to the data provided by the Insurance Board, the non-life insurance companies received a total of 331 insurance claims worth Rs 2.92 billion as of July 7. Executive director of the board, Raju Raman Poudel said that the victims of flood made claims for loss of property, motor, agriculture and livestock, and engineering.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">There are currently 20 non-life insurance companies operating in Nepal.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">According to the board, the claims will be paid after assessing the damage and completing the necessary process. Recent floods had damaged buildings, vehicles, agricultural lands, hydropower projects, other projects, projects under construction and other physical infrastructure. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The board said that as the flood in Nepal is still continuing, there are chances of receiving more claims.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Of the total insurance claims, the claim for engineering insurance is the highest with a total of Rs 1.21 billion.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The companies have received 107 claims worth Rs 907 million from under-construction projects. Likewise, Rs 117 million has been claimed from eight completed projects.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Similarly, claims worth Rs 88.43 million have been made for 18 heavy equipment used in the projects. According to the board, there are six other claims worth Rs 15.33 million in engineering.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">After engineering, there are more claims on home and commercial buildings, ie property insurance. The data shows that 141 claims worth Rs 693.6 million have been received under the heading of property insurance.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Likewise, 33 claims worth Rs 47.58 million have been registered for motor insurance. Five insurance claims for loss of livestock totaled Rs 23.8 million. In agriculture insurance, six claims amounting to Rs 16.25 million were made. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-09', 'modified' => '2021-07-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13401', 'image' => '20210709012659_1625787259.11.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-09 13:26:25', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13654', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'RTGS Operations to Run this Weekend ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 9: The RTGS (Real Time Gross Settlement) system will remain open all day on this Friday and Saturday as well. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Georgia">July 9</span></span>: <span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Georgia">The RTGS (Real Time Gross Settlement) system will remain open all day on this Friday and Saturday as well. The Payments System Department of Nepal Rastra Bank issued a notice on Thursday stating that RTGS transactions will continue throughout the day on July 9 and 10.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Georgia">According to the Payments System Department, this provision has been made there will be a lot of transactions with the current fiscal year coming to an end in mid-July. Therefore, the time for clearance of taxes and settlement of other financial issues has been extended to prevent delay in the payment.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Georgia">The central bank stated that they received complaints regarding lack of time for transaction which is higher towards the end of the fiscal year. Hence, the RTGS will continue to operate full day on Friday and Saturday.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Georgia">Such services were being provided by banks and financial institutions till 2 pm due to the prohibitory orders.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Georgia">A minimum of Rs 200,000 and more can be paid immediately through RTGS.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-09', 'modified' => '2021-07-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13399', 'image' => '20210709112817_My Effect.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-09 11:27:41', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13653', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Transport Entrepreneurs Submit 7-Point Memo to PM', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 9: Transport entrepreneurs have submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli requesting him to address their concerns related to the impact of COVID-19 on their business.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">July 9: Transport entrepreneurs have submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli requesting him to address their concerns related to the impact of COVID-19 on their business.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The entrepreneurs affiliated to the Federation of Nepalese National Transport Entrepreneurs on Thursday (July 8) submitted their seven-point demand by visiting the Office of the Prime Minister in Singha Durbar. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The transport entrepreneurs informed the prime minister that their investment of around Rs 1000 billion is at risk due to the pandemic and subsequent lockdowns imposed by the government. The delegation of transport entrepreneurs said that almost 900,000 people directly or indirectly involved in this business facing extreme hardship due to the measures taken by the government to control coronavirus.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The entrepreneurs complained that their demands have not been addressed although they have made repeated requests to the concerned government bodies.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The entrepreneurs have asked the government to immediately ensure vaccine against COVID-19 to the workers involved in transportation service. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Similarly, their other demands include hike in public transportation fare in the context that they have incurred huge amount of losses as the fare has not been reviewed for almost nine years. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Similarly, they have asked policy changes in financing including additional loan, refinance and subsidy in interest rate through the monetary policy by considering the lockdown period as a zero hour. </span></span></span><br /> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-09', 'modified' => '2021-07-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13398', 'image' => '20210709110857_20200705035220_public transport.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-09 11:06:34', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13652', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Dispute Arises over Restructuring of Nepal Airlines ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 9: The issue of restructuring the state-owned Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) has courted controversy yet again.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">July 9: The issue of restructuring the state-owned Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) has courted controversy yet again. Employees of the corporation have started protest against the proposal to privatize the flag carrier of Nepal. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">In a press release issued on July 7, General Manager Dim Prasad Poudel said that the NAC should be fully owned by the Government of Nepal.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation has claimed that the NAC will be converted into a company with 100 percent investment of the government. The ministry also assured that NAC will not be privatized.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Sources close to the ministry claim that there is no alternative than to restructure the NAC into a company to save the cash-strapped corporation. Nepal Airlines Corporation was formed as per the Airlines Act. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Investment from external sources can be accepted by restructuring the existing corporation into a company if any good international company is willing to cooperate.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">“The current structure of NAC does not allow foreign investment. Therefore, preparations are underway to restructure it,” said GM Poudel, adding, “Right now, we can bring expert team from abroad but we are not allowed to accept foreign investment. So, there is no point in protesting at the moment.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">GM Poudel claimed that they were only making an attempt to reform the institution by discouraging the trend of recruiting staff on contract basis.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The ministry has not renewed the contracts of 300 employees during the lockdown. An official said that the financial condition of the corporation is very fragile and it is being restructured to revive the NAC. Right now, the NAC has a loan of Rs 47 billion. The official said that an agreement has been reached to convert NAC into a public company for long-term benefit. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Stating that Nepal's private sector does not have the capacity to raise such a huge amount to operate NAC, the officials claimed that NAC’s privatization will not happen under any circumstances.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The official said that the corporation needs to compete with international airlines. It has to find a long-term solution as it needs to add more aircraft.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The government is planning to sell 51 percent stakes of the company to founder shareholders and 49 percent to private companies, former and current employees, and foreign airlines companies, if no single individual or company comes in to take full ownership. However, the employees of NAC claim that the government is trying to privatize the company. The agitating workers said that the draft of the proposal was rejected and they would continue protest until the current General Manager Dim Prasad Poudel resigns. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">While purchasing the Airbus aircraft, the corporation took loans from the Employees Provident Fund and Citizens Investment Fund. NAC procured two widebody Airbus aircraft with loans from these two organizations on a government guarantee.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-09', 'modified' => '2021-07-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13397', 'image' => '20210709080354_20180727021334_2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-09 08:03:17', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13651', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => ' Illegally-Imported Mobile Phones to be Blocked from July 16 ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 9: Illegal and unregistered mobile phones will be blocked starting from July 16.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">July 9: Illegal and unregistered mobile phones will be blocked starting from July 16. Such mobile phones cannot operate after the Mobile Device Management System (MDMS) comes into operation from the upcoming fiscal year. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Poudel during the budget announcement for the fiscal year 2021/22 had declared that the MDMS will come into operation from July 16. The implementation of MDMS is believed to control the use of illegal mobile sets and criminal activities using mobile phones. Customers can also track or block their mobile phones through IMEI, ESN, or MEID if the phone is lost. Moreover, it will remove the grey market and encourage official brands. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Nepal Telecommunication Authority (NTA) has a provision for International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) registration of mobile phones to discourage illegal import, sale and distribution of mobile sets. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The regulatory body says that every IMEI of mobile phones brought from outside the country has to be registered compulsorily. However, commercially imported mobile phones that are purchased and used in Nepal do not need to be re-registered. After increasing confusion among the users, NTA issued a notice on July 7 to clarify the issue. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Prior to this, the government had made the IMEI registration compulsory in April 2016 and said that the unregistered phone will be dysfunctional from April 1, 2017. However, no action was taken citing various reasons. </span></span></span></p> <p><strong><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Registering IMEI number online </span></span></span></strong></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">To register the IMEI number of a mobile phone, customers need to visit the NTA portal and press sign up for the login or register. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Before registering, a customer can check whether their device is already registered or not. For this, click on ‘Know your Device’ option and enter the IMEI number. If the number is not registered, sign up for new registration. To start the registration process, enter email address and password and click on ‘sign up’. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Upon signing up, two options will be shown – New Importer and Individual Application. Choose an individual application and fill up the details on the form and upload necessary documents such as citizenship, ID or passport. Provide valid email address and submit. After submitting the application, the customer will receive an email confirming that the documents are successfully submitted. NTA will register the IMEI number in their system once they review the documents.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">However, the online registration process is facing problems right now due to the excessive number of service seekers. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">In the notice issued on July 7, NTA said that a technical problems has surfaced due to the excessive number of people registering IMEI of their mobile sets in the Authority’s website. The notice further said that it will take some time for resumption of the service.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-09', 'modified' => '2021-07-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13396', 'image' => '20210709072551_imei-numbe.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-09 07:24:50', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13650', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Supreme Court Issues Showcause Notice to the Government over Kaligandaki Diversion Project', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 8: The Supreme Court has issued a show cause notice in the name of the government seeking its written response over the Kaligandaki-Tinau Diversion Multi-Purpose Project. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">July 8: The Supreme Court has issued a show cause notice in the name of the government seeking its written response over the Kaligandaki-Tinau Diversion Multi-Purpose Project. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">A single bench of Justice Tej Bahadur KC on Wednesday (July 7) issued the order, asking the government to submit its written response within 15 days. The apex court has also summoned both sides for discussions on July 19.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">The government plans to divert the water of Kaligandaki River to the Tinau River through a 27-kilometer tunnel by constructing a dam 2 km away from the Ramdi Bridge in Palpa.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Advocates Tulsiram Pokhrel, Ram Bahadur Shahi and Santosh Bhandari had filed the writ petition demanding that the project should be stopped immediately. According to the petitioners, the decision of the government to divert the water of Kaligandaki will bring an end to the existence of the Gandaki river which is related with the civilization and culture of the country. They also noted that the river holds religious significance among Hindu pilgrims.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">The petitioners have demanded an immediate halt in implementing the government's decision in this regard as the project is against the constitution, law and international treaties and agreements.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">They also argued that the project will negatively affect a significant population in Gandaki Province as well as the watershed area from Ramdi to Devghat. </span></span></span></span><br /> </p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Although this is not a new project, it has drawn attention after Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel inaugurated the project office in Butwal on June 26.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">The project has been dragged into controversy after the government tried to move ahead with the Kaligandaki-Tinau Diversion Multi-Purpose Project without any preparation. The feasibility study of the project and environmental impact assessment report required before starting the project have not been prepared. The Detailed Project Report is also yet to be prepared. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">As the central government tried to advance the project without taking other parties into confidence, the issue was dragged to the court. This multi-purpose project is being developed targeting areas such as Butwal, Rupandehi, Kapilvastu and Lumbini.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">The project aims to divert water from the Kaligandaki River to the Tinau River through a tunnel, irrigate the fields of Rupandehi and Kapilvastu and generate 126 MW of electricity. Officials of the project office have been saying that some of the water will be diverted into the Tinau river by constructing a huge reservoir in Dobhan and some water will be channeled through a 3 km tunnel to Belbas of Butwal for electricity generation.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-08', 'modified' => '2021-07-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13395', 'image' => '20210708014401_20201127115547_20200417094838_CKC_ktm.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-08 13:42:59', '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
