NEWS

Central Bank Alerts Public about its Fake Facebook Page

Jul 01, 2021 0 54 seconds to read

July 1: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has urged people not to believe in any deceptive information circulated on social networking sites from its alleged Facebook page.…

Heavy Rainfall along with Thunder and Lightning in Forecast

Jul 01, 2021 0 2 minutes 31 seconds to read

uly 1: The weather is generally to completely cloudy throughout the country today (July 1) with most of the places experiencing light to moderate rain due to the active influence of the monsoon wind and the occurrence of the monsoon low pressure system near the Tarai region.…

Vegetables Prices Surge by 230 Percent

Jul 01, 2021 0 3 minutes 6 seconds to read

July 1: The prices of green vegetables have skyrocketed up by up to 230 percent in Kathmandu in a month.…

Floods and landslides damage Roads, Bridges worth Rs 1 billion

Jul 01, 2021 0 3 minutes 34 seconds to read

July 1: Floods and landslides have damaged several roads and bridges across the…

Domestic Flights Resume from Today

Jul 01, 2021 0 2 minutes 11 seconds to read

July 1: Domestic flights have resumed in the country after an interval of around two…

Experts Stress on Commercialization for Development of Agriculture Sector

Jul 01, 2021 0 2 minutes 19 seconds to read

July 1: Agriculture experts have underlined the need for mechanization and commercialization of the agriculture sector in addition to good storage facility and marketing to enhance production of the agro-based products.…

Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower Project to begin Test Production from July 5

Jun 30, 2021 0 4 minutes 13 seconds to read

June 30: Test production of the Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower Project will begin from coming Monday (July 5).…

Nepal listed in Red Zone by Labour Destination Countries

Jun 30, 2021 0 3 minutes 30 seconds to read

June 30: Nepal has been listed among countries carrying high risk of COVID-19 infection by a dozen of labour destination countries as the country has failed to acquire COVID-19 vaccine on…

Phase of Digital Economy Begins: FM Poudel

Jun 30, 2021 0 1 minutes 6 seconds to read

June 30: Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel has said that the phase of developing digital economy has begun in the country.…

Yoghurt worth Rs 190 Million Sold in a Day

Jun 30, 2021 0 2 minutes 16 seconds to read

June 30: Yoghurt worth more than Rs 190 million has been sold across the country on Tuesday, June 29,…

Hydropower Developers asked to Renew Survey License by mid-July

Jun 29, 2021 0 2 minutes 23 seconds to read

June 29: Projects involved in production, transmission and distribution of electricity have been told to renew their survey license by…

South Asia Must Reform Debt-Accumulating State-Owned Banks to Avert Next Financial Crisis

Jun 29, 2021 0 4 minutes 11 seconds to read

June 29: South Asia’s heavy reliance on state-owned commercial banks, state-owned enterprises, public-private partnerships and other national and sub-national public entities conceals its vulnerability to accumulating unsustainable levels of…

FWEAN Organising 5th International Women’s Trade Expo Virtually

Jun 29, 2021 0 1 minutes 38 seconds to read

June 29: The Federation of Woman Entrepreneurs Associations of Nepal (FWEAN) is organizing the 5th International Women’s Trade Expo 2021 from September 2-6,…

Tourists’ Length of Stay in Nepal Increases in 2020

Jun 29, 2021 0 3 minutes 8 seconds to read

June 29: Although the number of tourists visiting Nepal reduced drastically in 2020, their length of stay has increased to some extent.…

Government Allocates Billions of Rupees for Various Employment Funds

Jun 29, 2021 0 6 minutes 14 seconds to read

June 29: The government is preparing to allocate billions of rupees to generate thousands of employment in the fiscal year…

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No Laughing Matter

The Sweet Rewards of Power

By Madan Lamsal

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NEPSE

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			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => '  Central Bank Alerts Public about its Fake Facebook Page',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'July 1: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has urged people not to believe in any deceptive information circulated on social networking sites from its alleged Facebook page.  ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria">July 1: <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has urged people not to believe in any deceptive information circulated on social networking sites from its alleged Facebook page.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The central bank has drawn the attention to the misleading information being circulated from its fake account on social networking sites such as Facebook. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The NRB does not have its own official Facebook page and neither has it posted any information on Facebook, reads a statement released by the NRB on Thursday.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Those creating Facebook page in the name of the NRB illegally and posting deceptive information will be booked under cyber crime, added the statement. -- RSS&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></p>
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			'title' => ' Heavy Rainfall along with Thunder and Lightning in Forecast    ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'uly 1: The weather is generally to completely cloudy throughout the country today (July 1) with most of the places experiencing light to moderate rain due to the active influence of the monsoon wind and the occurrence of the monsoon low pressure system near the Tarai region.     ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">July 1: The weather is generally to completely cloudy throughout the country today (July 1) with most of the places experiencing light to moderate rain due to the active influence of the monsoon wind and the occurrence of the monsoon low pressure system near the Tarai region.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The Department of Hydrology and Meteorology under the Meteorological Forecasting Division said light to moderate rainfall is taking place at many places of Province no 1, Province no 2, Bagmati province and the Gandaki province at present. Heavy rainfall accompanied by thunder and lightning is taking place at one or two places of these provinces.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Kathmandu Valley has been experiencing continuous light rainfall since Wednesday night. The sky is completely cloudy in the Valley.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Maximum temperature of 28 degrees Celsius and minimum of 22 degrees Celsius were recorded in Kathmandu on July 1.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><br />
&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><strong><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Forecast for next three days</span></strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">As per the Division, the weather will be generally to completely cloudy throughout the country on July 1 with the possibility of light to moderate rainfall at many places of Province no 1, Province no 2, Bagmati province, Lumbini province and Gandaki province, and at few places of Karnali and Sudurpaschim provinces. Similarly, heavy rainfall with thunder/lightning is likely occur in some places and torrential downpour in few places of Province no 1, Province no 2, Bagmati province, Lumbini Province and Gandaki Province.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The same weather system will continue tonight as well.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">On Friday, it will be generally to completely cloudy with chances of light to moderate rain in many places of Province no 1, Province no 2, Bagmati Province and Gandaki Province, and at a few places of Lumbini Province, Karnali Province and Sudurpaschim Province.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">On Saturday, the weather will be generally to completely cloudy with chances of light to moderate rainfall at many places of Province no 1, Province no 2, Bagmati Province and Gandaki Province, and at a few places of Lumbini, Karnali and Sudurpaschim provinces.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Likewise, heavy rain along with thunder and lightning is likely at a few places of Province no 1, Province no 2, Bagmati Province, Lumbini Province and Gandaki Province. -- RSS&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
&nbsp; </span></span></p>
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			'id' => '13615',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Vegetables Prices Surge by 230 Percent',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'July 1: The prices of green vegetables have skyrocketed up by up to 230 percent in Kathmandu in a month. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">July 1: The prices of green vegetables have skyrocketed up by up to 230 percent in Kathmandu in a month. According to the daily price list of the Kalimati Fruits and Vegetables Market Development Board (KFVMDB), the prices of green vegetables have increased substantially in the last one month.</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">With the arrival of monsoon, farmers have started planting paddy in the land where they used to grow vegetables.</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The wholesale price of hybrid beans, which was Rs 35 per kg on May 30, has increased by 230 percent to Rs 115 on June 30. The price of local cauliflower has gone up by 200 percent from Rs 25 per kg to Rs 75 per kg. The price of bitter gourd has increased by 142 percent from Rs 27 to Rs 65 per kg.</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Similarly, the price of ladies&rsquo; finger has also increased by 115 percent from Rs 35 to Rs 75 per kg, while the price of kidney beans has also increased by 200 percent from Rs 35 to Rs 105 per kg. The price of vegetables including sponge gourd, bottle gourd and beans has also gone up from Rs 20 to Rs 35 per kg.</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Due to the rainy season, the production of vegetables has decreased. Information Officer of KFVMDB, Binay Shrestha, told New Business Age that the price of green vegetables has increased as the vegetable production has decreased due to the paddy plantation in the land where vegetables were being grown.</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">&ldquo;Especially the price of vegetables has increased as the production has decreased,&rdquo; he said. According to him, vegetable production has declined in India as well due to the rain. The price has grown as the vegetables entering Nepal from India have also decreased.</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The data of the board shows that the import of vegetables has not improved although the lockdown has been relaxed. According to the board, 550, 500 and 600 metric tons of vegetables had entered Kalimati on May 28, 29 and 30 respectively.</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">As many as 700 metric tons of vegetables were imported on June 28. Likewise, 600 metric tons on June 29 and only 500 metric tons of vegetables have been imported till June 30. Under normal circumstances, 900 to 1,000 metric tons of vegetables enter Kalimati daily.</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">At present, traders estimate that only about 30 percent of green vegetables are imported from India. Gita Prasad Acharya, president of Kalimati Fruit and Vegetables Market Entrepreneurs Committee, said that vegetables from Dhading, Makwanpur, Dolakha, Kavre and other districts were entering Kathmandu.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>
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			'id' => '13614',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Floods and landslides damage Roads, Bridges worth  Rs 1 billion',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'July 1: Floods and landslides have damaged several roads and bridges across the country.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><em><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Landslide obstructs a road section of Prithvi Highway in Vyas Municipality of Tanahun district in this recent photo. Photo: RSS</span></span></em></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">July 1: Floods and landslides have damaged several roads and bridges across the country.&nbsp; Within two weeks since the onset of this year&#39;s monsoon, floods and landslides have caused an estimated damage of more than Rs 1 billion to the infrastructure. The Department of Roads revealed the data after a preliminary assessment on the extent of damage caused by floods.</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The flood between May 14 and June 29 has blocked roads in 61 places across various highways and auxiliary highways. According to the statistics of the department, roads are still blocked in 10 places. Roads in other places have resumed service through single lane.</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Spokesperson and Deputy Director-General of the Department&nbsp; Shiva Prasad Nepal informed that the damage estimate is preliminary. &quot;The monsoon is in its starting phase and has caused damage of more than Rs 1 billion,&rdquo; Nepal said, adding that the damages are likely to increase as the rainy season is far from over.</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">In the previous years, the monsoon caused estimated damage of Rs 2 to 3 billion. Although billions of rupees are lost annually due to floods and landslides, the government has not allocated a separate budget for reconstruction.</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The Department of Roads has been demanding a separate budget for maintenance, reconstruction, and rehabilitation, but has not received such budget. For the rehabilitation and reconstruction of damaged roads and bridges, the department has been carrying out maintenance work within the regular budget.</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">&quot;It is not possible repair the roads with the regular budget of the department,&quot; Nepal said, adding, &ldquo;We have requested the government to allocate the budget by assessing the extent of damage.</span></span>&rdquo;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">He said that the department has not been able to get the budget for maintenance even after assessing the damage in the last five years. Due to this, the maintenance has been done by mobilizing the regular budget, he Nepal. According to him, the regular work has been hampered by transferring money from the regular budget for maintenance of roads damaged by disasters.</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">For emergency work, a budget of Rs 100 million has been allocated. The budget allocated for the emergency purpose is for 37 divisional road offices, 13 mechanical and heavy equipment offices under the department..</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Currently, Manang and Araniko highways are blocked. There are very narrow roads in Manang. It is not possible to reach the other side without removing the landslide. &quot;The main priority right now is to open the road unilaterally. Unless the weather improves, two-way lane will not be opened because it is likely to cause more landslides and more damage,&quot; he said.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'id' => '13612',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Domestic Flights Resume from Today',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'July 1: Domestic flights have resumed in the country after an interval of around two months.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">July 1: Domestic flights have resumed in the country after an interval of around two months. The government had suspended domestic flights on May 3 to curb the spread of second wave of Covid-19.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has fixed the flight schedule allowing the airline companies to share 64 flights a day among themselves.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">As per the new flight schedule, domestic flights will be allowed at an interval of 10 minutes.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">During normal days, a domestic flight takes off every two minutes, the state-owned national news agency (RSS) reported. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The new schedule was fixed to avoid overcrowding of the airport, RSS further reported.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">According to TIA&rsquo;s general manager Pratap Babu Tiwari, Buddha Air has been permitted to operate 31 flights followed by 15 flights for Yeti Airlines, seven for&nbsp; Shree Airlines, and three each for Sourya Airlines and other airlines.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The Airport authorities have assured to effectively enforce the health safety protocol issued by the Nepal government for the safety of air passengers.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation had directed CAAN to operate flights limiting their frequencies to 50 percent of regular domestic flights effective from July 1 until another notice. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">A representative of Buddha Air told New Business Age that the rainy weather is not likely to cancel the flights.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">&ldquo;Flights get suspended only if there is poor visibility,&rdquo; he said, adding, &ldquo;Normal rainfall does not affect flights.&rdquo;</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria">&nbsp;</span></span></p>
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			'id' => '13613',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Experts Stress on Commercialization for Development of Agriculture Sector',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'July 1: Agriculture experts have underlined the need for mechanization and commercialization of the agriculture sector in addition to good storage facility and marketing to enhance production of the agro-based products.  ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">July 1: Agriculture experts have underlined the need for mechanization and commercialization of the agriculture sector in addition to good storage facility and marketing to enhance production of the agro-based products.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">In a webinar organized by the Nepal Renewable Energy Confederation of Nepal (RECON) on Wednesday (June 30), the participants opined that the country could yield abundantly from agriculture provided that the human resources are given with skills development training and there is hassle-free procedure for the farmers to obtain grant and loan.&nbsp; </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria">&nbsp;&nbsp;<br />
<span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">They also opined that agro-production could be augmented considering usage of organic manure, reusing kitchen waste, solar-powered irrigation facilities (renewable energy) in those places lacking regular irrigation facilities among others.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Former Minister Ganesh Shah said that technology and equipment should be provided to farmers in a subsidized rate and farmers&rsquo; capacity should be enhanced for good harvest.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">For processing, drying and storing agriculture products, one should prioritize usage of renewable energy such as micro hydro plants, solar energy mini grid, wind energy, solar thermal among other technologies that are easily available in the rural areas, said Shah.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Likewise, Alternative Energy Promotion Centre&rsquo;s executive director Madhusudan Adhikari highlighted the need to hold high-level discussions and dialogue for optimizing renewable energy technology and benefiting as many people as possible.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Youth entrepreneur duo Kushal Gurung and Abhisekh Malla presented a paper about solar-powered irrigation facilities and their usage and prospects in the agricultural country like Nepal.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The virtual seminar chaired by RECON&rsquo;s President Gunaraj Dhakal was attended by agriculture expert Dr Sudha Sapkota, energy expert Dr Indira Shakya, Kathmandu University (KU)&rsquo;s Assistant Profession Dr Sunil Lohani, Nepal Biogas Promotion Association&rsquo;s President Prakash Chandra Subedi and Solar Electric Manufacturers Association Indra Khanal. -- RSS&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></span></p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '13611',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower Project to begin Test Production from July 5',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'June 30: Test production of the Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower Project will begin from coming Monday (July 5). ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">June 30: Test production of the Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower Project will begin from coming Monday (July 5). </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The hydropower project under construction in Bigu village of Dolakha with domestic investment has a production capacity of Rs 456 MW (six units of 76 MW capacity each). The first unit is scheduled to start generating electricity as a trial from July 5. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Hitendra Dev Shakya, executive director of Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) and chairman of Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower Project Limited, said that the other units will generate electricity afterwards.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">A team including Shakya and Prime Minister&#39;s Development Expert Gajendra Thapaliya had monitored the project site on June 27 and 28. During the field visit, the team had monitored equipment at the powerhouse, the dam site, as well as the new Khimti substation of 220 MW under construction at Khimti in Ramechhap.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">&quot;We have brought the project, which is facing various problems, to the point of generating electricity through continuous efforts. All the tests have reached the final stage. Now, if there is no technical problem, we will start generating electricity from the first unit on Monday,&quot; he said, adding, &ldquo;If no immediate decision had been taken on the design modification of the penstock pipe, the project would have been delayed further. We have completed the work by making a timely decision.&rdquo;&nbsp;</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Reservoirs and dunes have been successfully tested in all types of hydro-mechanical devices such as water-filled dams, intakes, civil structures, and connected gates, staples. The electricity generated from the project will be transmitted to the national grid through Gongar-Khimti-Dhalkebar 220 KV transmission line.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Likewise, the 76 km Khimti-Dhalkewar transmission line will also be tested. The 47 km 220 KV transmission line from Gongar of Upper Tamakoshi Power House Dolakha to Khimti of Ramechhap and the new Khimti substation will also be tested.&nbsp;</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The construction work of the project site office, access road to the project site, roads, bridges, and other infrastructures was started in the Fiscal Year 2062/63, and the construction of the main structures began in the Fiscal Year 2067/68. The construction of the project was delayed due to the catastrophic earthquake of 2072 BS and subsequent aftershocks and floods, problems in transportation of fuel and construction materials due to Madhes movement, design changes, the poor performance of the hydromechanical (Lot 2) contractor.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The contract for Lot 2 was awarded to the Indian company Texma&#39;s Rail and Engineering. Due to the poor performance of the company, the production and connection of hydro-mechanical equipment including penstock pipes of the dam have been delayed, affecting&nbsp; the overall construction work of the project. The construction of the project was halted for almost two years due to the earthquake. In addition, the construction of the project was affected by the construction of a tunnel to the dam site, design manipulation of some structures, and the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic around the world.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">After Texma, which got the contract for Lot 2, delayed the work, the responsibility of pipe connection in the lower vertical tunnel, which was considered very difficult, was given to the contractor of Electromechanical (Lot 3) without any financial burden. The project has reached the stage of generating electricity with the tireless efforts and support of high political and administrative leadership, employees of the project, contractors, locals, and others.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The project had upgraded the Charikot-Dolakha-Singati 35 km road at a cost of around Rs 1 billion. The project has constructed 29 kilometers of road and seven concrete bridges from Singati to the dam site in Lamabagar.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Earlier this week, the project had reportedly said the test production would begin from July 15.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '13610',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Nepal listed in Red Zone by Labour Destination Countries',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'June 30: Nepal has been listed among countries carrying high risk of COVID-19 infection by a dozen of labour destination countries as the country has failed to acquire COVID-19 vaccine on time.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">June 30: Nepal has been listed among countries carrying high risk of COVID-19 infection by a dozen of labour destination countries as the country has failed to acquire COVID-19 vaccine on time.</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Countries like Kuwait, Malaysia, and Dubai which are considered to be the prime labour destination countries have not taken in any Nepali migrants as yet. These countries have listed Nepal in the red zone. This has &nbsp;prevented migrant workers from going to these countries for jobs.</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Nepali migrant workers have not been able to leave for Saudi Arabia, Oman and Qatar either. These countries are willing to welcome migrant workers under some conditions but those conditions seem hard to meet. One of the major requirements of these countries is that migrants need to be compulsorily vaccinated.</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">COVID-19 protocols prepared by Saudi Arabia, Dubai and Kuwait have made vaccines a mandatory requirement. These countries have adopted a policy to take in migrants inoculated with vaccines manufactured in the US and European countries. Sujit Shrestha, General Secretary of Nepal Association of Foreign Employment Agencies, said since the government is delaying the process of acquiring vaccine, there are chances Nepal will remain in the red zone.&nbsp;</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">He further said that labor destination countries are refusing to take in migrant workers who are not vaccinated. This has pushed foreign employment sector of Nepal in a crisis. According to Shrestha, the government needs to take diplomatic measures to take forward the vaccination campaign.</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Though the government is being pressurized to bring vaccines, there are slim chances the vaccines will be available immediately. Dr Krsihna Prasad Poudel, Director of Epidemiology and Disease Control Division of&nbsp; the Ministry of Health,&nbsp; said that the government is making persistent efforts with European countries as well as China, India and the United States to acquire COVID-19 vaccines. According to him, COVID-19 vaccine will be here soon. However, the Ministry of Health is not sure when it will happen.</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">According to the manpower agencies, only a small number of workers have gone to Saudi Arabia, Oman and Qatar after the government relaxed the prohibitory order and facilitated international flights. Turkey, which is considered an attractive destination for Nepalis, has also banned direct flights from six countries, including Nepal, from Monday, June 28 citing risk of COVID-19.&nbsp;</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Stakeholders sat that the government should take immediate steps to send Nepali migrants to foreign countries as Nepal&#39;s economy is dependent on remittance.&nbsp;</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">A study conducted by foreign employment agencies show that 1.2 million people have been jobless since the start of the pandemic. The data includes people who have lost jobs in the country and returnees from foreign countries. However, it doesn&#39;t include returnees from India. The study shows that around 500,000 Nepalis seek for foreign employment every year.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 8 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '13608',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Phase of Digital Economy Begins: FM Poudel ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'June 30: Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel has said that the phase of developing digital economy has begun in the country. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">June 30: Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel has said that the phase of developing digital economy has begun in the country.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Speaking at the 8th Anniversary of Media International on Tuesday, Minister Poudel shared that digital transaction was on the rise during COVID-19 pandemic and is expected to gradually lead the country towards the digital economy.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">He added that digital transaction will further help to make the economic system smart. Poudel said that making the economy vibrant was the need of the day and the government was effortful to develop entrepreneurship.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">On the occasion, Minister Poudel unveiled the logo of financial digitalization literacy. Similarly, Nepal Stock Exchange Board chairman Bhishmaraj Dhungana said that the latest technology was assisting to make the economy vibrant.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Nepal Rastra Bank&rsquo;s Deputy Governor Bam Bahadur Mishra shared that the NRB was prioritizing digital transaction of late. --RSS</span></span></span></p>
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			'image' => '20210630013245_20210530100611_budget_Finance Minister Paudel.jpg',
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	(int) 9 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '13607',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Yoghurt worth Rs 190 Million Sold in a Day  ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'June 30: Yoghurt worth more than Rs 190 million has been sold across the country on Tuesday, June 29, 2021.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">June 30: Yoghurt worth more than Rs 190 million has been sold across the country on Tuesday, June 29, 2021. The single-day boost in sale was observed on the National Paddy Day, when people, especially the farmers, follow a tradition of having curd and beaten rice. </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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The Dairy Development Corporation, Nepal Dairy Association, Dairy Industry Association and other cooperatives have sold 1.67 million liters of yoghurt worth Rs 192.21 million in a single day.&nbsp;</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">According to the National Dairy Development Board, the Dairy Industry Association sold 700,000 liters of yoghurt worth Rs 85 million on Tuesday. Various cooperatives and other informal sectors across the country sold around 500,000 liters of yoghurt worth Rs 57.5 million.&nbsp;</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Likewise, Nepal Dairy Association sold a total of 400,000 liters of yoghurt worth Rs 47 million, while DDC also sold 71,400 liters of yoghurt worth Rs 8.21 million.&nbsp;</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Babu Kaji Pant, acting executive director of the Board, said that there was no significant sale of yoghurt on June 29 compared to the previous years. According to him, under normal circumstances, up to 2.5 million liters of yoghurt would be sold in the country on this day.&nbsp;</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">According to the board, the sale of yoghurt by the DDC has come down by 10 percent while that the private sector has also come down by about 35 percent due to the pandemic.&nbsp;</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The market for dairy products has been gradually improving since the ban was lifted recently. Rudra Prasad Poudel, General Manager of the DDC, informed that the consumption of milk products has decreased as the areas that consume more dairy products such as hotels, restaurants and party palaces are closed due to the lockdown.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 10 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '13606',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Hydropower Developers asked to Renew Survey License by mid-July',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'June 29: Projects involved in production, transmission and distribution of electricity have been told to renew their survey license by mid-July.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">June 29: Projects involved in production, transmission and distribution of electricity have been told to renew their survey license by mid-July. A recent ministerial-level meeting of the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation took a decision to this effect.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The District Administration Office, Kathmandu has relaxed the prohibitory order since June 22. Therefore, the ministry has said that the survey licenses of the projects should be renewed by mid-July.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">According to the ministry, the promoters of the projects will have to apply to the Department of Electricity Development for the renewal of the survey license by mid-July along with the prescribed fee. The ministry said that the department will renew the survey license for a period of less than five years.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The government had imposed a complete lockdown in the country for four months from March 24, 2020 after the onset of the first wave of Covid-19. Since then, prohibitory orders have been enforced repeatedly.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The prohibitory order has been imposed in various districts including Kathmandu Valley since April 29, 2021 after the second wave of coronavirus started taking massive toll on human lives. As a result, the projects with a survey license till March 23, 2020 have not been able to renew their licenses. Issuing a notice to the promoters on Sunday, the ministry has called for renewal of license as the ban has been lifted.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Spokesperson of the Ministry Madhu Prasad Bhetwal said that the projects should renew their survey licenses within the given period.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">&ldquo;Banks have also been shut down due to repeated lockdowns. As a result, the promoter companies were unable to pay the fees. But now that the ban has been lifted, the banks are also open,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;This is the last chance for renewal. Therefore, the concerned projects will have to move ahead with the process of renewing the survey license within this period.&rdquo; He further said that the additional fees may be charged if the renewal process is not done during this period.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 11 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '13604',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'South Asia Must Reform Debt-Accumulating State-Owned Banks to Avert Next Financial Crisis',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'June 29: South Asia’s heavy reliance on state-owned commercial banks, state-owned enterprises, public-private partnerships and other national and sub-national public entities conceals its vulnerability to accumulating unsustainable levels of debt',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">June 29: </span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">South Asia&rsquo;s heavy reliance on state-owned commercial banks, state-owned enterprises, public-private partnerships and other national and sub-national public entities conceals its vulnerability to accumulating unsustainable levels of debt, according to a new World Bank report, Hidden Debt: Solutions to Avert the Next Financial Crisis in South Asia, released on June 29.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">According to the report, South Asia is more exposed to the risk of &ldquo;hidden debt&rdquo; from state-owned commercial banks (SOCBs), state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and public-private partnerships (PPPs) because of its greater reliance on them compared to other regions. But the report offers key areas for policy actions and concrete reforms that can help governments leverage public capital more responsibly through these types of entities to advance economic development, the World Bank said in a statement. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">&nbsp;&ldquo;The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted South Asia&rsquo;s rising levels of public debt. The region is more exposed to the risk of hidden debt because it relies heavily on the governments&rsquo; involvement in markets to aid economic development,&rdquo; the statement quoted Hartwig Schafer, World Bank&rsquo;s Vice President for South Asia, as saying. &ldquo;But the crisis demonstrates the critical importance of the judicious use of debt-financed public commitments and debt transparency to build back better, more sustainably, and more equitably.&rdquo;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Hidden Debt</span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial"> studies the trade-offs between addressing development challenges directly through state presence in the markets and the risk of accumulating high levels of debt due to economic inefficiencies of off-balance sheet operations. It focuses on SOBCs, SOEs and PPPs and their contingent liabilities&mdash;obligations incurred by governments off their balance sheets that have triggers for payment. Over time, part of the debt is revealed as it hits the central government budget and debt stock, but a large part remains hidden under the radar of existing financial disclosure standards. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria">&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">&ldquo;The efficiency of South Asian state-owned banks and other state-owned enterprises is well below the international benchmark,&rdquo;</span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial"> said Hans Timmer, World Bank&rsquo;s Chief Economist for South Asia. &ldquo;As governments rebuild from the shock of the COVID-19 pandemic and strive to avert future financial crises, they should clearly separate the social and commercial objectives of these enterprises in order to reduce inefficiencies, while maintaining socially beneficial investments.&rdquo; </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Governments often promise SOEs subsidies to run programs such as advancing access to electricity to underserved populations and small enterprises. SOCBs are asked to run government programs to promote financial inclusion or lend to under-served or riskier small and medium enterprises, often without compensation for losses that private markets avoid, the report stated. They are also asked to stimulate economies during downturns or financially support large PPPs that have concentrated risks. These hidden mandates are based on requests that are often made ad hoc and without consideration of risks or costs. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">&nbsp;&ldquo;In episodes of systemic shock&mdash;such as the global financial crisis or the COVID-19 pandemic&mdash;when many banks experience distress simultaneously, private banks deleverage and curtail lending, while state-owned commercial banks receive capital and debt support from the state to continue or increase lending,&rdquo; said Martin Melecky, World Bank Lead Economist and author of the report. &ldquo;But this short-term stabilizing function comes at the cost of crowding out other social spending as public funds get spent on bank recapitalization and significant credit misallocation&mdash;away from successful firms and especially small and medium enterprises&mdash;making for an unequal recovery.&rdquo;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">&nbsp;The report estimates that a systemic macro-financial crisis can trigger PPP failures that would cost South Asian countries more than 4 percent of revenues, and the potential costs from distressed SOEs have been even more overwhelming. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'title' => 'FWEAN Organising 5th International Women’s Trade Expo Virtually',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'June 29: The Federation of Woman Entrepreneurs Associations of Nepal (FWEAN) is organizing the 5th International Women’s Trade Expo 2021 from September 2-6, 2021.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">June 29: The Federation of Woman Entrepreneurs Associations of Nepal (FWEAN) is organizing the 5th International Women&rsquo;s Trade Expo 2021 from September 2-6, 2021. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">According to the FWEAN, the expo will be organised virtually in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. Issuing a statement, FEWAN said that the expo will showcase products of women entrepreneurs from all across Nepal as well. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">International Women Entrepreneurs will also participate as exhibitors, the statement added. The major objective of this expo is to promote products of Nepali women entrepreneurs, develop their market and increase their sales. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The event is being supported by various donor organizations like Finn Church Aid (FCA), The Asia Foundation (TAF) and International Labor Organization (ILO).</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Products like handicrafts, natural fiber products, agro/food products, jewelry, herbal products, garments will be the main attraction, added FWEAN. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The expo will have more than 300 virtual stalls and will be a hub for buying and selling products of women entrepreneurs both national and international, networking and also a meeting point for buyers and sellers.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'id' => '13603',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Tourists’ Length of Stay in Nepal Increases in 2020',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'June 29: Although the number of tourists visiting Nepal reduced drastically in 2020, their length of stay has increased to some extent. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">June 29: Although the number of tourists visiting Nepal reduced drastically in 2020, their length of stay has increased to some extent. According to the government data, tourist arrivals shrunk to 230,000 in 2020 from more than 1 million a year ago, while their stay increased by 19 percent during the review period as compared to 2019.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The average stay of a tourist in Nepal is 12 days. In 2020, it increased by 19 percent and reached 15.1 days. According to Nepal Tourism Statistics-2020, the stay of tourists in Nepal has reached 15 days for the first time.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation on Monday released the Nepal Tourism Statistics-2020. According to the same statistics, the length of stay of tourists has increased.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The year 2019 marked the highest number of tourist arrival in Nepal with record of 1.197 million foreign visitors in Nepal. Despite the significant number of tourists, the average stay was just 12 days, as in previous years. However, the average length of stay of tourists has increased in 2020, even though the number of arrival has decreased due to coronavirus.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The ministry estimates that the length of tourists&rsquo; stay may have increased due to coronavirus in 2020. Most of the tourism-related activities were not open last year due to the outbreak of Covid-19 and lockdown. However, businessmen say that their length of stay has been extended this year as tourists have come to Nepal only for trekking and mountaineering. Even under normal circumstances, the stay of tourists for trekking and mountaineering is longer than average.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Vinayak Shah, vice-president of the Hotel Association of Nepal (HAN), argues that the number of foreigners who came to Nepal in 2020 was only for trekking and mountaineering. &quot;The princes of Qatar and Bahrain have been staying for a long time,&quot; he said.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">In 2020, foreign tourists came to Nepal for trekking and mountaineering while they were stopped from coming to Nepal for other activities.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">He argues that the current stay period does not guarantee that the tourists&rsquo; length of stay will such long in the days to come. Entrepreneurs say that it is not fixed if this period will remain the same or decrease in the coming days.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">According to the statistics, the purpose of visiting Nepal in 2020 has not changed. Foreign tourists come to Nepal for trekking, mountaineering, pilgrimage and holiday celebrations.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Out of them, 60.5 percent of the foreign tourists visiting Nepal this year are for holidays, 12.4 percent for adventure tourism like mountaineering and trekking and 15.6 percent for visiting religious places, and 11.5 percent for other activities.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'title' => 'Government Allocates Billions of Rupees for Various Employment Funds',
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			'summary' => 'June 29: The government is preparing to allocate billions of rupees to generate thousands of employment in the fiscal year 2021/22.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">June 29: The government is preparing to allocate billions of rupees to generate thousands of employment in the fiscal year 2021/22.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">At a time when the people&rsquo;s livelihood has been severely affected by Covid-19 pandemic and people are having a difficult time to meet their daily needs, the government has prepared an action plan to allocate funds of billion rupees to the controversial Prime Minister Employment Program, Youth and Small Enterprise Self-Employment Fund and PM Agriculture Modernization Project.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security (MoLESS) informed that an action plan has already been prepared to implement these programs from July 16. The government is spending Rs 12 billion for the PM Employment Fund with an aim to generate 200,000 employments in the upcoming fiscal year. However, the previous experience shows ineffectiveness of the program which has drawn widespread criticism. The budget has to be spent in the construction of roads, building, river management, irrigation, planting trees in the local levels but funds are being allocated in the areas beyond this.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The government is spending Rs 7.98 billion in the PM Agriculture Modernization Project to attract youth in agriculture, generate employment at the local level and prevent youth from migrating to foreign countries.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The government aims to bring 71 zones into operation related to agriculture, fishery and livestock to generate employment opportunities. It aims to deploy students studying agriculture programs as interns in project areas to provide technical assistance to farmers and employ graduate students for a year on a contract basis. This program which is currently in operation has not been able to stop youth from migrating abroad.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">To increase employment, the government has introduced a program to provide loans to startups at subsidized rates. To motivate young entrepreneurs to begin startup businesses, the government is providing loans up to Rs 2.5 million at one percent interest rate.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The government has also announced to provide services like registration, renewal and other services of startup business free of cost through a one door system, facilitate in policy level to attract foreign investment in startup businesses and a challenge fund of one billion rupees will be set up.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">However, the modality of its implementation is not clear since the beginning. The program was included in the budgets of the &nbsp;current and previous fiscal years as well to encourage startup culture but was not implemented.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">In order to develop skilled manpower in accordance with the needs of the domestic industries, the government is also conducting workplace based training by providing a subsidy equal to three months minimum wage to the trainee workers in manufacturing and service industries.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The government aims to provide soft loans of up to Rs 2.5 million&nbsp; at five percent interest rate to students by keeping their academic certificates as collateral. This program has been in operation for many years but has not been implemented.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The government, which has scrapped the Poverty Alleviation Fund, is also creating employment through the Youth and Small Enterprises Self-Employment Fund. It has adopted a policy to make 12,000 youths self-employed by next year by providing loan facility along with technical and vocational skills.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">To develop the skills of young people entering the labor market, workers returning from foreign employment and those who have lost their jobs at home, the government is investing Rs 400 million in handicraft, plumbing, electrical repair, electronics, cookery, artisan, carpentry, tailoring, beauticians, haircutting, vehicle and mobile maintenance skills.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Expert Dr Ganesh Gurung says that the implementation part of all these programs remain uncertain due to lack of coordination. He said that the government should not delay the implementation of such programs by making a clear action plan. However, Deepak Kafle, Joint Secretary of the MoLESS said such a situation would not arise as an action plan is being formulated and implemented for the effective implementation of these programs.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><em><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">No study on impact of second wave of corona</span></span></em></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The government has introduced various employment programs but lacks reliable data on the impact of COVID-19 on the labor market. Joint Secretary Deepak Kafle admitted that the ministry is yet to conduct a study on this issue.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Last year, the National Planning Commission (NPC) had prepared a report after conducting a partial study in this regard. NPC had found that the first wave of COVID itself had led to a sharp rise in poverty. This study was also of preliminary nature and NPC has also not conducted a full-fledged study. Pushpa Raj Kandel, Vice Chairman of the NPC informed that a study to assess the impact of COVID in the labor market will begin from the end of this month.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The central bank had also conducted a study on this issue and found the hotel and tourism sectors had been worst affected by the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><br />
<br />
&nbsp;</p>
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			'title' => '  Central Bank Alerts Public about its Fake Facebook Page',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'July 1: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has urged people not to believe in any deceptive information circulated on social networking sites from its alleged Facebook page.  ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria">July 1: <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has urged people not to believe in any deceptive information circulated on social networking sites from its alleged Facebook page.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The central bank has drawn the attention to the misleading information being circulated from its fake account on social networking sites such as Facebook. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The NRB does not have its own official Facebook page and neither has it posted any information on Facebook, reads a statement released by the NRB on Thursday.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Those creating Facebook page in the name of the NRB illegally and posting deceptive information will be booked under cyber crime, added the statement. -- RSS&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></p>
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			'title' => ' Heavy Rainfall along with Thunder and Lightning in Forecast    ',
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			'summary' => 'uly 1: The weather is generally to completely cloudy throughout the country today (July 1) with most of the places experiencing light to moderate rain due to the active influence of the monsoon wind and the occurrence of the monsoon low pressure system near the Tarai region.     ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">July 1: The weather is generally to completely cloudy throughout the country today (July 1) with most of the places experiencing light to moderate rain due to the active influence of the monsoon wind and the occurrence of the monsoon low pressure system near the Tarai region.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The Department of Hydrology and Meteorology under the Meteorological Forecasting Division said light to moderate rainfall is taking place at many places of Province no 1, Province no 2, Bagmati province and the Gandaki province at present. Heavy rainfall accompanied by thunder and lightning is taking place at one or two places of these provinces.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Kathmandu Valley has been experiencing continuous light rainfall since Wednesday night. The sky is completely cloudy in the Valley.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Maximum temperature of 28 degrees Celsius and minimum of 22 degrees Celsius were recorded in Kathmandu on July 1.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><br />
&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><strong><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Forecast for next three days</span></strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">As per the Division, the weather will be generally to completely cloudy throughout the country on July 1 with the possibility of light to moderate rainfall at many places of Province no 1, Province no 2, Bagmati province, Lumbini province and Gandaki province, and at few places of Karnali and Sudurpaschim provinces. Similarly, heavy rainfall with thunder/lightning is likely occur in some places and torrential downpour in few places of Province no 1, Province no 2, Bagmati province, Lumbini Province and Gandaki Province.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The same weather system will continue tonight as well.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">On Friday, it will be generally to completely cloudy with chances of light to moderate rain in many places of Province no 1, Province no 2, Bagmati Province and Gandaki Province, and at a few places of Lumbini Province, Karnali Province and Sudurpaschim Province.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">On Saturday, the weather will be generally to completely cloudy with chances of light to moderate rainfall at many places of Province no 1, Province no 2, Bagmati Province and Gandaki Province, and at a few places of Lumbini, Karnali and Sudurpaschim provinces.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Likewise, heavy rain along with thunder and lightning is likely at a few places of Province no 1, Province no 2, Bagmati Province, Lumbini Province and Gandaki Province. -- RSS&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
&nbsp; </span></span></p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '13615',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Vegetables Prices Surge by 230 Percent',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'July 1: The prices of green vegetables have skyrocketed up by up to 230 percent in Kathmandu in a month. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">July 1: The prices of green vegetables have skyrocketed up by up to 230 percent in Kathmandu in a month. According to the daily price list of the Kalimati Fruits and Vegetables Market Development Board (KFVMDB), the prices of green vegetables have increased substantially in the last one month.</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">With the arrival of monsoon, farmers have started planting paddy in the land where they used to grow vegetables.</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The wholesale price of hybrid beans, which was Rs 35 per kg on May 30, has increased by 230 percent to Rs 115 on June 30. The price of local cauliflower has gone up by 200 percent from Rs 25 per kg to Rs 75 per kg. The price of bitter gourd has increased by 142 percent from Rs 27 to Rs 65 per kg.</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Similarly, the price of ladies&rsquo; finger has also increased by 115 percent from Rs 35 to Rs 75 per kg, while the price of kidney beans has also increased by 200 percent from Rs 35 to Rs 105 per kg. The price of vegetables including sponge gourd, bottle gourd and beans has also gone up from Rs 20 to Rs 35 per kg.</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Due to the rainy season, the production of vegetables has decreased. Information Officer of KFVMDB, Binay Shrestha, told New Business Age that the price of green vegetables has increased as the vegetable production has decreased due to the paddy plantation in the land where vegetables were being grown.</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">&ldquo;Especially the price of vegetables has increased as the production has decreased,&rdquo; he said. According to him, vegetable production has declined in India as well due to the rain. The price has grown as the vegetables entering Nepal from India have also decreased.</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The data of the board shows that the import of vegetables has not improved although the lockdown has been relaxed. According to the board, 550, 500 and 600 metric tons of vegetables had entered Kalimati on May 28, 29 and 30 respectively.</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">As many as 700 metric tons of vegetables were imported on June 28. Likewise, 600 metric tons on June 29 and only 500 metric tons of vegetables have been imported till June 30. Under normal circumstances, 900 to 1,000 metric tons of vegetables enter Kalimati daily.</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">At present, traders estimate that only about 30 percent of green vegetables are imported from India. Gita Prasad Acharya, president of Kalimati Fruit and Vegetables Market Entrepreneurs Committee, said that vegetables from Dhading, Makwanpur, Dolakha, Kavre and other districts were entering Kathmandu.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>
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			'sortorder' => '13360',
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '13614',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Floods and landslides damage Roads, Bridges worth  Rs 1 billion',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'July 1: Floods and landslides have damaged several roads and bridges across the country.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><em><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Landslide obstructs a road section of Prithvi Highway in Vyas Municipality of Tanahun district in this recent photo. Photo: RSS</span></span></em></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">July 1: Floods and landslides have damaged several roads and bridges across the country.&nbsp; Within two weeks since the onset of this year&#39;s monsoon, floods and landslides have caused an estimated damage of more than Rs 1 billion to the infrastructure. The Department of Roads revealed the data after a preliminary assessment on the extent of damage caused by floods.</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The flood between May 14 and June 29 has blocked roads in 61 places across various highways and auxiliary highways. According to the statistics of the department, roads are still blocked in 10 places. Roads in other places have resumed service through single lane.</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Spokesperson and Deputy Director-General of the Department&nbsp; Shiva Prasad Nepal informed that the damage estimate is preliminary. &quot;The monsoon is in its starting phase and has caused damage of more than Rs 1 billion,&rdquo; Nepal said, adding that the damages are likely to increase as the rainy season is far from over.</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">In the previous years, the monsoon caused estimated damage of Rs 2 to 3 billion. Although billions of rupees are lost annually due to floods and landslides, the government has not allocated a separate budget for reconstruction.</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The Department of Roads has been demanding a separate budget for maintenance, reconstruction, and rehabilitation, but has not received such budget. For the rehabilitation and reconstruction of damaged roads and bridges, the department has been carrying out maintenance work within the regular budget.</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">&quot;It is not possible repair the roads with the regular budget of the department,&quot; Nepal said, adding, &ldquo;We have requested the government to allocate the budget by assessing the extent of damage.</span></span>&rdquo;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">He said that the department has not been able to get the budget for maintenance even after assessing the damage in the last five years. Due to this, the maintenance has been done by mobilizing the regular budget, he Nepal. According to him, the regular work has been hampered by transferring money from the regular budget for maintenance of roads damaged by disasters.</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">For emergency work, a budget of Rs 100 million has been allocated. The budget allocated for the emergency purpose is for 37 divisional road offices, 13 mechanical and heavy equipment offices under the department..</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Currently, Manang and Araniko highways are blocked. There are very narrow roads in Manang. It is not possible to reach the other side without removing the landslide. &quot;The main priority right now is to open the road unilaterally. Unless the weather improves, two-way lane will not be opened because it is likely to cause more landslides and more damage,&quot; he said.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '13612',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Domestic Flights Resume from Today',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'July 1: Domestic flights have resumed in the country after an interval of around two months.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">July 1: Domestic flights have resumed in the country after an interval of around two months. The government had suspended domestic flights on May 3 to curb the spread of second wave of Covid-19.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has fixed the flight schedule allowing the airline companies to share 64 flights a day among themselves.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">As per the new flight schedule, domestic flights will be allowed at an interval of 10 minutes.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">During normal days, a domestic flight takes off every two minutes, the state-owned national news agency (RSS) reported. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The new schedule was fixed to avoid overcrowding of the airport, RSS further reported.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">According to TIA&rsquo;s general manager Pratap Babu Tiwari, Buddha Air has been permitted to operate 31 flights followed by 15 flights for Yeti Airlines, seven for&nbsp; Shree Airlines, and three each for Sourya Airlines and other airlines.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The Airport authorities have assured to effectively enforce the health safety protocol issued by the Nepal government for the safety of air passengers.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation had directed CAAN to operate flights limiting their frequencies to 50 percent of regular domestic flights effective from July 1 until another notice. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">A representative of Buddha Air told New Business Age that the rainy weather is not likely to cancel the flights.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">&ldquo;Flights get suspended only if there is poor visibility,&rdquo; he said, adding, &ldquo;Normal rainfall does not affect flights.&rdquo;</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria">&nbsp;</span></span></p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '13613',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Experts Stress on Commercialization for Development of Agriculture Sector',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'July 1: Agriculture experts have underlined the need for mechanization and commercialization of the agriculture sector in addition to good storage facility and marketing to enhance production of the agro-based products.  ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">July 1: Agriculture experts have underlined the need for mechanization and commercialization of the agriculture sector in addition to good storage facility and marketing to enhance production of the agro-based products.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">In a webinar organized by the Nepal Renewable Energy Confederation of Nepal (RECON) on Wednesday (June 30), the participants opined that the country could yield abundantly from agriculture provided that the human resources are given with skills development training and there is hassle-free procedure for the farmers to obtain grant and loan.&nbsp; </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria">&nbsp;&nbsp;<br />
<span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">They also opined that agro-production could be augmented considering usage of organic manure, reusing kitchen waste, solar-powered irrigation facilities (renewable energy) in those places lacking regular irrigation facilities among others.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Former Minister Ganesh Shah said that technology and equipment should be provided to farmers in a subsidized rate and farmers&rsquo; capacity should be enhanced for good harvest.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">For processing, drying and storing agriculture products, one should prioritize usage of renewable energy such as micro hydro plants, solar energy mini grid, wind energy, solar thermal among other technologies that are easily available in the rural areas, said Shah.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Likewise, Alternative Energy Promotion Centre&rsquo;s executive director Madhusudan Adhikari highlighted the need to hold high-level discussions and dialogue for optimizing renewable energy technology and benefiting as many people as possible.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Youth entrepreneur duo Kushal Gurung and Abhisekh Malla presented a paper about solar-powered irrigation facilities and their usage and prospects in the agricultural country like Nepal.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The virtual seminar chaired by RECON&rsquo;s President Gunaraj Dhakal was attended by agriculture expert Dr Sudha Sapkota, energy expert Dr Indira Shakya, Kathmandu University (KU)&rsquo;s Assistant Profession Dr Sunil Lohani, Nepal Biogas Promotion Association&rsquo;s President Prakash Chandra Subedi and Solar Electric Manufacturers Association Indra Khanal. -- RSS&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></span></p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '13611',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower Project to begin Test Production from July 5',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'June 30: Test production of the Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower Project will begin from coming Monday (July 5). ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">June 30: Test production of the Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower Project will begin from coming Monday (July 5). </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The hydropower project under construction in Bigu village of Dolakha with domestic investment has a production capacity of Rs 456 MW (six units of 76 MW capacity each). The first unit is scheduled to start generating electricity as a trial from July 5. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Hitendra Dev Shakya, executive director of Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) and chairman of Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower Project Limited, said that the other units will generate electricity afterwards.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">A team including Shakya and Prime Minister&#39;s Development Expert Gajendra Thapaliya had monitored the project site on June 27 and 28. During the field visit, the team had monitored equipment at the powerhouse, the dam site, as well as the new Khimti substation of 220 MW under construction at Khimti in Ramechhap.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">&quot;We have brought the project, which is facing various problems, to the point of generating electricity through continuous efforts. All the tests have reached the final stage. Now, if there is no technical problem, we will start generating electricity from the first unit on Monday,&quot; he said, adding, &ldquo;If no immediate decision had been taken on the design modification of the penstock pipe, the project would have been delayed further. We have completed the work by making a timely decision.&rdquo;&nbsp;</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Reservoirs and dunes have been successfully tested in all types of hydro-mechanical devices such as water-filled dams, intakes, civil structures, and connected gates, staples. The electricity generated from the project will be transmitted to the national grid through Gongar-Khimti-Dhalkebar 220 KV transmission line.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Likewise, the 76 km Khimti-Dhalkewar transmission line will also be tested. The 47 km 220 KV transmission line from Gongar of Upper Tamakoshi Power House Dolakha to Khimti of Ramechhap and the new Khimti substation will also be tested.&nbsp;</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The construction work of the project site office, access road to the project site, roads, bridges, and other infrastructures was started in the Fiscal Year 2062/63, and the construction of the main structures began in the Fiscal Year 2067/68. The construction of the project was delayed due to the catastrophic earthquake of 2072 BS and subsequent aftershocks and floods, problems in transportation of fuel and construction materials due to Madhes movement, design changes, the poor performance of the hydromechanical (Lot 2) contractor.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The contract for Lot 2 was awarded to the Indian company Texma&#39;s Rail and Engineering. Due to the poor performance of the company, the production and connection of hydro-mechanical equipment including penstock pipes of the dam have been delayed, affecting&nbsp; the overall construction work of the project. The construction of the project was halted for almost two years due to the earthquake. In addition, the construction of the project was affected by the construction of a tunnel to the dam site, design manipulation of some structures, and the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic around the world.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">After Texma, which got the contract for Lot 2, delayed the work, the responsibility of pipe connection in the lower vertical tunnel, which was considered very difficult, was given to the contractor of Electromechanical (Lot 3) without any financial burden. The project has reached the stage of generating electricity with the tireless efforts and support of high political and administrative leadership, employees of the project, contractors, locals, and others.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The project had upgraded the Charikot-Dolakha-Singati 35 km road at a cost of around Rs 1 billion. The project has constructed 29 kilometers of road and seven concrete bridges from Singati to the dam site in Lamabagar.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Earlier this week, the project had reportedly said the test production would begin from July 15.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '13610',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Nepal listed in Red Zone by Labour Destination Countries',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'June 30: Nepal has been listed among countries carrying high risk of COVID-19 infection by a dozen of labour destination countries as the country has failed to acquire COVID-19 vaccine on time.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">June 30: Nepal has been listed among countries carrying high risk of COVID-19 infection by a dozen of labour destination countries as the country has failed to acquire COVID-19 vaccine on time.</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Countries like Kuwait, Malaysia, and Dubai which are considered to be the prime labour destination countries have not taken in any Nepali migrants as yet. These countries have listed Nepal in the red zone. This has &nbsp;prevented migrant workers from going to these countries for jobs.</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Nepali migrant workers have not been able to leave for Saudi Arabia, Oman and Qatar either. These countries are willing to welcome migrant workers under some conditions but those conditions seem hard to meet. One of the major requirements of these countries is that migrants need to be compulsorily vaccinated.</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">COVID-19 protocols prepared by Saudi Arabia, Dubai and Kuwait have made vaccines a mandatory requirement. These countries have adopted a policy to take in migrants inoculated with vaccines manufactured in the US and European countries. Sujit Shrestha, General Secretary of Nepal Association of Foreign Employment Agencies, said since the government is delaying the process of acquiring vaccine, there are chances Nepal will remain in the red zone.&nbsp;</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">He further said that labor destination countries are refusing to take in migrant workers who are not vaccinated. This has pushed foreign employment sector of Nepal in a crisis. According to Shrestha, the government needs to take diplomatic measures to take forward the vaccination campaign.</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Though the government is being pressurized to bring vaccines, there are slim chances the vaccines will be available immediately. Dr Krsihna Prasad Poudel, Director of Epidemiology and Disease Control Division of&nbsp; the Ministry of Health,&nbsp; said that the government is making persistent efforts with European countries as well as China, India and the United States to acquire COVID-19 vaccines. According to him, COVID-19 vaccine will be here soon. However, the Ministry of Health is not sure when it will happen.</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">According to the manpower agencies, only a small number of workers have gone to Saudi Arabia, Oman and Qatar after the government relaxed the prohibitory order and facilitated international flights. Turkey, which is considered an attractive destination for Nepalis, has also banned direct flights from six countries, including Nepal, from Monday, June 28 citing risk of COVID-19.&nbsp;</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Stakeholders sat that the government should take immediate steps to send Nepali migrants to foreign countries as Nepal&#39;s economy is dependent on remittance.&nbsp;</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">A study conducted by foreign employment agencies show that 1.2 million people have been jobless since the start of the pandemic. The data includes people who have lost jobs in the country and returnees from foreign countries. However, it doesn&#39;t include returnees from India. The study shows that around 500,000 Nepalis seek for foreign employment every year.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 8 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '13608',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Phase of Digital Economy Begins: FM Poudel ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'June 30: Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel has said that the phase of developing digital economy has begun in the country. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">June 30: Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel has said that the phase of developing digital economy has begun in the country.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Speaking at the 8th Anniversary of Media International on Tuesday, Minister Poudel shared that digital transaction was on the rise during COVID-19 pandemic and is expected to gradually lead the country towards the digital economy.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">He added that digital transaction will further help to make the economic system smart. Poudel said that making the economy vibrant was the need of the day and the government was effortful to develop entrepreneurship.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">On the occasion, Minister Poudel unveiled the logo of financial digitalization literacy. Similarly, Nepal Stock Exchange Board chairman Bhishmaraj Dhungana said that the latest technology was assisting to make the economy vibrant.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Nepal Rastra Bank&rsquo;s Deputy Governor Bam Bahadur Mishra shared that the NRB was prioritizing digital transaction of late. --RSS</span></span></span></p>
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			'image' => '20210630013245_20210530100611_budget_Finance Minister Paudel.jpg',
			'article_date' => '2021-06-30 13:32:06',
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	(int) 9 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '13607',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Yoghurt worth Rs 190 Million Sold in a Day  ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'June 30: Yoghurt worth more than Rs 190 million has been sold across the country on Tuesday, June 29, 2021.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">June 30: Yoghurt worth more than Rs 190 million has been sold across the country on Tuesday, June 29, 2021. The single-day boost in sale was observed on the National Paddy Day, when people, especially the farmers, follow a tradition of having curd and beaten rice. </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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The Dairy Development Corporation, Nepal Dairy Association, Dairy Industry Association and other cooperatives have sold 1.67 million liters of yoghurt worth Rs 192.21 million in a single day.&nbsp;</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">According to the National Dairy Development Board, the Dairy Industry Association sold 700,000 liters of yoghurt worth Rs 85 million on Tuesday. Various cooperatives and other informal sectors across the country sold around 500,000 liters of yoghurt worth Rs 57.5 million.&nbsp;</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Likewise, Nepal Dairy Association sold a total of 400,000 liters of yoghurt worth Rs 47 million, while DDC also sold 71,400 liters of yoghurt worth Rs 8.21 million.&nbsp;</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Babu Kaji Pant, acting executive director of the Board, said that there was no significant sale of yoghurt on June 29 compared to the previous years. According to him, under normal circumstances, up to 2.5 million liters of yoghurt would be sold in the country on this day.&nbsp;</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">According to the board, the sale of yoghurt by the DDC has come down by 10 percent while that the private sector has also come down by about 35 percent due to the pandemic.&nbsp;</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The market for dairy products has been gradually improving since the ban was lifted recently. Rudra Prasad Poudel, General Manager of the DDC, informed that the consumption of milk products has decreased as the areas that consume more dairy products such as hotels, restaurants and party palaces are closed due to the lockdown.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 10 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '13606',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Hydropower Developers asked to Renew Survey License by mid-July',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'June 29: Projects involved in production, transmission and distribution of electricity have been told to renew their survey license by mid-July.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">June 29: Projects involved in production, transmission and distribution of electricity have been told to renew their survey license by mid-July. A recent ministerial-level meeting of the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation took a decision to this effect.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The District Administration Office, Kathmandu has relaxed the prohibitory order since June 22. Therefore, the ministry has said that the survey licenses of the projects should be renewed by mid-July.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">According to the ministry, the promoters of the projects will have to apply to the Department of Electricity Development for the renewal of the survey license by mid-July along with the prescribed fee. The ministry said that the department will renew the survey license for a period of less than five years.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The government had imposed a complete lockdown in the country for four months from March 24, 2020 after the onset of the first wave of Covid-19. Since then, prohibitory orders have been enforced repeatedly.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The prohibitory order has been imposed in various districts including Kathmandu Valley since April 29, 2021 after the second wave of coronavirus started taking massive toll on human lives. As a result, the projects with a survey license till March 23, 2020 have not been able to renew their licenses. Issuing a notice to the promoters on Sunday, the ministry has called for renewal of license as the ban has been lifted.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Spokesperson of the Ministry Madhu Prasad Bhetwal said that the projects should renew their survey licenses within the given period.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">&ldquo;Banks have also been shut down due to repeated lockdowns. As a result, the promoter companies were unable to pay the fees. But now that the ban has been lifted, the banks are also open,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;This is the last chance for renewal. Therefore, the concerned projects will have to move ahead with the process of renewing the survey license within this period.&rdquo; He further said that the additional fees may be charged if the renewal process is not done during this period.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 11 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '13604',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'South Asia Must Reform Debt-Accumulating State-Owned Banks to Avert Next Financial Crisis',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'June 29: South Asia’s heavy reliance on state-owned commercial banks, state-owned enterprises, public-private partnerships and other national and sub-national public entities conceals its vulnerability to accumulating unsustainable levels of debt',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">June 29: </span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">South Asia&rsquo;s heavy reliance on state-owned commercial banks, state-owned enterprises, public-private partnerships and other national and sub-national public entities conceals its vulnerability to accumulating unsustainable levels of debt, according to a new World Bank report, Hidden Debt: Solutions to Avert the Next Financial Crisis in South Asia, released on June 29.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">According to the report, South Asia is more exposed to the risk of &ldquo;hidden debt&rdquo; from state-owned commercial banks (SOCBs), state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and public-private partnerships (PPPs) because of its greater reliance on them compared to other regions. But the report offers key areas for policy actions and concrete reforms that can help governments leverage public capital more responsibly through these types of entities to advance economic development, the World Bank said in a statement. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">&nbsp;&ldquo;The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted South Asia&rsquo;s rising levels of public debt. The region is more exposed to the risk of hidden debt because it relies heavily on the governments&rsquo; involvement in markets to aid economic development,&rdquo; the statement quoted Hartwig Schafer, World Bank&rsquo;s Vice President for South Asia, as saying. &ldquo;But the crisis demonstrates the critical importance of the judicious use of debt-financed public commitments and debt transparency to build back better, more sustainably, and more equitably.&rdquo;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Hidden Debt</span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial"> studies the trade-offs between addressing development challenges directly through state presence in the markets and the risk of accumulating high levels of debt due to economic inefficiencies of off-balance sheet operations. It focuses on SOBCs, SOEs and PPPs and their contingent liabilities&mdash;obligations incurred by governments off their balance sheets that have triggers for payment. Over time, part of the debt is revealed as it hits the central government budget and debt stock, but a large part remains hidden under the radar of existing financial disclosure standards. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria">&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">&ldquo;The efficiency of South Asian state-owned banks and other state-owned enterprises is well below the international benchmark,&rdquo;</span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial"> said Hans Timmer, World Bank&rsquo;s Chief Economist for South Asia. &ldquo;As governments rebuild from the shock of the COVID-19 pandemic and strive to avert future financial crises, they should clearly separate the social and commercial objectives of these enterprises in order to reduce inefficiencies, while maintaining socially beneficial investments.&rdquo; </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Governments often promise SOEs subsidies to run programs such as advancing access to electricity to underserved populations and small enterprises. SOCBs are asked to run government programs to promote financial inclusion or lend to under-served or riskier small and medium enterprises, often without compensation for losses that private markets avoid, the report stated. They are also asked to stimulate economies during downturns or financially support large PPPs that have concentrated risks. These hidden mandates are based on requests that are often made ad hoc and without consideration of risks or costs. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">&nbsp;&ldquo;In episodes of systemic shock&mdash;such as the global financial crisis or the COVID-19 pandemic&mdash;when many banks experience distress simultaneously, private banks deleverage and curtail lending, while state-owned commercial banks receive capital and debt support from the state to continue or increase lending,&rdquo; said Martin Melecky, World Bank Lead Economist and author of the report. &ldquo;But this short-term stabilizing function comes at the cost of crowding out other social spending as public funds get spent on bank recapitalization and significant credit misallocation&mdash;away from successful firms and especially small and medium enterprises&mdash;making for an unequal recovery.&rdquo;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">&nbsp;The report estimates that a systemic macro-financial crisis can trigger PPP failures that would cost South Asian countries more than 4 percent of revenues, and the potential costs from distressed SOEs have been even more overwhelming. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
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	(int) 12 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '13605',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'FWEAN Organising 5th International Women’s Trade Expo Virtually',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'June 29: The Federation of Woman Entrepreneurs Associations of Nepal (FWEAN) is organizing the 5th International Women’s Trade Expo 2021 from September 2-6, 2021.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">June 29: The Federation of Woman Entrepreneurs Associations of Nepal (FWEAN) is organizing the 5th International Women&rsquo;s Trade Expo 2021 from September 2-6, 2021. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">According to the FWEAN, the expo will be organised virtually in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. Issuing a statement, FEWAN said that the expo will showcase products of women entrepreneurs from all across Nepal as well. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">International Women Entrepreneurs will also participate as exhibitors, the statement added. The major objective of this expo is to promote products of Nepali women entrepreneurs, develop their market and increase their sales. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The event is being supported by various donor organizations like Finn Church Aid (FCA), The Asia Foundation (TAF) and International Labor Organization (ILO).</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Products like handicrafts, natural fiber products, agro/food products, jewelry, herbal products, garments will be the main attraction, added FWEAN. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The expo will have more than 300 virtual stalls and will be a hub for buying and selling products of women entrepreneurs both national and international, networking and also a meeting point for buyers and sellers.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 13 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '13603',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Tourists’ Length of Stay in Nepal Increases in 2020',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'June 29: Although the number of tourists visiting Nepal reduced drastically in 2020, their length of stay has increased to some extent. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">June 29: Although the number of tourists visiting Nepal reduced drastically in 2020, their length of stay has increased to some extent. According to the government data, tourist arrivals shrunk to 230,000 in 2020 from more than 1 million a year ago, while their stay increased by 19 percent during the review period as compared to 2019.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The average stay of a tourist in Nepal is 12 days. In 2020, it increased by 19 percent and reached 15.1 days. According to Nepal Tourism Statistics-2020, the stay of tourists in Nepal has reached 15 days for the first time.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation on Monday released the Nepal Tourism Statistics-2020. According to the same statistics, the length of stay of tourists has increased.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The year 2019 marked the highest number of tourist arrival in Nepal with record of 1.197 million foreign visitors in Nepal. Despite the significant number of tourists, the average stay was just 12 days, as in previous years. However, the average length of stay of tourists has increased in 2020, even though the number of arrival has decreased due to coronavirus.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The ministry estimates that the length of tourists&rsquo; stay may have increased due to coronavirus in 2020. Most of the tourism-related activities were not open last year due to the outbreak of Covid-19 and lockdown. However, businessmen say that their length of stay has been extended this year as tourists have come to Nepal only for trekking and mountaineering. Even under normal circumstances, the stay of tourists for trekking and mountaineering is longer than average.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Vinayak Shah, vice-president of the Hotel Association of Nepal (HAN), argues that the number of foreigners who came to Nepal in 2020 was only for trekking and mountaineering. &quot;The princes of Qatar and Bahrain have been staying for a long time,&quot; he said.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">In 2020, foreign tourists came to Nepal for trekking and mountaineering while they were stopped from coming to Nepal for other activities.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">He argues that the current stay period does not guarantee that the tourists&rsquo; length of stay will such long in the days to come. Entrepreneurs say that it is not fixed if this period will remain the same or decrease in the coming days.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">According to the statistics, the purpose of visiting Nepal in 2020 has not changed. Foreign tourists come to Nepal for trekking, mountaineering, pilgrimage and holiday celebrations.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Out of them, 60.5 percent of the foreign tourists visiting Nepal this year are for holidays, 12.4 percent for adventure tourism like mountaineering and trekking and 15.6 percent for visiting religious places, and 11.5 percent for other activities.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'title' => 'Government Allocates Billions of Rupees for Various Employment Funds',
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			'summary' => 'June 29: The government is preparing to allocate billions of rupees to generate thousands of employment in the fiscal year 2021/22.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">June 29: The government is preparing to allocate billions of rupees to generate thousands of employment in the fiscal year 2021/22.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">At a time when the people&rsquo;s livelihood has been severely affected by Covid-19 pandemic and people are having a difficult time to meet their daily needs, the government has prepared an action plan to allocate funds of billion rupees to the controversial Prime Minister Employment Program, Youth and Small Enterprise Self-Employment Fund and PM Agriculture Modernization Project.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security (MoLESS) informed that an action plan has already been prepared to implement these programs from July 16. The government is spending Rs 12 billion for the PM Employment Fund with an aim to generate 200,000 employments in the upcoming fiscal year. However, the previous experience shows ineffectiveness of the program which has drawn widespread criticism. The budget has to be spent in the construction of roads, building, river management, irrigation, planting trees in the local levels but funds are being allocated in the areas beyond this.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The government is spending Rs 7.98 billion in the PM Agriculture Modernization Project to attract youth in agriculture, generate employment at the local level and prevent youth from migrating to foreign countries.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The government aims to bring 71 zones into operation related to agriculture, fishery and livestock to generate employment opportunities. It aims to deploy students studying agriculture programs as interns in project areas to provide technical assistance to farmers and employ graduate students for a year on a contract basis. This program which is currently in operation has not been able to stop youth from migrating abroad.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">To increase employment, the government has introduced a program to provide loans to startups at subsidized rates. To motivate young entrepreneurs to begin startup businesses, the government is providing loans up to Rs 2.5 million at one percent interest rate.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The government has also announced to provide services like registration, renewal and other services of startup business free of cost through a one door system, facilitate in policy level to attract foreign investment in startup businesses and a challenge fund of one billion rupees will be set up.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">However, the modality of its implementation is not clear since the beginning. The program was included in the budgets of the &nbsp;current and previous fiscal years as well to encourage startup culture but was not implemented.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">In order to develop skilled manpower in accordance with the needs of the domestic industries, the government is also conducting workplace based training by providing a subsidy equal to three months minimum wage to the trainee workers in manufacturing and service industries.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The government aims to provide soft loans of up to Rs 2.5 million&nbsp; at five percent interest rate to students by keeping their academic certificates as collateral. This program has been in operation for many years but has not been implemented.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The government, which has scrapped the Poverty Alleviation Fund, is also creating employment through the Youth and Small Enterprises Self-Employment Fund. It has adopted a policy to make 12,000 youths self-employed by next year by providing loan facility along with technical and vocational skills.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">To develop the skills of young people entering the labor market, workers returning from foreign employment and those who have lost their jobs at home, the government is investing Rs 400 million in handicraft, plumbing, electrical repair, electronics, cookery, artisan, carpentry, tailoring, beauticians, haircutting, vehicle and mobile maintenance skills.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Expert Dr Ganesh Gurung says that the implementation part of all these programs remain uncertain due to lack of coordination. He said that the government should not delay the implementation of such programs by making a clear action plan. However, Deepak Kafle, Joint Secretary of the MoLESS said such a situation would not arise as an action plan is being formulated and implemented for the effective implementation of these programs.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><em><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">No study on impact of second wave of corona</span></span></em></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The government has introduced various employment programs but lacks reliable data on the impact of COVID-19 on the labor market. Joint Secretary Deepak Kafle admitted that the ministry is yet to conduct a study on this issue.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Last year, the National Planning Commission (NPC) had prepared a report after conducting a partial study in this regard. NPC had found that the first wave of COVID itself had led to a sharp rise in poverty. This study was also of preliminary nature and NPC has also not conducted a full-fledged study. Pushpa Raj Kandel, Vice Chairman of the NPC informed that a study to assess the impact of COVID in the labor market will begin from the end of this month.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The central bank had also conducted a study on this issue and found the hotel and tourism sectors had been worst affected by the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><br />
<br />
&nbsp;</p>
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			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => '  Central Bank Alerts Public about its Fake Facebook Page',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'July 1: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has urged people not to believe in any deceptive information circulated on social networking sites from its alleged Facebook page.  ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria">July 1: <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has urged people not to believe in any deceptive information circulated on social networking sites from its alleged Facebook page.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The central bank has drawn the attention to the misleading information being circulated from its fake account on social networking sites such as Facebook. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The NRB does not have its own official Facebook page and neither has it posted any information on Facebook, reads a statement released by the NRB on Thursday.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Those creating Facebook page in the name of the NRB illegally and posting deceptive information will be booked under cyber crime, added the statement. -- RSS&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></p>
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			'title' => ' Heavy Rainfall along with Thunder and Lightning in Forecast    ',
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			'summary' => 'uly 1: The weather is generally to completely cloudy throughout the country today (July 1) with most of the places experiencing light to moderate rain due to the active influence of the monsoon wind and the occurrence of the monsoon low pressure system near the Tarai region.     ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">July 1: The weather is generally to completely cloudy throughout the country today (July 1) with most of the places experiencing light to moderate rain due to the active influence of the monsoon wind and the occurrence of the monsoon low pressure system near the Tarai region.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The Department of Hydrology and Meteorology under the Meteorological Forecasting Division said light to moderate rainfall is taking place at many places of Province no 1, Province no 2, Bagmati province and the Gandaki province at present. Heavy rainfall accompanied by thunder and lightning is taking place at one or two places of these provinces.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Kathmandu Valley has been experiencing continuous light rainfall since Wednesday night. The sky is completely cloudy in the Valley.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Maximum temperature of 28 degrees Celsius and minimum of 22 degrees Celsius were recorded in Kathmandu on July 1.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><br />
&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><strong><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Forecast for next three days</span></strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">As per the Division, the weather will be generally to completely cloudy throughout the country on July 1 with the possibility of light to moderate rainfall at many places of Province no 1, Province no 2, Bagmati province, Lumbini province and Gandaki province, and at few places of Karnali and Sudurpaschim provinces. Similarly, heavy rainfall with thunder/lightning is likely occur in some places and torrential downpour in few places of Province no 1, Province no 2, Bagmati province, Lumbini Province and Gandaki Province.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The same weather system will continue tonight as well.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">On Friday, it will be generally to completely cloudy with chances of light to moderate rain in many places of Province no 1, Province no 2, Bagmati Province and Gandaki Province, and at a few places of Lumbini Province, Karnali Province and Sudurpaschim Province.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">On Saturday, the weather will be generally to completely cloudy with chances of light to moderate rainfall at many places of Province no 1, Province no 2, Bagmati Province and Gandaki Province, and at a few places of Lumbini, Karnali and Sudurpaschim provinces.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Likewise, heavy rain along with thunder and lightning is likely at a few places of Province no 1, Province no 2, Bagmati Province, Lumbini Province and Gandaki Province. -- RSS&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
&nbsp; </span></span></p>
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			'id' => '13615',
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			'title' => 'Vegetables Prices Surge by 230 Percent',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'July 1: The prices of green vegetables have skyrocketed up by up to 230 percent in Kathmandu in a month. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">July 1: The prices of green vegetables have skyrocketed up by up to 230 percent in Kathmandu in a month. According to the daily price list of the Kalimati Fruits and Vegetables Market Development Board (KFVMDB), the prices of green vegetables have increased substantially in the last one month.</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">With the arrival of monsoon, farmers have started planting paddy in the land where they used to grow vegetables.</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The wholesale price of hybrid beans, which was Rs 35 per kg on May 30, has increased by 230 percent to Rs 115 on June 30. The price of local cauliflower has gone up by 200 percent from Rs 25 per kg to Rs 75 per kg. The price of bitter gourd has increased by 142 percent from Rs 27 to Rs 65 per kg.</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Similarly, the price of ladies&rsquo; finger has also increased by 115 percent from Rs 35 to Rs 75 per kg, while the price of kidney beans has also increased by 200 percent from Rs 35 to Rs 105 per kg. The price of vegetables including sponge gourd, bottle gourd and beans has also gone up from Rs 20 to Rs 35 per kg.</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Due to the rainy season, the production of vegetables has decreased. Information Officer of KFVMDB, Binay Shrestha, told New Business Age that the price of green vegetables has increased as the vegetable production has decreased due to the paddy plantation in the land where vegetables were being grown.</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">&ldquo;Especially the price of vegetables has increased as the production has decreased,&rdquo; he said. According to him, vegetable production has declined in India as well due to the rain. The price has grown as the vegetables entering Nepal from India have also decreased.</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The data of the board shows that the import of vegetables has not improved although the lockdown has been relaxed. According to the board, 550, 500 and 600 metric tons of vegetables had entered Kalimati on May 28, 29 and 30 respectively.</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">As many as 700 metric tons of vegetables were imported on June 28. Likewise, 600 metric tons on June 29 and only 500 metric tons of vegetables have been imported till June 30. Under normal circumstances, 900 to 1,000 metric tons of vegetables enter Kalimati daily.</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">At present, traders estimate that only about 30 percent of green vegetables are imported from India. Gita Prasad Acharya, president of Kalimati Fruit and Vegetables Market Entrepreneurs Committee, said that vegetables from Dhading, Makwanpur, Dolakha, Kavre and other districts were entering Kathmandu.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>
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			'id' => '13614',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Floods and landslides damage Roads, Bridges worth  Rs 1 billion',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'July 1: Floods and landslides have damaged several roads and bridges across the country.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><em><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Landslide obstructs a road section of Prithvi Highway in Vyas Municipality of Tanahun district in this recent photo. Photo: RSS</span></span></em></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">July 1: Floods and landslides have damaged several roads and bridges across the country.&nbsp; Within two weeks since the onset of this year&#39;s monsoon, floods and landslides have caused an estimated damage of more than Rs 1 billion to the infrastructure. The Department of Roads revealed the data after a preliminary assessment on the extent of damage caused by floods.</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The flood between May 14 and June 29 has blocked roads in 61 places across various highways and auxiliary highways. According to the statistics of the department, roads are still blocked in 10 places. Roads in other places have resumed service through single lane.</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Spokesperson and Deputy Director-General of the Department&nbsp; Shiva Prasad Nepal informed that the damage estimate is preliminary. &quot;The monsoon is in its starting phase and has caused damage of more than Rs 1 billion,&rdquo; Nepal said, adding that the damages are likely to increase as the rainy season is far from over.</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">In the previous years, the monsoon caused estimated damage of Rs 2 to 3 billion. Although billions of rupees are lost annually due to floods and landslides, the government has not allocated a separate budget for reconstruction.</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The Department of Roads has been demanding a separate budget for maintenance, reconstruction, and rehabilitation, but has not received such budget. For the rehabilitation and reconstruction of damaged roads and bridges, the department has been carrying out maintenance work within the regular budget.</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">&quot;It is not possible repair the roads with the regular budget of the department,&quot; Nepal said, adding, &ldquo;We have requested the government to allocate the budget by assessing the extent of damage.</span></span>&rdquo;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">He said that the department has not been able to get the budget for maintenance even after assessing the damage in the last five years. Due to this, the maintenance has been done by mobilizing the regular budget, he Nepal. According to him, the regular work has been hampered by transferring money from the regular budget for maintenance of roads damaged by disasters.</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">For emergency work, a budget of Rs 100 million has been allocated. The budget allocated for the emergency purpose is for 37 divisional road offices, 13 mechanical and heavy equipment offices under the department..</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Currently, Manang and Araniko highways are blocked. There are very narrow roads in Manang. It is not possible to reach the other side without removing the landslide. &quot;The main priority right now is to open the road unilaterally. Unless the weather improves, two-way lane will not be opened because it is likely to cause more landslides and more damage,&quot; he said.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '13612',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Domestic Flights Resume from Today',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'July 1: Domestic flights have resumed in the country after an interval of around two months.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">July 1: Domestic flights have resumed in the country after an interval of around two months. The government had suspended domestic flights on May 3 to curb the spread of second wave of Covid-19.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has fixed the flight schedule allowing the airline companies to share 64 flights a day among themselves.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">As per the new flight schedule, domestic flights will be allowed at an interval of 10 minutes.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">During normal days, a domestic flight takes off every two minutes, the state-owned national news agency (RSS) reported. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The new schedule was fixed to avoid overcrowding of the airport, RSS further reported.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">According to TIA&rsquo;s general manager Pratap Babu Tiwari, Buddha Air has been permitted to operate 31 flights followed by 15 flights for Yeti Airlines, seven for&nbsp; Shree Airlines, and three each for Sourya Airlines and other airlines.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The Airport authorities have assured to effectively enforce the health safety protocol issued by the Nepal government for the safety of air passengers.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation had directed CAAN to operate flights limiting their frequencies to 50 percent of regular domestic flights effective from July 1 until another notice. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">A representative of Buddha Air told New Business Age that the rainy weather is not likely to cancel the flights.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">&ldquo;Flights get suspended only if there is poor visibility,&rdquo; he said, adding, &ldquo;Normal rainfall does not affect flights.&rdquo;</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria">&nbsp;</span></span></p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '13613',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Experts Stress on Commercialization for Development of Agriculture Sector',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'July 1: Agriculture experts have underlined the need for mechanization and commercialization of the agriculture sector in addition to good storage facility and marketing to enhance production of the agro-based products.  ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">July 1: Agriculture experts have underlined the need for mechanization and commercialization of the agriculture sector in addition to good storage facility and marketing to enhance production of the agro-based products.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">In a webinar organized by the Nepal Renewable Energy Confederation of Nepal (RECON) on Wednesday (June 30), the participants opined that the country could yield abundantly from agriculture provided that the human resources are given with skills development training and there is hassle-free procedure for the farmers to obtain grant and loan.&nbsp; </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria">&nbsp;&nbsp;<br />
<span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">They also opined that agro-production could be augmented considering usage of organic manure, reusing kitchen waste, solar-powered irrigation facilities (renewable energy) in those places lacking regular irrigation facilities among others.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Former Minister Ganesh Shah said that technology and equipment should be provided to farmers in a subsidized rate and farmers&rsquo; capacity should be enhanced for good harvest.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">For processing, drying and storing agriculture products, one should prioritize usage of renewable energy such as micro hydro plants, solar energy mini grid, wind energy, solar thermal among other technologies that are easily available in the rural areas, said Shah.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Likewise, Alternative Energy Promotion Centre&rsquo;s executive director Madhusudan Adhikari highlighted the need to hold high-level discussions and dialogue for optimizing renewable energy technology and benefiting as many people as possible.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Youth entrepreneur duo Kushal Gurung and Abhisekh Malla presented a paper about solar-powered irrigation facilities and their usage and prospects in the agricultural country like Nepal.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The virtual seminar chaired by RECON&rsquo;s President Gunaraj Dhakal was attended by agriculture expert Dr Sudha Sapkota, energy expert Dr Indira Shakya, Kathmandu University (KU)&rsquo;s Assistant Profession Dr Sunil Lohani, Nepal Biogas Promotion Association&rsquo;s President Prakash Chandra Subedi and Solar Electric Manufacturers Association Indra Khanal. -- RSS&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></span></p>
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	(int) 6 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '13611',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower Project to begin Test Production from July 5',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'June 30: Test production of the Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower Project will begin from coming Monday (July 5). ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">June 30: Test production of the Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower Project will begin from coming Monday (July 5). </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The hydropower project under construction in Bigu village of Dolakha with domestic investment has a production capacity of Rs 456 MW (six units of 76 MW capacity each). The first unit is scheduled to start generating electricity as a trial from July 5. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Hitendra Dev Shakya, executive director of Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) and chairman of Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower Project Limited, said that the other units will generate electricity afterwards.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">A team including Shakya and Prime Minister&#39;s Development Expert Gajendra Thapaliya had monitored the project site on June 27 and 28. During the field visit, the team had monitored equipment at the powerhouse, the dam site, as well as the new Khimti substation of 220 MW under construction at Khimti in Ramechhap.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">&quot;We have brought the project, which is facing various problems, to the point of generating electricity through continuous efforts. All the tests have reached the final stage. Now, if there is no technical problem, we will start generating electricity from the first unit on Monday,&quot; he said, adding, &ldquo;If no immediate decision had been taken on the design modification of the penstock pipe, the project would have been delayed further. We have completed the work by making a timely decision.&rdquo;&nbsp;</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Reservoirs and dunes have been successfully tested in all types of hydro-mechanical devices such as water-filled dams, intakes, civil structures, and connected gates, staples. The electricity generated from the project will be transmitted to the national grid through Gongar-Khimti-Dhalkebar 220 KV transmission line.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Likewise, the 76 km Khimti-Dhalkewar transmission line will also be tested. The 47 km 220 KV transmission line from Gongar of Upper Tamakoshi Power House Dolakha to Khimti of Ramechhap and the new Khimti substation will also be tested.&nbsp;</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The construction work of the project site office, access road to the project site, roads, bridges, and other infrastructures was started in the Fiscal Year 2062/63, and the construction of the main structures began in the Fiscal Year 2067/68. The construction of the project was delayed due to the catastrophic earthquake of 2072 BS and subsequent aftershocks and floods, problems in transportation of fuel and construction materials due to Madhes movement, design changes, the poor performance of the hydromechanical (Lot 2) contractor.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The contract for Lot 2 was awarded to the Indian company Texma&#39;s Rail and Engineering. Due to the poor performance of the company, the production and connection of hydro-mechanical equipment including penstock pipes of the dam have been delayed, affecting&nbsp; the overall construction work of the project. The construction of the project was halted for almost two years due to the earthquake. In addition, the construction of the project was affected by the construction of a tunnel to the dam site, design manipulation of some structures, and the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic around the world.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">After Texma, which got the contract for Lot 2, delayed the work, the responsibility of pipe connection in the lower vertical tunnel, which was considered very difficult, was given to the contractor of Electromechanical (Lot 3) without any financial burden. The project has reached the stage of generating electricity with the tireless efforts and support of high political and administrative leadership, employees of the project, contractors, locals, and others.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The project had upgraded the Charikot-Dolakha-Singati 35 km road at a cost of around Rs 1 billion. The project has constructed 29 kilometers of road and seven concrete bridges from Singati to the dam site in Lamabagar.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Earlier this week, the project had reportedly said the test production would begin from July 15.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '13610',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Nepal listed in Red Zone by Labour Destination Countries',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'June 30: Nepal has been listed among countries carrying high risk of COVID-19 infection by a dozen of labour destination countries as the country has failed to acquire COVID-19 vaccine on time.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">June 30: Nepal has been listed among countries carrying high risk of COVID-19 infection by a dozen of labour destination countries as the country has failed to acquire COVID-19 vaccine on time.</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Countries like Kuwait, Malaysia, and Dubai which are considered to be the prime labour destination countries have not taken in any Nepali migrants as yet. These countries have listed Nepal in the red zone. This has &nbsp;prevented migrant workers from going to these countries for jobs.</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Nepali migrant workers have not been able to leave for Saudi Arabia, Oman and Qatar either. These countries are willing to welcome migrant workers under some conditions but those conditions seem hard to meet. One of the major requirements of these countries is that migrants need to be compulsorily vaccinated.</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">COVID-19 protocols prepared by Saudi Arabia, Dubai and Kuwait have made vaccines a mandatory requirement. These countries have adopted a policy to take in migrants inoculated with vaccines manufactured in the US and European countries. Sujit Shrestha, General Secretary of Nepal Association of Foreign Employment Agencies, said since the government is delaying the process of acquiring vaccine, there are chances Nepal will remain in the red zone.&nbsp;</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">He further said that labor destination countries are refusing to take in migrant workers who are not vaccinated. This has pushed foreign employment sector of Nepal in a crisis. According to Shrestha, the government needs to take diplomatic measures to take forward the vaccination campaign.</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Though the government is being pressurized to bring vaccines, there are slim chances the vaccines will be available immediately. Dr Krsihna Prasad Poudel, Director of Epidemiology and Disease Control Division of&nbsp; the Ministry of Health,&nbsp; said that the government is making persistent efforts with European countries as well as China, India and the United States to acquire COVID-19 vaccines. According to him, COVID-19 vaccine will be here soon. However, the Ministry of Health is not sure when it will happen.</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">According to the manpower agencies, only a small number of workers have gone to Saudi Arabia, Oman and Qatar after the government relaxed the prohibitory order and facilitated international flights. Turkey, which is considered an attractive destination for Nepalis, has also banned direct flights from six countries, including Nepal, from Monday, June 28 citing risk of COVID-19.&nbsp;</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Stakeholders sat that the government should take immediate steps to send Nepali migrants to foreign countries as Nepal&#39;s economy is dependent on remittance.&nbsp;</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">A study conducted by foreign employment agencies show that 1.2 million people have been jobless since the start of the pandemic. The data includes people who have lost jobs in the country and returnees from foreign countries. However, it doesn&#39;t include returnees from India. The study shows that around 500,000 Nepalis seek for foreign employment every year.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '13608',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Phase of Digital Economy Begins: FM Poudel ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'June 30: Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel has said that the phase of developing digital economy has begun in the country. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">June 30: Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel has said that the phase of developing digital economy has begun in the country.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Speaking at the 8th Anniversary of Media International on Tuesday, Minister Poudel shared that digital transaction was on the rise during COVID-19 pandemic and is expected to gradually lead the country towards the digital economy.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">He added that digital transaction will further help to make the economic system smart. Poudel said that making the economy vibrant was the need of the day and the government was effortful to develop entrepreneurship.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">On the occasion, Minister Poudel unveiled the logo of financial digitalization literacy. Similarly, Nepal Stock Exchange Board chairman Bhishmaraj Dhungana said that the latest technology was assisting to make the economy vibrant.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Nepal Rastra Bank&rsquo;s Deputy Governor Bam Bahadur Mishra shared that the NRB was prioritizing digital transaction of late. --RSS</span></span></span></p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '13607',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Yoghurt worth Rs 190 Million Sold in a Day  ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'June 30: Yoghurt worth more than Rs 190 million has been sold across the country on Tuesday, June 29, 2021.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">June 30: Yoghurt worth more than Rs 190 million has been sold across the country on Tuesday, June 29, 2021. The single-day boost in sale was observed on the National Paddy Day, when people, especially the farmers, follow a tradition of having curd and beaten rice. </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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The Dairy Development Corporation, Nepal Dairy Association, Dairy Industry Association and other cooperatives have sold 1.67 million liters of yoghurt worth Rs 192.21 million in a single day.&nbsp;</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">According to the National Dairy Development Board, the Dairy Industry Association sold 700,000 liters of yoghurt worth Rs 85 million on Tuesday. Various cooperatives and other informal sectors across the country sold around 500,000 liters of yoghurt worth Rs 57.5 million.&nbsp;</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Likewise, Nepal Dairy Association sold a total of 400,000 liters of yoghurt worth Rs 47 million, while DDC also sold 71,400 liters of yoghurt worth Rs 8.21 million.&nbsp;</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Babu Kaji Pant, acting executive director of the Board, said that there was no significant sale of yoghurt on June 29 compared to the previous years. According to him, under normal circumstances, up to 2.5 million liters of yoghurt would be sold in the country on this day.&nbsp;</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">According to the board, the sale of yoghurt by the DDC has come down by 10 percent while that the private sector has also come down by about 35 percent due to the pandemic.&nbsp;</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The market for dairy products has been gradually improving since the ban was lifted recently. Rudra Prasad Poudel, General Manager of the DDC, informed that the consumption of milk products has decreased as the areas that consume more dairy products such as hotels, restaurants and party palaces are closed due to the lockdown.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'id' => '13606',
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			'title' => 'Hydropower Developers asked to Renew Survey License by mid-July',
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			'summary' => 'June 29: Projects involved in production, transmission and distribution of electricity have been told to renew their survey license by mid-July.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">June 29: Projects involved in production, transmission and distribution of electricity have been told to renew their survey license by mid-July. A recent ministerial-level meeting of the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation took a decision to this effect.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The District Administration Office, Kathmandu has relaxed the prohibitory order since June 22. Therefore, the ministry has said that the survey licenses of the projects should be renewed by mid-July.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">According to the ministry, the promoters of the projects will have to apply to the Department of Electricity Development for the renewal of the survey license by mid-July along with the prescribed fee. The ministry said that the department will renew the survey license for a period of less than five years.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The government had imposed a complete lockdown in the country for four months from March 24, 2020 after the onset of the first wave of Covid-19. Since then, prohibitory orders have been enforced repeatedly.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The prohibitory order has been imposed in various districts including Kathmandu Valley since April 29, 2021 after the second wave of coronavirus started taking massive toll on human lives. As a result, the projects with a survey license till March 23, 2020 have not been able to renew their licenses. Issuing a notice to the promoters on Sunday, the ministry has called for renewal of license as the ban has been lifted.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Spokesperson of the Ministry Madhu Prasad Bhetwal said that the projects should renew their survey licenses within the given period.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">&ldquo;Banks have also been shut down due to repeated lockdowns. As a result, the promoter companies were unable to pay the fees. But now that the ban has been lifted, the banks are also open,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;This is the last chance for renewal. Therefore, the concerned projects will have to move ahead with the process of renewing the survey license within this period.&rdquo; He further said that the additional fees may be charged if the renewal process is not done during this period.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 11 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '13604',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'South Asia Must Reform Debt-Accumulating State-Owned Banks to Avert Next Financial Crisis',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'June 29: South Asia’s heavy reliance on state-owned commercial banks, state-owned enterprises, public-private partnerships and other national and sub-national public entities conceals its vulnerability to accumulating unsustainable levels of debt',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">June 29: </span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">South Asia&rsquo;s heavy reliance on state-owned commercial banks, state-owned enterprises, public-private partnerships and other national and sub-national public entities conceals its vulnerability to accumulating unsustainable levels of debt, according to a new World Bank report, Hidden Debt: Solutions to Avert the Next Financial Crisis in South Asia, released on June 29.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">According to the report, South Asia is more exposed to the risk of &ldquo;hidden debt&rdquo; from state-owned commercial banks (SOCBs), state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and public-private partnerships (PPPs) because of its greater reliance on them compared to other regions. But the report offers key areas for policy actions and concrete reforms that can help governments leverage public capital more responsibly through these types of entities to advance economic development, the World Bank said in a statement. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">&nbsp;&ldquo;The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted South Asia&rsquo;s rising levels of public debt. The region is more exposed to the risk of hidden debt because it relies heavily on the governments&rsquo; involvement in markets to aid economic development,&rdquo; the statement quoted Hartwig Schafer, World Bank&rsquo;s Vice President for South Asia, as saying. &ldquo;But the crisis demonstrates the critical importance of the judicious use of debt-financed public commitments and debt transparency to build back better, more sustainably, and more equitably.&rdquo;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Hidden Debt</span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial"> studies the trade-offs between addressing development challenges directly through state presence in the markets and the risk of accumulating high levels of debt due to economic inefficiencies of off-balance sheet operations. It focuses on SOBCs, SOEs and PPPs and their contingent liabilities&mdash;obligations incurred by governments off their balance sheets that have triggers for payment. Over time, part of the debt is revealed as it hits the central government budget and debt stock, but a large part remains hidden under the radar of existing financial disclosure standards. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria">&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">&ldquo;The efficiency of South Asian state-owned banks and other state-owned enterprises is well below the international benchmark,&rdquo;</span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial"> said Hans Timmer, World Bank&rsquo;s Chief Economist for South Asia. &ldquo;As governments rebuild from the shock of the COVID-19 pandemic and strive to avert future financial crises, they should clearly separate the social and commercial objectives of these enterprises in order to reduce inefficiencies, while maintaining socially beneficial investments.&rdquo; </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Governments often promise SOEs subsidies to run programs such as advancing access to electricity to underserved populations and small enterprises. SOCBs are asked to run government programs to promote financial inclusion or lend to under-served or riskier small and medium enterprises, often without compensation for losses that private markets avoid, the report stated. They are also asked to stimulate economies during downturns or financially support large PPPs that have concentrated risks. These hidden mandates are based on requests that are often made ad hoc and without consideration of risks or costs. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">&nbsp;&ldquo;In episodes of systemic shock&mdash;such as the global financial crisis or the COVID-19 pandemic&mdash;when many banks experience distress simultaneously, private banks deleverage and curtail lending, while state-owned commercial banks receive capital and debt support from the state to continue or increase lending,&rdquo; said Martin Melecky, World Bank Lead Economist and author of the report. &ldquo;But this short-term stabilizing function comes at the cost of crowding out other social spending as public funds get spent on bank recapitalization and significant credit misallocation&mdash;away from successful firms and especially small and medium enterprises&mdash;making for an unequal recovery.&rdquo;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">&nbsp;The report estimates that a systemic macro-financial crisis can trigger PPP failures that would cost South Asian countries more than 4 percent of revenues, and the potential costs from distressed SOEs have been even more overwhelming. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '13605',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'FWEAN Organising 5th International Women’s Trade Expo Virtually',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'June 29: The Federation of Woman Entrepreneurs Associations of Nepal (FWEAN) is organizing the 5th International Women’s Trade Expo 2021 from September 2-6, 2021.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">June 29: The Federation of Woman Entrepreneurs Associations of Nepal (FWEAN) is organizing the 5th International Women&rsquo;s Trade Expo 2021 from September 2-6, 2021. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">According to the FWEAN, the expo will be organised virtually in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. Issuing a statement, FEWAN said that the expo will showcase products of women entrepreneurs from all across Nepal as well. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">International Women Entrepreneurs will also participate as exhibitors, the statement added. The major objective of this expo is to promote products of Nepali women entrepreneurs, develop their market and increase their sales. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The event is being supported by various donor organizations like Finn Church Aid (FCA), The Asia Foundation (TAF) and International Labor Organization (ILO).</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Products like handicrafts, natural fiber products, agro/food products, jewelry, herbal products, garments will be the main attraction, added FWEAN. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The expo will have more than 300 virtual stalls and will be a hub for buying and selling products of women entrepreneurs both national and international, networking and also a meeting point for buyers and sellers.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '13603',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Tourists’ Length of Stay in Nepal Increases in 2020',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'June 29: Although the number of tourists visiting Nepal reduced drastically in 2020, their length of stay has increased to some extent. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">June 29: Although the number of tourists visiting Nepal reduced drastically in 2020, their length of stay has increased to some extent. According to the government data, tourist arrivals shrunk to 230,000 in 2020 from more than 1 million a year ago, while their stay increased by 19 percent during the review period as compared to 2019.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The average stay of a tourist in Nepal is 12 days. In 2020, it increased by 19 percent and reached 15.1 days. According to Nepal Tourism Statistics-2020, the stay of tourists in Nepal has reached 15 days for the first time.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation on Monday released the Nepal Tourism Statistics-2020. According to the same statistics, the length of stay of tourists has increased.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The year 2019 marked the highest number of tourist arrival in Nepal with record of 1.197 million foreign visitors in Nepal. Despite the significant number of tourists, the average stay was just 12 days, as in previous years. However, the average length of stay of tourists has increased in 2020, even though the number of arrival has decreased due to coronavirus.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The ministry estimates that the length of tourists&rsquo; stay may have increased due to coronavirus in 2020. Most of the tourism-related activities were not open last year due to the outbreak of Covid-19 and lockdown. However, businessmen say that their length of stay has been extended this year as tourists have come to Nepal only for trekking and mountaineering. Even under normal circumstances, the stay of tourists for trekking and mountaineering is longer than average.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Vinayak Shah, vice-president of the Hotel Association of Nepal (HAN), argues that the number of foreigners who came to Nepal in 2020 was only for trekking and mountaineering. &quot;The princes of Qatar and Bahrain have been staying for a long time,&quot; he said.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">In 2020, foreign tourists came to Nepal for trekking and mountaineering while they were stopped from coming to Nepal for other activities.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">He argues that the current stay period does not guarantee that the tourists&rsquo; length of stay will such long in the days to come. Entrepreneurs say that it is not fixed if this period will remain the same or decrease in the coming days.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">According to the statistics, the purpose of visiting Nepal in 2020 has not changed. Foreign tourists come to Nepal for trekking, mountaineering, pilgrimage and holiday celebrations.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Out of them, 60.5 percent of the foreign tourists visiting Nepal this year are for holidays, 12.4 percent for adventure tourism like mountaineering and trekking and 15.6 percent for visiting religious places, and 11.5 percent for other activities.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'title' => 'Government Allocates Billions of Rupees for Various Employment Funds',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'June 29: The government is preparing to allocate billions of rupees to generate thousands of employment in the fiscal year 2021/22.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">June 29: The government is preparing to allocate billions of rupees to generate thousands of employment in the fiscal year 2021/22.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">At a time when the people&rsquo;s livelihood has been severely affected by Covid-19 pandemic and people are having a difficult time to meet their daily needs, the government has prepared an action plan to allocate funds of billion rupees to the controversial Prime Minister Employment Program, Youth and Small Enterprise Self-Employment Fund and PM Agriculture Modernization Project.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security (MoLESS) informed that an action plan has already been prepared to implement these programs from July 16. The government is spending Rs 12 billion for the PM Employment Fund with an aim to generate 200,000 employments in the upcoming fiscal year. However, the previous experience shows ineffectiveness of the program which has drawn widespread criticism. The budget has to be spent in the construction of roads, building, river management, irrigation, planting trees in the local levels but funds are being allocated in the areas beyond this.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The government is spending Rs 7.98 billion in the PM Agriculture Modernization Project to attract youth in agriculture, generate employment at the local level and prevent youth from migrating to foreign countries.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The government aims to bring 71 zones into operation related to agriculture, fishery and livestock to generate employment opportunities. It aims to deploy students studying agriculture programs as interns in project areas to provide technical assistance to farmers and employ graduate students for a year on a contract basis. This program which is currently in operation has not been able to stop youth from migrating abroad.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">To increase employment, the government has introduced a program to provide loans to startups at subsidized rates. To motivate young entrepreneurs to begin startup businesses, the government is providing loans up to Rs 2.5 million at one percent interest rate.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The government has also announced to provide services like registration, renewal and other services of startup business free of cost through a one door system, facilitate in policy level to attract foreign investment in startup businesses and a challenge fund of one billion rupees will be set up.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">However, the modality of its implementation is not clear since the beginning. The program was included in the budgets of the &nbsp;current and previous fiscal years as well to encourage startup culture but was not implemented.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">In order to develop skilled manpower in accordance with the needs of the domestic industries, the government is also conducting workplace based training by providing a subsidy equal to three months minimum wage to the trainee workers in manufacturing and service industries.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The government aims to provide soft loans of up to Rs 2.5 million&nbsp; at five percent interest rate to students by keeping their academic certificates as collateral. This program has been in operation for many years but has not been implemented.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The government, which has scrapped the Poverty Alleviation Fund, is also creating employment through the Youth and Small Enterprises Self-Employment Fund. It has adopted a policy to make 12,000 youths self-employed by next year by providing loan facility along with technical and vocational skills.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">To develop the skills of young people entering the labor market, workers returning from foreign employment and those who have lost their jobs at home, the government is investing Rs 400 million in handicraft, plumbing, electrical repair, electronics, cookery, artisan, carpentry, tailoring, beauticians, haircutting, vehicle and mobile maintenance skills.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Expert Dr Ganesh Gurung says that the implementation part of all these programs remain uncertain due to lack of coordination. He said that the government should not delay the implementation of such programs by making a clear action plan. However, Deepak Kafle, Joint Secretary of the MoLESS said such a situation would not arise as an action plan is being formulated and implemented for the effective implementation of these programs.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><em><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">No study on impact of second wave of corona</span></span></em></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The government has introduced various employment programs but lacks reliable data on the impact of COVID-19 on the labor market. Joint Secretary Deepak Kafle admitted that the ministry is yet to conduct a study on this issue.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Last year, the National Planning Commission (NPC) had prepared a report after conducting a partial study in this regard. NPC had found that the first wave of COVID itself had led to a sharp rise in poverty. This study was also of preliminary nature and NPC has also not conducted a full-fledged study. Pushpa Raj Kandel, Vice Chairman of the NPC informed that a study to assess the impact of COVID in the labor market will begin from the end of this month.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The central bank had also conducted a study on this issue and found the hotel and tourism sectors had been worst affected by the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><br />
<br />
&nbsp;</p>
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			'id' => '13616',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => '  Central Bank Alerts Public about its Fake Facebook Page',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'July 1: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has urged people not to believe in any deceptive information circulated on social networking sites from its alleged Facebook page.  ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria">July 1: <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has urged people not to believe in any deceptive information circulated on social networking sites from its alleged Facebook page.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The central bank has drawn the attention to the misleading information being circulated from its fake account on social networking sites such as Facebook. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The NRB does not have its own official Facebook page and neither has it posted any information on Facebook, reads a statement released by the NRB on Thursday.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Those creating Facebook page in the name of the NRB illegally and posting deceptive information will be booked under cyber crime, added the statement. -- RSS&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></p>
',
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			'sortorder' => '13362',
			'image' => '20210701050746_20190502053738_NRB Facebook.jpg',
			'article_date' => '2021-07-01 17:07:06',
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			'id' => '13617',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => ' Heavy Rainfall along with Thunder and Lightning in Forecast    ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'uly 1: The weather is generally to completely cloudy throughout the country today (July 1) with most of the places experiencing light to moderate rain due to the active influence of the monsoon wind and the occurrence of the monsoon low pressure system near the Tarai region.     ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">July 1: The weather is generally to completely cloudy throughout the country today (July 1) with most of the places experiencing light to moderate rain due to the active influence of the monsoon wind and the occurrence of the monsoon low pressure system near the Tarai region.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The Department of Hydrology and Meteorology under the Meteorological Forecasting Division said light to moderate rainfall is taking place at many places of Province no 1, Province no 2, Bagmati province and the Gandaki province at present. Heavy rainfall accompanied by thunder and lightning is taking place at one or two places of these provinces.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Kathmandu Valley has been experiencing continuous light rainfall since Wednesday night. The sky is completely cloudy in the Valley.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Maximum temperature of 28 degrees Celsius and minimum of 22 degrees Celsius were recorded in Kathmandu on July 1.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><br />
&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><strong><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Forecast for next three days</span></strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">As per the Division, the weather will be generally to completely cloudy throughout the country on July 1 with the possibility of light to moderate rainfall at many places of Province no 1, Province no 2, Bagmati province, Lumbini province and Gandaki province, and at few places of Karnali and Sudurpaschim provinces. Similarly, heavy rainfall with thunder/lightning is likely occur in some places and torrential downpour in few places of Province no 1, Province no 2, Bagmati province, Lumbini Province and Gandaki Province.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The same weather system will continue tonight as well.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">On Friday, it will be generally to completely cloudy with chances of light to moderate rain in many places of Province no 1, Province no 2, Bagmati Province and Gandaki Province, and at a few places of Lumbini Province, Karnali Province and Sudurpaschim Province.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">On Saturday, the weather will be generally to completely cloudy with chances of light to moderate rainfall at many places of Province no 1, Province no 2, Bagmati Province and Gandaki Province, and at a few places of Lumbini, Karnali and Sudurpaschim provinces.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Likewise, heavy rain along with thunder and lightning is likely at a few places of Province no 1, Province no 2, Bagmati Province, Lumbini Province and Gandaki Province. -- RSS&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
&nbsp; </span></span></p>
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			'modified' => '2021-07-01',
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			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '13361',
			'image' => '20210701052135_20200511091310_Storm.jpg',
			'article_date' => '2021-07-01 17:21:00',
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '13615',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Vegetables Prices Surge by 230 Percent',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'July 1: The prices of green vegetables have skyrocketed up by up to 230 percent in Kathmandu in a month. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">July 1: The prices of green vegetables have skyrocketed up by up to 230 percent in Kathmandu in a month. According to the daily price list of the Kalimati Fruits and Vegetables Market Development Board (KFVMDB), the prices of green vegetables have increased substantially in the last one month.</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">With the arrival of monsoon, farmers have started planting paddy in the land where they used to grow vegetables.</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The wholesale price of hybrid beans, which was Rs 35 per kg on May 30, has increased by 230 percent to Rs 115 on June 30. The price of local cauliflower has gone up by 200 percent from Rs 25 per kg to Rs 75 per kg. The price of bitter gourd has increased by 142 percent from Rs 27 to Rs 65 per kg.</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Similarly, the price of ladies&rsquo; finger has also increased by 115 percent from Rs 35 to Rs 75 per kg, while the price of kidney beans has also increased by 200 percent from Rs 35 to Rs 105 per kg. The price of vegetables including sponge gourd, bottle gourd and beans has also gone up from Rs 20 to Rs 35 per kg.</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Due to the rainy season, the production of vegetables has decreased. Information Officer of KFVMDB, Binay Shrestha, told New Business Age that the price of green vegetables has increased as the vegetable production has decreased due to the paddy plantation in the land where vegetables were being grown.</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">&ldquo;Especially the price of vegetables has increased as the production has decreased,&rdquo; he said. According to him, vegetable production has declined in India as well due to the rain. The price has grown as the vegetables entering Nepal from India have also decreased.</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The data of the board shows that the import of vegetables has not improved although the lockdown has been relaxed. According to the board, 550, 500 and 600 metric tons of vegetables had entered Kalimati on May 28, 29 and 30 respectively.</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">As many as 700 metric tons of vegetables were imported on June 28. Likewise, 600 metric tons on June 29 and only 500 metric tons of vegetables have been imported till June 30. Under normal circumstances, 900 to 1,000 metric tons of vegetables enter Kalimati daily.</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">At present, traders estimate that only about 30 percent of green vegetables are imported from India. Gita Prasad Acharya, president of Kalimati Fruit and Vegetables Market Entrepreneurs Committee, said that vegetables from Dhading, Makwanpur, Dolakha, Kavre and other districts were entering Kathmandu.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>
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			'created' => '2021-07-01',
			'modified' => '2021-07-01',
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			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '13360',
			'image' => '20210701020007_20200806125217_1595453904.Clipboard03.jpg',
			'article_date' => '2021-07-01 13:59:36',
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	(int) 3 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '13614',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Floods and landslides damage Roads, Bridges worth  Rs 1 billion',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'July 1: Floods and landslides have damaged several roads and bridges across the country.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><em><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Landslide obstructs a road section of Prithvi Highway in Vyas Municipality of Tanahun district in this recent photo. Photo: RSS</span></span></em></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">July 1: Floods and landslides have damaged several roads and bridges across the country.&nbsp; Within two weeks since the onset of this year&#39;s monsoon, floods and landslides have caused an estimated damage of more than Rs 1 billion to the infrastructure. The Department of Roads revealed the data after a preliminary assessment on the extent of damage caused by floods.</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The flood between May 14 and June 29 has blocked roads in 61 places across various highways and auxiliary highways. According to the statistics of the department, roads are still blocked in 10 places. Roads in other places have resumed service through single lane.</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Spokesperson and Deputy Director-General of the Department&nbsp; Shiva Prasad Nepal informed that the damage estimate is preliminary. &quot;The monsoon is in its starting phase and has caused damage of more than Rs 1 billion,&rdquo; Nepal said, adding that the damages are likely to increase as the rainy season is far from over.</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">In the previous years, the monsoon caused estimated damage of Rs 2 to 3 billion. Although billions of rupees are lost annually due to floods and landslides, the government has not allocated a separate budget for reconstruction.</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The Department of Roads has been demanding a separate budget for maintenance, reconstruction, and rehabilitation, but has not received such budget. For the rehabilitation and reconstruction of damaged roads and bridges, the department has been carrying out maintenance work within the regular budget.</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">&quot;It is not possible repair the roads with the regular budget of the department,&quot; Nepal said, adding, &ldquo;We have requested the government to allocate the budget by assessing the extent of damage.</span></span>&rdquo;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">He said that the department has not been able to get the budget for maintenance even after assessing the damage in the last five years. Due to this, the maintenance has been done by mobilizing the regular budget, he Nepal. According to him, the regular work has been hampered by transferring money from the regular budget for maintenance of roads damaged by disasters.</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">For emergency work, a budget of Rs 100 million has been allocated. The budget allocated for the emergency purpose is for 37 divisional road offices, 13 mechanical and heavy equipment offices under the department..</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Currently, Manang and Araniko highways are blocked. There are very narrow roads in Manang. It is not possible to reach the other side without removing the landslide. &quot;The main priority right now is to open the road unilaterally. Unless the weather improves, two-way lane will not be opened because it is likely to cause more landslides and more damage,&quot; he said.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '13612',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Domestic Flights Resume from Today',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'July 1: Domestic flights have resumed in the country after an interval of around two months.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">July 1: Domestic flights have resumed in the country after an interval of around two months. The government had suspended domestic flights on May 3 to curb the spread of second wave of Covid-19.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has fixed the flight schedule allowing the airline companies to share 64 flights a day among themselves.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">As per the new flight schedule, domestic flights will be allowed at an interval of 10 minutes.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">During normal days, a domestic flight takes off every two minutes, the state-owned national news agency (RSS) reported. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The new schedule was fixed to avoid overcrowding of the airport, RSS further reported.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">According to TIA&rsquo;s general manager Pratap Babu Tiwari, Buddha Air has been permitted to operate 31 flights followed by 15 flights for Yeti Airlines, seven for&nbsp; Shree Airlines, and three each for Sourya Airlines and other airlines.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The Airport authorities have assured to effectively enforce the health safety protocol issued by the Nepal government for the safety of air passengers.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation had directed CAAN to operate flights limiting their frequencies to 50 percent of regular domestic flights effective from July 1 until another notice. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">A representative of Buddha Air told New Business Age that the rainy weather is not likely to cancel the flights.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">&ldquo;Flights get suspended only if there is poor visibility,&rdquo; he said, adding, &ldquo;Normal rainfall does not affect flights.&rdquo;</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria">&nbsp;</span></span></p>
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			'id' => '13613',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Experts Stress on Commercialization for Development of Agriculture Sector',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'July 1: Agriculture experts have underlined the need for mechanization and commercialization of the agriculture sector in addition to good storage facility and marketing to enhance production of the agro-based products.  ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">July 1: Agriculture experts have underlined the need for mechanization and commercialization of the agriculture sector in addition to good storage facility and marketing to enhance production of the agro-based products.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">In a webinar organized by the Nepal Renewable Energy Confederation of Nepal (RECON) on Wednesday (June 30), the participants opined that the country could yield abundantly from agriculture provided that the human resources are given with skills development training and there is hassle-free procedure for the farmers to obtain grant and loan.&nbsp; </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria">&nbsp;&nbsp;<br />
<span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">They also opined that agro-production could be augmented considering usage of organic manure, reusing kitchen waste, solar-powered irrigation facilities (renewable energy) in those places lacking regular irrigation facilities among others.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Former Minister Ganesh Shah said that technology and equipment should be provided to farmers in a subsidized rate and farmers&rsquo; capacity should be enhanced for good harvest.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">For processing, drying and storing agriculture products, one should prioritize usage of renewable energy such as micro hydro plants, solar energy mini grid, wind energy, solar thermal among other technologies that are easily available in the rural areas, said Shah.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Likewise, Alternative Energy Promotion Centre&rsquo;s executive director Madhusudan Adhikari highlighted the need to hold high-level discussions and dialogue for optimizing renewable energy technology and benefiting as many people as possible.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Youth entrepreneur duo Kushal Gurung and Abhisekh Malla presented a paper about solar-powered irrigation facilities and their usage and prospects in the agricultural country like Nepal.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The virtual seminar chaired by RECON&rsquo;s President Gunaraj Dhakal was attended by agriculture expert Dr Sudha Sapkota, energy expert Dr Indira Shakya, Kathmandu University (KU)&rsquo;s Assistant Profession Dr Sunil Lohani, Nepal Biogas Promotion Association&rsquo;s President Prakash Chandra Subedi and Solar Electric Manufacturers Association Indra Khanal. -- RSS&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></span></p>
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			'id' => '13611',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower Project to begin Test Production from July 5',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'June 30: Test production of the Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower Project will begin from coming Monday (July 5). ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">June 30: Test production of the Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower Project will begin from coming Monday (July 5). </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The hydropower project under construction in Bigu village of Dolakha with domestic investment has a production capacity of Rs 456 MW (six units of 76 MW capacity each). The first unit is scheduled to start generating electricity as a trial from July 5. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Hitendra Dev Shakya, executive director of Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) and chairman of Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower Project Limited, said that the other units will generate electricity afterwards.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">A team including Shakya and Prime Minister&#39;s Development Expert Gajendra Thapaliya had monitored the project site on June 27 and 28. During the field visit, the team had monitored equipment at the powerhouse, the dam site, as well as the new Khimti substation of 220 MW under construction at Khimti in Ramechhap.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">&quot;We have brought the project, which is facing various problems, to the point of generating electricity through continuous efforts. All the tests have reached the final stage. Now, if there is no technical problem, we will start generating electricity from the first unit on Monday,&quot; he said, adding, &ldquo;If no immediate decision had been taken on the design modification of the penstock pipe, the project would have been delayed further. We have completed the work by making a timely decision.&rdquo;&nbsp;</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Reservoirs and dunes have been successfully tested in all types of hydro-mechanical devices such as water-filled dams, intakes, civil structures, and connected gates, staples. The electricity generated from the project will be transmitted to the national grid through Gongar-Khimti-Dhalkebar 220 KV transmission line.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Likewise, the 76 km Khimti-Dhalkewar transmission line will also be tested. The 47 km 220 KV transmission line from Gongar of Upper Tamakoshi Power House Dolakha to Khimti of Ramechhap and the new Khimti substation will also be tested.&nbsp;</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The construction work of the project site office, access road to the project site, roads, bridges, and other infrastructures was started in the Fiscal Year 2062/63, and the construction of the main structures began in the Fiscal Year 2067/68. The construction of the project was delayed due to the catastrophic earthquake of 2072 BS and subsequent aftershocks and floods, problems in transportation of fuel and construction materials due to Madhes movement, design changes, the poor performance of the hydromechanical (Lot 2) contractor.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The contract for Lot 2 was awarded to the Indian company Texma&#39;s Rail and Engineering. Due to the poor performance of the company, the production and connection of hydro-mechanical equipment including penstock pipes of the dam have been delayed, affecting&nbsp; the overall construction work of the project. The construction of the project was halted for almost two years due to the earthquake. In addition, the construction of the project was affected by the construction of a tunnel to the dam site, design manipulation of some structures, and the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic around the world.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">After Texma, which got the contract for Lot 2, delayed the work, the responsibility of pipe connection in the lower vertical tunnel, which was considered very difficult, was given to the contractor of Electromechanical (Lot 3) without any financial burden. The project has reached the stage of generating electricity with the tireless efforts and support of high political and administrative leadership, employees of the project, contractors, locals, and others.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The project had upgraded the Charikot-Dolakha-Singati 35 km road at a cost of around Rs 1 billion. The project has constructed 29 kilometers of road and seven concrete bridges from Singati to the dam site in Lamabagar.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Earlier this week, the project had reportedly said the test production would begin from July 15.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '13610',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Nepal listed in Red Zone by Labour Destination Countries',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'June 30: Nepal has been listed among countries carrying high risk of COVID-19 infection by a dozen of labour destination countries as the country has failed to acquire COVID-19 vaccine on time.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">June 30: Nepal has been listed among countries carrying high risk of COVID-19 infection by a dozen of labour destination countries as the country has failed to acquire COVID-19 vaccine on time.</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Countries like Kuwait, Malaysia, and Dubai which are considered to be the prime labour destination countries have not taken in any Nepali migrants as yet. These countries have listed Nepal in the red zone. This has &nbsp;prevented migrant workers from going to these countries for jobs.</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Nepali migrant workers have not been able to leave for Saudi Arabia, Oman and Qatar either. These countries are willing to welcome migrant workers under some conditions but those conditions seem hard to meet. One of the major requirements of these countries is that migrants need to be compulsorily vaccinated.</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">COVID-19 protocols prepared by Saudi Arabia, Dubai and Kuwait have made vaccines a mandatory requirement. These countries have adopted a policy to take in migrants inoculated with vaccines manufactured in the US and European countries. Sujit Shrestha, General Secretary of Nepal Association of Foreign Employment Agencies, said since the government is delaying the process of acquiring vaccine, there are chances Nepal will remain in the red zone.&nbsp;</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">He further said that labor destination countries are refusing to take in migrant workers who are not vaccinated. This has pushed foreign employment sector of Nepal in a crisis. According to Shrestha, the government needs to take diplomatic measures to take forward the vaccination campaign.</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Though the government is being pressurized to bring vaccines, there are slim chances the vaccines will be available immediately. Dr Krsihna Prasad Poudel, Director of Epidemiology and Disease Control Division of&nbsp; the Ministry of Health,&nbsp; said that the government is making persistent efforts with European countries as well as China, India and the United States to acquire COVID-19 vaccines. According to him, COVID-19 vaccine will be here soon. However, the Ministry of Health is not sure when it will happen.</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">According to the manpower agencies, only a small number of workers have gone to Saudi Arabia, Oman and Qatar after the government relaxed the prohibitory order and facilitated international flights. Turkey, which is considered an attractive destination for Nepalis, has also banned direct flights from six countries, including Nepal, from Monday, June 28 citing risk of COVID-19.&nbsp;</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Stakeholders sat that the government should take immediate steps to send Nepali migrants to foreign countries as Nepal&#39;s economy is dependent on remittance.&nbsp;</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">A study conducted by foreign employment agencies show that 1.2 million people have been jobless since the start of the pandemic. The data includes people who have lost jobs in the country and returnees from foreign countries. However, it doesn&#39;t include returnees from India. The study shows that around 500,000 Nepalis seek for foreign employment every year.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 8 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '13608',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Phase of Digital Economy Begins: FM Poudel ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'June 30: Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel has said that the phase of developing digital economy has begun in the country. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">June 30: Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel has said that the phase of developing digital economy has begun in the country.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Speaking at the 8th Anniversary of Media International on Tuesday, Minister Poudel shared that digital transaction was on the rise during COVID-19 pandemic and is expected to gradually lead the country towards the digital economy.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">He added that digital transaction will further help to make the economic system smart. Poudel said that making the economy vibrant was the need of the day and the government was effortful to develop entrepreneurship.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">On the occasion, Minister Poudel unveiled the logo of financial digitalization literacy. Similarly, Nepal Stock Exchange Board chairman Bhishmaraj Dhungana said that the latest technology was assisting to make the economy vibrant.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Nepal Rastra Bank&rsquo;s Deputy Governor Bam Bahadur Mishra shared that the NRB was prioritizing digital transaction of late. --RSS</span></span></span></p>
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	(int) 9 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '13607',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Yoghurt worth Rs 190 Million Sold in a Day  ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'June 30: Yoghurt worth more than Rs 190 million has been sold across the country on Tuesday, June 29, 2021.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">June 30: Yoghurt worth more than Rs 190 million has been sold across the country on Tuesday, June 29, 2021. The single-day boost in sale was observed on the National Paddy Day, when people, especially the farmers, follow a tradition of having curd and beaten rice. </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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The Dairy Development Corporation, Nepal Dairy Association, Dairy Industry Association and other cooperatives have sold 1.67 million liters of yoghurt worth Rs 192.21 million in a single day.&nbsp;</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">According to the National Dairy Development Board, the Dairy Industry Association sold 700,000 liters of yoghurt worth Rs 85 million on Tuesday. Various cooperatives and other informal sectors across the country sold around 500,000 liters of yoghurt worth Rs 57.5 million.&nbsp;</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Likewise, Nepal Dairy Association sold a total of 400,000 liters of yoghurt worth Rs 47 million, while DDC also sold 71,400 liters of yoghurt worth Rs 8.21 million.&nbsp;</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Babu Kaji Pant, acting executive director of the Board, said that there was no significant sale of yoghurt on June 29 compared to the previous years. According to him, under normal circumstances, up to 2.5 million liters of yoghurt would be sold in the country on this day.&nbsp;</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">According to the board, the sale of yoghurt by the DDC has come down by 10 percent while that the private sector has also come down by about 35 percent due to the pandemic.&nbsp;</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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The market for dairy products has been gradually improving since the ban was lifted recently. Rudra Prasad Poudel, General Manager of the DDC, informed that the consumption of milk products has decreased as the areas that consume more dairy products such as hotels, restaurants and party palaces are closed due to the lockdown.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 10 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '13606',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Hydropower Developers asked to Renew Survey License by mid-July',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'June 29: Projects involved in production, transmission and distribution of electricity have been told to renew their survey license by mid-July.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">June 29: Projects involved in production, transmission and distribution of electricity have been told to renew their survey license by mid-July. A recent ministerial-level meeting of the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation took a decision to this effect.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The District Administration Office, Kathmandu has relaxed the prohibitory order since June 22. Therefore, the ministry has said that the survey licenses of the projects should be renewed by mid-July.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">According to the ministry, the promoters of the projects will have to apply to the Department of Electricity Development for the renewal of the survey license by mid-July along with the prescribed fee. The ministry said that the department will renew the survey license for a period of less than five years.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The government had imposed a complete lockdown in the country for four months from March 24, 2020 after the onset of the first wave of Covid-19. Since then, prohibitory orders have been enforced repeatedly.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The prohibitory order has been imposed in various districts including Kathmandu Valley since April 29, 2021 after the second wave of coronavirus started taking massive toll on human lives. As a result, the projects with a survey license till March 23, 2020 have not been able to renew their licenses. Issuing a notice to the promoters on Sunday, the ministry has called for renewal of license as the ban has been lifted.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Spokesperson of the Ministry Madhu Prasad Bhetwal said that the projects should renew their survey licenses within the given period.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">&ldquo;Banks have also been shut down due to repeated lockdowns. As a result, the promoter companies were unable to pay the fees. But now that the ban has been lifted, the banks are also open,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;This is the last chance for renewal. Therefore, the concerned projects will have to move ahead with the process of renewing the survey license within this period.&rdquo; He further said that the additional fees may be charged if the renewal process is not done during this period.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 11 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '13604',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'South Asia Must Reform Debt-Accumulating State-Owned Banks to Avert Next Financial Crisis',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'June 29: South Asia’s heavy reliance on state-owned commercial banks, state-owned enterprises, public-private partnerships and other national and sub-national public entities conceals its vulnerability to accumulating unsustainable levels of debt',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">June 29: </span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">South Asia&rsquo;s heavy reliance on state-owned commercial banks, state-owned enterprises, public-private partnerships and other national and sub-national public entities conceals its vulnerability to accumulating unsustainable levels of debt, according to a new World Bank report, Hidden Debt: Solutions to Avert the Next Financial Crisis in South Asia, released on June 29.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">According to the report, South Asia is more exposed to the risk of &ldquo;hidden debt&rdquo; from state-owned commercial banks (SOCBs), state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and public-private partnerships (PPPs) because of its greater reliance on them compared to other regions. But the report offers key areas for policy actions and concrete reforms that can help governments leverage public capital more responsibly through these types of entities to advance economic development, the World Bank said in a statement. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">&nbsp;&ldquo;The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted South Asia&rsquo;s rising levels of public debt. The region is more exposed to the risk of hidden debt because it relies heavily on the governments&rsquo; involvement in markets to aid economic development,&rdquo; the statement quoted Hartwig Schafer, World Bank&rsquo;s Vice President for South Asia, as saying. &ldquo;But the crisis demonstrates the critical importance of the judicious use of debt-financed public commitments and debt transparency to build back better, more sustainably, and more equitably.&rdquo;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Hidden Debt</span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial"> studies the trade-offs between addressing development challenges directly through state presence in the markets and the risk of accumulating high levels of debt due to economic inefficiencies of off-balance sheet operations. It focuses on SOBCs, SOEs and PPPs and their contingent liabilities&mdash;obligations incurred by governments off their balance sheets that have triggers for payment. Over time, part of the debt is revealed as it hits the central government budget and debt stock, but a large part remains hidden under the radar of existing financial disclosure standards. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria">&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">&ldquo;The efficiency of South Asian state-owned banks and other state-owned enterprises is well below the international benchmark,&rdquo;</span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial"> said Hans Timmer, World Bank&rsquo;s Chief Economist for South Asia. &ldquo;As governments rebuild from the shock of the COVID-19 pandemic and strive to avert future financial crises, they should clearly separate the social and commercial objectives of these enterprises in order to reduce inefficiencies, while maintaining socially beneficial investments.&rdquo; </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Governments often promise SOEs subsidies to run programs such as advancing access to electricity to underserved populations and small enterprises. SOCBs are asked to run government programs to promote financial inclusion or lend to under-served or riskier small and medium enterprises, often without compensation for losses that private markets avoid, the report stated. They are also asked to stimulate economies during downturns or financially support large PPPs that have concentrated risks. These hidden mandates are based on requests that are often made ad hoc and without consideration of risks or costs. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">&nbsp;&ldquo;In episodes of systemic shock&mdash;such as the global financial crisis or the COVID-19 pandemic&mdash;when many banks experience distress simultaneously, private banks deleverage and curtail lending, while state-owned commercial banks receive capital and debt support from the state to continue or increase lending,&rdquo; said Martin Melecky, World Bank Lead Economist and author of the report. &ldquo;But this short-term stabilizing function comes at the cost of crowding out other social spending as public funds get spent on bank recapitalization and significant credit misallocation&mdash;away from successful firms and especially small and medium enterprises&mdash;making for an unequal recovery.&rdquo;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">&nbsp;The report estimates that a systemic macro-financial crisis can trigger PPP failures that would cost South Asian countries more than 4 percent of revenues, and the potential costs from distressed SOEs have been even more overwhelming. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 12 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '13605',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'FWEAN Organising 5th International Women’s Trade Expo Virtually',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'June 29: The Federation of Woman Entrepreneurs Associations of Nepal (FWEAN) is organizing the 5th International Women’s Trade Expo 2021 from September 2-6, 2021.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">June 29: The Federation of Woman Entrepreneurs Associations of Nepal (FWEAN) is organizing the 5th International Women&rsquo;s Trade Expo 2021 from September 2-6, 2021. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">According to the FWEAN, the expo will be organised virtually in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. Issuing a statement, FEWAN said that the expo will showcase products of women entrepreneurs from all across Nepal as well. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">International Women Entrepreneurs will also participate as exhibitors, the statement added. The major objective of this expo is to promote products of Nepali women entrepreneurs, develop their market and increase their sales. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The event is being supported by various donor organizations like Finn Church Aid (FCA), The Asia Foundation (TAF) and International Labor Organization (ILO).</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Products like handicrafts, natural fiber products, agro/food products, jewelry, herbal products, garments will be the main attraction, added FWEAN. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The expo will have more than 300 virtual stalls and will be a hub for buying and selling products of women entrepreneurs both national and international, networking and also a meeting point for buyers and sellers.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '13603',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Tourists’ Length of Stay in Nepal Increases in 2020',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'June 29: Although the number of tourists visiting Nepal reduced drastically in 2020, their length of stay has increased to some extent. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">June 29: Although the number of tourists visiting Nepal reduced drastically in 2020, their length of stay has increased to some extent. According to the government data, tourist arrivals shrunk to 230,000 in 2020 from more than 1 million a year ago, while their stay increased by 19 percent during the review period as compared to 2019.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The average stay of a tourist in Nepal is 12 days. In 2020, it increased by 19 percent and reached 15.1 days. According to Nepal Tourism Statistics-2020, the stay of tourists in Nepal has reached 15 days for the first time.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation on Monday released the Nepal Tourism Statistics-2020. According to the same statistics, the length of stay of tourists has increased.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The year 2019 marked the highest number of tourist arrival in Nepal with record of 1.197 million foreign visitors in Nepal. Despite the significant number of tourists, the average stay was just 12 days, as in previous years. However, the average length of stay of tourists has increased in 2020, even though the number of arrival has decreased due to coronavirus.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The ministry estimates that the length of tourists&rsquo; stay may have increased due to coronavirus in 2020. Most of the tourism-related activities were not open last year due to the outbreak of Covid-19 and lockdown. However, businessmen say that their length of stay has been extended this year as tourists have come to Nepal only for trekking and mountaineering. Even under normal circumstances, the stay of tourists for trekking and mountaineering is longer than average.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Vinayak Shah, vice-president of the Hotel Association of Nepal (HAN), argues that the number of foreigners who came to Nepal in 2020 was only for trekking and mountaineering. &quot;The princes of Qatar and Bahrain have been staying for a long time,&quot; he said.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">In 2020, foreign tourists came to Nepal for trekking and mountaineering while they were stopped from coming to Nepal for other activities.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">He argues that the current stay period does not guarantee that the tourists&rsquo; length of stay will such long in the days to come. Entrepreneurs say that it is not fixed if this period will remain the same or decrease in the coming days.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">According to the statistics, the purpose of visiting Nepal in 2020 has not changed. Foreign tourists come to Nepal for trekking, mountaineering, pilgrimage and holiday celebrations.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Out of them, 60.5 percent of the foreign tourists visiting Nepal this year are for holidays, 12.4 percent for adventure tourism like mountaineering and trekking and 15.6 percent for visiting religious places, and 11.5 percent for other activities.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'title' => 'Government Allocates Billions of Rupees for Various Employment Funds',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'June 29: The government is preparing to allocate billions of rupees to generate thousands of employment in the fiscal year 2021/22.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">June 29: The government is preparing to allocate billions of rupees to generate thousands of employment in the fiscal year 2021/22.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">At a time when the people&rsquo;s livelihood has been severely affected by Covid-19 pandemic and people are having a difficult time to meet their daily needs, the government has prepared an action plan to allocate funds of billion rupees to the controversial Prime Minister Employment Program, Youth and Small Enterprise Self-Employment Fund and PM Agriculture Modernization Project.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security (MoLESS) informed that an action plan has already been prepared to implement these programs from July 16. The government is spending Rs 12 billion for the PM Employment Fund with an aim to generate 200,000 employments in the upcoming fiscal year. However, the previous experience shows ineffectiveness of the program which has drawn widespread criticism. The budget has to be spent in the construction of roads, building, river management, irrigation, planting trees in the local levels but funds are being allocated in the areas beyond this.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The government is spending Rs 7.98 billion in the PM Agriculture Modernization Project to attract youth in agriculture, generate employment at the local level and prevent youth from migrating to foreign countries.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The government aims to bring 71 zones into operation related to agriculture, fishery and livestock to generate employment opportunities. It aims to deploy students studying agriculture programs as interns in project areas to provide technical assistance to farmers and employ graduate students for a year on a contract basis. This program which is currently in operation has not been able to stop youth from migrating abroad.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">To increase employment, the government has introduced a program to provide loans to startups at subsidized rates. To motivate young entrepreneurs to begin startup businesses, the government is providing loans up to Rs 2.5 million at one percent interest rate.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The government has also announced to provide services like registration, renewal and other services of startup business free of cost through a one door system, facilitate in policy level to attract foreign investment in startup businesses and a challenge fund of one billion rupees will be set up.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">However, the modality of its implementation is not clear since the beginning. The program was included in the budgets of the &nbsp;current and previous fiscal years as well to encourage startup culture but was not implemented.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">In order to develop skilled manpower in accordance with the needs of the domestic industries, the government is also conducting workplace based training by providing a subsidy equal to three months minimum wage to the trainee workers in manufacturing and service industries.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The government aims to provide soft loans of up to Rs 2.5 million&nbsp; at five percent interest rate to students by keeping their academic certificates as collateral. This program has been in operation for many years but has not been implemented.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The government, which has scrapped the Poverty Alleviation Fund, is also creating employment through the Youth and Small Enterprises Self-Employment Fund. It has adopted a policy to make 12,000 youths self-employed by next year by providing loan facility along with technical and vocational skills.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">To develop the skills of young people entering the labor market, workers returning from foreign employment and those who have lost their jobs at home, the government is investing Rs 400 million in handicraft, plumbing, electrical repair, electronics, cookery, artisan, carpentry, tailoring, beauticians, haircutting, vehicle and mobile maintenance skills.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Expert Dr Ganesh Gurung says that the implementation part of all these programs remain uncertain due to lack of coordination. He said that the government should not delay the implementation of such programs by making a clear action plan. However, Deepak Kafle, Joint Secretary of the MoLESS said such a situation would not arise as an action plan is being formulated and implemented for the effective implementation of these programs.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><em><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">No study on impact of second wave of corona</span></span></em></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The government has introduced various employment programs but lacks reliable data on the impact of COVID-19 on the labor market. Joint Secretary Deepak Kafle admitted that the ministry is yet to conduct a study on this issue.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Last year, the National Planning Commission (NPC) had prepared a report after conducting a partial study in this regard. NPC had found that the first wave of COVID itself had led to a sharp rise in poverty. This study was also of preliminary nature and NPC has also not conducted a full-fledged study. Pushpa Raj Kandel, Vice Chairman of the NPC informed that a study to assess the impact of COVID in the labor market will begin from the end of this month.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The central bank had also conducted a study on this issue and found the hotel and tourism sectors had been worst affected by the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><br />
<br />
&nbsp;</p>
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FOREX

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)

Bullion

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

Petroleum

Petrol	1 Liter	106.00
Diesel	1 Liter	95.00
Kerosene	1 Liter	95.00
LP Gas	1 Cylinder	1375.00