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The chamber approved the bipartisan measure 332—94. </div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>UK Economy Set for Fastest Growth in 7 Years </strong></span></div> <div> Britain’s economy will expand at its fastest rate in seven years in 2014, thanks to strengthening household consumption, but high household debt will slow growth in 2015, the British Chambers of Commerce said on Thursday. The business group forecast economic growth to rise to 2.7 percent in 2014, an upgrade from the forecasts of 2.2 percent it made as recently as August. </div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Iran Oil Exports Rise as Sanctions Eased</strong></span></div> <div> Iranian exports rose by about 10% in November, the International Energy Agency said in its monthly market report published Wednesday. The Paris-based agency also said it expected global oil demand to rise by 1.2 million barrels per day to 92.4 million next year. Iran’s export lift follows an accord struck last month which relaxed some economic sanctions in exchange for assurances over the country’s nuclear program.</div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>‘Big Step’ Rescue Plan for Eurozone Banks </strong></span></div> <div> The agreement reached in discussions about how to deal with bank bailouts for EU nations has been labelled a “big step” by a senior official. EU Commissioner Michel Barnier said the deal meant taxpayers were no longer on the “front line”. Under the new arrangements, each EU member state will build up a fund to help banks in trouble. The fund will be built up from bank contributions, with banks that take more risks paying more.</div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>India’s Forex Reserves Rise to a 7 Month High</strong></span></div> <div> India’s foreign exchange reserves have risen for five straight weeks to a seven-month high. Forex reserves jumped $4.408 billion in the week ended December 6 to $295.7 billion as banks continued to swap their dollar borrowings with RBI in favour of the rupee even after the deadline of November 30, by which incentives that encouraged this were to end. </div>', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2013-12-16', 'modified' => '2013-12-16', 'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal', 'description' => 'US lawmakers in the lower House of Representatives approved on Thursday a compromise budget deal that will avert a costly government shutdown and minimise damage from across the board spending cuts. The chamber approved the bipartisan measure 332—94.', 'sortorder' => '2118', 'image' => null, 'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '0' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '2273', 'article_category_id' => '138', 'title' => 'Uruguay Becomes First Country To Legalize Marijuana Trade', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => null, 'content' => '<div> </div> <div> Uruguay has approved pioneering legislation legalizing marijuana, becoming the first nation in the world to oversee the production and sale of the drug. After a 12-hour debate, 16 leftist senators out of 29 lawmakers voted Tuesday in favor of the legislation championed by President Jose Mujica, who must now sign it into law. Outside the Senate, hundreds of cannabis-smoking supporters set off fireworks in what they dubbed “the last march with illegal marijuana.” The atmosphere was festive. The bill passed the lower house of Congress in August and was assured of approval because the ruling coalition controls both chambers. It authorizes the production, distribution and sale of cannabis, allows individuals to grow their own on a small scale, and creates consumer clubs -- all under state supervision and control.</div> <div> </div> <div> Uruguay’s pioneering move to legalize the planting and sale of marijuana opens the door for a clandestine cottage industry of pot growers to transform into a legitimate business that could even export medical cannabis, a commodity in short supply. More and more countries are setting up medical marijuana programs to help relieve the pain of terminally-ill patients and treat other health conditions, but there are few legal sources of the drug in the world and Uruguay could tap that tight market. The Uruguayan experiment could add momentum to the marijuana legalization debate in the United States, where the states of Washington and Oregon last year made it legal to grow and smoke pot.</div> <div> </div> <div> If regulation works, Uruguay could become an exporter of medical marijuana to countries such as Canada that are allowing an expansion of the use of the drug for health reasons. Canada became the first country to allow terminally ill patients to grow and smoke their own marijuana in 2001.</div>', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2013-12-16', 'modified' => '2013-12-16', 'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal', 'description' => 'Uruguay has approved pioneering legislation legalizing marijuana, becoming the first nation in the world to oversee the production and sale of the drug. After a 12-hour debate, 16 leftist senators out of 29 lawmakers voted Tuesday in favor of the legislation championed by President Jose Mujica, who must now sign it into law.', 'sortorder' => '2117', 'image' => null, 'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '0' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '2272', 'article_category_id' => '138', 'title' => 'South Asia On Track To Meet Growth Expectations In 2013-14 : ADB', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => null, 'content' => '<div> </div> <div> South Asia is on track to meet growth expectations of 4.7 per cent in 2013 and 5.5 per cent in 2014, says a new Asian Development Bank (ADB) report. The report entitled "Asian Development Outlook Supplement" states that recovery in India will positively impact the region's overall economic performance. "After bottoming out in the first fiscal quarter, India’s economy appears to have recovered on the back of a rebound in exports and higher industrial and agricultural outputs. India is anticipated to grow at 4.7 per cent in fiscal year 2013 (ending 31 March 2014) and 5.7 per cent in the fiscal year 2014, unchanged from the October forecast," says the bank. </div> <div> </div> <div> Similarly, ADB also raised the growth projection for entire Asia region. The report forecasts growth of 6 per cent in 2013 for ADB’s 45 developing member countries, improving to 6.2 per cent in 2014. Likewise an improving growth outlook in Japan and the United States paired with stronger-than-expected performance in China support a steady growth outlook for developing Asia, according to the report. “Despite uncertainties in the global economic environment, developing Asian economies remain resilient. The region has performed well in 2013 and is now poised to benefit from the further signs of growth momentum in the advanced economies,” said ADB Chief Economist Changyong Rhee. ADB estimated that China's growth will increase by 0.1 percentage points to 7.7% in 2013 and 7.5% in 2014 on the back of rising infrastructure investment. Likewise, advanced economies of the US, euro area and Japan are on track to meet the October forecast of 0.9% growth in 2013. ADB expects 1.9% growth in these economies in 2014, up 0.1 percentage points from the October forecast.</div> <div> </div> <div> However, ADB estimates slight moderation is forecast in Southeast Asia. The report forecasts the sub-region to post growth of 4.8% in 2013 and 5.2% in 2014; both forecasts are revised down 0.1 percentage points from October. "The moderation stems from the impact of tensions in Thailand on consumption and tourism. The devastating impact of Typhoon Haiyan is tempering the Philippines’ 2013 growth, but reconstruction is expected to boost growth as it ramps up in 2014," it said.</div>', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2013-12-16', 'modified' => '2013-12-16', 'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal', 'description' => 'South Asia is on track to meet growth expectations of 4.7 per cent in 2013 and 5.5 per cent in 2014, says a new Asian Development Bank (ADB) report. The report entitled "Asian Development Outlook Supplement" states that recovery in India will positively impact the region's overall economic performance. "After bottoming out in the first fiscal quarter, India’s economy appears to have recovered on the back of a rebound in exports and higher industrial and agricultural outputs.', 'sortorder' => '2116', 'image' => null, 'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '0' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '2187', 'article_category_id' => '161', 'title' => '“Nepal Needs Scientific Base For Wildlife Conservation Management”', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => null, 'content' => '<div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;">Himalayan Tiger Foundation, a Dutch NGO works on conserving tiger population and biodiversity conservation in Nepal. In a talk with Sanjeev Sharma of The Corporate, the President of the Himalayan Tiger Foundation, <strong>Cas de Stoppelaar</strong> gave insights into the organization’s plan for Nepal. He was accompanied by<strong> Prof Dr Jacques J.M.</strong> <strong>Van Alphen</strong> of the University of Amsterdam and<strong> Laura D. Bertola</strong>, PhD researcher at Universiteit Leiden. <strong>Excerpts: </strong></span></div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>What is Himalayan Tiger Foundation doing in Nepal?</strong></span></div> <div> Nepal is in a position to get more support in a scientific way to do things in conservation biology. Nepal is very special and extremely rich not only in terms of having everything from low lands to high mountains, but also, because you are the cross roads of different bio-geographic regions. So, the species from different regions meet here. Our scope is broader than only tigers; we want to study in the Terai region, mainly in the Bardiya National Park, biodiversity and climate change. We had been there just two days back and we are writing our proposal which will be financed probably in the first phase by private donors in the Netherlands. We just had a talk with the Science department of Kathmandu University for setting up a master’sdegreecourse on conservation biology and wildlife genetics in cooperation with Universities in Amsterdam and Leiden. We aim to have young people from this country being knowledgeable and specialists in this area, so that they can do their own job in their own country.</div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>How is your organisation working to achieve these goals?</strong></span></div> <div> Well, the thing lacking in this country is the scientific base for wildlife conservation management. There are few pockets of qualities like CNDN and other things. But, what is missing in most of the NGOs is scientific dimension. They just get the funds and they do something as a sort of try. We want to strengthen the scientific foundation of Wildlife Management in Nepal through a couple of things. Firstly, we want to be associated with Kathmandu University, and look at masters in science course in the field. We have enthusiastic people there, capable of doing PhD, which is the second thing and we are looking for funding. Thirdly, we are planning to set up a resource centre next to Bardiya National Park with all sort of disciplines from butterflies to tigers, salamanders to bats etc. We will build up a good database and update it regularly in a way that you can follow it year after year. You will see the changes coming up and you can see the sort of measures to keep the habitat of tigers and other animals healthy.For many reasons, it is important, one of them being its scientific importance and secondly, it can be economically sound as it can attract tourists by showcasing the birds. </div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Which aspect of tiger conservation are you working on as there are serious threats to tiger conservation, such as loss of habitat and poaching?</strong></span></div> <div> One of the things we want to include is conservation genetics. Using genetic techniques we can get genetic data which will be quite helpful in conservation strategy. This is particularly interesting for large species that need a lot of space in a fragmented habitat because these speciesneed connectivity.If the population of these species becomes small in number, they also become vulnerable for extinction. There are also all kind of genetic factors that play a role to that. One of those is inbreeding, which can be a very serious risk for populations in nature. So, if you have an insight into the connectivity, structure and diversity within these populations, this can be really helpful to come up with a strategy about how to conserve this diversity in the best way possible.</div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Nepal is said to havemade remarkable progress in tiger conservation with the number of the big wild cats increasing to 198. What are the major contributing factors to this?</strong></span></div> <div> There are two things to be said on this. Firstly, no body exactly knows what the present number is because the counting methods are not always 100% correct and nobody knows what it was 5 years ago. So, there is a lot of variation in the numbers. If you say there is an increase, there is definitely an increase. But, no one can exactly point out the exact number of increment. There are errors in the various techniques used in the counting and thus, we cannot exactly point out the number of tigers. So, we need to put a margin on that. In Bardiya, the counting of tigers is done by capturing them on the cameras. This way the number of tigers in Bardiya is said to be 50. But, every tiger may not face the camera. So, we don’t know if it is 50 or more than 50. So, we can use genetic techniques and methods to count tigers. This has been adopted in Chitwan. </div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Despite various initiatives being taken on tiger conservation the world has lost 97% of wild tigers this century. What can be done effectively to stop tigers from extinction by 2022 as feared by scientists?</strong></span></div> <div> First of all, it is necessary that we keep the environment healthy and bring an end to poaching. Similarly, it is important to have knowledge regarding inbreeding. You must translocate the tigers for getting new genes involved. The system must be placed in a healthy way. It means that not only the tigers but even their prey have to be kept healthy. While balancing the system, we must also bring an end to poaching to keep everything in order.A step that must be taken is that corridors must be built in Bardiya and Chitwan for the tigers to move freely and thus, it will be helpful in breeding. Similarly, we should also be able to come up with transborder mechanism so that tigers can move freely in the natural environment which will ultimately contribute in increasing the population of tigers. There should be a contract between India and Nepal for free movement of tigers between the two countries so that tiger’s population can be increased.</div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Nepal lacks effective wildlife conservation policies. In this, what must Nepal do to ensure new and effective wildlife policies?</strong></span></div> <div> The government should enforce new and strict laws regarding tiger conservation. People who live in buffer zones must be provided with premiums to stop them from cutting down the forest. It is important to instill a sense of responsibility in the people. People who trade tiger parts should be punished. </div> <div> </div> <div> <img alt="" src="/userfiles/images/dp1%20(Copy)(1).jpg" style="width: 550px; height: 190px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px;" /></div>', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2013-12-02', 'modified' => '2013-12-16', 'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal', 'description' => 'Himalayan Tiger Foundation, a Dutch NGO works on conserving tiger population and biodiversity conservation in Nepal. In a talk with Sanjeev Sharma of The Corporate, the President of the Himalayan Tiger Foundation, Cas de Stoppelaar gave insights into the organization’s plan for Nepal. He was accompanied by Prof Dr Jacques J.M. Van Alphen of the University of Amsterdam and Laura D. Bertola, PhD researcher at Universiteit Leiden.', 'sortorder' => '2115', 'image' => null, 'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '0' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '2181', 'article_category_id' => '47', 'title' => 'A Fighting Spirit', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => null, 'content' => '<div> </div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>--By Sujan Tiwari</strong></div> <div> </div> <div> “Just like every lock has its key, all the problems come with a solution,” says Pradeep Kumar Shrestha, MD, Panchakanya Group, one of the leading manufacturers of construction materials in Nepal. Shrestha has managed the Group for almost three decades, and is still directing it towards new avenues. Shrestha says that his new ventures will be in areas of hydropower and agriculture. “As our base is manufacturing, we will continue focusing on industries and manufacturing. Besides, hydropower and agriculture will be our next area,” he says. According to him, Panchakanya Group is a household name in Nepal, and enjoys a good reputation. “We have nationwide dealership network and we are known as quality manufacturers. We never compromise in the quality of our products. What we are is all because of the trust of our customers,” says Shrestha. </div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size: 14px;"><strong><img alt="Pradeep Kumar Shrestha, MD, Panchakanya Group" src="/userfiles/images/prsn2%20(Copy).jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; width: 300px; height: 410px;" />Origin of Group</strong></span></div> <div> The group started as Panchakanya Rice Mill in 2028 BS, named after five Hindu goddesses Durga, Saraswati, Laxmi, Radha and Annapurna. The next major venture was Panchakanya Iron Industries in Kotihawa (Bhairahawa) of Rupandehi district. There wasn’t much industrial development in western Nepal back then. So the company also opened two industries that manufactured pipe and steel in Bhairahawa in around 2040 BS. Today, Panchakanya Group is renowned as one of the pioneers in manufacturing sector and there are around a dozen industries under the group, and has generated thousands of employment opportunities. </div> <div> </div> <div> Shrestha joined the Group in the year 1985 after completing his studies. When he first joined, he used to handle all the aspects of business, from managing the finances to correspondence. This was also because he was a student of commerce, and also because the Group was not what it is today. “I started in a small way, and I am happy that I have played my part in changing the business to what it is today,” says Shrestha. </div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size: 14px;"><strong>The Turning Point</strong></span></div> <div> Before going to college, Shrestha says he didn’t always think of being a business man or joining his family business. “I wanted to study science and become an engineer. So I applied to Amrit Science Campus. But it was very hard to get admission in those days, so I wasn’t selected.” One day, a friend of his father told him that if he becomes a successful businessman, he will get many engineers to work for him. His words changed his mind, and then went to Darjeeling to study B Com. </div> <div> </div> <div> After his graduation, he didn’t want to go abroad for his further studies. Also, his father wanted him to study here as it would also help him in building relations. So he joined TU and did MBA. Shrestha was the student of first MBA batch of TU. “I proudly say that I completed my Masters from Nepal. Whenever I am abroad and people ask me where I studied, I proudly tell them the fact,” says Shrestha. By doing so, he believes he has also conveyed a message that the educational system of Nepal is at par. After finishing his studies, he joined the family business and has been handling it since then. </div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size: 14px;"><strong>Early Life</strong></span></div> <div> Shrestha was born in Illam in 2016 to Prem Bahadur Shrestha and Neel Kumari Shrestha. He says he was very active and restless since his childhood. He used to take part in every sport possible, and was very athletic.”I wasn’t an excellent student, but rather an above average one,” recalls Shrestha. He studied in a local school in Fikkal till grade four, and did the rest of his schooling from Victoria Boys School in Kharsang of Arunachal Pradesh in India. He completed his graduation in Commerce from North Point College in Darjeeling. </div> <div> </div> <div> Shrestha gives all the credit for the current status of the Group and his success to his father Prem Bahadur Shrestha. His father was the one to initate the business as the founder. “My father taught me everything about business. He passed his business ethics on to me and taught me how to be successful in business. Ours is a family business, and it will continue for generations to come,” says Shrestha. </div> <div> </div> <div> Shrestha says his father laid a very strong foundation, and his generation has added bricks to that foundation. Shrestha, under his management, has made the Group evolve and brought it where it is today. “We are happy about what we have done. But if the country was in a better condition, we could have done much more. Even in this adverse time, we are trying to grow,” says he. </div> <div> </div> <div> <img alt="Pradeep Kumar Shrestha, MD, Panchakanya Group" src="/userfiles/images/prsn1%20(Copy).jpg" style="width: 550px; height: 412px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px;" /></div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size: 14px;"><strong>Personal Side</strong></span></div> <div> Shrestha loves sports, and is very keen golfer and plays every other day. He says he is a very competitive person in every aspect and strives for victory. The same reflects in his business and also in golf. “I cannot be second, I am a fighter and I have to win,” says he. According to him, sport is not only good for health, but also makes you better in every aspect. “Sports teach you to accept defeat. It has taught me that if you lose, it doesn’t mean you are a loser, it just means you have to try harder,” says Shrestha. He says that people usually don’t realize how close they are to success. According to him, defeats should be analyzed, and worked upon again. </div> <div> </div> <div> Despite his very busy schedule, Shrestha almost always manages to go wherever he is invited. “Wherever people invite me, I go there and show my presence. That is in my nature. I have dinner in my family only once a week, so I have breakfast in my home every day,” says he. Sports and social engagements are what keep Shrestha busy. Shrestha travels extensively, and goes for vacation once a year with his family. Shrestha loves to travel with his wife Usha and sons Udeep and Ashik. He also likes to travel to remote areas Nepal and go trekking with his family. </div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size: 14px;"><strong>Philosophies</strong></span></div> <div> Shrestha strongly believes that every person can contribute in his own way to develop the nation. “I am a responsible citizen, and I feel I have to pay back for what the country has given me. If every Nepali thinks this way, Nepal will be changed in no time. We all can make a difference,” says Shrestha. “Nepal is not as poor as people generally conceive it to be. I don’t think ours is a poor country, only the mindset of the people is poor,” says he.</div> <div> </div> <div> According to Shrestha, it is unfortunate that Nepal has many problems, but still Nepalis have achieved a lot. He believes that Nepal can be developed and prosperous only if every Nepali acts for it. “Every Nepali should think that he should contribute his part, and start thinking collectively. There is no other way, and no one other than Nepalis will develop Nepal,” says Shrestha.</div>', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2013-11-28', 'modified' => '2013-12-16', 'keywords' => 'new business age personality news & articles, personality news & articles from new business age nepal, personality headlines from nepal, current and latest personality news from nepal, economic news from nepal, nepali personality economic news and events, ongoing personality news of nepal', 'description' => '“Just like every lock has its key, all the problems come with a solution,” says Pradeep Kumar Shrestha, MD, Panchakanya Group, one of the leading manufacturers of construction materials in Nepal. Shrestha has managed the Group for almost three decades, and is still directing it towards new avenues.', 'sortorder' => '2114', 'image' => null, 'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '0' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '2266', 'article_category_id' => '52', 'title' => 'Hope Of Economic Revival', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => null, 'content' => '<div> </div> <div> </div> <div> The elections for the Constituent Assembly (CA)-II are now over. Results have been announced. Successful completion of the CA polls themselves is good news for the economy. Rise of the liberal economic forces from it has made it a harbinger of prosperity and development. After long gloomy years, the new CA comes with the renewed promise to draft and promulgate the new constitution within a year and pave way for the nation to head towards peace,stability and prosperity. The last CA too had that hope, but unfortunately that didn’t materialize. </div> <div> </div> <div> In retrospect, it appears that the poll process, the constitution and the functions of earlier edition of the CA (2008) were largely marred by political naivety and immaturity. If one looks at the manifestoes of the 2008 CA election, it is not difficult to discern that the political forces were just flabbergasted by the pace of change and couldn’t structure proper frame to guide the nation forward. The then New Forces, Maoists and Madheshis, had overtly ambitious agenda, whereas the Old Forces like Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML had a sense of compulsion to bow down to the agenda of those New Forces.</div> <div> </div> <div> But things changed drastically by the time the country arrived at the threshold of the second CA elections in 2013. As evidenced by their recent manifestos, major political forces had become more mature, rationality had prevailed over emotions. Traders of mere selfish, divisive or opportunistic agenda were badly fragmented and most importantly, a sincere realisation to move along the changing paradigms of the world was across the board. There was a race to promise to shun violence and acts of business disruption by calling on bandhs and strikes. Though achieved at a great cost, monetary and opportunity, these achievements are not trivial.</div> <div> </div> <div> It is a bare fact that Nepal suffered almost two decades of virtually zero development. Since the Maoists launched armed rebellion in February 1996, the resources and focus of the state concentrated to counter it. Hardly any power project, new stretch of road or other significant infrastructure was added during the decade long conflict. The Comprehensive Peace Agreement of 2006 ended the conflict, but fears of the investors could hardly be allayed, mainly due to destructive high-handedness of the Maoist-affiliated trade unions, among other uncertainties surrounding the drafting of the constitution. One may argue that we never had a zero or negative nominal GDP growth rate, but the inflation-adjusted real growth rate had never been positive for all those years.</div> <div> </div> <div> But the approaches, stances and philosophies have transformed for good in recent years, which was reflected in the run-up to the second CA elections. These are the very reasons that led to the successful completion of the election process with as high as whopping 78 percent turn out of the voters. The half battle is won. </div> <div> </div> <div> On top of it, the electorates gave a very emphatic support to the parties -- Nepali Congress and CPN-UML that exhibited understanding of the global economic order and trend vis-à-vis Nepal’s development priorities and needs. It was the Nepali Congress that had initiated the economic reform and liberalization after restoration of democracy in 1990 and the fruits of it is still reaped by the economy. The then UML government began grassroots level connectivity and infrastructure projects in 1995 that gradually provided market access to the remote hinterlands of the country. These two facets of development helped the Nepali economy to withstand the decade-long conflict and almost equally-long political mayhem after that. The people trusted back to both of these parties, once again giving them almost equal, jointly more than sixty percent of strength in the new CA. People experimented the Maoists once in the last election by making them the largest party in the last CA, but it failed the test. Now condemned to humiliating defeat.</div> <div> </div> <div> The conclusion of CA election against the widespread suspicion about its success, victory of the parties that believe in democracy and free-market and, rationalization of the forces that were erstwhile destructive ones, indeed raises hope on reigniting the growth process. The stage is all set and, now actors should play the right role before the curtain falls.</div>', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2013-12-13', 'modified' => '2013-12-16', 'keywords' => 'new business age from the editor news & articles, from the editor news & articles from new business age nepal, from the editor headlines from nepal, current and latest from the editor news from nepal, economic news from nepal, nepali from the editor economic news and events, ongoing from the edi', 'description' => 'The elections for the Constituent Assembly (CA)-II are now over. Results have been announced. Successful completion of the CA polls themselves is good news for the economy. Rise of the liberal economic forces from it has made it a harbinger of prosperity and development. After long gloomy years, the new CA comes with the renewed promise to draft and promulgate the new constitution within a year and pave way for the nation to head towards peace,stability and prosperity. The last CA too had that hope, but unfortunately that didn’t materialize.', 'sortorder' => '2113', 'image' => null, 'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '0' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '2223', 'article_category_id' => '91', 'title' => 'Full Reservoir Promises Steady Power-cut Hours', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => null, 'content' => '<div> </div> <div> <strong>--BY TC Correspondent</strong></div> <div> </div> <div> The reservoir of the Kulekhani I Hydropower Project has been filled. With the fill-up of this reservoir, considered as a ‘power back-up’ of Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), load-shedding hours are not expected to increase this winter. </div> <div> </div> <div> Project Chief Ram Kumar Yadav informed TC that the reservoir’s water level was 1530.30 meter on last Sunday. “There is adequate amount of water in the reservoir,” he said. </div> <div> </div> <div> Though the reservoir’s maximum holding capacity is 1530 meter, reservoirs height has been increased by 30cm by piling up sand sacks along its brim, a project official said. </div> <div> </div> <div> Stating that additional water has been collected in the reservoir, the NEA said that it does not need to increase the load-shedding hours time this year. Bhuwan Chhetri, Chief of Load Dispatch Center at NEA, confirmed the report. </div> <div> </div> <div> The project that generally operates from 5 pm to 10 pm every day, was started from 3 pm last Sunday due to the excessive rise of water level in the reservoir. </div> <div> </div> <div> Project’s Chief Yadav said that water is collected in the reservoir during day and night times and can be operated on requirement basis. He attributed the excessive rise of water level in the reservoir to adequate rainfall during the monsoon season. </div> <div> </div> <div> The reservoir water is collected from around three-dozen of small and big rivers of the water basin. The project office has informed that the water level of the reservoir has not gone down below 1505 meter this year as the rainfall started from </div> <div> mid-May. </div> <div> </div> <div> Meanwhile, the construction work of 14 MW Kulekhani III hydropower project also has completed by 71 per cent. Indra Bir Ghimire, Deputy Manager of the project, said that if the project does not face any disruptions, it will start generating electricity within nine months. </div> <div> </div> <div> “We are working in full swing to complete the remaining 29 per cent of work within a nine-month period,” Ghimire said. </div> <div> </div> <div> The project is scheduled to complete by September 13, 2014. Ghimire informed that four kms of tunnel drilling and about 90 per cent reservoir construction has been completed. </div> <div> </div> <div> The project was started on April 27, 2008 with an aim to complete it by 2012. Project officials blamed obstruction from the locals, delay by the contractors and NEA’s sluggishness as reasons for not meeting the construction deadline. </div>', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2013-12-08', 'modified' => '2013-12-16', 'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal', 'description' => 'The reservoir of the Kulekhani I Hydropower Project has been filled. With the fill-up of this reservoir, considered as a ‘power back-up’ of Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), load-shedding hours are not expected to increase this winter.', 'sortorder' => '2112', 'image' => null, 'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '0' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '2224', 'article_category_id' => '91', 'title' => 'Tourism: Promoting Nepal’s Visibility In The Global Arena', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => null, 'content' => '<div> </div> <div> <strong>--By TC Corespondent</strong></div> <div> </div> <div> Last week Nepal saw two major international rankings with the country achieving top spots in travel and tourism destinations. On Wednesday, 4th December, the World Expeditions of the CNW Group, a subsidiary of US-based PR Newswire Company, declared The Great Himalayan Trail (GHT) as the top adventurous trekking route in the world for 2014. </div> <div> </div> <div> The GHT is the longest and highest alpine walking track in the world winding 4,500 kilometers through the tallest mountain ranges and most isolated communities from Tibet to Pakistan. The 1,700 kilometers long Nepal section of the GHT is often termed as “a kaleidoscope of experiences”, commercial treks of which starts in</div> <div> the beginning of March every year. </div> <div> </div> <div> The trail, which can be undertaken in one continuous trek of 152 days, traverses the country from east to west. The ranking placed Great Patagonian Transverse of the South Americas and Bhutan Snowman Trek in the 2nd and 3rd most adventurous route for 2014. Similarly, Dominica Trek of the Caribbean and John Muir Trek of the US were placed at 4th and 5th spots in the list respectively. </div> <div> </div> <div> Likewise, TripAdvisor.com, a world renowned travel website ranked Kathmandu as the top rising tourist destination in Asia.The travel search-engine declared Kathmanduas the 3rd most rising travel destination in the world. The website published the top ten most favoured tourist spots of the world - Traveler’s Choice 2013 list. The listing of the destinations is generally based on reviews and votes of travelers. According to Trip Advisor, Kathmandu is the only destination that managed to achieve position in the list. Meanwhile, Australian travelers, named Kathmandu as the best backpack destination on the website. Jerusalem (Israel) and Sapporo (Japan) were the other destinations from the Asia region on the list. </div>', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2013-12-08', 'modified' => '2013-12-16', 'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal', 'description' => 'Last week Nepal saw two major international rankings with the country achieving top spots in travel and tourism destinations. On Wednesday, 4th December, the World Expeditions of the CNW Group, a subsidiary of US-based PR Newswire Company, declared The Great Himalayan Trail (GHT) as the top adventurous trekking route in the world for 2014.', 'sortorder' => '2111', 'image' => null, 'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '0' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '2265', 'article_category_id' => '48', 'title' => 'Sea Of Conspiracy', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => null, 'content' => '<div> </div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>--By Madan Lamsal</strong></div> <div> </div> <div> The revolutionary vision of Puspa Kamal Dahal alias Prachanda suddenly encountered a deep sea of conspiracy surrounding the landlocked Nepal. As the results of CA elections-II 2013, were pouring in last month and he lost the Kathmnadu-10 constituency, he could see a devilish sea fast inundating his philosophized Prachanda Path, dampening his as well as his party's election prospects and perishing the party's Perish Danda headquarters in rapid pace. </div> <div> </div> <div> How could this happen to the 'sole hero of the revolution' ? ('Revolutionary Hero' that was how he was nicknamed during the campaign.) His dreams of becoming all-powerful president suddenly got evaporated. And, the cum-red was naturally perplexed, outraged and restless. He cried 'FOUL!' But there was nobody to listen. But as a devout communist, he was creative enough to take hold of theory - 'the conspiracy theory' - to attribute as the cause of his and his party's apparently humiliating defeat.</div> <div> </div> <div> It is the outcome of 'national and international conspiracy' he declared, hastily calling a press meet. But he would not point out which particular national or international agency was at play. That was natural for a former prime minister, who has personally experienced the extent and strength of the functions of these conspirators, particularly international ones, to guess who could be the spoilsport. Nepali people would certainly appreciate if he identifies them in public.</div> <div> </div> <div> When the water level receded from his hypothetical sea, he could see some ground. At least there were still some hopes which had not drowned. At least one such hope survived when he got elected from another constituency in Terai. His worries were confounded not because the party suffered a big set-back, but his all other family members --daughter, daughter-in-no-law and a brother got defeated in the polls.</div> <div> </div> <div> Traumatized, Prachanda turned to his brainy comrade Baburam for solace. Baburam quickly came up with highly consoling prognosis that 'though we may have lost election, our agenda is not defeated.' It was equivalent to saying that the people who represented the Maoist agenda were bad and got defeated, not the agenda itself. It was easy for Baburam to reach to this beautiful conclusion looking at the face of his only wife Hisila Yami and her defeat from one of the Kathmandu constituencies. </div> <div> </div> <div> 'Can't you see comrades, the sea of conspiracy in drowning us soon? It must be internationally imported political waters that is causing this', Prachanda concluded and his top-ranked comrades nodded in consent akin to true communist party discipline. 'But chairman comrade' Baburam volunteered, 'we must point at the international force' to make this allegation convincing.' </div> <div> </div> <div> 'As you know, all the sea water is in the south and entire north is Himalayas,' said Prachanda</div> <div> </div> <div> 'Then I am not in your boat,' Baburam begged to differ. The southern sea waters cannot rise so high at this time. Even if they do, I am not to see it,' Baburam deviated. Then, the duo concluded to accept the election outcome.</div> <div> </div> <div> The fables have it even a sinking lion wouldn't spare to pounce on simultaneously sinking goat, regardless that both would be dead in the next minute. Then no wonder, Prachanda came up with a new proposal: 'majority provision of the constitution to form the government should be removed, retaining only the provision of consensus.' Again he is not likely to be heard. He is asking for a too long a rope which had to be unleashed much before the election. But he is doing it after his party got defeated. Anyway, clever people never lack creativity even during the ordeal.</div> <div> </div> <div> As the political climate is changing fast, the effects of warming again and often may cause the rise of water levels in the sea of conspiracy. When a man is survived by a whisker from drowning, he soon becomes hydrophobic and begins to be terrified even by a village pond, considering it a Black Sea. Prachanda too from now on might seek 'Sea of Conspiracy' whenever there is a storm in a tea cup.</div>', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2013-12-13', 'modified' => '2013-12-16', 'keywords' => 'new business age no laughing matter news & articles, no laughing matter news & articles from new business age nepal, no laughing matter headlines from nepal, current and latest no laughing matter news from nepal, economic news from nepal, nepali no laughing matter economic news and events, ongoing', 'description' => 'The revolutionary vision of Puspa Kamal Dahal alias Prachanda suddenly encountered a deep sea of conspiracy surrounding the landlocked Nepal. As the results of CA elections-II 2013, were pouring in last month and he lost the Kathmnadu-10 constituency, he could see a devilish sea fast inundating his philosophized Prachanda Path, dampening his as well as his party's election prospects and perishing the party's Perish Danda headquarters in rapid pace.', 'sortorder' => '2110', 'image' => null, 'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '0' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '2225', 'article_category_id' => '91', 'title' => 'WTO Members Agree On Historic Trade Pact', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => null, 'content' => '<div> <strong>--By TC Correspondent</strong></div> <div> </div> <div> Since the formation of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in 1995, member nations of the global trade body on Saturday reached the first ever trade deal. </div> <div> </div> <div> WTO’s Bali Ministerial Conference held in Bali, Indonesia, approved the “historic” ‘Bali Package’ after Cuba dropped its threat to veto the package of measures that primarily aims at facilitating commerce between member nations by reducing trade barriers. </div> <div> </div> <div> The agreement aims to boost the global commerce by adding USD 1 trillion into the world economyover the coming years and add 21 million jobs in the global labour market. </div> <div> </div> <div> The agreement simplifies trade procedures for the poorest countries to sell their goods in international market.It is expected to lessen barriers for the least developed countries (LDCs) in exporting their products in international market. Similarly, the agreement aims to establish a global system to make agricultural sector more competitive. </div> <div> </div> <div> The agreement came at a moment when the WTO was standing on the brink of failure following more than a decade of fruitless negotiations to enact the Doha Round (2002) plans. </div> <div> </div> <div> Many experts had warned that failure in Bali would leave regional and bilateral trade arrangements as the only platform for trade reform, dividing the world and jeopardising the goal of globalisation of the WTO.</div> <div> </div> <div> “For the first time in our history, the WTO has truly delivered,” said WTO Chief Roberto Azevêdo, while closing the conference.” All members, developed or developing, have the ownership of the Bali deal. We have put the “world” back into the World Trade Organisation. We’re back in business...Bali is just the beginning.”</div> <div> </div> <div> In his closing remarks former Chief Trade Negotiator of Brazilechoed the quote of late South African leader, Nelson Mandela, “It always seems impossible until it’s done,” to sum up the achievement of the conference.</div> <div> </div> <div> The Bali meeting which opened on 3rd December, Tuesday, was overshadowed by disagreements between India and a group of developed nations led by the United States. Because of its massive programme for stockpiling food to feed its poor, India had insisted that it would only back an agreement if there is a compromise on food subsidies. </div> <div> </div> <div> On the other hand, US and some industrialised nations urged India to end the food security policy as it breaches and contradicted the subsidy policies of the WTO. The differences narrowed as the opposing sides clinched towards a provision to give developing nations more scope to use subsidies for safeguarding food supplies. Similarly, Cuba also later agreed on a compromise with the US. During the negotiations, the Caribbean Island nation had refused to accept the deal if the US did not end its long-time economic embargo.</div>', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2013-12-08', 'modified' => '2013-12-13', 'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal', 'description' => 'WTO’s Bali Ministerial Conference held in Bali, Indonesia, approved the “historic” ‘Bali Package’ after Cuba dropped its threat to veto the package of measures that primarily aims at facilitating commerce between member nations by reducing trade barriers.', 'sortorder' => '2109', 'image' => null, 'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '0' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '2229', 'article_category_id' => '137', 'title' => 'Corruption Perception Index 2013: Nepal Sees Decline In Corruption Level', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => null, 'content' => '<div> </div> <div> <strong>--By TC Correspondent</strong></div> <div> </div> <div> Nepal has experienced a significant downfall in corruption in 2013. Transparency International’s (TI) Corruption Perception Index (CPI) 2013, placed Nepal in 116th position out of 177 countries. Nepal achieved ascore of 31on a scale of 0-100, while 0 indicating the most corrupted and 100 indicating no corruption. Last year, Nepal ranked 139th with a score of 27.</div> <div> </div> <div> The Berlin-based global anti-corruption watchdog reported alertness of the Commission of Investigation on Abuse of Authority (CIAA) and a slew of actions takenon related cases as factors contributing to decline in corruption. Countries achieving a score less than 50 points have been listed as the most corrupt. TI prepared the report in co-operation with Bertelsmann Foundation, The World Bank, World Economic Forum, Global Justice Project and Global Insight. </div> <div> </div> <div> The report also mentions that around 40 percent Nepali have given bribe atleast once in their lifetime. Similarly, 80 percent of Nepali confessed that it is much easier to get work done in government organisations if there is someone of their acquaintance. Likewise, most Nepali also admitted that political parties are the most corrupted ones in the nation. Meanwhile, Nepal’s neighbours, India and China are placed at 94th and 80th positions respectively. Bhutan was seen as the cleanest country in the South Asia region (31st position) with a score of 63. Likewise, Sri Lanka achieved 91st position whereas corruption level in Pakistan (127th) and Bangladesh (136th) was seen relatively high. Afghanistan (175th)was declared the most corrupt nation in the South Asia with a score of 8. </div> <div> </div> <div> This year’s CPI figured that 69 percent of the world’s countries are seriously corrupt. Regionally, Eastern Europe and Central Asia ranked the worst, Western Europe and the European Union (EU) the best. The report declares Denmark and New Zealand to be the most clean countries, both sharing a score of 91 points. Similarly, Finland and Sweden stand in the third position with a score of 89 points whereas Norway and Singapore share the 5th position in the ranking with a score of 86 points.</div> <div> </div> <div> According to the report, the most corrupt countries are: North Korea, Somalia and Afghanistan with all three nations sharing the highest spot of 175th position in the index. TI reported that 66 percent of the countries in the North and South American Region are seriously corrupt. Similarly, 64 percent of the countries in the Asia-Pacific region are most corrupt.Likewise, 95 per cent of the EU countries (including the Eastern and Western Europe) and 23 per cent nations of Central Asia were labeled as seriously corrupt. Also, 84 per cent of the countries in Middle East and North Africa region and 90 per cent of Sub- Saharan African nations fell into the category of seriously corrupt countries.” The need for greater accountability is clear, and leaders cannot look the other way. But recognizing the problems is only the first step- governments need to turn pledges into actions,” states the report.</div>', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2013-12-09', 'modified' => '2013-12-17', 'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal', 'description' => 'Nepal has experienced a significant downfall in corruption in 2013. Transparency International’s (TI) Corruption Perception Index (CPI) 2013, placed Nepal in 116th position out of 177 countries. Nepal achieved ascore of 31on a scale of 0-100, while 0 indicating the most corrupted and 100 indicating no corruption. Last year, Nepal ranked 139th with a score of 27.', 'sortorder' => '2108', 'image' => null, 'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '0' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '2263', 'article_category_id' => '202', 'title' => 'A Work Loving Bureaucrat', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => null, 'content' => '<div> </div> <div> <strong>--By Upashana Neupane </strong></div> <div> </div> <div> Hari Narayan Belbase, Director at the Department of Commerce and Supply Management, is a man with a tight professional schedule. Despite that Belbase does not hold grudges and enjoys it as part of his responsibility. He opines that it is the right time for him to do something and be someone, rather than seeking leisure. </div> <div> </div> <div> He does not find it difficult to fulfil office and family responsibilities together and opines that it’s all about how well one can manage their time. Belabase manages his time well for his office and his family.</div> <div> </div> <div> Along with his professional and familial responsibilities, he has been updating his education also. He is currently working on his PhD and says that it is the right time for him to take his career to another level while contributing to the society.</div> <div> </div> <div> Belbase is conscious about his health and fitness. He wakes up at 4:30 sharp every morning and jogs around 8 km along with doing some yoga. He loves playing badminton, which compliments his personal and fitness interest. Usually his badminton partner is his wife. Along with this strict health and fitness regime, Belbase devotes some of his morning time to perform religious prayers and rituals. He offers his morning prayers along with his daughter at home. He has a small 4-member happy family that includes him, his wife and two children.</div> <div> </div> <div> Belbase spends his spare time at home playing with his children and tending his home garden. He finds pleasure in walking around his garden and watering flowers.</div> <div> </div> <div> His love for nature has taken him to various places that are blessed by natural beauty. “Natural Beauty attracts me than anything artificial”, he shares remembering Mustang as one of his favourite places he has visited. Peace loving Belbase shares that he tries to avoid crowded and cramped places especially when he is on his vacation.</div> <div> </div> <div> He follows daily news and events across the world, and still manages time for reading popular books from popular writers in town. He believes that a person can imply so many things from a book in their practical life. In non-fiction, he prefers reading books on economics.</div> <div> </div> <div> Despite holding important position and despite making continuous contribution to the welfare of the society and the nation, he still strives to serve better in the days ahead. He believes that humans shouldn’t only live for themselves and opines that as human, “One should utilise their precious life and time for contributing to the welfare of whole mankind.” While conceding to the notion that everyone has limited time in this world, Belbase believes that we should utilize the allocated time in doing things that are creative and productive for the society, nation and the whole of human kind.</div>', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2013-12-10', 'modified' => '2013-12-17', 'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal', 'description' => 'Hari Narayan Belbase, Director at the Department of Commerce and Supply Management, is a man with a tight professional schedule. Despite that Belbase does not hold grudges and enjoys it as part of his responsibility. He opines that it is the right time for him to do something and be someone, rather than seeking leisure.', 'sortorder' => '2107', 'image' => null, 'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '0' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '2264', 'article_category_id' => '201', 'title' => 'Easy Hairstyles For Office Hours', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => null, 'content' => '<div> </div> <div> <strong>--By Rashika Pokharel</strong></div> <div> </div> <div> <img alt="" src="/userfiles/images/h.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px;width: 210px; height: 600px;" />Dealing with hair and having hairstyles that match to your professional status is an important yet ardent task. People find it hard at times, especially women, when it comes to figure out a hairstyle that will give them a professional outlook. Managing hairstyle is a big task for working ladies because they have very less time left for themselves.</div> <div> </div> <div> Hairstyle is an essential element of female etiquette. Women are more careful about their hairstyle and appearance rather than men. Hairstyle is an auxiliary factor in case of women. A woman with beautiful hair looks charming and confident. </div> <div> </div> <div> Since our hairstyle is one of the primary things that people note about us, it’s important to pick hairstyles that appear professional and yet at the same time emphasize our best features and ameliorate our femininity.</div> <div> </div> <div> When it comes to dressing and looking suitable for office it is very difficult to choose on something accurate. Office atmosphere is generally strict and more formal; this is the reason where we may have maximum chances of going wrong. Being trendy and maintaining a suitable office posture can come easily, especially by keeping a track of current business fashion trends. </div> <div> </div> <div> So while talking about fashion trends we cannot remain aloof from trending hairstyles in the corporate world. Here are few hairstyles trending in this world and which are easy and may look perfect for hectic office schedules here in Nepal too. </div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:16px;"><strong>Bun</strong></span></div> <div> When you are surrounded by any confusion regarding hairstyle, go for bun. It is convenient yet classy for office hours and most importantly you can never go wrong with this one. Just pin up your bun with bobby pins, or you can fasten it up with pins which are elegant and not too much glittery.</div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:16px;"><strong>Ponytail<img alt="" src="/userfiles/images/pt.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px;width: 75px; height: 86px;" /></strong></span></div> <div> Ponytail is the most comfortable hairstyle you can choose. Whenever you are in rush or have too much of work load in office , ponytail can be a saviour. There are many types of ponytails such as inverted ponytail, wrapped ponytail and side ponytail. You can pick any of them that suits you the most.</div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:16px;"><strong>Free Layers<img alt="" src="/userfiles/images/pt1.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; width: 70px; height: 80px;" /></strong></span></div> <div> All the females love to show their layers and curls. So, if you want to do that, you can leave you hair free. This is the best hairstyle for every kind of hair whether it’s short, curl, wavy, frizzy or straight.</div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:16px;"><strong>Braids<img alt="" src="/userfiles/images/pt2.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px;width: 75px; height: 86px;" /></strong></span></div> <div> Braids are one of the most comfortable hairstyles. There are varieties of braids such as fish bone, Dutch braid, etc. You can even choose side braid leaving your fringes. If you feel innovative and want to try something new, go for braids.</div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:16px;"><strong>French Roll<img alt="" src="/userfiles/images/pt3.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; width: 70px; height: 79px;" /></strong></span></div> <div> It is a very elegant hairstyle for work and helps to look great with the formal wears. It is also fit for formal parties and meetings.</div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:16px;"><strong>Clipping Your Hair<img alt="" src="/userfiles/images/pt4.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px;width: 75px; height: 87px;" /></strong></span></div> <div> You can leave rest of your hair free by clipping a small section of your front hair. This will give you a clean look and at the same time avoid letting your hair disturb or irritate during work time.</div>', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2013-12-10', 'modified' => '2013-12-10', 'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal', 'description' => 'Dealing with hair and having hairstyles that match to your professional status is an important yet ardent task. People find it hard at times, especially women, when it comes to figure out a hairstyle that will give them a professional outlook. Managing hairstyle is a big task for working ladies because they have very less time left for themselves.', 'sortorder' => '2106', 'image' => null, 'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '0' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '2260', 'article_category_id' => '149', 'title' => 'Aqua Hundred: A Trusted Quality Brand', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => null, 'content' => '<div> </div> <div> <strong>--By Upashana Neupane </strong></div> <div> </div> <table align="right" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px;" width="25"> <tbody> <tr> <td> <img alt="Rabin Shrestha, Business Manager, Aqua Minerals Nepal Pvt Ltd" src="/userfiles/images/bt1(1).jpg" style="border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; width: 200px; height: 221px;" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td bgcolor="#FFFFFF"> <div align="center"> <div style="text-align: center;"> <div> <strong>Rabin Shrestha</strong></div> <div> <em>Business Manager</em></div> <div> <em>Aqua Minerals Nepal Pvt Ltd</em></div> </div> </div> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <div> Aqua Hundred carries 21 years of glorious history of providing purified water in Nepali market. Introduced in 1992, it stands true to its initial motto “Drink safe water and be healthy”. The brand was launched by Aqua Minerals Pvt Ltd at a time when huge amount of purified water used to be imported from foreign countries in lack of domestic brand, that could correspond to the market’s need, Rabin Shrestha, Business Manager at Aqua Minerals, says. </div> <div> </div> <div> Aqua Hundred is market leader in purified water since the beginning of the brand. Named combining two words: Aqua and Hundred (Aqua means Water and hundred represents the 100 per cent purity), its logo has oval shape of waves, that symbolise water.</div> <div> </div> <div> Aqua Hundred is the pioneer to introduce big jar for purified water in Nepali market. It changed common perception among people that bottled, purified water is available only in 1 litre or half litre bottles. “In the initial days, when we introduced big jars, people were surprised and used to stare at us,” Shrestha says, “Now the scenario has changed and Aqua Hundred has become popular and has established itself as must have drinking water in every household.” </div> <div> </div> <div> Reflecting two decades of business journey, Shrestha says that the company was started with a commitment to provide quality water to the customers and has continued doing so, sustaining many ups and downs. “Aqua Hundred was launched to address the drinking water scarcity in Kathmandu valley and as direct response to growing awareness and demand of people for clean and pure drinking water,” Shrestha informs.</div> <div> </div> <div> Initially, 19 litre jar and half litre mineral water bottle were launched. By now Aqua Hundred has expanded to varieties of products like cup water, ice-cubes and chlorine solutions. </div> <div> </div> <div> Shrestha says, in the initial days Aqua Hundred made massive publicity campaigns in electronic and print media, hoarding boards and like to promote the brand. Now customers are familiar to the brand and it has become a brand to trust in. “We have always prioritized ‘quality’, thus have won the trust of our customers,” he says.</div> <div> </div> <div> <img alt="aqua hundred" src="/userfiles/images/bt2%20(Copy).jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px;width: 200px; height: 321px;" />Aqua Hundred with the tagline is “Sabaiko Bishwashilo Paani (Everyone’s Trustworthy Water)” has customers’ faith as it has always been providing best quality consistently. “Consistency is most important to sustain in the market,” Shrestha says, “Providing good quality is not sufficient. One should also continue fulfilling commitments.”</div> <div> </div> <div> The company has an in-house lab of its own and each product is tested before getting into the market. Aqua Hundred Jar is a polycarbonate jar which is recommended for reusable purpose. Aqua Hundred is ISO 9001:2008 certified company but Shrestha says that the best award Aqua Hundred has ever got is the faith of its customers. We have always believed in customer’s satisfaction and their loyalty. </div> <div> </div> <div> Shrestha says, due to unstable political scenario of Nepal, it is difficult to grow and sustain in the market. Similarly, illegal and low quality bottled water has been ruining the image of the entire industry. He says all those companies and products should be properly monitored or banned by the concerned authority. In the near future, Aqua Hundred has plans to spread its market outside the valley too.</div> <div> </div> <div> Shrestha says we should promote Nepali products. “If best quality product is available within our own country, why to use foreign brands?,” he says, “Be Nepali, Buy Nepali”.</div>', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2013-12-10', 'modified' => '2013-12-17', 'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal', 'description' => 'Aqua Hundred carries 21 years of glorious history of providing purified water in Nepali market. Introduced in 1992, it stands true to its initial motto “Drink safe water and be healthy”. The brand was launched by Aqua Minerals Pvt Ltd at a time when huge amount of purified water used to be imported from foreign countries in lack of domestic brand, that could correspond to the market’s need, Rabin Shrestha, Business Manager at Aqua Minerals, says.', 'sortorder' => '2105', 'image' => null, 'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '0' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '2262', 'article_category_id' => '115', 'title' => 'Tech Briefs (9 - 15 December 2013)', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => null, 'content' => '<div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>2 Million Facebook, Gmail and Twitter Passwords Stolen </strong></span></div> <div> <img alt="Facebook" src="/userfiles/images/bt6%20(Copy).jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px;width: 150px; height: 82px;" />Hackers have stolen usernames and passwords for nearly two million accounts at Facebook, Google, Twitter, Yahoo and others, according to a report released last week. The massive data breach was a result of keylogging software maliciously installed on an untold number of computers around the world, researchers at cybersecurity firmTrustwave said. </div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>New Malware Communicates Via Sound Waves</strong></span></div> <div> <img alt="" src="/userfiles/images/bt7%20(Copy)(1).jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px;width: 150px; height: 101px;" />Scientists have developed a malware that transmits information between computers using high-frequency sound waves inaudible to the human ear. This allows the malware to transmit keystrokes and other sensitive data even when infected machines have no network connection. The new malware uses high-frequency audio signals to bridge the ‘air gap’ — a type of security where network is secured by keeping it separate from other local networks and the Internet. Using just the built-in microphones and speakers of standard computers, the researchers from Germany’s Fraunhofer Institute for Communication, Information Processing, and Ergonomics were able to transmit passwords and other small amounts of data from distances of almost 65 feet.</div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Google Working on Robot Development</strong></span></div> <div> <img alt="" src="/userfiles/images/bt8%20(Copy).jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px;width: 150px; height: 84px;" />Google has bought seven robotics companies in recent months as part of a strategy to develop its own robots that can be used for warehouse, manufacturing and delivery work, the New York Times reported on Wednesday. The report said that Google had placed Andy Rubin in charge of the project. Rubin is the highly regarded executive who led the development of Android into the world’s most widely used smartphone software.</div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>GTA: San Andreas Revived for iOS, Android and Windows Phone</strong></span></div> <div> <img alt="" src="/userfiles/images/bt9%20(Copy).jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px;width: 150px; height: 95px;" />Grand Theft Auto V may be flying high in the console charts, but its developer Rockstar Games is already planning the next GTA game – one that will be familiar to fans of the series. The company has announced plans to re-release 2004’s Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas for smartphones and tablets in December. The game will be available for iPhone, iPad, Android (including Amazon’s Kindle Fire) and Windows devices. Rockstar also says that the game has been given a makeover to ensure it’s up to scratch in 2013. “Newly re-mastered graphics including dynamic and detailed shadows, greater draw distance, an enriched color palette, plus enhanced character and car models make this the best-looking version of San Andreas yet,” claimed the company. “Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas also features brand new touch controls including contextual control options to display buttons only when you need them and three different control schemes for driving and maneuvering, as well as a reworked checkpoint system for easier progression.”</div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>R.I.P Mandela: Top Trending Topic on Twitter</strong></span></div> <div> Hashtag (#) R.I.P. Mandela was the top trending topic on Twitter on Friday following the death of global anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela. Mandela, South Africa’s first elected black president, died at his home in Houghton, a suburb of Johannesburg, following a protracted illness. He was 95. Many celebrities and well known world figures tweeted their shock and sadness at Mandela’s demise, the SABC reported. </div>', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2013-12-10', 'modified' => '2013-12-10', 'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal', 'description' => 'Hackers have stolen usernames and passwords for nearly two million accounts at Facebook, Google, Twitter, Yahoo and others, according to a report released last week.', 'sortorder' => '2104', 'image' => null, 'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '0' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = falseinclude - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 60 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
Warning (2): simplexml_load_file() [<a href='http://php.net/function.simplexml-load-file'>function.simplexml-load-file</a>]: I/O warning : failed to load external entity "" [APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 60]file not found!Code Context// $file = 'http://aabhiyan:QUVLg8Wzs2F7G9N7@nepalstock.com.np/api/indexdata.xml';if(!$xml = simplexml_load_file($file)){$viewFile = '/var/www/html/newbusinessage.com/app/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'articles' => array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ) ), 'current_user' => null, 'logged_in' => false ) $articles = array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '2274', 'article_category_id' => '139', 'title' => 'Nepal And The World News In Brief (16 - 22 December 2013)', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => null, 'content' => '<div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>US Lower House Approves Budget Deal</strong></span></div> <div> US lawmakers in the lower House of Representatives approved on Thursday a compromise budget deal that will avert a costly government shutdown and minimise damage from across the board spending cuts. The chamber approved the bipartisan measure 332—94. </div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>UK Economy Set for Fastest Growth in 7 Years </strong></span></div> <div> Britain’s economy will expand at its fastest rate in seven years in 2014, thanks to strengthening household consumption, but high household debt will slow growth in 2015, the British Chambers of Commerce said on Thursday. The business group forecast economic growth to rise to 2.7 percent in 2014, an upgrade from the forecasts of 2.2 percent it made as recently as August. </div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Iran Oil Exports Rise as Sanctions Eased</strong></span></div> <div> Iranian exports rose by about 10% in November, the International Energy Agency said in its monthly market report published Wednesday. The Paris-based agency also said it expected global oil demand to rise by 1.2 million barrels per day to 92.4 million next year. Iran’s export lift follows an accord struck last month which relaxed some economic sanctions in exchange for assurances over the country’s nuclear program.</div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>‘Big Step’ Rescue Plan for Eurozone Banks </strong></span></div> <div> The agreement reached in discussions about how to deal with bank bailouts for EU nations has been labelled a “big step” by a senior official. EU Commissioner Michel Barnier said the deal meant taxpayers were no longer on the “front line”. Under the new arrangements, each EU member state will build up a fund to help banks in trouble. The fund will be built up from bank contributions, with banks that take more risks paying more.</div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>India’s Forex Reserves Rise to a 7 Month High</strong></span></div> <div> India’s foreign exchange reserves have risen for five straight weeks to a seven-month high. Forex reserves jumped $4.408 billion in the week ended December 6 to $295.7 billion as banks continued to swap their dollar borrowings with RBI in favour of the rupee even after the deadline of November 30, by which incentives that encouraged this were to end. </div>', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2013-12-16', 'modified' => '2013-12-16', 'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal', 'description' => 'US lawmakers in the lower House of Representatives approved on Thursday a compromise budget deal that will avert a costly government shutdown and minimise damage from across the board spending cuts. The chamber approved the bipartisan measure 332—94.', 'sortorder' => '2118', 'image' => null, 'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '0' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '2273', 'article_category_id' => '138', 'title' => 'Uruguay Becomes First Country To Legalize Marijuana Trade', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => null, 'content' => '<div> </div> <div> Uruguay has approved pioneering legislation legalizing marijuana, becoming the first nation in the world to oversee the production and sale of the drug. After a 12-hour debate, 16 leftist senators out of 29 lawmakers voted Tuesday in favor of the legislation championed by President Jose Mujica, who must now sign it into law. Outside the Senate, hundreds of cannabis-smoking supporters set off fireworks in what they dubbed “the last march with illegal marijuana.” The atmosphere was festive. The bill passed the lower house of Congress in August and was assured of approval because the ruling coalition controls both chambers. It authorizes the production, distribution and sale of cannabis, allows individuals to grow their own on a small scale, and creates consumer clubs -- all under state supervision and control.</div> <div> </div> <div> Uruguay’s pioneering move to legalize the planting and sale of marijuana opens the door for a clandestine cottage industry of pot growers to transform into a legitimate business that could even export medical cannabis, a commodity in short supply. More and more countries are setting up medical marijuana programs to help relieve the pain of terminally-ill patients and treat other health conditions, but there are few legal sources of the drug in the world and Uruguay could tap that tight market. The Uruguayan experiment could add momentum to the marijuana legalization debate in the United States, where the states of Washington and Oregon last year made it legal to grow and smoke pot.</div> <div> </div> <div> If regulation works, Uruguay could become an exporter of medical marijuana to countries such as Canada that are allowing an expansion of the use of the drug for health reasons. Canada became the first country to allow terminally ill patients to grow and smoke their own marijuana in 2001.</div>', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2013-12-16', 'modified' => '2013-12-16', 'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal', 'description' => 'Uruguay has approved pioneering legislation legalizing marijuana, becoming the first nation in the world to oversee the production and sale of the drug. After a 12-hour debate, 16 leftist senators out of 29 lawmakers voted Tuesday in favor of the legislation championed by President Jose Mujica, who must now sign it into law.', 'sortorder' => '2117', 'image' => null, 'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '0' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '2272', 'article_category_id' => '138', 'title' => 'South Asia On Track To Meet Growth Expectations In 2013-14 : ADB', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => null, 'content' => '<div> </div> <div> South Asia is on track to meet growth expectations of 4.7 per cent in 2013 and 5.5 per cent in 2014, says a new Asian Development Bank (ADB) report. The report entitled "Asian Development Outlook Supplement" states that recovery in India will positively impact the region's overall economic performance. "After bottoming out in the first fiscal quarter, India’s economy appears to have recovered on the back of a rebound in exports and higher industrial and agricultural outputs. India is anticipated to grow at 4.7 per cent in fiscal year 2013 (ending 31 March 2014) and 5.7 per cent in the fiscal year 2014, unchanged from the October forecast," says the bank. </div> <div> </div> <div> Similarly, ADB also raised the growth projection for entire Asia region. The report forecasts growth of 6 per cent in 2013 for ADB’s 45 developing member countries, improving to 6.2 per cent in 2014. Likewise an improving growth outlook in Japan and the United States paired with stronger-than-expected performance in China support a steady growth outlook for developing Asia, according to the report. “Despite uncertainties in the global economic environment, developing Asian economies remain resilient. The region has performed well in 2013 and is now poised to benefit from the further signs of growth momentum in the advanced economies,” said ADB Chief Economist Changyong Rhee. ADB estimated that China's growth will increase by 0.1 percentage points to 7.7% in 2013 and 7.5% in 2014 on the back of rising infrastructure investment. Likewise, advanced economies of the US, euro area and Japan are on track to meet the October forecast of 0.9% growth in 2013. ADB expects 1.9% growth in these economies in 2014, up 0.1 percentage points from the October forecast.</div> <div> </div> <div> However, ADB estimates slight moderation is forecast in Southeast Asia. The report forecasts the sub-region to post growth of 4.8% in 2013 and 5.2% in 2014; both forecasts are revised down 0.1 percentage points from October. "The moderation stems from the impact of tensions in Thailand on consumption and tourism. The devastating impact of Typhoon Haiyan is tempering the Philippines’ 2013 growth, but reconstruction is expected to boost growth as it ramps up in 2014," it said.</div>', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2013-12-16', 'modified' => '2013-12-16', 'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal', 'description' => 'South Asia is on track to meet growth expectations of 4.7 per cent in 2013 and 5.5 per cent in 2014, says a new Asian Development Bank (ADB) report. The report entitled "Asian Development Outlook Supplement" states that recovery in India will positively impact the region's overall economic performance. "After bottoming out in the first fiscal quarter, India’s economy appears to have recovered on the back of a rebound in exports and higher industrial and agricultural outputs.', 'sortorder' => '2116', 'image' => null, 'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '0' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '2187', 'article_category_id' => '161', 'title' => '“Nepal Needs Scientific Base For Wildlife Conservation Management”', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => null, 'content' => '<div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;">Himalayan Tiger Foundation, a Dutch NGO works on conserving tiger population and biodiversity conservation in Nepal. In a talk with Sanjeev Sharma of The Corporate, the President of the Himalayan Tiger Foundation, <strong>Cas de Stoppelaar</strong> gave insights into the organization’s plan for Nepal. He was accompanied by<strong> Prof Dr Jacques J.M.</strong> <strong>Van Alphen</strong> of the University of Amsterdam and<strong> Laura D. Bertola</strong>, PhD researcher at Universiteit Leiden. <strong>Excerpts: </strong></span></div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>What is Himalayan Tiger Foundation doing in Nepal?</strong></span></div> <div> Nepal is in a position to get more support in a scientific way to do things in conservation biology. Nepal is very special and extremely rich not only in terms of having everything from low lands to high mountains, but also, because you are the cross roads of different bio-geographic regions. So, the species from different regions meet here. Our scope is broader than only tigers; we want to study in the Terai region, mainly in the Bardiya National Park, biodiversity and climate change. We had been there just two days back and we are writing our proposal which will be financed probably in the first phase by private donors in the Netherlands. We just had a talk with the Science department of Kathmandu University for setting up a master’sdegreecourse on conservation biology and wildlife genetics in cooperation with Universities in Amsterdam and Leiden. We aim to have young people from this country being knowledgeable and specialists in this area, so that they can do their own job in their own country.</div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>How is your organisation working to achieve these goals?</strong></span></div> <div> Well, the thing lacking in this country is the scientific base for wildlife conservation management. There are few pockets of qualities like CNDN and other things. But, what is missing in most of the NGOs is scientific dimension. They just get the funds and they do something as a sort of try. We want to strengthen the scientific foundation of Wildlife Management in Nepal through a couple of things. Firstly, we want to be associated with Kathmandu University, and look at masters in science course in the field. We have enthusiastic people there, capable of doing PhD, which is the second thing and we are looking for funding. Thirdly, we are planning to set up a resource centre next to Bardiya National Park with all sort of disciplines from butterflies to tigers, salamanders to bats etc. We will build up a good database and update it regularly in a way that you can follow it year after year. You will see the changes coming up and you can see the sort of measures to keep the habitat of tigers and other animals healthy.For many reasons, it is important, one of them being its scientific importance and secondly, it can be economically sound as it can attract tourists by showcasing the birds. </div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Which aspect of tiger conservation are you working on as there are serious threats to tiger conservation, such as loss of habitat and poaching?</strong></span></div> <div> One of the things we want to include is conservation genetics. Using genetic techniques we can get genetic data which will be quite helpful in conservation strategy. This is particularly interesting for large species that need a lot of space in a fragmented habitat because these speciesneed connectivity.If the population of these species becomes small in number, they also become vulnerable for extinction. There are also all kind of genetic factors that play a role to that. One of those is inbreeding, which can be a very serious risk for populations in nature. So, if you have an insight into the connectivity, structure and diversity within these populations, this can be really helpful to come up with a strategy about how to conserve this diversity in the best way possible.</div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Nepal is said to havemade remarkable progress in tiger conservation with the number of the big wild cats increasing to 198. What are the major contributing factors to this?</strong></span></div> <div> There are two things to be said on this. Firstly, no body exactly knows what the present number is because the counting methods are not always 100% correct and nobody knows what it was 5 years ago. So, there is a lot of variation in the numbers. If you say there is an increase, there is definitely an increase. But, no one can exactly point out the exact number of increment. There are errors in the various techniques used in the counting and thus, we cannot exactly point out the number of tigers. So, we need to put a margin on that. In Bardiya, the counting of tigers is done by capturing them on the cameras. This way the number of tigers in Bardiya is said to be 50. But, every tiger may not face the camera. So, we don’t know if it is 50 or more than 50. So, we can use genetic techniques and methods to count tigers. This has been adopted in Chitwan. </div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Despite various initiatives being taken on tiger conservation the world has lost 97% of wild tigers this century. What can be done effectively to stop tigers from extinction by 2022 as feared by scientists?</strong></span></div> <div> First of all, it is necessary that we keep the environment healthy and bring an end to poaching. Similarly, it is important to have knowledge regarding inbreeding. You must translocate the tigers for getting new genes involved. The system must be placed in a healthy way. It means that not only the tigers but even their prey have to be kept healthy. While balancing the system, we must also bring an end to poaching to keep everything in order.A step that must be taken is that corridors must be built in Bardiya and Chitwan for the tigers to move freely and thus, it will be helpful in breeding. Similarly, we should also be able to come up with transborder mechanism so that tigers can move freely in the natural environment which will ultimately contribute in increasing the population of tigers. There should be a contract between India and Nepal for free movement of tigers between the two countries so that tiger’s population can be increased.</div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Nepal lacks effective wildlife conservation policies. In this, what must Nepal do to ensure new and effective wildlife policies?</strong></span></div> <div> The government should enforce new and strict laws regarding tiger conservation. People who live in buffer zones must be provided with premiums to stop them from cutting down the forest. It is important to instill a sense of responsibility in the people. People who trade tiger parts should be punished. </div> <div> </div> <div> <img alt="" src="/userfiles/images/dp1%20(Copy)(1).jpg" style="width: 550px; height: 190px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px;" /></div>', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2013-12-02', 'modified' => '2013-12-16', 'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal', 'description' => 'Himalayan Tiger Foundation, a Dutch NGO works on conserving tiger population and biodiversity conservation in Nepal. In a talk with Sanjeev Sharma of The Corporate, the President of the Himalayan Tiger Foundation, Cas de Stoppelaar gave insights into the organization’s plan for Nepal. He was accompanied by Prof Dr Jacques J.M. Van Alphen of the University of Amsterdam and Laura D. Bertola, PhD researcher at Universiteit Leiden.', 'sortorder' => '2115', 'image' => null, 'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '0' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '2181', 'article_category_id' => '47', 'title' => 'A Fighting Spirit', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => null, 'content' => '<div> </div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>--By Sujan Tiwari</strong></div> <div> </div> <div> “Just like every lock has its key, all the problems come with a solution,” says Pradeep Kumar Shrestha, MD, Panchakanya Group, one of the leading manufacturers of construction materials in Nepal. Shrestha has managed the Group for almost three decades, and is still directing it towards new avenues. Shrestha says that his new ventures will be in areas of hydropower and agriculture. “As our base is manufacturing, we will continue focusing on industries and manufacturing. Besides, hydropower and agriculture will be our next area,” he says. According to him, Panchakanya Group is a household name in Nepal, and enjoys a good reputation. “We have nationwide dealership network and we are known as quality manufacturers. We never compromise in the quality of our products. What we are is all because of the trust of our customers,” says Shrestha. </div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size: 14px;"><strong><img alt="Pradeep Kumar Shrestha, MD, Panchakanya Group" src="/userfiles/images/prsn2%20(Copy).jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; width: 300px; height: 410px;" />Origin of Group</strong></span></div> <div> The group started as Panchakanya Rice Mill in 2028 BS, named after five Hindu goddesses Durga, Saraswati, Laxmi, Radha and Annapurna. The next major venture was Panchakanya Iron Industries in Kotihawa (Bhairahawa) of Rupandehi district. There wasn’t much industrial development in western Nepal back then. So the company also opened two industries that manufactured pipe and steel in Bhairahawa in around 2040 BS. Today, Panchakanya Group is renowned as one of the pioneers in manufacturing sector and there are around a dozen industries under the group, and has generated thousands of employment opportunities. </div> <div> </div> <div> Shrestha joined the Group in the year 1985 after completing his studies. When he first joined, he used to handle all the aspects of business, from managing the finances to correspondence. This was also because he was a student of commerce, and also because the Group was not what it is today. “I started in a small way, and I am happy that I have played my part in changing the business to what it is today,” says Shrestha. </div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size: 14px;"><strong>The Turning Point</strong></span></div> <div> Before going to college, Shrestha says he didn’t always think of being a business man or joining his family business. “I wanted to study science and become an engineer. So I applied to Amrit Science Campus. But it was very hard to get admission in those days, so I wasn’t selected.” One day, a friend of his father told him that if he becomes a successful businessman, he will get many engineers to work for him. His words changed his mind, and then went to Darjeeling to study B Com. </div> <div> </div> <div> After his graduation, he didn’t want to go abroad for his further studies. Also, his father wanted him to study here as it would also help him in building relations. So he joined TU and did MBA. Shrestha was the student of first MBA batch of TU. “I proudly say that I completed my Masters from Nepal. Whenever I am abroad and people ask me where I studied, I proudly tell them the fact,” says Shrestha. By doing so, he believes he has also conveyed a message that the educational system of Nepal is at par. After finishing his studies, he joined the family business and has been handling it since then. </div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size: 14px;"><strong>Early Life</strong></span></div> <div> Shrestha was born in Illam in 2016 to Prem Bahadur Shrestha and Neel Kumari Shrestha. He says he was very active and restless since his childhood. He used to take part in every sport possible, and was very athletic.”I wasn’t an excellent student, but rather an above average one,” recalls Shrestha. He studied in a local school in Fikkal till grade four, and did the rest of his schooling from Victoria Boys School in Kharsang of Arunachal Pradesh in India. He completed his graduation in Commerce from North Point College in Darjeeling. </div> <div> </div> <div> Shrestha gives all the credit for the current status of the Group and his success to his father Prem Bahadur Shrestha. His father was the one to initate the business as the founder. “My father taught me everything about business. He passed his business ethics on to me and taught me how to be successful in business. Ours is a family business, and it will continue for generations to come,” says Shrestha. </div> <div> </div> <div> Shrestha says his father laid a very strong foundation, and his generation has added bricks to that foundation. Shrestha, under his management, has made the Group evolve and brought it where it is today. “We are happy about what we have done. But if the country was in a better condition, we could have done much more. Even in this adverse time, we are trying to grow,” says he. </div> <div> </div> <div> <img alt="Pradeep Kumar Shrestha, MD, Panchakanya Group" src="/userfiles/images/prsn1%20(Copy).jpg" style="width: 550px; height: 412px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px;" /></div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size: 14px;"><strong>Personal Side</strong></span></div> <div> Shrestha loves sports, and is very keen golfer and plays every other day. He says he is a very competitive person in every aspect and strives for victory. The same reflects in his business and also in golf. “I cannot be second, I am a fighter and I have to win,” says he. According to him, sport is not only good for health, but also makes you better in every aspect. “Sports teach you to accept defeat. It has taught me that if you lose, it doesn’t mean you are a loser, it just means you have to try harder,” says Shrestha. He says that people usually don’t realize how close they are to success. According to him, defeats should be analyzed, and worked upon again. </div> <div> </div> <div> Despite his very busy schedule, Shrestha almost always manages to go wherever he is invited. “Wherever people invite me, I go there and show my presence. That is in my nature. I have dinner in my family only once a week, so I have breakfast in my home every day,” says he. Sports and social engagements are what keep Shrestha busy. Shrestha travels extensively, and goes for vacation once a year with his family. Shrestha loves to travel with his wife Usha and sons Udeep and Ashik. He also likes to travel to remote areas Nepal and go trekking with his family. </div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size: 14px;"><strong>Philosophies</strong></span></div> <div> Shrestha strongly believes that every person can contribute in his own way to develop the nation. “I am a responsible citizen, and I feel I have to pay back for what the country has given me. If every Nepali thinks this way, Nepal will be changed in no time. We all can make a difference,” says Shrestha. “Nepal is not as poor as people generally conceive it to be. I don’t think ours is a poor country, only the mindset of the people is poor,” says he.</div> <div> </div> <div> According to Shrestha, it is unfortunate that Nepal has many problems, but still Nepalis have achieved a lot. He believes that Nepal can be developed and prosperous only if every Nepali acts for it. “Every Nepali should think that he should contribute his part, and start thinking collectively. There is no other way, and no one other than Nepalis will develop Nepal,” says Shrestha.</div>', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2013-11-28', 'modified' => '2013-12-16', 'keywords' => 'new business age personality news & articles, personality news & articles from new business age nepal, personality headlines from nepal, current and latest personality news from nepal, economic news from nepal, nepali personality economic news and events, ongoing personality news of nepal', 'description' => '“Just like every lock has its key, all the problems come with a solution,” says Pradeep Kumar Shrestha, MD, Panchakanya Group, one of the leading manufacturers of construction materials in Nepal. Shrestha has managed the Group for almost three decades, and is still directing it towards new avenues.', 'sortorder' => '2114', 'image' => null, 'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '0' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '2266', 'article_category_id' => '52', 'title' => 'Hope Of Economic Revival', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => null, 'content' => '<div> </div> <div> </div> <div> The elections for the Constituent Assembly (CA)-II are now over. Results have been announced. Successful completion of the CA polls themselves is good news for the economy. Rise of the liberal economic forces from it has made it a harbinger of prosperity and development. After long gloomy years, the new CA comes with the renewed promise to draft and promulgate the new constitution within a year and pave way for the nation to head towards peace,stability and prosperity. The last CA too had that hope, but unfortunately that didn’t materialize. </div> <div> </div> <div> In retrospect, it appears that the poll process, the constitution and the functions of earlier edition of the CA (2008) were largely marred by political naivety and immaturity. If one looks at the manifestoes of the 2008 CA election, it is not difficult to discern that the political forces were just flabbergasted by the pace of change and couldn’t structure proper frame to guide the nation forward. The then New Forces, Maoists and Madheshis, had overtly ambitious agenda, whereas the Old Forces like Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML had a sense of compulsion to bow down to the agenda of those New Forces.</div> <div> </div> <div> But things changed drastically by the time the country arrived at the threshold of the second CA elections in 2013. As evidenced by their recent manifestos, major political forces had become more mature, rationality had prevailed over emotions. Traders of mere selfish, divisive or opportunistic agenda were badly fragmented and most importantly, a sincere realisation to move along the changing paradigms of the world was across the board. There was a race to promise to shun violence and acts of business disruption by calling on bandhs and strikes. Though achieved at a great cost, monetary and opportunity, these achievements are not trivial.</div> <div> </div> <div> It is a bare fact that Nepal suffered almost two decades of virtually zero development. Since the Maoists launched armed rebellion in February 1996, the resources and focus of the state concentrated to counter it. Hardly any power project, new stretch of road or other significant infrastructure was added during the decade long conflict. The Comprehensive Peace Agreement of 2006 ended the conflict, but fears of the investors could hardly be allayed, mainly due to destructive high-handedness of the Maoist-affiliated trade unions, among other uncertainties surrounding the drafting of the constitution. One may argue that we never had a zero or negative nominal GDP growth rate, but the inflation-adjusted real growth rate had never been positive for all those years.</div> <div> </div> <div> But the approaches, stances and philosophies have transformed for good in recent years, which was reflected in the run-up to the second CA elections. These are the very reasons that led to the successful completion of the election process with as high as whopping 78 percent turn out of the voters. The half battle is won. </div> <div> </div> <div> On top of it, the electorates gave a very emphatic support to the parties -- Nepali Congress and CPN-UML that exhibited understanding of the global economic order and trend vis-à-vis Nepal’s development priorities and needs. It was the Nepali Congress that had initiated the economic reform and liberalization after restoration of democracy in 1990 and the fruits of it is still reaped by the economy. The then UML government began grassroots level connectivity and infrastructure projects in 1995 that gradually provided market access to the remote hinterlands of the country. These two facets of development helped the Nepali economy to withstand the decade-long conflict and almost equally-long political mayhem after that. The people trusted back to both of these parties, once again giving them almost equal, jointly more than sixty percent of strength in the new CA. People experimented the Maoists once in the last election by making them the largest party in the last CA, but it failed the test. Now condemned to humiliating defeat.</div> <div> </div> <div> The conclusion of CA election against the widespread suspicion about its success, victory of the parties that believe in democracy and free-market and, rationalization of the forces that were erstwhile destructive ones, indeed raises hope on reigniting the growth process. The stage is all set and, now actors should play the right role before the curtain falls.</div>', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2013-12-13', 'modified' => '2013-12-16', 'keywords' => 'new business age from the editor news & articles, from the editor news & articles from new business age nepal, from the editor headlines from nepal, current and latest from the editor news from nepal, economic news from nepal, nepali from the editor economic news and events, ongoing from the edi', 'description' => 'The elections for the Constituent Assembly (CA)-II are now over. Results have been announced. Successful completion of the CA polls themselves is good news for the economy. Rise of the liberal economic forces from it has made it a harbinger of prosperity and development. After long gloomy years, the new CA comes with the renewed promise to draft and promulgate the new constitution within a year and pave way for the nation to head towards peace,stability and prosperity. The last CA too had that hope, but unfortunately that didn’t materialize.', 'sortorder' => '2113', 'image' => null, 'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '0' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '2223', 'article_category_id' => '91', 'title' => 'Full Reservoir Promises Steady Power-cut Hours', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => null, 'content' => '<div> </div> <div> <strong>--BY TC Correspondent</strong></div> <div> </div> <div> The reservoir of the Kulekhani I Hydropower Project has been filled. With the fill-up of this reservoir, considered as a ‘power back-up’ of Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), load-shedding hours are not expected to increase this winter. </div> <div> </div> <div> Project Chief Ram Kumar Yadav informed TC that the reservoir’s water level was 1530.30 meter on last Sunday. “There is adequate amount of water in the reservoir,” he said. </div> <div> </div> <div> Though the reservoir’s maximum holding capacity is 1530 meter, reservoirs height has been increased by 30cm by piling up sand sacks along its brim, a project official said. </div> <div> </div> <div> Stating that additional water has been collected in the reservoir, the NEA said that it does not need to increase the load-shedding hours time this year. Bhuwan Chhetri, Chief of Load Dispatch Center at NEA, confirmed the report. </div> <div> </div> <div> The project that generally operates from 5 pm to 10 pm every day, was started from 3 pm last Sunday due to the excessive rise of water level in the reservoir. </div> <div> </div> <div> Project’s Chief Yadav said that water is collected in the reservoir during day and night times and can be operated on requirement basis. He attributed the excessive rise of water level in the reservoir to adequate rainfall during the monsoon season. </div> <div> </div> <div> The reservoir water is collected from around three-dozen of small and big rivers of the water basin. The project office has informed that the water level of the reservoir has not gone down below 1505 meter this year as the rainfall started from </div> <div> mid-May. </div> <div> </div> <div> Meanwhile, the construction work of 14 MW Kulekhani III hydropower project also has completed by 71 per cent. Indra Bir Ghimire, Deputy Manager of the project, said that if the project does not face any disruptions, it will start generating electricity within nine months. </div> <div> </div> <div> “We are working in full swing to complete the remaining 29 per cent of work within a nine-month period,” Ghimire said. </div> <div> </div> <div> The project is scheduled to complete by September 13, 2014. Ghimire informed that four kms of tunnel drilling and about 90 per cent reservoir construction has been completed. </div> <div> </div> <div> The project was started on April 27, 2008 with an aim to complete it by 2012. Project officials blamed obstruction from the locals, delay by the contractors and NEA’s sluggishness as reasons for not meeting the construction deadline. </div>', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2013-12-08', 'modified' => '2013-12-16', 'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal', 'description' => 'The reservoir of the Kulekhani I Hydropower Project has been filled. With the fill-up of this reservoir, considered as a ‘power back-up’ of Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), load-shedding hours are not expected to increase this winter.', 'sortorder' => '2112', 'image' => null, 'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '0' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '2224', 'article_category_id' => '91', 'title' => 'Tourism: Promoting Nepal’s Visibility In The Global Arena', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => null, 'content' => '<div> </div> <div> <strong>--By TC Corespondent</strong></div> <div> </div> <div> Last week Nepal saw two major international rankings with the country achieving top spots in travel and tourism destinations. On Wednesday, 4th December, the World Expeditions of the CNW Group, a subsidiary of US-based PR Newswire Company, declared The Great Himalayan Trail (GHT) as the top adventurous trekking route in the world for 2014. </div> <div> </div> <div> The GHT is the longest and highest alpine walking track in the world winding 4,500 kilometers through the tallest mountain ranges and most isolated communities from Tibet to Pakistan. The 1,700 kilometers long Nepal section of the GHT is often termed as “a kaleidoscope of experiences”, commercial treks of which starts in</div> <div> the beginning of March every year. </div> <div> </div> <div> The trail, which can be undertaken in one continuous trek of 152 days, traverses the country from east to west. The ranking placed Great Patagonian Transverse of the South Americas and Bhutan Snowman Trek in the 2nd and 3rd most adventurous route for 2014. Similarly, Dominica Trek of the Caribbean and John Muir Trek of the US were placed at 4th and 5th spots in the list respectively. </div> <div> </div> <div> Likewise, TripAdvisor.com, a world renowned travel website ranked Kathmandu as the top rising tourist destination in Asia.The travel search-engine declared Kathmanduas the 3rd most rising travel destination in the world. The website published the top ten most favoured tourist spots of the world - Traveler’s Choice 2013 list. The listing of the destinations is generally based on reviews and votes of travelers. According to Trip Advisor, Kathmandu is the only destination that managed to achieve position in the list. Meanwhile, Australian travelers, named Kathmandu as the best backpack destination on the website. Jerusalem (Israel) and Sapporo (Japan) were the other destinations from the Asia region on the list. </div>', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2013-12-08', 'modified' => '2013-12-16', 'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal', 'description' => 'Last week Nepal saw two major international rankings with the country achieving top spots in travel and tourism destinations. On Wednesday, 4th December, the World Expeditions of the CNW Group, a subsidiary of US-based PR Newswire Company, declared The Great Himalayan Trail (GHT) as the top adventurous trekking route in the world for 2014.', 'sortorder' => '2111', 'image' => null, 'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '0' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '2265', 'article_category_id' => '48', 'title' => 'Sea Of Conspiracy', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => null, 'content' => '<div> </div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>--By Madan Lamsal</strong></div> <div> </div> <div> The revolutionary vision of Puspa Kamal Dahal alias Prachanda suddenly encountered a deep sea of conspiracy surrounding the landlocked Nepal. As the results of CA elections-II 2013, were pouring in last month and he lost the Kathmnadu-10 constituency, he could see a devilish sea fast inundating his philosophized Prachanda Path, dampening his as well as his party's election prospects and perishing the party's Perish Danda headquarters in rapid pace. </div> <div> </div> <div> How could this happen to the 'sole hero of the revolution' ? ('Revolutionary Hero' that was how he was nicknamed during the campaign.) His dreams of becoming all-powerful president suddenly got evaporated. And, the cum-red was naturally perplexed, outraged and restless. He cried 'FOUL!' But there was nobody to listen. But as a devout communist, he was creative enough to take hold of theory - 'the conspiracy theory' - to attribute as the cause of his and his party's apparently humiliating defeat.</div> <div> </div> <div> It is the outcome of 'national and international conspiracy' he declared, hastily calling a press meet. But he would not point out which particular national or international agency was at play. That was natural for a former prime minister, who has personally experienced the extent and strength of the functions of these conspirators, particularly international ones, to guess who could be the spoilsport. Nepali people would certainly appreciate if he identifies them in public.</div> <div> </div> <div> When the water level receded from his hypothetical sea, he could see some ground. At least there were still some hopes which had not drowned. At least one such hope survived when he got elected from another constituency in Terai. His worries were confounded not because the party suffered a big set-back, but his all other family members --daughter, daughter-in-no-law and a brother got defeated in the polls.</div> <div> </div> <div> Traumatized, Prachanda turned to his brainy comrade Baburam for solace. Baburam quickly came up with highly consoling prognosis that 'though we may have lost election, our agenda is not defeated.' It was equivalent to saying that the people who represented the Maoist agenda were bad and got defeated, not the agenda itself. It was easy for Baburam to reach to this beautiful conclusion looking at the face of his only wife Hisila Yami and her defeat from one of the Kathmandu constituencies. </div> <div> </div> <div> 'Can't you see comrades, the sea of conspiracy in drowning us soon? It must be internationally imported political waters that is causing this', Prachanda concluded and his top-ranked comrades nodded in consent akin to true communist party discipline. 'But chairman comrade' Baburam volunteered, 'we must point at the international force' to make this allegation convincing.' </div> <div> </div> <div> 'As you know, all the sea water is in the south and entire north is Himalayas,' said Prachanda</div> <div> </div> <div> 'Then I am not in your boat,' Baburam begged to differ. The southern sea waters cannot rise so high at this time. Even if they do, I am not to see it,' Baburam deviated. Then, the duo concluded to accept the election outcome.</div> <div> </div> <div> The fables have it even a sinking lion wouldn't spare to pounce on simultaneously sinking goat, regardless that both would be dead in the next minute. Then no wonder, Prachanda came up with a new proposal: 'majority provision of the constitution to form the government should be removed, retaining only the provision of consensus.' Again he is not likely to be heard. He is asking for a too long a rope which had to be unleashed much before the election. But he is doing it after his party got defeated. Anyway, clever people never lack creativity even during the ordeal.</div> <div> </div> <div> As the political climate is changing fast, the effects of warming again and often may cause the rise of water levels in the sea of conspiracy. When a man is survived by a whisker from drowning, he soon becomes hydrophobic and begins to be terrified even by a village pond, considering it a Black Sea. Prachanda too from now on might seek 'Sea of Conspiracy' whenever there is a storm in a tea cup.</div>', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2013-12-13', 'modified' => '2013-12-16', 'keywords' => 'new business age no laughing matter news & articles, no laughing matter news & articles from new business age nepal, no laughing matter headlines from nepal, current and latest no laughing matter news from nepal, economic news from nepal, nepali no laughing matter economic news and events, ongoing', 'description' => 'The revolutionary vision of Puspa Kamal Dahal alias Prachanda suddenly encountered a deep sea of conspiracy surrounding the landlocked Nepal. As the results of CA elections-II 2013, were pouring in last month and he lost the Kathmnadu-10 constituency, he could see a devilish sea fast inundating his philosophized Prachanda Path, dampening his as well as his party's election prospects and perishing the party's Perish Danda headquarters in rapid pace.', 'sortorder' => '2110', 'image' => null, 'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '0' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '2225', 'article_category_id' => '91', 'title' => 'WTO Members Agree On Historic Trade Pact', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => null, 'content' => '<div> <strong>--By TC Correspondent</strong></div> <div> </div> <div> Since the formation of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in 1995, member nations of the global trade body on Saturday reached the first ever trade deal. </div> <div> </div> <div> WTO’s Bali Ministerial Conference held in Bali, Indonesia, approved the “historic” ‘Bali Package’ after Cuba dropped its threat to veto the package of measures that primarily aims at facilitating commerce between member nations by reducing trade barriers. </div> <div> </div> <div> The agreement aims to boost the global commerce by adding USD 1 trillion into the world economyover the coming years and add 21 million jobs in the global labour market. </div> <div> </div> <div> The agreement simplifies trade procedures for the poorest countries to sell their goods in international market.It is expected to lessen barriers for the least developed countries (LDCs) in exporting their products in international market. Similarly, the agreement aims to establish a global system to make agricultural sector more competitive. </div> <div> </div> <div> The agreement came at a moment when the WTO was standing on the brink of failure following more than a decade of fruitless negotiations to enact the Doha Round (2002) plans. </div> <div> </div> <div> Many experts had warned that failure in Bali would leave regional and bilateral trade arrangements as the only platform for trade reform, dividing the world and jeopardising the goal of globalisation of the WTO.</div> <div> </div> <div> “For the first time in our history, the WTO has truly delivered,” said WTO Chief Roberto Azevêdo, while closing the conference.” All members, developed or developing, have the ownership of the Bali deal. We have put the “world” back into the World Trade Organisation. We’re back in business...Bali is just the beginning.”</div> <div> </div> <div> In his closing remarks former Chief Trade Negotiator of Brazilechoed the quote of late South African leader, Nelson Mandela, “It always seems impossible until it’s done,” to sum up the achievement of the conference.</div> <div> </div> <div> The Bali meeting which opened on 3rd December, Tuesday, was overshadowed by disagreements between India and a group of developed nations led by the United States. Because of its massive programme for stockpiling food to feed its poor, India had insisted that it would only back an agreement if there is a compromise on food subsidies. </div> <div> </div> <div> On the other hand, US and some industrialised nations urged India to end the food security policy as it breaches and contradicted the subsidy policies of the WTO. The differences narrowed as the opposing sides clinched towards a provision to give developing nations more scope to use subsidies for safeguarding food supplies. Similarly, Cuba also later agreed on a compromise with the US. During the negotiations, the Caribbean Island nation had refused to accept the deal if the US did not end its long-time economic embargo.</div>', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2013-12-08', 'modified' => '2013-12-13', 'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal', 'description' => 'WTO’s Bali Ministerial Conference held in Bali, Indonesia, approved the “historic” ‘Bali Package’ after Cuba dropped its threat to veto the package of measures that primarily aims at facilitating commerce between member nations by reducing trade barriers.', 'sortorder' => '2109', 'image' => null, 'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '0' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '2229', 'article_category_id' => '137', 'title' => 'Corruption Perception Index 2013: Nepal Sees Decline In Corruption Level', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => null, 'content' => '<div> </div> <div> <strong>--By TC Correspondent</strong></div> <div> </div> <div> Nepal has experienced a significant downfall in corruption in 2013. Transparency International’s (TI) Corruption Perception Index (CPI) 2013, placed Nepal in 116th position out of 177 countries. Nepal achieved ascore of 31on a scale of 0-100, while 0 indicating the most corrupted and 100 indicating no corruption. Last year, Nepal ranked 139th with a score of 27.</div> <div> </div> <div> The Berlin-based global anti-corruption watchdog reported alertness of the Commission of Investigation on Abuse of Authority (CIAA) and a slew of actions takenon related cases as factors contributing to decline in corruption. Countries achieving a score less than 50 points have been listed as the most corrupt. TI prepared the report in co-operation with Bertelsmann Foundation, The World Bank, World Economic Forum, Global Justice Project and Global Insight. </div> <div> </div> <div> The report also mentions that around 40 percent Nepali have given bribe atleast once in their lifetime. Similarly, 80 percent of Nepali confessed that it is much easier to get work done in government organisations if there is someone of their acquaintance. Likewise, most Nepali also admitted that political parties are the most corrupted ones in the nation. Meanwhile, Nepal’s neighbours, India and China are placed at 94th and 80th positions respectively. Bhutan was seen as the cleanest country in the South Asia region (31st position) with a score of 63. Likewise, Sri Lanka achieved 91st position whereas corruption level in Pakistan (127th) and Bangladesh (136th) was seen relatively high. Afghanistan (175th)was declared the most corrupt nation in the South Asia with a score of 8. </div> <div> </div> <div> This year’s CPI figured that 69 percent of the world’s countries are seriously corrupt. Regionally, Eastern Europe and Central Asia ranked the worst, Western Europe and the European Union (EU) the best. The report declares Denmark and New Zealand to be the most clean countries, both sharing a score of 91 points. Similarly, Finland and Sweden stand in the third position with a score of 89 points whereas Norway and Singapore share the 5th position in the ranking with a score of 86 points.</div> <div> </div> <div> According to the report, the most corrupt countries are: North Korea, Somalia and Afghanistan with all three nations sharing the highest spot of 175th position in the index. TI reported that 66 percent of the countries in the North and South American Region are seriously corrupt. Similarly, 64 percent of the countries in the Asia-Pacific region are most corrupt.Likewise, 95 per cent of the EU countries (including the Eastern and Western Europe) and 23 per cent nations of Central Asia were labeled as seriously corrupt. Also, 84 per cent of the countries in Middle East and North Africa region and 90 per cent of Sub- Saharan African nations fell into the category of seriously corrupt countries.” The need for greater accountability is clear, and leaders cannot look the other way. But recognizing the problems is only the first step- governments need to turn pledges into actions,” states the report.</div>', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2013-12-09', 'modified' => '2013-12-17', 'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal', 'description' => 'Nepal has experienced a significant downfall in corruption in 2013. Transparency International’s (TI) Corruption Perception Index (CPI) 2013, placed Nepal in 116th position out of 177 countries. Nepal achieved ascore of 31on a scale of 0-100, while 0 indicating the most corrupted and 100 indicating no corruption. Last year, Nepal ranked 139th with a score of 27.', 'sortorder' => '2108', 'image' => null, 'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '0' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '2263', 'article_category_id' => '202', 'title' => 'A Work Loving Bureaucrat', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => null, 'content' => '<div> </div> <div> <strong>--By Upashana Neupane </strong></div> <div> </div> <div> Hari Narayan Belbase, Director at the Department of Commerce and Supply Management, is a man with a tight professional schedule. Despite that Belbase does not hold grudges and enjoys it as part of his responsibility. He opines that it is the right time for him to do something and be someone, rather than seeking leisure. </div> <div> </div> <div> He does not find it difficult to fulfil office and family responsibilities together and opines that it’s all about how well one can manage their time. Belabase manages his time well for his office and his family.</div> <div> </div> <div> Along with his professional and familial responsibilities, he has been updating his education also. He is currently working on his PhD and says that it is the right time for him to take his career to another level while contributing to the society.</div> <div> </div> <div> Belbase is conscious about his health and fitness. He wakes up at 4:30 sharp every morning and jogs around 8 km along with doing some yoga. He loves playing badminton, which compliments his personal and fitness interest. Usually his badminton partner is his wife. Along with this strict health and fitness regime, Belbase devotes some of his morning time to perform religious prayers and rituals. He offers his morning prayers along with his daughter at home. He has a small 4-member happy family that includes him, his wife and two children.</div> <div> </div> <div> Belbase spends his spare time at home playing with his children and tending his home garden. He finds pleasure in walking around his garden and watering flowers.</div> <div> </div> <div> His love for nature has taken him to various places that are blessed by natural beauty. “Natural Beauty attracts me than anything artificial”, he shares remembering Mustang as one of his favourite places he has visited. Peace loving Belbase shares that he tries to avoid crowded and cramped places especially when he is on his vacation.</div> <div> </div> <div> He follows daily news and events across the world, and still manages time for reading popular books from popular writers in town. He believes that a person can imply so many things from a book in their practical life. In non-fiction, he prefers reading books on economics.</div> <div> </div> <div> Despite holding important position and despite making continuous contribution to the welfare of the society and the nation, he still strives to serve better in the days ahead. He believes that humans shouldn’t only live for themselves and opines that as human, “One should utilise their precious life and time for contributing to the welfare of whole mankind.” While conceding to the notion that everyone has limited time in this world, Belbase believes that we should utilize the allocated time in doing things that are creative and productive for the society, nation and the whole of human kind.</div>', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2013-12-10', 'modified' => '2013-12-17', 'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal', 'description' => 'Hari Narayan Belbase, Director at the Department of Commerce and Supply Management, is a man with a tight professional schedule. Despite that Belbase does not hold grudges and enjoys it as part of his responsibility. He opines that it is the right time for him to do something and be someone, rather than seeking leisure.', 'sortorder' => '2107', 'image' => null, 'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '0' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '2264', 'article_category_id' => '201', 'title' => 'Easy Hairstyles For Office Hours', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => null, 'content' => '<div> </div> <div> <strong>--By Rashika Pokharel</strong></div> <div> </div> <div> <img alt="" src="/userfiles/images/h.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px;width: 210px; height: 600px;" />Dealing with hair and having hairstyles that match to your professional status is an important yet ardent task. People find it hard at times, especially women, when it comes to figure out a hairstyle that will give them a professional outlook. Managing hairstyle is a big task for working ladies because they have very less time left for themselves.</div> <div> </div> <div> Hairstyle is an essential element of female etiquette. Women are more careful about their hairstyle and appearance rather than men. Hairstyle is an auxiliary factor in case of women. A woman with beautiful hair looks charming and confident. </div> <div> </div> <div> Since our hairstyle is one of the primary things that people note about us, it’s important to pick hairstyles that appear professional and yet at the same time emphasize our best features and ameliorate our femininity.</div> <div> </div> <div> When it comes to dressing and looking suitable for office it is very difficult to choose on something accurate. Office atmosphere is generally strict and more formal; this is the reason where we may have maximum chances of going wrong. Being trendy and maintaining a suitable office posture can come easily, especially by keeping a track of current business fashion trends. </div> <div> </div> <div> So while talking about fashion trends we cannot remain aloof from trending hairstyles in the corporate world. Here are few hairstyles trending in this world and which are easy and may look perfect for hectic office schedules here in Nepal too. </div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:16px;"><strong>Bun</strong></span></div> <div> When you are surrounded by any confusion regarding hairstyle, go for bun. It is convenient yet classy for office hours and most importantly you can never go wrong with this one. Just pin up your bun with bobby pins, or you can fasten it up with pins which are elegant and not too much glittery.</div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:16px;"><strong>Ponytail<img alt="" src="/userfiles/images/pt.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px;width: 75px; height: 86px;" /></strong></span></div> <div> Ponytail is the most comfortable hairstyle you can choose. Whenever you are in rush or have too much of work load in office , ponytail can be a saviour. There are many types of ponytails such as inverted ponytail, wrapped ponytail and side ponytail. You can pick any of them that suits you the most.</div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:16px;"><strong>Free Layers<img alt="" src="/userfiles/images/pt1.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; width: 70px; height: 80px;" /></strong></span></div> <div> All the females love to show their layers and curls. So, if you want to do that, you can leave you hair free. This is the best hairstyle for every kind of hair whether it’s short, curl, wavy, frizzy or straight.</div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:16px;"><strong>Braids<img alt="" src="/userfiles/images/pt2.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px;width: 75px; height: 86px;" /></strong></span></div> <div> Braids are one of the most comfortable hairstyles. There are varieties of braids such as fish bone, Dutch braid, etc. You can even choose side braid leaving your fringes. If you feel innovative and want to try something new, go for braids.</div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:16px;"><strong>French Roll<img alt="" src="/userfiles/images/pt3.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; width: 70px; height: 79px;" /></strong></span></div> <div> It is a very elegant hairstyle for work and helps to look great with the formal wears. It is also fit for formal parties and meetings.</div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:16px;"><strong>Clipping Your Hair<img alt="" src="/userfiles/images/pt4.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px;width: 75px; height: 87px;" /></strong></span></div> <div> You can leave rest of your hair free by clipping a small section of your front hair. This will give you a clean look and at the same time avoid letting your hair disturb or irritate during work time.</div>', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2013-12-10', 'modified' => '2013-12-10', 'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal', 'description' => 'Dealing with hair and having hairstyles that match to your professional status is an important yet ardent task. People find it hard at times, especially women, when it comes to figure out a hairstyle that will give them a professional outlook. Managing hairstyle is a big task for working ladies because they have very less time left for themselves.', 'sortorder' => '2106', 'image' => null, 'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '0' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '2260', 'article_category_id' => '149', 'title' => 'Aqua Hundred: A Trusted Quality Brand', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => null, 'content' => '<div> </div> <div> <strong>--By Upashana Neupane </strong></div> <div> </div> <table align="right" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px;" width="25"> <tbody> <tr> <td> <img alt="Rabin Shrestha, Business Manager, Aqua Minerals Nepal Pvt Ltd" src="/userfiles/images/bt1(1).jpg" style="border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; width: 200px; height: 221px;" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td bgcolor="#FFFFFF"> <div align="center"> <div style="text-align: center;"> <div> <strong>Rabin Shrestha</strong></div> <div> <em>Business Manager</em></div> <div> <em>Aqua Minerals Nepal Pvt Ltd</em></div> </div> </div> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <div> Aqua Hundred carries 21 years of glorious history of providing purified water in Nepali market. Introduced in 1992, it stands true to its initial motto “Drink safe water and be healthy”. The brand was launched by Aqua Minerals Pvt Ltd at a time when huge amount of purified water used to be imported from foreign countries in lack of domestic brand, that could correspond to the market’s need, Rabin Shrestha, Business Manager at Aqua Minerals, says. </div> <div> </div> <div> Aqua Hundred is market leader in purified water since the beginning of the brand. Named combining two words: Aqua and Hundred (Aqua means Water and hundred represents the 100 per cent purity), its logo has oval shape of waves, that symbolise water.</div> <div> </div> <div> Aqua Hundred is the pioneer to introduce big jar for purified water in Nepali market. It changed common perception among people that bottled, purified water is available only in 1 litre or half litre bottles. “In the initial days, when we introduced big jars, people were surprised and used to stare at us,” Shrestha says, “Now the scenario has changed and Aqua Hundred has become popular and has established itself as must have drinking water in every household.” </div> <div> </div> <div> Reflecting two decades of business journey, Shrestha says that the company was started with a commitment to provide quality water to the customers and has continued doing so, sustaining many ups and downs. “Aqua Hundred was launched to address the drinking water scarcity in Kathmandu valley and as direct response to growing awareness and demand of people for clean and pure drinking water,” Shrestha informs.</div> <div> </div> <div> Initially, 19 litre jar and half litre mineral water bottle were launched. By now Aqua Hundred has expanded to varieties of products like cup water, ice-cubes and chlorine solutions. </div> <div> </div> <div> Shrestha says, in the initial days Aqua Hundred made massive publicity campaigns in electronic and print media, hoarding boards and like to promote the brand. Now customers are familiar to the brand and it has become a brand to trust in. “We have always prioritized ‘quality’, thus have won the trust of our customers,” he says.</div> <div> </div> <div> <img alt="aqua hundred" src="/userfiles/images/bt2%20(Copy).jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px;width: 200px; height: 321px;" />Aqua Hundred with the tagline is “Sabaiko Bishwashilo Paani (Everyone’s Trustworthy Water)” has customers’ faith as it has always been providing best quality consistently. “Consistency is most important to sustain in the market,” Shrestha says, “Providing good quality is not sufficient. One should also continue fulfilling commitments.”</div> <div> </div> <div> The company has an in-house lab of its own and each product is tested before getting into the market. Aqua Hundred Jar is a polycarbonate jar which is recommended for reusable purpose. Aqua Hundred is ISO 9001:2008 certified company but Shrestha says that the best award Aqua Hundred has ever got is the faith of its customers. We have always believed in customer’s satisfaction and their loyalty. </div> <div> </div> <div> Shrestha says, due to unstable political scenario of Nepal, it is difficult to grow and sustain in the market. Similarly, illegal and low quality bottled water has been ruining the image of the entire industry. He says all those companies and products should be properly monitored or banned by the concerned authority. In the near future, Aqua Hundred has plans to spread its market outside the valley too.</div> <div> </div> <div> Shrestha says we should promote Nepali products. “If best quality product is available within our own country, why to use foreign brands?,” he says, “Be Nepali, Buy Nepali”.</div>', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2013-12-10', 'modified' => '2013-12-17', 'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal', 'description' => 'Aqua Hundred carries 21 years of glorious history of providing purified water in Nepali market. Introduced in 1992, it stands true to its initial motto “Drink safe water and be healthy”. The brand was launched by Aqua Minerals Pvt Ltd at a time when huge amount of purified water used to be imported from foreign countries in lack of domestic brand, that could correspond to the market’s need, Rabin Shrestha, Business Manager at Aqua Minerals, says.', 'sortorder' => '2105', 'image' => null, 'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '0' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '2262', 'article_category_id' => '115', 'title' => 'Tech Briefs (9 - 15 December 2013)', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => null, 'content' => '<div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>2 Million Facebook, Gmail and Twitter Passwords Stolen </strong></span></div> <div> <img alt="Facebook" src="/userfiles/images/bt6%20(Copy).jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px;width: 150px; height: 82px;" />Hackers have stolen usernames and passwords for nearly two million accounts at Facebook, Google, Twitter, Yahoo and others, according to a report released last week. The massive data breach was a result of keylogging software maliciously installed on an untold number of computers around the world, researchers at cybersecurity firmTrustwave said. </div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>New Malware Communicates Via Sound Waves</strong></span></div> <div> <img alt="" src="/userfiles/images/bt7%20(Copy)(1).jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px;width: 150px; height: 101px;" />Scientists have developed a malware that transmits information between computers using high-frequency sound waves inaudible to the human ear. This allows the malware to transmit keystrokes and other sensitive data even when infected machines have no network connection. The new malware uses high-frequency audio signals to bridge the ‘air gap’ — a type of security where network is secured by keeping it separate from other local networks and the Internet. Using just the built-in microphones and speakers of standard computers, the researchers from Germany’s Fraunhofer Institute for Communication, Information Processing, and Ergonomics were able to transmit passwords and other small amounts of data from distances of almost 65 feet.</div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Google Working on Robot Development</strong></span></div> <div> <img alt="" src="/userfiles/images/bt8%20(Copy).jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px;width: 150px; height: 84px;" />Google has bought seven robotics companies in recent months as part of a strategy to develop its own robots that can be used for warehouse, manufacturing and delivery work, the New York Times reported on Wednesday. The report said that Google had placed Andy Rubin in charge of the project. Rubin is the highly regarded executive who led the development of Android into the world’s most widely used smartphone software.</div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>GTA: San Andreas Revived for iOS, Android and Windows Phone</strong></span></div> <div> <img alt="" src="/userfiles/images/bt9%20(Copy).jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px;width: 150px; height: 95px;" />Grand Theft Auto V may be flying high in the console charts, but its developer Rockstar Games is already planning the next GTA game – one that will be familiar to fans of the series. The company has announced plans to re-release 2004’s Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas for smartphones and tablets in December. The game will be available for iPhone, iPad, Android (including Amazon’s Kindle Fire) and Windows devices. Rockstar also says that the game has been given a makeover to ensure it’s up to scratch in 2013. “Newly re-mastered graphics including dynamic and detailed shadows, greater draw distance, an enriched color palette, plus enhanced character and car models make this the best-looking version of San Andreas yet,” claimed the company. “Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas also features brand new touch controls including contextual control options to display buttons only when you need them and three different control schemes for driving and maneuvering, as well as a reworked checkpoint system for easier progression.”</div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>R.I.P Mandela: Top Trending Topic on Twitter</strong></span></div> <div> Hashtag (#) R.I.P. Mandela was the top trending topic on Twitter on Friday following the death of global anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela. Mandela, South Africa’s first elected black president, died at his home in Houghton, a suburb of Johannesburg, following a protracted illness. He was 95. Many celebrities and well known world figures tweeted their shock and sadness at Mandela’s demise, the SABC reported. </div>', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2013-12-10', 'modified' => '2013-12-10', 'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal', 'description' => 'Hackers have stolen usernames and passwords for nearly two million accounts at Facebook, Google, Twitter, Yahoo and others, according to a report released last week.', 'sortorder' => '2104', 'image' => null, 'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '0' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = falsesimplexml_load_file - [internal], line ?? include - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 60 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
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The chamber approved the bipartisan measure 332—94. </div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>UK Economy Set for Fastest Growth in 7 Years </strong></span></div> <div> Britain’s economy will expand at its fastest rate in seven years in 2014, thanks to strengthening household consumption, but high household debt will slow growth in 2015, the British Chambers of Commerce said on Thursday. The business group forecast economic growth to rise to 2.7 percent in 2014, an upgrade from the forecasts of 2.2 percent it made as recently as August. </div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Iran Oil Exports Rise as Sanctions Eased</strong></span></div> <div> Iranian exports rose by about 10% in November, the International Energy Agency said in its monthly market report published Wednesday. The Paris-based agency also said it expected global oil demand to rise by 1.2 million barrels per day to 92.4 million next year. Iran’s export lift follows an accord struck last month which relaxed some economic sanctions in exchange for assurances over the country’s nuclear program.</div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>‘Big Step’ Rescue Plan for Eurozone Banks </strong></span></div> <div> The agreement reached in discussions about how to deal with bank bailouts for EU nations has been labelled a “big step” by a senior official. EU Commissioner Michel Barnier said the deal meant taxpayers were no longer on the “front line”. Under the new arrangements, each EU member state will build up a fund to help banks in trouble. The fund will be built up from bank contributions, with banks that take more risks paying more.</div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>India’s Forex Reserves Rise to a 7 Month High</strong></span></div> <div> India’s foreign exchange reserves have risen for five straight weeks to a seven-month high. Forex reserves jumped $4.408 billion in the week ended December 6 to $295.7 billion as banks continued to swap their dollar borrowings with RBI in favour of the rupee even after the deadline of November 30, by which incentives that encouraged this were to end. </div>', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2013-12-16', 'modified' => '2013-12-16', 'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal', 'description' => 'US lawmakers in the lower House of Representatives approved on Thursday a compromise budget deal that will avert a costly government shutdown and minimise damage from across the board spending cuts. The chamber approved the bipartisan measure 332—94.', 'sortorder' => '2118', 'image' => null, 'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '0' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '2273', 'article_category_id' => '138', 'title' => 'Uruguay Becomes First Country To Legalize Marijuana Trade', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => null, 'content' => '<div> </div> <div> Uruguay has approved pioneering legislation legalizing marijuana, becoming the first nation in the world to oversee the production and sale of the drug. After a 12-hour debate, 16 leftist senators out of 29 lawmakers voted Tuesday in favor of the legislation championed by President Jose Mujica, who must now sign it into law. Outside the Senate, hundreds of cannabis-smoking supporters set off fireworks in what they dubbed “the last march with illegal marijuana.” The atmosphere was festive. The bill passed the lower house of Congress in August and was assured of approval because the ruling coalition controls both chambers. It authorizes the production, distribution and sale of cannabis, allows individuals to grow their own on a small scale, and creates consumer clubs -- all under state supervision and control.</div> <div> </div> <div> Uruguay’s pioneering move to legalize the planting and sale of marijuana opens the door for a clandestine cottage industry of pot growers to transform into a legitimate business that could even export medical cannabis, a commodity in short supply. More and more countries are setting up medical marijuana programs to help relieve the pain of terminally-ill patients and treat other health conditions, but there are few legal sources of the drug in the world and Uruguay could tap that tight market. The Uruguayan experiment could add momentum to the marijuana legalization debate in the United States, where the states of Washington and Oregon last year made it legal to grow and smoke pot.</div> <div> </div> <div> If regulation works, Uruguay could become an exporter of medical marijuana to countries such as Canada that are allowing an expansion of the use of the drug for health reasons. Canada became the first country to allow terminally ill patients to grow and smoke their own marijuana in 2001.</div>', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2013-12-16', 'modified' => '2013-12-16', 'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal', 'description' => 'Uruguay has approved pioneering legislation legalizing marijuana, becoming the first nation in the world to oversee the production and sale of the drug. After a 12-hour debate, 16 leftist senators out of 29 lawmakers voted Tuesday in favor of the legislation championed by President Jose Mujica, who must now sign it into law.', 'sortorder' => '2117', 'image' => null, 'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '0' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '2272', 'article_category_id' => '138', 'title' => 'South Asia On Track To Meet Growth Expectations In 2013-14 : ADB', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => null, 'content' => '<div> </div> <div> South Asia is on track to meet growth expectations of 4.7 per cent in 2013 and 5.5 per cent in 2014, says a new Asian Development Bank (ADB) report. The report entitled "Asian Development Outlook Supplement" states that recovery in India will positively impact the region's overall economic performance. "After bottoming out in the first fiscal quarter, India’s economy appears to have recovered on the back of a rebound in exports and higher industrial and agricultural outputs. India is anticipated to grow at 4.7 per cent in fiscal year 2013 (ending 31 March 2014) and 5.7 per cent in the fiscal year 2014, unchanged from the October forecast," says the bank. </div> <div> </div> <div> Similarly, ADB also raised the growth projection for entire Asia region. The report forecasts growth of 6 per cent in 2013 for ADB’s 45 developing member countries, improving to 6.2 per cent in 2014. Likewise an improving growth outlook in Japan and the United States paired with stronger-than-expected performance in China support a steady growth outlook for developing Asia, according to the report. “Despite uncertainties in the global economic environment, developing Asian economies remain resilient. The region has performed well in 2013 and is now poised to benefit from the further signs of growth momentum in the advanced economies,” said ADB Chief Economist Changyong Rhee. ADB estimated that China's growth will increase by 0.1 percentage points to 7.7% in 2013 and 7.5% in 2014 on the back of rising infrastructure investment. Likewise, advanced economies of the US, euro area and Japan are on track to meet the October forecast of 0.9% growth in 2013. ADB expects 1.9% growth in these economies in 2014, up 0.1 percentage points from the October forecast.</div> <div> </div> <div> However, ADB estimates slight moderation is forecast in Southeast Asia. The report forecasts the sub-region to post growth of 4.8% in 2013 and 5.2% in 2014; both forecasts are revised down 0.1 percentage points from October. "The moderation stems from the impact of tensions in Thailand on consumption and tourism. The devastating impact of Typhoon Haiyan is tempering the Philippines’ 2013 growth, but reconstruction is expected to boost growth as it ramps up in 2014," it said.</div>', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2013-12-16', 'modified' => '2013-12-16', 'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal', 'description' => 'South Asia is on track to meet growth expectations of 4.7 per cent in 2013 and 5.5 per cent in 2014, says a new Asian Development Bank (ADB) report. The report entitled "Asian Development Outlook Supplement" states that recovery in India will positively impact the region's overall economic performance. "After bottoming out in the first fiscal quarter, India’s economy appears to have recovered on the back of a rebound in exports and higher industrial and agricultural outputs.', 'sortorder' => '2116', 'image' => null, 'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '0' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '2187', 'article_category_id' => '161', 'title' => '“Nepal Needs Scientific Base For Wildlife Conservation Management”', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => null, 'content' => '<div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;">Himalayan Tiger Foundation, a Dutch NGO works on conserving tiger population and biodiversity conservation in Nepal. In a talk with Sanjeev Sharma of The Corporate, the President of the Himalayan Tiger Foundation, <strong>Cas de Stoppelaar</strong> gave insights into the organization’s plan for Nepal. He was accompanied by<strong> Prof Dr Jacques J.M.</strong> <strong>Van Alphen</strong> of the University of Amsterdam and<strong> Laura D. Bertola</strong>, PhD researcher at Universiteit Leiden. <strong>Excerpts: </strong></span></div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>What is Himalayan Tiger Foundation doing in Nepal?</strong></span></div> <div> Nepal is in a position to get more support in a scientific way to do things in conservation biology. Nepal is very special and extremely rich not only in terms of having everything from low lands to high mountains, but also, because you are the cross roads of different bio-geographic regions. So, the species from different regions meet here. Our scope is broader than only tigers; we want to study in the Terai region, mainly in the Bardiya National Park, biodiversity and climate change. We had been there just two days back and we are writing our proposal which will be financed probably in the first phase by private donors in the Netherlands. We just had a talk with the Science department of Kathmandu University for setting up a master’sdegreecourse on conservation biology and wildlife genetics in cooperation with Universities in Amsterdam and Leiden. We aim to have young people from this country being knowledgeable and specialists in this area, so that they can do their own job in their own country.</div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>How is your organisation working to achieve these goals?</strong></span></div> <div> Well, the thing lacking in this country is the scientific base for wildlife conservation management. There are few pockets of qualities like CNDN and other things. But, what is missing in most of the NGOs is scientific dimension. They just get the funds and they do something as a sort of try. We want to strengthen the scientific foundation of Wildlife Management in Nepal through a couple of things. Firstly, we want to be associated with Kathmandu University, and look at masters in science course in the field. We have enthusiastic people there, capable of doing PhD, which is the second thing and we are looking for funding. Thirdly, we are planning to set up a resource centre next to Bardiya National Park with all sort of disciplines from butterflies to tigers, salamanders to bats etc. We will build up a good database and update it regularly in a way that you can follow it year after year. You will see the changes coming up and you can see the sort of measures to keep the habitat of tigers and other animals healthy.For many reasons, it is important, one of them being its scientific importance and secondly, it can be economically sound as it can attract tourists by showcasing the birds. </div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Which aspect of tiger conservation are you working on as there are serious threats to tiger conservation, such as loss of habitat and poaching?</strong></span></div> <div> One of the things we want to include is conservation genetics. Using genetic techniques we can get genetic data which will be quite helpful in conservation strategy. This is particularly interesting for large species that need a lot of space in a fragmented habitat because these speciesneed connectivity.If the population of these species becomes small in number, they also become vulnerable for extinction. There are also all kind of genetic factors that play a role to that. One of those is inbreeding, which can be a very serious risk for populations in nature. So, if you have an insight into the connectivity, structure and diversity within these populations, this can be really helpful to come up with a strategy about how to conserve this diversity in the best way possible.</div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Nepal is said to havemade remarkable progress in tiger conservation with the number of the big wild cats increasing to 198. What are the major contributing factors to this?</strong></span></div> <div> There are two things to be said on this. Firstly, no body exactly knows what the present number is because the counting methods are not always 100% correct and nobody knows what it was 5 years ago. So, there is a lot of variation in the numbers. If you say there is an increase, there is definitely an increase. But, no one can exactly point out the exact number of increment. There are errors in the various techniques used in the counting and thus, we cannot exactly point out the number of tigers. So, we need to put a margin on that. In Bardiya, the counting of tigers is done by capturing them on the cameras. This way the number of tigers in Bardiya is said to be 50. But, every tiger may not face the camera. So, we don’t know if it is 50 or more than 50. So, we can use genetic techniques and methods to count tigers. This has been adopted in Chitwan. </div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Despite various initiatives being taken on tiger conservation the world has lost 97% of wild tigers this century. What can be done effectively to stop tigers from extinction by 2022 as feared by scientists?</strong></span></div> <div> First of all, it is necessary that we keep the environment healthy and bring an end to poaching. Similarly, it is important to have knowledge regarding inbreeding. You must translocate the tigers for getting new genes involved. The system must be placed in a healthy way. It means that not only the tigers but even their prey have to be kept healthy. While balancing the system, we must also bring an end to poaching to keep everything in order.A step that must be taken is that corridors must be built in Bardiya and Chitwan for the tigers to move freely and thus, it will be helpful in breeding. Similarly, we should also be able to come up with transborder mechanism so that tigers can move freely in the natural environment which will ultimately contribute in increasing the population of tigers. There should be a contract between India and Nepal for free movement of tigers between the two countries so that tiger’s population can be increased.</div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Nepal lacks effective wildlife conservation policies. In this, what must Nepal do to ensure new and effective wildlife policies?</strong></span></div> <div> The government should enforce new and strict laws regarding tiger conservation. People who live in buffer zones must be provided with premiums to stop them from cutting down the forest. It is important to instill a sense of responsibility in the people. People who trade tiger parts should be punished. </div> <div> </div> <div> <img alt="" src="/userfiles/images/dp1%20(Copy)(1).jpg" style="width: 550px; height: 190px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px;" /></div>', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2013-12-02', 'modified' => '2013-12-16', 'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal', 'description' => 'Himalayan Tiger Foundation, a Dutch NGO works on conserving tiger population and biodiversity conservation in Nepal. In a talk with Sanjeev Sharma of The Corporate, the President of the Himalayan Tiger Foundation, Cas de Stoppelaar gave insights into the organization’s plan for Nepal. He was accompanied by Prof Dr Jacques J.M. Van Alphen of the University of Amsterdam and Laura D. Bertola, PhD researcher at Universiteit Leiden.', 'sortorder' => '2115', 'image' => null, 'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '0' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '2181', 'article_category_id' => '47', 'title' => 'A Fighting Spirit', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => null, 'content' => '<div> </div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>--By Sujan Tiwari</strong></div> <div> </div> <div> “Just like every lock has its key, all the problems come with a solution,” says Pradeep Kumar Shrestha, MD, Panchakanya Group, one of the leading manufacturers of construction materials in Nepal. Shrestha has managed the Group for almost three decades, and is still directing it towards new avenues. Shrestha says that his new ventures will be in areas of hydropower and agriculture. “As our base is manufacturing, we will continue focusing on industries and manufacturing. Besides, hydropower and agriculture will be our next area,” he says. According to him, Panchakanya Group is a household name in Nepal, and enjoys a good reputation. “We have nationwide dealership network and we are known as quality manufacturers. We never compromise in the quality of our products. What we are is all because of the trust of our customers,” says Shrestha. </div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size: 14px;"><strong><img alt="Pradeep Kumar Shrestha, MD, Panchakanya Group" src="/userfiles/images/prsn2%20(Copy).jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; width: 300px; height: 410px;" />Origin of Group</strong></span></div> <div> The group started as Panchakanya Rice Mill in 2028 BS, named after five Hindu goddesses Durga, Saraswati, Laxmi, Radha and Annapurna. The next major venture was Panchakanya Iron Industries in Kotihawa (Bhairahawa) of Rupandehi district. There wasn’t much industrial development in western Nepal back then. So the company also opened two industries that manufactured pipe and steel in Bhairahawa in around 2040 BS. Today, Panchakanya Group is renowned as one of the pioneers in manufacturing sector and there are around a dozen industries under the group, and has generated thousands of employment opportunities. </div> <div> </div> <div> Shrestha joined the Group in the year 1985 after completing his studies. When he first joined, he used to handle all the aspects of business, from managing the finances to correspondence. This was also because he was a student of commerce, and also because the Group was not what it is today. “I started in a small way, and I am happy that I have played my part in changing the business to what it is today,” says Shrestha. </div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size: 14px;"><strong>The Turning Point</strong></span></div> <div> Before going to college, Shrestha says he didn’t always think of being a business man or joining his family business. “I wanted to study science and become an engineer. So I applied to Amrit Science Campus. But it was very hard to get admission in those days, so I wasn’t selected.” One day, a friend of his father told him that if he becomes a successful businessman, he will get many engineers to work for him. His words changed his mind, and then went to Darjeeling to study B Com. </div> <div> </div> <div> After his graduation, he didn’t want to go abroad for his further studies. Also, his father wanted him to study here as it would also help him in building relations. So he joined TU and did MBA. Shrestha was the student of first MBA batch of TU. “I proudly say that I completed my Masters from Nepal. Whenever I am abroad and people ask me where I studied, I proudly tell them the fact,” says Shrestha. By doing so, he believes he has also conveyed a message that the educational system of Nepal is at par. After finishing his studies, he joined the family business and has been handling it since then. </div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size: 14px;"><strong>Early Life</strong></span></div> <div> Shrestha was born in Illam in 2016 to Prem Bahadur Shrestha and Neel Kumari Shrestha. He says he was very active and restless since his childhood. He used to take part in every sport possible, and was very athletic.”I wasn’t an excellent student, but rather an above average one,” recalls Shrestha. He studied in a local school in Fikkal till grade four, and did the rest of his schooling from Victoria Boys School in Kharsang of Arunachal Pradesh in India. He completed his graduation in Commerce from North Point College in Darjeeling. </div> <div> </div> <div> Shrestha gives all the credit for the current status of the Group and his success to his father Prem Bahadur Shrestha. His father was the one to initate the business as the founder. “My father taught me everything about business. He passed his business ethics on to me and taught me how to be successful in business. Ours is a family business, and it will continue for generations to come,” says Shrestha. </div> <div> </div> <div> Shrestha says his father laid a very strong foundation, and his generation has added bricks to that foundation. Shrestha, under his management, has made the Group evolve and brought it where it is today. “We are happy about what we have done. But if the country was in a better condition, we could have done much more. Even in this adverse time, we are trying to grow,” says he. </div> <div> </div> <div> <img alt="Pradeep Kumar Shrestha, MD, Panchakanya Group" src="/userfiles/images/prsn1%20(Copy).jpg" style="width: 550px; height: 412px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px;" /></div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size: 14px;"><strong>Personal Side</strong></span></div> <div> Shrestha loves sports, and is very keen golfer and plays every other day. He says he is a very competitive person in every aspect and strives for victory. The same reflects in his business and also in golf. “I cannot be second, I am a fighter and I have to win,” says he. According to him, sport is not only good for health, but also makes you better in every aspect. “Sports teach you to accept defeat. It has taught me that if you lose, it doesn’t mean you are a loser, it just means you have to try harder,” says Shrestha. He says that people usually don’t realize how close they are to success. According to him, defeats should be analyzed, and worked upon again. </div> <div> </div> <div> Despite his very busy schedule, Shrestha almost always manages to go wherever he is invited. “Wherever people invite me, I go there and show my presence. That is in my nature. I have dinner in my family only once a week, so I have breakfast in my home every day,” says he. Sports and social engagements are what keep Shrestha busy. Shrestha travels extensively, and goes for vacation once a year with his family. Shrestha loves to travel with his wife Usha and sons Udeep and Ashik. He also likes to travel to remote areas Nepal and go trekking with his family. </div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size: 14px;"><strong>Philosophies</strong></span></div> <div> Shrestha strongly believes that every person can contribute in his own way to develop the nation. “I am a responsible citizen, and I feel I have to pay back for what the country has given me. If every Nepali thinks this way, Nepal will be changed in no time. We all can make a difference,” says Shrestha. “Nepal is not as poor as people generally conceive it to be. I don’t think ours is a poor country, only the mindset of the people is poor,” says he.</div> <div> </div> <div> According to Shrestha, it is unfortunate that Nepal has many problems, but still Nepalis have achieved a lot. He believes that Nepal can be developed and prosperous only if every Nepali acts for it. “Every Nepali should think that he should contribute his part, and start thinking collectively. There is no other way, and no one other than Nepalis will develop Nepal,” says Shrestha.</div>', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2013-11-28', 'modified' => '2013-12-16', 'keywords' => 'new business age personality news & articles, personality news & articles from new business age nepal, personality headlines from nepal, current and latest personality news from nepal, economic news from nepal, nepali personality economic news and events, ongoing personality news of nepal', 'description' => '“Just like every lock has its key, all the problems come with a solution,” says Pradeep Kumar Shrestha, MD, Panchakanya Group, one of the leading manufacturers of construction materials in Nepal. Shrestha has managed the Group for almost three decades, and is still directing it towards new avenues.', 'sortorder' => '2114', 'image' => null, 'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '0' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '2266', 'article_category_id' => '52', 'title' => 'Hope Of Economic Revival', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => null, 'content' => '<div> </div> <div> </div> <div> The elections for the Constituent Assembly (CA)-II are now over. Results have been announced. Successful completion of the CA polls themselves is good news for the economy. Rise of the liberal economic forces from it has made it a harbinger of prosperity and development. After long gloomy years, the new CA comes with the renewed promise to draft and promulgate the new constitution within a year and pave way for the nation to head towards peace,stability and prosperity. The last CA too had that hope, but unfortunately that didn’t materialize. </div> <div> </div> <div> In retrospect, it appears that the poll process, the constitution and the functions of earlier edition of the CA (2008) were largely marred by political naivety and immaturity. If one looks at the manifestoes of the 2008 CA election, it is not difficult to discern that the political forces were just flabbergasted by the pace of change and couldn’t structure proper frame to guide the nation forward. The then New Forces, Maoists and Madheshis, had overtly ambitious agenda, whereas the Old Forces like Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML had a sense of compulsion to bow down to the agenda of those New Forces.</div> <div> </div> <div> But things changed drastically by the time the country arrived at the threshold of the second CA elections in 2013. As evidenced by their recent manifestos, major political forces had become more mature, rationality had prevailed over emotions. Traders of mere selfish, divisive or opportunistic agenda were badly fragmented and most importantly, a sincere realisation to move along the changing paradigms of the world was across the board. There was a race to promise to shun violence and acts of business disruption by calling on bandhs and strikes. Though achieved at a great cost, monetary and opportunity, these achievements are not trivial.</div> <div> </div> <div> It is a bare fact that Nepal suffered almost two decades of virtually zero development. Since the Maoists launched armed rebellion in February 1996, the resources and focus of the state concentrated to counter it. Hardly any power project, new stretch of road or other significant infrastructure was added during the decade long conflict. The Comprehensive Peace Agreement of 2006 ended the conflict, but fears of the investors could hardly be allayed, mainly due to destructive high-handedness of the Maoist-affiliated trade unions, among other uncertainties surrounding the drafting of the constitution. One may argue that we never had a zero or negative nominal GDP growth rate, but the inflation-adjusted real growth rate had never been positive for all those years.</div> <div> </div> <div> But the approaches, stances and philosophies have transformed for good in recent years, which was reflected in the run-up to the second CA elections. These are the very reasons that led to the successful completion of the election process with as high as whopping 78 percent turn out of the voters. The half battle is won. </div> <div> </div> <div> On top of it, the electorates gave a very emphatic support to the parties -- Nepali Congress and CPN-UML that exhibited understanding of the global economic order and trend vis-à-vis Nepal’s development priorities and needs. It was the Nepali Congress that had initiated the economic reform and liberalization after restoration of democracy in 1990 and the fruits of it is still reaped by the economy. The then UML government began grassroots level connectivity and infrastructure projects in 1995 that gradually provided market access to the remote hinterlands of the country. These two facets of development helped the Nepali economy to withstand the decade-long conflict and almost equally-long political mayhem after that. The people trusted back to both of these parties, once again giving them almost equal, jointly more than sixty percent of strength in the new CA. People experimented the Maoists once in the last election by making them the largest party in the last CA, but it failed the test. Now condemned to humiliating defeat.</div> <div> </div> <div> The conclusion of CA election against the widespread suspicion about its success, victory of the parties that believe in democracy and free-market and, rationalization of the forces that were erstwhile destructive ones, indeed raises hope on reigniting the growth process. The stage is all set and, now actors should play the right role before the curtain falls.</div>', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2013-12-13', 'modified' => '2013-12-16', 'keywords' => 'new business age from the editor news & articles, from the editor news & articles from new business age nepal, from the editor headlines from nepal, current and latest from the editor news from nepal, economic news from nepal, nepali from the editor economic news and events, ongoing from the edi', 'description' => 'The elections for the Constituent Assembly (CA)-II are now over. Results have been announced. Successful completion of the CA polls themselves is good news for the economy. Rise of the liberal economic forces from it has made it a harbinger of prosperity and development. After long gloomy years, the new CA comes with the renewed promise to draft and promulgate the new constitution within a year and pave way for the nation to head towards peace,stability and prosperity. The last CA too had that hope, but unfortunately that didn’t materialize.', 'sortorder' => '2113', 'image' => null, 'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '0' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '2223', 'article_category_id' => '91', 'title' => 'Full Reservoir Promises Steady Power-cut Hours', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => null, 'content' => '<div> </div> <div> <strong>--BY TC Correspondent</strong></div> <div> </div> <div> The reservoir of the Kulekhani I Hydropower Project has been filled. With the fill-up of this reservoir, considered as a ‘power back-up’ of Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), load-shedding hours are not expected to increase this winter. </div> <div> </div> <div> Project Chief Ram Kumar Yadav informed TC that the reservoir’s water level was 1530.30 meter on last Sunday. “There is adequate amount of water in the reservoir,” he said. </div> <div> </div> <div> Though the reservoir’s maximum holding capacity is 1530 meter, reservoirs height has been increased by 30cm by piling up sand sacks along its brim, a project official said. </div> <div> </div> <div> Stating that additional water has been collected in the reservoir, the NEA said that it does not need to increase the load-shedding hours time this year. Bhuwan Chhetri, Chief of Load Dispatch Center at NEA, confirmed the report. </div> <div> </div> <div> The project that generally operates from 5 pm to 10 pm every day, was started from 3 pm last Sunday due to the excessive rise of water level in the reservoir. </div> <div> </div> <div> Project’s Chief Yadav said that water is collected in the reservoir during day and night times and can be operated on requirement basis. He attributed the excessive rise of water level in the reservoir to adequate rainfall during the monsoon season. </div> <div> </div> <div> The reservoir water is collected from around three-dozen of small and big rivers of the water basin. The project office has informed that the water level of the reservoir has not gone down below 1505 meter this year as the rainfall started from </div> <div> mid-May. </div> <div> </div> <div> Meanwhile, the construction work of 14 MW Kulekhani III hydropower project also has completed by 71 per cent. Indra Bir Ghimire, Deputy Manager of the project, said that if the project does not face any disruptions, it will start generating electricity within nine months. </div> <div> </div> <div> “We are working in full swing to complete the remaining 29 per cent of work within a nine-month period,” Ghimire said. </div> <div> </div> <div> The project is scheduled to complete by September 13, 2014. Ghimire informed that four kms of tunnel drilling and about 90 per cent reservoir construction has been completed. </div> <div> </div> <div> The project was started on April 27, 2008 with an aim to complete it by 2012. Project officials blamed obstruction from the locals, delay by the contractors and NEA’s sluggishness as reasons for not meeting the construction deadline. </div>', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2013-12-08', 'modified' => '2013-12-16', 'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal', 'description' => 'The reservoir of the Kulekhani I Hydropower Project has been filled. With the fill-up of this reservoir, considered as a ‘power back-up’ of Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), load-shedding hours are not expected to increase this winter.', 'sortorder' => '2112', 'image' => null, 'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '0' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '2224', 'article_category_id' => '91', 'title' => 'Tourism: Promoting Nepal’s Visibility In The Global Arena', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => null, 'content' => '<div> </div> <div> <strong>--By TC Corespondent</strong></div> <div> </div> <div> Last week Nepal saw two major international rankings with the country achieving top spots in travel and tourism destinations. On Wednesday, 4th December, the World Expeditions of the CNW Group, a subsidiary of US-based PR Newswire Company, declared The Great Himalayan Trail (GHT) as the top adventurous trekking route in the world for 2014. </div> <div> </div> <div> The GHT is the longest and highest alpine walking track in the world winding 4,500 kilometers through the tallest mountain ranges and most isolated communities from Tibet to Pakistan. The 1,700 kilometers long Nepal section of the GHT is often termed as “a kaleidoscope of experiences”, commercial treks of which starts in</div> <div> the beginning of March every year. </div> <div> </div> <div> The trail, which can be undertaken in one continuous trek of 152 days, traverses the country from east to west. The ranking placed Great Patagonian Transverse of the South Americas and Bhutan Snowman Trek in the 2nd and 3rd most adventurous route for 2014. Similarly, Dominica Trek of the Caribbean and John Muir Trek of the US were placed at 4th and 5th spots in the list respectively. </div> <div> </div> <div> Likewise, TripAdvisor.com, a world renowned travel website ranked Kathmandu as the top rising tourist destination in Asia.The travel search-engine declared Kathmanduas the 3rd most rising travel destination in the world. The website published the top ten most favoured tourist spots of the world - Traveler’s Choice 2013 list. The listing of the destinations is generally based on reviews and votes of travelers. According to Trip Advisor, Kathmandu is the only destination that managed to achieve position in the list. Meanwhile, Australian travelers, named Kathmandu as the best backpack destination on the website. Jerusalem (Israel) and Sapporo (Japan) were the other destinations from the Asia region on the list. </div>', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2013-12-08', 'modified' => '2013-12-16', 'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal', 'description' => 'Last week Nepal saw two major international rankings with the country achieving top spots in travel and tourism destinations. On Wednesday, 4th December, the World Expeditions of the CNW Group, a subsidiary of US-based PR Newswire Company, declared The Great Himalayan Trail (GHT) as the top adventurous trekking route in the world for 2014.', 'sortorder' => '2111', 'image' => null, 'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '0' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '2265', 'article_category_id' => '48', 'title' => 'Sea Of Conspiracy', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => null, 'content' => '<div> </div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>--By Madan Lamsal</strong></div> <div> </div> <div> The revolutionary vision of Puspa Kamal Dahal alias Prachanda suddenly encountered a deep sea of conspiracy surrounding the landlocked Nepal. As the results of CA elections-II 2013, were pouring in last month and he lost the Kathmnadu-10 constituency, he could see a devilish sea fast inundating his philosophized Prachanda Path, dampening his as well as his party's election prospects and perishing the party's Perish Danda headquarters in rapid pace. </div> <div> </div> <div> How could this happen to the 'sole hero of the revolution' ? ('Revolutionary Hero' that was how he was nicknamed during the campaign.) His dreams of becoming all-powerful president suddenly got evaporated. And, the cum-red was naturally perplexed, outraged and restless. He cried 'FOUL!' But there was nobody to listen. But as a devout communist, he was creative enough to take hold of theory - 'the conspiracy theory' - to attribute as the cause of his and his party's apparently humiliating defeat.</div> <div> </div> <div> It is the outcome of 'national and international conspiracy' he declared, hastily calling a press meet. But he would not point out which particular national or international agency was at play. That was natural for a former prime minister, who has personally experienced the extent and strength of the functions of these conspirators, particularly international ones, to guess who could be the spoilsport. Nepali people would certainly appreciate if he identifies them in public.</div> <div> </div> <div> When the water level receded from his hypothetical sea, he could see some ground. At least there were still some hopes which had not drowned. At least one such hope survived when he got elected from another constituency in Terai. His worries were confounded not because the party suffered a big set-back, but his all other family members --daughter, daughter-in-no-law and a brother got defeated in the polls.</div> <div> </div> <div> Traumatized, Prachanda turned to his brainy comrade Baburam for solace. Baburam quickly came up with highly consoling prognosis that 'though we may have lost election, our agenda is not defeated.' It was equivalent to saying that the people who represented the Maoist agenda were bad and got defeated, not the agenda itself. It was easy for Baburam to reach to this beautiful conclusion looking at the face of his only wife Hisila Yami and her defeat from one of the Kathmandu constituencies. </div> <div> </div> <div> 'Can't you see comrades, the sea of conspiracy in drowning us soon? It must be internationally imported political waters that is causing this', Prachanda concluded and his top-ranked comrades nodded in consent akin to true communist party discipline. 'But chairman comrade' Baburam volunteered, 'we must point at the international force' to make this allegation convincing.' </div> <div> </div> <div> 'As you know, all the sea water is in the south and entire north is Himalayas,' said Prachanda</div> <div> </div> <div> 'Then I am not in your boat,' Baburam begged to differ. The southern sea waters cannot rise so high at this time. Even if they do, I am not to see it,' Baburam deviated. Then, the duo concluded to accept the election outcome.</div> <div> </div> <div> The fables have it even a sinking lion wouldn't spare to pounce on simultaneously sinking goat, regardless that both would be dead in the next minute. Then no wonder, Prachanda came up with a new proposal: 'majority provision of the constitution to form the government should be removed, retaining only the provision of consensus.' Again he is not likely to be heard. He is asking for a too long a rope which had to be unleashed much before the election. But he is doing it after his party got defeated. Anyway, clever people never lack creativity even during the ordeal.</div> <div> </div> <div> As the political climate is changing fast, the effects of warming again and often may cause the rise of water levels in the sea of conspiracy. When a man is survived by a whisker from drowning, he soon becomes hydrophobic and begins to be terrified even by a village pond, considering it a Black Sea. Prachanda too from now on might seek 'Sea of Conspiracy' whenever there is a storm in a tea cup.</div>', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2013-12-13', 'modified' => '2013-12-16', 'keywords' => 'new business age no laughing matter news & articles, no laughing matter news & articles from new business age nepal, no laughing matter headlines from nepal, current and latest no laughing matter news from nepal, economic news from nepal, nepali no laughing matter economic news and events, ongoing', 'description' => 'The revolutionary vision of Puspa Kamal Dahal alias Prachanda suddenly encountered a deep sea of conspiracy surrounding the landlocked Nepal. As the results of CA elections-II 2013, were pouring in last month and he lost the Kathmnadu-10 constituency, he could see a devilish sea fast inundating his philosophized Prachanda Path, dampening his as well as his party's election prospects and perishing the party's Perish Danda headquarters in rapid pace.', 'sortorder' => '2110', 'image' => null, 'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '0' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '2225', 'article_category_id' => '91', 'title' => 'WTO Members Agree On Historic Trade Pact', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => null, 'content' => '<div> <strong>--By TC Correspondent</strong></div> <div> </div> <div> Since the formation of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in 1995, member nations of the global trade body on Saturday reached the first ever trade deal. </div> <div> </div> <div> WTO’s Bali Ministerial Conference held in Bali, Indonesia, approved the “historic” ‘Bali Package’ after Cuba dropped its threat to veto the package of measures that primarily aims at facilitating commerce between member nations by reducing trade barriers. </div> <div> </div> <div> The agreement aims to boost the global commerce by adding USD 1 trillion into the world economyover the coming years and add 21 million jobs in the global labour market. </div> <div> </div> <div> The agreement simplifies trade procedures for the poorest countries to sell their goods in international market.It is expected to lessen barriers for the least developed countries (LDCs) in exporting their products in international market. Similarly, the agreement aims to establish a global system to make agricultural sector more competitive. </div> <div> </div> <div> The agreement came at a moment when the WTO was standing on the brink of failure following more than a decade of fruitless negotiations to enact the Doha Round (2002) plans. </div> <div> </div> <div> Many experts had warned that failure in Bali would leave regional and bilateral trade arrangements as the only platform for trade reform, dividing the world and jeopardising the goal of globalisation of the WTO.</div> <div> </div> <div> “For the first time in our history, the WTO has truly delivered,” said WTO Chief Roberto Azevêdo, while closing the conference.” All members, developed or developing, have the ownership of the Bali deal. We have put the “world” back into the World Trade Organisation. We’re back in business...Bali is just the beginning.”</div> <div> </div> <div> In his closing remarks former Chief Trade Negotiator of Brazilechoed the quote of late South African leader, Nelson Mandela, “It always seems impossible until it’s done,” to sum up the achievement of the conference.</div> <div> </div> <div> The Bali meeting which opened on 3rd December, Tuesday, was overshadowed by disagreements between India and a group of developed nations led by the United States. Because of its massive programme for stockpiling food to feed its poor, India had insisted that it would only back an agreement if there is a compromise on food subsidies. </div> <div> </div> <div> On the other hand, US and some industrialised nations urged India to end the food security policy as it breaches and contradicted the subsidy policies of the WTO. The differences narrowed as the opposing sides clinched towards a provision to give developing nations more scope to use subsidies for safeguarding food supplies. Similarly, Cuba also later agreed on a compromise with the US. During the negotiations, the Caribbean Island nation had refused to accept the deal if the US did not end its long-time economic embargo.</div>', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2013-12-08', 'modified' => '2013-12-13', 'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal', 'description' => 'WTO’s Bali Ministerial Conference held in Bali, Indonesia, approved the “historic” ‘Bali Package’ after Cuba dropped its threat to veto the package of measures that primarily aims at facilitating commerce between member nations by reducing trade barriers.', 'sortorder' => '2109', 'image' => null, 'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '0' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '2229', 'article_category_id' => '137', 'title' => 'Corruption Perception Index 2013: Nepal Sees Decline In Corruption Level', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => null, 'content' => '<div> </div> <div> <strong>--By TC Correspondent</strong></div> <div> </div> <div> Nepal has experienced a significant downfall in corruption in 2013. Transparency International’s (TI) Corruption Perception Index (CPI) 2013, placed Nepal in 116th position out of 177 countries. Nepal achieved ascore of 31on a scale of 0-100, while 0 indicating the most corrupted and 100 indicating no corruption. Last year, Nepal ranked 139th with a score of 27.</div> <div> </div> <div> The Berlin-based global anti-corruption watchdog reported alertness of the Commission of Investigation on Abuse of Authority (CIAA) and a slew of actions takenon related cases as factors contributing to decline in corruption. Countries achieving a score less than 50 points have been listed as the most corrupt. TI prepared the report in co-operation with Bertelsmann Foundation, The World Bank, World Economic Forum, Global Justice Project and Global Insight. </div> <div> </div> <div> The report also mentions that around 40 percent Nepali have given bribe atleast once in their lifetime. Similarly, 80 percent of Nepali confessed that it is much easier to get work done in government organisations if there is someone of their acquaintance. Likewise, most Nepali also admitted that political parties are the most corrupted ones in the nation. Meanwhile, Nepal’s neighbours, India and China are placed at 94th and 80th positions respectively. Bhutan was seen as the cleanest country in the South Asia region (31st position) with a score of 63. Likewise, Sri Lanka achieved 91st position whereas corruption level in Pakistan (127th) and Bangladesh (136th) was seen relatively high. Afghanistan (175th)was declared the most corrupt nation in the South Asia with a score of 8. </div> <div> </div> <div> This year’s CPI figured that 69 percent of the world’s countries are seriously corrupt. Regionally, Eastern Europe and Central Asia ranked the worst, Western Europe and the European Union (EU) the best. The report declares Denmark and New Zealand to be the most clean countries, both sharing a score of 91 points. Similarly, Finland and Sweden stand in the third position with a score of 89 points whereas Norway and Singapore share the 5th position in the ranking with a score of 86 points.</div> <div> </div> <div> According to the report, the most corrupt countries are: North Korea, Somalia and Afghanistan with all three nations sharing the highest spot of 175th position in the index. TI reported that 66 percent of the countries in the North and South American Region are seriously corrupt. Similarly, 64 percent of the countries in the Asia-Pacific region are most corrupt.Likewise, 95 per cent of the EU countries (including the Eastern and Western Europe) and 23 per cent nations of Central Asia were labeled as seriously corrupt. Also, 84 per cent of the countries in Middle East and North Africa region and 90 per cent of Sub- Saharan African nations fell into the category of seriously corrupt countries.” The need for greater accountability is clear, and leaders cannot look the other way. But recognizing the problems is only the first step- governments need to turn pledges into actions,” states the report.</div>', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2013-12-09', 'modified' => '2013-12-17', 'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal', 'description' => 'Nepal has experienced a significant downfall in corruption in 2013. Transparency International’s (TI) Corruption Perception Index (CPI) 2013, placed Nepal in 116th position out of 177 countries. Nepal achieved ascore of 31on a scale of 0-100, while 0 indicating the most corrupted and 100 indicating no corruption. Last year, Nepal ranked 139th with a score of 27.', 'sortorder' => '2108', 'image' => null, 'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '0' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '2263', 'article_category_id' => '202', 'title' => 'A Work Loving Bureaucrat', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => null, 'content' => '<div> </div> <div> <strong>--By Upashana Neupane </strong></div> <div> </div> <div> Hari Narayan Belbase, Director at the Department of Commerce and Supply Management, is a man with a tight professional schedule. Despite that Belbase does not hold grudges and enjoys it as part of his responsibility. He opines that it is the right time for him to do something and be someone, rather than seeking leisure. </div> <div> </div> <div> He does not find it difficult to fulfil office and family responsibilities together and opines that it’s all about how well one can manage their time. Belabase manages his time well for his office and his family.</div> <div> </div> <div> Along with his professional and familial responsibilities, he has been updating his education also. He is currently working on his PhD and says that it is the right time for him to take his career to another level while contributing to the society.</div> <div> </div> <div> Belbase is conscious about his health and fitness. He wakes up at 4:30 sharp every morning and jogs around 8 km along with doing some yoga. He loves playing badminton, which compliments his personal and fitness interest. Usually his badminton partner is his wife. Along with this strict health and fitness regime, Belbase devotes some of his morning time to perform religious prayers and rituals. He offers his morning prayers along with his daughter at home. He has a small 4-member happy family that includes him, his wife and two children.</div> <div> </div> <div> Belbase spends his spare time at home playing with his children and tending his home garden. He finds pleasure in walking around his garden and watering flowers.</div> <div> </div> <div> His love for nature has taken him to various places that are blessed by natural beauty. “Natural Beauty attracts me than anything artificial”, he shares remembering Mustang as one of his favourite places he has visited. Peace loving Belbase shares that he tries to avoid crowded and cramped places especially when he is on his vacation.</div> <div> </div> <div> He follows daily news and events across the world, and still manages time for reading popular books from popular writers in town. He believes that a person can imply so many things from a book in their practical life. In non-fiction, he prefers reading books on economics.</div> <div> </div> <div> Despite holding important position and despite making continuous contribution to the welfare of the society and the nation, he still strives to serve better in the days ahead. He believes that humans shouldn’t only live for themselves and opines that as human, “One should utilise their precious life and time for contributing to the welfare of whole mankind.” While conceding to the notion that everyone has limited time in this world, Belbase believes that we should utilize the allocated time in doing things that are creative and productive for the society, nation and the whole of human kind.</div>', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2013-12-10', 'modified' => '2013-12-17', 'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal', 'description' => 'Hari Narayan Belbase, Director at the Department of Commerce and Supply Management, is a man with a tight professional schedule. Despite that Belbase does not hold grudges and enjoys it as part of his responsibility. He opines that it is the right time for him to do something and be someone, rather than seeking leisure.', 'sortorder' => '2107', 'image' => null, 'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '0' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '2264', 'article_category_id' => '201', 'title' => 'Easy Hairstyles For Office Hours', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => null, 'content' => '<div> </div> <div> <strong>--By Rashika Pokharel</strong></div> <div> </div> <div> <img alt="" src="/userfiles/images/h.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px;width: 210px; height: 600px;" />Dealing with hair and having hairstyles that match to your professional status is an important yet ardent task. People find it hard at times, especially women, when it comes to figure out a hairstyle that will give them a professional outlook. Managing hairstyle is a big task for working ladies because they have very less time left for themselves.</div> <div> </div> <div> Hairstyle is an essential element of female etiquette. Women are more careful about their hairstyle and appearance rather than men. Hairstyle is an auxiliary factor in case of women. A woman with beautiful hair looks charming and confident. </div> <div> </div> <div> Since our hairstyle is one of the primary things that people note about us, it’s important to pick hairstyles that appear professional and yet at the same time emphasize our best features and ameliorate our femininity.</div> <div> </div> <div> When it comes to dressing and looking suitable for office it is very difficult to choose on something accurate. Office atmosphere is generally strict and more formal; this is the reason where we may have maximum chances of going wrong. Being trendy and maintaining a suitable office posture can come easily, especially by keeping a track of current business fashion trends. </div> <div> </div> <div> So while talking about fashion trends we cannot remain aloof from trending hairstyles in the corporate world. Here are few hairstyles trending in this world and which are easy and may look perfect for hectic office schedules here in Nepal too. </div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:16px;"><strong>Bun</strong></span></div> <div> When you are surrounded by any confusion regarding hairstyle, go for bun. It is convenient yet classy for office hours and most importantly you can never go wrong with this one. Just pin up your bun with bobby pins, or you can fasten it up with pins which are elegant and not too much glittery.</div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:16px;"><strong>Ponytail<img alt="" src="/userfiles/images/pt.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px;width: 75px; height: 86px;" /></strong></span></div> <div> Ponytail is the most comfortable hairstyle you can choose. Whenever you are in rush or have too much of work load in office , ponytail can be a saviour. There are many types of ponytails such as inverted ponytail, wrapped ponytail and side ponytail. You can pick any of them that suits you the most.</div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:16px;"><strong>Free Layers<img alt="" src="/userfiles/images/pt1.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; width: 70px; height: 80px;" /></strong></span></div> <div> All the females love to show their layers and curls. So, if you want to do that, you can leave you hair free. This is the best hairstyle for every kind of hair whether it’s short, curl, wavy, frizzy or straight.</div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:16px;"><strong>Braids<img alt="" src="/userfiles/images/pt2.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px;width: 75px; height: 86px;" /></strong></span></div> <div> Braids are one of the most comfortable hairstyles. There are varieties of braids such as fish bone, Dutch braid, etc. You can even choose side braid leaving your fringes. If you feel innovative and want to try something new, go for braids.</div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:16px;"><strong>French Roll<img alt="" src="/userfiles/images/pt3.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; width: 70px; height: 79px;" /></strong></span></div> <div> It is a very elegant hairstyle for work and helps to look great with the formal wears. It is also fit for formal parties and meetings.</div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:16px;"><strong>Clipping Your Hair<img alt="" src="/userfiles/images/pt4.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px;width: 75px; height: 87px;" /></strong></span></div> <div> You can leave rest of your hair free by clipping a small section of your front hair. This will give you a clean look and at the same time avoid letting your hair disturb or irritate during work time.</div>', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2013-12-10', 'modified' => '2013-12-10', 'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal', 'description' => 'Dealing with hair and having hairstyles that match to your professional status is an important yet ardent task. People find it hard at times, especially women, when it comes to figure out a hairstyle that will give them a professional outlook. Managing hairstyle is a big task for working ladies because they have very less time left for themselves.', 'sortorder' => '2106', 'image' => null, 'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '0' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '2260', 'article_category_id' => '149', 'title' => 'Aqua Hundred: A Trusted Quality Brand', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => null, 'content' => '<div> </div> <div> <strong>--By Upashana Neupane </strong></div> <div> </div> <table align="right" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px;" width="25"> <tbody> <tr> <td> <img alt="Rabin Shrestha, Business Manager, Aqua Minerals Nepal Pvt Ltd" src="/userfiles/images/bt1(1).jpg" style="border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; width: 200px; height: 221px;" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td bgcolor="#FFFFFF"> <div align="center"> <div style="text-align: center;"> <div> <strong>Rabin Shrestha</strong></div> <div> <em>Business Manager</em></div> <div> <em>Aqua Minerals Nepal Pvt Ltd</em></div> </div> </div> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <div> Aqua Hundred carries 21 years of glorious history of providing purified water in Nepali market. Introduced in 1992, it stands true to its initial motto “Drink safe water and be healthy”. The brand was launched by Aqua Minerals Pvt Ltd at a time when huge amount of purified water used to be imported from foreign countries in lack of domestic brand, that could correspond to the market’s need, Rabin Shrestha, Business Manager at Aqua Minerals, says. </div> <div> </div> <div> Aqua Hundred is market leader in purified water since the beginning of the brand. Named combining two words: Aqua and Hundred (Aqua means Water and hundred represents the 100 per cent purity), its logo has oval shape of waves, that symbolise water.</div> <div> </div> <div> Aqua Hundred is the pioneer to introduce big jar for purified water in Nepali market. It changed common perception among people that bottled, purified water is available only in 1 litre or half litre bottles. “In the initial days, when we introduced big jars, people were surprised and used to stare at us,” Shrestha says, “Now the scenario has changed and Aqua Hundred has become popular and has established itself as must have drinking water in every household.” </div> <div> </div> <div> Reflecting two decades of business journey, Shrestha says that the company was started with a commitment to provide quality water to the customers and has continued doing so, sustaining many ups and downs. “Aqua Hundred was launched to address the drinking water scarcity in Kathmandu valley and as direct response to growing awareness and demand of people for clean and pure drinking water,” Shrestha informs.</div> <div> </div> <div> Initially, 19 litre jar and half litre mineral water bottle were launched. By now Aqua Hundred has expanded to varieties of products like cup water, ice-cubes and chlorine solutions. </div> <div> </div> <div> Shrestha says, in the initial days Aqua Hundred made massive publicity campaigns in electronic and print media, hoarding boards and like to promote the brand. Now customers are familiar to the brand and it has become a brand to trust in. “We have always prioritized ‘quality’, thus have won the trust of our customers,” he says.</div> <div> </div> <div> <img alt="aqua hundred" src="/userfiles/images/bt2%20(Copy).jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px;width: 200px; height: 321px;" />Aqua Hundred with the tagline is “Sabaiko Bishwashilo Paani (Everyone’s Trustworthy Water)” has customers’ faith as it has always been providing best quality consistently. “Consistency is most important to sustain in the market,” Shrestha says, “Providing good quality is not sufficient. One should also continue fulfilling commitments.”</div> <div> </div> <div> The company has an in-house lab of its own and each product is tested before getting into the market. Aqua Hundred Jar is a polycarbonate jar which is recommended for reusable purpose. Aqua Hundred is ISO 9001:2008 certified company but Shrestha says that the best award Aqua Hundred has ever got is the faith of its customers. We have always believed in customer’s satisfaction and their loyalty. </div> <div> </div> <div> Shrestha says, due to unstable political scenario of Nepal, it is difficult to grow and sustain in the market. Similarly, illegal and low quality bottled water has been ruining the image of the entire industry. He says all those companies and products should be properly monitored or banned by the concerned authority. In the near future, Aqua Hundred has plans to spread its market outside the valley too.</div> <div> </div> <div> Shrestha says we should promote Nepali products. “If best quality product is available within our own country, why to use foreign brands?,” he says, “Be Nepali, Buy Nepali”.</div>', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2013-12-10', 'modified' => '2013-12-17', 'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal', 'description' => 'Aqua Hundred carries 21 years of glorious history of providing purified water in Nepali market. Introduced in 1992, it stands true to its initial motto “Drink safe water and be healthy”. The brand was launched by Aqua Minerals Pvt Ltd at a time when huge amount of purified water used to be imported from foreign countries in lack of domestic brand, that could correspond to the market’s need, Rabin Shrestha, Business Manager at Aqua Minerals, says.', 'sortorder' => '2105', 'image' => null, 'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '0' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '2262', 'article_category_id' => '115', 'title' => 'Tech Briefs (9 - 15 December 2013)', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => null, 'content' => '<div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>2 Million Facebook, Gmail and Twitter Passwords Stolen </strong></span></div> <div> <img alt="Facebook" src="/userfiles/images/bt6%20(Copy).jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px;width: 150px; height: 82px;" />Hackers have stolen usernames and passwords for nearly two million accounts at Facebook, Google, Twitter, Yahoo and others, according to a report released last week. The massive data breach was a result of keylogging software maliciously installed on an untold number of computers around the world, researchers at cybersecurity firmTrustwave said. </div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>New Malware Communicates Via Sound Waves</strong></span></div> <div> <img alt="" src="/userfiles/images/bt7%20(Copy)(1).jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px;width: 150px; height: 101px;" />Scientists have developed a malware that transmits information between computers using high-frequency sound waves inaudible to the human ear. This allows the malware to transmit keystrokes and other sensitive data even when infected machines have no network connection. The new malware uses high-frequency audio signals to bridge the ‘air gap’ — a type of security where network is secured by keeping it separate from other local networks and the Internet. Using just the built-in microphones and speakers of standard computers, the researchers from Germany’s Fraunhofer Institute for Communication, Information Processing, and Ergonomics were able to transmit passwords and other small amounts of data from distances of almost 65 feet.</div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Google Working on Robot Development</strong></span></div> <div> <img alt="" src="/userfiles/images/bt8%20(Copy).jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px;width: 150px; height: 84px;" />Google has bought seven robotics companies in recent months as part of a strategy to develop its own robots that can be used for warehouse, manufacturing and delivery work, the New York Times reported on Wednesday. The report said that Google had placed Andy Rubin in charge of the project. Rubin is the highly regarded executive who led the development of Android into the world’s most widely used smartphone software.</div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>GTA: San Andreas Revived for iOS, Android and Windows Phone</strong></span></div> <div> <img alt="" src="/userfiles/images/bt9%20(Copy).jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px;width: 150px; height: 95px;" />Grand Theft Auto V may be flying high in the console charts, but its developer Rockstar Games is already planning the next GTA game – one that will be familiar to fans of the series. The company has announced plans to re-release 2004’s Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas for smartphones and tablets in December. The game will be available for iPhone, iPad, Android (including Amazon’s Kindle Fire) and Windows devices. Rockstar also says that the game has been given a makeover to ensure it’s up to scratch in 2013. “Newly re-mastered graphics including dynamic and detailed shadows, greater draw distance, an enriched color palette, plus enhanced character and car models make this the best-looking version of San Andreas yet,” claimed the company. “Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas also features brand new touch controls including contextual control options to display buttons only when you need them and three different control schemes for driving and maneuvering, as well as a reworked checkpoint system for easier progression.”</div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>R.I.P Mandela: Top Trending Topic on Twitter</strong></span></div> <div> Hashtag (#) R.I.P. Mandela was the top trending topic on Twitter on Friday following the death of global anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela. Mandela, South Africa’s first elected black president, died at his home in Houghton, a suburb of Johannesburg, following a protracted illness. He was 95. Many celebrities and well known world figures tweeted their shock and sadness at Mandela’s demise, the SABC reported. </div>', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2013-12-10', 'modified' => '2013-12-10', 'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal', 'description' => 'Hackers have stolen usernames and passwords for nearly two million accounts at Facebook, Google, Twitter, Yahoo and others, according to a report released last week.', 'sortorder' => '2104', 'image' => null, 'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '0' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = false $xml = falseinclude - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 133 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
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The chamber approved the bipartisan measure 332—94. </div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>UK Economy Set for Fastest Growth in 7 Years </strong></span></div> <div> Britain’s economy will expand at its fastest rate in seven years in 2014, thanks to strengthening household consumption, but high household debt will slow growth in 2015, the British Chambers of Commerce said on Thursday. The business group forecast economic growth to rise to 2.7 percent in 2014, an upgrade from the forecasts of 2.2 percent it made as recently as August. </div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Iran Oil Exports Rise as Sanctions Eased</strong></span></div> <div> Iranian exports rose by about 10% in November, the International Energy Agency said in its monthly market report published Wednesday. The Paris-based agency also said it expected global oil demand to rise by 1.2 million barrels per day to 92.4 million next year. Iran’s export lift follows an accord struck last month which relaxed some economic sanctions in exchange for assurances over the country’s nuclear program.</div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>‘Big Step’ Rescue Plan for Eurozone Banks </strong></span></div> <div> The agreement reached in discussions about how to deal with bank bailouts for EU nations has been labelled a “big step” by a senior official. EU Commissioner Michel Barnier said the deal meant taxpayers were no longer on the “front line”. Under the new arrangements, each EU member state will build up a fund to help banks in trouble. The fund will be built up from bank contributions, with banks that take more risks paying more.</div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>India’s Forex Reserves Rise to a 7 Month High</strong></span></div> <div> India’s foreign exchange reserves have risen for five straight weeks to a seven-month high. Forex reserves jumped $4.408 billion in the week ended December 6 to $295.7 billion as banks continued to swap their dollar borrowings with RBI in favour of the rupee even after the deadline of November 30, by which incentives that encouraged this were to end. </div>', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2013-12-16', 'modified' => '2013-12-16', 'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal', 'description' => 'US lawmakers in the lower House of Representatives approved on Thursday a compromise budget deal that will avert a costly government shutdown and minimise damage from across the board spending cuts. The chamber approved the bipartisan measure 332—94.', 'sortorder' => '2118', 'image' => null, 'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '0' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '2273', 'article_category_id' => '138', 'title' => 'Uruguay Becomes First Country To Legalize Marijuana Trade', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => null, 'content' => '<div> </div> <div> Uruguay has approved pioneering legislation legalizing marijuana, becoming the first nation in the world to oversee the production and sale of the drug. After a 12-hour debate, 16 leftist senators out of 29 lawmakers voted Tuesday in favor of the legislation championed by President Jose Mujica, who must now sign it into law. Outside the Senate, hundreds of cannabis-smoking supporters set off fireworks in what they dubbed “the last march with illegal marijuana.” The atmosphere was festive. The bill passed the lower house of Congress in August and was assured of approval because the ruling coalition controls both chambers. It authorizes the production, distribution and sale of cannabis, allows individuals to grow their own on a small scale, and creates consumer clubs -- all under state supervision and control.</div> <div> </div> <div> Uruguay’s pioneering move to legalize the planting and sale of marijuana opens the door for a clandestine cottage industry of pot growers to transform into a legitimate business that could even export medical cannabis, a commodity in short supply. More and more countries are setting up medical marijuana programs to help relieve the pain of terminally-ill patients and treat other health conditions, but there are few legal sources of the drug in the world and Uruguay could tap that tight market. The Uruguayan experiment could add momentum to the marijuana legalization debate in the United States, where the states of Washington and Oregon last year made it legal to grow and smoke pot.</div> <div> </div> <div> If regulation works, Uruguay could become an exporter of medical marijuana to countries such as Canada that are allowing an expansion of the use of the drug for health reasons. Canada became the first country to allow terminally ill patients to grow and smoke their own marijuana in 2001.</div>', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2013-12-16', 'modified' => '2013-12-16', 'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal', 'description' => 'Uruguay has approved pioneering legislation legalizing marijuana, becoming the first nation in the world to oversee the production and sale of the drug. After a 12-hour debate, 16 leftist senators out of 29 lawmakers voted Tuesday in favor of the legislation championed by President Jose Mujica, who must now sign it into law.', 'sortorder' => '2117', 'image' => null, 'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '0' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '2272', 'article_category_id' => '138', 'title' => 'South Asia On Track To Meet Growth Expectations In 2013-14 : ADB', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => null, 'content' => '<div> </div> <div> South Asia is on track to meet growth expectations of 4.7 per cent in 2013 and 5.5 per cent in 2014, says a new Asian Development Bank (ADB) report. The report entitled "Asian Development Outlook Supplement" states that recovery in India will positively impact the region's overall economic performance. "After bottoming out in the first fiscal quarter, India’s economy appears to have recovered on the back of a rebound in exports and higher industrial and agricultural outputs. India is anticipated to grow at 4.7 per cent in fiscal year 2013 (ending 31 March 2014) and 5.7 per cent in the fiscal year 2014, unchanged from the October forecast," says the bank. </div> <div> </div> <div> Similarly, ADB also raised the growth projection for entire Asia region. The report forecasts growth of 6 per cent in 2013 for ADB’s 45 developing member countries, improving to 6.2 per cent in 2014. Likewise an improving growth outlook in Japan and the United States paired with stronger-than-expected performance in China support a steady growth outlook for developing Asia, according to the report. “Despite uncertainties in the global economic environment, developing Asian economies remain resilient. The region has performed well in 2013 and is now poised to benefit from the further signs of growth momentum in the advanced economies,” said ADB Chief Economist Changyong Rhee. ADB estimated that China's growth will increase by 0.1 percentage points to 7.7% in 2013 and 7.5% in 2014 on the back of rising infrastructure investment. Likewise, advanced economies of the US, euro area and Japan are on track to meet the October forecast of 0.9% growth in 2013. ADB expects 1.9% growth in these economies in 2014, up 0.1 percentage points from the October forecast.</div> <div> </div> <div> However, ADB estimates slight moderation is forecast in Southeast Asia. The report forecasts the sub-region to post growth of 4.8% in 2013 and 5.2% in 2014; both forecasts are revised down 0.1 percentage points from October. "The moderation stems from the impact of tensions in Thailand on consumption and tourism. The devastating impact of Typhoon Haiyan is tempering the Philippines’ 2013 growth, but reconstruction is expected to boost growth as it ramps up in 2014," it said.</div>', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2013-12-16', 'modified' => '2013-12-16', 'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal', 'description' => 'South Asia is on track to meet growth expectations of 4.7 per cent in 2013 and 5.5 per cent in 2014, says a new Asian Development Bank (ADB) report. The report entitled "Asian Development Outlook Supplement" states that recovery in India will positively impact the region's overall economic performance. "After bottoming out in the first fiscal quarter, India’s economy appears to have recovered on the back of a rebound in exports and higher industrial and agricultural outputs.', 'sortorder' => '2116', 'image' => null, 'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '0' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '2187', 'article_category_id' => '161', 'title' => '“Nepal Needs Scientific Base For Wildlife Conservation Management”', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => null, 'content' => '<div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;">Himalayan Tiger Foundation, a Dutch NGO works on conserving tiger population and biodiversity conservation in Nepal. In a talk with Sanjeev Sharma of The Corporate, the President of the Himalayan Tiger Foundation, <strong>Cas de Stoppelaar</strong> gave insights into the organization’s plan for Nepal. He was accompanied by<strong> Prof Dr Jacques J.M.</strong> <strong>Van Alphen</strong> of the University of Amsterdam and<strong> Laura D. Bertola</strong>, PhD researcher at Universiteit Leiden. <strong>Excerpts: </strong></span></div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>What is Himalayan Tiger Foundation doing in Nepal?</strong></span></div> <div> Nepal is in a position to get more support in a scientific way to do things in conservation biology. Nepal is very special and extremely rich not only in terms of having everything from low lands to high mountains, but also, because you are the cross roads of different bio-geographic regions. So, the species from different regions meet here. Our scope is broader than only tigers; we want to study in the Terai region, mainly in the Bardiya National Park, biodiversity and climate change. We had been there just two days back and we are writing our proposal which will be financed probably in the first phase by private donors in the Netherlands. We just had a talk with the Science department of Kathmandu University for setting up a master’sdegreecourse on conservation biology and wildlife genetics in cooperation with Universities in Amsterdam and Leiden. We aim to have young people from this country being knowledgeable and specialists in this area, so that they can do their own job in their own country.</div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>How is your organisation working to achieve these goals?</strong></span></div> <div> Well, the thing lacking in this country is the scientific base for wildlife conservation management. There are few pockets of qualities like CNDN and other things. But, what is missing in most of the NGOs is scientific dimension. They just get the funds and they do something as a sort of try. We want to strengthen the scientific foundation of Wildlife Management in Nepal through a couple of things. Firstly, we want to be associated with Kathmandu University, and look at masters in science course in the field. We have enthusiastic people there, capable of doing PhD, which is the second thing and we are looking for funding. Thirdly, we are planning to set up a resource centre next to Bardiya National Park with all sort of disciplines from butterflies to tigers, salamanders to bats etc. We will build up a good database and update it regularly in a way that you can follow it year after year. You will see the changes coming up and you can see the sort of measures to keep the habitat of tigers and other animals healthy.For many reasons, it is important, one of them being its scientific importance and secondly, it can be economically sound as it can attract tourists by showcasing the birds. </div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Which aspect of tiger conservation are you working on as there are serious threats to tiger conservation, such as loss of habitat and poaching?</strong></span></div> <div> One of the things we want to include is conservation genetics. Using genetic techniques we can get genetic data which will be quite helpful in conservation strategy. This is particularly interesting for large species that need a lot of space in a fragmented habitat because these speciesneed connectivity.If the population of these species becomes small in number, they also become vulnerable for extinction. There are also all kind of genetic factors that play a role to that. One of those is inbreeding, which can be a very serious risk for populations in nature. So, if you have an insight into the connectivity, structure and diversity within these populations, this can be really helpful to come up with a strategy about how to conserve this diversity in the best way possible.</div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Nepal is said to havemade remarkable progress in tiger conservation with the number of the big wild cats increasing to 198. What are the major contributing factors to this?</strong></span></div> <div> There are two things to be said on this. Firstly, no body exactly knows what the present number is because the counting methods are not always 100% correct and nobody knows what it was 5 years ago. So, there is a lot of variation in the numbers. If you say there is an increase, there is definitely an increase. But, no one can exactly point out the exact number of increment. There are errors in the various techniques used in the counting and thus, we cannot exactly point out the number of tigers. So, we need to put a margin on that. In Bardiya, the counting of tigers is done by capturing them on the cameras. This way the number of tigers in Bardiya is said to be 50. But, every tiger may not face the camera. So, we don’t know if it is 50 or more than 50. So, we can use genetic techniques and methods to count tigers. This has been adopted in Chitwan. </div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Despite various initiatives being taken on tiger conservation the world has lost 97% of wild tigers this century. What can be done effectively to stop tigers from extinction by 2022 as feared by scientists?</strong></span></div> <div> First of all, it is necessary that we keep the environment healthy and bring an end to poaching. Similarly, it is important to have knowledge regarding inbreeding. You must translocate the tigers for getting new genes involved. The system must be placed in a healthy way. It means that not only the tigers but even their prey have to be kept healthy. While balancing the system, we must also bring an end to poaching to keep everything in order.A step that must be taken is that corridors must be built in Bardiya and Chitwan for the tigers to move freely and thus, it will be helpful in breeding. Similarly, we should also be able to come up with transborder mechanism so that tigers can move freely in the natural environment which will ultimately contribute in increasing the population of tigers. There should be a contract between India and Nepal for free movement of tigers between the two countries so that tiger’s population can be increased.</div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Nepal lacks effective wildlife conservation policies. In this, what must Nepal do to ensure new and effective wildlife policies?</strong></span></div> <div> The government should enforce new and strict laws regarding tiger conservation. People who live in buffer zones must be provided with premiums to stop them from cutting down the forest. It is important to instill a sense of responsibility in the people. People who trade tiger parts should be punished. </div> <div> </div> <div> <img alt="" src="/userfiles/images/dp1%20(Copy)(1).jpg" style="width: 550px; height: 190px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px;" /></div>', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2013-12-02', 'modified' => '2013-12-16', 'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal', 'description' => 'Himalayan Tiger Foundation, a Dutch NGO works on conserving tiger population and biodiversity conservation in Nepal. In a talk with Sanjeev Sharma of The Corporate, the President of the Himalayan Tiger Foundation, Cas de Stoppelaar gave insights into the organization’s plan for Nepal. He was accompanied by Prof Dr Jacques J.M. Van Alphen of the University of Amsterdam and Laura D. Bertola, PhD researcher at Universiteit Leiden.', 'sortorder' => '2115', 'image' => null, 'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '0' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '2181', 'article_category_id' => '47', 'title' => 'A Fighting Spirit', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => null, 'content' => '<div> </div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>--By Sujan Tiwari</strong></div> <div> </div> <div> “Just like every lock has its key, all the problems come with a solution,” says Pradeep Kumar Shrestha, MD, Panchakanya Group, one of the leading manufacturers of construction materials in Nepal. Shrestha has managed the Group for almost three decades, and is still directing it towards new avenues. Shrestha says that his new ventures will be in areas of hydropower and agriculture. “As our base is manufacturing, we will continue focusing on industries and manufacturing. Besides, hydropower and agriculture will be our next area,” he says. According to him, Panchakanya Group is a household name in Nepal, and enjoys a good reputation. “We have nationwide dealership network and we are known as quality manufacturers. We never compromise in the quality of our products. What we are is all because of the trust of our customers,” says Shrestha. </div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size: 14px;"><strong><img alt="Pradeep Kumar Shrestha, MD, Panchakanya Group" src="/userfiles/images/prsn2%20(Copy).jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; width: 300px; height: 410px;" />Origin of Group</strong></span></div> <div> The group started as Panchakanya Rice Mill in 2028 BS, named after five Hindu goddesses Durga, Saraswati, Laxmi, Radha and Annapurna. The next major venture was Panchakanya Iron Industries in Kotihawa (Bhairahawa) of Rupandehi district. There wasn’t much industrial development in western Nepal back then. So the company also opened two industries that manufactured pipe and steel in Bhairahawa in around 2040 BS. Today, Panchakanya Group is renowned as one of the pioneers in manufacturing sector and there are around a dozen industries under the group, and has generated thousands of employment opportunities. </div> <div> </div> <div> Shrestha joined the Group in the year 1985 after completing his studies. When he first joined, he used to handle all the aspects of business, from managing the finances to correspondence. This was also because he was a student of commerce, and also because the Group was not what it is today. “I started in a small way, and I am happy that I have played my part in changing the business to what it is today,” says Shrestha. </div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size: 14px;"><strong>The Turning Point</strong></span></div> <div> Before going to college, Shrestha says he didn’t always think of being a business man or joining his family business. “I wanted to study science and become an engineer. So I applied to Amrit Science Campus. But it was very hard to get admission in those days, so I wasn’t selected.” One day, a friend of his father told him that if he becomes a successful businessman, he will get many engineers to work for him. His words changed his mind, and then went to Darjeeling to study B Com. </div> <div> </div> <div> After his graduation, he didn’t want to go abroad for his further studies. Also, his father wanted him to study here as it would also help him in building relations. So he joined TU and did MBA. Shrestha was the student of first MBA batch of TU. “I proudly say that I completed my Masters from Nepal. Whenever I am abroad and people ask me where I studied, I proudly tell them the fact,” says Shrestha. By doing so, he believes he has also conveyed a message that the educational system of Nepal is at par. After finishing his studies, he joined the family business and has been handling it since then. </div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size: 14px;"><strong>Early Life</strong></span></div> <div> Shrestha was born in Illam in 2016 to Prem Bahadur Shrestha and Neel Kumari Shrestha. He says he was very active and restless since his childhood. He used to take part in every sport possible, and was very athletic.”I wasn’t an excellent student, but rather an above average one,” recalls Shrestha. He studied in a local school in Fikkal till grade four, and did the rest of his schooling from Victoria Boys School in Kharsang of Arunachal Pradesh in India. He completed his graduation in Commerce from North Point College in Darjeeling. </div> <div> </div> <div> Shrestha gives all the credit for the current status of the Group and his success to his father Prem Bahadur Shrestha. His father was the one to initate the business as the founder. “My father taught me everything about business. He passed his business ethics on to me and taught me how to be successful in business. Ours is a family business, and it will continue for generations to come,” says Shrestha. </div> <div> </div> <div> Shrestha says his father laid a very strong foundation, and his generation has added bricks to that foundation. Shrestha, under his management, has made the Group evolve and brought it where it is today. “We are happy about what we have done. But if the country was in a better condition, we could have done much more. Even in this adverse time, we are trying to grow,” says he. </div> <div> </div> <div> <img alt="Pradeep Kumar Shrestha, MD, Panchakanya Group" src="/userfiles/images/prsn1%20(Copy).jpg" style="width: 550px; height: 412px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px;" /></div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size: 14px;"><strong>Personal Side</strong></span></div> <div> Shrestha loves sports, and is very keen golfer and plays every other day. He says he is a very competitive person in every aspect and strives for victory. The same reflects in his business and also in golf. “I cannot be second, I am a fighter and I have to win,” says he. According to him, sport is not only good for health, but also makes you better in every aspect. “Sports teach you to accept defeat. It has taught me that if you lose, it doesn’t mean you are a loser, it just means you have to try harder,” says Shrestha. He says that people usually don’t realize how close they are to success. According to him, defeats should be analyzed, and worked upon again. </div> <div> </div> <div> Despite his very busy schedule, Shrestha almost always manages to go wherever he is invited. “Wherever people invite me, I go there and show my presence. That is in my nature. I have dinner in my family only once a week, so I have breakfast in my home every day,” says he. Sports and social engagements are what keep Shrestha busy. Shrestha travels extensively, and goes for vacation once a year with his family. Shrestha loves to travel with his wife Usha and sons Udeep and Ashik. He also likes to travel to remote areas Nepal and go trekking with his family. </div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size: 14px;"><strong>Philosophies</strong></span></div> <div> Shrestha strongly believes that every person can contribute in his own way to develop the nation. “I am a responsible citizen, and I feel I have to pay back for what the country has given me. If every Nepali thinks this way, Nepal will be changed in no time. We all can make a difference,” says Shrestha. “Nepal is not as poor as people generally conceive it to be. I don’t think ours is a poor country, only the mindset of the people is poor,” says he.</div> <div> </div> <div> According to Shrestha, it is unfortunate that Nepal has many problems, but still Nepalis have achieved a lot. He believes that Nepal can be developed and prosperous only if every Nepali acts for it. “Every Nepali should think that he should contribute his part, and start thinking collectively. There is no other way, and no one other than Nepalis will develop Nepal,” says Shrestha.</div>', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2013-11-28', 'modified' => '2013-12-16', 'keywords' => 'new business age personality news & articles, personality news & articles from new business age nepal, personality headlines from nepal, current and latest personality news from nepal, economic news from nepal, nepali personality economic news and events, ongoing personality news of nepal', 'description' => '“Just like every lock has its key, all the problems come with a solution,” says Pradeep Kumar Shrestha, MD, Panchakanya Group, one of the leading manufacturers of construction materials in Nepal. Shrestha has managed the Group for almost three decades, and is still directing it towards new avenues.', 'sortorder' => '2114', 'image' => null, 'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '0' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '2266', 'article_category_id' => '52', 'title' => 'Hope Of Economic Revival', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => null, 'content' => '<div> </div> <div> </div> <div> The elections for the Constituent Assembly (CA)-II are now over. Results have been announced. Successful completion of the CA polls themselves is good news for the economy. Rise of the liberal economic forces from it has made it a harbinger of prosperity and development. After long gloomy years, the new CA comes with the renewed promise to draft and promulgate the new constitution within a year and pave way for the nation to head towards peace,stability and prosperity. The last CA too had that hope, but unfortunately that didn’t materialize. </div> <div> </div> <div> In retrospect, it appears that the poll process, the constitution and the functions of earlier edition of the CA (2008) were largely marred by political naivety and immaturity. If one looks at the manifestoes of the 2008 CA election, it is not difficult to discern that the political forces were just flabbergasted by the pace of change and couldn’t structure proper frame to guide the nation forward. The then New Forces, Maoists and Madheshis, had overtly ambitious agenda, whereas the Old Forces like Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML had a sense of compulsion to bow down to the agenda of those New Forces.</div> <div> </div> <div> But things changed drastically by the time the country arrived at the threshold of the second CA elections in 2013. As evidenced by their recent manifestos, major political forces had become more mature, rationality had prevailed over emotions. Traders of mere selfish, divisive or opportunistic agenda were badly fragmented and most importantly, a sincere realisation to move along the changing paradigms of the world was across the board. There was a race to promise to shun violence and acts of business disruption by calling on bandhs and strikes. Though achieved at a great cost, monetary and opportunity, these achievements are not trivial.</div> <div> </div> <div> It is a bare fact that Nepal suffered almost two decades of virtually zero development. Since the Maoists launched armed rebellion in February 1996, the resources and focus of the state concentrated to counter it. Hardly any power project, new stretch of road or other significant infrastructure was added during the decade long conflict. The Comprehensive Peace Agreement of 2006 ended the conflict, but fears of the investors could hardly be allayed, mainly due to destructive high-handedness of the Maoist-affiliated trade unions, among other uncertainties surrounding the drafting of the constitution. One may argue that we never had a zero or negative nominal GDP growth rate, but the inflation-adjusted real growth rate had never been positive for all those years.</div> <div> </div> <div> But the approaches, stances and philosophies have transformed for good in recent years, which was reflected in the run-up to the second CA elections. These are the very reasons that led to the successful completion of the election process with as high as whopping 78 percent turn out of the voters. The half battle is won. </div> <div> </div> <div> On top of it, the electorates gave a very emphatic support to the parties -- Nepali Congress and CPN-UML that exhibited understanding of the global economic order and trend vis-à-vis Nepal’s development priorities and needs. It was the Nepali Congress that had initiated the economic reform and liberalization after restoration of democracy in 1990 and the fruits of it is still reaped by the economy. The then UML government began grassroots level connectivity and infrastructure projects in 1995 that gradually provided market access to the remote hinterlands of the country. These two facets of development helped the Nepali economy to withstand the decade-long conflict and almost equally-long political mayhem after that. The people trusted back to both of these parties, once again giving them almost equal, jointly more than sixty percent of strength in the new CA. People experimented the Maoists once in the last election by making them the largest party in the last CA, but it failed the test. Now condemned to humiliating defeat.</div> <div> </div> <div> The conclusion of CA election against the widespread suspicion about its success, victory of the parties that believe in democracy and free-market and, rationalization of the forces that were erstwhile destructive ones, indeed raises hope on reigniting the growth process. The stage is all set and, now actors should play the right role before the curtain falls.</div>', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2013-12-13', 'modified' => '2013-12-16', 'keywords' => 'new business age from the editor news & articles, from the editor news & articles from new business age nepal, from the editor headlines from nepal, current and latest from the editor news from nepal, economic news from nepal, nepali from the editor economic news and events, ongoing from the edi', 'description' => 'The elections for the Constituent Assembly (CA)-II are now over. Results have been announced. Successful completion of the CA polls themselves is good news for the economy. Rise of the liberal economic forces from it has made it a harbinger of prosperity and development. After long gloomy years, the new CA comes with the renewed promise to draft and promulgate the new constitution within a year and pave way for the nation to head towards peace,stability and prosperity. The last CA too had that hope, but unfortunately that didn’t materialize.', 'sortorder' => '2113', 'image' => null, 'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '0' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '2223', 'article_category_id' => '91', 'title' => 'Full Reservoir Promises Steady Power-cut Hours', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => null, 'content' => '<div> </div> <div> <strong>--BY TC Correspondent</strong></div> <div> </div> <div> The reservoir of the Kulekhani I Hydropower Project has been filled. With the fill-up of this reservoir, considered as a ‘power back-up’ of Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), load-shedding hours are not expected to increase this winter. </div> <div> </div> <div> Project Chief Ram Kumar Yadav informed TC that the reservoir’s water level was 1530.30 meter on last Sunday. “There is adequate amount of water in the reservoir,” he said. </div> <div> </div> <div> Though the reservoir’s maximum holding capacity is 1530 meter, reservoirs height has been increased by 30cm by piling up sand sacks along its brim, a project official said. </div> <div> </div> <div> Stating that additional water has been collected in the reservoir, the NEA said that it does not need to increase the load-shedding hours time this year. Bhuwan Chhetri, Chief of Load Dispatch Center at NEA, confirmed the report. </div> <div> </div> <div> The project that generally operates from 5 pm to 10 pm every day, was started from 3 pm last Sunday due to the excessive rise of water level in the reservoir. </div> <div> </div> <div> Project’s Chief Yadav said that water is collected in the reservoir during day and night times and can be operated on requirement basis. He attributed the excessive rise of water level in the reservoir to adequate rainfall during the monsoon season. </div> <div> </div> <div> The reservoir water is collected from around three-dozen of small and big rivers of the water basin. The project office has informed that the water level of the reservoir has not gone down below 1505 meter this year as the rainfall started from </div> <div> mid-May. </div> <div> </div> <div> Meanwhile, the construction work of 14 MW Kulekhani III hydropower project also has completed by 71 per cent. Indra Bir Ghimire, Deputy Manager of the project, said that if the project does not face any disruptions, it will start generating electricity within nine months. </div> <div> </div> <div> “We are working in full swing to complete the remaining 29 per cent of work within a nine-month period,” Ghimire said. </div> <div> </div> <div> The project is scheduled to complete by September 13, 2014. Ghimire informed that four kms of tunnel drilling and about 90 per cent reservoir construction has been completed. </div> <div> </div> <div> The project was started on April 27, 2008 with an aim to complete it by 2012. Project officials blamed obstruction from the locals, delay by the contractors and NEA’s sluggishness as reasons for not meeting the construction deadline. </div>', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2013-12-08', 'modified' => '2013-12-16', 'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal', 'description' => 'The reservoir of the Kulekhani I Hydropower Project has been filled. With the fill-up of this reservoir, considered as a ‘power back-up’ of Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), load-shedding hours are not expected to increase this winter.', 'sortorder' => '2112', 'image' => null, 'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '0' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '2224', 'article_category_id' => '91', 'title' => 'Tourism: Promoting Nepal’s Visibility In The Global Arena', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => null, 'content' => '<div> </div> <div> <strong>--By TC Corespondent</strong></div> <div> </div> <div> Last week Nepal saw two major international rankings with the country achieving top spots in travel and tourism destinations. On Wednesday, 4th December, the World Expeditions of the CNW Group, a subsidiary of US-based PR Newswire Company, declared The Great Himalayan Trail (GHT) as the top adventurous trekking route in the world for 2014. </div> <div> </div> <div> The GHT is the longest and highest alpine walking track in the world winding 4,500 kilometers through the tallest mountain ranges and most isolated communities from Tibet to Pakistan. The 1,700 kilometers long Nepal section of the GHT is often termed as “a kaleidoscope of experiences”, commercial treks of which starts in</div> <div> the beginning of March every year. </div> <div> </div> <div> The trail, which can be undertaken in one continuous trek of 152 days, traverses the country from east to west. The ranking placed Great Patagonian Transverse of the South Americas and Bhutan Snowman Trek in the 2nd and 3rd most adventurous route for 2014. Similarly, Dominica Trek of the Caribbean and John Muir Trek of the US were placed at 4th and 5th spots in the list respectively. </div> <div> </div> <div> Likewise, TripAdvisor.com, a world renowned travel website ranked Kathmandu as the top rising tourist destination in Asia.The travel search-engine declared Kathmanduas the 3rd most rising travel destination in the world. The website published the top ten most favoured tourist spots of the world - Traveler’s Choice 2013 list. The listing of the destinations is generally based on reviews and votes of travelers. According to Trip Advisor, Kathmandu is the only destination that managed to achieve position in the list. Meanwhile, Australian travelers, named Kathmandu as the best backpack destination on the website. Jerusalem (Israel) and Sapporo (Japan) were the other destinations from the Asia region on the list. </div>', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2013-12-08', 'modified' => '2013-12-16', 'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal', 'description' => 'Last week Nepal saw two major international rankings with the country achieving top spots in travel and tourism destinations. On Wednesday, 4th December, the World Expeditions of the CNW Group, a subsidiary of US-based PR Newswire Company, declared The Great Himalayan Trail (GHT) as the top adventurous trekking route in the world for 2014.', 'sortorder' => '2111', 'image' => null, 'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '0' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '2265', 'article_category_id' => '48', 'title' => 'Sea Of Conspiracy', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => null, 'content' => '<div> </div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>--By Madan Lamsal</strong></div> <div> </div> <div> The revolutionary vision of Puspa Kamal Dahal alias Prachanda suddenly encountered a deep sea of conspiracy surrounding the landlocked Nepal. As the results of CA elections-II 2013, were pouring in last month and he lost the Kathmnadu-10 constituency, he could see a devilish sea fast inundating his philosophized Prachanda Path, dampening his as well as his party's election prospects and perishing the party's Perish Danda headquarters in rapid pace. </div> <div> </div> <div> How could this happen to the 'sole hero of the revolution' ? ('Revolutionary Hero' that was how he was nicknamed during the campaign.) His dreams of becoming all-powerful president suddenly got evaporated. And, the cum-red was naturally perplexed, outraged and restless. He cried 'FOUL!' But there was nobody to listen. But as a devout communist, he was creative enough to take hold of theory - 'the conspiracy theory' - to attribute as the cause of his and his party's apparently humiliating defeat.</div> <div> </div> <div> It is the outcome of 'national and international conspiracy' he declared, hastily calling a press meet. But he would not point out which particular national or international agency was at play. That was natural for a former prime minister, who has personally experienced the extent and strength of the functions of these conspirators, particularly international ones, to guess who could be the spoilsport. Nepali people would certainly appreciate if he identifies them in public.</div> <div> </div> <div> When the water level receded from his hypothetical sea, he could see some ground. At least there were still some hopes which had not drowned. At least one such hope survived when he got elected from another constituency in Terai. His worries were confounded not because the party suffered a big set-back, but his all other family members --daughter, daughter-in-no-law and a brother got defeated in the polls.</div> <div> </div> <div> Traumatized, Prachanda turned to his brainy comrade Baburam for solace. Baburam quickly came up with highly consoling prognosis that 'though we may have lost election, our agenda is not defeated.' It was equivalent to saying that the people who represented the Maoist agenda were bad and got defeated, not the agenda itself. It was easy for Baburam to reach to this beautiful conclusion looking at the face of his only wife Hisila Yami and her defeat from one of the Kathmandu constituencies. </div> <div> </div> <div> 'Can't you see comrades, the sea of conspiracy in drowning us soon? It must be internationally imported political waters that is causing this', Prachanda concluded and his top-ranked comrades nodded in consent akin to true communist party discipline. 'But chairman comrade' Baburam volunteered, 'we must point at the international force' to make this allegation convincing.' </div> <div> </div> <div> 'As you know, all the sea water is in the south and entire north is Himalayas,' said Prachanda</div> <div> </div> <div> 'Then I am not in your boat,' Baburam begged to differ. The southern sea waters cannot rise so high at this time. Even if they do, I am not to see it,' Baburam deviated. Then, the duo concluded to accept the election outcome.</div> <div> </div> <div> The fables have it even a sinking lion wouldn't spare to pounce on simultaneously sinking goat, regardless that both would be dead in the next minute. Then no wonder, Prachanda came up with a new proposal: 'majority provision of the constitution to form the government should be removed, retaining only the provision of consensus.' Again he is not likely to be heard. He is asking for a too long a rope which had to be unleashed much before the election. But he is doing it after his party got defeated. Anyway, clever people never lack creativity even during the ordeal.</div> <div> </div> <div> As the political climate is changing fast, the effects of warming again and often may cause the rise of water levels in the sea of conspiracy. When a man is survived by a whisker from drowning, he soon becomes hydrophobic and begins to be terrified even by a village pond, considering it a Black Sea. Prachanda too from now on might seek 'Sea of Conspiracy' whenever there is a storm in a tea cup.</div>', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2013-12-13', 'modified' => '2013-12-16', 'keywords' => 'new business age no laughing matter news & articles, no laughing matter news & articles from new business age nepal, no laughing matter headlines from nepal, current and latest no laughing matter news from nepal, economic news from nepal, nepali no laughing matter economic news and events, ongoing', 'description' => 'The revolutionary vision of Puspa Kamal Dahal alias Prachanda suddenly encountered a deep sea of conspiracy surrounding the landlocked Nepal. As the results of CA elections-II 2013, were pouring in last month and he lost the Kathmnadu-10 constituency, he could see a devilish sea fast inundating his philosophized Prachanda Path, dampening his as well as his party's election prospects and perishing the party's Perish Danda headquarters in rapid pace.', 'sortorder' => '2110', 'image' => null, 'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '0' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '2225', 'article_category_id' => '91', 'title' => 'WTO Members Agree On Historic Trade Pact', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => null, 'content' => '<div> <strong>--By TC Correspondent</strong></div> <div> </div> <div> Since the formation of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in 1995, member nations of the global trade body on Saturday reached the first ever trade deal. </div> <div> </div> <div> WTO’s Bali Ministerial Conference held in Bali, Indonesia, approved the “historic” ‘Bali Package’ after Cuba dropped its threat to veto the package of measures that primarily aims at facilitating commerce between member nations by reducing trade barriers. </div> <div> </div> <div> The agreement aims to boost the global commerce by adding USD 1 trillion into the world economyover the coming years and add 21 million jobs in the global labour market. </div> <div> </div> <div> The agreement simplifies trade procedures for the poorest countries to sell their goods in international market.It is expected to lessen barriers for the least developed countries (LDCs) in exporting their products in international market. Similarly, the agreement aims to establish a global system to make agricultural sector more competitive. </div> <div> </div> <div> The agreement came at a moment when the WTO was standing on the brink of failure following more than a decade of fruitless negotiations to enact the Doha Round (2002) plans. </div> <div> </div> <div> Many experts had warned that failure in Bali would leave regional and bilateral trade arrangements as the only platform for trade reform, dividing the world and jeopardising the goal of globalisation of the WTO.</div> <div> </div> <div> “For the first time in our history, the WTO has truly delivered,” said WTO Chief Roberto Azevêdo, while closing the conference.” All members, developed or developing, have the ownership of the Bali deal. We have put the “world” back into the World Trade Organisation. We’re back in business...Bali is just the beginning.”</div> <div> </div> <div> In his closing remarks former Chief Trade Negotiator of Brazilechoed the quote of late South African leader, Nelson Mandela, “It always seems impossible until it’s done,” to sum up the achievement of the conference.</div> <div> </div> <div> The Bali meeting which opened on 3rd December, Tuesday, was overshadowed by disagreements between India and a group of developed nations led by the United States. Because of its massive programme for stockpiling food to feed its poor, India had insisted that it would only back an agreement if there is a compromise on food subsidies. </div> <div> </div> <div> On the other hand, US and some industrialised nations urged India to end the food security policy as it breaches and contradicted the subsidy policies of the WTO. The differences narrowed as the opposing sides clinched towards a provision to give developing nations more scope to use subsidies for safeguarding food supplies. Similarly, Cuba also later agreed on a compromise with the US. During the negotiations, the Caribbean Island nation had refused to accept the deal if the US did not end its long-time economic embargo.</div>', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2013-12-08', 'modified' => '2013-12-13', 'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal', 'description' => 'WTO’s Bali Ministerial Conference held in Bali, Indonesia, approved the “historic” ‘Bali Package’ after Cuba dropped its threat to veto the package of measures that primarily aims at facilitating commerce between member nations by reducing trade barriers.', 'sortorder' => '2109', 'image' => null, 'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '0' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '2229', 'article_category_id' => '137', 'title' => 'Corruption Perception Index 2013: Nepal Sees Decline In Corruption Level', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => null, 'content' => '<div> </div> <div> <strong>--By TC Correspondent</strong></div> <div> </div> <div> Nepal has experienced a significant downfall in corruption in 2013. Transparency International’s (TI) Corruption Perception Index (CPI) 2013, placed Nepal in 116th position out of 177 countries. Nepal achieved ascore of 31on a scale of 0-100, while 0 indicating the most corrupted and 100 indicating no corruption. Last year, Nepal ranked 139th with a score of 27.</div> <div> </div> <div> The Berlin-based global anti-corruption watchdog reported alertness of the Commission of Investigation on Abuse of Authority (CIAA) and a slew of actions takenon related cases as factors contributing to decline in corruption. Countries achieving a score less than 50 points have been listed as the most corrupt. TI prepared the report in co-operation with Bertelsmann Foundation, The World Bank, World Economic Forum, Global Justice Project and Global Insight. </div> <div> </div> <div> The report also mentions that around 40 percent Nepali have given bribe atleast once in their lifetime. Similarly, 80 percent of Nepali confessed that it is much easier to get work done in government organisations if there is someone of their acquaintance. Likewise, most Nepali also admitted that political parties are the most corrupted ones in the nation. Meanwhile, Nepal’s neighbours, India and China are placed at 94th and 80th positions respectively. Bhutan was seen as the cleanest country in the South Asia region (31st position) with a score of 63. Likewise, Sri Lanka achieved 91st position whereas corruption level in Pakistan (127th) and Bangladesh (136th) was seen relatively high. Afghanistan (175th)was declared the most corrupt nation in the South Asia with a score of 8. </div> <div> </div> <div> This year’s CPI figured that 69 percent of the world’s countries are seriously corrupt. Regionally, Eastern Europe and Central Asia ranked the worst, Western Europe and the European Union (EU) the best. The report declares Denmark and New Zealand to be the most clean countries, both sharing a score of 91 points. Similarly, Finland and Sweden stand in the third position with a score of 89 points whereas Norway and Singapore share the 5th position in the ranking with a score of 86 points.</div> <div> </div> <div> According to the report, the most corrupt countries are: North Korea, Somalia and Afghanistan with all three nations sharing the highest spot of 175th position in the index. TI reported that 66 percent of the countries in the North and South American Region are seriously corrupt. Similarly, 64 percent of the countries in the Asia-Pacific region are most corrupt.Likewise, 95 per cent of the EU countries (including the Eastern and Western Europe) and 23 per cent nations of Central Asia were labeled as seriously corrupt. Also, 84 per cent of the countries in Middle East and North Africa region and 90 per cent of Sub- Saharan African nations fell into the category of seriously corrupt countries.” The need for greater accountability is clear, and leaders cannot look the other way. But recognizing the problems is only the first step- governments need to turn pledges into actions,” states the report.</div>', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2013-12-09', 'modified' => '2013-12-17', 'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal', 'description' => 'Nepal has experienced a significant downfall in corruption in 2013. Transparency International’s (TI) Corruption Perception Index (CPI) 2013, placed Nepal in 116th position out of 177 countries. Nepal achieved ascore of 31on a scale of 0-100, while 0 indicating the most corrupted and 100 indicating no corruption. Last year, Nepal ranked 139th with a score of 27.', 'sortorder' => '2108', 'image' => null, 'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '0' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '2263', 'article_category_id' => '202', 'title' => 'A Work Loving Bureaucrat', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => null, 'content' => '<div> </div> <div> <strong>--By Upashana Neupane </strong></div> <div> </div> <div> Hari Narayan Belbase, Director at the Department of Commerce and Supply Management, is a man with a tight professional schedule. Despite that Belbase does not hold grudges and enjoys it as part of his responsibility. He opines that it is the right time for him to do something and be someone, rather than seeking leisure. </div> <div> </div> <div> He does not find it difficult to fulfil office and family responsibilities together and opines that it’s all about how well one can manage their time. Belabase manages his time well for his office and his family.</div> <div> </div> <div> Along with his professional and familial responsibilities, he has been updating his education also. He is currently working on his PhD and says that it is the right time for him to take his career to another level while contributing to the society.</div> <div> </div> <div> Belbase is conscious about his health and fitness. He wakes up at 4:30 sharp every morning and jogs around 8 km along with doing some yoga. He loves playing badminton, which compliments his personal and fitness interest. Usually his badminton partner is his wife. Along with this strict health and fitness regime, Belbase devotes some of his morning time to perform religious prayers and rituals. He offers his morning prayers along with his daughter at home. He has a small 4-member happy family that includes him, his wife and two children.</div> <div> </div> <div> Belbase spends his spare time at home playing with his children and tending his home garden. He finds pleasure in walking around his garden and watering flowers.</div> <div> </div> <div> His love for nature has taken him to various places that are blessed by natural beauty. “Natural Beauty attracts me than anything artificial”, he shares remembering Mustang as one of his favourite places he has visited. Peace loving Belbase shares that he tries to avoid crowded and cramped places especially when he is on his vacation.</div> <div> </div> <div> He follows daily news and events across the world, and still manages time for reading popular books from popular writers in town. He believes that a person can imply so many things from a book in their practical life. In non-fiction, he prefers reading books on economics.</div> <div> </div> <div> Despite holding important position and despite making continuous contribution to the welfare of the society and the nation, he still strives to serve better in the days ahead. He believes that humans shouldn’t only live for themselves and opines that as human, “One should utilise their precious life and time for contributing to the welfare of whole mankind.” While conceding to the notion that everyone has limited time in this world, Belbase believes that we should utilize the allocated time in doing things that are creative and productive for the society, nation and the whole of human kind.</div>', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2013-12-10', 'modified' => '2013-12-17', 'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal', 'description' => 'Hari Narayan Belbase, Director at the Department of Commerce and Supply Management, is a man with a tight professional schedule. Despite that Belbase does not hold grudges and enjoys it as part of his responsibility. He opines that it is the right time for him to do something and be someone, rather than seeking leisure.', 'sortorder' => '2107', 'image' => null, 'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '0' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '2264', 'article_category_id' => '201', 'title' => 'Easy Hairstyles For Office Hours', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => null, 'content' => '<div> </div> <div> <strong>--By Rashika Pokharel</strong></div> <div> </div> <div> <img alt="" src="/userfiles/images/h.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px;width: 210px; height: 600px;" />Dealing with hair and having hairstyles that match to your professional status is an important yet ardent task. People find it hard at times, especially women, when it comes to figure out a hairstyle that will give them a professional outlook. Managing hairstyle is a big task for working ladies because they have very less time left for themselves.</div> <div> </div> <div> Hairstyle is an essential element of female etiquette. Women are more careful about their hairstyle and appearance rather than men. Hairstyle is an auxiliary factor in case of women. A woman with beautiful hair looks charming and confident. </div> <div> </div> <div> Since our hairstyle is one of the primary things that people note about us, it’s important to pick hairstyles that appear professional and yet at the same time emphasize our best features and ameliorate our femininity.</div> <div> </div> <div> When it comes to dressing and looking suitable for office it is very difficult to choose on something accurate. Office atmosphere is generally strict and more formal; this is the reason where we may have maximum chances of going wrong. Being trendy and maintaining a suitable office posture can come easily, especially by keeping a track of current business fashion trends. </div> <div> </div> <div> So while talking about fashion trends we cannot remain aloof from trending hairstyles in the corporate world. Here are few hairstyles trending in this world and which are easy and may look perfect for hectic office schedules here in Nepal too. </div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:16px;"><strong>Bun</strong></span></div> <div> When you are surrounded by any confusion regarding hairstyle, go for bun. It is convenient yet classy for office hours and most importantly you can never go wrong with this one. Just pin up your bun with bobby pins, or you can fasten it up with pins which are elegant and not too much glittery.</div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:16px;"><strong>Ponytail<img alt="" src="/userfiles/images/pt.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px;width: 75px; height: 86px;" /></strong></span></div> <div> Ponytail is the most comfortable hairstyle you can choose. Whenever you are in rush or have too much of work load in office , ponytail can be a saviour. There are many types of ponytails such as inverted ponytail, wrapped ponytail and side ponytail. You can pick any of them that suits you the most.</div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:16px;"><strong>Free Layers<img alt="" src="/userfiles/images/pt1.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; width: 70px; height: 80px;" /></strong></span></div> <div> All the females love to show their layers and curls. So, if you want to do that, you can leave you hair free. This is the best hairstyle for every kind of hair whether it’s short, curl, wavy, frizzy or straight.</div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:16px;"><strong>Braids<img alt="" src="/userfiles/images/pt2.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px;width: 75px; height: 86px;" /></strong></span></div> <div> Braids are one of the most comfortable hairstyles. There are varieties of braids such as fish bone, Dutch braid, etc. You can even choose side braid leaving your fringes. If you feel innovative and want to try something new, go for braids.</div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:16px;"><strong>French Roll<img alt="" src="/userfiles/images/pt3.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; width: 70px; height: 79px;" /></strong></span></div> <div> It is a very elegant hairstyle for work and helps to look great with the formal wears. It is also fit for formal parties and meetings.</div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:16px;"><strong>Clipping Your Hair<img alt="" src="/userfiles/images/pt4.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px;width: 75px; height: 87px;" /></strong></span></div> <div> You can leave rest of your hair free by clipping a small section of your front hair. This will give you a clean look and at the same time avoid letting your hair disturb or irritate during work time.</div>', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2013-12-10', 'modified' => '2013-12-10', 'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal', 'description' => 'Dealing with hair and having hairstyles that match to your professional status is an important yet ardent task. People find it hard at times, especially women, when it comes to figure out a hairstyle that will give them a professional outlook. Managing hairstyle is a big task for working ladies because they have very less time left for themselves.', 'sortorder' => '2106', 'image' => null, 'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '0' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '2260', 'article_category_id' => '149', 'title' => 'Aqua Hundred: A Trusted Quality Brand', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => null, 'content' => '<div> </div> <div> <strong>--By Upashana Neupane </strong></div> <div> </div> <table align="right" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px;" width="25"> <tbody> <tr> <td> <img alt="Rabin Shrestha, Business Manager, Aqua Minerals Nepal Pvt Ltd" src="/userfiles/images/bt1(1).jpg" style="border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; width: 200px; height: 221px;" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td bgcolor="#FFFFFF"> <div align="center"> <div style="text-align: center;"> <div> <strong>Rabin Shrestha</strong></div> <div> <em>Business Manager</em></div> <div> <em>Aqua Minerals Nepal Pvt Ltd</em></div> </div> </div> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <div> Aqua Hundred carries 21 years of glorious history of providing purified water in Nepali market. Introduced in 1992, it stands true to its initial motto “Drink safe water and be healthy”. The brand was launched by Aqua Minerals Pvt Ltd at a time when huge amount of purified water used to be imported from foreign countries in lack of domestic brand, that could correspond to the market’s need, Rabin Shrestha, Business Manager at Aqua Minerals, says. </div> <div> </div> <div> Aqua Hundred is market leader in purified water since the beginning of the brand. Named combining two words: Aqua and Hundred (Aqua means Water and hundred represents the 100 per cent purity), its logo has oval shape of waves, that symbolise water.</div> <div> </div> <div> Aqua Hundred is the pioneer to introduce big jar for purified water in Nepali market. It changed common perception among people that bottled, purified water is available only in 1 litre or half litre bottles. “In the initial days, when we introduced big jars, people were surprised and used to stare at us,” Shrestha says, “Now the scenario has changed and Aqua Hundred has become popular and has established itself as must have drinking water in every household.” </div> <div> </div> <div> Reflecting two decades of business journey, Shrestha says that the company was started with a commitment to provide quality water to the customers and has continued doing so, sustaining many ups and downs. “Aqua Hundred was launched to address the drinking water scarcity in Kathmandu valley and as direct response to growing awareness and demand of people for clean and pure drinking water,” Shrestha informs.</div> <div> </div> <div> Initially, 19 litre jar and half litre mineral water bottle were launched. By now Aqua Hundred has expanded to varieties of products like cup water, ice-cubes and chlorine solutions. </div> <div> </div> <div> Shrestha says, in the initial days Aqua Hundred made massive publicity campaigns in electronic and print media, hoarding boards and like to promote the brand. Now customers are familiar to the brand and it has become a brand to trust in. “We have always prioritized ‘quality’, thus have won the trust of our customers,” he says.</div> <div> </div> <div> <img alt="aqua hundred" src="/userfiles/images/bt2%20(Copy).jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px;width: 200px; height: 321px;" />Aqua Hundred with the tagline is “Sabaiko Bishwashilo Paani (Everyone’s Trustworthy Water)” has customers’ faith as it has always been providing best quality consistently. “Consistency is most important to sustain in the market,” Shrestha says, “Providing good quality is not sufficient. One should also continue fulfilling commitments.”</div> <div> </div> <div> The company has an in-house lab of its own and each product is tested before getting into the market. Aqua Hundred Jar is a polycarbonate jar which is recommended for reusable purpose. Aqua Hundred is ISO 9001:2008 certified company but Shrestha says that the best award Aqua Hundred has ever got is the faith of its customers. We have always believed in customer’s satisfaction and their loyalty. </div> <div> </div> <div> Shrestha says, due to unstable political scenario of Nepal, it is difficult to grow and sustain in the market. Similarly, illegal and low quality bottled water has been ruining the image of the entire industry. He says all those companies and products should be properly monitored or banned by the concerned authority. In the near future, Aqua Hundred has plans to spread its market outside the valley too.</div> <div> </div> <div> Shrestha says we should promote Nepali products. “If best quality product is available within our own country, why to use foreign brands?,” he says, “Be Nepali, Buy Nepali”.</div>', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2013-12-10', 'modified' => '2013-12-17', 'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal', 'description' => 'Aqua Hundred carries 21 years of glorious history of providing purified water in Nepali market. Introduced in 1992, it stands true to its initial motto “Drink safe water and be healthy”. The brand was launched by Aqua Minerals Pvt Ltd at a time when huge amount of purified water used to be imported from foreign countries in lack of domestic brand, that could correspond to the market’s need, Rabin Shrestha, Business Manager at Aqua Minerals, says.', 'sortorder' => '2105', 'image' => null, 'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '0' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '2262', 'article_category_id' => '115', 'title' => 'Tech Briefs (9 - 15 December 2013)', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => null, 'content' => '<div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>2 Million Facebook, Gmail and Twitter Passwords Stolen </strong></span></div> <div> <img alt="Facebook" src="/userfiles/images/bt6%20(Copy).jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px;width: 150px; height: 82px;" />Hackers have stolen usernames and passwords for nearly two million accounts at Facebook, Google, Twitter, Yahoo and others, according to a report released last week. The massive data breach was a result of keylogging software maliciously installed on an untold number of computers around the world, researchers at cybersecurity firmTrustwave said. </div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>New Malware Communicates Via Sound Waves</strong></span></div> <div> <img alt="" src="/userfiles/images/bt7%20(Copy)(1).jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px;width: 150px; height: 101px;" />Scientists have developed a malware that transmits information between computers using high-frequency sound waves inaudible to the human ear. This allows the malware to transmit keystrokes and other sensitive data even when infected machines have no network connection. The new malware uses high-frequency audio signals to bridge the ‘air gap’ — a type of security where network is secured by keeping it separate from other local networks and the Internet. Using just the built-in microphones and speakers of standard computers, the researchers from Germany’s Fraunhofer Institute for Communication, Information Processing, and Ergonomics were able to transmit passwords and other small amounts of data from distances of almost 65 feet.</div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Google Working on Robot Development</strong></span></div> <div> <img alt="" src="/userfiles/images/bt8%20(Copy).jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px;width: 150px; height: 84px;" />Google has bought seven robotics companies in recent months as part of a strategy to develop its own robots that can be used for warehouse, manufacturing and delivery work, the New York Times reported on Wednesday. The report said that Google had placed Andy Rubin in charge of the project. Rubin is the highly regarded executive who led the development of Android into the world’s most widely used smartphone software.</div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>GTA: San Andreas Revived for iOS, Android and Windows Phone</strong></span></div> <div> <img alt="" src="/userfiles/images/bt9%20(Copy).jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px;width: 150px; height: 95px;" />Grand Theft Auto V may be flying high in the console charts, but its developer Rockstar Games is already planning the next GTA game – one that will be familiar to fans of the series. The company has announced plans to re-release 2004’s Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas for smartphones and tablets in December. The game will be available for iPhone, iPad, Android (including Amazon’s Kindle Fire) and Windows devices. Rockstar also says that the game has been given a makeover to ensure it’s up to scratch in 2013. “Newly re-mastered graphics including dynamic and detailed shadows, greater draw distance, an enriched color palette, plus enhanced character and car models make this the best-looking version of San Andreas yet,” claimed the company. “Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas also features brand new touch controls including contextual control options to display buttons only when you need them and three different control schemes for driving and maneuvering, as well as a reworked checkpoint system for easier progression.”</div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>R.I.P Mandela: Top Trending Topic on Twitter</strong></span></div> <div> Hashtag (#) R.I.P. Mandela was the top trending topic on Twitter on Friday following the death of global anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela. Mandela, South Africa’s first elected black president, died at his home in Houghton, a suburb of Johannesburg, following a protracted illness. He was 95. Many celebrities and well known world figures tweeted their shock and sadness at Mandela’s demise, the SABC reported. </div>', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2013-12-10', 'modified' => '2013-12-10', 'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal', 'description' => 'Hackers have stolen usernames and passwords for nearly two million accounts at Facebook, Google, Twitter, Yahoo and others, according to a report released last week.', 'sortorder' => '2104', 'image' => null, 'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '0' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = false $xml = falsesimplexml_load_file - [internal], line ?? include - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 133 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
| Currency | Unit |
Buy | Sell |
| U.S. Dollar | 1 | 121.23 | 121.83 |
| European Euro | 1 | 131.65 | 132.31 |
| UK Pound Sterling | 1 | 142.47 | 143.18 |
| Swiss Franc | 1 | 124.29 | 124.90 |
| Australian Dollar | 1 | 71.69 | 72.05 |
| Canadian Dollar | 1 | 83.90 | 84.32 |
| Japanese Yen | 10 | 10.94 | 11.00 |
| Chinese Yuan | 1 | 17.17 | 17.26 |
| Saudi Arabian Riyal | 1 | 32.27 | 32.43 |
| UAE Dirham | 1 | 33.01 | 33.17 |
| Malaysian Ringgit | 1 | 27.36 | 27.50 |
| South Korean Won | 100 | 9.77 | 9.82 |
Update: 2020-03-25 | Source: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB)
| Fine Gold | 1 tola | 77000.00 |
| Tejabi Gold | 1 tola | 76700.00 |
| Silver | 1 tola | 720.00 |
Update : 2020-03-25
Source: Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers' Association
| Petrol | 1 Liter | 106.00 |
| Diesel | 1 Liter | 95.00 |
| Kerosene | 1 Liter | 95.00 |
| LP Gas | 1 Cylinder | 1375.00 |
Update : 2020-03-25
