August 2: The government has appointed Madhu Kumar Marasini as the secretary of the Ministry of…
August 2: The government has appointed Madhu Kumar Marasini as the secretary of the Ministry of…
August 1: Fourteen organisations associated with the tourism sector have jointly submitted a memo to Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba with suggestions for the protection and revival of the tourism…
August 1: All non-life insurance companies have deferred the payment of coronavirus insurance claims after the government delayed the release of the allocated…
August 1: Despite the impact of COVID-19, the Government of Nepal continues to make gains in countering human trafficking, according to Winrock International – an INGO that has been raising awareness about trafficking in persons and other issues under Hamro Samman…
August 1: The government has initiated the process of launching various programmes to support the tourism industry that has been badly affected by the Covid-19…
July 30: The Sugarcane farmers, whose payment is long overdue by various sugar mill owners, have urged the government for its intervention to ensure their outstanding dues are cleared within 21 August this…
July 30: Vice Chairman of the National Planning Commission Biswo Nath Poudel has taken oath of office on …
July 30: Finance Minister Janardan Sharma has clarified that he has not interfered with the autonomy of Nepal Rastra Bank, which is an autonomous…
July 30: The Ministry of Finance has sought clarification from Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) following media reports of share trading…
July 30: Ninety one per cent of the country's population has access to internet service in the country, Nepal Telecom Authority (NTA) said in a report.…
July 30: Finance Minister Janardan Sharma and South Korean Ambassador Park Chong Suk held a meeting on the issue of Nepali workers in South…
July 29: The trade deficit for footwear, which was considered self-reliant, has increased during the pandemic.…
…
July 29: Hotels operating at the federal, state, and local levels have to use star signs to show their…
July 29: The Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) has endorsed the work procedure to use a new technology including the trial of 5G, the fifth generation mobile…
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According to a source, Dhungana himself tried to be transferred from the ministry due to the possibility of not being comfortable working with the new finance minister after the formation of the new government.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-02', 'modified' => '2021-08-02', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13506', 'image' => '20210802110918_AAAA162780.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-02 10:57:46', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13760', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Tourism Organisations meet PM to put forth their Demands', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 1: Fourteen organisations associated with the tourism sector have jointly submitted a memo to Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba with suggestions for the protection and revival of the tourism industry.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">August 1: Fourteen organisations associated with the tourism sector have jointly submitted a memo to Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba with suggestions for the protection and revival of the tourism industry.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">They have put forward their demand such as providing vaccinations to their frontline workers within 30 days and appointment of one of the chairpersons among them as a representative in the Covid-19 Crisis Management Committee Center (CCMC). They made such demand so as to revive the overall tourism sector which has been worst affected by the pandemic.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">During the meeting with the Prime Minister Deuba on Friday, Hotel Association Nepal (HAN), Airlines Operators Association of Nepal, Nepal Mountaineering Association and others made dozens of demands with focus on three particular issues. They have put forward immediate issues for the revival of the tourism sector, protection of tourism entrepreneurs and workers, and sustainable development of this sector.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Entrepreneurs demand that the government should form a ‘Tourism Recovery Task Force’ by including tourism associations and experts and allocate necessary budget. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">They demanded the establishment of the task force to formulate and implement an integrated crisis communication system, strategies and programmes related to tourism revival. Likewise, they have suggested for a master plan with special revival policy in the financial white paper to promote and protect the tourism industry.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">They have also suggested formulating work procedures in coordination with the private sector to implement 10 days paid leave for the promotion of domestic tourism mentioned in the budget. It believed that domestic tourism will flourish and will directly help in the revival of sustainable tourism when about 400,000 employees go on a tourism leave.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Moreover, they have demanded that cash flow should be provided to small and medium tourism entrepreneurs for five years in a simple and easy way to sustain them. In addition, the entrepreneurs have also demanded special tourism loan, refinancing, tax waiver and separate tax system during the pandemic for three years.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Other organizations that met the Prime Minister and submitted the joint letter include Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATTA), Nepal Association of Rafting Agencies (NARA), Nepal Association of Tour Operators (NATO), Tourist Bus Association of Nepal, Society of Travel and Tour Operators (SOTTO), Himalayan Rescue Association, Nepal Tourist Vehicle Association, Expedition Operators Association Nepal and PATA Nepal Chapter. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-01', 'modified' => '2021-08-01', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13505', 'image' => '20210801021645_20201016032657_1602804123.Clipboard13.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-01 14:15:50', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13759', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Insurance Companies Halt Settlement of Covid-19 Insurance Claims', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 1: All non-life insurance companies have deferred the payment of coronavirus insurance claims after the government delayed the release of the allocated budget.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">August 1: All non-life insurance companies have deferred the payment of coronavirus insurance claims after the government delayed the release of the allocated budget.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> At the call of the Nepal Insurers Association, 20 non-life insurance companies have formally stopped the payment of coronavirus insurance since July 29.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The companies had been delaying in settling the claims related to coronavirus insurance since mid-April due to the delay in part of the government in releasing the budget.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The association has now informed that the payment of coronavirus insurance has been formally stopped. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Sunil Ballabh Pant, an executive member of the association and CEO of NLG Insurance, said that the payment for Covid-19 claims has been stopped for the time being. He said that payment for Covid-19 claims was stopped as the government did not release the amount as promised.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Since the government has not released the promised money, the companies are facing difficulties in settling the claims from their funds. The decision was taken after the companies had a problem with cash flow, said Pant, adding that the claim settlement would start only after the government releases the money.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He said that a letter signed by the CEOs of all non-life insurance companies has been submitted to the Insurance Board in this regard. He said that a letter was sent to the board stating that the settlement of coronavirus insurance claims had to be stopped due to the government not releasing the budget.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Secretary at the Ministry of Finance Shishir Kumar Dhungana said that the amount was in the process of being released. He said that the ministry will decide in this regard within a week and a half.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">‘Insurance companies have reported that they have suspended settling the claims for Covid-19. The closing in mid-July had caused some delays,” he said, adding that the ministry will decide shortly.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The government is due to pay over Rs 3.5 billion in coronavirus insurance as per the announcement made by the former government. So far, insurance companies have already settled coronavirus insurance claims of more than Rs 3.5 billion. However, they haven't received any amount from the Ministry of Finance.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">So far, no data has been prepared on the total number of claims. As of mid-July, insurance companies estimate that there are claims for more than Rs 11 billion. Accordingly, the government will have to disburse more than Rs 7.5 billion.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-01', 'modified' => '2021-08-01', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13504', 'image' => '20210801125408_20200426022909_1587852673.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-01 12:53:10', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13758', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Progresses in Countering Human Trafficking: Report', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 1: Despite the impact of COVID-19, the Government of Nepal continues to make gains in countering human trafficking, according to Winrock International – an INGO that has been raising awareness about trafficking in persons and other issues under Hamro Samman project.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">August 1: Despite the impact of COVID-19, the Government of Nepal continues to make gains in countering human trafficking, according to Winrock International – an INGO that has been raising awareness about trafficking in persons and other issues under Hamro Samman project. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">As per the 2021 US Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report, the achievements made by Nepal included ratification of the Palermo Protocol, steps to amend the Human Trafficking and Transportation (Control) Act, and continuing to raise awareness on trafficking. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">With the rapid development in communication technology, the challenges of countering TIP have also changed, the organization said in a statement issued on July 30. The lockdown has seen traffickers increasingly use social media and mobile technologies to lure and deceive victims. Many Nepalis whose homes were destroyed by the 2015 earthquakes, and who are now being affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, are especially vulnerable to trafficking, the statement added.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">A webinar organized by Winrock International on the occasion of the United Nations World Day Against Trafficking in Persons highlighted the need to have strong engagement and participation of TIP survivors to address these challenges. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">During the webinar, the survivors of trafficking, who have received support from the Hamro Samman project, shared their stories, how they overcame trafficking, and the resilience they gained from the experience. They are now working to improve awareness, community engagement, and transformative empowerment at the local level in coordination with committees and governments, the statement further said. The event also discussed the heightened vulnerability, renewed challenges, and collaborative solutions to countering TIP.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“This event served as a platform for highlighting the efforts of local governments countering TIP in their communities,” the statement quoted Adriana Hayes, the acting mission director for USAID/Nepal, as saying. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Nathanael Bevan, Development Director at the British Embassy Kathmandu said, “Crises have a disproportionate impact on marginalized communities including women and girls. The pandemic has put such groups at more risk than ever before. By working with local governments and stakeholders, our Hamro Samman programme is ensuring that survivors’ voices and leadership are at the centre of tackling trafficking.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Hamro Samman Project is being jointly funded by the USAID and the UK to help address human trafficking issues, specifically in the foreign labor migration and entertainment sectors. The project aims to strengthen the Government of Nepal’s system to tackle human trafficking and build synergies among the government, civil society, and the private sector to strengthen laws to prosecute traffickers and better support survivors under Nepal’s federal structure.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-01', 'modified' => '2021-08-01', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13503', 'image' => '20210801114022_Untitled.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-01 11:39:13', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13757', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NTB Provides Job Opportunity to 5,000 People involved in Tourism Sector', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 1: The government has initiated the process of launching various programmes to support the tourism industry that has been badly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">August 1: The government has initiated the process of launching various programmes to support the tourism industry that has been badly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Besides providing concessional loan to the private sector, the government has also started various long-term and short-term projects in collaboration with international partners. This has given special emphasis to create job opportunities to the people involved in tourism sector who lost their jobs. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In this regard, Nepal Tourism Board has started giving employment to 5,000 such workers in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). New job opportunities have been created for the rehabilitation of the employees under the Sustainable Tourism Project.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">National coordinator of the project Mani Lamichhane informed that the board has taken this initiative to provide relief to some extent to the employees who have been most affected by the pandemic. -- RSS</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-01', 'modified' => '2021-08-01', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13502', 'image' => '20210801110919_20180513122353_tourism.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-01 11:07:56', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13756', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Sugarcane Farmers Demand Due Payment ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 30: The Sugarcane farmers, whose payment is long overdue by various sugar mill owners, have urged the government for its intervention to ensure their outstanding dues are cleared within 21 August this year. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">July 30: The Sugarcane farmers, whose payment is long overdue by various sugar mill owners, have urged the government for its intervention to ensure their outstanding dues are cleared within 21 August this year. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A group of sugarcane farmers, organizing a press conference on Thursday, have asked the government to facilitate their payment which amounts to around Rs 150 million. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Representatives from the Sugarcane Famers Struggle Committee, Sarlahi, Federation of Agricultural Workers of Nepal and sugarcane farmers rued that they were not paid as per the agreement inked among the sugar mill owners and them in the past. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A five-point agreement was signed among the Sugarcane Famers Struggle Committee, and the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies on December 28, 2020 according to which their payment would be paid within 21 days of the agreement. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The committee’s secretary Harishyam Yadav ranted that the report by a taskforce formed after 120 days of the previous agreement was not made public yet. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Yadav blamed that the report prepared by the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies has not clearly mentioned the dues to be paid to the sugarcane farmers. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Chairperson of the Committee Ram Swartha Raya said that over Rs 150 millions remained to be paid by six sugar mills. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-30', 'modified' => '2021-07-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13501', 'image' => '20210730041505_20210125102806_20201229113333_1609164432.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-30 16:14:05', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13755', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NPC Vice Chairman Takes Oath of Office', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 30: Vice Chairman of the National Planning Commission Biswo Nath Poudel has taken oath of office on Thursday.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">July 30: Vice Chairman of the National Planning Commission Biswo Nath Poudel has taken oath of office on Thursday. Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba administered the oath of office to Poudel at Singha Durbar amid a function.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">On the occasion, the newly-appointed vice-chairman of the commission, Poudel, said that a plan would be formulated after studying the impact of the Covid-19 and floods. He said that he would work to increase the quality of regular work as well as overall planning and to support other ministries including the Ministry of Finance.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Poudel said that the aim is to strengthen the body that is directly and regularly linked with the Planning Commission.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">"We need to look into the impact of the Covid-19 and floods," Poudel said “After that, our goal is to do regular work, improve the quality of the entire plan and give feedback to other ministries, including finance, and strengthen other bodies.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The cabinet meeting held on Tuesday had appointed Poudel as the vice-chairman of the National Planning Commission and Ram Kumar Phuyal and Dil Bahadur Gurung as its members.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-30', 'modified' => '2021-07-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13500', 'image' => '20210730040917_20210728021851_1627428213.Clipboard02.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-30 16:08:22', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13754', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Finance Minister Denies Interference with NRB’s Autonomy', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 30: Finance Minister Janardan Sharma has clarified that he has not interfered with the autonomy of Nepal Rastra Bank, which is an autonomous body.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 30: Finance Minister Janardan Sharma has clarified that he has not interfered with the autonomy of Nepal Rastra Bank, which is an autonomous body.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">While there are rumors that the finance minister has stopped the monetary policy to be brought by the central bank, minister Sharma said that he has suggested the NRB to decide what kind of policy to bring, and when and how to bring it.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Even after the 14 days of the current fiscal year, the central bank has not been able to bring the monetary policy. There has been a rumor of the finance minister’s interference in this matter. However, minister Sharma clarified that the NRB is an autonomous body and it will decide when to bring the monetary policy.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In a meeting with officials of the Nepalese Association of Financial Journalists (NAFIJ) on Thursday, Sharma said, “I have asked the governor not to raise interest rates again.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He said that he has directed the central bank to create a stress-free environment. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“The monetary policy should not create problem for the general public. I have not given any suggestions besides that. I have not halted the monetary policy,” he said, adding, “NRB is an autonomous body. I told the governor that you are the head of it and only suggested that you have the responsibility to decide when and how to do it.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In addition, he said that he will not make the economy problematic by stopping the monetary policy. “I have asked him to introduce the monetary policy in a way that it does not hamper the people and the economic activities,” he added, “Saying this is my responsibility.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Stating that the problem of Covid-19 has not only hampered business environment but also the life of the general public, Minister Sharma said that this problem can be resolved only if all the stakeholders are serious about the problem. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Minister Sharma has also requested the media to disseminate factual news after proper verification. He also stated that this tenure has been a challenge for him and an opportunity for the people. Sharma said, “I am ready to face any challenge to make this opportunity fruitful for the people.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Earlier, Finance Secretary Shishir Kumar Dhungana said that suggestions from media persons would help in formulating a fact-based policy. He said that although the economy has not yet improved, there are some good aspects including foreign exchange reserves and savings. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-30', 'modified' => '2021-07-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13499', 'image' => '20210730010403_20210716022924_1626392414.Clipboard14.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-30 13:02:53', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13753', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Finance Ministry seeks clarification from NEPSE, SEBON ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 30: The Ministry of Finance has sought clarification from Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) following media reports of share trading manipulation.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">July 30: The Ministry of Finance has sought clarification from Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) following media reports of share trading manipulation.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Ministry asked CEO of NEPSE Chandra Singh Saud on Thursday (July 29) to furnish clarification in this regard within three days after his family was reported to have bought the shares of a company that is planning to release its shares to the public. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The ministry has inquired about the truth regarding the contents disseminated in different media outlets about the inside trading, the state-owned national news agency RSS reported. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The ministry has also sought similar clarification from the Securities Board of Nepal (SEBON) over the same issue. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The ministry has sought the clarification from SEBON Chairperson Bhishma Raj Dhungana and his family after media reports that they made 'setting’ (undue agreement) with a company to sell ordinary shares. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Financial Sector Management and Corporation Co-ordination Division of the Ministry has asked Dhungana to furnish clarification within three days, effective from Wednesday. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Stating that the ministry’s attention has been drawn towards the news published on various media regarding the board, the ministry directed Dhungana to submit factual statement regarding the published news within three days. </span></span></span><br /> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-30', 'modified' => '2021-07-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13498', 'image' => '20210730071603_20200327032654_5003_finance-ministy.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-30 07:14:55', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13752', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '91 Percent Population has Access to Internet Service: NTA ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 30: Ninety one per cent of the country's population has access to internet service in the country, Nepal Telecom Authority (NTA) said in a report. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">July 30: Ninety one per cent of the country's population has access to internet service in the country, Nepal Telecom Authority (NTA) said in a report. The NTA report is based on the population projection (2021-2030). </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Authority has taken the country’s total population of 29.876 million as the basis for its report. As per the data of the Authority, 27.76 million people have access to internet service as of June 14, 2021. A total of 331,422 more internet users have been added from mid-April to mid-May as compared to mid-March to mid-April. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">As per the statistics, the biggest contributor is mobile internet. Mobile internet users comprise 65.68 per cent of the total internet users. More than 12.052 million people have access to 3G internet service. Of them, 9.590 million people are using 3G internet service of Nepal Telecom, which is the largest number, and 2.462 million people are using internet service of Ncell. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A total of 11.956 million people have been using 3G internet service as of mid-May while around 96,000 more 3G internet have been added from mid-May to mid-June. Fixed Broadband has 25.27 per cent space. Among the fixed Broadband users, 785,000 are ADSL internet service users and 556,000 FTTH internet users. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The report shows that the number of 4G customers is decreasing in the country of late. The 4G customers whose number had increased notably for some months has been dwindling in recent time. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">As per the statistics of the last 10 months released by NTA, the number of 4G users is found decreased in mid-May to mid-June compared to the previous month (mid-April to mid- May). The statistics shows that there were 7 million 697 thousand 863 4G customers until mid-May. This decreased to 7 million 664 thousand 449 until mid-June. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-30', 'modified' => '2021-07-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13497', 'image' => '20210730071331_20210526081934_20190922030926_aaaa.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-30 07:12:15', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13751', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Finance Minister urges South Korean Ambassador to Resume EPS Process', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 30: Finance Minister Janardan Sharma and South Korean Ambassador Park Chong Suk held a meeting on the issue of Nepali workers in South Korea.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">July 30: Finance Minister Janardan Sharma and South Korean Ambassador Park Chong Suk held a meeting on the issue of Nepali workers in South Korea.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">During the meeting at the Ministry of Finance on Wednesday, July 29, Minister Sharma urged the Korean ambassador to create a favorable environment to take the youths who have passed the language test to go to Korea.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Expressing commitment on behalf of the government to expedite the process in this regard, which was halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Minister Sharma also urged the ambassador to speed up the necessary process on part of the Korean government .</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">“Thousands of youths who have passed the Korean language test under the Employment Permit System (EPS) are unemployed. I am confident that this problem will be resolved soon,” said Sharma.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">In response, Ambassador Park promised to take the issue forward. Stating that Korean employers are happy with the hard work and high integrity of Nepalis, Ambassador Park said that the process of sending the workers will be expedited. Minister Sharma said that vaccination against coronavirus is the first priority and expressed confidence that the Korea would provide necessary support.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The Finance Minister expressed gratitude to Korea for its support in the areas of health, education and technology of the country. South Korea has been investing in health, education, hydropower and other sectors in Nepal. A well-equipped hospital has been constructed in Thimi, Nuwakot, Dhangadhi and Mugu with Korean investment and a model polytechnic college is being established in Bardiwas of Mahottari. The college will produce skilled manpower in the construction sector.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">During the meeting, Ambassador Park expressed concern over the delay in the construction of the Upper Trishuli-1 Hydropower Project with Korean investment. He said that there was concern of overrun costs due to delay in the project.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-30', 'modified' => '2021-07-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13496', 'image' => '20210730071116_Flag-Pins-Nepal-South-Korea_600x600.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-30 07:09:59', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13749', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Footwear Export Down By 60 Percent', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 29: The trade deficit for footwear, which was considered self-reliant, has increased during the pandemic. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 29: The trade deficit for footwear, which was considered self-reliant, has increased during the pandemic. During the last fiscal year, the import of footwear into Nepal increased while the export took a nosedive.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the data of the Department of Customs, the export of footwear declined by 60 percent in the last FY. While 5.66 million units of shoes were exported from Nepal in the FY 2076/77, the export was limited to 2.27 million units in the FY 2077/78. Last year, shoes worth Rs 732 million were exported, which is Rs 870 million less than that of FY 2076/77.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, the data shows that the import of footwear has increased. Last year, the import increased by 35 percent compared to the previous year. In FY 2075/76, 22 million units of shoes were imported while the import went up to 29.8 million units last year.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The recent figure is a U-turn from the data of few years ago. The import of footwear had been continuously declining and the export had been increasing since FY 2073/74. However, the import has increased and export has decreased since last year.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Footwear falls among the 13 items that the government has classified as self-reliant products. The government had stated to promote self-reliant business by implementing Industrial Policy 2067, Industrial Enterprises Act 2076 and Industrial Enterprises Regulation 2076. Entrepreneurs, on the other hand, say that the government has not given any special discount to the footwear industry.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Uttam Prasad Adhikari, senior vice-president of Footwear Manufacturers Association of Nepal, who is also the operator of Chitwan Footwear, said that the customs has not given any exemption on the import of raw materials yet. “There has been no special support from the government. So far, the businessmen have done everything on their own,” he said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Since there is no facilitation from the government and most of the shoe factories are closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, he said that the imports have increased to meet the demand as the production has declined.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“Majority of the workers in the shoe industry are Indians, but they have not been able to return to work due to the pandemic,” he said, “The production has decreased as it is not easy to import raw materials due to the pandemic.” He is of the view that the production of shoes will gain momentum once the situation returns to normal.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the detailed study report of Industrial Products that can be self-reliant in Nepal 2078, that was released by the Department of Industry last June, there are currently six large, 15 medium, 300 small and 1,200 micro footwear industries in Nepal. Moreover, the study revealed that the annual production capacity of such industries is 45 million units. Likewise, 70,000 people are directly employed in these industries. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-29', 'modified' => '2021-07-29', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13495', 'image' => '20210729011452_20190124015719_birat.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-29 13:13:34', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13750', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Income of Chitwan National Park Declines', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => '', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 29: The income of Chitwan National Park has declined due to the low arrival of tourists in the last fiscal year.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The park, which earned Rs 187.38 million from tourists visiting the park in Fiscal Year 2019/20, was able to collect only Rs 25.537 million in the last fiscal year (FY 2020/21). The park also generates income from other sources.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In Fiscal Year 2019/20, the park collected revenue of Rs 118.70 million other sources besides tourists’ fees, whereas, in the last fiscal year, the income generated from those sources increased to Rs 188.24 million.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Information Officer of CNP Lokendra Adhikari, who is also an Assistant Conservation Officer, said that the main source of income of the park is the tourist fee. And due to the decline in arrival of tourists because of the prohibitory order, the income has declined significantly.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> "Our main source of income is tourism, including foreign tourists," he said. "Other income from the park is riverine excavation fees, contracts and fines.”</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-29', 'modified' => '2021-07-29', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13494', 'image' => '20210729013117_20150914111210_chitwan.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-29 13:30:05', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13747', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Department of Tourism Directs Hotels and Resorts to Display Star Sign ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 29: Hotels operating at the federal, state, and local levels have to use star signs to show their standards.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">July 29: Hotels operating at the federal, state, and local levels have to use star signs to show their standards. The Department of Tourism has been rating hotels based on service facilities, quality, and capacity. The hotels have been broadly categorized into ordinary hotels, star-rated hotels, heritage hotels, and boutique hotels.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">This is the first time that the government has directed hotels to put up star sign on their boards. The department has determined the signs by classifying all the levels of hotels and motels in the hospitality sector. The Department of Tourism has issued 16 signs for hotels and has mandated them to display them in the signboards.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The department has stated that the sign has been set to show the services provided by the hotels, quality, capacity as well as the infrastructure based on international practice and to maintain uniformity throughout Nepal. Hotels at all levels will be required to place a signboard with a brass plate, an emblem on the top, and a specified number of red stars below it.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The department has informed that the name of the hotel and resort should be mentioned under the red star. However, hotels that provide bed and breakfast service, motel, and tourist inns will not be allowed to include a star in the signboard.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">According to the department, motels should have a red 'M' sign inside the circular line instead of the star, while tourist inn should also have 'I' inside the line, and the B&B should have 'B' and 'B' signs inside the line.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">There are 12 types of signs for one-star to five-star hotels, deluxe hotels and luxury hotels. Accordingly, the five-star Deluxe category hotel will have to write the words 5 star and Deluxe on the signboard. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Ordinary heritage boutique hotels have to place a 3-star and standard heritage boutique in the plate, and for deluxe heritage boutiques, 4 stars and name should be mentioned. There are five-star signs for luxury heritage boutique hotels, three-star signs for ordinary resorts, four-star signs for deluxe resorts, and five-star signs for luxury resorts. According to the department, hotels and resorts of all levels should have such signs at the entrance.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The department has also made arrangements for hotels to have logos of Hotel Association Nepal (HAN) or other associations. Provision has been made for the use of these signs by tourist inns, motels, B&Bs, etc., which are currently registered with the tourism department. </span></span></p> <p><img alt="" src="/app/webroot/userfiles/images/202102190251.jpg" style="height:594px; width:800px" /></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-29', 'modified' => '2021-07-29', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13493', 'image' => '20210729111700_2021031201502.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-29 11:15:25', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13746', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NTA Approves Trial for 5G Service ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 29: The Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) has endorsed the work procedure to use a new technology including the trial of 5G, the fifth generation mobile network.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">July 29: The Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) has endorsed the work procedure to use a new technology including the trial of 5G, the fifth generation mobile network. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A meeting of the NTA Board held a few days ago endorsed the work procedure about the test of new technology. The NTA's move has paved the way for using the 5G wireless internet service in the country. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Chair of the country's telecommunications regulatory body, Purushottam Khanal confirmed that the work procedure for the trial of 5G had been prepared. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Now, service providers can apply for its trial. The application requires the details about the test modality, information about new technology, trial site, and frequency description required for the test, proposed services and its process, schedule of the network installation and the operation, and an action plan. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The NTA will provide free frequency for maximum one year for the trial use. During the test period, the NTA will not charge the service recipients. The service providing companies are required to include both rural and urban areas for the trial service. Besides, they are mandated to manage hardware and software for the trial service and inform about it to the NTA. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">It has been mentioned in the work procedure that the Authority could scrap the operation license if no progress is seen in the work regarding import of necessary equipment and its installation even within three months of approval. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The service provider could re-use the equipment used during the trial period for 4G with the permission of the Authority. It should be sealed or returned to the concerned seller in the presence of the Authority and the regulatory body should be informed if the equipment are not used. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Nepal Telecom has already presented its work procedure to the Authority for 5G trial. The state-owned telecom company has not been able to test the 5G as the frequency required for 5G has not been determined yet. The Authority had determined frequency for 5G in Nepal only in February. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-29', 'modified' => '2021-07-29', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13492', 'image' => '20210729075523_20210324040042_20181204021328_5GblogImage (1).jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-29 07:53:51', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = falseinclude - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 60 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
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According to a source, Dhungana himself tried to be transferred from the ministry due to the possibility of not being comfortable working with the new finance minister after the formation of the new government.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-02', 'modified' => '2021-08-02', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13506', 'image' => '20210802110918_AAAA162780.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-02 10:57:46', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13760', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Tourism Organisations meet PM to put forth their Demands', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 1: Fourteen organisations associated with the tourism sector have jointly submitted a memo to Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba with suggestions for the protection and revival of the tourism industry.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">August 1: Fourteen organisations associated with the tourism sector have jointly submitted a memo to Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba with suggestions for the protection and revival of the tourism industry.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">They have put forward their demand such as providing vaccinations to their frontline workers within 30 days and appointment of one of the chairpersons among them as a representative in the Covid-19 Crisis Management Committee Center (CCMC). They made such demand so as to revive the overall tourism sector which has been worst affected by the pandemic.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">During the meeting with the Prime Minister Deuba on Friday, Hotel Association Nepal (HAN), Airlines Operators Association of Nepal, Nepal Mountaineering Association and others made dozens of demands with focus on three particular issues. They have put forward immediate issues for the revival of the tourism sector, protection of tourism entrepreneurs and workers, and sustainable development of this sector.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Entrepreneurs demand that the government should form a ‘Tourism Recovery Task Force’ by including tourism associations and experts and allocate necessary budget. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">They demanded the establishment of the task force to formulate and implement an integrated crisis communication system, strategies and programmes related to tourism revival. Likewise, they have suggested for a master plan with special revival policy in the financial white paper to promote and protect the tourism industry.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">They have also suggested formulating work procedures in coordination with the private sector to implement 10 days paid leave for the promotion of domestic tourism mentioned in the budget. It believed that domestic tourism will flourish and will directly help in the revival of sustainable tourism when about 400,000 employees go on a tourism leave.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Moreover, they have demanded that cash flow should be provided to small and medium tourism entrepreneurs for five years in a simple and easy way to sustain them. In addition, the entrepreneurs have also demanded special tourism loan, refinancing, tax waiver and separate tax system during the pandemic for three years.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Other organizations that met the Prime Minister and submitted the joint letter include Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATTA), Nepal Association of Rafting Agencies (NARA), Nepal Association of Tour Operators (NATO), Tourist Bus Association of Nepal, Society of Travel and Tour Operators (SOTTO), Himalayan Rescue Association, Nepal Tourist Vehicle Association, Expedition Operators Association Nepal and PATA Nepal Chapter. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-01', 'modified' => '2021-08-01', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13505', 'image' => '20210801021645_20201016032657_1602804123.Clipboard13.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-01 14:15:50', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13759', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Insurance Companies Halt Settlement of Covid-19 Insurance Claims', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 1: All non-life insurance companies have deferred the payment of coronavirus insurance claims after the government delayed the release of the allocated budget.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">August 1: All non-life insurance companies have deferred the payment of coronavirus insurance claims after the government delayed the release of the allocated budget.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> At the call of the Nepal Insurers Association, 20 non-life insurance companies have formally stopped the payment of coronavirus insurance since July 29.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The companies had been delaying in settling the claims related to coronavirus insurance since mid-April due to the delay in part of the government in releasing the budget.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The association has now informed that the payment of coronavirus insurance has been formally stopped. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Sunil Ballabh Pant, an executive member of the association and CEO of NLG Insurance, said that the payment for Covid-19 claims has been stopped for the time being. He said that payment for Covid-19 claims was stopped as the government did not release the amount as promised.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Since the government has not released the promised money, the companies are facing difficulties in settling the claims from their funds. The decision was taken after the companies had a problem with cash flow, said Pant, adding that the claim settlement would start only after the government releases the money.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He said that a letter signed by the CEOs of all non-life insurance companies has been submitted to the Insurance Board in this regard. He said that a letter was sent to the board stating that the settlement of coronavirus insurance claims had to be stopped due to the government not releasing the budget.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Secretary at the Ministry of Finance Shishir Kumar Dhungana said that the amount was in the process of being released. He said that the ministry will decide in this regard within a week and a half.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">‘Insurance companies have reported that they have suspended settling the claims for Covid-19. The closing in mid-July had caused some delays,” he said, adding that the ministry will decide shortly.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The government is due to pay over Rs 3.5 billion in coronavirus insurance as per the announcement made by the former government. So far, insurance companies have already settled coronavirus insurance claims of more than Rs 3.5 billion. However, they haven't received any amount from the Ministry of Finance.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">So far, no data has been prepared on the total number of claims. As of mid-July, insurance companies estimate that there are claims for more than Rs 11 billion. Accordingly, the government will have to disburse more than Rs 7.5 billion.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-01', 'modified' => '2021-08-01', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13504', 'image' => '20210801125408_20200426022909_1587852673.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-01 12:53:10', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13758', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Progresses in Countering Human Trafficking: Report', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 1: Despite the impact of COVID-19, the Government of Nepal continues to make gains in countering human trafficking, according to Winrock International – an INGO that has been raising awareness about trafficking in persons and other issues under Hamro Samman project.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">August 1: Despite the impact of COVID-19, the Government of Nepal continues to make gains in countering human trafficking, according to Winrock International – an INGO that has been raising awareness about trafficking in persons and other issues under Hamro Samman project. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">As per the 2021 US Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report, the achievements made by Nepal included ratification of the Palermo Protocol, steps to amend the Human Trafficking and Transportation (Control) Act, and continuing to raise awareness on trafficking. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">With the rapid development in communication technology, the challenges of countering TIP have also changed, the organization said in a statement issued on July 30. The lockdown has seen traffickers increasingly use social media and mobile technologies to lure and deceive victims. Many Nepalis whose homes were destroyed by the 2015 earthquakes, and who are now being affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, are especially vulnerable to trafficking, the statement added.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">A webinar organized by Winrock International on the occasion of the United Nations World Day Against Trafficking in Persons highlighted the need to have strong engagement and participation of TIP survivors to address these challenges. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">During the webinar, the survivors of trafficking, who have received support from the Hamro Samman project, shared their stories, how they overcame trafficking, and the resilience they gained from the experience. They are now working to improve awareness, community engagement, and transformative empowerment at the local level in coordination with committees and governments, the statement further said. The event also discussed the heightened vulnerability, renewed challenges, and collaborative solutions to countering TIP.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“This event served as a platform for highlighting the efforts of local governments countering TIP in their communities,” the statement quoted Adriana Hayes, the acting mission director for USAID/Nepal, as saying. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Nathanael Bevan, Development Director at the British Embassy Kathmandu said, “Crises have a disproportionate impact on marginalized communities including women and girls. The pandemic has put such groups at more risk than ever before. By working with local governments and stakeholders, our Hamro Samman programme is ensuring that survivors’ voices and leadership are at the centre of tackling trafficking.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Hamro Samman Project is being jointly funded by the USAID and the UK to help address human trafficking issues, specifically in the foreign labor migration and entertainment sectors. The project aims to strengthen the Government of Nepal’s system to tackle human trafficking and build synergies among the government, civil society, and the private sector to strengthen laws to prosecute traffickers and better support survivors under Nepal’s federal structure.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-01', 'modified' => '2021-08-01', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13503', 'image' => '20210801114022_Untitled.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-01 11:39:13', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13757', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NTB Provides Job Opportunity to 5,000 People involved in Tourism Sector', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 1: The government has initiated the process of launching various programmes to support the tourism industry that has been badly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">August 1: The government has initiated the process of launching various programmes to support the tourism industry that has been badly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Besides providing concessional loan to the private sector, the government has also started various long-term and short-term projects in collaboration with international partners. This has given special emphasis to create job opportunities to the people involved in tourism sector who lost their jobs. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In this regard, Nepal Tourism Board has started giving employment to 5,000 such workers in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). New job opportunities have been created for the rehabilitation of the employees under the Sustainable Tourism Project.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">National coordinator of the project Mani Lamichhane informed that the board has taken this initiative to provide relief to some extent to the employees who have been most affected by the pandemic. -- RSS</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-01', 'modified' => '2021-08-01', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13502', 'image' => '20210801110919_20180513122353_tourism.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-01 11:07:56', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13756', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Sugarcane Farmers Demand Due Payment ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 30: The Sugarcane farmers, whose payment is long overdue by various sugar mill owners, have urged the government for its intervention to ensure their outstanding dues are cleared within 21 August this year. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">July 30: The Sugarcane farmers, whose payment is long overdue by various sugar mill owners, have urged the government for its intervention to ensure their outstanding dues are cleared within 21 August this year. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A group of sugarcane farmers, organizing a press conference on Thursday, have asked the government to facilitate their payment which amounts to around Rs 150 million. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Representatives from the Sugarcane Famers Struggle Committee, Sarlahi, Federation of Agricultural Workers of Nepal and sugarcane farmers rued that they were not paid as per the agreement inked among the sugar mill owners and them in the past. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A five-point agreement was signed among the Sugarcane Famers Struggle Committee, and the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies on December 28, 2020 according to which their payment would be paid within 21 days of the agreement. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The committee’s secretary Harishyam Yadav ranted that the report by a taskforce formed after 120 days of the previous agreement was not made public yet. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Yadav blamed that the report prepared by the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies has not clearly mentioned the dues to be paid to the sugarcane farmers. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Chairperson of the Committee Ram Swartha Raya said that over Rs 150 millions remained to be paid by six sugar mills. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-30', 'modified' => '2021-07-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13501', 'image' => '20210730041505_20210125102806_20201229113333_1609164432.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-30 16:14:05', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13755', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NPC Vice Chairman Takes Oath of Office', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 30: Vice Chairman of the National Planning Commission Biswo Nath Poudel has taken oath of office on Thursday.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">July 30: Vice Chairman of the National Planning Commission Biswo Nath Poudel has taken oath of office on Thursday. Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba administered the oath of office to Poudel at Singha Durbar amid a function.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">On the occasion, the newly-appointed vice-chairman of the commission, Poudel, said that a plan would be formulated after studying the impact of the Covid-19 and floods. He said that he would work to increase the quality of regular work as well as overall planning and to support other ministries including the Ministry of Finance.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Poudel said that the aim is to strengthen the body that is directly and regularly linked with the Planning Commission.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">"We need to look into the impact of the Covid-19 and floods," Poudel said “After that, our goal is to do regular work, improve the quality of the entire plan and give feedback to other ministries, including finance, and strengthen other bodies.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The cabinet meeting held on Tuesday had appointed Poudel as the vice-chairman of the National Planning Commission and Ram Kumar Phuyal and Dil Bahadur Gurung as its members.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-30', 'modified' => '2021-07-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13500', 'image' => '20210730040917_20210728021851_1627428213.Clipboard02.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-30 16:08:22', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13754', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Finance Minister Denies Interference with NRB’s Autonomy', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 30: Finance Minister Janardan Sharma has clarified that he has not interfered with the autonomy of Nepal Rastra Bank, which is an autonomous body.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 30: Finance Minister Janardan Sharma has clarified that he has not interfered with the autonomy of Nepal Rastra Bank, which is an autonomous body.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">While there are rumors that the finance minister has stopped the monetary policy to be brought by the central bank, minister Sharma said that he has suggested the NRB to decide what kind of policy to bring, and when and how to bring it.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Even after the 14 days of the current fiscal year, the central bank has not been able to bring the monetary policy. There has been a rumor of the finance minister’s interference in this matter. However, minister Sharma clarified that the NRB is an autonomous body and it will decide when to bring the monetary policy.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In a meeting with officials of the Nepalese Association of Financial Journalists (NAFIJ) on Thursday, Sharma said, “I have asked the governor not to raise interest rates again.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He said that he has directed the central bank to create a stress-free environment. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“The monetary policy should not create problem for the general public. I have not given any suggestions besides that. I have not halted the monetary policy,” he said, adding, “NRB is an autonomous body. I told the governor that you are the head of it and only suggested that you have the responsibility to decide when and how to do it.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In addition, he said that he will not make the economy problematic by stopping the monetary policy. “I have asked him to introduce the monetary policy in a way that it does not hamper the people and the economic activities,” he added, “Saying this is my responsibility.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Stating that the problem of Covid-19 has not only hampered business environment but also the life of the general public, Minister Sharma said that this problem can be resolved only if all the stakeholders are serious about the problem. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Minister Sharma has also requested the media to disseminate factual news after proper verification. He also stated that this tenure has been a challenge for him and an opportunity for the people. Sharma said, “I am ready to face any challenge to make this opportunity fruitful for the people.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Earlier, Finance Secretary Shishir Kumar Dhungana said that suggestions from media persons would help in formulating a fact-based policy. He said that although the economy has not yet improved, there are some good aspects including foreign exchange reserves and savings. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-30', 'modified' => '2021-07-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13499', 'image' => '20210730010403_20210716022924_1626392414.Clipboard14.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-30 13:02:53', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13753', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Finance Ministry seeks clarification from NEPSE, SEBON ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 30: The Ministry of Finance has sought clarification from Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) following media reports of share trading manipulation.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">July 30: The Ministry of Finance has sought clarification from Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) following media reports of share trading manipulation.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Ministry asked CEO of NEPSE Chandra Singh Saud on Thursday (July 29) to furnish clarification in this regard within three days after his family was reported to have bought the shares of a company that is planning to release its shares to the public. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The ministry has inquired about the truth regarding the contents disseminated in different media outlets about the inside trading, the state-owned national news agency RSS reported. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The ministry has also sought similar clarification from the Securities Board of Nepal (SEBON) over the same issue. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The ministry has sought the clarification from SEBON Chairperson Bhishma Raj Dhungana and his family after media reports that they made 'setting’ (undue agreement) with a company to sell ordinary shares. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Financial Sector Management and Corporation Co-ordination Division of the Ministry has asked Dhungana to furnish clarification within three days, effective from Wednesday. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Stating that the ministry’s attention has been drawn towards the news published on various media regarding the board, the ministry directed Dhungana to submit factual statement regarding the published news within three days. </span></span></span><br /> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-30', 'modified' => '2021-07-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13498', 'image' => '20210730071603_20200327032654_5003_finance-ministy.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-30 07:14:55', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13752', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '91 Percent Population has Access to Internet Service: NTA ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 30: Ninety one per cent of the country's population has access to internet service in the country, Nepal Telecom Authority (NTA) said in a report. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">July 30: Ninety one per cent of the country's population has access to internet service in the country, Nepal Telecom Authority (NTA) said in a report. The NTA report is based on the population projection (2021-2030). </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Authority has taken the country’s total population of 29.876 million as the basis for its report. As per the data of the Authority, 27.76 million people have access to internet service as of June 14, 2021. A total of 331,422 more internet users have been added from mid-April to mid-May as compared to mid-March to mid-April. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">As per the statistics, the biggest contributor is mobile internet. Mobile internet users comprise 65.68 per cent of the total internet users. More than 12.052 million people have access to 3G internet service. Of them, 9.590 million people are using 3G internet service of Nepal Telecom, which is the largest number, and 2.462 million people are using internet service of Ncell. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A total of 11.956 million people have been using 3G internet service as of mid-May while around 96,000 more 3G internet have been added from mid-May to mid-June. Fixed Broadband has 25.27 per cent space. Among the fixed Broadband users, 785,000 are ADSL internet service users and 556,000 FTTH internet users. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The report shows that the number of 4G customers is decreasing in the country of late. The 4G customers whose number had increased notably for some months has been dwindling in recent time. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">As per the statistics of the last 10 months released by NTA, the number of 4G users is found decreased in mid-May to mid-June compared to the previous month (mid-April to mid- May). The statistics shows that there were 7 million 697 thousand 863 4G customers until mid-May. This decreased to 7 million 664 thousand 449 until mid-June. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-30', 'modified' => '2021-07-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13497', 'image' => '20210730071331_20210526081934_20190922030926_aaaa.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-30 07:12:15', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13751', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Finance Minister urges South Korean Ambassador to Resume EPS Process', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 30: Finance Minister Janardan Sharma and South Korean Ambassador Park Chong Suk held a meeting on the issue of Nepali workers in South Korea.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">July 30: Finance Minister Janardan Sharma and South Korean Ambassador Park Chong Suk held a meeting on the issue of Nepali workers in South Korea.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">During the meeting at the Ministry of Finance on Wednesday, July 29, Minister Sharma urged the Korean ambassador to create a favorable environment to take the youths who have passed the language test to go to Korea.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Expressing commitment on behalf of the government to expedite the process in this regard, which was halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Minister Sharma also urged the ambassador to speed up the necessary process on part of the Korean government .</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">“Thousands of youths who have passed the Korean language test under the Employment Permit System (EPS) are unemployed. I am confident that this problem will be resolved soon,” said Sharma.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">In response, Ambassador Park promised to take the issue forward. Stating that Korean employers are happy with the hard work and high integrity of Nepalis, Ambassador Park said that the process of sending the workers will be expedited. Minister Sharma said that vaccination against coronavirus is the first priority and expressed confidence that the Korea would provide necessary support.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The Finance Minister expressed gratitude to Korea for its support in the areas of health, education and technology of the country. South Korea has been investing in health, education, hydropower and other sectors in Nepal. A well-equipped hospital has been constructed in Thimi, Nuwakot, Dhangadhi and Mugu with Korean investment and a model polytechnic college is being established in Bardiwas of Mahottari. The college will produce skilled manpower in the construction sector.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">During the meeting, Ambassador Park expressed concern over the delay in the construction of the Upper Trishuli-1 Hydropower Project with Korean investment. He said that there was concern of overrun costs due to delay in the project.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-30', 'modified' => '2021-07-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13496', 'image' => '20210730071116_Flag-Pins-Nepal-South-Korea_600x600.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-30 07:09:59', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13749', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Footwear Export Down By 60 Percent', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 29: The trade deficit for footwear, which was considered self-reliant, has increased during the pandemic. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 29: The trade deficit for footwear, which was considered self-reliant, has increased during the pandemic. During the last fiscal year, the import of footwear into Nepal increased while the export took a nosedive.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the data of the Department of Customs, the export of footwear declined by 60 percent in the last FY. While 5.66 million units of shoes were exported from Nepal in the FY 2076/77, the export was limited to 2.27 million units in the FY 2077/78. Last year, shoes worth Rs 732 million were exported, which is Rs 870 million less than that of FY 2076/77.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, the data shows that the import of footwear has increased. Last year, the import increased by 35 percent compared to the previous year. In FY 2075/76, 22 million units of shoes were imported while the import went up to 29.8 million units last year.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The recent figure is a U-turn from the data of few years ago. The import of footwear had been continuously declining and the export had been increasing since FY 2073/74. However, the import has increased and export has decreased since last year.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Footwear falls among the 13 items that the government has classified as self-reliant products. The government had stated to promote self-reliant business by implementing Industrial Policy 2067, Industrial Enterprises Act 2076 and Industrial Enterprises Regulation 2076. Entrepreneurs, on the other hand, say that the government has not given any special discount to the footwear industry.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Uttam Prasad Adhikari, senior vice-president of Footwear Manufacturers Association of Nepal, who is also the operator of Chitwan Footwear, said that the customs has not given any exemption on the import of raw materials yet. “There has been no special support from the government. So far, the businessmen have done everything on their own,” he said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Since there is no facilitation from the government and most of the shoe factories are closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, he said that the imports have increased to meet the demand as the production has declined.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“Majority of the workers in the shoe industry are Indians, but they have not been able to return to work due to the pandemic,” he said, “The production has decreased as it is not easy to import raw materials due to the pandemic.” He is of the view that the production of shoes will gain momentum once the situation returns to normal.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the detailed study report of Industrial Products that can be self-reliant in Nepal 2078, that was released by the Department of Industry last June, there are currently six large, 15 medium, 300 small and 1,200 micro footwear industries in Nepal. Moreover, the study revealed that the annual production capacity of such industries is 45 million units. Likewise, 70,000 people are directly employed in these industries. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-29', 'modified' => '2021-07-29', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13495', 'image' => '20210729011452_20190124015719_birat.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-29 13:13:34', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13750', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Income of Chitwan National Park Declines', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => '', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 29: The income of Chitwan National Park has declined due to the low arrival of tourists in the last fiscal year.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The park, which earned Rs 187.38 million from tourists visiting the park in Fiscal Year 2019/20, was able to collect only Rs 25.537 million in the last fiscal year (FY 2020/21). The park also generates income from other sources.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In Fiscal Year 2019/20, the park collected revenue of Rs 118.70 million other sources besides tourists’ fees, whereas, in the last fiscal year, the income generated from those sources increased to Rs 188.24 million.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Information Officer of CNP Lokendra Adhikari, who is also an Assistant Conservation Officer, said that the main source of income of the park is the tourist fee. And due to the decline in arrival of tourists because of the prohibitory order, the income has declined significantly.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> "Our main source of income is tourism, including foreign tourists," he said. "Other income from the park is riverine excavation fees, contracts and fines.”</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-29', 'modified' => '2021-07-29', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13494', 'image' => '20210729013117_20150914111210_chitwan.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-29 13:30:05', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13747', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Department of Tourism Directs Hotels and Resorts to Display Star Sign ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 29: Hotels operating at the federal, state, and local levels have to use star signs to show their standards.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">July 29: Hotels operating at the federal, state, and local levels have to use star signs to show their standards. The Department of Tourism has been rating hotels based on service facilities, quality, and capacity. The hotels have been broadly categorized into ordinary hotels, star-rated hotels, heritage hotels, and boutique hotels.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">This is the first time that the government has directed hotels to put up star sign on their boards. The department has determined the signs by classifying all the levels of hotels and motels in the hospitality sector. The Department of Tourism has issued 16 signs for hotels and has mandated them to display them in the signboards.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The department has stated that the sign has been set to show the services provided by the hotels, quality, capacity as well as the infrastructure based on international practice and to maintain uniformity throughout Nepal. Hotels at all levels will be required to place a signboard with a brass plate, an emblem on the top, and a specified number of red stars below it.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The department has informed that the name of the hotel and resort should be mentioned under the red star. However, hotels that provide bed and breakfast service, motel, and tourist inns will not be allowed to include a star in the signboard.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">According to the department, motels should have a red 'M' sign inside the circular line instead of the star, while tourist inn should also have 'I' inside the line, and the B&B should have 'B' and 'B' signs inside the line.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">There are 12 types of signs for one-star to five-star hotels, deluxe hotels and luxury hotels. Accordingly, the five-star Deluxe category hotel will have to write the words 5 star and Deluxe on the signboard. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Ordinary heritage boutique hotels have to place a 3-star and standard heritage boutique in the plate, and for deluxe heritage boutiques, 4 stars and name should be mentioned. There are five-star signs for luxury heritage boutique hotels, three-star signs for ordinary resorts, four-star signs for deluxe resorts, and five-star signs for luxury resorts. According to the department, hotels and resorts of all levels should have such signs at the entrance.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The department has also made arrangements for hotels to have logos of Hotel Association Nepal (HAN) or other associations. Provision has been made for the use of these signs by tourist inns, motels, B&Bs, etc., which are currently registered with the tourism department. </span></span></p> <p><img alt="" src="/app/webroot/userfiles/images/202102190251.jpg" style="height:594px; width:800px" /></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-29', 'modified' => '2021-07-29', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13493', 'image' => '20210729111700_2021031201502.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-29 11:15:25', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13746', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NTA Approves Trial for 5G Service ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 29: The Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) has endorsed the work procedure to use a new technology including the trial of 5G, the fifth generation mobile network.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">July 29: The Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) has endorsed the work procedure to use a new technology including the trial of 5G, the fifth generation mobile network. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A meeting of the NTA Board held a few days ago endorsed the work procedure about the test of new technology. The NTA's move has paved the way for using the 5G wireless internet service in the country. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Chair of the country's telecommunications regulatory body, Purushottam Khanal confirmed that the work procedure for the trial of 5G had been prepared. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Now, service providers can apply for its trial. The application requires the details about the test modality, information about new technology, trial site, and frequency description required for the test, proposed services and its process, schedule of the network installation and the operation, and an action plan. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The NTA will provide free frequency for maximum one year for the trial use. During the test period, the NTA will not charge the service recipients. The service providing companies are required to include both rural and urban areas for the trial service. Besides, they are mandated to manage hardware and software for the trial service and inform about it to the NTA. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">It has been mentioned in the work procedure that the Authority could scrap the operation license if no progress is seen in the work regarding import of necessary equipment and its installation even within three months of approval. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The service provider could re-use the equipment used during the trial period for 4G with the permission of the Authority. It should be sealed or returned to the concerned seller in the presence of the Authority and the regulatory body should be informed if the equipment are not used. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Nepal Telecom has already presented its work procedure to the Authority for 5G trial. The state-owned telecom company has not been able to test the 5G as the frequency required for 5G has not been determined yet. The Authority had determined frequency for 5G in Nepal only in February. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-29', 'modified' => '2021-07-29', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13492', 'image' => '20210729075523_20210324040042_20181204021328_5GblogImage (1).jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-29 07:53:51', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = falsesimplexml_load_file - [internal], line ?? include - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 60 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
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According to a source, Dhungana himself tried to be transferred from the ministry due to the possibility of not being comfortable working with the new finance minister after the formation of the new government.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-02', 'modified' => '2021-08-02', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13506', 'image' => '20210802110918_AAAA162780.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-02 10:57:46', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13760', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Tourism Organisations meet PM to put forth their Demands', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 1: Fourteen organisations associated with the tourism sector have jointly submitted a memo to Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba with suggestions for the protection and revival of the tourism industry.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">August 1: Fourteen organisations associated with the tourism sector have jointly submitted a memo to Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba with suggestions for the protection and revival of the tourism industry.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">They have put forward their demand such as providing vaccinations to their frontline workers within 30 days and appointment of one of the chairpersons among them as a representative in the Covid-19 Crisis Management Committee Center (CCMC). They made such demand so as to revive the overall tourism sector which has been worst affected by the pandemic.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">During the meeting with the Prime Minister Deuba on Friday, Hotel Association Nepal (HAN), Airlines Operators Association of Nepal, Nepal Mountaineering Association and others made dozens of demands with focus on three particular issues. They have put forward immediate issues for the revival of the tourism sector, protection of tourism entrepreneurs and workers, and sustainable development of this sector.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Entrepreneurs demand that the government should form a ‘Tourism Recovery Task Force’ by including tourism associations and experts and allocate necessary budget. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">They demanded the establishment of the task force to formulate and implement an integrated crisis communication system, strategies and programmes related to tourism revival. Likewise, they have suggested for a master plan with special revival policy in the financial white paper to promote and protect the tourism industry.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">They have also suggested formulating work procedures in coordination with the private sector to implement 10 days paid leave for the promotion of domestic tourism mentioned in the budget. It believed that domestic tourism will flourish and will directly help in the revival of sustainable tourism when about 400,000 employees go on a tourism leave.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Moreover, they have demanded that cash flow should be provided to small and medium tourism entrepreneurs for five years in a simple and easy way to sustain them. In addition, the entrepreneurs have also demanded special tourism loan, refinancing, tax waiver and separate tax system during the pandemic for three years.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Other organizations that met the Prime Minister and submitted the joint letter include Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATTA), Nepal Association of Rafting Agencies (NARA), Nepal Association of Tour Operators (NATO), Tourist Bus Association of Nepal, Society of Travel and Tour Operators (SOTTO), Himalayan Rescue Association, Nepal Tourist Vehicle Association, Expedition Operators Association Nepal and PATA Nepal Chapter. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-01', 'modified' => '2021-08-01', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13505', 'image' => '20210801021645_20201016032657_1602804123.Clipboard13.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-01 14:15:50', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13759', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Insurance Companies Halt Settlement of Covid-19 Insurance Claims', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 1: All non-life insurance companies have deferred the payment of coronavirus insurance claims after the government delayed the release of the allocated budget.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">August 1: All non-life insurance companies have deferred the payment of coronavirus insurance claims after the government delayed the release of the allocated budget.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> At the call of the Nepal Insurers Association, 20 non-life insurance companies have formally stopped the payment of coronavirus insurance since July 29.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The companies had been delaying in settling the claims related to coronavirus insurance since mid-April due to the delay in part of the government in releasing the budget.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The association has now informed that the payment of coronavirus insurance has been formally stopped. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Sunil Ballabh Pant, an executive member of the association and CEO of NLG Insurance, said that the payment for Covid-19 claims has been stopped for the time being. He said that payment for Covid-19 claims was stopped as the government did not release the amount as promised.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Since the government has not released the promised money, the companies are facing difficulties in settling the claims from their funds. The decision was taken after the companies had a problem with cash flow, said Pant, adding that the claim settlement would start only after the government releases the money.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He said that a letter signed by the CEOs of all non-life insurance companies has been submitted to the Insurance Board in this regard. He said that a letter was sent to the board stating that the settlement of coronavirus insurance claims had to be stopped due to the government not releasing the budget.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Secretary at the Ministry of Finance Shishir Kumar Dhungana said that the amount was in the process of being released. He said that the ministry will decide in this regard within a week and a half.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">‘Insurance companies have reported that they have suspended settling the claims for Covid-19. The closing in mid-July had caused some delays,” he said, adding that the ministry will decide shortly.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The government is due to pay over Rs 3.5 billion in coronavirus insurance as per the announcement made by the former government. So far, insurance companies have already settled coronavirus insurance claims of more than Rs 3.5 billion. However, they haven't received any amount from the Ministry of Finance.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">So far, no data has been prepared on the total number of claims. As of mid-July, insurance companies estimate that there are claims for more than Rs 11 billion. Accordingly, the government will have to disburse more than Rs 7.5 billion.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-01', 'modified' => '2021-08-01', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13504', 'image' => '20210801125408_20200426022909_1587852673.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-01 12:53:10', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13758', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Progresses in Countering Human Trafficking: Report', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 1: Despite the impact of COVID-19, the Government of Nepal continues to make gains in countering human trafficking, according to Winrock International – an INGO that has been raising awareness about trafficking in persons and other issues under Hamro Samman project.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">August 1: Despite the impact of COVID-19, the Government of Nepal continues to make gains in countering human trafficking, according to Winrock International – an INGO that has been raising awareness about trafficking in persons and other issues under Hamro Samman project. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">As per the 2021 US Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report, the achievements made by Nepal included ratification of the Palermo Protocol, steps to amend the Human Trafficking and Transportation (Control) Act, and continuing to raise awareness on trafficking. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">With the rapid development in communication technology, the challenges of countering TIP have also changed, the organization said in a statement issued on July 30. The lockdown has seen traffickers increasingly use social media and mobile technologies to lure and deceive victims. Many Nepalis whose homes were destroyed by the 2015 earthquakes, and who are now being affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, are especially vulnerable to trafficking, the statement added.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">A webinar organized by Winrock International on the occasion of the United Nations World Day Against Trafficking in Persons highlighted the need to have strong engagement and participation of TIP survivors to address these challenges. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">During the webinar, the survivors of trafficking, who have received support from the Hamro Samman project, shared their stories, how they overcame trafficking, and the resilience they gained from the experience. They are now working to improve awareness, community engagement, and transformative empowerment at the local level in coordination with committees and governments, the statement further said. The event also discussed the heightened vulnerability, renewed challenges, and collaborative solutions to countering TIP.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“This event served as a platform for highlighting the efforts of local governments countering TIP in their communities,” the statement quoted Adriana Hayes, the acting mission director for USAID/Nepal, as saying. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Nathanael Bevan, Development Director at the British Embassy Kathmandu said, “Crises have a disproportionate impact on marginalized communities including women and girls. The pandemic has put such groups at more risk than ever before. By working with local governments and stakeholders, our Hamro Samman programme is ensuring that survivors’ voices and leadership are at the centre of tackling trafficking.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Hamro Samman Project is being jointly funded by the USAID and the UK to help address human trafficking issues, specifically in the foreign labor migration and entertainment sectors. The project aims to strengthen the Government of Nepal’s system to tackle human trafficking and build synergies among the government, civil society, and the private sector to strengthen laws to prosecute traffickers and better support survivors under Nepal’s federal structure.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-01', 'modified' => '2021-08-01', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13503', 'image' => '20210801114022_Untitled.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-01 11:39:13', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13757', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NTB Provides Job Opportunity to 5,000 People involved in Tourism Sector', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 1: The government has initiated the process of launching various programmes to support the tourism industry that has been badly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">August 1: The government has initiated the process of launching various programmes to support the tourism industry that has been badly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Besides providing concessional loan to the private sector, the government has also started various long-term and short-term projects in collaboration with international partners. This has given special emphasis to create job opportunities to the people involved in tourism sector who lost their jobs. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In this regard, Nepal Tourism Board has started giving employment to 5,000 such workers in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). New job opportunities have been created for the rehabilitation of the employees under the Sustainable Tourism Project.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">National coordinator of the project Mani Lamichhane informed that the board has taken this initiative to provide relief to some extent to the employees who have been most affected by the pandemic. -- RSS</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-01', 'modified' => '2021-08-01', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13502', 'image' => '20210801110919_20180513122353_tourism.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-01 11:07:56', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13756', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Sugarcane Farmers Demand Due Payment ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 30: The Sugarcane farmers, whose payment is long overdue by various sugar mill owners, have urged the government for its intervention to ensure their outstanding dues are cleared within 21 August this year. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">July 30: The Sugarcane farmers, whose payment is long overdue by various sugar mill owners, have urged the government for its intervention to ensure their outstanding dues are cleared within 21 August this year. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A group of sugarcane farmers, organizing a press conference on Thursday, have asked the government to facilitate their payment which amounts to around Rs 150 million. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Representatives from the Sugarcane Famers Struggle Committee, Sarlahi, Federation of Agricultural Workers of Nepal and sugarcane farmers rued that they were not paid as per the agreement inked among the sugar mill owners and them in the past. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A five-point agreement was signed among the Sugarcane Famers Struggle Committee, and the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies on December 28, 2020 according to which their payment would be paid within 21 days of the agreement. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The committee’s secretary Harishyam Yadav ranted that the report by a taskforce formed after 120 days of the previous agreement was not made public yet. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Yadav blamed that the report prepared by the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies has not clearly mentioned the dues to be paid to the sugarcane farmers. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Chairperson of the Committee Ram Swartha Raya said that over Rs 150 millions remained to be paid by six sugar mills. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-30', 'modified' => '2021-07-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13501', 'image' => '20210730041505_20210125102806_20201229113333_1609164432.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-30 16:14:05', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13755', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NPC Vice Chairman Takes Oath of Office', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 30: Vice Chairman of the National Planning Commission Biswo Nath Poudel has taken oath of office on Thursday.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">July 30: Vice Chairman of the National Planning Commission Biswo Nath Poudel has taken oath of office on Thursday. Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba administered the oath of office to Poudel at Singha Durbar amid a function.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">On the occasion, the newly-appointed vice-chairman of the commission, Poudel, said that a plan would be formulated after studying the impact of the Covid-19 and floods. He said that he would work to increase the quality of regular work as well as overall planning and to support other ministries including the Ministry of Finance.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Poudel said that the aim is to strengthen the body that is directly and regularly linked with the Planning Commission.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">"We need to look into the impact of the Covid-19 and floods," Poudel said “After that, our goal is to do regular work, improve the quality of the entire plan and give feedback to other ministries, including finance, and strengthen other bodies.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The cabinet meeting held on Tuesday had appointed Poudel as the vice-chairman of the National Planning Commission and Ram Kumar Phuyal and Dil Bahadur Gurung as its members.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-30', 'modified' => '2021-07-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13500', 'image' => '20210730040917_20210728021851_1627428213.Clipboard02.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-30 16:08:22', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13754', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Finance Minister Denies Interference with NRB’s Autonomy', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 30: Finance Minister Janardan Sharma has clarified that he has not interfered with the autonomy of Nepal Rastra Bank, which is an autonomous body.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 30: Finance Minister Janardan Sharma has clarified that he has not interfered with the autonomy of Nepal Rastra Bank, which is an autonomous body.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">While there are rumors that the finance minister has stopped the monetary policy to be brought by the central bank, minister Sharma said that he has suggested the NRB to decide what kind of policy to bring, and when and how to bring it.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Even after the 14 days of the current fiscal year, the central bank has not been able to bring the monetary policy. There has been a rumor of the finance minister’s interference in this matter. However, minister Sharma clarified that the NRB is an autonomous body and it will decide when to bring the monetary policy.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In a meeting with officials of the Nepalese Association of Financial Journalists (NAFIJ) on Thursday, Sharma said, “I have asked the governor not to raise interest rates again.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He said that he has directed the central bank to create a stress-free environment. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“The monetary policy should not create problem for the general public. I have not given any suggestions besides that. I have not halted the monetary policy,” he said, adding, “NRB is an autonomous body. I told the governor that you are the head of it and only suggested that you have the responsibility to decide when and how to do it.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In addition, he said that he will not make the economy problematic by stopping the monetary policy. “I have asked him to introduce the monetary policy in a way that it does not hamper the people and the economic activities,” he added, “Saying this is my responsibility.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Stating that the problem of Covid-19 has not only hampered business environment but also the life of the general public, Minister Sharma said that this problem can be resolved only if all the stakeholders are serious about the problem. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Minister Sharma has also requested the media to disseminate factual news after proper verification. He also stated that this tenure has been a challenge for him and an opportunity for the people. Sharma said, “I am ready to face any challenge to make this opportunity fruitful for the people.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Earlier, Finance Secretary Shishir Kumar Dhungana said that suggestions from media persons would help in formulating a fact-based policy. He said that although the economy has not yet improved, there are some good aspects including foreign exchange reserves and savings. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-30', 'modified' => '2021-07-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13499', 'image' => '20210730010403_20210716022924_1626392414.Clipboard14.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-30 13:02:53', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13753', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Finance Ministry seeks clarification from NEPSE, SEBON ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 30: The Ministry of Finance has sought clarification from Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) following media reports of share trading manipulation.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">July 30: The Ministry of Finance has sought clarification from Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) following media reports of share trading manipulation.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Ministry asked CEO of NEPSE Chandra Singh Saud on Thursday (July 29) to furnish clarification in this regard within three days after his family was reported to have bought the shares of a company that is planning to release its shares to the public. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The ministry has inquired about the truth regarding the contents disseminated in different media outlets about the inside trading, the state-owned national news agency RSS reported. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The ministry has also sought similar clarification from the Securities Board of Nepal (SEBON) over the same issue. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The ministry has sought the clarification from SEBON Chairperson Bhishma Raj Dhungana and his family after media reports that they made 'setting’ (undue agreement) with a company to sell ordinary shares. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Financial Sector Management and Corporation Co-ordination Division of the Ministry has asked Dhungana to furnish clarification within three days, effective from Wednesday. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Stating that the ministry’s attention has been drawn towards the news published on various media regarding the board, the ministry directed Dhungana to submit factual statement regarding the published news within three days. </span></span></span><br /> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-30', 'modified' => '2021-07-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13498', 'image' => '20210730071603_20200327032654_5003_finance-ministy.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-30 07:14:55', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13752', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '91 Percent Population has Access to Internet Service: NTA ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 30: Ninety one per cent of the country's population has access to internet service in the country, Nepal Telecom Authority (NTA) said in a report. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">July 30: Ninety one per cent of the country's population has access to internet service in the country, Nepal Telecom Authority (NTA) said in a report. The NTA report is based on the population projection (2021-2030). </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Authority has taken the country’s total population of 29.876 million as the basis for its report. As per the data of the Authority, 27.76 million people have access to internet service as of June 14, 2021. A total of 331,422 more internet users have been added from mid-April to mid-May as compared to mid-March to mid-April. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">As per the statistics, the biggest contributor is mobile internet. Mobile internet users comprise 65.68 per cent of the total internet users. More than 12.052 million people have access to 3G internet service. Of them, 9.590 million people are using 3G internet service of Nepal Telecom, which is the largest number, and 2.462 million people are using internet service of Ncell. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A total of 11.956 million people have been using 3G internet service as of mid-May while around 96,000 more 3G internet have been added from mid-May to mid-June. Fixed Broadband has 25.27 per cent space. Among the fixed Broadband users, 785,000 are ADSL internet service users and 556,000 FTTH internet users. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The report shows that the number of 4G customers is decreasing in the country of late. The 4G customers whose number had increased notably for some months has been dwindling in recent time. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">As per the statistics of the last 10 months released by NTA, the number of 4G users is found decreased in mid-May to mid-June compared to the previous month (mid-April to mid- May). The statistics shows that there were 7 million 697 thousand 863 4G customers until mid-May. This decreased to 7 million 664 thousand 449 until mid-June. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-30', 'modified' => '2021-07-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13497', 'image' => '20210730071331_20210526081934_20190922030926_aaaa.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-30 07:12:15', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13751', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Finance Minister urges South Korean Ambassador to Resume EPS Process', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 30: Finance Minister Janardan Sharma and South Korean Ambassador Park Chong Suk held a meeting on the issue of Nepali workers in South Korea.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">July 30: Finance Minister Janardan Sharma and South Korean Ambassador Park Chong Suk held a meeting on the issue of Nepali workers in South Korea.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">During the meeting at the Ministry of Finance on Wednesday, July 29, Minister Sharma urged the Korean ambassador to create a favorable environment to take the youths who have passed the language test to go to Korea.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Expressing commitment on behalf of the government to expedite the process in this regard, which was halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Minister Sharma also urged the ambassador to speed up the necessary process on part of the Korean government .</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">“Thousands of youths who have passed the Korean language test under the Employment Permit System (EPS) are unemployed. I am confident that this problem will be resolved soon,” said Sharma.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">In response, Ambassador Park promised to take the issue forward. Stating that Korean employers are happy with the hard work and high integrity of Nepalis, Ambassador Park said that the process of sending the workers will be expedited. Minister Sharma said that vaccination against coronavirus is the first priority and expressed confidence that the Korea would provide necessary support.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The Finance Minister expressed gratitude to Korea for its support in the areas of health, education and technology of the country. South Korea has been investing in health, education, hydropower and other sectors in Nepal. A well-equipped hospital has been constructed in Thimi, Nuwakot, Dhangadhi and Mugu with Korean investment and a model polytechnic college is being established in Bardiwas of Mahottari. The college will produce skilled manpower in the construction sector.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">During the meeting, Ambassador Park expressed concern over the delay in the construction of the Upper Trishuli-1 Hydropower Project with Korean investment. He said that there was concern of overrun costs due to delay in the project.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-30', 'modified' => '2021-07-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13496', 'image' => '20210730071116_Flag-Pins-Nepal-South-Korea_600x600.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-30 07:09:59', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13749', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Footwear Export Down By 60 Percent', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 29: The trade deficit for footwear, which was considered self-reliant, has increased during the pandemic. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 29: The trade deficit for footwear, which was considered self-reliant, has increased during the pandemic. During the last fiscal year, the import of footwear into Nepal increased while the export took a nosedive.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the data of the Department of Customs, the export of footwear declined by 60 percent in the last FY. While 5.66 million units of shoes were exported from Nepal in the FY 2076/77, the export was limited to 2.27 million units in the FY 2077/78. Last year, shoes worth Rs 732 million were exported, which is Rs 870 million less than that of FY 2076/77.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, the data shows that the import of footwear has increased. Last year, the import increased by 35 percent compared to the previous year. In FY 2075/76, 22 million units of shoes were imported while the import went up to 29.8 million units last year.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The recent figure is a U-turn from the data of few years ago. The import of footwear had been continuously declining and the export had been increasing since FY 2073/74. However, the import has increased and export has decreased since last year.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Footwear falls among the 13 items that the government has classified as self-reliant products. The government had stated to promote self-reliant business by implementing Industrial Policy 2067, Industrial Enterprises Act 2076 and Industrial Enterprises Regulation 2076. Entrepreneurs, on the other hand, say that the government has not given any special discount to the footwear industry.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Uttam Prasad Adhikari, senior vice-president of Footwear Manufacturers Association of Nepal, who is also the operator of Chitwan Footwear, said that the customs has not given any exemption on the import of raw materials yet. “There has been no special support from the government. So far, the businessmen have done everything on their own,” he said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Since there is no facilitation from the government and most of the shoe factories are closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, he said that the imports have increased to meet the demand as the production has declined.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“Majority of the workers in the shoe industry are Indians, but they have not been able to return to work due to the pandemic,” he said, “The production has decreased as it is not easy to import raw materials due to the pandemic.” He is of the view that the production of shoes will gain momentum once the situation returns to normal.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the detailed study report of Industrial Products that can be self-reliant in Nepal 2078, that was released by the Department of Industry last June, there are currently six large, 15 medium, 300 small and 1,200 micro footwear industries in Nepal. Moreover, the study revealed that the annual production capacity of such industries is 45 million units. Likewise, 70,000 people are directly employed in these industries. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-29', 'modified' => '2021-07-29', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13495', 'image' => '20210729011452_20190124015719_birat.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-29 13:13:34', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13750', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Income of Chitwan National Park Declines', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => '', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 29: The income of Chitwan National Park has declined due to the low arrival of tourists in the last fiscal year.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The park, which earned Rs 187.38 million from tourists visiting the park in Fiscal Year 2019/20, was able to collect only Rs 25.537 million in the last fiscal year (FY 2020/21). The park also generates income from other sources.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In Fiscal Year 2019/20, the park collected revenue of Rs 118.70 million other sources besides tourists’ fees, whereas, in the last fiscal year, the income generated from those sources increased to Rs 188.24 million.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Information Officer of CNP Lokendra Adhikari, who is also an Assistant Conservation Officer, said that the main source of income of the park is the tourist fee. And due to the decline in arrival of tourists because of the prohibitory order, the income has declined significantly.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> "Our main source of income is tourism, including foreign tourists," he said. "Other income from the park is riverine excavation fees, contracts and fines.”</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-29', 'modified' => '2021-07-29', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13494', 'image' => '20210729013117_20150914111210_chitwan.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-29 13:30:05', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13747', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Department of Tourism Directs Hotels and Resorts to Display Star Sign ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 29: Hotels operating at the federal, state, and local levels have to use star signs to show their standards.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">July 29: Hotels operating at the federal, state, and local levels have to use star signs to show their standards. The Department of Tourism has been rating hotels based on service facilities, quality, and capacity. The hotels have been broadly categorized into ordinary hotels, star-rated hotels, heritage hotels, and boutique hotels.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">This is the first time that the government has directed hotels to put up star sign on their boards. The department has determined the signs by classifying all the levels of hotels and motels in the hospitality sector. The Department of Tourism has issued 16 signs for hotels and has mandated them to display them in the signboards.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The department has stated that the sign has been set to show the services provided by the hotels, quality, capacity as well as the infrastructure based on international practice and to maintain uniformity throughout Nepal. Hotels at all levels will be required to place a signboard with a brass plate, an emblem on the top, and a specified number of red stars below it.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The department has informed that the name of the hotel and resort should be mentioned under the red star. However, hotels that provide bed and breakfast service, motel, and tourist inns will not be allowed to include a star in the signboard.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">According to the department, motels should have a red 'M' sign inside the circular line instead of the star, while tourist inn should also have 'I' inside the line, and the B&B should have 'B' and 'B' signs inside the line.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">There are 12 types of signs for one-star to five-star hotels, deluxe hotels and luxury hotels. Accordingly, the five-star Deluxe category hotel will have to write the words 5 star and Deluxe on the signboard. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Ordinary heritage boutique hotels have to place a 3-star and standard heritage boutique in the plate, and for deluxe heritage boutiques, 4 stars and name should be mentioned. There are five-star signs for luxury heritage boutique hotels, three-star signs for ordinary resorts, four-star signs for deluxe resorts, and five-star signs for luxury resorts. According to the department, hotels and resorts of all levels should have such signs at the entrance.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The department has also made arrangements for hotels to have logos of Hotel Association Nepal (HAN) or other associations. Provision has been made for the use of these signs by tourist inns, motels, B&Bs, etc., which are currently registered with the tourism department. </span></span></p> <p><img alt="" src="/app/webroot/userfiles/images/202102190251.jpg" style="height:594px; width:800px" /></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-29', 'modified' => '2021-07-29', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13493', 'image' => '20210729111700_2021031201502.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-29 11:15:25', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13746', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NTA Approves Trial for 5G Service ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 29: The Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) has endorsed the work procedure to use a new technology including the trial of 5G, the fifth generation mobile network.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">July 29: The Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) has endorsed the work procedure to use a new technology including the trial of 5G, the fifth generation mobile network. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A meeting of the NTA Board held a few days ago endorsed the work procedure about the test of new technology. The NTA's move has paved the way for using the 5G wireless internet service in the country. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Chair of the country's telecommunications regulatory body, Purushottam Khanal confirmed that the work procedure for the trial of 5G had been prepared. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Now, service providers can apply for its trial. The application requires the details about the test modality, information about new technology, trial site, and frequency description required for the test, proposed services and its process, schedule of the network installation and the operation, and an action plan. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The NTA will provide free frequency for maximum one year for the trial use. During the test period, the NTA will not charge the service recipients. The service providing companies are required to include both rural and urban areas for the trial service. Besides, they are mandated to manage hardware and software for the trial service and inform about it to the NTA. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">It has been mentioned in the work procedure that the Authority could scrap the operation license if no progress is seen in the work regarding import of necessary equipment and its installation even within three months of approval. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The service provider could re-use the equipment used during the trial period for 4G with the permission of the Authority. It should be sealed or returned to the concerned seller in the presence of the Authority and the regulatory body should be informed if the equipment are not used. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Nepal Telecom has already presented its work procedure to the Authority for 5G trial. The state-owned telecom company has not been able to test the 5G as the frequency required for 5G has not been determined yet. The Authority had determined frequency for 5G in Nepal only in February. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-29', 'modified' => '2021-07-29', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13492', 'image' => '20210729075523_20210324040042_20181204021328_5GblogImage (1).jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-29 07:53:51', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = false $xml = falseinclude - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 133 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
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According to a source, Dhungana himself tried to be transferred from the ministry due to the possibility of not being comfortable working with the new finance minister after the formation of the new government.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-02', 'modified' => '2021-08-02', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13506', 'image' => '20210802110918_AAAA162780.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-02 10:57:46', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13760', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Tourism Organisations meet PM to put forth their Demands', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 1: Fourteen organisations associated with the tourism sector have jointly submitted a memo to Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba with suggestions for the protection and revival of the tourism industry.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">August 1: Fourteen organisations associated with the tourism sector have jointly submitted a memo to Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba with suggestions for the protection and revival of the tourism industry.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">They have put forward their demand such as providing vaccinations to their frontline workers within 30 days and appointment of one of the chairpersons among them as a representative in the Covid-19 Crisis Management Committee Center (CCMC). They made such demand so as to revive the overall tourism sector which has been worst affected by the pandemic.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">During the meeting with the Prime Minister Deuba on Friday, Hotel Association Nepal (HAN), Airlines Operators Association of Nepal, Nepal Mountaineering Association and others made dozens of demands with focus on three particular issues. They have put forward immediate issues for the revival of the tourism sector, protection of tourism entrepreneurs and workers, and sustainable development of this sector.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Entrepreneurs demand that the government should form a ‘Tourism Recovery Task Force’ by including tourism associations and experts and allocate necessary budget. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">They demanded the establishment of the task force to formulate and implement an integrated crisis communication system, strategies and programmes related to tourism revival. Likewise, they have suggested for a master plan with special revival policy in the financial white paper to promote and protect the tourism industry.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">They have also suggested formulating work procedures in coordination with the private sector to implement 10 days paid leave for the promotion of domestic tourism mentioned in the budget. It believed that domestic tourism will flourish and will directly help in the revival of sustainable tourism when about 400,000 employees go on a tourism leave.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Moreover, they have demanded that cash flow should be provided to small and medium tourism entrepreneurs for five years in a simple and easy way to sustain them. In addition, the entrepreneurs have also demanded special tourism loan, refinancing, tax waiver and separate tax system during the pandemic for three years.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Other organizations that met the Prime Minister and submitted the joint letter include Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATTA), Nepal Association of Rafting Agencies (NARA), Nepal Association of Tour Operators (NATO), Tourist Bus Association of Nepal, Society of Travel and Tour Operators (SOTTO), Himalayan Rescue Association, Nepal Tourist Vehicle Association, Expedition Operators Association Nepal and PATA Nepal Chapter. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-01', 'modified' => '2021-08-01', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13505', 'image' => '20210801021645_20201016032657_1602804123.Clipboard13.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-01 14:15:50', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13759', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Insurance Companies Halt Settlement of Covid-19 Insurance Claims', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 1: All non-life insurance companies have deferred the payment of coronavirus insurance claims after the government delayed the release of the allocated budget.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">August 1: All non-life insurance companies have deferred the payment of coronavirus insurance claims after the government delayed the release of the allocated budget.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> At the call of the Nepal Insurers Association, 20 non-life insurance companies have formally stopped the payment of coronavirus insurance since July 29.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The companies had been delaying in settling the claims related to coronavirus insurance since mid-April due to the delay in part of the government in releasing the budget.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The association has now informed that the payment of coronavirus insurance has been formally stopped. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Sunil Ballabh Pant, an executive member of the association and CEO of NLG Insurance, said that the payment for Covid-19 claims has been stopped for the time being. He said that payment for Covid-19 claims was stopped as the government did not release the amount as promised.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Since the government has not released the promised money, the companies are facing difficulties in settling the claims from their funds. The decision was taken after the companies had a problem with cash flow, said Pant, adding that the claim settlement would start only after the government releases the money.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He said that a letter signed by the CEOs of all non-life insurance companies has been submitted to the Insurance Board in this regard. He said that a letter was sent to the board stating that the settlement of coronavirus insurance claims had to be stopped due to the government not releasing the budget.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Secretary at the Ministry of Finance Shishir Kumar Dhungana said that the amount was in the process of being released. He said that the ministry will decide in this regard within a week and a half.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">‘Insurance companies have reported that they have suspended settling the claims for Covid-19. The closing in mid-July had caused some delays,” he said, adding that the ministry will decide shortly.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The government is due to pay over Rs 3.5 billion in coronavirus insurance as per the announcement made by the former government. So far, insurance companies have already settled coronavirus insurance claims of more than Rs 3.5 billion. However, they haven't received any amount from the Ministry of Finance.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">So far, no data has been prepared on the total number of claims. As of mid-July, insurance companies estimate that there are claims for more than Rs 11 billion. Accordingly, the government will have to disburse more than Rs 7.5 billion.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-01', 'modified' => '2021-08-01', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13504', 'image' => '20210801125408_20200426022909_1587852673.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-01 12:53:10', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13758', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Progresses in Countering Human Trafficking: Report', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 1: Despite the impact of COVID-19, the Government of Nepal continues to make gains in countering human trafficking, according to Winrock International – an INGO that has been raising awareness about trafficking in persons and other issues under Hamro Samman project.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">August 1: Despite the impact of COVID-19, the Government of Nepal continues to make gains in countering human trafficking, according to Winrock International – an INGO that has been raising awareness about trafficking in persons and other issues under Hamro Samman project. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">As per the 2021 US Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report, the achievements made by Nepal included ratification of the Palermo Protocol, steps to amend the Human Trafficking and Transportation (Control) Act, and continuing to raise awareness on trafficking. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">With the rapid development in communication technology, the challenges of countering TIP have also changed, the organization said in a statement issued on July 30. The lockdown has seen traffickers increasingly use social media and mobile technologies to lure and deceive victims. Many Nepalis whose homes were destroyed by the 2015 earthquakes, and who are now being affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, are especially vulnerable to trafficking, the statement added.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">A webinar organized by Winrock International on the occasion of the United Nations World Day Against Trafficking in Persons highlighted the need to have strong engagement and participation of TIP survivors to address these challenges. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">During the webinar, the survivors of trafficking, who have received support from the Hamro Samman project, shared their stories, how they overcame trafficking, and the resilience they gained from the experience. They are now working to improve awareness, community engagement, and transformative empowerment at the local level in coordination with committees and governments, the statement further said. The event also discussed the heightened vulnerability, renewed challenges, and collaborative solutions to countering TIP.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“This event served as a platform for highlighting the efforts of local governments countering TIP in their communities,” the statement quoted Adriana Hayes, the acting mission director for USAID/Nepal, as saying. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Nathanael Bevan, Development Director at the British Embassy Kathmandu said, “Crises have a disproportionate impact on marginalized communities including women and girls. The pandemic has put such groups at more risk than ever before. By working with local governments and stakeholders, our Hamro Samman programme is ensuring that survivors’ voices and leadership are at the centre of tackling trafficking.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Hamro Samman Project is being jointly funded by the USAID and the UK to help address human trafficking issues, specifically in the foreign labor migration and entertainment sectors. The project aims to strengthen the Government of Nepal’s system to tackle human trafficking and build synergies among the government, civil society, and the private sector to strengthen laws to prosecute traffickers and better support survivors under Nepal’s federal structure.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-01', 'modified' => '2021-08-01', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13503', 'image' => '20210801114022_Untitled.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-01 11:39:13', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13757', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NTB Provides Job Opportunity to 5,000 People involved in Tourism Sector', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 1: The government has initiated the process of launching various programmes to support the tourism industry that has been badly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">August 1: The government has initiated the process of launching various programmes to support the tourism industry that has been badly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Besides providing concessional loan to the private sector, the government has also started various long-term and short-term projects in collaboration with international partners. This has given special emphasis to create job opportunities to the people involved in tourism sector who lost their jobs. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In this regard, Nepal Tourism Board has started giving employment to 5,000 such workers in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). New job opportunities have been created for the rehabilitation of the employees under the Sustainable Tourism Project.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">National coordinator of the project Mani Lamichhane informed that the board has taken this initiative to provide relief to some extent to the employees who have been most affected by the pandemic. -- RSS</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-08-01', 'modified' => '2021-08-01', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13502', 'image' => '20210801110919_20180513122353_tourism.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-08-01 11:07:56', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13756', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Sugarcane Farmers Demand Due Payment ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 30: The Sugarcane farmers, whose payment is long overdue by various sugar mill owners, have urged the government for its intervention to ensure their outstanding dues are cleared within 21 August this year. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">July 30: The Sugarcane farmers, whose payment is long overdue by various sugar mill owners, have urged the government for its intervention to ensure their outstanding dues are cleared within 21 August this year. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A group of sugarcane farmers, organizing a press conference on Thursday, have asked the government to facilitate their payment which amounts to around Rs 150 million. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Representatives from the Sugarcane Famers Struggle Committee, Sarlahi, Federation of Agricultural Workers of Nepal and sugarcane farmers rued that they were not paid as per the agreement inked among the sugar mill owners and them in the past. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A five-point agreement was signed among the Sugarcane Famers Struggle Committee, and the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies on December 28, 2020 according to which their payment would be paid within 21 days of the agreement. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The committee’s secretary Harishyam Yadav ranted that the report by a taskforce formed after 120 days of the previous agreement was not made public yet. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Yadav blamed that the report prepared by the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies has not clearly mentioned the dues to be paid to the sugarcane farmers. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Chairperson of the Committee Ram Swartha Raya said that over Rs 150 millions remained to be paid by six sugar mills. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-30', 'modified' => '2021-07-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13501', 'image' => '20210730041505_20210125102806_20201229113333_1609164432.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-30 16:14:05', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13755', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NPC Vice Chairman Takes Oath of Office', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 30: Vice Chairman of the National Planning Commission Biswo Nath Poudel has taken oath of office on Thursday.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">July 30: Vice Chairman of the National Planning Commission Biswo Nath Poudel has taken oath of office on Thursday. Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba administered the oath of office to Poudel at Singha Durbar amid a function.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">On the occasion, the newly-appointed vice-chairman of the commission, Poudel, said that a plan would be formulated after studying the impact of the Covid-19 and floods. He said that he would work to increase the quality of regular work as well as overall planning and to support other ministries including the Ministry of Finance.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Poudel said that the aim is to strengthen the body that is directly and regularly linked with the Planning Commission.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">"We need to look into the impact of the Covid-19 and floods," Poudel said “After that, our goal is to do regular work, improve the quality of the entire plan and give feedback to other ministries, including finance, and strengthen other bodies.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The cabinet meeting held on Tuesday had appointed Poudel as the vice-chairman of the National Planning Commission and Ram Kumar Phuyal and Dil Bahadur Gurung as its members.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-30', 'modified' => '2021-07-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13500', 'image' => '20210730040917_20210728021851_1627428213.Clipboard02.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-30 16:08:22', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13754', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Finance Minister Denies Interference with NRB’s Autonomy', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 30: Finance Minister Janardan Sharma has clarified that he has not interfered with the autonomy of Nepal Rastra Bank, which is an autonomous body.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 30: Finance Minister Janardan Sharma has clarified that he has not interfered with the autonomy of Nepal Rastra Bank, which is an autonomous body.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">While there are rumors that the finance minister has stopped the monetary policy to be brought by the central bank, minister Sharma said that he has suggested the NRB to decide what kind of policy to bring, and when and how to bring it.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Even after the 14 days of the current fiscal year, the central bank has not been able to bring the monetary policy. There has been a rumor of the finance minister’s interference in this matter. However, minister Sharma clarified that the NRB is an autonomous body and it will decide when to bring the monetary policy.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In a meeting with officials of the Nepalese Association of Financial Journalists (NAFIJ) on Thursday, Sharma said, “I have asked the governor not to raise interest rates again.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He said that he has directed the central bank to create a stress-free environment. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“The monetary policy should not create problem for the general public. I have not given any suggestions besides that. I have not halted the monetary policy,” he said, adding, “NRB is an autonomous body. I told the governor that you are the head of it and only suggested that you have the responsibility to decide when and how to do it.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In addition, he said that he will not make the economy problematic by stopping the monetary policy. “I have asked him to introduce the monetary policy in a way that it does not hamper the people and the economic activities,” he added, “Saying this is my responsibility.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Stating that the problem of Covid-19 has not only hampered business environment but also the life of the general public, Minister Sharma said that this problem can be resolved only if all the stakeholders are serious about the problem. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Minister Sharma has also requested the media to disseminate factual news after proper verification. He also stated that this tenure has been a challenge for him and an opportunity for the people. Sharma said, “I am ready to face any challenge to make this opportunity fruitful for the people.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Earlier, Finance Secretary Shishir Kumar Dhungana said that suggestions from media persons would help in formulating a fact-based policy. He said that although the economy has not yet improved, there are some good aspects including foreign exchange reserves and savings. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-30', 'modified' => '2021-07-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13499', 'image' => '20210730010403_20210716022924_1626392414.Clipboard14.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-30 13:02:53', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13753', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Finance Ministry seeks clarification from NEPSE, SEBON ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 30: The Ministry of Finance has sought clarification from Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) following media reports of share trading manipulation.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">July 30: The Ministry of Finance has sought clarification from Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) following media reports of share trading manipulation.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Ministry asked CEO of NEPSE Chandra Singh Saud on Thursday (July 29) to furnish clarification in this regard within three days after his family was reported to have bought the shares of a company that is planning to release its shares to the public. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The ministry has inquired about the truth regarding the contents disseminated in different media outlets about the inside trading, the state-owned national news agency RSS reported. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The ministry has also sought similar clarification from the Securities Board of Nepal (SEBON) over the same issue. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The ministry has sought the clarification from SEBON Chairperson Bhishma Raj Dhungana and his family after media reports that they made 'setting’ (undue agreement) with a company to sell ordinary shares. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Financial Sector Management and Corporation Co-ordination Division of the Ministry has asked Dhungana to furnish clarification within three days, effective from Wednesday. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Stating that the ministry’s attention has been drawn towards the news published on various media regarding the board, the ministry directed Dhungana to submit factual statement regarding the published news within three days. </span></span></span><br /> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-30', 'modified' => '2021-07-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13498', 'image' => '20210730071603_20200327032654_5003_finance-ministy.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-30 07:14:55', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13752', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '91 Percent Population has Access to Internet Service: NTA ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 30: Ninety one per cent of the country's population has access to internet service in the country, Nepal Telecom Authority (NTA) said in a report. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">July 30: Ninety one per cent of the country's population has access to internet service in the country, Nepal Telecom Authority (NTA) said in a report. The NTA report is based on the population projection (2021-2030). </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Authority has taken the country’s total population of 29.876 million as the basis for its report. As per the data of the Authority, 27.76 million people have access to internet service as of June 14, 2021. A total of 331,422 more internet users have been added from mid-April to mid-May as compared to mid-March to mid-April. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">As per the statistics, the biggest contributor is mobile internet. Mobile internet users comprise 65.68 per cent of the total internet users. More than 12.052 million people have access to 3G internet service. Of them, 9.590 million people are using 3G internet service of Nepal Telecom, which is the largest number, and 2.462 million people are using internet service of Ncell. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A total of 11.956 million people have been using 3G internet service as of mid-May while around 96,000 more 3G internet have been added from mid-May to mid-June. Fixed Broadband has 25.27 per cent space. Among the fixed Broadband users, 785,000 are ADSL internet service users and 556,000 FTTH internet users. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The report shows that the number of 4G customers is decreasing in the country of late. The 4G customers whose number had increased notably for some months has been dwindling in recent time. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">As per the statistics of the last 10 months released by NTA, the number of 4G users is found decreased in mid-May to mid-June compared to the previous month (mid-April to mid- May). The statistics shows that there were 7 million 697 thousand 863 4G customers until mid-May. This decreased to 7 million 664 thousand 449 until mid-June. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-30', 'modified' => '2021-07-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13497', 'image' => '20210730071331_20210526081934_20190922030926_aaaa.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-30 07:12:15', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13751', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Finance Minister urges South Korean Ambassador to Resume EPS Process', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 30: Finance Minister Janardan Sharma and South Korean Ambassador Park Chong Suk held a meeting on the issue of Nepali workers in South Korea.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">July 30: Finance Minister Janardan Sharma and South Korean Ambassador Park Chong Suk held a meeting on the issue of Nepali workers in South Korea.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">During the meeting at the Ministry of Finance on Wednesday, July 29, Minister Sharma urged the Korean ambassador to create a favorable environment to take the youths who have passed the language test to go to Korea.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Expressing commitment on behalf of the government to expedite the process in this regard, which was halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Minister Sharma also urged the ambassador to speed up the necessary process on part of the Korean government .</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">“Thousands of youths who have passed the Korean language test under the Employment Permit System (EPS) are unemployed. I am confident that this problem will be resolved soon,” said Sharma.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">In response, Ambassador Park promised to take the issue forward. Stating that Korean employers are happy with the hard work and high integrity of Nepalis, Ambassador Park said that the process of sending the workers will be expedited. Minister Sharma said that vaccination against coronavirus is the first priority and expressed confidence that the Korea would provide necessary support.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The Finance Minister expressed gratitude to Korea for its support in the areas of health, education and technology of the country. South Korea has been investing in health, education, hydropower and other sectors in Nepal. A well-equipped hospital has been constructed in Thimi, Nuwakot, Dhangadhi and Mugu with Korean investment and a model polytechnic college is being established in Bardiwas of Mahottari. The college will produce skilled manpower in the construction sector.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">During the meeting, Ambassador Park expressed concern over the delay in the construction of the Upper Trishuli-1 Hydropower Project with Korean investment. He said that there was concern of overrun costs due to delay in the project.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-30', 'modified' => '2021-07-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13496', 'image' => '20210730071116_Flag-Pins-Nepal-South-Korea_600x600.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-30 07:09:59', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13749', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Footwear Export Down By 60 Percent', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 29: The trade deficit for footwear, which was considered self-reliant, has increased during the pandemic. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 29: The trade deficit for footwear, which was considered self-reliant, has increased during the pandemic. During the last fiscal year, the import of footwear into Nepal increased while the export took a nosedive.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the data of the Department of Customs, the export of footwear declined by 60 percent in the last FY. While 5.66 million units of shoes were exported from Nepal in the FY 2076/77, the export was limited to 2.27 million units in the FY 2077/78. Last year, shoes worth Rs 732 million were exported, which is Rs 870 million less than that of FY 2076/77.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, the data shows that the import of footwear has increased. Last year, the import increased by 35 percent compared to the previous year. In FY 2075/76, 22 million units of shoes were imported while the import went up to 29.8 million units last year.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The recent figure is a U-turn from the data of few years ago. The import of footwear had been continuously declining and the export had been increasing since FY 2073/74. However, the import has increased and export has decreased since last year.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Footwear falls among the 13 items that the government has classified as self-reliant products. The government had stated to promote self-reliant business by implementing Industrial Policy 2067, Industrial Enterprises Act 2076 and Industrial Enterprises Regulation 2076. Entrepreneurs, on the other hand, say that the government has not given any special discount to the footwear industry.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Uttam Prasad Adhikari, senior vice-president of Footwear Manufacturers Association of Nepal, who is also the operator of Chitwan Footwear, said that the customs has not given any exemption on the import of raw materials yet. “There has been no special support from the government. So far, the businessmen have done everything on their own,” he said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Since there is no facilitation from the government and most of the shoe factories are closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, he said that the imports have increased to meet the demand as the production has declined.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“Majority of the workers in the shoe industry are Indians, but they have not been able to return to work due to the pandemic,” he said, “The production has decreased as it is not easy to import raw materials due to the pandemic.” He is of the view that the production of shoes will gain momentum once the situation returns to normal.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the detailed study report of Industrial Products that can be self-reliant in Nepal 2078, that was released by the Department of Industry last June, there are currently six large, 15 medium, 300 small and 1,200 micro footwear industries in Nepal. Moreover, the study revealed that the annual production capacity of such industries is 45 million units. Likewise, 70,000 people are directly employed in these industries. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-29', 'modified' => '2021-07-29', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13495', 'image' => '20210729011452_20190124015719_birat.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-29 13:13:34', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13750', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Income of Chitwan National Park Declines', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => '', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 29: The income of Chitwan National Park has declined due to the low arrival of tourists in the last fiscal year.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The park, which earned Rs 187.38 million from tourists visiting the park in Fiscal Year 2019/20, was able to collect only Rs 25.537 million in the last fiscal year (FY 2020/21). The park also generates income from other sources.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In Fiscal Year 2019/20, the park collected revenue of Rs 118.70 million other sources besides tourists’ fees, whereas, in the last fiscal year, the income generated from those sources increased to Rs 188.24 million.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Information Officer of CNP Lokendra Adhikari, who is also an Assistant Conservation Officer, said that the main source of income of the park is the tourist fee. And due to the decline in arrival of tourists because of the prohibitory order, the income has declined significantly.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> "Our main source of income is tourism, including foreign tourists," he said. "Other income from the park is riverine excavation fees, contracts and fines.”</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-29', 'modified' => '2021-07-29', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13494', 'image' => '20210729013117_20150914111210_chitwan.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-29 13:30:05', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13747', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Department of Tourism Directs Hotels and Resorts to Display Star Sign ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 29: Hotels operating at the federal, state, and local levels have to use star signs to show their standards.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">July 29: Hotels operating at the federal, state, and local levels have to use star signs to show their standards. The Department of Tourism has been rating hotels based on service facilities, quality, and capacity. The hotels have been broadly categorized into ordinary hotels, star-rated hotels, heritage hotels, and boutique hotels.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">This is the first time that the government has directed hotels to put up star sign on their boards. The department has determined the signs by classifying all the levels of hotels and motels in the hospitality sector. The Department of Tourism has issued 16 signs for hotels and has mandated them to display them in the signboards.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The department has stated that the sign has been set to show the services provided by the hotels, quality, capacity as well as the infrastructure based on international practice and to maintain uniformity throughout Nepal. Hotels at all levels will be required to place a signboard with a brass plate, an emblem on the top, and a specified number of red stars below it.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The department has informed that the name of the hotel and resort should be mentioned under the red star. However, hotels that provide bed and breakfast service, motel, and tourist inns will not be allowed to include a star in the signboard.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">According to the department, motels should have a red 'M' sign inside the circular line instead of the star, while tourist inn should also have 'I' inside the line, and the B&B should have 'B' and 'B' signs inside the line.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">There are 12 types of signs for one-star to five-star hotels, deluxe hotels and luxury hotels. Accordingly, the five-star Deluxe category hotel will have to write the words 5 star and Deluxe on the signboard. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Ordinary heritage boutique hotels have to place a 3-star and standard heritage boutique in the plate, and for deluxe heritage boutiques, 4 stars and name should be mentioned. There are five-star signs for luxury heritage boutique hotels, three-star signs for ordinary resorts, four-star signs for deluxe resorts, and five-star signs for luxury resorts. According to the department, hotels and resorts of all levels should have such signs at the entrance.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The department has also made arrangements for hotels to have logos of Hotel Association Nepal (HAN) or other associations. Provision has been made for the use of these signs by tourist inns, motels, B&Bs, etc., which are currently registered with the tourism department. </span></span></p> <p><img alt="" src="/app/webroot/userfiles/images/202102190251.jpg" style="height:594px; width:800px" /></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-29', 'modified' => '2021-07-29', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13493', 'image' => '20210729111700_2021031201502.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-29 11:15:25', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13746', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NTA Approves Trial for 5G Service ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 29: The Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) has endorsed the work procedure to use a new technology including the trial of 5G, the fifth generation mobile network.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">July 29: The Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) has endorsed the work procedure to use a new technology including the trial of 5G, the fifth generation mobile network. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A meeting of the NTA Board held a few days ago endorsed the work procedure about the test of new technology. The NTA's move has paved the way for using the 5G wireless internet service in the country. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Chair of the country's telecommunications regulatory body, Purushottam Khanal confirmed that the work procedure for the trial of 5G had been prepared. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Now, service providers can apply for its trial. The application requires the details about the test modality, information about new technology, trial site, and frequency description required for the test, proposed services and its process, schedule of the network installation and the operation, and an action plan. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The NTA will provide free frequency for maximum one year for the trial use. During the test period, the NTA will not charge the service recipients. The service providing companies are required to include both rural and urban areas for the trial service. Besides, they are mandated to manage hardware and software for the trial service and inform about it to the NTA. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">It has been mentioned in the work procedure that the Authority could scrap the operation license if no progress is seen in the work regarding import of necessary equipment and its installation even within three months of approval. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The service provider could re-use the equipment used during the trial period for 4G with the permission of the Authority. It should be sealed or returned to the concerned seller in the presence of the Authority and the regulatory body should be informed if the equipment are not used. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Nepal Telecom has already presented its work procedure to the Authority for 5G trial. The state-owned telecom company has not been able to test the 5G as the frequency required for 5G has not been determined yet. The Authority had determined frequency for 5G in Nepal only in February. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-29', 'modified' => '2021-07-29', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13492', 'image' => '20210729075523_20210324040042_20181204021328_5GblogImage (1).jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-29 07:53:51', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = false $xml = falsesimplexml_load_file - [internal], line ?? include - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 133 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
| Currency | Unit |
Buy | Sell |
| U.S. Dollar | 1 | 121.23 | 121.83 |
| European Euro | 1 | 131.65 | 132.31 |
| UK Pound Sterling | 1 | 142.47 | 143.18 |
| Swiss Franc | 1 | 124.29 | 124.90 |
| Australian Dollar | 1 | 71.69 | 72.05 |
| Canadian Dollar | 1 | 83.90 | 84.32 |
| Japanese Yen | 10 | 10.94 | 11.00 |
| Chinese Yuan | 1 | 17.17 | 17.26 |
| Saudi Arabian Riyal | 1 | 32.27 | 32.43 |
| UAE Dirham | 1 | 33.01 | 33.17 |
| Malaysian Ringgit | 1 | 27.36 | 27.50 |
| South Korean Won | 100 | 9.77 | 9.82 |
Update: 2020-03-25 | Source: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB)
| Fine Gold | 1 tola | 77000.00 |
| Tejabi Gold | 1 tola | 76700.00 |
| Silver | 1 tola | 720.00 |
Update : 2020-03-25
Source: Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers' Association
| Petrol | 1 Liter | 106.00 |
| Diesel | 1 Liter | 95.00 |
| Kerosene | 1 Liter | 95.00 |
| LP Gas | 1 Cylinder | 1375.00 |
Update : 2020-03-25
