July 29: Members of the Development and Technology Committee under the House of Representatives have stressed on carrying out onsite monitoring of the national pride…
July 29: Members of the Development and Technology Committee under the House of Representatives have stressed on carrying out onsite monitoring of the national pride…
July 28: There has been a slight reduction in investment pledges by domestic and foreign companies in the last two fiscal years amid the coronavirus (Covid-19)…
July 28: Panchkhal Municipality has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Nepal Infrastructure Bank Limited (NIFRA) to move ahead with the development, construction and implementation of well-equipped urban infrastructure in the municipality through public private…
July 28: The government has appointed Dr Biswo Nath Poudel as the Vice Chairman (VC) of the National Planning Commission…
July 27: US Ambassador to Nepal, Randy Berry paid a courtesy to Finance Minister Janardan Sharma on Tuesday.…
July 28: Israel has announced 1,000 job vacancies for aspiring Nepali…
July 28: Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Pampha Bhusal has said that she will focus on reducing the delay in development works faced by the energy…
sensitive towards the prevention and control of the…
July 27: Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Pampha Bhusal is preparing to bring a policy to provide special facilities to the people living below the poverty…
July 27: The government has honoured three companies with the Innovative Industries Award-2077.…
July 27: The volume of agricultural products exported from the eastern border point of Kakadbhitta has increased by fourfolds compared to the import from the same customs…
July 27: The government has decided to accept a loan assistance of US$ 60 million through the International Development Association of the World Bank…
July 27: The Government of Nepal has decided to bear the quarantine expenses of its citizens returning home from abroad through 'Deportation Centre' as well as those released from jail and who have run out of money in foreign…
July 27: The Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) has pledged to invest Rs 12 billion for the development of Tamakoshi 'V' Hydropower…
July 26: The Supreme Court has issued an interlocutory order to put on hold all the works related to the privatization of the state-owned Nepal Airlines Corporation…
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They also pointed out the need of further regarding the delay in construction works and damage caused by floods and landslides to such projects.</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"">According to the state-owned national news agency RSS, the committee members put these views in its first meeting held after the reinstatement of the House of Representatives. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The lawmakers said monitoring of the development and construction projects has not been possible due to the dissolution of the HoR and the COVID-19 risk, RSS further reported. The line ministries also could not be instructed regarding this due to the same reason, they added. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Committee member Asha Kumari BK said the construction of the 'utility corridor' should not be delayed. She suggested handing over the operation of the People's Housing Programme to the local government rather than the federal government itself. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Ram Bahadur Bishta demanded carrying out an assessment of the damage caused by the recent floods and landslides. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Kamala Rokka called for the distribution of the development budget to the remote districts and the districts in the mountainous region as well. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Indu Sharma said an assessment should be made of the status of the projects which the committee had monitored in the past. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Committee member Yagya Raj Sunuwar stressed that the Local Partnership Programme should be continued as it has had positive impact at the local level. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Bahadur Singh Lama underscored the need of setting priority in development and construction works. </span><br /> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-29', 'modified' => '2021-07-29', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13491', 'image' => '20210729113637_20200720114511_1595199291.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-29 11:35:38', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13745', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Investment Commitment Declines by 15.29 Percent in the last Fiscal Year', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 28: There has been a slight reduction in investment pledges by domestic and foreign companies in the last two fiscal years amid the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 28: There has been a slight reduction in investment pledges by domestic and foreign companies in the last two fiscal years amid the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Compared to the Fiscal Year 2076/77, the foreign investment commitment in the last Fiscal Year 2077/78 has declined by 15.29 percent. That year, the pledged investment was Rs 32.02 billion whereas in FY 2076/77, such investment commitment was Rs. 37.80 billion. Along with the proposed foreign investment, the number of registered industries has also declined. Only 183 industries were registered in the last fiscal year compared to 344 in the previous 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"">A total of 203 industries have been registered with combined domestic and foreign investment worth Rs 156.64 billion. Of these, 183 are industries with foreign investment. A total of 277 industries were registered in the previous fiscal year, with an investment commitment of Rs 152.62 billion. Among them, 223 industries were backed by foreign investors. </span></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 Department of Industry, investment commitments in 2075/76 and 2074/75 were higher than in the last two fiscal years. Domestic and foreign investment commitments in 2074/75 was Rs. 349 billion, while foreign investment commitment was also significant.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-28', 'modified' => '2021-07-28', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13490', 'image' => '20210728031739_20210312011313_20170512120504_co.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-28 15:16:35', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13744', 'article_category_id' => '218', 'title' => 'MoU between Panchkhal Municipality and NIFRA ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 28: Panchkhal Municipality has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Nepal Infrastructure Bank Limited (NIFRA) to move ahead with the development, construction and implementation of well-equipped urban infrastructure in the municipality through public private partnership. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 28: Panchkhal Municipality has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Nepal Infrastructure Bank Limited (NIFRA) to move ahead with the development, construction and implementation of well-equipped urban infrastructure in the municipality through public private partnership. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Mayor of Panchkhal municipality Mahesh Kharel and Chief Executive Officer of NIFRA Ram Krishna Khatiwada signed the agreement on Monday, July 26. </span></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 press statement, with the signing of the agreement, the bank will help the municipality with technical and economic feasibility study required for project development, financial and technical analysis, detailed project report, market sounding of the project, assistance required for selection of consultants and developers and other cooperation required to decide the structure of investment. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-28', 'modified' => '2021-07-28', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13489', 'image' => '20210728030514_mou (1).jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-28 15:04:07', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13743', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Appoints Biswo Poudel as Vice Chairman of National Planning Commission', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 28: The government has appointed Dr Biswo Nath Poudel as the Vice Chairman (VC) of the National Planning Commission (NPC).', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 28: The government has appointed Dr Biswo Nath Poudel as the Vice Chairman (VC) of the National Planning Commission (NPC). The cabinet meeting on July 27 took a decision to this effect. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Poudel has completed engineering from China and holds a PhD degree in Agriculture and Resource Economics from the University of California, Berkeley. Poudel was also an adviser to the NPC when Swarnim Wagle was appointed as its VC. He is also a member of the board of directors of Mid Tamor Hydropower Company, has worked as board member of Sanima Bank and financial advisor to the International Labor Organization. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">NPC is a high-level body which forms national development plans. It is the central body that works on monitoring and evaluation of development projects, policies and programmes. As it facilitates the long term development of plans and policies, Poudel has a challenge to implement plans to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to Shantaraj Subedi, former Finance Secretary, a qualified person has been entrusted with the responsibility of the NPC. He said that the government should firstly work on evaluating the impacts of COVID-19 on the economy and formulate plans and policies accordingly to uplift the economy. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">"It has been two years since the fifteen year plan has come into effect but it has not been implemented properly. So, the NPC should bring changes in it for its effective implementation. Poudel also has the responsibility to form work procedures to implement Sustainable Idea -2100," Subedi 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"">Poudel has been raising his voices against the traditional development models and has questioned the existence of NPC in this regard. Subedi is hopeful Poudel will play a crucial role in restructuring NPC and formulating effective work procedures. </span></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 formation of the new government, Dr Pushparaj Kandel and other members appointed by the previous government have resigned. Along with this, the commission had become almost inactive without officials. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Meanwhile, the government has decided to appoint Ram Kumar Phuyal and Dil Bahadur Gurung as members of the commission under the leadership of Poudel. Phuyal and Gurung were members of the commission even in the previous government. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Phuyal had played a significant role in creating programmes to improve the social security system and encourage startups programs, while Gurung played a key role in digitizing agricultural systems, land and survey systems. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Although the government has appointed three people, including the vice-chairman, the planning commission is yet to get a full shape. The National Planning Commission, chaired by the Prime Minister, has a full-time Vice-Chairman and six members representing various areas of expertise. The government should appoint three more members to its full capacity.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Apart from the six members of the commission, a Civil Service Section Officer is also required to be a member secretary of the commission. Chief Secretary of the government and the Finance Secretary work as ex-officio members of the Commission. The member secretary of the commission also works as the administrative head of the commission.</span></span></span></p> <p><br /> <br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-28', 'modified' => '2021-07-28', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13488', 'image' => '20210728021851_1627428213.Clipboard02.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-28 14:18:01', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13742', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'US Ambassador Pays Courtesy Call to Finance Minister', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 27: US Ambassador to Nepal, Randy Berry paid a courtesy to Finance Minister Janardan Sharma on Tuesday. ', 'content' => '<p><em>Finance Minister Janardan Sharma meets US Ambassador to Nepal Rany Berry on July 27. Photo Courtesy: Ministry of Finance</em></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 27: US Ambassador to Nepal, Randy Berry paid a courtesy to Finance Minister Janardan Sharma on Tuesday. During the meeting held at the Ministry, Finance Minister Sharma expressed his gratitude for America’s unforgettable assistance in the aftermath of the earthquake and during the Covid-19 pandemic.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Sharma said that the vaccine against covid-19 is Nepal's first priority and expressed confidence that the US government would provide more assistance and facilitation in the supply of vaccines. Minister Sharma expressed commitment to monitor and investigate projects implemented in Nepal with the assistance of the United States Government.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">During the meeting, Ambassador Berry said that the United States will stand with Nepal in the fight against Covid-19. Stating that the United States has been providing assistance to Nepal in the field of health and education for the past 70 years, he expressed his commitment to continue the same in upcoming days as well. He said the United States had provided 1.5 million doses of the vaccine to help with the vaccine campaign against in Nepal and added that they would continue to provide necessary assistance in the coming days.</span></span></span></p> <p><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-28', 'modified' => '2021-07-28', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13487', 'image' => '20210728015944_1627456308_1.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-28 13:58:42', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13740', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => ' Israel Announces 1,000 Job Vacancies for Nepalis ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 28: Israel has announced 1,000 job vacancies for aspiring Nepali workers.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">July 28: Israel has announced 1,000 job vacancies for aspiring Nepali workers. The Department of Foreign Employment on Tuesday formally informed about this through a notice. The hiring process will take place through G2G model. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The notice states that Israel has placed the demand for 700 females and 300 males as care givers in the first lot. The Government of Israel has said the monthly salary for selected worker is 5,300 New Israeli Sheqel (NIS) which is equivalent to Rs 193,000. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Aspiring Nepali workers will be getting the job offers in Israel after a long wait. The payment will be made on a weekly basis. It may be noted that the Government of Israel and Nepal last year had inked a labour pact and Israel had agreed to hire 500 workers in the first lot. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif""> The contract period for a selected worker will be of one year and it could be extended up to five years. The worker has to manage food on own while the accommodation will be managed by his/her employer. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Criteria for applicant </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Any Nepali citizen completing 25 years and not exceeding 45 years of age with at least 1.5 metres height, weighing 45 kilograms and having an ANM or CMA (medical) certificate after completing at least ten class or a plus two degree with at least three months' training on care giving from the government-certified training institute is eligible to apply for the job. Anyone already having worked in Israel and whose parents, spouses or daughters are residing in Israel or currently working there are suggested no to try for the job. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-28', 'modified' => '2021-07-28', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13486', 'image' => '20210728111533_20201001041928_1601479507.nepal isrel_g2g.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-28 11:14:44', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13741', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Energy Minister Expresses Commitment to Cut Red Tape', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => ' July 28: Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Pampha Bhusal has said that she will focus on reducing the delay in development works faced by the energy sector.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 28: Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Pampha Bhusal has said that she will focus on reducing the delay in development works faced by the energy sector. She said that delay in even a small task should be improved.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Speaking to a delegation of the Independent Power Producers’ Association of Nepal (IPPAN) at the Ministry on Tuesday, she said the delay should be treated like any other financial corruption. “The tendency of working irresponsibly is not good. The thinking that the service recipient will come back later if the work is not done and delaying is no less than financial corruption,” she said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The minister added that a working style will be developed by introducing a code of conduct. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“We have to work in accordance to a code of conduct,” she said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Moreover, she assured that inter-ministerial discussions would be held soon to end the situation where the private sector has to visit many ministries and departments for a particular project.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Minister Bhusal said, "Work has been halted for years. It has to be done quickly. It needs to be made objective and scientific."</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-28', 'modified' => '2021-07-28', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13485', 'image' => '20210728014716_484055608_n.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-28 13:46:01', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13739', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Confirms Kappa Variant of Coronavirus in Nepal', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'sensitive towards the prevention and control of the disease.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">July 28: The government has claimed that three additional variants of coronavirus have been detected in the country while urging all stakeholders to be remain sensitive towards the prevention and control of the disease. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Ministry of Health and Population on Tuesday said that 47 samples collected at the National Public Health Laboratory from different age groups were sent to New Delhi-based WHO recognized labs for sequencing. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Among those samples, all 47 samples had Delta variant in the genomic sequencing and three of them had new variant called K417N mutation. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">With this, Nepal has Alpha variant, Delta variant and Kappa variant in the country, the Ministry's Deputy Spokesperson Dr Samir Adhikari said in a press statement. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">All these variants are found to be more infectious and could impact people of all ages, the ministry said. </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-28', 'modified' => '2021-07-28', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13484', 'image' => '20210728111035_coronavirus-a_d.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-28 11:09:42', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13738', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'New Energy Minister Vows to Lower Electricity Tariff', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 27: Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Pampha Bhusal is preparing to bring a policy to provide special facilities to the people living below the poverty line.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 27: Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Pampha Bhusal is preparing to bring a policy to provide special facilities to the people living below the poverty line.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In a press conference held at the Ministry on Monday, she said that free electricity will be provided to such people.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> “Energy is the raw material for economic and industrial development,” she said. She stressed on the need to focus on making development plans so that the electricity generated in Nepal can be used in the country.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Minister Bhusal also said that the tariff of electricity will also be reconsidered. “Our electricity tariff is expensive. According to general economics, the higher the production, the lower is the cost price. My experience as a consumer is that the higher the consumption, the lower the rate should be, but this is not the case here,” she said, “The electricity tariff should be reconsidered. Electricity tariff should be adjusted.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Stating that the private sector has contributed to the country by investing heavily in the energy sector, she added, “We must protect the private sector. The government is also their guardian.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Minister Bhusal said that the government should facilitate in building large reservoir with the investment of the people.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Stating that she would work towards increasing production, fixing affordable rates, providing concessions and increasing the number of consumers, Bhusal said that the number of consumers and electricity consumption would also increase if the LP gas could be replaced.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">She also said that she is preparing to bring a policy to help in irrigation through energy. “It will be a great relief if we can provide irrigation facilities to agriculture. We don't have to rely on diesel and petrol,” she said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">She said that electricity will be made available to the people in the areas where electrification has not taken place by connecting the central transmission line as soon as possible. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-27', 'modified' => '2021-07-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13483', 'image' => '20210727020631_20200807030044_1596750181.Clipboard01.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-27 14:05:37', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13737', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Three Companies Bag ‘Innovative Industries Award’', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 27: The government has honoured three companies with the Innovative Industries Award-2077. ', 'content' => '<p><em>Winners of the Innovative Industries Award-2077. Photo Courtesy: MoICS</em></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 27: The government has honoured three companies with the Innovative Industries Award-2077 in recognition of their contribution to innovative approach. The award was presented to the companies by the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies amid a recent function.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The companies that were successful in bagging the award include Leaf Plus Pvt Ltd, Nepal's Handicraft Industries and Anugraha Handicraft. On Monday (July 26), the ministry notified in a press statement that the awards have been given to the representatives of each of the industry.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Secretary of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Arjun Prasad Pokharel said that the award-winning companies are expected to further contribute to local job creation by increasing and diversifying production and productivity through innovative entrepreneurship.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Of the three industries established in Kathmandu and Lalitpur, Leaf Plus has been producing plates of new design in various shapes from wasted betel leaves and exporting them to Germany, the Netherlands and Australia.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In the same way, Nepal Handicraft Industries has been making metal sculptures in various shapes and forms using unsaturated polyester. Anugraha Handicraft has been producing hand-knitted artistic sarees, kurtas, scarves, hats, bags, handkerchiefs and other materials of new design.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The ministry said it believes that this award will aid in encouraging those who are doing enterprises based on innovative thinking. Secretary Pokharel stated that industries including small, medium and large scale would also be honored and encouraged on the basis of their contribution to the fields of research, invention and innovation.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-27', 'modified' => '2021-07-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13482', 'image' => '20210727014257_img-20210725-171915jpg-1627301065.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-27 13:41:12', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13736', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Export of Agricultural Product Up by 4 Times through Eastern Border', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 27: The volume of agricultural products exported from the eastern border point of Kakadbhitta has increased by fourfolds compared to the import from the same customs point.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 27: The volume of agricultural products exported from the eastern border point of Kakadbhitta has increased by fourfolds compared to the import from the same customs point.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the Kakadbhitta quarantine office, agricultural products worth Rs 4.12 billion have been exported while goods worth Rs 10.19 million have been imported in the fiscal year 2020/21.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Meanwhile, in the fiscal year 2019/20, goods worth Rs. 5.26 billion were exported while goods worth Rs 20.99 million were imported, the data of the quarantine office shows. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Devendra Sahu, senior crop protection officer at the office, said that the increase in the price of agricultural products in the international market contributed to the increase in exports during the COVID-19 pandemic.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He said that agro products like cardamom, ginger, tea and herbs like chiraito (swertia), jatamansi (spikenard), amla (Indian gooseberry), pulses and other agricultural products are being exported to India and Bangladesh through the eastern border. He said that cardamom, tea, amriso (broom grass) are the major agricultural products exported from the eastern border.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><br /> <br /> <br /> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-27', 'modified' => '2021-07-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13481', 'image' => '20210727124750_Untitled.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-27 12:46:59', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13735', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Decides to Accept Loan Assistance of US$ 60 Million ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 27: The government has decided to accept a loan assistance of US$ 60 million through the International Development Association of the World Bank Group. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">July 27: The government has decided to accept a loan assistance of US$ 60 million through the International Development Association of the World Bank Group. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">While making public the decisions made by the Council of Ministers on July 26, government Spokesperson and Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Gyanendra Bahadur Karki, said that the cabinet meeting held at Singha Durbar decided to accept the loan assistance in order to run different projects. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, the government decided to approve the National Debt (Fifth Amendment) Regulations-2078 BS and Bond Priorities and Secondary Market (Third Amendment) Regulation-2078. </span></span></span><br /> <br /> <br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-27', 'modified' => '2021-07-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13480', 'image' => '20210727122911_kzCxV5Yw_400x400.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-27 12:27:58', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13734', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government to Bear Quarantine Expenses of Deported Citizens', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 27: The Government of Nepal has decided to bear the quarantine expenses of its citizens returning home from abroad through 'Deportation Centre' as well as those released from jail and who have run out of money in foreign countries.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18pt"><span style="font-family:Preeti"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">July 27: The Government of Nepal has decided to bear the quarantine expenses of its citizens returning home from abroad through 'Deportation Centre' as well as those released from jail and who have run out of money in foreign countries.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18pt"><span style="font-family:Preeti"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Government Spokesperson and Law Minister Gyanendra Bahadur Karki announced the decision after a cabinet meeting held at Singha Durbar on Monday (July 26).</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18pt"><span style="font-family:Preeti"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Minister Karki informed that the Ministry of Labor, Employment, and Social Security will make the necessary arrangements for the quarantine facility, while the Ministry of Finance will disburse the required budget.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18pt"><span style="font-family:Preeti"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The cabinet also decided to extend the deadline of government’s procurement agreements signed during the period of prohibitory order in various districts by six months considering the adverse impact of the restrictions imposed by the government to control the spread of coronavirus.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18pt"><span style="font-family:Preeti"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Similarly, the government has decided to appoint staffers at various commissions on contract basis. In this regard, the cabinet approved appointment of 35 temporary staff at the Truth and Reconciliation (TRC) Commission. Likewise, the cabinet has also approved appointment of 23 gazetted officers on contract basis at the Commission for the Investigation of Enforced Disappeared Persons (CIEDP).</span></span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-27', 'modified' => '2021-07-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13479', 'image' => '20210727102153_1627343795.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-27 10:20:52', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13733', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'EPF to Invest Rs 12 Billion in Tamakoshi 'V' Hydropower Project ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 27: The Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) has pledged to invest Rs 12 billion for the development of Tamakoshi 'V' Hydropower Project. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">July 27: The Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) has pledged to invest Rs 12 billion for the development of Tamakoshi 'V' Hydropower Project. <br /> This will be the EFP's lone investment in the hydropower project after Rasuwagadhi, Upper Sanzen, Sanzen and Bhotekoshi projects, according to the state-owned national news agency RSS. <br /> A tripartite agreement on investment was reached on Sunday (July 25) in the presence of Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Pampha Bhusal. <br /> Executive Director of Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) Hitendra Dev Shakya, EPF's Administrator Tulasi Prasad Gautam and Chief Executive Officer of Tamakoshi Hydropower Project Nasib Man Pradhan agreed on a deal for the development of the 100-megawatt project. It will be a cascade project of the Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower Project. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> Pradhan informed New Business Age that water coming from the tailrace after being used by the Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower Project will flow through the tunnel from Lamabagar.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Administrator Gautam said that the EPF was ready to make the investment adding that it was a very lucrative project. <br /> The estimated cost of the project is around Rs 16 billion, up from the initial projection of Rs 13 billion, and the NEA will invest Rs 4 billon for the project development. <br /> Officials claimed that Rs 160 million will be spent for the production of each megawatt power adding that the access route for the project is already readied while developing the Upper Tamakoshi Project. <br /> Administrator Gautam told RSS that the EPF decided to invest in this project as the transmission line was already prepared and the project was also cost-effective. He added that the project was selected as it was considered the best by various evaluations. <br /> The project will generate 540 Gigawatt of power annually. He added that the tender bid will be announced to begin the construction work within 10 months. <br /> A source at the project informed New Business Age that the Tamakoshi-V is cheap according to per unit electricity generation investment.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The investment of the hydropower project is expected to cost less as the project is being built without constructing a dam, which will automatically save nature as all the structures are constructed underground.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to the detailed project report (DPR), four units of 25 MW capacity each will be installed in the project. Water will be dropped from 160 m head through a 5.6 m diameter and 8.02 km tunnel from the Upper Tamakoshi Project.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The electricity generated will be linked to the Upper Tamakoshi substation through a 132 KV single circuit transmission line. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The construction of the project started in early 2017.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-27', 'modified' => '2021-07-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13478', 'image' => '20210727100514_20170427041606_tamakoshi.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-27 10:03:43', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13732', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Supreme Court Issues Stay Order Against Privatization of NAC', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 26: The Supreme Court has issued an interlocutory order to put on hold all the works related to the privatization of the state-owned Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC).', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 26: The Supreme Court has issued an interlocutory order to put on hold all the works related to the privatization of the state-owned Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC).</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Responding to a writ petition filed by advocate Atish Karki, a single bench of Supreme Court Justice Kumar Regmi issued an interim order on Sunday (July 26) to halt the process of privatization of the NAC.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">An interlocutory order has been issued in the name of the defendants to keep the status quo and not to take any decision regarding privatization of the Nepal Airlines Corporation before an interim order is issued after hearing both sides, the order reads.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The court is of the view that it would be appropriate to conclude the case after hearing both the parties on August 9.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The defendants have been asked to appear in the court as per Rule 49 (2) (c) of the Rules of Procedure of the Supreme Court 2074 BS. Similarly, the bench has also issued a show-cause order to the stakeholders. NAC has to submit clarification for the privatization of the airline company within 15 days.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Employees of the Nepal Airlines Corporation have been protesting against the privatization of the corporation. Nepal Airlines Corporation United Trade Union has demanded the resignation of Dim Prakash Poudel, general manager of NAC. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The trade union has alleged Poudel that he did not discuss this issue with the stakeholders even after preparing a draft to privatize the government-owned corporation.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">A meeting of the Board of Directors of NAC held on July 25 had decided to send the draft prepared to transform the Nepal Airlines Corporation into a 'public' company to the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation has said there is no plan to privatize the Nepal Airlines Corporation. A few days ago, the ministry issued a formal statement saying that there was no discussion on privatizing the corporation or converting it into a private company.</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-26', 'modified' => '2021-07-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13477', 'image' => '20210726015026_20180727021334_2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-26 13:49:29', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ) ) $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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They also pointed out the need of further regarding the delay in construction works and damage caused by floods and landslides to such projects.</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"">According to the state-owned national news agency RSS, the committee members put these views in its first meeting held after the reinstatement of the House of Representatives. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The lawmakers said monitoring of the development and construction projects has not been possible due to the dissolution of the HoR and the COVID-19 risk, RSS further reported. The line ministries also could not be instructed regarding this due to the same reason, they added. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Committee member Asha Kumari BK said the construction of the 'utility corridor' should not be delayed. She suggested handing over the operation of the People's Housing Programme to the local government rather than the federal government itself. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Ram Bahadur Bishta demanded carrying out an assessment of the damage caused by the recent floods and landslides. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Kamala Rokka called for the distribution of the development budget to the remote districts and the districts in the mountainous region as well. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Indu Sharma said an assessment should be made of the status of the projects which the committee had monitored in the past. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Committee member Yagya Raj Sunuwar stressed that the Local Partnership Programme should be continued as it has had positive impact at the local level. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Bahadur Singh Lama underscored the need of setting priority in development and construction works. </span><br /> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-29', 'modified' => '2021-07-29', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13491', 'image' => '20210729113637_20200720114511_1595199291.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-29 11:35:38', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13745', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Investment Commitment Declines by 15.29 Percent in the last Fiscal Year', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 28: There has been a slight reduction in investment pledges by domestic and foreign companies in the last two fiscal years amid the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 28: There has been a slight reduction in investment pledges by domestic and foreign companies in the last two fiscal years amid the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Compared to the Fiscal Year 2076/77, the foreign investment commitment in the last Fiscal Year 2077/78 has declined by 15.29 percent. That year, the pledged investment was Rs 32.02 billion whereas in FY 2076/77, such investment commitment was Rs. 37.80 billion. Along with the proposed foreign investment, the number of registered industries has also declined. Only 183 industries were registered in the last fiscal year compared to 344 in the previous 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"">A total of 203 industries have been registered with combined domestic and foreign investment worth Rs 156.64 billion. Of these, 183 are industries with foreign investment. A total of 277 industries were registered in the previous fiscal year, with an investment commitment of Rs 152.62 billion. Among them, 223 industries were backed by foreign investors. </span></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 Department of Industry, investment commitments in 2075/76 and 2074/75 were higher than in the last two fiscal years. Domestic and foreign investment commitments in 2074/75 was Rs. 349 billion, while foreign investment commitment was also significant.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-28', 'modified' => '2021-07-28', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13490', 'image' => '20210728031739_20210312011313_20170512120504_co.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-28 15:16:35', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13744', 'article_category_id' => '218', 'title' => 'MoU between Panchkhal Municipality and NIFRA ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 28: Panchkhal Municipality has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Nepal Infrastructure Bank Limited (NIFRA) to move ahead with the development, construction and implementation of well-equipped urban infrastructure in the municipality through public private partnership. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 28: Panchkhal Municipality has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Nepal Infrastructure Bank Limited (NIFRA) to move ahead with the development, construction and implementation of well-equipped urban infrastructure in the municipality through public private partnership. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Mayor of Panchkhal municipality Mahesh Kharel and Chief Executive Officer of NIFRA Ram Krishna Khatiwada signed the agreement on Monday, July 26. </span></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 press statement, with the signing of the agreement, the bank will help the municipality with technical and economic feasibility study required for project development, financial and technical analysis, detailed project report, market sounding of the project, assistance required for selection of consultants and developers and other cooperation required to decide the structure of investment. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-28', 'modified' => '2021-07-28', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13489', 'image' => '20210728030514_mou (1).jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-28 15:04:07', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13743', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Appoints Biswo Poudel as Vice Chairman of National Planning Commission', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 28: The government has appointed Dr Biswo Nath Poudel as the Vice Chairman (VC) of the National Planning Commission (NPC).', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 28: The government has appointed Dr Biswo Nath Poudel as the Vice Chairman (VC) of the National Planning Commission (NPC). The cabinet meeting on July 27 took a decision to this effect. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Poudel has completed engineering from China and holds a PhD degree in Agriculture and Resource Economics from the University of California, Berkeley. Poudel was also an adviser to the NPC when Swarnim Wagle was appointed as its VC. He is also a member of the board of directors of Mid Tamor Hydropower Company, has worked as board member of Sanima Bank and financial advisor to the International Labor Organization. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">NPC is a high-level body which forms national development plans. It is the central body that works on monitoring and evaluation of development projects, policies and programmes. As it facilitates the long term development of plans and policies, Poudel has a challenge to implement plans to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to Shantaraj Subedi, former Finance Secretary, a qualified person has been entrusted with the responsibility of the NPC. He said that the government should firstly work on evaluating the impacts of COVID-19 on the economy and formulate plans and policies accordingly to uplift the economy. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">"It has been two years since the fifteen year plan has come into effect but it has not been implemented properly. So, the NPC should bring changes in it for its effective implementation. Poudel also has the responsibility to form work procedures to implement Sustainable Idea -2100," Subedi 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"">Poudel has been raising his voices against the traditional development models and has questioned the existence of NPC in this regard. Subedi is hopeful Poudel will play a crucial role in restructuring NPC and formulating effective work procedures. </span></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 formation of the new government, Dr Pushparaj Kandel and other members appointed by the previous government have resigned. Along with this, the commission had become almost inactive without officials. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Meanwhile, the government has decided to appoint Ram Kumar Phuyal and Dil Bahadur Gurung as members of the commission under the leadership of Poudel. Phuyal and Gurung were members of the commission even in the previous government. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Phuyal had played a significant role in creating programmes to improve the social security system and encourage startups programs, while Gurung played a key role in digitizing agricultural systems, land and survey systems. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Although the government has appointed three people, including the vice-chairman, the planning commission is yet to get a full shape. The National Planning Commission, chaired by the Prime Minister, has a full-time Vice-Chairman and six members representing various areas of expertise. The government should appoint three more members to its full capacity.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Apart from the six members of the commission, a Civil Service Section Officer is also required to be a member secretary of the commission. Chief Secretary of the government and the Finance Secretary work as ex-officio members of the Commission. The member secretary of the commission also works as the administrative head of the commission.</span></span></span></p> <p><br /> <br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-28', 'modified' => '2021-07-28', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13488', 'image' => '20210728021851_1627428213.Clipboard02.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-28 14:18:01', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13742', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'US Ambassador Pays Courtesy Call to Finance Minister', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 27: US Ambassador to Nepal, Randy Berry paid a courtesy to Finance Minister Janardan Sharma on Tuesday. ', 'content' => '<p><em>Finance Minister Janardan Sharma meets US Ambassador to Nepal Rany Berry on July 27. Photo Courtesy: Ministry of Finance</em></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 27: US Ambassador to Nepal, Randy Berry paid a courtesy to Finance Minister Janardan Sharma on Tuesday. During the meeting held at the Ministry, Finance Minister Sharma expressed his gratitude for America’s unforgettable assistance in the aftermath of the earthquake and during the Covid-19 pandemic.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Sharma said that the vaccine against covid-19 is Nepal's first priority and expressed confidence that the US government would provide more assistance and facilitation in the supply of vaccines. Minister Sharma expressed commitment to monitor and investigate projects implemented in Nepal with the assistance of the United States Government.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">During the meeting, Ambassador Berry said that the United States will stand with Nepal in the fight against Covid-19. Stating that the United States has been providing assistance to Nepal in the field of health and education for the past 70 years, he expressed his commitment to continue the same in upcoming days as well. He said the United States had provided 1.5 million doses of the vaccine to help with the vaccine campaign against in Nepal and added that they would continue to provide necessary assistance in the coming days.</span></span></span></p> <p><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-28', 'modified' => '2021-07-28', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13487', 'image' => '20210728015944_1627456308_1.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-28 13:58:42', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13740', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => ' Israel Announces 1,000 Job Vacancies for Nepalis ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 28: Israel has announced 1,000 job vacancies for aspiring Nepali workers.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">July 28: Israel has announced 1,000 job vacancies for aspiring Nepali workers. The Department of Foreign Employment on Tuesday formally informed about this through a notice. The hiring process will take place through G2G model. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The notice states that Israel has placed the demand for 700 females and 300 males as care givers in the first lot. The Government of Israel has said the monthly salary for selected worker is 5,300 New Israeli Sheqel (NIS) which is equivalent to Rs 193,000. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Aspiring Nepali workers will be getting the job offers in Israel after a long wait. The payment will be made on a weekly basis. It may be noted that the Government of Israel and Nepal last year had inked a labour pact and Israel had agreed to hire 500 workers in the first lot. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif""> The contract period for a selected worker will be of one year and it could be extended up to five years. The worker has to manage food on own while the accommodation will be managed by his/her employer. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Criteria for applicant </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Any Nepali citizen completing 25 years and not exceeding 45 years of age with at least 1.5 metres height, weighing 45 kilograms and having an ANM or CMA (medical) certificate after completing at least ten class or a plus two degree with at least three months' training on care giving from the government-certified training institute is eligible to apply for the job. Anyone already having worked in Israel and whose parents, spouses or daughters are residing in Israel or currently working there are suggested no to try for the job. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-28', 'modified' => '2021-07-28', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13486', 'image' => '20210728111533_20201001041928_1601479507.nepal isrel_g2g.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-28 11:14:44', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13741', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Energy Minister Expresses Commitment to Cut Red Tape', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => ' July 28: Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Pampha Bhusal has said that she will focus on reducing the delay in development works faced by the energy sector.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 28: Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Pampha Bhusal has said that she will focus on reducing the delay in development works faced by the energy sector. She said that delay in even a small task should be improved.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Speaking to a delegation of the Independent Power Producers’ Association of Nepal (IPPAN) at the Ministry on Tuesday, she said the delay should be treated like any other financial corruption. “The tendency of working irresponsibly is not good. The thinking that the service recipient will come back later if the work is not done and delaying is no less than financial corruption,” she said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The minister added that a working style will be developed by introducing a code of conduct. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“We have to work in accordance to a code of conduct,” she said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Moreover, she assured that inter-ministerial discussions would be held soon to end the situation where the private sector has to visit many ministries and departments for a particular project.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Minister Bhusal said, "Work has been halted for years. It has to be done quickly. It needs to be made objective and scientific."</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-28', 'modified' => '2021-07-28', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13485', 'image' => '20210728014716_484055608_n.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-28 13:46:01', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13739', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Confirms Kappa Variant of Coronavirus in Nepal', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'sensitive towards the prevention and control of the disease.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">July 28: The government has claimed that three additional variants of coronavirus have been detected in the country while urging all stakeholders to be remain sensitive towards the prevention and control of the disease. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Ministry of Health and Population on Tuesday said that 47 samples collected at the National Public Health Laboratory from different age groups were sent to New Delhi-based WHO recognized labs for sequencing. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Among those samples, all 47 samples had Delta variant in the genomic sequencing and three of them had new variant called K417N mutation. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">With this, Nepal has Alpha variant, Delta variant and Kappa variant in the country, the Ministry's Deputy Spokesperson Dr Samir Adhikari said in a press statement. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">All these variants are found to be more infectious and could impact people of all ages, the ministry said. </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-28', 'modified' => '2021-07-28', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13484', 'image' => '20210728111035_coronavirus-a_d.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-28 11:09:42', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13738', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'New Energy Minister Vows to Lower Electricity Tariff', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 27: Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Pampha Bhusal is preparing to bring a policy to provide special facilities to the people living below the poverty line.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 27: Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Pampha Bhusal is preparing to bring a policy to provide special facilities to the people living below the poverty line.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In a press conference held at the Ministry on Monday, she said that free electricity will be provided to such people.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> “Energy is the raw material for economic and industrial development,” she said. She stressed on the need to focus on making development plans so that the electricity generated in Nepal can be used in the country.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Minister Bhusal also said that the tariff of electricity will also be reconsidered. “Our electricity tariff is expensive. According to general economics, the higher the production, the lower is the cost price. My experience as a consumer is that the higher the consumption, the lower the rate should be, but this is not the case here,” she said, “The electricity tariff should be reconsidered. Electricity tariff should be adjusted.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Stating that the private sector has contributed to the country by investing heavily in the energy sector, she added, “We must protect the private sector. The government is also their guardian.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Minister Bhusal said that the government should facilitate in building large reservoir with the investment of the people.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Stating that she would work towards increasing production, fixing affordable rates, providing concessions and increasing the number of consumers, Bhusal said that the number of consumers and electricity consumption would also increase if the LP gas could be replaced.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">She also said that she is preparing to bring a policy to help in irrigation through energy. “It will be a great relief if we can provide irrigation facilities to agriculture. We don't have to rely on diesel and petrol,” she said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">She said that electricity will be made available to the people in the areas where electrification has not taken place by connecting the central transmission line as soon as possible. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-27', 'modified' => '2021-07-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13483', 'image' => '20210727020631_20200807030044_1596750181.Clipboard01.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-27 14:05:37', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13737', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Three Companies Bag ‘Innovative Industries Award’', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 27: The government has honoured three companies with the Innovative Industries Award-2077. ', 'content' => '<p><em>Winners of the Innovative Industries Award-2077. Photo Courtesy: MoICS</em></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 27: The government has honoured three companies with the Innovative Industries Award-2077 in recognition of their contribution to innovative approach. The award was presented to the companies by the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies amid a recent function.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The companies that were successful in bagging the award include Leaf Plus Pvt Ltd, Nepal's Handicraft Industries and Anugraha Handicraft. On Monday (July 26), the ministry notified in a press statement that the awards have been given to the representatives of each of the industry.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Secretary of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Arjun Prasad Pokharel said that the award-winning companies are expected to further contribute to local job creation by increasing and diversifying production and productivity through innovative entrepreneurship.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Of the three industries established in Kathmandu and Lalitpur, Leaf Plus has been producing plates of new design in various shapes from wasted betel leaves and exporting them to Germany, the Netherlands and Australia.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In the same way, Nepal Handicraft Industries has been making metal sculptures in various shapes and forms using unsaturated polyester. Anugraha Handicraft has been producing hand-knitted artistic sarees, kurtas, scarves, hats, bags, handkerchiefs and other materials of new design.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The ministry said it believes that this award will aid in encouraging those who are doing enterprises based on innovative thinking. Secretary Pokharel stated that industries including small, medium and large scale would also be honored and encouraged on the basis of their contribution to the fields of research, invention and innovation.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-27', 'modified' => '2021-07-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13482', 'image' => '20210727014257_img-20210725-171915jpg-1627301065.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-27 13:41:12', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13736', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Export of Agricultural Product Up by 4 Times through Eastern Border', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 27: The volume of agricultural products exported from the eastern border point of Kakadbhitta has increased by fourfolds compared to the import from the same customs point.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 27: The volume of agricultural products exported from the eastern border point of Kakadbhitta has increased by fourfolds compared to the import from the same customs point.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the Kakadbhitta quarantine office, agricultural products worth Rs 4.12 billion have been exported while goods worth Rs 10.19 million have been imported in the fiscal year 2020/21.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Meanwhile, in the fiscal year 2019/20, goods worth Rs. 5.26 billion were exported while goods worth Rs 20.99 million were imported, the data of the quarantine office shows. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Devendra Sahu, senior crop protection officer at the office, said that the increase in the price of agricultural products in the international market contributed to the increase in exports during the COVID-19 pandemic.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He said that agro products like cardamom, ginger, tea and herbs like chiraito (swertia), jatamansi (spikenard), amla (Indian gooseberry), pulses and other agricultural products are being exported to India and Bangladesh through the eastern border. He said that cardamom, tea, amriso (broom grass) are the major agricultural products exported from the eastern border.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><br /> <br /> <br /> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-27', 'modified' => '2021-07-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13481', 'image' => '20210727124750_Untitled.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-27 12:46:59', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13735', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Decides to Accept Loan Assistance of US$ 60 Million ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 27: The government has decided to accept a loan assistance of US$ 60 million through the International Development Association of the World Bank Group. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">July 27: The government has decided to accept a loan assistance of US$ 60 million through the International Development Association of the World Bank Group. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">While making public the decisions made by the Council of Ministers on July 26, government Spokesperson and Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Gyanendra Bahadur Karki, said that the cabinet meeting held at Singha Durbar decided to accept the loan assistance in order to run different projects. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, the government decided to approve the National Debt (Fifth Amendment) Regulations-2078 BS and Bond Priorities and Secondary Market (Third Amendment) Regulation-2078. </span></span></span><br /> <br /> <br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-27', 'modified' => '2021-07-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13480', 'image' => '20210727122911_kzCxV5Yw_400x400.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-27 12:27:58', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13734', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government to Bear Quarantine Expenses of Deported Citizens', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 27: The Government of Nepal has decided to bear the quarantine expenses of its citizens returning home from abroad through 'Deportation Centre' as well as those released from jail and who have run out of money in foreign countries.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18pt"><span style="font-family:Preeti"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">July 27: The Government of Nepal has decided to bear the quarantine expenses of its citizens returning home from abroad through 'Deportation Centre' as well as those released from jail and who have run out of money in foreign countries.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18pt"><span style="font-family:Preeti"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Government Spokesperson and Law Minister Gyanendra Bahadur Karki announced the decision after a cabinet meeting held at Singha Durbar on Monday (July 26).</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18pt"><span style="font-family:Preeti"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Minister Karki informed that the Ministry of Labor, Employment, and Social Security will make the necessary arrangements for the quarantine facility, while the Ministry of Finance will disburse the required budget.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18pt"><span style="font-family:Preeti"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The cabinet also decided to extend the deadline of government’s procurement agreements signed during the period of prohibitory order in various districts by six months considering the adverse impact of the restrictions imposed by the government to control the spread of coronavirus.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18pt"><span style="font-family:Preeti"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Similarly, the government has decided to appoint staffers at various commissions on contract basis. In this regard, the cabinet approved appointment of 35 temporary staff at the Truth and Reconciliation (TRC) Commission. Likewise, the cabinet has also approved appointment of 23 gazetted officers on contract basis at the Commission for the Investigation of Enforced Disappeared Persons (CIEDP).</span></span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-27', 'modified' => '2021-07-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13479', 'image' => '20210727102153_1627343795.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-27 10:20:52', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13733', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'EPF to Invest Rs 12 Billion in Tamakoshi 'V' Hydropower Project ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 27: The Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) has pledged to invest Rs 12 billion for the development of Tamakoshi 'V' Hydropower Project. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">July 27: The Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) has pledged to invest Rs 12 billion for the development of Tamakoshi 'V' Hydropower Project. <br /> This will be the EFP's lone investment in the hydropower project after Rasuwagadhi, Upper Sanzen, Sanzen and Bhotekoshi projects, according to the state-owned national news agency RSS. <br /> A tripartite agreement on investment was reached on Sunday (July 25) in the presence of Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Pampha Bhusal. <br /> Executive Director of Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) Hitendra Dev Shakya, EPF's Administrator Tulasi Prasad Gautam and Chief Executive Officer of Tamakoshi Hydropower Project Nasib Man Pradhan agreed on a deal for the development of the 100-megawatt project. It will be a cascade project of the Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower Project. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> Pradhan informed New Business Age that water coming from the tailrace after being used by the Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower Project will flow through the tunnel from Lamabagar.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Administrator Gautam said that the EPF was ready to make the investment adding that it was a very lucrative project. <br /> The estimated cost of the project is around Rs 16 billion, up from the initial projection of Rs 13 billion, and the NEA will invest Rs 4 billon for the project development. <br /> Officials claimed that Rs 160 million will be spent for the production of each megawatt power adding that the access route for the project is already readied while developing the Upper Tamakoshi Project. <br /> Administrator Gautam told RSS that the EPF decided to invest in this project as the transmission line was already prepared and the project was also cost-effective. He added that the project was selected as it was considered the best by various evaluations. <br /> The project will generate 540 Gigawatt of power annually. He added that the tender bid will be announced to begin the construction work within 10 months. <br /> A source at the project informed New Business Age that the Tamakoshi-V is cheap according to per unit electricity generation investment.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The investment of the hydropower project is expected to cost less as the project is being built without constructing a dam, which will automatically save nature as all the structures are constructed underground.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to the detailed project report (DPR), four units of 25 MW capacity each will be installed in the project. Water will be dropped from 160 m head through a 5.6 m diameter and 8.02 km tunnel from the Upper Tamakoshi Project.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The electricity generated will be linked to the Upper Tamakoshi substation through a 132 KV single circuit transmission line. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The construction of the project started in early 2017.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-27', 'modified' => '2021-07-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13478', 'image' => '20210727100514_20170427041606_tamakoshi.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-27 10:03:43', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13732', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Supreme Court Issues Stay Order Against Privatization of NAC', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 26: The Supreme Court has issued an interlocutory order to put on hold all the works related to the privatization of the state-owned Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC).', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 26: The Supreme Court has issued an interlocutory order to put on hold all the works related to the privatization of the state-owned Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC).</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Responding to a writ petition filed by advocate Atish Karki, a single bench of Supreme Court Justice Kumar Regmi issued an interim order on Sunday (July 26) to halt the process of privatization of the NAC.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">An interlocutory order has been issued in the name of the defendants to keep the status quo and not to take any decision regarding privatization of the Nepal Airlines Corporation before an interim order is issued after hearing both sides, the order reads.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The court is of the view that it would be appropriate to conclude the case after hearing both the parties on August 9.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The defendants have been asked to appear in the court as per Rule 49 (2) (c) of the Rules of Procedure of the Supreme Court 2074 BS. Similarly, the bench has also issued a show-cause order to the stakeholders. NAC has to submit clarification for the privatization of the airline company within 15 days.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Employees of the Nepal Airlines Corporation have been protesting against the privatization of the corporation. Nepal Airlines Corporation United Trade Union has demanded the resignation of Dim Prakash Poudel, general manager of NAC. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The trade union has alleged Poudel that he did not discuss this issue with the stakeholders even after preparing a draft to privatize the government-owned corporation.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">A meeting of the Board of Directors of NAC held on July 25 had decided to send the draft prepared to transform the Nepal Airlines Corporation into a 'public' company to the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation has said there is no plan to privatize the Nepal Airlines Corporation. A few days ago, the ministry issued a formal statement saying that there was no discussion on privatizing the corporation or converting it into a private company.</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-26', 'modified' => '2021-07-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13477', 'image' => '20210726015026_20180727021334_2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-26 13:49:29', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = falsesimplexml_load_file - [internal], line ?? include - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 60 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
Notice (8): Undefined variable: file [APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 133]Code Context// $file = 'http://aabhiyan:QUVLg8Wzs2F7G9N7@nepalstock.com.np/api/subindexdata.xml';if(!$xml = simplexml_load_file($file)){$viewFile = '/var/www/html/newbusinessage.com/app/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'articles' => array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ) ), 'current_user' => null, 'logged_in' => false ) $articles = array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13748', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Lawmakers Stress on Onsite Monitoring of National Pride Projects ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 29: Members of the Development and Technology Committee under the House of Representatives have stressed on carrying out onsite monitoring of the national pride projects.', '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: Members of the Development and Technology Committee under the House of Representatives have stressed on carrying out onsite monitoring of the national pride projects. They also pointed out the need of further regarding the delay in construction works and damage caused by floods and landslides to such projects.</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"">According to the state-owned national news agency RSS, the committee members put these views in its first meeting held after the reinstatement of the House of Representatives. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The lawmakers said monitoring of the development and construction projects has not been possible due to the dissolution of the HoR and the COVID-19 risk, RSS further reported. The line ministries also could not be instructed regarding this due to the same reason, they added. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Committee member Asha Kumari BK said the construction of the 'utility corridor' should not be delayed. She suggested handing over the operation of the People's Housing Programme to the local government rather than the federal government itself. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Ram Bahadur Bishta demanded carrying out an assessment of the damage caused by the recent floods and landslides. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Kamala Rokka called for the distribution of the development budget to the remote districts and the districts in the mountainous region as well. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Indu Sharma said an assessment should be made of the status of the projects which the committee had monitored in the past. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Committee member Yagya Raj Sunuwar stressed that the Local Partnership Programme should be continued as it has had positive impact at the local level. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Bahadur Singh Lama underscored the need of setting priority in development and construction works. </span><br /> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-29', 'modified' => '2021-07-29', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13491', 'image' => '20210729113637_20200720114511_1595199291.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-29 11:35:38', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13745', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Investment Commitment Declines by 15.29 Percent in the last Fiscal Year', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 28: There has been a slight reduction in investment pledges by domestic and foreign companies in the last two fiscal years amid the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 28: There has been a slight reduction in investment pledges by domestic and foreign companies in the last two fiscal years amid the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Compared to the Fiscal Year 2076/77, the foreign investment commitment in the last Fiscal Year 2077/78 has declined by 15.29 percent. That year, the pledged investment was Rs 32.02 billion whereas in FY 2076/77, such investment commitment was Rs. 37.80 billion. Along with the proposed foreign investment, the number of registered industries has also declined. Only 183 industries were registered in the last fiscal year compared to 344 in the previous 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"">A total of 203 industries have been registered with combined domestic and foreign investment worth Rs 156.64 billion. Of these, 183 are industries with foreign investment. A total of 277 industries were registered in the previous fiscal year, with an investment commitment of Rs 152.62 billion. Among them, 223 industries were backed by foreign investors. </span></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 Department of Industry, investment commitments in 2075/76 and 2074/75 were higher than in the last two fiscal years. Domestic and foreign investment commitments in 2074/75 was Rs. 349 billion, while foreign investment commitment was also significant.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-28', 'modified' => '2021-07-28', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13490', 'image' => '20210728031739_20210312011313_20170512120504_co.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-28 15:16:35', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13744', 'article_category_id' => '218', 'title' => 'MoU between Panchkhal Municipality and NIFRA ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 28: Panchkhal Municipality has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Nepal Infrastructure Bank Limited (NIFRA) to move ahead with the development, construction and implementation of well-equipped urban infrastructure in the municipality through public private partnership. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 28: Panchkhal Municipality has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Nepal Infrastructure Bank Limited (NIFRA) to move ahead with the development, construction and implementation of well-equipped urban infrastructure in the municipality through public private partnership. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Mayor of Panchkhal municipality Mahesh Kharel and Chief Executive Officer of NIFRA Ram Krishna Khatiwada signed the agreement on Monday, July 26. </span></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 press statement, with the signing of the agreement, the bank will help the municipality with technical and economic feasibility study required for project development, financial and technical analysis, detailed project report, market sounding of the project, assistance required for selection of consultants and developers and other cooperation required to decide the structure of investment. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-28', 'modified' => '2021-07-28', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13489', 'image' => '20210728030514_mou (1).jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-28 15:04:07', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13743', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Appoints Biswo Poudel as Vice Chairman of National Planning Commission', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 28: The government has appointed Dr Biswo Nath Poudel as the Vice Chairman (VC) of the National Planning Commission (NPC).', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 28: The government has appointed Dr Biswo Nath Poudel as the Vice Chairman (VC) of the National Planning Commission (NPC). The cabinet meeting on July 27 took a decision to this effect. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Poudel has completed engineering from China and holds a PhD degree in Agriculture and Resource Economics from the University of California, Berkeley. Poudel was also an adviser to the NPC when Swarnim Wagle was appointed as its VC. He is also a member of the board of directors of Mid Tamor Hydropower Company, has worked as board member of Sanima Bank and financial advisor to the International Labor Organization. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">NPC is a high-level body which forms national development plans. It is the central body that works on monitoring and evaluation of development projects, policies and programmes. As it facilitates the long term development of plans and policies, Poudel has a challenge to implement plans to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to Shantaraj Subedi, former Finance Secretary, a qualified person has been entrusted with the responsibility of the NPC. He said that the government should firstly work on evaluating the impacts of COVID-19 on the economy and formulate plans and policies accordingly to uplift the economy. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">"It has been two years since the fifteen year plan has come into effect but it has not been implemented properly. So, the NPC should bring changes in it for its effective implementation. Poudel also has the responsibility to form work procedures to implement Sustainable Idea -2100," Subedi 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"">Poudel has been raising his voices against the traditional development models and has questioned the existence of NPC in this regard. Subedi is hopeful Poudel will play a crucial role in restructuring NPC and formulating effective work procedures. </span></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 formation of the new government, Dr Pushparaj Kandel and other members appointed by the previous government have resigned. Along with this, the commission had become almost inactive without officials. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Meanwhile, the government has decided to appoint Ram Kumar Phuyal and Dil Bahadur Gurung as members of the commission under the leadership of Poudel. Phuyal and Gurung were members of the commission even in the previous government. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Phuyal had played a significant role in creating programmes to improve the social security system and encourage startups programs, while Gurung played a key role in digitizing agricultural systems, land and survey systems. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Although the government has appointed three people, including the vice-chairman, the planning commission is yet to get a full shape. The National Planning Commission, chaired by the Prime Minister, has a full-time Vice-Chairman and six members representing various areas of expertise. The government should appoint three more members to its full capacity.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Apart from the six members of the commission, a Civil Service Section Officer is also required to be a member secretary of the commission. Chief Secretary of the government and the Finance Secretary work as ex-officio members of the Commission. The member secretary of the commission also works as the administrative head of the commission.</span></span></span></p> <p><br /> <br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-28', 'modified' => '2021-07-28', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13488', 'image' => '20210728021851_1627428213.Clipboard02.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-28 14:18:01', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13742', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'US Ambassador Pays Courtesy Call to Finance Minister', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 27: US Ambassador to Nepal, Randy Berry paid a courtesy to Finance Minister Janardan Sharma on Tuesday. ', 'content' => '<p><em>Finance Minister Janardan Sharma meets US Ambassador to Nepal Rany Berry on July 27. Photo Courtesy: Ministry of Finance</em></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 27: US Ambassador to Nepal, Randy Berry paid a courtesy to Finance Minister Janardan Sharma on Tuesday. During the meeting held at the Ministry, Finance Minister Sharma expressed his gratitude for America’s unforgettable assistance in the aftermath of the earthquake and during the Covid-19 pandemic.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Sharma said that the vaccine against covid-19 is Nepal's first priority and expressed confidence that the US government would provide more assistance and facilitation in the supply of vaccines. Minister Sharma expressed commitment to monitor and investigate projects implemented in Nepal with the assistance of the United States Government.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">During the meeting, Ambassador Berry said that the United States will stand with Nepal in the fight against Covid-19. Stating that the United States has been providing assistance to Nepal in the field of health and education for the past 70 years, he expressed his commitment to continue the same in upcoming days as well. He said the United States had provided 1.5 million doses of the vaccine to help with the vaccine campaign against in Nepal and added that they would continue to provide necessary assistance in the coming days.</span></span></span></p> <p><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-28', 'modified' => '2021-07-28', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13487', 'image' => '20210728015944_1627456308_1.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-28 13:58:42', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13740', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => ' Israel Announces 1,000 Job Vacancies for Nepalis ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 28: Israel has announced 1,000 job vacancies for aspiring Nepali workers.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">July 28: Israel has announced 1,000 job vacancies for aspiring Nepali workers. The Department of Foreign Employment on Tuesday formally informed about this through a notice. The hiring process will take place through G2G model. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The notice states that Israel has placed the demand for 700 females and 300 males as care givers in the first lot. The Government of Israel has said the monthly salary for selected worker is 5,300 New Israeli Sheqel (NIS) which is equivalent to Rs 193,000. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Aspiring Nepali workers will be getting the job offers in Israel after a long wait. The payment will be made on a weekly basis. It may be noted that the Government of Israel and Nepal last year had inked a labour pact and Israel had agreed to hire 500 workers in the first lot. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif""> The contract period for a selected worker will be of one year and it could be extended up to five years. The worker has to manage food on own while the accommodation will be managed by his/her employer. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Criteria for applicant </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Any Nepali citizen completing 25 years and not exceeding 45 years of age with at least 1.5 metres height, weighing 45 kilograms and having an ANM or CMA (medical) certificate after completing at least ten class or a plus two degree with at least three months' training on care giving from the government-certified training institute is eligible to apply for the job. Anyone already having worked in Israel and whose parents, spouses or daughters are residing in Israel or currently working there are suggested no to try for the job. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-28', 'modified' => '2021-07-28', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13486', 'image' => '20210728111533_20201001041928_1601479507.nepal isrel_g2g.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-28 11:14:44', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13741', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Energy Minister Expresses Commitment to Cut Red Tape', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => ' July 28: Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Pampha Bhusal has said that she will focus on reducing the delay in development works faced by the energy sector.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 28: Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Pampha Bhusal has said that she will focus on reducing the delay in development works faced by the energy sector. She said that delay in even a small task should be improved.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Speaking to a delegation of the Independent Power Producers’ Association of Nepal (IPPAN) at the Ministry on Tuesday, she said the delay should be treated like any other financial corruption. “The tendency of working irresponsibly is not good. The thinking that the service recipient will come back later if the work is not done and delaying is no less than financial corruption,” she said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The minister added that a working style will be developed by introducing a code of conduct. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“We have to work in accordance to a code of conduct,” she said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Moreover, she assured that inter-ministerial discussions would be held soon to end the situation where the private sector has to visit many ministries and departments for a particular project.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Minister Bhusal said, "Work has been halted for years. It has to be done quickly. It needs to be made objective and scientific."</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-28', 'modified' => '2021-07-28', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13485', 'image' => '20210728014716_484055608_n.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-28 13:46:01', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13739', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Confirms Kappa Variant of Coronavirus in Nepal', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'sensitive towards the prevention and control of the disease.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">July 28: The government has claimed that three additional variants of coronavirus have been detected in the country while urging all stakeholders to be remain sensitive towards the prevention and control of the disease. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Ministry of Health and Population on Tuesday said that 47 samples collected at the National Public Health Laboratory from different age groups were sent to New Delhi-based WHO recognized labs for sequencing. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Among those samples, all 47 samples had Delta variant in the genomic sequencing and three of them had new variant called K417N mutation. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">With this, Nepal has Alpha variant, Delta variant and Kappa variant in the country, the Ministry's Deputy Spokesperson Dr Samir Adhikari said in a press statement. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">All these variants are found to be more infectious and could impact people of all ages, the ministry said. </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-28', 'modified' => '2021-07-28', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13484', 'image' => '20210728111035_coronavirus-a_d.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-28 11:09:42', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13738', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'New Energy Minister Vows to Lower Electricity Tariff', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 27: Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Pampha Bhusal is preparing to bring a policy to provide special facilities to the people living below the poverty line.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 27: Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Pampha Bhusal is preparing to bring a policy to provide special facilities to the people living below the poverty line.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In a press conference held at the Ministry on Monday, she said that free electricity will be provided to such people.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> “Energy is the raw material for economic and industrial development,” she said. She stressed on the need to focus on making development plans so that the electricity generated in Nepal can be used in the country.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Minister Bhusal also said that the tariff of electricity will also be reconsidered. “Our electricity tariff is expensive. According to general economics, the higher the production, the lower is the cost price. My experience as a consumer is that the higher the consumption, the lower the rate should be, but this is not the case here,” she said, “The electricity tariff should be reconsidered. Electricity tariff should be adjusted.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Stating that the private sector has contributed to the country by investing heavily in the energy sector, she added, “We must protect the private sector. The government is also their guardian.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Minister Bhusal said that the government should facilitate in building large reservoir with the investment of the people.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Stating that she would work towards increasing production, fixing affordable rates, providing concessions and increasing the number of consumers, Bhusal said that the number of consumers and electricity consumption would also increase if the LP gas could be replaced.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">She also said that she is preparing to bring a policy to help in irrigation through energy. “It will be a great relief if we can provide irrigation facilities to agriculture. We don't have to rely on diesel and petrol,” she said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">She said that electricity will be made available to the people in the areas where electrification has not taken place by connecting the central transmission line as soon as possible. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-27', 'modified' => '2021-07-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13483', 'image' => '20210727020631_20200807030044_1596750181.Clipboard01.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-27 14:05:37', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13737', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Three Companies Bag ‘Innovative Industries Award’', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 27: The government has honoured three companies with the Innovative Industries Award-2077. ', 'content' => '<p><em>Winners of the Innovative Industries Award-2077. Photo Courtesy: MoICS</em></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 27: The government has honoured three companies with the Innovative Industries Award-2077 in recognition of their contribution to innovative approach. The award was presented to the companies by the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies amid a recent function.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The companies that were successful in bagging the award include Leaf Plus Pvt Ltd, Nepal's Handicraft Industries and Anugraha Handicraft. On Monday (July 26), the ministry notified in a press statement that the awards have been given to the representatives of each of the industry.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Secretary of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Arjun Prasad Pokharel said that the award-winning companies are expected to further contribute to local job creation by increasing and diversifying production and productivity through innovative entrepreneurship.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Of the three industries established in Kathmandu and Lalitpur, Leaf Plus has been producing plates of new design in various shapes from wasted betel leaves and exporting them to Germany, the Netherlands and Australia.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In the same way, Nepal Handicraft Industries has been making metal sculptures in various shapes and forms using unsaturated polyester. Anugraha Handicraft has been producing hand-knitted artistic sarees, kurtas, scarves, hats, bags, handkerchiefs and other materials of new design.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The ministry said it believes that this award will aid in encouraging those who are doing enterprises based on innovative thinking. Secretary Pokharel stated that industries including small, medium and large scale would also be honored and encouraged on the basis of their contribution to the fields of research, invention and innovation.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-27', 'modified' => '2021-07-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13482', 'image' => '20210727014257_img-20210725-171915jpg-1627301065.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-27 13:41:12', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13736', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Export of Agricultural Product Up by 4 Times through Eastern Border', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 27: The volume of agricultural products exported from the eastern border point of Kakadbhitta has increased by fourfolds compared to the import from the same customs point.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 27: The volume of agricultural products exported from the eastern border point of Kakadbhitta has increased by fourfolds compared to the import from the same customs point.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the Kakadbhitta quarantine office, agricultural products worth Rs 4.12 billion have been exported while goods worth Rs 10.19 million have been imported in the fiscal year 2020/21.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Meanwhile, in the fiscal year 2019/20, goods worth Rs. 5.26 billion were exported while goods worth Rs 20.99 million were imported, the data of the quarantine office shows. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Devendra Sahu, senior crop protection officer at the office, said that the increase in the price of agricultural products in the international market contributed to the increase in exports during the COVID-19 pandemic.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He said that agro products like cardamom, ginger, tea and herbs like chiraito (swertia), jatamansi (spikenard), amla (Indian gooseberry), pulses and other agricultural products are being exported to India and Bangladesh through the eastern border. He said that cardamom, tea, amriso (broom grass) are the major agricultural products exported from the eastern border.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><br /> <br /> <br /> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-27', 'modified' => '2021-07-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13481', 'image' => '20210727124750_Untitled.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-27 12:46:59', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13735', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Decides to Accept Loan Assistance of US$ 60 Million ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 27: The government has decided to accept a loan assistance of US$ 60 million through the International Development Association of the World Bank Group. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">July 27: The government has decided to accept a loan assistance of US$ 60 million through the International Development Association of the World Bank Group. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">While making public the decisions made by the Council of Ministers on July 26, government Spokesperson and Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Gyanendra Bahadur Karki, said that the cabinet meeting held at Singha Durbar decided to accept the loan assistance in order to run different projects. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, the government decided to approve the National Debt (Fifth Amendment) Regulations-2078 BS and Bond Priorities and Secondary Market (Third Amendment) Regulation-2078. </span></span></span><br /> <br /> <br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-27', 'modified' => '2021-07-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13480', 'image' => '20210727122911_kzCxV5Yw_400x400.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-27 12:27:58', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13734', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government to Bear Quarantine Expenses of Deported Citizens', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 27: The Government of Nepal has decided to bear the quarantine expenses of its citizens returning home from abroad through 'Deportation Centre' as well as those released from jail and who have run out of money in foreign countries.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18pt"><span style="font-family:Preeti"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">July 27: The Government of Nepal has decided to bear the quarantine expenses of its citizens returning home from abroad through 'Deportation Centre' as well as those released from jail and who have run out of money in foreign countries.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18pt"><span style="font-family:Preeti"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Government Spokesperson and Law Minister Gyanendra Bahadur Karki announced the decision after a cabinet meeting held at Singha Durbar on Monday (July 26).</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18pt"><span style="font-family:Preeti"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Minister Karki informed that the Ministry of Labor, Employment, and Social Security will make the necessary arrangements for the quarantine facility, while the Ministry of Finance will disburse the required budget.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18pt"><span style="font-family:Preeti"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The cabinet also decided to extend the deadline of government’s procurement agreements signed during the period of prohibitory order in various districts by six months considering the adverse impact of the restrictions imposed by the government to control the spread of coronavirus.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18pt"><span style="font-family:Preeti"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Similarly, the government has decided to appoint staffers at various commissions on contract basis. In this regard, the cabinet approved appointment of 35 temporary staff at the Truth and Reconciliation (TRC) Commission. Likewise, the cabinet has also approved appointment of 23 gazetted officers on contract basis at the Commission for the Investigation of Enforced Disappeared Persons (CIEDP).</span></span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-27', 'modified' => '2021-07-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13479', 'image' => '20210727102153_1627343795.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-27 10:20:52', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13733', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'EPF to Invest Rs 12 Billion in Tamakoshi 'V' Hydropower Project ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 27: The Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) has pledged to invest Rs 12 billion for the development of Tamakoshi 'V' Hydropower Project. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">July 27: The Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) has pledged to invest Rs 12 billion for the development of Tamakoshi 'V' Hydropower Project. <br /> This will be the EFP's lone investment in the hydropower project after Rasuwagadhi, Upper Sanzen, Sanzen and Bhotekoshi projects, according to the state-owned national news agency RSS. <br /> A tripartite agreement on investment was reached on Sunday (July 25) in the presence of Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Pampha Bhusal. <br /> Executive Director of Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) Hitendra Dev Shakya, EPF's Administrator Tulasi Prasad Gautam and Chief Executive Officer of Tamakoshi Hydropower Project Nasib Man Pradhan agreed on a deal for the development of the 100-megawatt project. It will be a cascade project of the Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower Project. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> Pradhan informed New Business Age that water coming from the tailrace after being used by the Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower Project will flow through the tunnel from Lamabagar.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Administrator Gautam said that the EPF was ready to make the investment adding that it was a very lucrative project. <br /> The estimated cost of the project is around Rs 16 billion, up from the initial projection of Rs 13 billion, and the NEA will invest Rs 4 billon for the project development. <br /> Officials claimed that Rs 160 million will be spent for the production of each megawatt power adding that the access route for the project is already readied while developing the Upper Tamakoshi Project. <br /> Administrator Gautam told RSS that the EPF decided to invest in this project as the transmission line was already prepared and the project was also cost-effective. He added that the project was selected as it was considered the best by various evaluations. <br /> The project will generate 540 Gigawatt of power annually. He added that the tender bid will be announced to begin the construction work within 10 months. <br /> A source at the project informed New Business Age that the Tamakoshi-V is cheap according to per unit electricity generation investment.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The investment of the hydropower project is expected to cost less as the project is being built without constructing a dam, which will automatically save nature as all the structures are constructed underground.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to the detailed project report (DPR), four units of 25 MW capacity each will be installed in the project. Water will be dropped from 160 m head through a 5.6 m diameter and 8.02 km tunnel from the Upper Tamakoshi Project.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The electricity generated will be linked to the Upper Tamakoshi substation through a 132 KV single circuit transmission line. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The construction of the project started in early 2017.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-27', 'modified' => '2021-07-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13478', 'image' => '20210727100514_20170427041606_tamakoshi.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-27 10:03:43', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13732', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Supreme Court Issues Stay Order Against Privatization of NAC', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 26: The Supreme Court has issued an interlocutory order to put on hold all the works related to the privatization of the state-owned Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC).', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 26: The Supreme Court has issued an interlocutory order to put on hold all the works related to the privatization of the state-owned Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC).</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Responding to a writ petition filed by advocate Atish Karki, a single bench of Supreme Court Justice Kumar Regmi issued an interim order on Sunday (July 26) to halt the process of privatization of the NAC.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">An interlocutory order has been issued in the name of the defendants to keep the status quo and not to take any decision regarding privatization of the Nepal Airlines Corporation before an interim order is issued after hearing both sides, the order reads.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The court is of the view that it would be appropriate to conclude the case after hearing both the parties on August 9.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The defendants have been asked to appear in the court as per Rule 49 (2) (c) of the Rules of Procedure of the Supreme Court 2074 BS. Similarly, the bench has also issued a show-cause order to the stakeholders. NAC has to submit clarification for the privatization of the airline company within 15 days.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Employees of the Nepal Airlines Corporation have been protesting against the privatization of the corporation. Nepal Airlines Corporation United Trade Union has demanded the resignation of Dim Prakash Poudel, general manager of NAC. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The trade union has alleged Poudel that he did not discuss this issue with the stakeholders even after preparing a draft to privatize the government-owned corporation.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">A meeting of the Board of Directors of NAC held on July 25 had decided to send the draft prepared to transform the Nepal Airlines Corporation into a 'public' company to the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation has said there is no plan to privatize the Nepal Airlines Corporation. A few days ago, the ministry issued a formal statement saying that there was no discussion on privatizing the corporation or converting it into a private company.</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-26', 'modified' => '2021-07-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13477', 'image' => '20210726015026_20180727021334_2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-26 13:49:29', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ) ) $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
Warning (2): simplexml_load_file() [<a href='http://php.net/function.simplexml-load-file'>function.simplexml-load-file</a>]: I/O warning : failed to load external entity "" [APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 133]file not found!Code Context// $file = 'http://aabhiyan:QUVLg8Wzs2F7G9N7@nepalstock.com.np/api/subindexdata.xml';if(!$xml = simplexml_load_file($file)){$viewFile = '/var/www/html/newbusinessage.com/app/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'articles' => array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ) ), 'current_user' => null, 'logged_in' => false ) $articles = array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13748', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Lawmakers Stress on Onsite Monitoring of National Pride Projects ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 29: Members of the Development and Technology Committee under the House of Representatives have stressed on carrying out onsite monitoring of the national pride projects.', '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: Members of the Development and Technology Committee under the House of Representatives have stressed on carrying out onsite monitoring of the national pride projects. They also pointed out the need of further regarding the delay in construction works and damage caused by floods and landslides to such projects.</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"">According to the state-owned national news agency RSS, the committee members put these views in its first meeting held after the reinstatement of the House of Representatives. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The lawmakers said monitoring of the development and construction projects has not been possible due to the dissolution of the HoR and the COVID-19 risk, RSS further reported. The line ministries also could not be instructed regarding this due to the same reason, they added. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Committee member Asha Kumari BK said the construction of the 'utility corridor' should not be delayed. She suggested handing over the operation of the People's Housing Programme to the local government rather than the federal government itself. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Ram Bahadur Bishta demanded carrying out an assessment of the damage caused by the recent floods and landslides. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Kamala Rokka called for the distribution of the development budget to the remote districts and the districts in the mountainous region as well. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Indu Sharma said an assessment should be made of the status of the projects which the committee had monitored in the past. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Committee member Yagya Raj Sunuwar stressed that the Local Partnership Programme should be continued as it has had positive impact at the local level. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Bahadur Singh Lama underscored the need of setting priority in development and construction works. </span><br /> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-29', 'modified' => '2021-07-29', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13491', 'image' => '20210729113637_20200720114511_1595199291.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-29 11:35:38', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13745', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Investment Commitment Declines by 15.29 Percent in the last Fiscal Year', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 28: There has been a slight reduction in investment pledges by domestic and foreign companies in the last two fiscal years amid the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 28: There has been a slight reduction in investment pledges by domestic and foreign companies in the last two fiscal years amid the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Compared to the Fiscal Year 2076/77, the foreign investment commitment in the last Fiscal Year 2077/78 has declined by 15.29 percent. That year, the pledged investment was Rs 32.02 billion whereas in FY 2076/77, such investment commitment was Rs. 37.80 billion. Along with the proposed foreign investment, the number of registered industries has also declined. Only 183 industries were registered in the last fiscal year compared to 344 in the previous 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"">A total of 203 industries have been registered with combined domestic and foreign investment worth Rs 156.64 billion. Of these, 183 are industries with foreign investment. A total of 277 industries were registered in the previous fiscal year, with an investment commitment of Rs 152.62 billion. Among them, 223 industries were backed by foreign investors. </span></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 Department of Industry, investment commitments in 2075/76 and 2074/75 were higher than in the last two fiscal years. Domestic and foreign investment commitments in 2074/75 was Rs. 349 billion, while foreign investment commitment was also significant.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-28', 'modified' => '2021-07-28', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13490', 'image' => '20210728031739_20210312011313_20170512120504_co.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-28 15:16:35', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13744', 'article_category_id' => '218', 'title' => 'MoU between Panchkhal Municipality and NIFRA ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 28: Panchkhal Municipality has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Nepal Infrastructure Bank Limited (NIFRA) to move ahead with the development, construction and implementation of well-equipped urban infrastructure in the municipality through public private partnership. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 28: Panchkhal Municipality has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Nepal Infrastructure Bank Limited (NIFRA) to move ahead with the development, construction and implementation of well-equipped urban infrastructure in the municipality through public private partnership. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Mayor of Panchkhal municipality Mahesh Kharel and Chief Executive Officer of NIFRA Ram Krishna Khatiwada signed the agreement on Monday, July 26. </span></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 press statement, with the signing of the agreement, the bank will help the municipality with technical and economic feasibility study required for project development, financial and technical analysis, detailed project report, market sounding of the project, assistance required for selection of consultants and developers and other cooperation required to decide the structure of investment. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-28', 'modified' => '2021-07-28', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13489', 'image' => '20210728030514_mou (1).jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-28 15:04:07', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13743', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Appoints Biswo Poudel as Vice Chairman of National Planning Commission', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 28: The government has appointed Dr Biswo Nath Poudel as the Vice Chairman (VC) of the National Planning Commission (NPC).', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 28: The government has appointed Dr Biswo Nath Poudel as the Vice Chairman (VC) of the National Planning Commission (NPC). The cabinet meeting on July 27 took a decision to this effect. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Poudel has completed engineering from China and holds a PhD degree in Agriculture and Resource Economics from the University of California, Berkeley. Poudel was also an adviser to the NPC when Swarnim Wagle was appointed as its VC. He is also a member of the board of directors of Mid Tamor Hydropower Company, has worked as board member of Sanima Bank and financial advisor to the International Labor Organization. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">NPC is a high-level body which forms national development plans. It is the central body that works on monitoring and evaluation of development projects, policies and programmes. As it facilitates the long term development of plans and policies, Poudel has a challenge to implement plans to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to Shantaraj Subedi, former Finance Secretary, a qualified person has been entrusted with the responsibility of the NPC. He said that the government should firstly work on evaluating the impacts of COVID-19 on the economy and formulate plans and policies accordingly to uplift the economy. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">"It has been two years since the fifteen year plan has come into effect but it has not been implemented properly. So, the NPC should bring changes in it for its effective implementation. Poudel also has the responsibility to form work procedures to implement Sustainable Idea -2100," Subedi 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"">Poudel has been raising his voices against the traditional development models and has questioned the existence of NPC in this regard. Subedi is hopeful Poudel will play a crucial role in restructuring NPC and formulating effective work procedures. </span></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 formation of the new government, Dr Pushparaj Kandel and other members appointed by the previous government have resigned. Along with this, the commission had become almost inactive without officials. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Meanwhile, the government has decided to appoint Ram Kumar Phuyal and Dil Bahadur Gurung as members of the commission under the leadership of Poudel. Phuyal and Gurung were members of the commission even in the previous government. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Phuyal had played a significant role in creating programmes to improve the social security system and encourage startups programs, while Gurung played a key role in digitizing agricultural systems, land and survey systems. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Although the government has appointed three people, including the vice-chairman, the planning commission is yet to get a full shape. The National Planning Commission, chaired by the Prime Minister, has a full-time Vice-Chairman and six members representing various areas of expertise. The government should appoint three more members to its full capacity.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Apart from the six members of the commission, a Civil Service Section Officer is also required to be a member secretary of the commission. Chief Secretary of the government and the Finance Secretary work as ex-officio members of the Commission. The member secretary of the commission also works as the administrative head of the commission.</span></span></span></p> <p><br /> <br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-28', 'modified' => '2021-07-28', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13488', 'image' => '20210728021851_1627428213.Clipboard02.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-28 14:18:01', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13742', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'US Ambassador Pays Courtesy Call to Finance Minister', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 27: US Ambassador to Nepal, Randy Berry paid a courtesy to Finance Minister Janardan Sharma on Tuesday. ', 'content' => '<p><em>Finance Minister Janardan Sharma meets US Ambassador to Nepal Rany Berry on July 27. Photo Courtesy: Ministry of Finance</em></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 27: US Ambassador to Nepal, Randy Berry paid a courtesy to Finance Minister Janardan Sharma on Tuesday. During the meeting held at the Ministry, Finance Minister Sharma expressed his gratitude for America’s unforgettable assistance in the aftermath of the earthquake and during the Covid-19 pandemic.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Sharma said that the vaccine against covid-19 is Nepal's first priority and expressed confidence that the US government would provide more assistance and facilitation in the supply of vaccines. Minister Sharma expressed commitment to monitor and investigate projects implemented in Nepal with the assistance of the United States Government.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">During the meeting, Ambassador Berry said that the United States will stand with Nepal in the fight against Covid-19. Stating that the United States has been providing assistance to Nepal in the field of health and education for the past 70 years, he expressed his commitment to continue the same in upcoming days as well. He said the United States had provided 1.5 million doses of the vaccine to help with the vaccine campaign against in Nepal and added that they would continue to provide necessary assistance in the coming days.</span></span></span></p> <p><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-28', 'modified' => '2021-07-28', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13487', 'image' => '20210728015944_1627456308_1.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-28 13:58:42', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13740', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => ' Israel Announces 1,000 Job Vacancies for Nepalis ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 28: Israel has announced 1,000 job vacancies for aspiring Nepali workers.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">July 28: Israel has announced 1,000 job vacancies for aspiring Nepali workers. The Department of Foreign Employment on Tuesday formally informed about this through a notice. The hiring process will take place through G2G model. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The notice states that Israel has placed the demand for 700 females and 300 males as care givers in the first lot. The Government of Israel has said the monthly salary for selected worker is 5,300 New Israeli Sheqel (NIS) which is equivalent to Rs 193,000. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Aspiring Nepali workers will be getting the job offers in Israel after a long wait. The payment will be made on a weekly basis. It may be noted that the Government of Israel and Nepal last year had inked a labour pact and Israel had agreed to hire 500 workers in the first lot. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif""> The contract period for a selected worker will be of one year and it could be extended up to five years. The worker has to manage food on own while the accommodation will be managed by his/her employer. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Criteria for applicant </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Any Nepali citizen completing 25 years and not exceeding 45 years of age with at least 1.5 metres height, weighing 45 kilograms and having an ANM or CMA (medical) certificate after completing at least ten class or a plus two degree with at least three months' training on care giving from the government-certified training institute is eligible to apply for the job. Anyone already having worked in Israel and whose parents, spouses or daughters are residing in Israel or currently working there are suggested no to try for the job. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-28', 'modified' => '2021-07-28', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13486', 'image' => '20210728111533_20201001041928_1601479507.nepal isrel_g2g.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-28 11:14:44', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13741', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Energy Minister Expresses Commitment to Cut Red Tape', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => ' July 28: Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Pampha Bhusal has said that she will focus on reducing the delay in development works faced by the energy sector.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 28: Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Pampha Bhusal has said that she will focus on reducing the delay in development works faced by the energy sector. She said that delay in even a small task should be improved.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Speaking to a delegation of the Independent Power Producers’ Association of Nepal (IPPAN) at the Ministry on Tuesday, she said the delay should be treated like any other financial corruption. “The tendency of working irresponsibly is not good. The thinking that the service recipient will come back later if the work is not done and delaying is no less than financial corruption,” she said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The minister added that a working style will be developed by introducing a code of conduct. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“We have to work in accordance to a code of conduct,” she said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Moreover, she assured that inter-ministerial discussions would be held soon to end the situation where the private sector has to visit many ministries and departments for a particular project.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Minister Bhusal said, "Work has been halted for years. It has to be done quickly. It needs to be made objective and scientific."</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-28', 'modified' => '2021-07-28', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13485', 'image' => '20210728014716_484055608_n.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-28 13:46:01', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13739', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Confirms Kappa Variant of Coronavirus in Nepal', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'sensitive towards the prevention and control of the disease.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">July 28: The government has claimed that three additional variants of coronavirus have been detected in the country while urging all stakeholders to be remain sensitive towards the prevention and control of the disease. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Ministry of Health and Population on Tuesday said that 47 samples collected at the National Public Health Laboratory from different age groups were sent to New Delhi-based WHO recognized labs for sequencing. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Among those samples, all 47 samples had Delta variant in the genomic sequencing and three of them had new variant called K417N mutation. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">With this, Nepal has Alpha variant, Delta variant and Kappa variant in the country, the Ministry's Deputy Spokesperson Dr Samir Adhikari said in a press statement. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">All these variants are found to be more infectious and could impact people of all ages, the ministry said. </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-28', 'modified' => '2021-07-28', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13484', 'image' => '20210728111035_coronavirus-a_d.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-28 11:09:42', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13738', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'New Energy Minister Vows to Lower Electricity Tariff', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 27: Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Pampha Bhusal is preparing to bring a policy to provide special facilities to the people living below the poverty line.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 27: Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Pampha Bhusal is preparing to bring a policy to provide special facilities to the people living below the poverty line.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In a press conference held at the Ministry on Monday, she said that free electricity will be provided to such people.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> “Energy is the raw material for economic and industrial development,” she said. She stressed on the need to focus on making development plans so that the electricity generated in Nepal can be used in the country.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Minister Bhusal also said that the tariff of electricity will also be reconsidered. “Our electricity tariff is expensive. According to general economics, the higher the production, the lower is the cost price. My experience as a consumer is that the higher the consumption, the lower the rate should be, but this is not the case here,” she said, “The electricity tariff should be reconsidered. Electricity tariff should be adjusted.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Stating that the private sector has contributed to the country by investing heavily in the energy sector, she added, “We must protect the private sector. The government is also their guardian.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Minister Bhusal said that the government should facilitate in building large reservoir with the investment of the people.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Stating that she would work towards increasing production, fixing affordable rates, providing concessions and increasing the number of consumers, Bhusal said that the number of consumers and electricity consumption would also increase if the LP gas could be replaced.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">She also said that she is preparing to bring a policy to help in irrigation through energy. “It will be a great relief if we can provide irrigation facilities to agriculture. We don't have to rely on diesel and petrol,” she said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">She said that electricity will be made available to the people in the areas where electrification has not taken place by connecting the central transmission line as soon as possible. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-27', 'modified' => '2021-07-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13483', 'image' => '20210727020631_20200807030044_1596750181.Clipboard01.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-27 14:05:37', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13737', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Three Companies Bag ‘Innovative Industries Award’', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 27: The government has honoured three companies with the Innovative Industries Award-2077. ', 'content' => '<p><em>Winners of the Innovative Industries Award-2077. Photo Courtesy: MoICS</em></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 27: The government has honoured three companies with the Innovative Industries Award-2077 in recognition of their contribution to innovative approach. The award was presented to the companies by the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies amid a recent function.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The companies that were successful in bagging the award include Leaf Plus Pvt Ltd, Nepal's Handicraft Industries and Anugraha Handicraft. On Monday (July 26), the ministry notified in a press statement that the awards have been given to the representatives of each of the industry.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Secretary of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Arjun Prasad Pokharel said that the award-winning companies are expected to further contribute to local job creation by increasing and diversifying production and productivity through innovative entrepreneurship.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Of the three industries established in Kathmandu and Lalitpur, Leaf Plus has been producing plates of new design in various shapes from wasted betel leaves and exporting them to Germany, the Netherlands and Australia.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In the same way, Nepal Handicraft Industries has been making metal sculptures in various shapes and forms using unsaturated polyester. Anugraha Handicraft has been producing hand-knitted artistic sarees, kurtas, scarves, hats, bags, handkerchiefs and other materials of new design.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The ministry said it believes that this award will aid in encouraging those who are doing enterprises based on innovative thinking. Secretary Pokharel stated that industries including small, medium and large scale would also be honored and encouraged on the basis of their contribution to the fields of research, invention and innovation.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-27', 'modified' => '2021-07-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13482', 'image' => '20210727014257_img-20210725-171915jpg-1627301065.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-27 13:41:12', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13736', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Export of Agricultural Product Up by 4 Times through Eastern Border', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 27: The volume of agricultural products exported from the eastern border point of Kakadbhitta has increased by fourfolds compared to the import from the same customs point.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 27: The volume of agricultural products exported from the eastern border point of Kakadbhitta has increased by fourfolds compared to the import from the same customs point.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the Kakadbhitta quarantine office, agricultural products worth Rs 4.12 billion have been exported while goods worth Rs 10.19 million have been imported in the fiscal year 2020/21.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Meanwhile, in the fiscal year 2019/20, goods worth Rs. 5.26 billion were exported while goods worth Rs 20.99 million were imported, the data of the quarantine office shows. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Devendra Sahu, senior crop protection officer at the office, said that the increase in the price of agricultural products in the international market contributed to the increase in exports during the COVID-19 pandemic.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He said that agro products like cardamom, ginger, tea and herbs like chiraito (swertia), jatamansi (spikenard), amla (Indian gooseberry), pulses and other agricultural products are being exported to India and Bangladesh through the eastern border. He said that cardamom, tea, amriso (broom grass) are the major agricultural products exported from the eastern border.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><br /> <br /> <br /> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-27', 'modified' => '2021-07-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13481', 'image' => '20210727124750_Untitled.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-27 12:46:59', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13735', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Decides to Accept Loan Assistance of US$ 60 Million ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 27: The government has decided to accept a loan assistance of US$ 60 million through the International Development Association of the World Bank Group. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">July 27: The government has decided to accept a loan assistance of US$ 60 million through the International Development Association of the World Bank Group. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">While making public the decisions made by the Council of Ministers on July 26, government Spokesperson and Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Gyanendra Bahadur Karki, said that the cabinet meeting held at Singha Durbar decided to accept the loan assistance in order to run different projects. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, the government decided to approve the National Debt (Fifth Amendment) Regulations-2078 BS and Bond Priorities and Secondary Market (Third Amendment) Regulation-2078. </span></span></span><br /> <br /> <br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-27', 'modified' => '2021-07-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13480', 'image' => '20210727122911_kzCxV5Yw_400x400.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-27 12:27:58', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13734', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government to Bear Quarantine Expenses of Deported Citizens', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 27: The Government of Nepal has decided to bear the quarantine expenses of its citizens returning home from abroad through 'Deportation Centre' as well as those released from jail and who have run out of money in foreign countries.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18pt"><span style="font-family:Preeti"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">July 27: The Government of Nepal has decided to bear the quarantine expenses of its citizens returning home from abroad through 'Deportation Centre' as well as those released from jail and who have run out of money in foreign countries.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18pt"><span style="font-family:Preeti"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Government Spokesperson and Law Minister Gyanendra Bahadur Karki announced the decision after a cabinet meeting held at Singha Durbar on Monday (July 26).</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18pt"><span style="font-family:Preeti"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Minister Karki informed that the Ministry of Labor, Employment, and Social Security will make the necessary arrangements for the quarantine facility, while the Ministry of Finance will disburse the required budget.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18pt"><span style="font-family:Preeti"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The cabinet also decided to extend the deadline of government’s procurement agreements signed during the period of prohibitory order in various districts by six months considering the adverse impact of the restrictions imposed by the government to control the spread of coronavirus.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18pt"><span style="font-family:Preeti"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Similarly, the government has decided to appoint staffers at various commissions on contract basis. In this regard, the cabinet approved appointment of 35 temporary staff at the Truth and Reconciliation (TRC) Commission. Likewise, the cabinet has also approved appointment of 23 gazetted officers on contract basis at the Commission for the Investigation of Enforced Disappeared Persons (CIEDP).</span></span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-27', 'modified' => '2021-07-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13479', 'image' => '20210727102153_1627343795.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-27 10:20:52', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13733', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'EPF to Invest Rs 12 Billion in Tamakoshi 'V' Hydropower Project ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 27: The Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) has pledged to invest Rs 12 billion for the development of Tamakoshi 'V' Hydropower Project. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">July 27: The Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) has pledged to invest Rs 12 billion for the development of Tamakoshi 'V' Hydropower Project. <br /> This will be the EFP's lone investment in the hydropower project after Rasuwagadhi, Upper Sanzen, Sanzen and Bhotekoshi projects, according to the state-owned national news agency RSS. <br /> A tripartite agreement on investment was reached on Sunday (July 25) in the presence of Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Pampha Bhusal. <br /> Executive Director of Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) Hitendra Dev Shakya, EPF's Administrator Tulasi Prasad Gautam and Chief Executive Officer of Tamakoshi Hydropower Project Nasib Man Pradhan agreed on a deal for the development of the 100-megawatt project. It will be a cascade project of the Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower Project. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> Pradhan informed New Business Age that water coming from the tailrace after being used by the Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower Project will flow through the tunnel from Lamabagar.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Administrator Gautam said that the EPF was ready to make the investment adding that it was a very lucrative project. <br /> The estimated cost of the project is around Rs 16 billion, up from the initial projection of Rs 13 billion, and the NEA will invest Rs 4 billon for the project development. <br /> Officials claimed that Rs 160 million will be spent for the production of each megawatt power adding that the access route for the project is already readied while developing the Upper Tamakoshi Project. <br /> Administrator Gautam told RSS that the EPF decided to invest in this project as the transmission line was already prepared and the project was also cost-effective. He added that the project was selected as it was considered the best by various evaluations. <br /> The project will generate 540 Gigawatt of power annually. He added that the tender bid will be announced to begin the construction work within 10 months. <br /> A source at the project informed New Business Age that the Tamakoshi-V is cheap according to per unit electricity generation investment.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The investment of the hydropower project is expected to cost less as the project is being built without constructing a dam, which will automatically save nature as all the structures are constructed underground.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to the detailed project report (DPR), four units of 25 MW capacity each will be installed in the project. Water will be dropped from 160 m head through a 5.6 m diameter and 8.02 km tunnel from the Upper Tamakoshi Project.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The electricity generated will be linked to the Upper Tamakoshi substation through a 132 KV single circuit transmission line. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The construction of the project started in early 2017.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-27', 'modified' => '2021-07-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13478', 'image' => '20210727100514_20170427041606_tamakoshi.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-27 10:03:43', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13732', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Supreme Court Issues Stay Order Against Privatization of NAC', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 26: The Supreme Court has issued an interlocutory order to put on hold all the works related to the privatization of the state-owned Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC).', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 26: The Supreme Court has issued an interlocutory order to put on hold all the works related to the privatization of the state-owned Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC).</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Responding to a writ petition filed by advocate Atish Karki, a single bench of Supreme Court Justice Kumar Regmi issued an interim order on Sunday (July 26) to halt the process of privatization of the NAC.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">An interlocutory order has been issued in the name of the defendants to keep the status quo and not to take any decision regarding privatization of the Nepal Airlines Corporation before an interim order is issued after hearing both sides, the order reads.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The court is of the view that it would be appropriate to conclude the case after hearing both the parties on August 9.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The defendants have been asked to appear in the court as per Rule 49 (2) (c) of the Rules of Procedure of the Supreme Court 2074 BS. Similarly, the bench has also issued a show-cause order to the stakeholders. NAC has to submit clarification for the privatization of the airline company within 15 days.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Employees of the Nepal Airlines Corporation have been protesting against the privatization of the corporation. Nepal Airlines Corporation United Trade Union has demanded the resignation of Dim Prakash Poudel, general manager of NAC. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The trade union has alleged Poudel that he did not discuss this issue with the stakeholders even after preparing a draft to privatize the government-owned corporation.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">A meeting of the Board of Directors of NAC held on July 25 had decided to send the draft prepared to transform the Nepal Airlines Corporation into a 'public' company to the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation has said there is no plan to privatize the Nepal Airlines Corporation. A few days ago, the ministry issued a formal statement saying that there was no discussion on privatizing the corporation or converting it into a private company.</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-26', 'modified' => '2021-07-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13477', 'image' => '20210726015026_20180727021334_2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-26 13:49:29', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ) ) $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
