July 9: Himalaya Airlines, a Nepal-China joint venture airline, has recently launched its online ticket booking…
July 9: Himalaya Airlines, a Nepal-China joint venture airline, has recently launched its online ticket booking…
July 9: The RTGS (Real Time Gross Settlement) system will remain open all day on this Friday and Saturday as well.…
July 9: Transport entrepreneurs have submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli requesting him to address their concerns related to the impact of COVID-19 on their…
July 9: The issue of restructuring the state-owned Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) has courted controversy yet…
July 9: Illegal and unregistered mobile phones will be blocked starting from July…
July 8: The Supreme Court has issued a show cause notice in the name of the government seeking its written response over the Kaligandaki-Tinau Diversion Multi-Purpose Project.…
July 8: Nepal’s ambassadors serving in various countries have recommended the government to considering opening up itself for foreign tourists citing the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccines and the gradual revival of international tourism.…
July 8: The major markets of Nepal are reeling under shortage of readymade garments of late.…
July 7: The Social Security Fund (SSF) has requested the Ministry of Finance to deposit Rs 1.5 billion to the fund as per the government's commitment to bear all the expenses on behalf of the contributors for the period between mid-May to…
July 7: Insurance Board has instructed insurance companies not to sell insurance policies on credit.…
July 7: The Advertising Association Nepal (AAN) has protested against the formation of the Advertisement Board by the government.…
July 7: The National Food Bank Limited, which was set up with the plan of industrializing the agriculture sector of Nepal, has decided to opt for the rice-duck farming system while planting…
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July 7: Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has increased the prices of petroleum products effective from Tuesday midnight (July 7).…
July 6: The Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport has formed a task force to assess the extent of damage on roads and bridges by recent landslides and…
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According to the airlines, this platform available on the desktop and mobile phones is all about connecting people to destinations.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Georgia">The airlines said in a statement that customers with access to connect-IPS are able to purchase and refund tickets along with availing other services such as flight and fare search, refunds and member service during the early stage of this service. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Georgia">The airline also plans to launch other additional services like pre-booking of baggage, seat, meal selections, lounge, bundled fares, SMS notification, VISA/Master Card payment and web check-in in the upcoming phases.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Georgia"> “Our customers are at the centre of everything that we do, and we relentlessly challenge ourselves to deliver more value to them. We are pleased to announce our new B2C website to enjoy a simpler, faster and more convenient user experience for online ticketing,” the statement quoted Zhou Enyong, president of Himalaya Airlines, as saying. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Georgia">“This website is a testimony of Himalaya’s culture of continuous innovation and our drive to deliver our best. In fact, we’ve been using the lockdown period to build this platform considering the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic where we do understand our passengers’ need for contactless booking and travel flexibility</span><span style="font-family:Georgia">,” he added.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Georgia">Similarly, Vijay Shrestha, vice president of Himalaya Airline, said that this is a significant achievement for the company in their continuous effort towards building closer connectivity with the customers. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Georgia">“Himalaya has always been dedicated to providing superior facilities to its customers. Being able to create a platform through which our customers can enjoy convenient ticket browsing and booking experience is a milestone set by our company</span><span style="font-family:Georgia">,” he added.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-09', 'modified' => '2021-07-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13400', 'image' => '20210709114537_20210120123339_g576szqpnac61.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-09 11:44:55', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13654', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'RTGS Operations to Run this Weekend ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 9: The RTGS (Real Time Gross Settlement) system will remain open all day on this Friday and Saturday as well. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Georgia">July 9</span></span>: <span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Georgia">The RTGS (Real Time Gross Settlement) system will remain open all day on this Friday and Saturday as well. The Payments System Department of Nepal Rastra Bank issued a notice on Thursday stating that RTGS transactions will continue throughout the day on July 9 and 10.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Georgia">According to the Payments System Department, this provision has been made there will be a lot of transactions with the current fiscal year coming to an end in mid-July. Therefore, the time for clearance of taxes and settlement of other financial issues has been extended to prevent delay in the payment.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Georgia">The central bank stated that they received complaints regarding lack of time for transaction which is higher towards the end of the fiscal year. Hence, the RTGS will continue to operate full day on Friday and Saturday.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Georgia">Such services were being provided by banks and financial institutions till 2 pm due to the prohibitory orders.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Georgia">A minimum of Rs 200,000 and more can be paid immediately through RTGS.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-09', 'modified' => '2021-07-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13399', 'image' => '20210709112817_My Effect.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-09 11:27:41', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13653', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Transport Entrepreneurs Submit 7-Point Memo to PM', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 9: Transport entrepreneurs have submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli requesting him to address their concerns related to the impact of COVID-19 on their business.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">July 9: Transport entrepreneurs have submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli requesting him to address their concerns related to the impact of COVID-19 on their business.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The entrepreneurs affiliated to the Federation of Nepalese National Transport Entrepreneurs on Thursday (July 8) submitted their seven-point demand by visiting the Office of the Prime Minister in Singha Durbar. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The transport entrepreneurs informed the prime minister that their investment of around Rs 1000 billion is at risk due to the pandemic and subsequent lockdowns imposed by the government. The delegation of transport entrepreneurs said that almost 900,000 people directly or indirectly involved in this business facing extreme hardship due to the measures taken by the government to control coronavirus.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The entrepreneurs complained that their demands have not been addressed although they have made repeated requests to the concerned government bodies.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The entrepreneurs have asked the government to immediately ensure vaccine against COVID-19 to the workers involved in transportation service. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Similarly, their other demands include hike in public transportation fare in the context that they have incurred huge amount of losses as the fare has not been reviewed for almost nine years. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Similarly, they have asked policy changes in financing including additional loan, refinance and subsidy in interest rate through the monetary policy by considering the lockdown period as a zero hour. </span></span></span><br /> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-09', 'modified' => '2021-07-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13398', 'image' => '20210709110857_20200705035220_public transport.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-09 11:06:34', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13652', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Dispute Arises over Restructuring of Nepal Airlines ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 9: The issue of restructuring the state-owned Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) has courted controversy yet again.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">July 9: The issue of restructuring the state-owned Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) has courted controversy yet again. Employees of the corporation have started protest against the proposal to privatize the flag carrier of Nepal. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">In a press release issued on July 7, General Manager Dim Prasad Poudel said that the NAC should be fully owned by the Government of Nepal.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation has claimed that the NAC will be converted into a company with 100 percent investment of the government. The ministry also assured that NAC will not be privatized.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Sources close to the ministry claim that there is no alternative than to restructure the NAC into a company to save the cash-strapped corporation. Nepal Airlines Corporation was formed as per the Airlines Act. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Investment from external sources can be accepted by restructuring the existing corporation into a company if any good international company is willing to cooperate.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">“The current structure of NAC does not allow foreign investment. Therefore, preparations are underway to restructure it,” said GM Poudel, adding, “Right now, we can bring expert team from abroad but we are not allowed to accept foreign investment. So, there is no point in protesting at the moment.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">GM Poudel claimed that they were only making an attempt to reform the institution by discouraging the trend of recruiting staff on contract basis.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The ministry has not renewed the contracts of 300 employees during the lockdown. An official said that the financial condition of the corporation is very fragile and it is being restructured to revive the NAC. Right now, the NAC has a loan of Rs 47 billion. The official said that an agreement has been reached to convert NAC into a public company for long-term benefit. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Stating that Nepal's private sector does not have the capacity to raise such a huge amount to operate NAC, the officials claimed that NAC’s privatization will not happen under any circumstances.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The official said that the corporation needs to compete with international airlines. It has to find a long-term solution as it needs to add more aircraft.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The government is planning to sell 51 percent stakes of the company to founder shareholders and 49 percent to private companies, former and current employees, and foreign airlines companies, if no single individual or company comes in to take full ownership. However, the employees of NAC claim that the government is trying to privatize the company. The agitating workers said that the draft of the proposal was rejected and they would continue protest until the current General Manager Dim Prasad Poudel resigns. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">While purchasing the Airbus aircraft, the corporation took loans from the Employees Provident Fund and Citizens Investment Fund. NAC procured two widebody Airbus aircraft with loans from these two organizations on a government guarantee.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-09', 'modified' => '2021-07-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13397', 'image' => '20210709080354_20180727021334_2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-09 08:03:17', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13651', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => ' Illegally-Imported Mobile Phones to be Blocked from July 16 ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 9: Illegal and unregistered mobile phones will be blocked starting from July 16.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">July 9: Illegal and unregistered mobile phones will be blocked starting from July 16. Such mobile phones cannot operate after the Mobile Device Management System (MDMS) comes into operation from the upcoming fiscal year. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Poudel during the budget announcement for the fiscal year 2021/22 had declared that the MDMS will come into operation from July 16. The implementation of MDMS is believed to control the use of illegal mobile sets and criminal activities using mobile phones. Customers can also track or block their mobile phones through IMEI, ESN, or MEID if the phone is lost. Moreover, it will remove the grey market and encourage official brands. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Nepal Telecommunication Authority (NTA) has a provision for International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) registration of mobile phones to discourage illegal import, sale and distribution of mobile sets. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The regulatory body says that every IMEI of mobile phones brought from outside the country has to be registered compulsorily. However, commercially imported mobile phones that are purchased and used in Nepal do not need to be re-registered. After increasing confusion among the users, NTA issued a notice on July 7 to clarify the issue. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Prior to this, the government had made the IMEI registration compulsory in April 2016 and said that the unregistered phone will be dysfunctional from April 1, 2017. However, no action was taken citing various reasons. </span></span></span></p> <p><strong><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Registering IMEI number online </span></span></span></strong></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">To register the IMEI number of a mobile phone, customers need to visit the NTA portal and press sign up for the login or register. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Before registering, a customer can check whether their device is already registered or not. For this, click on ‘Know your Device’ option and enter the IMEI number. If the number is not registered, sign up for new registration. To start the registration process, enter email address and password and click on ‘sign up’. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Upon signing up, two options will be shown – New Importer and Individual Application. Choose an individual application and fill up the details on the form and upload necessary documents such as citizenship, ID or passport. Provide valid email address and submit. After submitting the application, the customer will receive an email confirming that the documents are successfully submitted. NTA will register the IMEI number in their system once they review the documents.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">However, the online registration process is facing problems right now due to the excessive number of service seekers. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">In the notice issued on July 7, NTA said that a technical problems has surfaced due to the excessive number of people registering IMEI of their mobile sets in the Authority’s website. The notice further said that it will take some time for resumption of the service.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-09', 'modified' => '2021-07-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13396', 'image' => '20210709072551_imei-numbe.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-09 07:24:50', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13650', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Supreme Court Issues Showcause Notice to the Government over Kaligandaki Diversion Project', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 8: The Supreme Court has issued a show cause notice in the name of the government seeking its written response over the Kaligandaki-Tinau Diversion Multi-Purpose Project. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">July 8: The Supreme Court has issued a show cause notice in the name of the government seeking its written response over the Kaligandaki-Tinau Diversion Multi-Purpose Project. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">A single bench of Justice Tej Bahadur KC on Wednesday (July 7) issued the order, asking the government to submit its written response within 15 days. The apex court has also summoned both sides for discussions on July 19.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">The government plans to divert the water of Kaligandaki River to the Tinau River through a 27-kilometer tunnel by constructing a dam 2 km away from the Ramdi Bridge in Palpa.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Advocates Tulsiram Pokhrel, Ram Bahadur Shahi and Santosh Bhandari had filed the writ petition demanding that the project should be stopped immediately. According to the petitioners, the decision of the government to divert the water of Kaligandaki will bring an end to the existence of the Gandaki river which is related with the civilization and culture of the country. They also noted that the river holds religious significance among Hindu pilgrims.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">The petitioners have demanded an immediate halt in implementing the government's decision in this regard as the project is against the constitution, law and international treaties and agreements.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">They also argued that the project will negatively affect a significant population in Gandaki Province as well as the watershed area from Ramdi to Devghat. </span></span></span></span><br /> </p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Although this is not a new project, it has drawn attention after Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel inaugurated the project office in Butwal on June 26.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">The project has been dragged into controversy after the government tried to move ahead with the Kaligandaki-Tinau Diversion Multi-Purpose Project without any preparation. The feasibility study of the project and environmental impact assessment report required before starting the project have not been prepared. The Detailed Project Report is also yet to be prepared. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">As the central government tried to advance the project without taking other parties into confidence, the issue was dragged to the court. This multi-purpose project is being developed targeting areas such as Butwal, Rupandehi, Kapilvastu and Lumbini.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">The project aims to divert water from the Kaligandaki River to the Tinau River through a tunnel, irrigate the fields of Rupandehi and Kapilvastu and generate 126 MW of electricity. Officials of the project office have been saying that some of the water will be diverted into the Tinau river by constructing a huge reservoir in Dobhan and some water will be channeled through a 3 km tunnel to Belbas of Butwal for electricity generation.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-08', 'modified' => '2021-07-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13395', 'image' => '20210708014401_20201127115547_20200417094838_CKC_ktm.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-08 13:42:59', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13649', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => ' Nepal’s Envoys Suggest NTB to get Ready for Influx of Foreign Tourists', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 8: Nepal’s ambassadors serving in various countries have recommended the government to considering opening up itself for foreign tourists citing the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccines and the gradual revival of international tourism. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">July 8: Nepal’s ambassadors serving in various countries have recommended the government to considering opening up itself for foreign tourists citing the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccines and the gradual revival of international tourism. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">At a virtual interaction organized by the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) on Wednesday, Nepal’s ambassadors to the USA, Canada, Brazil among others univocally spoke of the need for reviving tourism sector by adhering to health safety protocols. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">During the interaction, Nepal’s envoy to the USA Dr Yubaraj Khatiwada said that the Board should devise a special tourism promotion package for foreign tourists beyond India and China. Dr Khatiwada, who is also a former finance minister, suggested the NTB to coordinate efforts among the federal, provincial and local governments to address the budget crisis for tourism promotion related programmes. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">"Tourism activities are almost nil due to COVID-19. At such times, the federal government is bound to experience budget constraint. But the provincial and local governments have budget for tourism. We could carry out tourism promotional programmes utilizing those budget," he suggested. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to him, efforts were underway to forge collaboration with Hollywood to promote cine tourism between Nepal and the USA. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Likewise, Nepali ambassador to Canada Bhrigu Dhungana backed the views of Dr Khatiwada and said that Nepal should be ready to attract foreign tourists adhering to all health safety protocols against COVID-19. Dhungana said that they were collaborating with the Canadian stakeholders to attract Canadian investment to Nepal apart from inviting Canadians to Nepal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Similarly, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Nepalese Embassy in Brazil Bharat Khanal pointed out the need to produce promotional materials in various international languages including Brazilian to lure as many Brazilians and other foreign tourists to Nepal as possible. "The promotional materials should be either digital or traditional," he advised to the Board. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The executive counselor general at Nepal’s Consulate Office in New York, Bishnu Prasad Gautam, said that the number of people visiting Nepal from New York was on the rise lately. He opined that Nepal should enthusiastically welcome foreign tourists from the USA in the wake of vaccines against COVID-19 working effectively to prevent the pandemic. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">CEO of NTB Dr Dhananjaya Regmi said that the Board was working towards promoting tourism considering reforms at policy level, bolstering inter-agency coordination and budget limitation. He said that it is imperative to expand tourism destinations in a new and attracting manner to make Nepal a holiday destination for people of all walks of life and for all season. "There is no choice expect for moving ahead with tourism revival programme," he said. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-08', 'modified' => '2021-07-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13394', 'image' => '20210708120341_20201016032657_1602804123.Clipboard13.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-08 12:03:10', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13648', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Market Reeling Under Shortage of Readymade Garments ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 8: The major markets of Nepal are reeling under shortage of readymade garments of late. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">July 8: The major markets of Nepal are reeling under shortage of readymade garments of late. The shortage of goods has been attributed to the decline in import due to the Covid-19 pandemic.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The local traders have not been able to go to China for business since April 2020, amidst the pandemic, causing shortage of the readymade garments in the market. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The traders say that garments required for the summer season such as half pants, t-shirts, trousers, etc are getting out of stock. Rajesh Lama, a garment trader in Bhrikutimandap, said, “Clothing items are insufficient in the market itself. This has caused problem for consumers to find the garments of their choice.”</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">With the opening of markets, the number of consumers going out has also increased drastically. They are seeking for the essential garments but are compelled to return empty handed because of the shortage of readymade garments.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Ram Chandra Parajuli, treasurer of National Trade Association New Road, who has been importing goods from China since a long time, said that they have been facing problem ever since the Chinese government refused visas for traders to enter China due to the pandemic. According to him, Nepali traders have not been able to go to China to buy goods since more than a year.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">In the beginning, even though they could not go to China, the traders were keeping their business running through online orders. However, he said that the traders stopped placing online orders due to the arrival of counterfeit goods instead of the order placed. Parajuli said that the traders were deceived in online trade as they were delivered low-quality goods.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Lately, while ordering goods online, traders have also been facing problems in transactions. Earlier, merchants used to send money via informal channels like hundi for ordering goods online. Now, the Chinese government has made the environment uncompromising, causing difficulty in making monetary transactions.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">On one hand, traders have not been able to go to China to buy goods, while on the other hand, the goods that have been ordered are stuck at the border checkpoints.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Even now, food stuffs as well as fruits and other edible items are entering the country through Rasuwagadhi checkpoint in large quantities, while the goods including clothes are arriving in minimum quantities, said Rasuwagadhi Customs Chief Ram Prasad Regmi.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">According to him, only five vehicles other than the ones carrying foods and fruits can enter Nepal in a single day. He added, the problems are so severe that on some days, even one vehicle cannot enter the country.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-08', 'modified' => '2021-07-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13393', 'image' => '20210708112214_20210330030707_1617056840.Clipboard05.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-08 11:21:34', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13647', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Social Security Fund Seeks Rs 1.5 Billion from Finance Ministry ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 7: The Social Security Fund (SSF) has requested the Ministry of Finance to deposit Rs 1.5 billion to the fund as per the government's commitment to bear all the expenses on behalf of the contributors for the period between mid-May to mid-July.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">July 7: </span></span></strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The Social Security Fund (SSF) has requested the Ministry of Finance to deposit Rs 1.5 billion to the fund as per the government's commitment to bear all the expenses on behalf of the contributors for the period between mid-May to mid-July.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">While announcing the budget for the upcoming fiscal year, Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel had said that the government would bear the expenses for this period.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The SSF has demanded Rs 1.5 billion from the Ministry of Finance after determining the amount that the contributors are liable to deposit.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Kapil Mani Gyawali, executive director of the Social Security Fund, said that the employers and contributors do not have to deposit the amount for two months between mid-May to mid-July as announced in the budget statement. According to him, the SSF has already issued a public notice to the employers not to deposit the contribution for the month of mid-May to mid-July.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The companies have been told to deposit the contribution for this period in the workers' accounts as they do not have to deduct the amount for the social security fund.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Gyawali said that the companies must have contributed to the fund regularly till mid-May in order to be eligible to receive the relief announced by the government.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Responding to the question regarding what happens to those who are late in contributing in the month of Baisakh (mid-April to mid-May), Gyawali said, "There is nothing wrong with the delay. Even if it is late, we take into consideration the regular deposits made to our system till April.”</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Gyawali said that those who have contributed to the SSF till mid-April should not worry as they have already demanded money from the Ministry of Labor, Employment, and Social Security for the payment of the entire two-month period.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The Ministry of Labor, Employment, and Social Security had asked the Ministry of Finance to bring such a relief package through the budget with the conclusion that the steps taken for the prevention and control of the coronavirus pandemic have put private companies and workers in trouble.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">According to the Ministry of Labor, the ministry is committed to implementing every programme related to labor in the budget and an action plan has been prepared.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">"Even in the past, the government had borne the entire responsibility and the process is still moving forward," said Deepak Kafle, joint secretary of the ministry.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-07', 'modified' => '2021-07-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13392', 'image' => '20210707052226_20200401094426_1585693701.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-07 17:21:53', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13646', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Insurance Board Instructs Companies not to Sell Policies on Credit', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 7: Insurance Board has instructed insurance companies not to sell insurance policies on credit. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">July 7: Insurance Board has instructed insurance companies not to sell insurance policies on credit. The regulatory body recently issued such directive as the trend of selling insurance policies on credit has been increase.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The board issued the directive in the name of the CEOs of non-life and life insurance companies. Chairman of the Insurance Board Surya Prasad Silwal confirmed that he has instructed the insurance companies not to sell insurance policies on credit. CEOs of the insurance companies have been asked to be more cautious in this regard.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">"It was found that both life and non-life insurance companies were selling insurance policies on credit, which is against the Insurance Act," he said, adding, "We had issued an internal circular two months earlier not to sell insurance policies on credit. Since such practice did not stop, we have issued instructions to the CEOs of the companies to be cautious in this regard."</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">At the end of the fiscal year, during the period between mid-June to mid-July, companies tend to sell insurance policies on credit to meet the annual target. So, the insurance board has issued another directive to prevent such practice, said Silwal.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">According to the Insurance Act, no company should agree to accept the risk of the assured people until the company receives the premium amount. The individual is considered to be insured only after receiving the premium. However, various inspections and monitoring activities show that companies are selling insurance policies on credit.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The board claims that the insurance companies have carried out such activities though it is prohibited by the Act. The board has received complaints in this regard as well after which the board took further steps to prevent such practice. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The Insurance Board has directed the CEOs of the companies to be more responsible regarding this issues. From now on, companies are instructed to issue policies only after receiving premium amount and clearance of cheques. If they are found to have issued policies on credit, they will be penalized accordingly.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-07', 'modified' => '2021-07-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13391', 'image' => '20210707014623_20200417105653_Beema-Samiti.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-07 13:45:47', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13645', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'AAN Opposes Formation of Advertisement Board', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 7: The Advertising Association Nepal (AAN) has protested against the formation of the Advertisement Board by the government. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">July 7: The Advertising Association Nepal (AAN) has protested against the formation of the Advertisement Board by the government. AAN accused the government of forming the board against the spirit of the advertising business.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">AAN said that the government has introduced controversial clause in an attempt to bring all government advertisements under a one-door system in the name of social welfare advertisements. AAN further said that the government’s act reflects the move taken in the past by the royal regime.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Therefore, AAN has tried to draw the attention of all stakeholders towards the problems that may occur in future if the regulatory body tries to present itself as an ad distributor.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">AAN has demanded the government to include the advertisement sector in the board.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">AAN has accused the government of disregarding its suggestions and advice even though it has been cooperating with the ministry since the drafting of the Advertising Regulation Act, 2076 BS.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">AAN has also drawn the attention of the government and the Advertising Board to resolve the existing problems at the earliest.</span></span> It has also warned of repercussions if the board does not take any initiative to resolve the problem. </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-07', 'modified' => '2021-07-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13390', 'image' => '20210707013335_AAN.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-07 13:33:04', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13644', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'National Food Bank to Use Rice-Duck Farming System', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 7: The National Food Bank Limited, which was set up with the plan of industrializing the agriculture sector of Nepal, has decided to opt for the rice-duck farming system while planting paddy.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">July 7: The National Food Bank Limited, which was set up with the plan of industrializing the agriculture sector of Nepal, has decided to opt for the rice-duck farming system while planting paddy. The system, which has been used and tested in various parts of Japan, is now being tested in the country. A similar test had been conducted prior to this, but, it wasn’t for commercial farming.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Rice-duck farming is about raising ducks and farming paddy together on the same land. The company stated that paddy is being planted according to this system.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Chairman of the bank Shankar Nath Upreti informed that the local basmati rice has been planted under this system in about 5 bighas of land in Jhapa and Bardiya at present. In addition, about 1,000 ducklings have been reared in the paddy fields.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Since the paddy and the ducklings grow together in the same place, manual weeding is not required as the duck’s claw will dig the ground and they eat the weeds as well. He said that chemical fertiliser is not needed as organic manure can be obtained from the feces of duck.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The ducks are separated from the paddy field at the time of harvesting. Stating that the cultivation with this system is done in a small area as a test, Upreti said that they will expand the use of this system if the test is successful.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The bank aims to cultivate paddy in about 1,000 bighas of land this year. The company has planted paddy in 55 bighas of land in Jhapa, 60 bighas in Bardiya and 518 bighas in collaboration with local farmers elsewhere. Local basmati or Jetho Budho rice has been planted in 35 ropanis of land and 313 ropanis of land in Hemja Pokhara in two phases.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Along with paddy, the bank is also planting millet in the Himalayan districts. The work of planting millet in about 500 ropanis of land in districts including Manang, Mustang, Sindhupalchok, Rasuwa nad Nuwakot has been completed. </span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-07', 'modified' => '2021-07-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13389', 'image' => '20210707120033_800px-合鴨農法.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-07 11:59:59', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13643', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Commercial Banks Raise Funds worth Rs 85 Billion from Debentures', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => '', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria">July 7: A total of 23 commercial banks have raised funds by issuing debentures in line with the Nepal Rastra Bank’s long-term policy. The central bank has made it mandatory for commercial banks to raise funds by issuing debentures.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria">The commercial banks have issued debentures worth Rs 85.34 billion and secured funds for the next six to 10 years.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria">This amount is 30.64 percent of the combined paid-up capital of the banks.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria">According to the central banks data, the total paid-up capital of the 23 commercial banks is Rs 278 billion as of mid-May 2021.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria">As per the policy of NRB, commercial banks have to issue debentures of at least 25 percent of their paid-up capital.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria">Such directive was issued to ensure that the banks have secured long-term resources to stabilize the interest rate, which is subject to fluctuation due to the short-term nature of deposits prevalent in the country. The banks have been ordered to issue the debentures by the end of next fiscal year. There is still one year left for the banks to fulfill the criteria.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria">Out of the 27 commercial banks operational in Nepal, four banks – Mega Bank, Century Bank, Civil Bank and Standard Chartered Bank – are yet to issue debentures.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria">The state-owned Nepal Bank Limited had issued debentures worth Rs 3.5 billion at an interest rate of 8.5 percent about two months ago. Likewise, Rastriya Banijya Bank issued debentures worth Rs 2.5 billion about a month ago.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria">So far, 11 commercial banks have already fulfilled the minimum requirement (25 percent of paid-up capital) of issuing debentures. Those banks include NIC Asia Bank, Siddhartha Bank, Agriculture Development Bank, Sanima Bank, Sunrise Bank, Nepal Investment Bank, Nepal SBI Bank, Nepal Credit and Commerce Bank, Prabhu Bank, Nepal Bank and Rastriya Banijya Bank.</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-07', 'modified' => '2021-07-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13388', 'image' => '20210707110604_Debentures-sebi-guidelines.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-07 11:05:37', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13642', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Oil Corporation Hikes Prices of Petroleum Products', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 7: Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has increased the prices of petroleum products effective from Tuesday midnight (July 7). ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria">July 7: Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has increased the prices of petroleum products effective from Tuesday midnight (July 7). </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria">The state-owned oil monopoly has hiked the price of petrol, diesel, kerosene, aviation turbine fuel (ATF) as well as cooking gas (liquefied petroleum gas LPG). </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria">According to NOC, it has increased the prices of petrol, diesel and kerosene by Rs 2 per litre. With the price hike, petrol will now cost Rs 129 per litre in Kathmandu valley while the prices of diesel and kerosene have been fixed at Rs 112 per litre each.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria">Similarly, NOC has increased the price of ATF for international flights by Rs 2 per litre. The fuel for international flights will now cost Rs 84 per litre. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria">The price of LPG has been increased by Rs 25 per cylinder. A cooking gas cylinder will now cost Rs 1,425. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria">Prior to this, NOC had increased the prices of petroleum products on June 23.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-07', 'modified' => '2021-07-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13387', 'image' => '20210707102647_20190503125003_Petrol-Price-Increase.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-07 10:26:05', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13641', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Task Force Formed to Study Damage on Road and Bridges by Recent Floods and Landslides', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 6: The Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport has formed a task force to assess the extent of damage on roads and bridges by recent landslides and floods.', 'content' => '<p><em>A damaged road in Baglung. Photo Courtesy: RSS</em></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">July 6: The Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport has formed a task force to assess the extent of damage on roads and bridges by recent landslides and floods. The ministry has formed a seven-member task force under the coordination of deputy director-general of the Department of Roads, Deepak Shrestha.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The task force will investigate the extent of damage caused to the under-construction and completed roads and bridges in different parts of the country due to continuous rainfall. Similarly, the task force needs to submit its preliminary report with recommendations by July 22 on the measures to be taken to minimise such damages in the coming days. In addition, it will have to submit a report within a month after studying and analyzing the bridges damaged by rains and floods.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The task force should also mention the precautions to be taken to rebuild the damaged bridges, the foundations to be adopted for bridge construction and the type of superstructure in the report.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">According to the department, the Liping Bridge on Araniko Highway, Gaude Bridge on Siddhartha Highway and Karnali Bridge (Satighat) on Postal Highway have been damaged.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Likewise, the Kamala Bridge on the Postal Highway, which was completed only a few days ago but was yet to be inaugurated, has been washed away as the water level was high in Kamala River. Similarly, the Phuljor Bridge in Siraha has been washed away due to floods only a few days ago. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-06', 'modified' => '2021-07-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13386', 'image' => '20210706024111_KRG_Baglung.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-06 14:40:14', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = falseinclude - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 60 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
Warning (2): simplexml_load_file() [<a href='http://php.net/function.simplexml-load-file'>function.simplexml-load-file</a>]: I/O warning : failed to load external entity "" [APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 60]file not found!Code Context// $file = 'http://aabhiyan:QUVLg8Wzs2F7G9N7@nepalstock.com.np/api/indexdata.xml';if(!$xml = simplexml_load_file($file)){$viewFile = '/var/www/html/newbusinessage.com/app/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'articles' => array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ) ), 'current_user' => null, 'logged_in' => false ) $articles = array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13655', 'article_category_id' => '266', 'title' => 'Himalaya Airlines Introduces Online Ticket Sales through its Website', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 9: Himalaya Airlines, a Nepal-China joint venture airline, has recently launched its online ticket booking engine.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Georgia">July 9: Himalaya Airlines, a Nepal-China joint venture airline, has recently launched its online ticket booking engine, which allows customers to make bookings through the company’s website. According to the airlines, this platform available on the desktop and mobile phones is all about connecting people to destinations.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Georgia">The airlines said in a statement that customers with access to connect-IPS are able to purchase and refund tickets along with availing other services such as flight and fare search, refunds and member service during the early stage of this service. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Georgia">The airline also plans to launch other additional services like pre-booking of baggage, seat, meal selections, lounge, bundled fares, SMS notification, VISA/Master Card payment and web check-in in the upcoming phases.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Georgia"> “Our customers are at the centre of everything that we do, and we relentlessly challenge ourselves to deliver more value to them. We are pleased to announce our new B2C website to enjoy a simpler, faster and more convenient user experience for online ticketing,” the statement quoted Zhou Enyong, president of Himalaya Airlines, as saying. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Georgia">“This website is a testimony of Himalaya’s culture of continuous innovation and our drive to deliver our best. In fact, we’ve been using the lockdown period to build this platform considering the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic where we do understand our passengers’ need for contactless booking and travel flexibility</span><span style="font-family:Georgia">,” he added.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Georgia">Similarly, Vijay Shrestha, vice president of Himalaya Airline, said that this is a significant achievement for the company in their continuous effort towards building closer connectivity with the customers. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Georgia">“Himalaya has always been dedicated to providing superior facilities to its customers. Being able to create a platform through which our customers can enjoy convenient ticket browsing and booking experience is a milestone set by our company</span><span style="font-family:Georgia">,” he added.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-09', 'modified' => '2021-07-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13400', 'image' => '20210709114537_20210120123339_g576szqpnac61.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-09 11:44:55', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13654', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'RTGS Operations to Run this Weekend ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 9: The RTGS (Real Time Gross Settlement) system will remain open all day on this Friday and Saturday as well. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Georgia">July 9</span></span>: <span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Georgia">The RTGS (Real Time Gross Settlement) system will remain open all day on this Friday and Saturday as well. The Payments System Department of Nepal Rastra Bank issued a notice on Thursday stating that RTGS transactions will continue throughout the day on July 9 and 10.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Georgia">According to the Payments System Department, this provision has been made there will be a lot of transactions with the current fiscal year coming to an end in mid-July. Therefore, the time for clearance of taxes and settlement of other financial issues has been extended to prevent delay in the payment.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Georgia">The central bank stated that they received complaints regarding lack of time for transaction which is higher towards the end of the fiscal year. Hence, the RTGS will continue to operate full day on Friday and Saturday.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Georgia">Such services were being provided by banks and financial institutions till 2 pm due to the prohibitory orders.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Georgia">A minimum of Rs 200,000 and more can be paid immediately through RTGS.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-09', 'modified' => '2021-07-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13399', 'image' => '20210709112817_My Effect.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-09 11:27:41', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13653', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Transport Entrepreneurs Submit 7-Point Memo to PM', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 9: Transport entrepreneurs have submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli requesting him to address their concerns related to the impact of COVID-19 on their business.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">July 9: Transport entrepreneurs have submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli requesting him to address their concerns related to the impact of COVID-19 on their business.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The entrepreneurs affiliated to the Federation of Nepalese National Transport Entrepreneurs on Thursday (July 8) submitted their seven-point demand by visiting the Office of the Prime Minister in Singha Durbar. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The transport entrepreneurs informed the prime minister that their investment of around Rs 1000 billion is at risk due to the pandemic and subsequent lockdowns imposed by the government. The delegation of transport entrepreneurs said that almost 900,000 people directly or indirectly involved in this business facing extreme hardship due to the measures taken by the government to control coronavirus.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The entrepreneurs complained that their demands have not been addressed although they have made repeated requests to the concerned government bodies.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The entrepreneurs have asked the government to immediately ensure vaccine against COVID-19 to the workers involved in transportation service. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Similarly, their other demands include hike in public transportation fare in the context that they have incurred huge amount of losses as the fare has not been reviewed for almost nine years. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Similarly, they have asked policy changes in financing including additional loan, refinance and subsidy in interest rate through the monetary policy by considering the lockdown period as a zero hour. </span></span></span><br /> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-09', 'modified' => '2021-07-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13398', 'image' => '20210709110857_20200705035220_public transport.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-09 11:06:34', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13652', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Dispute Arises over Restructuring of Nepal Airlines ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 9: The issue of restructuring the state-owned Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) has courted controversy yet again.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">July 9: The issue of restructuring the state-owned Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) has courted controversy yet again. Employees of the corporation have started protest against the proposal to privatize the flag carrier of Nepal. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">In a press release issued on July 7, General Manager Dim Prasad Poudel said that the NAC should be fully owned by the Government of Nepal.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation has claimed that the NAC will be converted into a company with 100 percent investment of the government. The ministry also assured that NAC will not be privatized.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Sources close to the ministry claim that there is no alternative than to restructure the NAC into a company to save the cash-strapped corporation. Nepal Airlines Corporation was formed as per the Airlines Act. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Investment from external sources can be accepted by restructuring the existing corporation into a company if any good international company is willing to cooperate.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">“The current structure of NAC does not allow foreign investment. Therefore, preparations are underway to restructure it,” said GM Poudel, adding, “Right now, we can bring expert team from abroad but we are not allowed to accept foreign investment. So, there is no point in protesting at the moment.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">GM Poudel claimed that they were only making an attempt to reform the institution by discouraging the trend of recruiting staff on contract basis.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The ministry has not renewed the contracts of 300 employees during the lockdown. An official said that the financial condition of the corporation is very fragile and it is being restructured to revive the NAC. Right now, the NAC has a loan of Rs 47 billion. The official said that an agreement has been reached to convert NAC into a public company for long-term benefit. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Stating that Nepal's private sector does not have the capacity to raise such a huge amount to operate NAC, the officials claimed that NAC’s privatization will not happen under any circumstances.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The official said that the corporation needs to compete with international airlines. It has to find a long-term solution as it needs to add more aircraft.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The government is planning to sell 51 percent stakes of the company to founder shareholders and 49 percent to private companies, former and current employees, and foreign airlines companies, if no single individual or company comes in to take full ownership. However, the employees of NAC claim that the government is trying to privatize the company. The agitating workers said that the draft of the proposal was rejected and they would continue protest until the current General Manager Dim Prasad Poudel resigns. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">While purchasing the Airbus aircraft, the corporation took loans from the Employees Provident Fund and Citizens Investment Fund. NAC procured two widebody Airbus aircraft with loans from these two organizations on a government guarantee.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-09', 'modified' => '2021-07-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13397', 'image' => '20210709080354_20180727021334_2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-09 08:03:17', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13651', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => ' Illegally-Imported Mobile Phones to be Blocked from July 16 ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 9: Illegal and unregistered mobile phones will be blocked starting from July 16.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">July 9: Illegal and unregistered mobile phones will be blocked starting from July 16. Such mobile phones cannot operate after the Mobile Device Management System (MDMS) comes into operation from the upcoming fiscal year. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Poudel during the budget announcement for the fiscal year 2021/22 had declared that the MDMS will come into operation from July 16. The implementation of MDMS is believed to control the use of illegal mobile sets and criminal activities using mobile phones. Customers can also track or block their mobile phones through IMEI, ESN, or MEID if the phone is lost. Moreover, it will remove the grey market and encourage official brands. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Nepal Telecommunication Authority (NTA) has a provision for International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) registration of mobile phones to discourage illegal import, sale and distribution of mobile sets. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The regulatory body says that every IMEI of mobile phones brought from outside the country has to be registered compulsorily. However, commercially imported mobile phones that are purchased and used in Nepal do not need to be re-registered. After increasing confusion among the users, NTA issued a notice on July 7 to clarify the issue. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Prior to this, the government had made the IMEI registration compulsory in April 2016 and said that the unregistered phone will be dysfunctional from April 1, 2017. However, no action was taken citing various reasons. </span></span></span></p> <p><strong><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Registering IMEI number online </span></span></span></strong></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">To register the IMEI number of a mobile phone, customers need to visit the NTA portal and press sign up for the login or register. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Before registering, a customer can check whether their device is already registered or not. For this, click on ‘Know your Device’ option and enter the IMEI number. If the number is not registered, sign up for new registration. To start the registration process, enter email address and password and click on ‘sign up’. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Upon signing up, two options will be shown – New Importer and Individual Application. Choose an individual application and fill up the details on the form and upload necessary documents such as citizenship, ID or passport. Provide valid email address and submit. After submitting the application, the customer will receive an email confirming that the documents are successfully submitted. NTA will register the IMEI number in their system once they review the documents.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">However, the online registration process is facing problems right now due to the excessive number of service seekers. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">In the notice issued on July 7, NTA said that a technical problems has surfaced due to the excessive number of people registering IMEI of their mobile sets in the Authority’s website. The notice further said that it will take some time for resumption of the service.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-09', 'modified' => '2021-07-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13396', 'image' => '20210709072551_imei-numbe.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-09 07:24:50', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13650', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Supreme Court Issues Showcause Notice to the Government over Kaligandaki Diversion Project', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 8: The Supreme Court has issued a show cause notice in the name of the government seeking its written response over the Kaligandaki-Tinau Diversion Multi-Purpose Project. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">July 8: The Supreme Court has issued a show cause notice in the name of the government seeking its written response over the Kaligandaki-Tinau Diversion Multi-Purpose Project. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">A single bench of Justice Tej Bahadur KC on Wednesday (July 7) issued the order, asking the government to submit its written response within 15 days. The apex court has also summoned both sides for discussions on July 19.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">The government plans to divert the water of Kaligandaki River to the Tinau River through a 27-kilometer tunnel by constructing a dam 2 km away from the Ramdi Bridge in Palpa.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Advocates Tulsiram Pokhrel, Ram Bahadur Shahi and Santosh Bhandari had filed the writ petition demanding that the project should be stopped immediately. According to the petitioners, the decision of the government to divert the water of Kaligandaki will bring an end to the existence of the Gandaki river which is related with the civilization and culture of the country. They also noted that the river holds religious significance among Hindu pilgrims.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">The petitioners have demanded an immediate halt in implementing the government's decision in this regard as the project is against the constitution, law and international treaties and agreements.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">They also argued that the project will negatively affect a significant population in Gandaki Province as well as the watershed area from Ramdi to Devghat. </span></span></span></span><br /> </p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Although this is not a new project, it has drawn attention after Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel inaugurated the project office in Butwal on June 26.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">The project has been dragged into controversy after the government tried to move ahead with the Kaligandaki-Tinau Diversion Multi-Purpose Project without any preparation. The feasibility study of the project and environmental impact assessment report required before starting the project have not been prepared. The Detailed Project Report is also yet to be prepared. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">As the central government tried to advance the project without taking other parties into confidence, the issue was dragged to the court. This multi-purpose project is being developed targeting areas such as Butwal, Rupandehi, Kapilvastu and Lumbini.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">The project aims to divert water from the Kaligandaki River to the Tinau River through a tunnel, irrigate the fields of Rupandehi and Kapilvastu and generate 126 MW of electricity. Officials of the project office have been saying that some of the water will be diverted into the Tinau river by constructing a huge reservoir in Dobhan and some water will be channeled through a 3 km tunnel to Belbas of Butwal for electricity generation.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-08', 'modified' => '2021-07-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13395', 'image' => '20210708014401_20201127115547_20200417094838_CKC_ktm.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-08 13:42:59', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13649', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => ' Nepal’s Envoys Suggest NTB to get Ready for Influx of Foreign Tourists', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 8: Nepal’s ambassadors serving in various countries have recommended the government to considering opening up itself for foreign tourists citing the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccines and the gradual revival of international tourism. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">July 8: Nepal’s ambassadors serving in various countries have recommended the government to considering opening up itself for foreign tourists citing the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccines and the gradual revival of international tourism. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">At a virtual interaction organized by the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) on Wednesday, Nepal’s ambassadors to the USA, Canada, Brazil among others univocally spoke of the need for reviving tourism sector by adhering to health safety protocols. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">During the interaction, Nepal’s envoy to the USA Dr Yubaraj Khatiwada said that the Board should devise a special tourism promotion package for foreign tourists beyond India and China. Dr Khatiwada, who is also a former finance minister, suggested the NTB to coordinate efforts among the federal, provincial and local governments to address the budget crisis for tourism promotion related programmes. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">"Tourism activities are almost nil due to COVID-19. At such times, the federal government is bound to experience budget constraint. But the provincial and local governments have budget for tourism. We could carry out tourism promotional programmes utilizing those budget," he suggested. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to him, efforts were underway to forge collaboration with Hollywood to promote cine tourism between Nepal and the USA. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Likewise, Nepali ambassador to Canada Bhrigu Dhungana backed the views of Dr Khatiwada and said that Nepal should be ready to attract foreign tourists adhering to all health safety protocols against COVID-19. Dhungana said that they were collaborating with the Canadian stakeholders to attract Canadian investment to Nepal apart from inviting Canadians to Nepal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Similarly, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Nepalese Embassy in Brazil Bharat Khanal pointed out the need to produce promotional materials in various international languages including Brazilian to lure as many Brazilians and other foreign tourists to Nepal as possible. "The promotional materials should be either digital or traditional," he advised to the Board. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The executive counselor general at Nepal’s Consulate Office in New York, Bishnu Prasad Gautam, said that the number of people visiting Nepal from New York was on the rise lately. He opined that Nepal should enthusiastically welcome foreign tourists from the USA in the wake of vaccines against COVID-19 working effectively to prevent the pandemic. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">CEO of NTB Dr Dhananjaya Regmi said that the Board was working towards promoting tourism considering reforms at policy level, bolstering inter-agency coordination and budget limitation. He said that it is imperative to expand tourism destinations in a new and attracting manner to make Nepal a holiday destination for people of all walks of life and for all season. "There is no choice expect for moving ahead with tourism revival programme," he said. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-08', 'modified' => '2021-07-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13394', 'image' => '20210708120341_20201016032657_1602804123.Clipboard13.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-08 12:03:10', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13648', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Market Reeling Under Shortage of Readymade Garments ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 8: The major markets of Nepal are reeling under shortage of readymade garments of late. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">July 8: The major markets of Nepal are reeling under shortage of readymade garments of late. The shortage of goods has been attributed to the decline in import due to the Covid-19 pandemic.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The local traders have not been able to go to China for business since April 2020, amidst the pandemic, causing shortage of the readymade garments in the market. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The traders say that garments required for the summer season such as half pants, t-shirts, trousers, etc are getting out of stock. Rajesh Lama, a garment trader in Bhrikutimandap, said, “Clothing items are insufficient in the market itself. This has caused problem for consumers to find the garments of their choice.”</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">With the opening of markets, the number of consumers going out has also increased drastically. They are seeking for the essential garments but are compelled to return empty handed because of the shortage of readymade garments.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Ram Chandra Parajuli, treasurer of National Trade Association New Road, who has been importing goods from China since a long time, said that they have been facing problem ever since the Chinese government refused visas for traders to enter China due to the pandemic. According to him, Nepali traders have not been able to go to China to buy goods since more than a year.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">In the beginning, even though they could not go to China, the traders were keeping their business running through online orders. However, he said that the traders stopped placing online orders due to the arrival of counterfeit goods instead of the order placed. Parajuli said that the traders were deceived in online trade as they were delivered low-quality goods.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Lately, while ordering goods online, traders have also been facing problems in transactions. Earlier, merchants used to send money via informal channels like hundi for ordering goods online. Now, the Chinese government has made the environment uncompromising, causing difficulty in making monetary transactions.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">On one hand, traders have not been able to go to China to buy goods, while on the other hand, the goods that have been ordered are stuck at the border checkpoints.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Even now, food stuffs as well as fruits and other edible items are entering the country through Rasuwagadhi checkpoint in large quantities, while the goods including clothes are arriving in minimum quantities, said Rasuwagadhi Customs Chief Ram Prasad Regmi.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">According to him, only five vehicles other than the ones carrying foods and fruits can enter Nepal in a single day. He added, the problems are so severe that on some days, even one vehicle cannot enter the country.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-08', 'modified' => '2021-07-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13393', 'image' => '20210708112214_20210330030707_1617056840.Clipboard05.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-08 11:21:34', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13647', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Social Security Fund Seeks Rs 1.5 Billion from Finance Ministry ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 7: The Social Security Fund (SSF) has requested the Ministry of Finance to deposit Rs 1.5 billion to the fund as per the government's commitment to bear all the expenses on behalf of the contributors for the period between mid-May to mid-July.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">July 7: </span></span></strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The Social Security Fund (SSF) has requested the Ministry of Finance to deposit Rs 1.5 billion to the fund as per the government's commitment to bear all the expenses on behalf of the contributors for the period between mid-May to mid-July.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">While announcing the budget for the upcoming fiscal year, Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel had said that the government would bear the expenses for this period.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The SSF has demanded Rs 1.5 billion from the Ministry of Finance after determining the amount that the contributors are liable to deposit.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Kapil Mani Gyawali, executive director of the Social Security Fund, said that the employers and contributors do not have to deposit the amount for two months between mid-May to mid-July as announced in the budget statement. According to him, the SSF has already issued a public notice to the employers not to deposit the contribution for the month of mid-May to mid-July.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The companies have been told to deposit the contribution for this period in the workers' accounts as they do not have to deduct the amount for the social security fund.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Gyawali said that the companies must have contributed to the fund regularly till mid-May in order to be eligible to receive the relief announced by the government.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Responding to the question regarding what happens to those who are late in contributing in the month of Baisakh (mid-April to mid-May), Gyawali said, "There is nothing wrong with the delay. Even if it is late, we take into consideration the regular deposits made to our system till April.”</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Gyawali said that those who have contributed to the SSF till mid-April should not worry as they have already demanded money from the Ministry of Labor, Employment, and Social Security for the payment of the entire two-month period.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The Ministry of Labor, Employment, and Social Security had asked the Ministry of Finance to bring such a relief package through the budget with the conclusion that the steps taken for the prevention and control of the coronavirus pandemic have put private companies and workers in trouble.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">According to the Ministry of Labor, the ministry is committed to implementing every programme related to labor in the budget and an action plan has been prepared.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">"Even in the past, the government had borne the entire responsibility and the process is still moving forward," said Deepak Kafle, joint secretary of the ministry.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-07', 'modified' => '2021-07-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13392', 'image' => '20210707052226_20200401094426_1585693701.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-07 17:21:53', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13646', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Insurance Board Instructs Companies not to Sell Policies on Credit', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 7: Insurance Board has instructed insurance companies not to sell insurance policies on credit. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">July 7: Insurance Board has instructed insurance companies not to sell insurance policies on credit. The regulatory body recently issued such directive as the trend of selling insurance policies on credit has been increase.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The board issued the directive in the name of the CEOs of non-life and life insurance companies. Chairman of the Insurance Board Surya Prasad Silwal confirmed that he has instructed the insurance companies not to sell insurance policies on credit. CEOs of the insurance companies have been asked to be more cautious in this regard.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">"It was found that both life and non-life insurance companies were selling insurance policies on credit, which is against the Insurance Act," he said, adding, "We had issued an internal circular two months earlier not to sell insurance policies on credit. Since such practice did not stop, we have issued instructions to the CEOs of the companies to be cautious in this regard."</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">At the end of the fiscal year, during the period between mid-June to mid-July, companies tend to sell insurance policies on credit to meet the annual target. So, the insurance board has issued another directive to prevent such practice, said Silwal.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">According to the Insurance Act, no company should agree to accept the risk of the assured people until the company receives the premium amount. The individual is considered to be insured only after receiving the premium. However, various inspections and monitoring activities show that companies are selling insurance policies on credit.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The board claims that the insurance companies have carried out such activities though it is prohibited by the Act. The board has received complaints in this regard as well after which the board took further steps to prevent such practice. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The Insurance Board has directed the CEOs of the companies to be more responsible regarding this issues. From now on, companies are instructed to issue policies only after receiving premium amount and clearance of cheques. If they are found to have issued policies on credit, they will be penalized accordingly.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-07', 'modified' => '2021-07-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13391', 'image' => '20210707014623_20200417105653_Beema-Samiti.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-07 13:45:47', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13645', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'AAN Opposes Formation of Advertisement Board', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 7: The Advertising Association Nepal (AAN) has protested against the formation of the Advertisement Board by the government. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">July 7: The Advertising Association Nepal (AAN) has protested against the formation of the Advertisement Board by the government. AAN accused the government of forming the board against the spirit of the advertising business.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">AAN said that the government has introduced controversial clause in an attempt to bring all government advertisements under a one-door system in the name of social welfare advertisements. AAN further said that the government’s act reflects the move taken in the past by the royal regime.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Therefore, AAN has tried to draw the attention of all stakeholders towards the problems that may occur in future if the regulatory body tries to present itself as an ad distributor.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">AAN has demanded the government to include the advertisement sector in the board.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">AAN has accused the government of disregarding its suggestions and advice even though it has been cooperating with the ministry since the drafting of the Advertising Regulation Act, 2076 BS.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">AAN has also drawn the attention of the government and the Advertising Board to resolve the existing problems at the earliest.</span></span> It has also warned of repercussions if the board does not take any initiative to resolve the problem. </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-07', 'modified' => '2021-07-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13390', 'image' => '20210707013335_AAN.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-07 13:33:04', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13644', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'National Food Bank to Use Rice-Duck Farming System', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 7: The National Food Bank Limited, which was set up with the plan of industrializing the agriculture sector of Nepal, has decided to opt for the rice-duck farming system while planting paddy.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">July 7: The National Food Bank Limited, which was set up with the plan of industrializing the agriculture sector of Nepal, has decided to opt for the rice-duck farming system while planting paddy. The system, which has been used and tested in various parts of Japan, is now being tested in the country. A similar test had been conducted prior to this, but, it wasn’t for commercial farming.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Rice-duck farming is about raising ducks and farming paddy together on the same land. The company stated that paddy is being planted according to this system.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Chairman of the bank Shankar Nath Upreti informed that the local basmati rice has been planted under this system in about 5 bighas of land in Jhapa and Bardiya at present. In addition, about 1,000 ducklings have been reared in the paddy fields.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Since the paddy and the ducklings grow together in the same place, manual weeding is not required as the duck’s claw will dig the ground and they eat the weeds as well. He said that chemical fertiliser is not needed as organic manure can be obtained from the feces of duck.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The ducks are separated from the paddy field at the time of harvesting. Stating that the cultivation with this system is done in a small area as a test, Upreti said that they will expand the use of this system if the test is successful.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The bank aims to cultivate paddy in about 1,000 bighas of land this year. The company has planted paddy in 55 bighas of land in Jhapa, 60 bighas in Bardiya and 518 bighas in collaboration with local farmers elsewhere. Local basmati or Jetho Budho rice has been planted in 35 ropanis of land and 313 ropanis of land in Hemja Pokhara in two phases.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Along with paddy, the bank is also planting millet in the Himalayan districts. The work of planting millet in about 500 ropanis of land in districts including Manang, Mustang, Sindhupalchok, Rasuwa nad Nuwakot has been completed. </span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-07', 'modified' => '2021-07-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13389', 'image' => '20210707120033_800px-合鴨農法.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-07 11:59:59', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13643', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Commercial Banks Raise Funds worth Rs 85 Billion from Debentures', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => '', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria">July 7: A total of 23 commercial banks have raised funds by issuing debentures in line with the Nepal Rastra Bank’s long-term policy. The central bank has made it mandatory for commercial banks to raise funds by issuing debentures.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria">The commercial banks have issued debentures worth Rs 85.34 billion and secured funds for the next six to 10 years.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria">This amount is 30.64 percent of the combined paid-up capital of the banks.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria">According to the central banks data, the total paid-up capital of the 23 commercial banks is Rs 278 billion as of mid-May 2021.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria">As per the policy of NRB, commercial banks have to issue debentures of at least 25 percent of their paid-up capital.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria">Such directive was issued to ensure that the banks have secured long-term resources to stabilize the interest rate, which is subject to fluctuation due to the short-term nature of deposits prevalent in the country. The banks have been ordered to issue the debentures by the end of next fiscal year. There is still one year left for the banks to fulfill the criteria.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria">Out of the 27 commercial banks operational in Nepal, four banks – Mega Bank, Century Bank, Civil Bank and Standard Chartered Bank – are yet to issue debentures.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria">The state-owned Nepal Bank Limited had issued debentures worth Rs 3.5 billion at an interest rate of 8.5 percent about two months ago. Likewise, Rastriya Banijya Bank issued debentures worth Rs 2.5 billion about a month ago.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria">So far, 11 commercial banks have already fulfilled the minimum requirement (25 percent of paid-up capital) of issuing debentures. Those banks include NIC Asia Bank, Siddhartha Bank, Agriculture Development Bank, Sanima Bank, Sunrise Bank, Nepal Investment Bank, Nepal SBI Bank, Nepal Credit and Commerce Bank, Prabhu Bank, Nepal Bank and Rastriya Banijya Bank.</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-07', 'modified' => '2021-07-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13388', 'image' => '20210707110604_Debentures-sebi-guidelines.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-07 11:05:37', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13642', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Oil Corporation Hikes Prices of Petroleum Products', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 7: Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has increased the prices of petroleum products effective from Tuesday midnight (July 7). ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria">July 7: Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has increased the prices of petroleum products effective from Tuesday midnight (July 7). </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria">The state-owned oil monopoly has hiked the price of petrol, diesel, kerosene, aviation turbine fuel (ATF) as well as cooking gas (liquefied petroleum gas LPG). </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria">According to NOC, it has increased the prices of petrol, diesel and kerosene by Rs 2 per litre. With the price hike, petrol will now cost Rs 129 per litre in Kathmandu valley while the prices of diesel and kerosene have been fixed at Rs 112 per litre each.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria">Similarly, NOC has increased the price of ATF for international flights by Rs 2 per litre. The fuel for international flights will now cost Rs 84 per litre. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria">The price of LPG has been increased by Rs 25 per cylinder. A cooking gas cylinder will now cost Rs 1,425. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria">Prior to this, NOC had increased the prices of petroleum products on June 23.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-07', 'modified' => '2021-07-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13387', 'image' => '20210707102647_20190503125003_Petrol-Price-Increase.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-07 10:26:05', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13641', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Task Force Formed to Study Damage on Road and Bridges by Recent Floods and Landslides', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 6: The Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport has formed a task force to assess the extent of damage on roads and bridges by recent landslides and floods.', 'content' => '<p><em>A damaged road in Baglung. Photo Courtesy: RSS</em></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">July 6: The Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport has formed a task force to assess the extent of damage on roads and bridges by recent landslides and floods. The ministry has formed a seven-member task force under the coordination of deputy director-general of the Department of Roads, Deepak Shrestha.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The task force will investigate the extent of damage caused to the under-construction and completed roads and bridges in different parts of the country due to continuous rainfall. Similarly, the task force needs to submit its preliminary report with recommendations by July 22 on the measures to be taken to minimise such damages in the coming days. In addition, it will have to submit a report within a month after studying and analyzing the bridges damaged by rains and floods.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The task force should also mention the precautions to be taken to rebuild the damaged bridges, the foundations to be adopted for bridge construction and the type of superstructure in the report.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">According to the department, the Liping Bridge on Araniko Highway, Gaude Bridge on Siddhartha Highway and Karnali Bridge (Satighat) on Postal Highway have been damaged.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Likewise, the Kamala Bridge on the Postal Highway, which was completed only a few days ago but was yet to be inaugurated, has been washed away as the water level was high in Kamala River. Similarly, the Phuljor Bridge in Siraha has been washed away due to floods only a few days ago. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-06', 'modified' => '2021-07-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13386', 'image' => '20210706024111_KRG_Baglung.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-06 14:40:14', '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' => '13655', 'article_category_id' => '266', 'title' => 'Himalaya Airlines Introduces Online Ticket Sales through its Website', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 9: Himalaya Airlines, a Nepal-China joint venture airline, has recently launched its online ticket booking engine.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Georgia">July 9: Himalaya Airlines, a Nepal-China joint venture airline, has recently launched its online ticket booking engine, which allows customers to make bookings through the company’s website. According to the airlines, this platform available on the desktop and mobile phones is all about connecting people to destinations.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Georgia">The airlines said in a statement that customers with access to connect-IPS are able to purchase and refund tickets along with availing other services such as flight and fare search, refunds and member service during the early stage of this service. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Georgia">The airline also plans to launch other additional services like pre-booking of baggage, seat, meal selections, lounge, bundled fares, SMS notification, VISA/Master Card payment and web check-in in the upcoming phases.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Georgia"> “Our customers are at the centre of everything that we do, and we relentlessly challenge ourselves to deliver more value to them. We are pleased to announce our new B2C website to enjoy a simpler, faster and more convenient user experience for online ticketing,” the statement quoted Zhou Enyong, president of Himalaya Airlines, as saying. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Georgia">“This website is a testimony of Himalaya’s culture of continuous innovation and our drive to deliver our best. In fact, we’ve been using the lockdown period to build this platform considering the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic where we do understand our passengers’ need for contactless booking and travel flexibility</span><span style="font-family:Georgia">,” he added.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Georgia">Similarly, Vijay Shrestha, vice president of Himalaya Airline, said that this is a significant achievement for the company in their continuous effort towards building closer connectivity with the customers. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Georgia">“Himalaya has always been dedicated to providing superior facilities to its customers. Being able to create a platform through which our customers can enjoy convenient ticket browsing and booking experience is a milestone set by our company</span><span style="font-family:Georgia">,” he added.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-09', 'modified' => '2021-07-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13400', 'image' => '20210709114537_20210120123339_g576szqpnac61.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-09 11:44:55', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13654', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'RTGS Operations to Run this Weekend ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 9: The RTGS (Real Time Gross Settlement) system will remain open all day on this Friday and Saturday as well. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Georgia">July 9</span></span>: <span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Georgia">The RTGS (Real Time Gross Settlement) system will remain open all day on this Friday and Saturday as well. The Payments System Department of Nepal Rastra Bank issued a notice on Thursday stating that RTGS transactions will continue throughout the day on July 9 and 10.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Georgia">According to the Payments System Department, this provision has been made there will be a lot of transactions with the current fiscal year coming to an end in mid-July. Therefore, the time for clearance of taxes and settlement of other financial issues has been extended to prevent delay in the payment.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Georgia">The central bank stated that they received complaints regarding lack of time for transaction which is higher towards the end of the fiscal year. Hence, the RTGS will continue to operate full day on Friday and Saturday.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Georgia">Such services were being provided by banks and financial institutions till 2 pm due to the prohibitory orders.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Georgia">A minimum of Rs 200,000 and more can be paid immediately through RTGS.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-09', 'modified' => '2021-07-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13399', 'image' => '20210709112817_My Effect.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-09 11:27:41', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13653', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Transport Entrepreneurs Submit 7-Point Memo to PM', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 9: Transport entrepreneurs have submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli requesting him to address their concerns related to the impact of COVID-19 on their business.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">July 9: Transport entrepreneurs have submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli requesting him to address their concerns related to the impact of COVID-19 on their business.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The entrepreneurs affiliated to the Federation of Nepalese National Transport Entrepreneurs on Thursday (July 8) submitted their seven-point demand by visiting the Office of the Prime Minister in Singha Durbar. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The transport entrepreneurs informed the prime minister that their investment of around Rs 1000 billion is at risk due to the pandemic and subsequent lockdowns imposed by the government. The delegation of transport entrepreneurs said that almost 900,000 people directly or indirectly involved in this business facing extreme hardship due to the measures taken by the government to control coronavirus.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The entrepreneurs complained that their demands have not been addressed although they have made repeated requests to the concerned government bodies.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The entrepreneurs have asked the government to immediately ensure vaccine against COVID-19 to the workers involved in transportation service. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Similarly, their other demands include hike in public transportation fare in the context that they have incurred huge amount of losses as the fare has not been reviewed for almost nine years. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Similarly, they have asked policy changes in financing including additional loan, refinance and subsidy in interest rate through the monetary policy by considering the lockdown period as a zero hour. </span></span></span><br /> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-09', 'modified' => '2021-07-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13398', 'image' => '20210709110857_20200705035220_public transport.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-09 11:06:34', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13652', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Dispute Arises over Restructuring of Nepal Airlines ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 9: The issue of restructuring the state-owned Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) has courted controversy yet again.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">July 9: The issue of restructuring the state-owned Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) has courted controversy yet again. Employees of the corporation have started protest against the proposal to privatize the flag carrier of Nepal. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">In a press release issued on July 7, General Manager Dim Prasad Poudel said that the NAC should be fully owned by the Government of Nepal.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation has claimed that the NAC will be converted into a company with 100 percent investment of the government. The ministry also assured that NAC will not be privatized.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Sources close to the ministry claim that there is no alternative than to restructure the NAC into a company to save the cash-strapped corporation. Nepal Airlines Corporation was formed as per the Airlines Act. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Investment from external sources can be accepted by restructuring the existing corporation into a company if any good international company is willing to cooperate.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">“The current structure of NAC does not allow foreign investment. Therefore, preparations are underway to restructure it,” said GM Poudel, adding, “Right now, we can bring expert team from abroad but we are not allowed to accept foreign investment. So, there is no point in protesting at the moment.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">GM Poudel claimed that they were only making an attempt to reform the institution by discouraging the trend of recruiting staff on contract basis.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The ministry has not renewed the contracts of 300 employees during the lockdown. An official said that the financial condition of the corporation is very fragile and it is being restructured to revive the NAC. Right now, the NAC has a loan of Rs 47 billion. The official said that an agreement has been reached to convert NAC into a public company for long-term benefit. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Stating that Nepal's private sector does not have the capacity to raise such a huge amount to operate NAC, the officials claimed that NAC’s privatization will not happen under any circumstances.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The official said that the corporation needs to compete with international airlines. It has to find a long-term solution as it needs to add more aircraft.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The government is planning to sell 51 percent stakes of the company to founder shareholders and 49 percent to private companies, former and current employees, and foreign airlines companies, if no single individual or company comes in to take full ownership. However, the employees of NAC claim that the government is trying to privatize the company. The agitating workers said that the draft of the proposal was rejected and they would continue protest until the current General Manager Dim Prasad Poudel resigns. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">While purchasing the Airbus aircraft, the corporation took loans from the Employees Provident Fund and Citizens Investment Fund. NAC procured two widebody Airbus aircraft with loans from these two organizations on a government guarantee.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-09', 'modified' => '2021-07-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13397', 'image' => '20210709080354_20180727021334_2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-09 08:03:17', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13651', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => ' Illegally-Imported Mobile Phones to be Blocked from July 16 ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 9: Illegal and unregistered mobile phones will be blocked starting from July 16.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">July 9: Illegal and unregistered mobile phones will be blocked starting from July 16. Such mobile phones cannot operate after the Mobile Device Management System (MDMS) comes into operation from the upcoming fiscal year. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Poudel during the budget announcement for the fiscal year 2021/22 had declared that the MDMS will come into operation from July 16. The implementation of MDMS is believed to control the use of illegal mobile sets and criminal activities using mobile phones. Customers can also track or block their mobile phones through IMEI, ESN, or MEID if the phone is lost. Moreover, it will remove the grey market and encourage official brands. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Nepal Telecommunication Authority (NTA) has a provision for International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) registration of mobile phones to discourage illegal import, sale and distribution of mobile sets. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The regulatory body says that every IMEI of mobile phones brought from outside the country has to be registered compulsorily. However, commercially imported mobile phones that are purchased and used in Nepal do not need to be re-registered. After increasing confusion among the users, NTA issued a notice on July 7 to clarify the issue. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Prior to this, the government had made the IMEI registration compulsory in April 2016 and said that the unregistered phone will be dysfunctional from April 1, 2017. However, no action was taken citing various reasons. </span></span></span></p> <p><strong><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Registering IMEI number online </span></span></span></strong></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">To register the IMEI number of a mobile phone, customers need to visit the NTA portal and press sign up for the login or register. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Before registering, a customer can check whether their device is already registered or not. For this, click on ‘Know your Device’ option and enter the IMEI number. If the number is not registered, sign up for new registration. To start the registration process, enter email address and password and click on ‘sign up’. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Upon signing up, two options will be shown – New Importer and Individual Application. Choose an individual application and fill up the details on the form and upload necessary documents such as citizenship, ID or passport. Provide valid email address and submit. After submitting the application, the customer will receive an email confirming that the documents are successfully submitted. NTA will register the IMEI number in their system once they review the documents.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">However, the online registration process is facing problems right now due to the excessive number of service seekers. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">In the notice issued on July 7, NTA said that a technical problems has surfaced due to the excessive number of people registering IMEI of their mobile sets in the Authority’s website. The notice further said that it will take some time for resumption of the service.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-09', 'modified' => '2021-07-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13396', 'image' => '20210709072551_imei-numbe.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-09 07:24:50', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13650', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Supreme Court Issues Showcause Notice to the Government over Kaligandaki Diversion Project', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 8: The Supreme Court has issued a show cause notice in the name of the government seeking its written response over the Kaligandaki-Tinau Diversion Multi-Purpose Project. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">July 8: The Supreme Court has issued a show cause notice in the name of the government seeking its written response over the Kaligandaki-Tinau Diversion Multi-Purpose Project. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">A single bench of Justice Tej Bahadur KC on Wednesday (July 7) issued the order, asking the government to submit its written response within 15 days. The apex court has also summoned both sides for discussions on July 19.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">The government plans to divert the water of Kaligandaki River to the Tinau River through a 27-kilometer tunnel by constructing a dam 2 km away from the Ramdi Bridge in Palpa.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Advocates Tulsiram Pokhrel, Ram Bahadur Shahi and Santosh Bhandari had filed the writ petition demanding that the project should be stopped immediately. According to the petitioners, the decision of the government to divert the water of Kaligandaki will bring an end to the existence of the Gandaki river which is related with the civilization and culture of the country. They also noted that the river holds religious significance among Hindu pilgrims.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">The petitioners have demanded an immediate halt in implementing the government's decision in this regard as the project is against the constitution, law and international treaties and agreements.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">They also argued that the project will negatively affect a significant population in Gandaki Province as well as the watershed area from Ramdi to Devghat. </span></span></span></span><br /> </p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Although this is not a new project, it has drawn attention after Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel inaugurated the project office in Butwal on June 26.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">The project has been dragged into controversy after the government tried to move ahead with the Kaligandaki-Tinau Diversion Multi-Purpose Project without any preparation. The feasibility study of the project and environmental impact assessment report required before starting the project have not been prepared. The Detailed Project Report is also yet to be prepared. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">As the central government tried to advance the project without taking other parties into confidence, the issue was dragged to the court. This multi-purpose project is being developed targeting areas such as Butwal, Rupandehi, Kapilvastu and Lumbini.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">The project aims to divert water from the Kaligandaki River to the Tinau River through a tunnel, irrigate the fields of Rupandehi and Kapilvastu and generate 126 MW of electricity. Officials of the project office have been saying that some of the water will be diverted into the Tinau river by constructing a huge reservoir in Dobhan and some water will be channeled through a 3 km tunnel to Belbas of Butwal for electricity generation.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-08', 'modified' => '2021-07-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13395', 'image' => '20210708014401_20201127115547_20200417094838_CKC_ktm.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-08 13:42:59', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13649', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => ' Nepal’s Envoys Suggest NTB to get Ready for Influx of Foreign Tourists', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 8: Nepal’s ambassadors serving in various countries have recommended the government to considering opening up itself for foreign tourists citing the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccines and the gradual revival of international tourism. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">July 8: Nepal’s ambassadors serving in various countries have recommended the government to considering opening up itself for foreign tourists citing the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccines and the gradual revival of international tourism. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">At a virtual interaction organized by the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) on Wednesday, Nepal’s ambassadors to the USA, Canada, Brazil among others univocally spoke of the need for reviving tourism sector by adhering to health safety protocols. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">During the interaction, Nepal’s envoy to the USA Dr Yubaraj Khatiwada said that the Board should devise a special tourism promotion package for foreign tourists beyond India and China. Dr Khatiwada, who is also a former finance minister, suggested the NTB to coordinate efforts among the federal, provincial and local governments to address the budget crisis for tourism promotion related programmes. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">"Tourism activities are almost nil due to COVID-19. At such times, the federal government is bound to experience budget constraint. But the provincial and local governments have budget for tourism. We could carry out tourism promotional programmes utilizing those budget," he suggested. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to him, efforts were underway to forge collaboration with Hollywood to promote cine tourism between Nepal and the USA. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Likewise, Nepali ambassador to Canada Bhrigu Dhungana backed the views of Dr Khatiwada and said that Nepal should be ready to attract foreign tourists adhering to all health safety protocols against COVID-19. Dhungana said that they were collaborating with the Canadian stakeholders to attract Canadian investment to Nepal apart from inviting Canadians to Nepal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Similarly, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Nepalese Embassy in Brazil Bharat Khanal pointed out the need to produce promotional materials in various international languages including Brazilian to lure as many Brazilians and other foreign tourists to Nepal as possible. "The promotional materials should be either digital or traditional," he advised to the Board. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The executive counselor general at Nepal’s Consulate Office in New York, Bishnu Prasad Gautam, said that the number of people visiting Nepal from New York was on the rise lately. He opined that Nepal should enthusiastically welcome foreign tourists from the USA in the wake of vaccines against COVID-19 working effectively to prevent the pandemic. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">CEO of NTB Dr Dhananjaya Regmi said that the Board was working towards promoting tourism considering reforms at policy level, bolstering inter-agency coordination and budget limitation. He said that it is imperative to expand tourism destinations in a new and attracting manner to make Nepal a holiday destination for people of all walks of life and for all season. "There is no choice expect for moving ahead with tourism revival programme," he said. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-08', 'modified' => '2021-07-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13394', 'image' => '20210708120341_20201016032657_1602804123.Clipboard13.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-08 12:03:10', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13648', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Market Reeling Under Shortage of Readymade Garments ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 8: The major markets of Nepal are reeling under shortage of readymade garments of late. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">July 8: The major markets of Nepal are reeling under shortage of readymade garments of late. The shortage of goods has been attributed to the decline in import due to the Covid-19 pandemic.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The local traders have not been able to go to China for business since April 2020, amidst the pandemic, causing shortage of the readymade garments in the market. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The traders say that garments required for the summer season such as half pants, t-shirts, trousers, etc are getting out of stock. Rajesh Lama, a garment trader in Bhrikutimandap, said, “Clothing items are insufficient in the market itself. This has caused problem for consumers to find the garments of their choice.”</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">With the opening of markets, the number of consumers going out has also increased drastically. They are seeking for the essential garments but are compelled to return empty handed because of the shortage of readymade garments.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Ram Chandra Parajuli, treasurer of National Trade Association New Road, who has been importing goods from China since a long time, said that they have been facing problem ever since the Chinese government refused visas for traders to enter China due to the pandemic. According to him, Nepali traders have not been able to go to China to buy goods since more than a year.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">In the beginning, even though they could not go to China, the traders were keeping their business running through online orders. However, he said that the traders stopped placing online orders due to the arrival of counterfeit goods instead of the order placed. Parajuli said that the traders were deceived in online trade as they were delivered low-quality goods.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Lately, while ordering goods online, traders have also been facing problems in transactions. Earlier, merchants used to send money via informal channels like hundi for ordering goods online. Now, the Chinese government has made the environment uncompromising, causing difficulty in making monetary transactions.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">On one hand, traders have not been able to go to China to buy goods, while on the other hand, the goods that have been ordered are stuck at the border checkpoints.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Even now, food stuffs as well as fruits and other edible items are entering the country through Rasuwagadhi checkpoint in large quantities, while the goods including clothes are arriving in minimum quantities, said Rasuwagadhi Customs Chief Ram Prasad Regmi.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">According to him, only five vehicles other than the ones carrying foods and fruits can enter Nepal in a single day. He added, the problems are so severe that on some days, even one vehicle cannot enter the country.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-08', 'modified' => '2021-07-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13393', 'image' => '20210708112214_20210330030707_1617056840.Clipboard05.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-08 11:21:34', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13647', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Social Security Fund Seeks Rs 1.5 Billion from Finance Ministry ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 7: The Social Security Fund (SSF) has requested the Ministry of Finance to deposit Rs 1.5 billion to the fund as per the government's commitment to bear all the expenses on behalf of the contributors for the period between mid-May to mid-July.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">July 7: </span></span></strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The Social Security Fund (SSF) has requested the Ministry of Finance to deposit Rs 1.5 billion to the fund as per the government's commitment to bear all the expenses on behalf of the contributors for the period between mid-May to mid-July.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">While announcing the budget for the upcoming fiscal year, Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel had said that the government would bear the expenses for this period.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The SSF has demanded Rs 1.5 billion from the Ministry of Finance after determining the amount that the contributors are liable to deposit.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Kapil Mani Gyawali, executive director of the Social Security Fund, said that the employers and contributors do not have to deposit the amount for two months between mid-May to mid-July as announced in the budget statement. According to him, the SSF has already issued a public notice to the employers not to deposit the contribution for the month of mid-May to mid-July.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The companies have been told to deposit the contribution for this period in the workers' accounts as they do not have to deduct the amount for the social security fund.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Gyawali said that the companies must have contributed to the fund regularly till mid-May in order to be eligible to receive the relief announced by the government.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Responding to the question regarding what happens to those who are late in contributing in the month of Baisakh (mid-April to mid-May), Gyawali said, "There is nothing wrong with the delay. Even if it is late, we take into consideration the regular deposits made to our system till April.”</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Gyawali said that those who have contributed to the SSF till mid-April should not worry as they have already demanded money from the Ministry of Labor, Employment, and Social Security for the payment of the entire two-month period.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The Ministry of Labor, Employment, and Social Security had asked the Ministry of Finance to bring such a relief package through the budget with the conclusion that the steps taken for the prevention and control of the coronavirus pandemic have put private companies and workers in trouble.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">According to the Ministry of Labor, the ministry is committed to implementing every programme related to labor in the budget and an action plan has been prepared.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">"Even in the past, the government had borne the entire responsibility and the process is still moving forward," said Deepak Kafle, joint secretary of the ministry.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-07', 'modified' => '2021-07-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13392', 'image' => '20210707052226_20200401094426_1585693701.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-07 17:21:53', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13646', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Insurance Board Instructs Companies not to Sell Policies on Credit', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 7: Insurance Board has instructed insurance companies not to sell insurance policies on credit. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">July 7: Insurance Board has instructed insurance companies not to sell insurance policies on credit. The regulatory body recently issued such directive as the trend of selling insurance policies on credit has been increase.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The board issued the directive in the name of the CEOs of non-life and life insurance companies. Chairman of the Insurance Board Surya Prasad Silwal confirmed that he has instructed the insurance companies not to sell insurance policies on credit. CEOs of the insurance companies have been asked to be more cautious in this regard.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">"It was found that both life and non-life insurance companies were selling insurance policies on credit, which is against the Insurance Act," he said, adding, "We had issued an internal circular two months earlier not to sell insurance policies on credit. Since such practice did not stop, we have issued instructions to the CEOs of the companies to be cautious in this regard."</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">At the end of the fiscal year, during the period between mid-June to mid-July, companies tend to sell insurance policies on credit to meet the annual target. So, the insurance board has issued another directive to prevent such practice, said Silwal.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">According to the Insurance Act, no company should agree to accept the risk of the assured people until the company receives the premium amount. The individual is considered to be insured only after receiving the premium. However, various inspections and monitoring activities show that companies are selling insurance policies on credit.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The board claims that the insurance companies have carried out such activities though it is prohibited by the Act. The board has received complaints in this regard as well after which the board took further steps to prevent such practice. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The Insurance Board has directed the CEOs of the companies to be more responsible regarding this issues. From now on, companies are instructed to issue policies only after receiving premium amount and clearance of cheques. If they are found to have issued policies on credit, they will be penalized accordingly.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-07', 'modified' => '2021-07-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13391', 'image' => '20210707014623_20200417105653_Beema-Samiti.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-07 13:45:47', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13645', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'AAN Opposes Formation of Advertisement Board', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 7: The Advertising Association Nepal (AAN) has protested against the formation of the Advertisement Board by the government. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">July 7: The Advertising Association Nepal (AAN) has protested against the formation of the Advertisement Board by the government. AAN accused the government of forming the board against the spirit of the advertising business.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">AAN said that the government has introduced controversial clause in an attempt to bring all government advertisements under a one-door system in the name of social welfare advertisements. AAN further said that the government’s act reflects the move taken in the past by the royal regime.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Therefore, AAN has tried to draw the attention of all stakeholders towards the problems that may occur in future if the regulatory body tries to present itself as an ad distributor.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">AAN has demanded the government to include the advertisement sector in the board.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">AAN has accused the government of disregarding its suggestions and advice even though it has been cooperating with the ministry since the drafting of the Advertising Regulation Act, 2076 BS.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">AAN has also drawn the attention of the government and the Advertising Board to resolve the existing problems at the earliest.</span></span> It has also warned of repercussions if the board does not take any initiative to resolve the problem. </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-07', 'modified' => '2021-07-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13390', 'image' => '20210707013335_AAN.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-07 13:33:04', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13644', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'National Food Bank to Use Rice-Duck Farming System', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 7: The National Food Bank Limited, which was set up with the plan of industrializing the agriculture sector of Nepal, has decided to opt for the rice-duck farming system while planting paddy.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">July 7: The National Food Bank Limited, which was set up with the plan of industrializing the agriculture sector of Nepal, has decided to opt for the rice-duck farming system while planting paddy. The system, which has been used and tested in various parts of Japan, is now being tested in the country. A similar test had been conducted prior to this, but, it wasn’t for commercial farming.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Rice-duck farming is about raising ducks and farming paddy together on the same land. The company stated that paddy is being planted according to this system.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Chairman of the bank Shankar Nath Upreti informed that the local basmati rice has been planted under this system in about 5 bighas of land in Jhapa and Bardiya at present. In addition, about 1,000 ducklings have been reared in the paddy fields.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Since the paddy and the ducklings grow together in the same place, manual weeding is not required as the duck’s claw will dig the ground and they eat the weeds as well. He said that chemical fertiliser is not needed as organic manure can be obtained from the feces of duck.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The ducks are separated from the paddy field at the time of harvesting. Stating that the cultivation with this system is done in a small area as a test, Upreti said that they will expand the use of this system if the test is successful.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The bank aims to cultivate paddy in about 1,000 bighas of land this year. The company has planted paddy in 55 bighas of land in Jhapa, 60 bighas in Bardiya and 518 bighas in collaboration with local farmers elsewhere. Local basmati or Jetho Budho rice has been planted in 35 ropanis of land and 313 ropanis of land in Hemja Pokhara in two phases.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Along with paddy, the bank is also planting millet in the Himalayan districts. The work of planting millet in about 500 ropanis of land in districts including Manang, Mustang, Sindhupalchok, Rasuwa nad Nuwakot has been completed. </span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-07', 'modified' => '2021-07-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13389', 'image' => '20210707120033_800px-合鴨農法.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-07 11:59:59', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13643', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Commercial Banks Raise Funds worth Rs 85 Billion from Debentures', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => '', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria">July 7: A total of 23 commercial banks have raised funds by issuing debentures in line with the Nepal Rastra Bank’s long-term policy. The central bank has made it mandatory for commercial banks to raise funds by issuing debentures.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria">The commercial banks have issued debentures worth Rs 85.34 billion and secured funds for the next six to 10 years.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria">This amount is 30.64 percent of the combined paid-up capital of the banks.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria">According to the central banks data, the total paid-up capital of the 23 commercial banks is Rs 278 billion as of mid-May 2021.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria">As per the policy of NRB, commercial banks have to issue debentures of at least 25 percent of their paid-up capital.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria">Such directive was issued to ensure that the banks have secured long-term resources to stabilize the interest rate, which is subject to fluctuation due to the short-term nature of deposits prevalent in the country. The banks have been ordered to issue the debentures by the end of next fiscal year. There is still one year left for the banks to fulfill the criteria.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria">Out of the 27 commercial banks operational in Nepal, four banks – Mega Bank, Century Bank, Civil Bank and Standard Chartered Bank – are yet to issue debentures.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria">The state-owned Nepal Bank Limited had issued debentures worth Rs 3.5 billion at an interest rate of 8.5 percent about two months ago. Likewise, Rastriya Banijya Bank issued debentures worth Rs 2.5 billion about a month ago.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria">So far, 11 commercial banks have already fulfilled the minimum requirement (25 percent of paid-up capital) of issuing debentures. Those banks include NIC Asia Bank, Siddhartha Bank, Agriculture Development Bank, Sanima Bank, Sunrise Bank, Nepal Investment Bank, Nepal SBI Bank, Nepal Credit and Commerce Bank, Prabhu Bank, Nepal Bank and Rastriya Banijya Bank.</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-07', 'modified' => '2021-07-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13388', 'image' => '20210707110604_Debentures-sebi-guidelines.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-07 11:05:37', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13642', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Oil Corporation Hikes Prices of Petroleum Products', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 7: Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has increased the prices of petroleum products effective from Tuesday midnight (July 7). ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria">July 7: Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has increased the prices of petroleum products effective from Tuesday midnight (July 7). </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria">The state-owned oil monopoly has hiked the price of petrol, diesel, kerosene, aviation turbine fuel (ATF) as well as cooking gas (liquefied petroleum gas LPG). </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria">According to NOC, it has increased the prices of petrol, diesel and kerosene by Rs 2 per litre. With the price hike, petrol will now cost Rs 129 per litre in Kathmandu valley while the prices of diesel and kerosene have been fixed at Rs 112 per litre each.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria">Similarly, NOC has increased the price of ATF for international flights by Rs 2 per litre. The fuel for international flights will now cost Rs 84 per litre. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria">The price of LPG has been increased by Rs 25 per cylinder. A cooking gas cylinder will now cost Rs 1,425. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria">Prior to this, NOC had increased the prices of petroleum products on June 23.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-07', 'modified' => '2021-07-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13387', 'image' => '20210707102647_20190503125003_Petrol-Price-Increase.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-07 10:26:05', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13641', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Task Force Formed to Study Damage on Road and Bridges by Recent Floods and Landslides', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 6: The Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport has formed a task force to assess the extent of damage on roads and bridges by recent landslides and floods.', 'content' => '<p><em>A damaged road in Baglung. Photo Courtesy: RSS</em></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">July 6: The Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport has formed a task force to assess the extent of damage on roads and bridges by recent landslides and floods. The ministry has formed a seven-member task force under the coordination of deputy director-general of the Department of Roads, Deepak Shrestha.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The task force will investigate the extent of damage caused to the under-construction and completed roads and bridges in different parts of the country due to continuous rainfall. Similarly, the task force needs to submit its preliminary report with recommendations by July 22 on the measures to be taken to minimise such damages in the coming days. In addition, it will have to submit a report within a month after studying and analyzing the bridges damaged by rains and floods.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The task force should also mention the precautions to be taken to rebuild the damaged bridges, the foundations to be adopted for bridge construction and the type of superstructure in the report.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">According to the department, the Liping Bridge on Araniko Highway, Gaude Bridge on Siddhartha Highway and Karnali Bridge (Satighat) on Postal Highway have been damaged.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Likewise, the Kamala Bridge on the Postal Highway, which was completed only a few days ago but was yet to be inaugurated, has been washed away as the water level was high in Kamala River. Similarly, the Phuljor Bridge in Siraha has been washed away due to floods only a few days ago. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-06', 'modified' => '2021-07-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13386', 'image' => '20210706024111_KRG_Baglung.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-06 14:40:14', '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' => '13655', 'article_category_id' => '266', 'title' => 'Himalaya Airlines Introduces Online Ticket Sales through its Website', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 9: Himalaya Airlines, a Nepal-China joint venture airline, has recently launched its online ticket booking engine.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Georgia">July 9: Himalaya Airlines, a Nepal-China joint venture airline, has recently launched its online ticket booking engine, which allows customers to make bookings through the company’s website. According to the airlines, this platform available on the desktop and mobile phones is all about connecting people to destinations.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Georgia">The airlines said in a statement that customers with access to connect-IPS are able to purchase and refund tickets along with availing other services such as flight and fare search, refunds and member service during the early stage of this service. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Georgia">The airline also plans to launch other additional services like pre-booking of baggage, seat, meal selections, lounge, bundled fares, SMS notification, VISA/Master Card payment and web check-in in the upcoming phases.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Georgia"> “Our customers are at the centre of everything that we do, and we relentlessly challenge ourselves to deliver more value to them. We are pleased to announce our new B2C website to enjoy a simpler, faster and more convenient user experience for online ticketing,” the statement quoted Zhou Enyong, president of Himalaya Airlines, as saying. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Georgia">“This website is a testimony of Himalaya’s culture of continuous innovation and our drive to deliver our best. In fact, we’ve been using the lockdown period to build this platform considering the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic where we do understand our passengers’ need for contactless booking and travel flexibility</span><span style="font-family:Georgia">,” he added.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Georgia">Similarly, Vijay Shrestha, vice president of Himalaya Airline, said that this is a significant achievement for the company in their continuous effort towards building closer connectivity with the customers. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Georgia">“Himalaya has always been dedicated to providing superior facilities to its customers. Being able to create a platform through which our customers can enjoy convenient ticket browsing and booking experience is a milestone set by our company</span><span style="font-family:Georgia">,” he added.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-09', 'modified' => '2021-07-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13400', 'image' => '20210709114537_20210120123339_g576szqpnac61.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-09 11:44:55', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13654', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'RTGS Operations to Run this Weekend ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 9: The RTGS (Real Time Gross Settlement) system will remain open all day on this Friday and Saturday as well. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Georgia">July 9</span></span>: <span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Georgia">The RTGS (Real Time Gross Settlement) system will remain open all day on this Friday and Saturday as well. The Payments System Department of Nepal Rastra Bank issued a notice on Thursday stating that RTGS transactions will continue throughout the day on July 9 and 10.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Georgia">According to the Payments System Department, this provision has been made there will be a lot of transactions with the current fiscal year coming to an end in mid-July. Therefore, the time for clearance of taxes and settlement of other financial issues has been extended to prevent delay in the payment.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Georgia">The central bank stated that they received complaints regarding lack of time for transaction which is higher towards the end of the fiscal year. Hence, the RTGS will continue to operate full day on Friday and Saturday.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Georgia">Such services were being provided by banks and financial institutions till 2 pm due to the prohibitory orders.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Georgia">A minimum of Rs 200,000 and more can be paid immediately through RTGS.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-09', 'modified' => '2021-07-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13399', 'image' => '20210709112817_My Effect.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-09 11:27:41', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13653', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Transport Entrepreneurs Submit 7-Point Memo to PM', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 9: Transport entrepreneurs have submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli requesting him to address their concerns related to the impact of COVID-19 on their business.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">July 9: Transport entrepreneurs have submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli requesting him to address their concerns related to the impact of COVID-19 on their business.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The entrepreneurs affiliated to the Federation of Nepalese National Transport Entrepreneurs on Thursday (July 8) submitted their seven-point demand by visiting the Office of the Prime Minister in Singha Durbar. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The transport entrepreneurs informed the prime minister that their investment of around Rs 1000 billion is at risk due to the pandemic and subsequent lockdowns imposed by the government. The delegation of transport entrepreneurs said that almost 900,000 people directly or indirectly involved in this business facing extreme hardship due to the measures taken by the government to control coronavirus.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The entrepreneurs complained that their demands have not been addressed although they have made repeated requests to the concerned government bodies.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The entrepreneurs have asked the government to immediately ensure vaccine against COVID-19 to the workers involved in transportation service. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Similarly, their other demands include hike in public transportation fare in the context that they have incurred huge amount of losses as the fare has not been reviewed for almost nine years. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Similarly, they have asked policy changes in financing including additional loan, refinance and subsidy in interest rate through the monetary policy by considering the lockdown period as a zero hour. </span></span></span><br /> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-09', 'modified' => '2021-07-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13398', 'image' => '20210709110857_20200705035220_public transport.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-09 11:06:34', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13652', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Dispute Arises over Restructuring of Nepal Airlines ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 9: The issue of restructuring the state-owned Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) has courted controversy yet again.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">July 9: The issue of restructuring the state-owned Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) has courted controversy yet again. Employees of the corporation have started protest against the proposal to privatize the flag carrier of Nepal. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">In a press release issued on July 7, General Manager Dim Prasad Poudel said that the NAC should be fully owned by the Government of Nepal.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation has claimed that the NAC will be converted into a company with 100 percent investment of the government. The ministry also assured that NAC will not be privatized.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Sources close to the ministry claim that there is no alternative than to restructure the NAC into a company to save the cash-strapped corporation. Nepal Airlines Corporation was formed as per the Airlines Act. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Investment from external sources can be accepted by restructuring the existing corporation into a company if any good international company is willing to cooperate.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">“The current structure of NAC does not allow foreign investment. Therefore, preparations are underway to restructure it,” said GM Poudel, adding, “Right now, we can bring expert team from abroad but we are not allowed to accept foreign investment. So, there is no point in protesting at the moment.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">GM Poudel claimed that they were only making an attempt to reform the institution by discouraging the trend of recruiting staff on contract basis.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The ministry has not renewed the contracts of 300 employees during the lockdown. An official said that the financial condition of the corporation is very fragile and it is being restructured to revive the NAC. Right now, the NAC has a loan of Rs 47 billion. The official said that an agreement has been reached to convert NAC into a public company for long-term benefit. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Stating that Nepal's private sector does not have the capacity to raise such a huge amount to operate NAC, the officials claimed that NAC’s privatization will not happen under any circumstances.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The official said that the corporation needs to compete with international airlines. It has to find a long-term solution as it needs to add more aircraft.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The government is planning to sell 51 percent stakes of the company to founder shareholders and 49 percent to private companies, former and current employees, and foreign airlines companies, if no single individual or company comes in to take full ownership. However, the employees of NAC claim that the government is trying to privatize the company. The agitating workers said that the draft of the proposal was rejected and they would continue protest until the current General Manager Dim Prasad Poudel resigns. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">While purchasing the Airbus aircraft, the corporation took loans from the Employees Provident Fund and Citizens Investment Fund. NAC procured two widebody Airbus aircraft with loans from these two organizations on a government guarantee.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-09', 'modified' => '2021-07-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13397', 'image' => '20210709080354_20180727021334_2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-09 08:03:17', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13651', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => ' Illegally-Imported Mobile Phones to be Blocked from July 16 ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 9: Illegal and unregistered mobile phones will be blocked starting from July 16.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">July 9: Illegal and unregistered mobile phones will be blocked starting from July 16. Such mobile phones cannot operate after the Mobile Device Management System (MDMS) comes into operation from the upcoming fiscal year. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Poudel during the budget announcement for the fiscal year 2021/22 had declared that the MDMS will come into operation from July 16. The implementation of MDMS is believed to control the use of illegal mobile sets and criminal activities using mobile phones. Customers can also track or block their mobile phones through IMEI, ESN, or MEID if the phone is lost. Moreover, it will remove the grey market and encourage official brands. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Nepal Telecommunication Authority (NTA) has a provision for International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) registration of mobile phones to discourage illegal import, sale and distribution of mobile sets. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The regulatory body says that every IMEI of mobile phones brought from outside the country has to be registered compulsorily. However, commercially imported mobile phones that are purchased and used in Nepal do not need to be re-registered. After increasing confusion among the users, NTA issued a notice on July 7 to clarify the issue. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Prior to this, the government had made the IMEI registration compulsory in April 2016 and said that the unregistered phone will be dysfunctional from April 1, 2017. However, no action was taken citing various reasons. </span></span></span></p> <p><strong><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Registering IMEI number online </span></span></span></strong></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">To register the IMEI number of a mobile phone, customers need to visit the NTA portal and press sign up for the login or register. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Before registering, a customer can check whether their device is already registered or not. For this, click on ‘Know your Device’ option and enter the IMEI number. If the number is not registered, sign up for new registration. To start the registration process, enter email address and password and click on ‘sign up’. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Upon signing up, two options will be shown – New Importer and Individual Application. Choose an individual application and fill up the details on the form and upload necessary documents such as citizenship, ID or passport. Provide valid email address and submit. After submitting the application, the customer will receive an email confirming that the documents are successfully submitted. NTA will register the IMEI number in their system once they review the documents.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">However, the online registration process is facing problems right now due to the excessive number of service seekers. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">In the notice issued on July 7, NTA said that a technical problems has surfaced due to the excessive number of people registering IMEI of their mobile sets in the Authority’s website. The notice further said that it will take some time for resumption of the service.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-09', 'modified' => '2021-07-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13396', 'image' => '20210709072551_imei-numbe.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-09 07:24:50', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13650', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Supreme Court Issues Showcause Notice to the Government over Kaligandaki Diversion Project', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 8: The Supreme Court has issued a show cause notice in the name of the government seeking its written response over the Kaligandaki-Tinau Diversion Multi-Purpose Project. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">July 8: The Supreme Court has issued a show cause notice in the name of the government seeking its written response over the Kaligandaki-Tinau Diversion Multi-Purpose Project. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">A single bench of Justice Tej Bahadur KC on Wednesday (July 7) issued the order, asking the government to submit its written response within 15 days. The apex court has also summoned both sides for discussions on July 19.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">The government plans to divert the water of Kaligandaki River to the Tinau River through a 27-kilometer tunnel by constructing a dam 2 km away from the Ramdi Bridge in Palpa.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Advocates Tulsiram Pokhrel, Ram Bahadur Shahi and Santosh Bhandari had filed the writ petition demanding that the project should be stopped immediately. According to the petitioners, the decision of the government to divert the water of Kaligandaki will bring an end to the existence of the Gandaki river which is related with the civilization and culture of the country. They also noted that the river holds religious significance among Hindu pilgrims.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">The petitioners have demanded an immediate halt in implementing the government's decision in this regard as the project is against the constitution, law and international treaties and agreements.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">They also argued that the project will negatively affect a significant population in Gandaki Province as well as the watershed area from Ramdi to Devghat. </span></span></span></span><br /> </p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Although this is not a new project, it has drawn attention after Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel inaugurated the project office in Butwal on June 26.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">The project has been dragged into controversy after the government tried to move ahead with the Kaligandaki-Tinau Diversion Multi-Purpose Project without any preparation. The feasibility study of the project and environmental impact assessment report required before starting the project have not been prepared. The Detailed Project Report is also yet to be prepared. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">As the central government tried to advance the project without taking other parties into confidence, the issue was dragged to the court. This multi-purpose project is being developed targeting areas such as Butwal, Rupandehi, Kapilvastu and Lumbini.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">The project aims to divert water from the Kaligandaki River to the Tinau River through a tunnel, irrigate the fields of Rupandehi and Kapilvastu and generate 126 MW of electricity. Officials of the project office have been saying that some of the water will be diverted into the Tinau river by constructing a huge reservoir in Dobhan and some water will be channeled through a 3 km tunnel to Belbas of Butwal for electricity generation.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-08', 'modified' => '2021-07-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13395', 'image' => '20210708014401_20201127115547_20200417094838_CKC_ktm.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-08 13:42:59', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13649', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => ' Nepal’s Envoys Suggest NTB to get Ready for Influx of Foreign Tourists', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 8: Nepal’s ambassadors serving in various countries have recommended the government to considering opening up itself for foreign tourists citing the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccines and the gradual revival of international tourism. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">July 8: Nepal’s ambassadors serving in various countries have recommended the government to considering opening up itself for foreign tourists citing the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccines and the gradual revival of international tourism. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">At a virtual interaction organized by the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) on Wednesday, Nepal’s ambassadors to the USA, Canada, Brazil among others univocally spoke of the need for reviving tourism sector by adhering to health safety protocols. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">During the interaction, Nepal’s envoy to the USA Dr Yubaraj Khatiwada said that the Board should devise a special tourism promotion package for foreign tourists beyond India and China. Dr Khatiwada, who is also a former finance minister, suggested the NTB to coordinate efforts among the federal, provincial and local governments to address the budget crisis for tourism promotion related programmes. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">"Tourism activities are almost nil due to COVID-19. At such times, the federal government is bound to experience budget constraint. But the provincial and local governments have budget for tourism. We could carry out tourism promotional programmes utilizing those budget," he suggested. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to him, efforts were underway to forge collaboration with Hollywood to promote cine tourism between Nepal and the USA. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Likewise, Nepali ambassador to Canada Bhrigu Dhungana backed the views of Dr Khatiwada and said that Nepal should be ready to attract foreign tourists adhering to all health safety protocols against COVID-19. Dhungana said that they were collaborating with the Canadian stakeholders to attract Canadian investment to Nepal apart from inviting Canadians to Nepal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Similarly, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Nepalese Embassy in Brazil Bharat Khanal pointed out the need to produce promotional materials in various international languages including Brazilian to lure as many Brazilians and other foreign tourists to Nepal as possible. "The promotional materials should be either digital or traditional," he advised to the Board. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The executive counselor general at Nepal’s Consulate Office in New York, Bishnu Prasad Gautam, said that the number of people visiting Nepal from New York was on the rise lately. He opined that Nepal should enthusiastically welcome foreign tourists from the USA in the wake of vaccines against COVID-19 working effectively to prevent the pandemic. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">CEO of NTB Dr Dhananjaya Regmi said that the Board was working towards promoting tourism considering reforms at policy level, bolstering inter-agency coordination and budget limitation. He said that it is imperative to expand tourism destinations in a new and attracting manner to make Nepal a holiday destination for people of all walks of life and for all season. "There is no choice expect for moving ahead with tourism revival programme," he said. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-08', 'modified' => '2021-07-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13394', 'image' => '20210708120341_20201016032657_1602804123.Clipboard13.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-08 12:03:10', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13648', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Market Reeling Under Shortage of Readymade Garments ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 8: The major markets of Nepal are reeling under shortage of readymade garments of late. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">July 8: The major markets of Nepal are reeling under shortage of readymade garments of late. The shortage of goods has been attributed to the decline in import due to the Covid-19 pandemic.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The local traders have not been able to go to China for business since April 2020, amidst the pandemic, causing shortage of the readymade garments in the market. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The traders say that garments required for the summer season such as half pants, t-shirts, trousers, etc are getting out of stock. Rajesh Lama, a garment trader in Bhrikutimandap, said, “Clothing items are insufficient in the market itself. This has caused problem for consumers to find the garments of their choice.”</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">With the opening of markets, the number of consumers going out has also increased drastically. They are seeking for the essential garments but are compelled to return empty handed because of the shortage of readymade garments.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Ram Chandra Parajuli, treasurer of National Trade Association New Road, who has been importing goods from China since a long time, said that they have been facing problem ever since the Chinese government refused visas for traders to enter China due to the pandemic. According to him, Nepali traders have not been able to go to China to buy goods since more than a year.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">In the beginning, even though they could not go to China, the traders were keeping their business running through online orders. However, he said that the traders stopped placing online orders due to the arrival of counterfeit goods instead of the order placed. Parajuli said that the traders were deceived in online trade as they were delivered low-quality goods.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Lately, while ordering goods online, traders have also been facing problems in transactions. Earlier, merchants used to send money via informal channels like hundi for ordering goods online. Now, the Chinese government has made the environment uncompromising, causing difficulty in making monetary transactions.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">On one hand, traders have not been able to go to China to buy goods, while on the other hand, the goods that have been ordered are stuck at the border checkpoints.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Even now, food stuffs as well as fruits and other edible items are entering the country through Rasuwagadhi checkpoint in large quantities, while the goods including clothes are arriving in minimum quantities, said Rasuwagadhi Customs Chief Ram Prasad Regmi.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">According to him, only five vehicles other than the ones carrying foods and fruits can enter Nepal in a single day. He added, the problems are so severe that on some days, even one vehicle cannot enter the country.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-08', 'modified' => '2021-07-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13393', 'image' => '20210708112214_20210330030707_1617056840.Clipboard05.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-08 11:21:34', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13647', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Social Security Fund Seeks Rs 1.5 Billion from Finance Ministry ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 7: The Social Security Fund (SSF) has requested the Ministry of Finance to deposit Rs 1.5 billion to the fund as per the government's commitment to bear all the expenses on behalf of the contributors for the period between mid-May to mid-July.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">July 7: </span></span></strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The Social Security Fund (SSF) has requested the Ministry of Finance to deposit Rs 1.5 billion to the fund as per the government's commitment to bear all the expenses on behalf of the contributors for the period between mid-May to mid-July.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">While announcing the budget for the upcoming fiscal year, Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel had said that the government would bear the expenses for this period.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The SSF has demanded Rs 1.5 billion from the Ministry of Finance after determining the amount that the contributors are liable to deposit.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Kapil Mani Gyawali, executive director of the Social Security Fund, said that the employers and contributors do not have to deposit the amount for two months between mid-May to mid-July as announced in the budget statement. According to him, the SSF has already issued a public notice to the employers not to deposit the contribution for the month of mid-May to mid-July.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The companies have been told to deposit the contribution for this period in the workers' accounts as they do not have to deduct the amount for the social security fund.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Gyawali said that the companies must have contributed to the fund regularly till mid-May in order to be eligible to receive the relief announced by the government.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Responding to the question regarding what happens to those who are late in contributing in the month of Baisakh (mid-April to mid-May), Gyawali said, "There is nothing wrong with the delay. Even if it is late, we take into consideration the regular deposits made to our system till April.”</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Gyawali said that those who have contributed to the SSF till mid-April should not worry as they have already demanded money from the Ministry of Labor, Employment, and Social Security for the payment of the entire two-month period.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The Ministry of Labor, Employment, and Social Security had asked the Ministry of Finance to bring such a relief package through the budget with the conclusion that the steps taken for the prevention and control of the coronavirus pandemic have put private companies and workers in trouble.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">According to the Ministry of Labor, the ministry is committed to implementing every programme related to labor in the budget and an action plan has been prepared.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">"Even in the past, the government had borne the entire responsibility and the process is still moving forward," said Deepak Kafle, joint secretary of the ministry.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-07', 'modified' => '2021-07-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13392', 'image' => '20210707052226_20200401094426_1585693701.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-07 17:21:53', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13646', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Insurance Board Instructs Companies not to Sell Policies on Credit', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 7: Insurance Board has instructed insurance companies not to sell insurance policies on credit. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">July 7: Insurance Board has instructed insurance companies not to sell insurance policies on credit. The regulatory body recently issued such directive as the trend of selling insurance policies on credit has been increase.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The board issued the directive in the name of the CEOs of non-life and life insurance companies. Chairman of the Insurance Board Surya Prasad Silwal confirmed that he has instructed the insurance companies not to sell insurance policies on credit. CEOs of the insurance companies have been asked to be more cautious in this regard.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">"It was found that both life and non-life insurance companies were selling insurance policies on credit, which is against the Insurance Act," he said, adding, "We had issued an internal circular two months earlier not to sell insurance policies on credit. Since such practice did not stop, we have issued instructions to the CEOs of the companies to be cautious in this regard."</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">At the end of the fiscal year, during the period between mid-June to mid-July, companies tend to sell insurance policies on credit to meet the annual target. So, the insurance board has issued another directive to prevent such practice, said Silwal.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">According to the Insurance Act, no company should agree to accept the risk of the assured people until the company receives the premium amount. The individual is considered to be insured only after receiving the premium. However, various inspections and monitoring activities show that companies are selling insurance policies on credit.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The board claims that the insurance companies have carried out such activities though it is prohibited by the Act. The board has received complaints in this regard as well after which the board took further steps to prevent such practice. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The Insurance Board has directed the CEOs of the companies to be more responsible regarding this issues. From now on, companies are instructed to issue policies only after receiving premium amount and clearance of cheques. If they are found to have issued policies on credit, they will be penalized accordingly.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-07', 'modified' => '2021-07-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13391', 'image' => '20210707014623_20200417105653_Beema-Samiti.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-07 13:45:47', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13645', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'AAN Opposes Formation of Advertisement Board', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 7: The Advertising Association Nepal (AAN) has protested against the formation of the Advertisement Board by the government. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">July 7: The Advertising Association Nepal (AAN) has protested against the formation of the Advertisement Board by the government. AAN accused the government of forming the board against the spirit of the advertising business.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">AAN said that the government has introduced controversial clause in an attempt to bring all government advertisements under a one-door system in the name of social welfare advertisements. AAN further said that the government’s act reflects the move taken in the past by the royal regime.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Therefore, AAN has tried to draw the attention of all stakeholders towards the problems that may occur in future if the regulatory body tries to present itself as an ad distributor.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">AAN has demanded the government to include the advertisement sector in the board.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">AAN has accused the government of disregarding its suggestions and advice even though it has been cooperating with the ministry since the drafting of the Advertising Regulation Act, 2076 BS.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">AAN has also drawn the attention of the government and the Advertising Board to resolve the existing problems at the earliest.</span></span> It has also warned of repercussions if the board does not take any initiative to resolve the problem. </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-07', 'modified' => '2021-07-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13390', 'image' => '20210707013335_AAN.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-07 13:33:04', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13644', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'National Food Bank to Use Rice-Duck Farming System', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 7: The National Food Bank Limited, which was set up with the plan of industrializing the agriculture sector of Nepal, has decided to opt for the rice-duck farming system while planting paddy.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">July 7: The National Food Bank Limited, which was set up with the plan of industrializing the agriculture sector of Nepal, has decided to opt for the rice-duck farming system while planting paddy. The system, which has been used and tested in various parts of Japan, is now being tested in the country. A similar test had been conducted prior to this, but, it wasn’t for commercial farming.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Rice-duck farming is about raising ducks and farming paddy together on the same land. The company stated that paddy is being planted according to this system.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Chairman of the bank Shankar Nath Upreti informed that the local basmati rice has been planted under this system in about 5 bighas of land in Jhapa and Bardiya at present. In addition, about 1,000 ducklings have been reared in the paddy fields.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Since the paddy and the ducklings grow together in the same place, manual weeding is not required as the duck’s claw will dig the ground and they eat the weeds as well. He said that chemical fertiliser is not needed as organic manure can be obtained from the feces of duck.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The ducks are separated from the paddy field at the time of harvesting. Stating that the cultivation with this system is done in a small area as a test, Upreti said that they will expand the use of this system if the test is successful.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The bank aims to cultivate paddy in about 1,000 bighas of land this year. The company has planted paddy in 55 bighas of land in Jhapa, 60 bighas in Bardiya and 518 bighas in collaboration with local farmers elsewhere. Local basmati or Jetho Budho rice has been planted in 35 ropanis of land and 313 ropanis of land in Hemja Pokhara in two phases.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Along with paddy, the bank is also planting millet in the Himalayan districts. The work of planting millet in about 500 ropanis of land in districts including Manang, Mustang, Sindhupalchok, Rasuwa nad Nuwakot has been completed. </span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-07', 'modified' => '2021-07-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13389', 'image' => '20210707120033_800px-合鴨農法.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-07 11:59:59', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13643', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Commercial Banks Raise Funds worth Rs 85 Billion from Debentures', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => '', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria">July 7: A total of 23 commercial banks have raised funds by issuing debentures in line with the Nepal Rastra Bank’s long-term policy. The central bank has made it mandatory for commercial banks to raise funds by issuing debentures.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria">The commercial banks have issued debentures worth Rs 85.34 billion and secured funds for the next six to 10 years.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria">This amount is 30.64 percent of the combined paid-up capital of the banks.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria">According to the central banks data, the total paid-up capital of the 23 commercial banks is Rs 278 billion as of mid-May 2021.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria">As per the policy of NRB, commercial banks have to issue debentures of at least 25 percent of their paid-up capital.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria">Such directive was issued to ensure that the banks have secured long-term resources to stabilize the interest rate, which is subject to fluctuation due to the short-term nature of deposits prevalent in the country. The banks have been ordered to issue the debentures by the end of next fiscal year. There is still one year left for the banks to fulfill the criteria.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria">Out of the 27 commercial banks operational in Nepal, four banks – Mega Bank, Century Bank, Civil Bank and Standard Chartered Bank – are yet to issue debentures.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria">The state-owned Nepal Bank Limited had issued debentures worth Rs 3.5 billion at an interest rate of 8.5 percent about two months ago. Likewise, Rastriya Banijya Bank issued debentures worth Rs 2.5 billion about a month ago.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria">So far, 11 commercial banks have already fulfilled the minimum requirement (25 percent of paid-up capital) of issuing debentures. Those banks include NIC Asia Bank, Siddhartha Bank, Agriculture Development Bank, Sanima Bank, Sunrise Bank, Nepal Investment Bank, Nepal SBI Bank, Nepal Credit and Commerce Bank, Prabhu Bank, Nepal Bank and Rastriya Banijya Bank.</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-07', 'modified' => '2021-07-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13388', 'image' => '20210707110604_Debentures-sebi-guidelines.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-07 11:05:37', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13642', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Oil Corporation Hikes Prices of Petroleum Products', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 7: Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has increased the prices of petroleum products effective from Tuesday midnight (July 7). ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria">July 7: Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has increased the prices of petroleum products effective from Tuesday midnight (July 7). </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria">The state-owned oil monopoly has hiked the price of petrol, diesel, kerosene, aviation turbine fuel (ATF) as well as cooking gas (liquefied petroleum gas LPG). </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria">According to NOC, it has increased the prices of petrol, diesel and kerosene by Rs 2 per litre. With the price hike, petrol will now cost Rs 129 per litre in Kathmandu valley while the prices of diesel and kerosene have been fixed at Rs 112 per litre each.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria">Similarly, NOC has increased the price of ATF for international flights by Rs 2 per litre. The fuel for international flights will now cost Rs 84 per litre. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria">The price of LPG has been increased by Rs 25 per cylinder. A cooking gas cylinder will now cost Rs 1,425. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria">Prior to this, NOC had increased the prices of petroleum products on June 23.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-07', 'modified' => '2021-07-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13387', 'image' => '20210707102647_20190503125003_Petrol-Price-Increase.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-07 10:26:05', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13641', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Task Force Formed to Study Damage on Road and Bridges by Recent Floods and Landslides', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 6: The Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport has formed a task force to assess the extent of damage on roads and bridges by recent landslides and floods.', 'content' => '<p><em>A damaged road in Baglung. Photo Courtesy: RSS</em></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">July 6: The Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport has formed a task force to assess the extent of damage on roads and bridges by recent landslides and floods. The ministry has formed a seven-member task force under the coordination of deputy director-general of the Department of Roads, Deepak Shrestha.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The task force will investigate the extent of damage caused to the under-construction and completed roads and bridges in different parts of the country due to continuous rainfall. Similarly, the task force needs to submit its preliminary report with recommendations by July 22 on the measures to be taken to minimise such damages in the coming days. In addition, it will have to submit a report within a month after studying and analyzing the bridges damaged by rains and floods.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The task force should also mention the precautions to be taken to rebuild the damaged bridges, the foundations to be adopted for bridge construction and the type of superstructure in the report.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">According to the department, the Liping Bridge on Araniko Highway, Gaude Bridge on Siddhartha Highway and Karnali Bridge (Satighat) on Postal Highway have been damaged.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Likewise, the Kamala Bridge on the Postal Highway, which was completed only a few days ago but was yet to be inaugurated, has been washed away as the water level was high in Kamala River. Similarly, the Phuljor Bridge in Siraha has been washed away due to floods only a few days ago. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-07-06', 'modified' => '2021-07-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13386', 'image' => '20210706024111_KRG_Baglung.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-07-06 14:40:14', '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
