Domestic and international flights to and from the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) are operating normally despite unfavourable weather in…
Domestic and international flights to and from the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) are operating normally despite unfavourable weather in…
Majority of the country is experiencing general to mostly cloudy weather today.…
June 25: Employees of banks and financial institutions (BFIs) as well as insurance companies have warned of a strike against the contribution-based Social Security Fund (SSF) if their concerns are not…
June 25: Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has stated that the consumption of electricity has been gradually increasing after the relaxation of prohibitory…
June 25: The 'Make in Nepal: Swadesi' campaign initiated by the Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) is to receive the backing of the government.…
June 25: In the first 11 months of the current fiscal year, Nepal exported goods worth Rs 121.25 billion, which is 37.78 per cent more than the goods exported in the corresponding period of the last fiscal…
June 25: A Chinese team has arrived in the country to design a tunnel under the second package of the Kathmandu-Terai Fast Track.…
June 25: Employees of banks and financial institutions (BFIs) have demanded voluntary participation in the government’s Social Security Fund (SSF) instead of mandatory…
June 24: Two state-owned companies, Food Management and Trading Company Limited and Salt Trading Corporation, have sold food items worth more than Rs 75 million at a discount of 20…
June 24: The project office of Melamchi Water Supply Project (MWSP) has yet to ascertain the extent of damage caused by the floods last week as the technical team that went to inspect the damage at the project site could not reach the headworks area at…
June 24: The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has filed a corruption case against the then Chairman of Tax Clearance Commission, Lumbadhwoj Mahat, and members Umesh Prasad Dhakal and Chudamani Sharma.…
June 24: The government has decided to resume domestic flights from July 1.…
June 24: The World Health Organization (WHO) Nepal has refuted the claims that a ‘mix and match’ regimen for Vero Cell and AstraZeneca CoviShield Vaccine would yield more effective results.…
June 23: Minister for Finance Bishnu Prasad Poudel has urged hoteliers and tourism entrepreneurs to benefit from the subsidy given by the government.…
June 23: The Investment Board Nepal has approved foreign investment of Rs 97…
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Kathmandu Valley has witnessed incessant rain and foggy sky since early this morning. <br /> According to the TIA source, no international flight has been obstructed due to the adverse weather conditions. However, domestic flights to some destinations have been normally affected due to poor visibility and foggy conditions. Now the weather is gradually improving. <br /> At least 2,500-metre visibility is necessary for landings and take-offs for the international aircrafts. Most of the international flights took place in the morning time. There are no disruptions in international flights as flight services are scheduled in the morning and evening, said the TIA source. <br /> Aircraft have landed in Kathmandu this morning and outgoing flights are scheduled for evening, the sources added. <br /> Towards domestic service, limited charted and rescue flights are taking place. The government has decided to resume domestic flight services in the country from July 1. <br /> Number of international flights to some destinations has been added since June 24. In order to contain the second wave of coronavirus pandemic, the government had enforced prohibitory orders in various parts of the country, including the Kathmandu Valley since April 29. <br /> The domestic flights have been put off since May 3 and international flights since May 6 as part of its measures to stem the virus outbreak. -- RSS <br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-06-26', 'modified' => '2021-06-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13338', 'image' => '20210626025244_DOmestic flights.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-06-26 14:50:40', 'homepage' => true, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '35' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13592', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Monsoon Rain Lashes Majority Parts of the Country', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Majority of the country is experiencing general to mostly cloudy weather today. ', 'content' => '<p>June 26: Several parts of Nepal are receiving lashes of rain as monsoon hits the country . Likewise, moderate to heavy rainfall is likely to continue at many places of the country, according to the Weather Forecasting Division. </p> <p>There are also chances of heavy rain with thunder and lightning in few places of Province 1, Province 2, Bagmati, Gandaki and Lumbini provinces. Province 1, Province 2 and Bagmati province are already experiencing light rainfall since this morning.</p> <p>The weather is likely to remain generally to mostly cloudy in the country later tonight while light to moderate rain is possible at many places of the country. There are chances of heavy rain with thunder and lightning at one or two places of Province 1, Province 2 and Lumbini Province tonight, adds the Division. The temperature of Kathmandu is expected to remain at a maximum of 27.4 and minimum of 20.2 degree Celsius today. --RSS <br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-06-26', 'modified' => '2021-06-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13337', 'image' => '20210626022910_Monsoon.jpeg', 'article_date' => '2021-06-26 14:24:59', 'homepage' => true, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '35' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13591', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Staffers of BFIs Warn of Strike against Social Security Fund', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 25: Employees of banks and financial institutions (BFIs) as well as insurance companies have warned of a strike against the contribution-based Social Security Fund (SSF) if their concerns are not addressed.', '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"">June 25: Employees of banks and financial institutions (BFIs) as well as insurance companies have warned of a strike against the contribution-based Social Security Fund (SSF) if their concerns are not addressed.</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"">Employees' unions of about two dozen banks, financial institutions, and insurance companies issued a joint statement on Thursday, June 24, urging the SSF to consider their suggestions.</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 employees have been protesting against the mandatory provision of joining SSF and have demanded voluntary participation. They have also submitted dozens of suggestions after the Social Security Fund directed all private sectors to get registered in the government scheme by mid-July.</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 the employees' union, the pressure of the social security fund has created panic amongst the BFI's employees.</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 pressure from the fund has made a psychological impact and has affected the productivity of the employees. Therefore, we are unable to be join the existing plan of the fund,” mentions the press statement.</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"">"If we create unnecessary fear, intimidation, and pressure in this area by ignoring the suggestions given at various period to amend the provisions of the Act, Rules, and Procedures, we will be compelled to start a movement against the scheme," the statement said.</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 employees’ unions had earlier submitted a 14-point recommendation to the fund. As some provisions of the contribution-based Social Security Act, Rules and Procedures do not favor the employees, amendments are necessary to make them in favour of the workers and guarantee that the services provided to the employees will not be reduced. </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 Clause 19 (4) (c) of the work procedure of SSF, if the workers do not want to transfer the amount from the provident fund and gratuity allowance to the SSF before the date of commencement of contribution to SSF, the contributor can receive the amount themselves or deposit the amount to any other retirement fund. However, this provision is not mentioned in the Social Security Act and the employees have demanded the SSF to include it in the act as well, besides suggesting the fund to remove double taxation for them.</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"">Similarly, they suggest that in case of death of the contributor with 180 months of contribution to the fund, the deposited amount should be returned to his / her family or the person he/she has nominated.</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 employees have also demanded amendment of the provision that allows them to take out only 80 percent of the amount deposited after three years of joining the social security fund and to make it possible to take loans up to 90 percent at any time.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-06-25', 'modified' => '2021-06-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13336', 'image' => '20210625024103_20210225124654_Social-Security-Fund-SSF.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-06-25 14:40:30', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13588', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Demand for Electricity Rises after Relaxation of Prohibitory Order', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 25: Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has stated that the consumption of electricity has been gradually increasing after the relaxation of prohibitory order.', '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"">June 25: Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has stated that the consumption of electricity has been gradually increasing after the relaxation of prohibitory order. Due to the prohibitory order imposed to contain the second wave of coronavirus, the demand for electricity had gone down. </span></span></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 government has eased the restrictions since June 22 in the valley. Ever since, the consumption of electricity has gone up. Spokesperson of NEA, Madan Timisina said that the power consumption stood at 1365 MW during the peak hour on June 22. During the period of prohibitory order, electricity consumption had declined to 1170 MW at the peak hour. Timsina said that demand for electricity has improved following the relaxation of prohibitory order. </span></span></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"">After the government eased people's movement, corporate offices, banks and financial institutions, industries, departmental stores have come into operation leading to a rise in electricity consumption. </span></span></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 NEA is currently generating 400MW electricity through different projects. The private sector is generating 440 MW electricity and an additional 520 MW is being imported from India. </span></span></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"">"Due to landslides and floods, some of the NEA projects are not in operation so import of electricity has been increased,” Timsina informed. Before the government imposed restrictions, the normal peak hour demand was 1300 MW which was reduced to 1170 MW. </span></span></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"">Meanwhile, the prohibitory order imposed this time did not affect the electricity consumption as much as in the first phase of lockdown. The power consumption had reduced to 600 MW during the lockdown imposed in 2020. </span></span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-06-25', 'modified' => '2021-06-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13335', 'image' => '20210625105528_20210111032406_1610322387.1.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-06-25 10:55:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13587', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => ' Government Backs 'Make in Nepal' Campaign ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 25: The 'Make in Nepal: Swadesi' campaign initiated by the Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) is to receive the backing of the government. ', 'content' => '<p><em>Signing ceremony between CNI and Government of Nepal at Singha Durbar on June 24. Photo Courtesy: CNI</em></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">June 25: The 'Make in Nepal: Swadesi' campaign initiated by the Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) is to receive the backing of the government. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">Issuing a statement on Thursday (June 24), CNI said that the campaign initiated with the objective of promoting goods and services produced in Nepal has received strong backing from the government</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">The statement further said that an agreement to this end was signed between the government and the CNI at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers on Thursday (June 24). </span><br /> <span style="font-family:Arial">During the signing ceremony, Chief Secretary Shanker Das Bairagi expressed the confidence that the campaign would prove a milestone in developing Nepal into a self-reliant and export-oriented economy. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">"Accordingly, the government is simplifying policy and procedures, and also developing environment conducive for investment," the statement quoted Chief Secretary Bairagi as saying.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">Meanwhile, CNI President Satish Kumar More said that the production and promotion of Nepal-made goods is the need of the moment, and urged for support and cooperation from all sectors s. </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-06-25', 'modified' => '2021-06-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13334', 'image' => '20210625104610_MoU_CNI_&_Nepal_Govt-2.jpeg', 'article_date' => '2021-06-25 10:44:34', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13586', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Exports Goods worth Rs 121 Billion in Current FY ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 25: In the first 11 months of the current fiscal year, Nepal exported goods worth Rs 121.25 billion, which is 37.78 per cent more than the goods exported in the corresponding period of the last fiscal year.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">June 25: In the first 11 months of the current fiscal year, Nepal exported goods worth Rs 121.25 billion, which is 37.78 per cent more than the goods exported in the corresponding period of the last fiscal year.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">According the Department of Customs, Nepal had exported goods worth Rs 88 billion during the same period in the last fiscal year. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Likewise, Nepal imported goods worth Rs 1383.36 billion during the review period. According to the Department, the import of goods rose by 25.67 per cent compared to last fiscal year. Nepal had imported goods and services equal to Rs 1100.81 billion in the same period last year. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">From mid-May to mid-June, Nepal imported goods and services of Rs 129.25 billion while the export remained just Rs 12.77 billion. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">As per the statistics, the country’s trade deficit in the current fiscal year has widened by 24.61 per cent. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">In the country’s foreign trade, the share of import is 91.94 per cent while it is just 8.06 per cent of export. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The top importing goods of Nepal include diesel, iron products (steel), legume oil, mobile phone, cooking gas and petrol. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Likewise, legume oil, cardamom, carpet, tea and jute carpet remained the top export goods of Nepal. --RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-06-25', 'modified' => '2021-06-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13333', 'image' => '20210625103247_20190227014053_aadfsaff.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-06-25 10:32:14', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13589', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Chinese Team Arrives to Design Tunnel of KTM-Terai Fast Track ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 25: A Chinese team has arrived in the country to design a tunnel under the second package of the Kathmandu-Terai Fast Track. ', '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"">June 25: A Chinese team has arrived in the country to design a tunnel under the second package of the Kathmandu-Terai Fast Track. The Chinese team of Poly Chhangda Engineering Corporation will design the tunnel between Dhadrekhola to Lanedada and a special bridge in this section. </span></span></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"">As per the contract agreement signed on May 14, a group of 14 people from the company arrived in Nepal on Wednesday, June 23, on a chartered flight. The agreement was signed to build the Fast Track under Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) model. Spokesperson of the Nepalese Army Santosh Ballabh Poudel informed that the officials of the company who got the contract for the second package have arrived.</span></span></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 team consists of the necessary experts, including project managers, tunnels, bridges and road engineers," Poudel said, adding, “The team will design the structure and start field work after completing quarantine."</span></span></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 human resources of the company present in the country have already started the work of geophysical and geotechnical survey and the team that arrived on Wednesday will look into the design of the tunnel. </span></span></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 is an achievement that the team has arrived in the country even in such difficult times. This will help to complete the project on time," Brigadier General Poudel added. </span></span></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 design of the project to be constructed through this medium should also be done by the same company.</span></span></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"">As per the agreement, the design has to be completed within six months. He said that the army would facilitate the team to start the design work as soon as possible. Similarly, a team of China State Construction Engineering Corporation Limited, which was awarded the contract to build the first package of the Chhokredanda-Dhedrekhola tunnel, will also arrive in Kathmandu in two or three days, he said.</span></span></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 Nepalese Army has signed agreements with two Chinese companies to build special bridges with tunnels within three and a half years at an estimated cost of Rs 50.14 billion. The army had signed the contract despite a directive from the Public Accounts Committee of the parliament to cancel the process citing irregularities in the process.</span></span></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 cost of the first package of the bridge construction including the tunnel is estimated to be Rs 21.61 billion while that of the second package is Rs 28.53 billion. The company will complete the design in six months and the tunnel / bridge construction within the next three years. The 72.5 km long fast-track will have tunnels at three different locations and 16 complex bridges.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-06-25', 'modified' => '2021-06-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13332', 'image' => '20210625110719_20210516122418_20170616052456_fast track nov 21.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-06-25 11:06:29', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13590', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Bank and Financial Institutions Demand Voluntary Participation in SSF', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 25: Employees of banks and financial institutions (BFIs) have demanded voluntary participation in the government’s Social Security Fund (SSF) instead of mandatory provision.', '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"">June 25: Employees of banks and financial institutions (BFIs) have demanded voluntary participation in the government’s Social Security Fund (SSF) instead of mandatory provision. They have expressed objection toward mandatory participation after the central bank directed BFIs to join the SSF mandatorily.</span></span></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"">Various associations of BFI employees have accused the government of compelling BFIs to participate by submitting false details of their participation. Varun Khadka, treasurer of Nepal Financial Institution Employees Union, has expressed dissatisfaction over the mandatory participation in SSF. According to him, most of the employees of banks and financial institutions are not interested in joining SSF. He said that lack of uniformity in SSF's rules and procedure has created reservations among the employees.</span></span></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"">He said that the unwanted pressure to include SSF in the social security scheme would not be acceptable as joining SSF would also deprive them of existing perks and facilities.</span></span></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"">He fears that the government is intending to transfer billions of rupees of employees accumulated since the last 10 to 20 years in the Employee Provident Fund to the SSF. This mandatory provision has compelled many employees of BFIs to tender their resignations.</span></span></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"">Roshan Koirala, head of Nabil Bank’s human resources department, said that around six employees have already resigned due to this very reason. According to him, there are many issues of the SSF work procedure and the related Act that do not match. Amendment of only the work procedure does not make sense. SSF work procedure states that all funds of Employee Provident Fund should be kept in the SSF but the same thing is not mentioned in the SSF Act, so employees are resigning due to lack of security.</span></span></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 would be more beneficial to deposit their money in banks' fixed deposit rather than joining SSF, he said. Nabil Bank is currently holding discussions over the issue of participation in SSF.</span></span></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"">Bank and financial sector employees say that the SSF discriminates against the government and private sector employees in terms of social security facilities.</span></span></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 Saroj Kaji Tuladhar, president of the Nepal Financial Institutions Association, the monthly pension is the amount earned by dividing the amount deposited by the workers during the service period by 160. But, this amount is much less for the private sector employees than that provisioned for the government employees.</span></span></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"">Employees are required to contribute 31 percent of their monthly salary to the social security fund, but government employees are required to contribute 6 percent to the pension fund while the government contributes 100 percent. Tuladhar said that private sector employees don’t receive pension equivalent to their contribution. So it is not appropriate to compel private sector employees to join SSF. </span></span></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 SSF, said that the work procedure has been amended to accommodate everyone and will be amended in the future as well when needed. According to him, the ministry has formulated the work procedure on the recommendation of the SSF board using the authority provided by Article 70 of the Act. He claims that the second amendment to the work procedure has addressed the grievances of the contributors. However it is not possible to make any decision yet regarding the voluntary participation.</span></span></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"">Nepal Bankers' Association had also submitted an application to the Ministry of Labor and the SSF two weeks ago objecting to some provisions. Anil Sharma, Executive Director of the Association, said that they have urged the concerned bodies to make the provisions reasonable and participation voluntary. He said that it is not justifiable to ask to choose SSF pension fund by 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"">According to the SSF, only a small number of commercial banks, development banks, finance and microfinance institutions have participated in the fund. So far, 2246 employees of 10 out of 27 commercial banks have been registered. Banks including Laxmi Bank, Prime Commercial Bank, Mega Bank, Nepal Credit and Commerce (NCC) Bank and Global IME Bank are listed. Three out of 18 development banks, 11 out of 20 finance companies and 40 out of 72 microfinance institutions have been registered. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"> </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-06-25', 'modified' => '2021-06-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13331', 'image' => '20210625125128_20210215042205_20200401094426_1585693701.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-06-25 12:50:48', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13584', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Foodstuff worth more than 70 Million sold by 2 Government Entities during Prohibitory Period ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 24: Two state-owned companies, Food Management and Trading Company Limited and Salt Trading Corporation, have sold food items worth more than Rs 75 million at a discount of 20 percent.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">June 24: Two state-owned companies, Food Management and Trading Company Limited and Salt Trading Corporation, have sold food items worth more than Rs 75 million at a discount of 20 percent. The government in the budget for FY 2021/22 had announced a 20 percent discount on food sold by these two companies.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">As announced by the government in the budget, the companies provided a 20 percent discount on the prices of food items including rice, nuts, and sugar from June 7. Both the companies have sold food items worth Rs 78.3 million as of June 19.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The Food Management and Trading Company has sold 12,488 quintals of food worth Rs 69.1 million. Sharmila Subedi, information officer of the company, informed that they gave a discount of Rs 13.8 million. A total of 41,174 households have been estimated to have benefitted from the discounts.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">In the meantime, Salt Trading Corporation has sold food items worth Rs 9.1 million and provided a discount of Rs 1.8 million. A total of 1.52 million households have benefitted from the exemption given by Salt Trading Corporation, said Kumar Raj Bhandari, spokesperson of the corporation.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The Food Management and Trading Company gave discounts on Karnali beans, sugar, and rice except for Marcy and Basmati rice, while the Salt Trading Corporation offered discounts on items like salt, sugar, flour, cooking oil, and cooking gas. Both the companies have discontinued the 20 percent discount offer after the prohibitory order was eased on Tuesday, June 22.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">"We have stopped giving the discount after the government instructed us to postpone the waiver program for the time being," said Bhandari.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-06-24', 'modified' => '2021-06-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13330', 'image' => '20210624020623_20201123043159_92926.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-06-24 14:05:31', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13585', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Technical Team Finds it Difficult to Ascertain the Damage of Melamchi Water Supply Project.', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 24: The project office of Melamchi Water Supply Project (MWSP) has yet to ascertain the extent of damage caused by the floods last week as the technical team that went to inspect the damage at the project site could not reach the headworks area at Ambathan', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">June 24: The project office of Melamchi Water Supply Project (MWSP) has yet to ascertain the extent of damage caused by the floods last week as the technical team that went to inspect the damage at the project site could not reach the headworks area at Ambathan in Helambu Rural Municipality-1. A six-member team led by Madhav Nepal, senior divisional engineer of the project, had visited Ambathan. However, Rajendra Prasad Pant, the spokesperson of the Melamchi Water Supply Development Board, informed that the team could not assess the headworks and returned from Kiul.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">"A technical team is at the site to ascertain the extent of damage, but they could not reach the headworks. It would have been easier to plan if the team could ascertain the damage,” informed Pant. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The headworks of MWSP at Ambathan is about 5 km away from Kiul. The team could not reach the headworks due to continuous floods and rainfall.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">All the temporary structures of the headworks have been washed away due to the flood. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">"The headworks appears to be submerged," Pant said. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">According to Pant, the retaining wall on the left is not visible, and the team was unable to calculate the damage done to the headworks to analyze the time and resources needed for its reconstruction.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The team had to cross four bridges to reach the structure, which is 21 km away from Melamchi Bazaar. He said that only a preliminary estimate of the damage was made, as the team could not reach the site. According to him, the damage is estimated to be around Rs 1 billion. The inspection of tunnel of the MWSP was scheduled to be completed in two months.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">"The inspection work has been affected due to the floods. The Ambathan tunnel is reported to be filled with sand," Pant said. He informed that the project office is coordinating with the rural municipality and the Nepal Army.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">“The most important thing right now is to get to the headworks area. For that, it is necessary to build entrances and bridges,” he said, adding, “We are coordinating with the municipality, Nepal Army, and the Department of Roads for that. He said that all the structures and construction equipment have been flooded.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Even though the main structure was not damaged, the headwork diversion tunnel has been affected by the flood. He said that it was necessary to wait for the monsoon to end to bring water through alternative diversion. He informed that alternative water diversion will be started after clean water reaches Melamchi as it is not possible to irrigate in the rainy season.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Likewise, Pant said that the contract of the construction company should be extended as they could not finish the work within the stipulated period due to the disaster. However, the project office hasn't made any decision on extending the contract yet.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Eight Sino Hydro workers involved in the construction of the project's headworks went missing due to a landslide above the construction site. Of them, three bodies have been found so far.</span></span></span></p> <p><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-06-24', 'modified' => '2021-06-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13329', 'image' => '20210624021648_20210611103908_1623336277.melamchi.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-06-24 14:15:29', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13583', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => ' Corruption Case of Rs 1 Billion Filed against Mahat, Dhakal and Sharma ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 24: The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has filed a corruption case against the then Chairman of Tax Clearance Commission, Lumbadhwoj Mahat, and members Umesh Prasad Dhakal and Chudamani Sharma. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">June 24: The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has filed a corruption case against the then Chairman of Tax Clearance Commission, Lumbadhwoj Mahat, and members Umesh Prasad Dhakal and Chudamani Sharma. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The CIAA filed the case of Rs 1 billion for compromising with the taxpayers breaching the jurisdiction given by Tax Clearance Commission Act and the notice published in Nepal gazette. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The CIAA has sought recovery of Rs 1.3 billion from the accused, said CIAA Spokesperson Narayan Prasad Risal, along with imprisonment. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-06-24', 'modified' => '2021-06-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13328', 'image' => '20210624124455_20190205023717_aaaa.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-06-24 12:44:12', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13582', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Domestic Flights to Resume from July 1 ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 24: The government has decided to resume domestic flights from July 1. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">June 24: The government has decided to resume domestic flights from July 1. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to the state-owned national news agency (RSS), the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation has directed the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) to resume domestic flights not exceeding 50 percent of the total flights from July 1.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Such arrangement has been made until further notice. The ministry has also instructed the aviation governing body to ensure that the airline companies follow health protocol after resuming flights.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS""> The ministry issued the directive following a cabinet decision on Monday to allow flight resumption under certain conditions. Domestic flights were halted following the second wave of COVID-19. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">In case of international flights, the ministry issued a notice on Wednesday (June 23) and directed CAAN to resume flights to certain destinations from coming Thursday (June 24). The Ministry has published a flight schedule until June 30 in relation to international flights, RSS further reported. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to the flight schedule, Turkish Airlines will operate a flight from Istanbul to Kathmandu on June 24. Likewise, on June 25, NAC will operate a flight to Japan and Air India from New Delhi to Kathmandu. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">On June 26, Qatar Airways will run a flight from Doha to Kathmandu. On the same day, Air Arabia will operate a flight from Abu Dhabi to Kathmandu. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">On June 27, NAC will operate a flight from Kathmandu to Doha. On the same day, Himalaya Airlines will run a flight each to Kuala Lumpur and Dubai. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">On June 28, NAC will operate a flight to Dubai and Himalaya Airlines to Dammam and Qatar Airways from Doha to Kathmandu. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">On June 29, NAC will operate a flight from Kathmandu to Doha and Turkish Airlines to Kathmandu. Similarly, Fly Dubai will operate a flight to Kathmandu and Salam Airlines to Kathmandu. On June 30, NAC will run a flight from Kathmandu to Dubai, Himalaya Airlines from Kathmandu to Dammam, Qatar Airways from Doha to Kathmandu and Jazeera Airways from Kuwait to Kathmandu. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The government had halted domestic flights from May 3 and international flights from May 6 following the second wave of COVID-19. </span><br /> <img alt="" src="/app/webroot/userfiles/images/20190402115618_A320%281%29.jpg" style="height:330px; width:800px" /> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-06-24', 'modified' => '2021-06-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13327', 'image' => '20210624115748_20210221121806_Summit Air Landing.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-06-24 11:56:51', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13581', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'WHO Refutes Efficacy of ‘Mix and Match’ of Different Vaccines', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 24: The World Health Organization (WHO) Nepal has refuted the claims that a ‘mix and match’ regimen for Vero Cell and AstraZeneca CoviShield Vaccine would yield more effective results. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">June 24: The World Health Organization (WHO) Nepal has refuted the claims that a ‘mix and match’ regimen for Vero Cell and AstraZeneca CoviShield Vaccine would yield more effective results. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Issuing a press statement on Wednesday (June 23), WHO clarified that it has not issued any such statements and the attribution is false. “Such misinformation can lead to grave consequences for the public”, reads the press release. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">WHO stated that data on the efficacy of ‘mix and match’ of vaccines remains limited. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><strong><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">“</span></strong><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">While studies are ongoing regarding the interchangeability between vaccines and more evidence is needed regarding interchangeability of the second dose of AstraZeneca with Vero Cell vaccines before conclusions can be made,” the statement further said.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-06-24', 'modified' => '2021-06-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13326', 'image' => '20210624114748_Kundan.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-06-24 11:46:57', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13580', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Finance Minister Urges Hoteliers to Benefit from Subsidy ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 23: Minister for Finance Bishnu Prasad Poudel has urged hoteliers and tourism entrepreneurs to benefit from the subsidy given by the government. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">June 23: Minister for Finance Bishnu Prasad Poudel has urged hoteliers and tourism entrepreneurs to benefit from the subsidy given by the government. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Receiving the recommendations submitted by the Hotel Association of Nepal (HAN) on Tuesday, Minister Poudel urged the hoteliers and business people to receive the benefits announced by the government for the upcoming fiscal year adding that the government has addressed most of the demands related to tourism sector. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Stating that the hotel and tourism sector has been given equal status to that of production sector, Poudel argued that it was unlikely to bring better budget than this due to COVID-19. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">In the budget for the fiscal year 2021/22, the government has announced to exempt electricity demand tariff to the hotels during the prohibitory period. The budget has also provision to automatically renew the registration of tourism industries including hotels and trekking agencies without any fee for the fiscal year 2021/22. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">President of HAN Srijana Rana stated that it was a big step to include hotels in the service sector and thanked the minister for incorporating the recommendations given by the HAN in budget. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Likewise, HAN recommended the government to increase the existing amount of refinancing and extend the time period for a year. It has also urged the central bank to monitor whether or not the decision of refinancing was implemented through the banks and financial institutions. --RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-06-23', 'modified' => '2021-06-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13325', 'image' => '20210623034921_20210531043451_20201015115013_1602717511.Clipboard02.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-06-23 15:48:45', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13578', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Investment Board Approves Foreign Investment worth Rs 97 Billion ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 23: The Investment Board Nepal has approved foreign investment of Rs 97 billion.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">June 23: The Investment Board Nepal has approved foreign investment of Rs 97 billion.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The 47th board meeting of the Investment Board chaired by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on June 22 approved foreign investment of around Rs 97 billion for various projects.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The meeting discussed the Upper Tamor Hydropower Project (285 MW) with an estimated cost of USD 540 million and the Lower Manang-Marsyangdi Hydropower Project (139.2 MW) with an estimated cost of Rs 33.41 billion. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Similarly, the Investment Board has been instructed to make necessary preparations for the project development agreement with the developer by approving the detailed project report of China-Nepal Friendship Industrial Park, the largest industrial park in the country proposed to be constructed in Damak, Jhapa under public-private partnership model.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The meeting also approved the draft of the memorandum of understanding to be signed with project developer SJVN Limited India to issue a survey license for the detailed feasibility study of the Lower Arun Hydropower Project (679 MW) to be constructed in Sankhuwasabha district.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The meeting has also decided to direct the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation to make necessary legal reforms by addressing the ambiguities in granting survey permission for the Tamor Reservoir Hydropower Project (756 MW).</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The meeting has formed a committee under the coordination of the Vice-Chairman of the National Planning Commission to study and prepare a blueprint for the development and investment of the West Seti and SR-6 joint hydropower projects.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The meeting also approved the 'Procedure on Recommendation of Foreign Exchange and Transfer Facility, 2078' for the institutional reform and management of the working system of the Investment Board.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Prime Minister Oli during the meeting instructed concerned authorities to take a decision on the hydropower project only after considering the transmission line, consumption of electricity generated from it, and export potential. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">"The mistakes of the past should not be repeated. If we generate electricity but are not able to build transmission lines, we will have to pay for the unused electricity in accordance to the PPA," he said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">During the meeting, Finance Minister and Vice-Chairman of the Board, Bishnu Poudel, said that the proposals submitted to the Investment Board would help in the economic development of the country.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-06-23', 'modified' => '2021-06-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13324', 'image' => '20210623122152_20210115025352_20160222122813_ep3.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-06-23 12:20:50', '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' => '13593', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Operations of Domestic and International Flights at TIA Normal ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Domestic and international flights to and from the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) are operating normally despite unfavourable weather in Kathmandu', 'content' => '<p>June 26: Domestic and international flights to and from the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) are operating normally despite unfavourable weather in Kathmandu. Kathmandu Valley has witnessed incessant rain and foggy sky since early this morning. <br /> According to the TIA source, no international flight has been obstructed due to the adverse weather conditions. However, domestic flights to some destinations have been normally affected due to poor visibility and foggy conditions. Now the weather is gradually improving. <br /> At least 2,500-metre visibility is necessary for landings and take-offs for the international aircrafts. Most of the international flights took place in the morning time. There are no disruptions in international flights as flight services are scheduled in the morning and evening, said the TIA source. <br /> Aircraft have landed in Kathmandu this morning and outgoing flights are scheduled for evening, the sources added. <br /> Towards domestic service, limited charted and rescue flights are taking place. The government has decided to resume domestic flight services in the country from July 1. <br /> Number of international flights to some destinations has been added since June 24. In order to contain the second wave of coronavirus pandemic, the government had enforced prohibitory orders in various parts of the country, including the Kathmandu Valley since April 29. <br /> The domestic flights have been put off since May 3 and international flights since May 6 as part of its measures to stem the virus outbreak. -- RSS <br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-06-26', 'modified' => '2021-06-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13338', 'image' => '20210626025244_DOmestic flights.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-06-26 14:50:40', 'homepage' => true, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '35' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13592', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Monsoon Rain Lashes Majority Parts of the Country', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Majority of the country is experiencing general to mostly cloudy weather today. ', 'content' => '<p>June 26: Several parts of Nepal are receiving lashes of rain as monsoon hits the country . Likewise, moderate to heavy rainfall is likely to continue at many places of the country, according to the Weather Forecasting Division. </p> <p>There are also chances of heavy rain with thunder and lightning in few places of Province 1, Province 2, Bagmati, Gandaki and Lumbini provinces. Province 1, Province 2 and Bagmati province are already experiencing light rainfall since this morning.</p> <p>The weather is likely to remain generally to mostly cloudy in the country later tonight while light to moderate rain is possible at many places of the country. There are chances of heavy rain with thunder and lightning at one or two places of Province 1, Province 2 and Lumbini Province tonight, adds the Division. The temperature of Kathmandu is expected to remain at a maximum of 27.4 and minimum of 20.2 degree Celsius today. --RSS <br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-06-26', 'modified' => '2021-06-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13337', 'image' => '20210626022910_Monsoon.jpeg', 'article_date' => '2021-06-26 14:24:59', 'homepage' => true, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '35' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13591', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Staffers of BFIs Warn of Strike against Social Security Fund', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 25: Employees of banks and financial institutions (BFIs) as well as insurance companies have warned of a strike against the contribution-based Social Security Fund (SSF) if their concerns are not addressed.', '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"">June 25: Employees of banks and financial institutions (BFIs) as well as insurance companies have warned of a strike against the contribution-based Social Security Fund (SSF) if their concerns are not addressed.</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"">Employees' unions of about two dozen banks, financial institutions, and insurance companies issued a joint statement on Thursday, June 24, urging the SSF to consider their suggestions.</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 employees have been protesting against the mandatory provision of joining SSF and have demanded voluntary participation. They have also submitted dozens of suggestions after the Social Security Fund directed all private sectors to get registered in the government scheme by mid-July.</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 the employees' union, the pressure of the social security fund has created panic amongst the BFI's employees.</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 pressure from the fund has made a psychological impact and has affected the productivity of the employees. Therefore, we are unable to be join the existing plan of the fund,” mentions the press statement.</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"">"If we create unnecessary fear, intimidation, and pressure in this area by ignoring the suggestions given at various period to amend the provisions of the Act, Rules, and Procedures, we will be compelled to start a movement against the scheme," the statement said.</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 employees’ unions had earlier submitted a 14-point recommendation to the fund. As some provisions of the contribution-based Social Security Act, Rules and Procedures do not favor the employees, amendments are necessary to make them in favour of the workers and guarantee that the services provided to the employees will not be reduced. </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 Clause 19 (4) (c) of the work procedure of SSF, if the workers do not want to transfer the amount from the provident fund and gratuity allowance to the SSF before the date of commencement of contribution to SSF, the contributor can receive the amount themselves or deposit the amount to any other retirement fund. However, this provision is not mentioned in the Social Security Act and the employees have demanded the SSF to include it in the act as well, besides suggesting the fund to remove double taxation for them.</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"">Similarly, they suggest that in case of death of the contributor with 180 months of contribution to the fund, the deposited amount should be returned to his / her family or the person he/she has nominated.</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 employees have also demanded amendment of the provision that allows them to take out only 80 percent of the amount deposited after three years of joining the social security fund and to make it possible to take loans up to 90 percent at any time.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-06-25', 'modified' => '2021-06-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13336', 'image' => '20210625024103_20210225124654_Social-Security-Fund-SSF.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-06-25 14:40:30', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13588', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Demand for Electricity Rises after Relaxation of Prohibitory Order', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 25: Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has stated that the consumption of electricity has been gradually increasing after the relaxation of prohibitory order.', '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"">June 25: Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has stated that the consumption of electricity has been gradually increasing after the relaxation of prohibitory order. Due to the prohibitory order imposed to contain the second wave of coronavirus, the demand for electricity had gone down. </span></span></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 government has eased the restrictions since June 22 in the valley. Ever since, the consumption of electricity has gone up. Spokesperson of NEA, Madan Timisina said that the power consumption stood at 1365 MW during the peak hour on June 22. During the period of prohibitory order, electricity consumption had declined to 1170 MW at the peak hour. Timsina said that demand for electricity has improved following the relaxation of prohibitory order. </span></span></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"">After the government eased people's movement, corporate offices, banks and financial institutions, industries, departmental stores have come into operation leading to a rise in electricity consumption. </span></span></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 NEA is currently generating 400MW electricity through different projects. The private sector is generating 440 MW electricity and an additional 520 MW is being imported from India. </span></span></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"">"Due to landslides and floods, some of the NEA projects are not in operation so import of electricity has been increased,” Timsina informed. Before the government imposed restrictions, the normal peak hour demand was 1300 MW which was reduced to 1170 MW. </span></span></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"">Meanwhile, the prohibitory order imposed this time did not affect the electricity consumption as much as in the first phase of lockdown. The power consumption had reduced to 600 MW during the lockdown imposed in 2020. </span></span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-06-25', 'modified' => '2021-06-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13335', 'image' => '20210625105528_20210111032406_1610322387.1.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-06-25 10:55:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13587', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => ' Government Backs 'Make in Nepal' Campaign ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 25: The 'Make in Nepal: Swadesi' campaign initiated by the Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) is to receive the backing of the government. ', 'content' => '<p><em>Signing ceremony between CNI and Government of Nepal at Singha Durbar on June 24. Photo Courtesy: CNI</em></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">June 25: The 'Make in Nepal: Swadesi' campaign initiated by the Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) is to receive the backing of the government. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">Issuing a statement on Thursday (June 24), CNI said that the campaign initiated with the objective of promoting goods and services produced in Nepal has received strong backing from the government</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">The statement further said that an agreement to this end was signed between the government and the CNI at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers on Thursday (June 24). </span><br /> <span style="font-family:Arial">During the signing ceremony, Chief Secretary Shanker Das Bairagi expressed the confidence that the campaign would prove a milestone in developing Nepal into a self-reliant and export-oriented economy. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">"Accordingly, the government is simplifying policy and procedures, and also developing environment conducive for investment," the statement quoted Chief Secretary Bairagi as saying.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">Meanwhile, CNI President Satish Kumar More said that the production and promotion of Nepal-made goods is the need of the moment, and urged for support and cooperation from all sectors s. </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-06-25', 'modified' => '2021-06-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13334', 'image' => '20210625104610_MoU_CNI_&_Nepal_Govt-2.jpeg', 'article_date' => '2021-06-25 10:44:34', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13586', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Exports Goods worth Rs 121 Billion in Current FY ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 25: In the first 11 months of the current fiscal year, Nepal exported goods worth Rs 121.25 billion, which is 37.78 per cent more than the goods exported in the corresponding period of the last fiscal year.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">June 25: In the first 11 months of the current fiscal year, Nepal exported goods worth Rs 121.25 billion, which is 37.78 per cent more than the goods exported in the corresponding period of the last fiscal year.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">According the Department of Customs, Nepal had exported goods worth Rs 88 billion during the same period in the last fiscal year. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Likewise, Nepal imported goods worth Rs 1383.36 billion during the review period. According to the Department, the import of goods rose by 25.67 per cent compared to last fiscal year. Nepal had imported goods and services equal to Rs 1100.81 billion in the same period last year. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">From mid-May to mid-June, Nepal imported goods and services of Rs 129.25 billion while the export remained just Rs 12.77 billion. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">As per the statistics, the country’s trade deficit in the current fiscal year has widened by 24.61 per cent. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">In the country’s foreign trade, the share of import is 91.94 per cent while it is just 8.06 per cent of export. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The top importing goods of Nepal include diesel, iron products (steel), legume oil, mobile phone, cooking gas and petrol. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Likewise, legume oil, cardamom, carpet, tea and jute carpet remained the top export goods of Nepal. --RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-06-25', 'modified' => '2021-06-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13333', 'image' => '20210625103247_20190227014053_aadfsaff.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-06-25 10:32:14', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13589', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Chinese Team Arrives to Design Tunnel of KTM-Terai Fast Track ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 25: A Chinese team has arrived in the country to design a tunnel under the second package of the Kathmandu-Terai Fast Track. ', '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"">June 25: A Chinese team has arrived in the country to design a tunnel under the second package of the Kathmandu-Terai Fast Track. The Chinese team of Poly Chhangda Engineering Corporation will design the tunnel between Dhadrekhola to Lanedada and a special bridge in this section. </span></span></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"">As per the contract agreement signed on May 14, a group of 14 people from the company arrived in Nepal on Wednesday, June 23, on a chartered flight. The agreement was signed to build the Fast Track under Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) model. Spokesperson of the Nepalese Army Santosh Ballabh Poudel informed that the officials of the company who got the contract for the second package have arrived.</span></span></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 team consists of the necessary experts, including project managers, tunnels, bridges and road engineers," Poudel said, adding, “The team will design the structure and start field work after completing quarantine."</span></span></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 human resources of the company present in the country have already started the work of geophysical and geotechnical survey and the team that arrived on Wednesday will look into the design of the tunnel. </span></span></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 is an achievement that the team has arrived in the country even in such difficult times. This will help to complete the project on time," Brigadier General Poudel added. </span></span></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 design of the project to be constructed through this medium should also be done by the same company.</span></span></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"">As per the agreement, the design has to be completed within six months. He said that the army would facilitate the team to start the design work as soon as possible. Similarly, a team of China State Construction Engineering Corporation Limited, which was awarded the contract to build the first package of the Chhokredanda-Dhedrekhola tunnel, will also arrive in Kathmandu in two or three days, he said.</span></span></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 Nepalese Army has signed agreements with two Chinese companies to build special bridges with tunnels within three and a half years at an estimated cost of Rs 50.14 billion. The army had signed the contract despite a directive from the Public Accounts Committee of the parliament to cancel the process citing irregularities in the process.</span></span></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 cost of the first package of the bridge construction including the tunnel is estimated to be Rs 21.61 billion while that of the second package is Rs 28.53 billion. The company will complete the design in six months and the tunnel / bridge construction within the next three years. The 72.5 km long fast-track will have tunnels at three different locations and 16 complex bridges.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-06-25', 'modified' => '2021-06-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13332', 'image' => '20210625110719_20210516122418_20170616052456_fast track nov 21.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-06-25 11:06:29', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13590', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Bank and Financial Institutions Demand Voluntary Participation in SSF', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 25: Employees of banks and financial institutions (BFIs) have demanded voluntary participation in the government’s Social Security Fund (SSF) instead of mandatory provision.', '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"">June 25: Employees of banks and financial institutions (BFIs) have demanded voluntary participation in the government’s Social Security Fund (SSF) instead of mandatory provision. They have expressed objection toward mandatory participation after the central bank directed BFIs to join the SSF mandatorily.</span></span></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"">Various associations of BFI employees have accused the government of compelling BFIs to participate by submitting false details of their participation. Varun Khadka, treasurer of Nepal Financial Institution Employees Union, has expressed dissatisfaction over the mandatory participation in SSF. According to him, most of the employees of banks and financial institutions are not interested in joining SSF. He said that lack of uniformity in SSF's rules and procedure has created reservations among the employees.</span></span></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"">He said that the unwanted pressure to include SSF in the social security scheme would not be acceptable as joining SSF would also deprive them of existing perks and facilities.</span></span></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"">He fears that the government is intending to transfer billions of rupees of employees accumulated since the last 10 to 20 years in the Employee Provident Fund to the SSF. This mandatory provision has compelled many employees of BFIs to tender their resignations.</span></span></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"">Roshan Koirala, head of Nabil Bank’s human resources department, said that around six employees have already resigned due to this very reason. According to him, there are many issues of the SSF work procedure and the related Act that do not match. Amendment of only the work procedure does not make sense. SSF work procedure states that all funds of Employee Provident Fund should be kept in the SSF but the same thing is not mentioned in the SSF Act, so employees are resigning due to lack of security.</span></span></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 would be more beneficial to deposit their money in banks' fixed deposit rather than joining SSF, he said. Nabil Bank is currently holding discussions over the issue of participation in SSF.</span></span></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"">Bank and financial sector employees say that the SSF discriminates against the government and private sector employees in terms of social security facilities.</span></span></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 Saroj Kaji Tuladhar, president of the Nepal Financial Institutions Association, the monthly pension is the amount earned by dividing the amount deposited by the workers during the service period by 160. But, this amount is much less for the private sector employees than that provisioned for the government employees.</span></span></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"">Employees are required to contribute 31 percent of their monthly salary to the social security fund, but government employees are required to contribute 6 percent to the pension fund while the government contributes 100 percent. Tuladhar said that private sector employees don’t receive pension equivalent to their contribution. So it is not appropriate to compel private sector employees to join SSF. </span></span></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 SSF, said that the work procedure has been amended to accommodate everyone and will be amended in the future as well when needed. According to him, the ministry has formulated the work procedure on the recommendation of the SSF board using the authority provided by Article 70 of the Act. He claims that the second amendment to the work procedure has addressed the grievances of the contributors. However it is not possible to make any decision yet regarding the voluntary participation.</span></span></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"">Nepal Bankers' Association had also submitted an application to the Ministry of Labor and the SSF two weeks ago objecting to some provisions. Anil Sharma, Executive Director of the Association, said that they have urged the concerned bodies to make the provisions reasonable and participation voluntary. He said that it is not justifiable to ask to choose SSF pension fund by 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"">According to the SSF, only a small number of commercial banks, development banks, finance and microfinance institutions have participated in the fund. So far, 2246 employees of 10 out of 27 commercial banks have been registered. Banks including Laxmi Bank, Prime Commercial Bank, Mega Bank, Nepal Credit and Commerce (NCC) Bank and Global IME Bank are listed. Three out of 18 development banks, 11 out of 20 finance companies and 40 out of 72 microfinance institutions have been registered. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"> </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-06-25', 'modified' => '2021-06-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13331', 'image' => '20210625125128_20210215042205_20200401094426_1585693701.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-06-25 12:50:48', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13584', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Foodstuff worth more than 70 Million sold by 2 Government Entities during Prohibitory Period ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 24: Two state-owned companies, Food Management and Trading Company Limited and Salt Trading Corporation, have sold food items worth more than Rs 75 million at a discount of 20 percent.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">June 24: Two state-owned companies, Food Management and Trading Company Limited and Salt Trading Corporation, have sold food items worth more than Rs 75 million at a discount of 20 percent. The government in the budget for FY 2021/22 had announced a 20 percent discount on food sold by these two companies.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">As announced by the government in the budget, the companies provided a 20 percent discount on the prices of food items including rice, nuts, and sugar from June 7. Both the companies have sold food items worth Rs 78.3 million as of June 19.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The Food Management and Trading Company has sold 12,488 quintals of food worth Rs 69.1 million. Sharmila Subedi, information officer of the company, informed that they gave a discount of Rs 13.8 million. A total of 41,174 households have been estimated to have benefitted from the discounts.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">In the meantime, Salt Trading Corporation has sold food items worth Rs 9.1 million and provided a discount of Rs 1.8 million. A total of 1.52 million households have benefitted from the exemption given by Salt Trading Corporation, said Kumar Raj Bhandari, spokesperson of the corporation.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The Food Management and Trading Company gave discounts on Karnali beans, sugar, and rice except for Marcy and Basmati rice, while the Salt Trading Corporation offered discounts on items like salt, sugar, flour, cooking oil, and cooking gas. Both the companies have discontinued the 20 percent discount offer after the prohibitory order was eased on Tuesday, June 22.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">"We have stopped giving the discount after the government instructed us to postpone the waiver program for the time being," said Bhandari.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-06-24', 'modified' => '2021-06-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13330', 'image' => '20210624020623_20201123043159_92926.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-06-24 14:05:31', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13585', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Technical Team Finds it Difficult to Ascertain the Damage of Melamchi Water Supply Project.', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 24: The project office of Melamchi Water Supply Project (MWSP) has yet to ascertain the extent of damage caused by the floods last week as the technical team that went to inspect the damage at the project site could not reach the headworks area at Ambathan', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">June 24: The project office of Melamchi Water Supply Project (MWSP) has yet to ascertain the extent of damage caused by the floods last week as the technical team that went to inspect the damage at the project site could not reach the headworks area at Ambathan in Helambu Rural Municipality-1. A six-member team led by Madhav Nepal, senior divisional engineer of the project, had visited Ambathan. However, Rajendra Prasad Pant, the spokesperson of the Melamchi Water Supply Development Board, informed that the team could not assess the headworks and returned from Kiul.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">"A technical team is at the site to ascertain the extent of damage, but they could not reach the headworks. It would have been easier to plan if the team could ascertain the damage,” informed Pant. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The headworks of MWSP at Ambathan is about 5 km away from Kiul. The team could not reach the headworks due to continuous floods and rainfall.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">All the temporary structures of the headworks have been washed away due to the flood. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">"The headworks appears to be submerged," Pant said. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">According to Pant, the retaining wall on the left is not visible, and the team was unable to calculate the damage done to the headworks to analyze the time and resources needed for its reconstruction.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The team had to cross four bridges to reach the structure, which is 21 km away from Melamchi Bazaar. He said that only a preliminary estimate of the damage was made, as the team could not reach the site. According to him, the damage is estimated to be around Rs 1 billion. The inspection of tunnel of the MWSP was scheduled to be completed in two months.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">"The inspection work has been affected due to the floods. The Ambathan tunnel is reported to be filled with sand," Pant said. He informed that the project office is coordinating with the rural municipality and the Nepal Army.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">“The most important thing right now is to get to the headworks area. For that, it is necessary to build entrances and bridges,” he said, adding, “We are coordinating with the municipality, Nepal Army, and the Department of Roads for that. He said that all the structures and construction equipment have been flooded.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Even though the main structure was not damaged, the headwork diversion tunnel has been affected by the flood. He said that it was necessary to wait for the monsoon to end to bring water through alternative diversion. He informed that alternative water diversion will be started after clean water reaches Melamchi as it is not possible to irrigate in the rainy season.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Likewise, Pant said that the contract of the construction company should be extended as they could not finish the work within the stipulated period due to the disaster. However, the project office hasn't made any decision on extending the contract yet.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Eight Sino Hydro workers involved in the construction of the project's headworks went missing due to a landslide above the construction site. Of them, three bodies have been found so far.</span></span></span></p> <p><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-06-24', 'modified' => '2021-06-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13329', 'image' => '20210624021648_20210611103908_1623336277.melamchi.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-06-24 14:15:29', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13583', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => ' Corruption Case of Rs 1 Billion Filed against Mahat, Dhakal and Sharma ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 24: The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has filed a corruption case against the then Chairman of Tax Clearance Commission, Lumbadhwoj Mahat, and members Umesh Prasad Dhakal and Chudamani Sharma. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">June 24: The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has filed a corruption case against the then Chairman of Tax Clearance Commission, Lumbadhwoj Mahat, and members Umesh Prasad Dhakal and Chudamani Sharma. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The CIAA filed the case of Rs 1 billion for compromising with the taxpayers breaching the jurisdiction given by Tax Clearance Commission Act and the notice published in Nepal gazette. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The CIAA has sought recovery of Rs 1.3 billion from the accused, said CIAA Spokesperson Narayan Prasad Risal, along with imprisonment. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-06-24', 'modified' => '2021-06-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13328', 'image' => '20210624124455_20190205023717_aaaa.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-06-24 12:44:12', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13582', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Domestic Flights to Resume from July 1 ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 24: The government has decided to resume domestic flights from July 1. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">June 24: The government has decided to resume domestic flights from July 1. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to the state-owned national news agency (RSS), the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation has directed the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) to resume domestic flights not exceeding 50 percent of the total flights from July 1.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Such arrangement has been made until further notice. The ministry has also instructed the aviation governing body to ensure that the airline companies follow health protocol after resuming flights.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS""> The ministry issued the directive following a cabinet decision on Monday to allow flight resumption under certain conditions. Domestic flights were halted following the second wave of COVID-19. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">In case of international flights, the ministry issued a notice on Wednesday (June 23) and directed CAAN to resume flights to certain destinations from coming Thursday (June 24). The Ministry has published a flight schedule until June 30 in relation to international flights, RSS further reported. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to the flight schedule, Turkish Airlines will operate a flight from Istanbul to Kathmandu on June 24. Likewise, on June 25, NAC will operate a flight to Japan and Air India from New Delhi to Kathmandu. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">On June 26, Qatar Airways will run a flight from Doha to Kathmandu. On the same day, Air Arabia will operate a flight from Abu Dhabi to Kathmandu. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">On June 27, NAC will operate a flight from Kathmandu to Doha. On the same day, Himalaya Airlines will run a flight each to Kuala Lumpur and Dubai. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">On June 28, NAC will operate a flight to Dubai and Himalaya Airlines to Dammam and Qatar Airways from Doha to Kathmandu. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">On June 29, NAC will operate a flight from Kathmandu to Doha and Turkish Airlines to Kathmandu. Similarly, Fly Dubai will operate a flight to Kathmandu and Salam Airlines to Kathmandu. On June 30, NAC will run a flight from Kathmandu to Dubai, Himalaya Airlines from Kathmandu to Dammam, Qatar Airways from Doha to Kathmandu and Jazeera Airways from Kuwait to Kathmandu. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The government had halted domestic flights from May 3 and international flights from May 6 following the second wave of COVID-19. </span><br /> <img alt="" src="/app/webroot/userfiles/images/20190402115618_A320%281%29.jpg" style="height:330px; width:800px" /> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-06-24', 'modified' => '2021-06-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13327', 'image' => '20210624115748_20210221121806_Summit Air Landing.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-06-24 11:56:51', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13581', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'WHO Refutes Efficacy of ‘Mix and Match’ of Different Vaccines', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 24: The World Health Organization (WHO) Nepal has refuted the claims that a ‘mix and match’ regimen for Vero Cell and AstraZeneca CoviShield Vaccine would yield more effective results. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">June 24: The World Health Organization (WHO) Nepal has refuted the claims that a ‘mix and match’ regimen for Vero Cell and AstraZeneca CoviShield Vaccine would yield more effective results. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Issuing a press statement on Wednesday (June 23), WHO clarified that it has not issued any such statements and the attribution is false. “Such misinformation can lead to grave consequences for the public”, reads the press release. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">WHO stated that data on the efficacy of ‘mix and match’ of vaccines remains limited. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><strong><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">“</span></strong><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">While studies are ongoing regarding the interchangeability between vaccines and more evidence is needed regarding interchangeability of the second dose of AstraZeneca with Vero Cell vaccines before conclusions can be made,” the statement further said.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-06-24', 'modified' => '2021-06-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13326', 'image' => '20210624114748_Kundan.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-06-24 11:46:57', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13580', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Finance Minister Urges Hoteliers to Benefit from Subsidy ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 23: Minister for Finance Bishnu Prasad Poudel has urged hoteliers and tourism entrepreneurs to benefit from the subsidy given by the government. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">June 23: Minister for Finance Bishnu Prasad Poudel has urged hoteliers and tourism entrepreneurs to benefit from the subsidy given by the government. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Receiving the recommendations submitted by the Hotel Association of Nepal (HAN) on Tuesday, Minister Poudel urged the hoteliers and business people to receive the benefits announced by the government for the upcoming fiscal year adding that the government has addressed most of the demands related to tourism sector. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Stating that the hotel and tourism sector has been given equal status to that of production sector, Poudel argued that it was unlikely to bring better budget than this due to COVID-19. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">In the budget for the fiscal year 2021/22, the government has announced to exempt electricity demand tariff to the hotels during the prohibitory period. The budget has also provision to automatically renew the registration of tourism industries including hotels and trekking agencies without any fee for the fiscal year 2021/22. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">President of HAN Srijana Rana stated that it was a big step to include hotels in the service sector and thanked the minister for incorporating the recommendations given by the HAN in budget. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Likewise, HAN recommended the government to increase the existing amount of refinancing and extend the time period for a year. It has also urged the central bank to monitor whether or not the decision of refinancing was implemented through the banks and financial institutions. --RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-06-23', 'modified' => '2021-06-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13325', 'image' => '20210623034921_20210531043451_20201015115013_1602717511.Clipboard02.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-06-23 15:48:45', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13578', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Investment Board Approves Foreign Investment worth Rs 97 Billion ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 23: The Investment Board Nepal has approved foreign investment of Rs 97 billion.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">June 23: The Investment Board Nepal has approved foreign investment of Rs 97 billion.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The 47th board meeting of the Investment Board chaired by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on June 22 approved foreign investment of around Rs 97 billion for various projects.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The meeting discussed the Upper Tamor Hydropower Project (285 MW) with an estimated cost of USD 540 million and the Lower Manang-Marsyangdi Hydropower Project (139.2 MW) with an estimated cost of Rs 33.41 billion. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Similarly, the Investment Board has been instructed to make necessary preparations for the project development agreement with the developer by approving the detailed project report of China-Nepal Friendship Industrial Park, the largest industrial park in the country proposed to be constructed in Damak, Jhapa under public-private partnership model.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The meeting also approved the draft of the memorandum of understanding to be signed with project developer SJVN Limited India to issue a survey license for the detailed feasibility study of the Lower Arun Hydropower Project (679 MW) to be constructed in Sankhuwasabha district.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The meeting has also decided to direct the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation to make necessary legal reforms by addressing the ambiguities in granting survey permission for the Tamor Reservoir Hydropower Project (756 MW).</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The meeting has formed a committee under the coordination of the Vice-Chairman of the National Planning Commission to study and prepare a blueprint for the development and investment of the West Seti and SR-6 joint hydropower projects.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The meeting also approved the 'Procedure on Recommendation of Foreign Exchange and Transfer Facility, 2078' for the institutional reform and management of the working system of the Investment Board.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Prime Minister Oli during the meeting instructed concerned authorities to take a decision on the hydropower project only after considering the transmission line, consumption of electricity generated from it, and export potential. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">"The mistakes of the past should not be repeated. If we generate electricity but are not able to build transmission lines, we will have to pay for the unused electricity in accordance to the PPA," he said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">During the meeting, Finance Minister and Vice-Chairman of the Board, Bishnu Poudel, said that the proposals submitted to the Investment Board would help in the economic development of the country.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-06-23', 'modified' => '2021-06-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13324', 'image' => '20210623122152_20210115025352_20160222122813_ep3.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-06-23 12:20:50', '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' => '13593', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Operations of Domestic and International Flights at TIA Normal ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Domestic and international flights to and from the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) are operating normally despite unfavourable weather in Kathmandu', 'content' => '<p>June 26: Domestic and international flights to and from the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) are operating normally despite unfavourable weather in Kathmandu. Kathmandu Valley has witnessed incessant rain and foggy sky since early this morning. <br /> According to the TIA source, no international flight has been obstructed due to the adverse weather conditions. However, domestic flights to some destinations have been normally affected due to poor visibility and foggy conditions. Now the weather is gradually improving. <br /> At least 2,500-metre visibility is necessary for landings and take-offs for the international aircrafts. Most of the international flights took place in the morning time. There are no disruptions in international flights as flight services are scheduled in the morning and evening, said the TIA source. <br /> Aircraft have landed in Kathmandu this morning and outgoing flights are scheduled for evening, the sources added. <br /> Towards domestic service, limited charted and rescue flights are taking place. The government has decided to resume domestic flight services in the country from July 1. <br /> Number of international flights to some destinations has been added since June 24. In order to contain the second wave of coronavirus pandemic, the government had enforced prohibitory orders in various parts of the country, including the Kathmandu Valley since April 29. <br /> The domestic flights have been put off since May 3 and international flights since May 6 as part of its measures to stem the virus outbreak. -- RSS <br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-06-26', 'modified' => '2021-06-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13338', 'image' => '20210626025244_DOmestic flights.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-06-26 14:50:40', 'homepage' => true, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '35' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13592', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Monsoon Rain Lashes Majority Parts of the Country', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Majority of the country is experiencing general to mostly cloudy weather today. ', 'content' => '<p>June 26: Several parts of Nepal are receiving lashes of rain as monsoon hits the country . Likewise, moderate to heavy rainfall is likely to continue at many places of the country, according to the Weather Forecasting Division. </p> <p>There are also chances of heavy rain with thunder and lightning in few places of Province 1, Province 2, Bagmati, Gandaki and Lumbini provinces. Province 1, Province 2 and Bagmati province are already experiencing light rainfall since this morning.</p> <p>The weather is likely to remain generally to mostly cloudy in the country later tonight while light to moderate rain is possible at many places of the country. There are chances of heavy rain with thunder and lightning at one or two places of Province 1, Province 2 and Lumbini Province tonight, adds the Division. The temperature of Kathmandu is expected to remain at a maximum of 27.4 and minimum of 20.2 degree Celsius today. --RSS <br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-06-26', 'modified' => '2021-06-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13337', 'image' => '20210626022910_Monsoon.jpeg', 'article_date' => '2021-06-26 14:24:59', 'homepage' => true, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '35' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13591', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Staffers of BFIs Warn of Strike against Social Security Fund', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 25: Employees of banks and financial institutions (BFIs) as well as insurance companies have warned of a strike against the contribution-based Social Security Fund (SSF) if their concerns are not addressed.', '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"">June 25: Employees of banks and financial institutions (BFIs) as well as insurance companies have warned of a strike against the contribution-based Social Security Fund (SSF) if their concerns are not addressed.</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"">Employees' unions of about two dozen banks, financial institutions, and insurance companies issued a joint statement on Thursday, June 24, urging the SSF to consider their suggestions.</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 employees have been protesting against the mandatory provision of joining SSF and have demanded voluntary participation. They have also submitted dozens of suggestions after the Social Security Fund directed all private sectors to get registered in the government scheme by mid-July.</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 the employees' union, the pressure of the social security fund has created panic amongst the BFI's employees.</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 pressure from the fund has made a psychological impact and has affected the productivity of the employees. Therefore, we are unable to be join the existing plan of the fund,” mentions the press statement.</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"">"If we create unnecessary fear, intimidation, and pressure in this area by ignoring the suggestions given at various period to amend the provisions of the Act, Rules, and Procedures, we will be compelled to start a movement against the scheme," the statement said.</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 employees’ unions had earlier submitted a 14-point recommendation to the fund. As some provisions of the contribution-based Social Security Act, Rules and Procedures do not favor the employees, amendments are necessary to make them in favour of the workers and guarantee that the services provided to the employees will not be reduced. </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 Clause 19 (4) (c) of the work procedure of SSF, if the workers do not want to transfer the amount from the provident fund and gratuity allowance to the SSF before the date of commencement of contribution to SSF, the contributor can receive the amount themselves or deposit the amount to any other retirement fund. However, this provision is not mentioned in the Social Security Act and the employees have demanded the SSF to include it in the act as well, besides suggesting the fund to remove double taxation for them.</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"">Similarly, they suggest that in case of death of the contributor with 180 months of contribution to the fund, the deposited amount should be returned to his / her family or the person he/she has nominated.</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 employees have also demanded amendment of the provision that allows them to take out only 80 percent of the amount deposited after three years of joining the social security fund and to make it possible to take loans up to 90 percent at any time.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-06-25', 'modified' => '2021-06-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13336', 'image' => '20210625024103_20210225124654_Social-Security-Fund-SSF.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-06-25 14:40:30', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13588', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Demand for Electricity Rises after Relaxation of Prohibitory Order', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 25: Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has stated that the consumption of electricity has been gradually increasing after the relaxation of prohibitory order.', '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"">June 25: Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has stated that the consumption of electricity has been gradually increasing after the relaxation of prohibitory order. Due to the prohibitory order imposed to contain the second wave of coronavirus, the demand for electricity had gone down. </span></span></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 government has eased the restrictions since June 22 in the valley. Ever since, the consumption of electricity has gone up. Spokesperson of NEA, Madan Timisina said that the power consumption stood at 1365 MW during the peak hour on June 22. During the period of prohibitory order, electricity consumption had declined to 1170 MW at the peak hour. Timsina said that demand for electricity has improved following the relaxation of prohibitory order. </span></span></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"">After the government eased people's movement, corporate offices, banks and financial institutions, industries, departmental stores have come into operation leading to a rise in electricity consumption. </span></span></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 NEA is currently generating 400MW electricity through different projects. The private sector is generating 440 MW electricity and an additional 520 MW is being imported from India. </span></span></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"">"Due to landslides and floods, some of the NEA projects are not in operation so import of electricity has been increased,” Timsina informed. Before the government imposed restrictions, the normal peak hour demand was 1300 MW which was reduced to 1170 MW. </span></span></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"">Meanwhile, the prohibitory order imposed this time did not affect the electricity consumption as much as in the first phase of lockdown. The power consumption had reduced to 600 MW during the lockdown imposed in 2020. </span></span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-06-25', 'modified' => '2021-06-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13335', 'image' => '20210625105528_20210111032406_1610322387.1.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-06-25 10:55:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13587', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => ' Government Backs 'Make in Nepal' Campaign ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 25: The 'Make in Nepal: Swadesi' campaign initiated by the Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) is to receive the backing of the government. ', 'content' => '<p><em>Signing ceremony between CNI and Government of Nepal at Singha Durbar on June 24. Photo Courtesy: CNI</em></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">June 25: The 'Make in Nepal: Swadesi' campaign initiated by the Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) is to receive the backing of the government. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">Issuing a statement on Thursday (June 24), CNI said that the campaign initiated with the objective of promoting goods and services produced in Nepal has received strong backing from the government</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">The statement further said that an agreement to this end was signed between the government and the CNI at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers on Thursday (June 24). </span><br /> <span style="font-family:Arial">During the signing ceremony, Chief Secretary Shanker Das Bairagi expressed the confidence that the campaign would prove a milestone in developing Nepal into a self-reliant and export-oriented economy. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">"Accordingly, the government is simplifying policy and procedures, and also developing environment conducive for investment," the statement quoted Chief Secretary Bairagi as saying.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">Meanwhile, CNI President Satish Kumar More said that the production and promotion of Nepal-made goods is the need of the moment, and urged for support and cooperation from all sectors s. </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-06-25', 'modified' => '2021-06-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13334', 'image' => '20210625104610_MoU_CNI_&_Nepal_Govt-2.jpeg', 'article_date' => '2021-06-25 10:44:34', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13586', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Exports Goods worth Rs 121 Billion in Current FY ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 25: In the first 11 months of the current fiscal year, Nepal exported goods worth Rs 121.25 billion, which is 37.78 per cent more than the goods exported in the corresponding period of the last fiscal year.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">June 25: In the first 11 months of the current fiscal year, Nepal exported goods worth Rs 121.25 billion, which is 37.78 per cent more than the goods exported in the corresponding period of the last fiscal year.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">According the Department of Customs, Nepal had exported goods worth Rs 88 billion during the same period in the last fiscal year. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Likewise, Nepal imported goods worth Rs 1383.36 billion during the review period. According to the Department, the import of goods rose by 25.67 per cent compared to last fiscal year. Nepal had imported goods and services equal to Rs 1100.81 billion in the same period last year. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">From mid-May to mid-June, Nepal imported goods and services of Rs 129.25 billion while the export remained just Rs 12.77 billion. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">As per the statistics, the country’s trade deficit in the current fiscal year has widened by 24.61 per cent. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">In the country’s foreign trade, the share of import is 91.94 per cent while it is just 8.06 per cent of export. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The top importing goods of Nepal include diesel, iron products (steel), legume oil, mobile phone, cooking gas and petrol. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Likewise, legume oil, cardamom, carpet, tea and jute carpet remained the top export goods of Nepal. --RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-06-25', 'modified' => '2021-06-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13333', 'image' => '20210625103247_20190227014053_aadfsaff.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-06-25 10:32:14', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13589', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Chinese Team Arrives to Design Tunnel of KTM-Terai Fast Track ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 25: A Chinese team has arrived in the country to design a tunnel under the second package of the Kathmandu-Terai Fast Track. ', '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"">June 25: A Chinese team has arrived in the country to design a tunnel under the second package of the Kathmandu-Terai Fast Track. The Chinese team of Poly Chhangda Engineering Corporation will design the tunnel between Dhadrekhola to Lanedada and a special bridge in this section. </span></span></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"">As per the contract agreement signed on May 14, a group of 14 people from the company arrived in Nepal on Wednesday, June 23, on a chartered flight. The agreement was signed to build the Fast Track under Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) model. Spokesperson of the Nepalese Army Santosh Ballabh Poudel informed that the officials of the company who got the contract for the second package have arrived.</span></span></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 team consists of the necessary experts, including project managers, tunnels, bridges and road engineers," Poudel said, adding, “The team will design the structure and start field work after completing quarantine."</span></span></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 human resources of the company present in the country have already started the work of geophysical and geotechnical survey and the team that arrived on Wednesday will look into the design of the tunnel. </span></span></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 is an achievement that the team has arrived in the country even in such difficult times. This will help to complete the project on time," Brigadier General Poudel added. </span></span></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 design of the project to be constructed through this medium should also be done by the same company.</span></span></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"">As per the agreement, the design has to be completed within six months. He said that the army would facilitate the team to start the design work as soon as possible. Similarly, a team of China State Construction Engineering Corporation Limited, which was awarded the contract to build the first package of the Chhokredanda-Dhedrekhola tunnel, will also arrive in Kathmandu in two or three days, he said.</span></span></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 Nepalese Army has signed agreements with two Chinese companies to build special bridges with tunnels within three and a half years at an estimated cost of Rs 50.14 billion. The army had signed the contract despite a directive from the Public Accounts Committee of the parliament to cancel the process citing irregularities in the process.</span></span></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 cost of the first package of the bridge construction including the tunnel is estimated to be Rs 21.61 billion while that of the second package is Rs 28.53 billion. The company will complete the design in six months and the tunnel / bridge construction within the next three years. The 72.5 km long fast-track will have tunnels at three different locations and 16 complex bridges.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-06-25', 'modified' => '2021-06-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13332', 'image' => '20210625110719_20210516122418_20170616052456_fast track nov 21.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-06-25 11:06:29', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13590', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Bank and Financial Institutions Demand Voluntary Participation in SSF', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 25: Employees of banks and financial institutions (BFIs) have demanded voluntary participation in the government’s Social Security Fund (SSF) instead of mandatory provision.', '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"">June 25: Employees of banks and financial institutions (BFIs) have demanded voluntary participation in the government’s Social Security Fund (SSF) instead of mandatory provision. They have expressed objection toward mandatory participation after the central bank directed BFIs to join the SSF mandatorily.</span></span></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"">Various associations of BFI employees have accused the government of compelling BFIs to participate by submitting false details of their participation. Varun Khadka, treasurer of Nepal Financial Institution Employees Union, has expressed dissatisfaction over the mandatory participation in SSF. According to him, most of the employees of banks and financial institutions are not interested in joining SSF. He said that lack of uniformity in SSF's rules and procedure has created reservations among the employees.</span></span></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"">He said that the unwanted pressure to include SSF in the social security scheme would not be acceptable as joining SSF would also deprive them of existing perks and facilities.</span></span></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"">He fears that the government is intending to transfer billions of rupees of employees accumulated since the last 10 to 20 years in the Employee Provident Fund to the SSF. This mandatory provision has compelled many employees of BFIs to tender their resignations.</span></span></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"">Roshan Koirala, head of Nabil Bank’s human resources department, said that around six employees have already resigned due to this very reason. According to him, there are many issues of the SSF work procedure and the related Act that do not match. Amendment of only the work procedure does not make sense. SSF work procedure states that all funds of Employee Provident Fund should be kept in the SSF but the same thing is not mentioned in the SSF Act, so employees are resigning due to lack of security.</span></span></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 would be more beneficial to deposit their money in banks' fixed deposit rather than joining SSF, he said. Nabil Bank is currently holding discussions over the issue of participation in SSF.</span></span></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"">Bank and financial sector employees say that the SSF discriminates against the government and private sector employees in terms of social security facilities.</span></span></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 Saroj Kaji Tuladhar, president of the Nepal Financial Institutions Association, the monthly pension is the amount earned by dividing the amount deposited by the workers during the service period by 160. But, this amount is much less for the private sector employees than that provisioned for the government employees.</span></span></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"">Employees are required to contribute 31 percent of their monthly salary to the social security fund, but government employees are required to contribute 6 percent to the pension fund while the government contributes 100 percent. Tuladhar said that private sector employees don’t receive pension equivalent to their contribution. So it is not appropriate to compel private sector employees to join SSF. </span></span></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 SSF, said that the work procedure has been amended to accommodate everyone and will be amended in the future as well when needed. According to him, the ministry has formulated the work procedure on the recommendation of the SSF board using the authority provided by Article 70 of the Act. He claims that the second amendment to the work procedure has addressed the grievances of the contributors. However it is not possible to make any decision yet regarding the voluntary participation.</span></span></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"">Nepal Bankers' Association had also submitted an application to the Ministry of Labor and the SSF two weeks ago objecting to some provisions. Anil Sharma, Executive Director of the Association, said that they have urged the concerned bodies to make the provisions reasonable and participation voluntary. He said that it is not justifiable to ask to choose SSF pension fund by 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"">According to the SSF, only a small number of commercial banks, development banks, finance and microfinance institutions have participated in the fund. So far, 2246 employees of 10 out of 27 commercial banks have been registered. Banks including Laxmi Bank, Prime Commercial Bank, Mega Bank, Nepal Credit and Commerce (NCC) Bank and Global IME Bank are listed. Three out of 18 development banks, 11 out of 20 finance companies and 40 out of 72 microfinance institutions have been registered. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"> </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-06-25', 'modified' => '2021-06-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13331', 'image' => '20210625125128_20210215042205_20200401094426_1585693701.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-06-25 12:50:48', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13584', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Foodstuff worth more than 70 Million sold by 2 Government Entities during Prohibitory Period ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 24: Two state-owned companies, Food Management and Trading Company Limited and Salt Trading Corporation, have sold food items worth more than Rs 75 million at a discount of 20 percent.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">June 24: Two state-owned companies, Food Management and Trading Company Limited and Salt Trading Corporation, have sold food items worth more than Rs 75 million at a discount of 20 percent. The government in the budget for FY 2021/22 had announced a 20 percent discount on food sold by these two companies.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">As announced by the government in the budget, the companies provided a 20 percent discount on the prices of food items including rice, nuts, and sugar from June 7. Both the companies have sold food items worth Rs 78.3 million as of June 19.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The Food Management and Trading Company has sold 12,488 quintals of food worth Rs 69.1 million. Sharmila Subedi, information officer of the company, informed that they gave a discount of Rs 13.8 million. A total of 41,174 households have been estimated to have benefitted from the discounts.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">In the meantime, Salt Trading Corporation has sold food items worth Rs 9.1 million and provided a discount of Rs 1.8 million. A total of 1.52 million households have benefitted from the exemption given by Salt Trading Corporation, said Kumar Raj Bhandari, spokesperson of the corporation.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The Food Management and Trading Company gave discounts on Karnali beans, sugar, and rice except for Marcy and Basmati rice, while the Salt Trading Corporation offered discounts on items like salt, sugar, flour, cooking oil, and cooking gas. Both the companies have discontinued the 20 percent discount offer after the prohibitory order was eased on Tuesday, June 22.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">"We have stopped giving the discount after the government instructed us to postpone the waiver program for the time being," said Bhandari.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-06-24', 'modified' => '2021-06-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13330', 'image' => '20210624020623_20201123043159_92926.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-06-24 14:05:31', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13585', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Technical Team Finds it Difficult to Ascertain the Damage of Melamchi Water Supply Project.', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 24: The project office of Melamchi Water Supply Project (MWSP) has yet to ascertain the extent of damage caused by the floods last week as the technical team that went to inspect the damage at the project site could not reach the headworks area at Ambathan', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">June 24: The project office of Melamchi Water Supply Project (MWSP) has yet to ascertain the extent of damage caused by the floods last week as the technical team that went to inspect the damage at the project site could not reach the headworks area at Ambathan in Helambu Rural Municipality-1. A six-member team led by Madhav Nepal, senior divisional engineer of the project, had visited Ambathan. However, Rajendra Prasad Pant, the spokesperson of the Melamchi Water Supply Development Board, informed that the team could not assess the headworks and returned from Kiul.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">"A technical team is at the site to ascertain the extent of damage, but they could not reach the headworks. It would have been easier to plan if the team could ascertain the damage,” informed Pant. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The headworks of MWSP at Ambathan is about 5 km away from Kiul. The team could not reach the headworks due to continuous floods and rainfall.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">All the temporary structures of the headworks have been washed away due to the flood. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">"The headworks appears to be submerged," Pant said. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">According to Pant, the retaining wall on the left is not visible, and the team was unable to calculate the damage done to the headworks to analyze the time and resources needed for its reconstruction.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The team had to cross four bridges to reach the structure, which is 21 km away from Melamchi Bazaar. He said that only a preliminary estimate of the damage was made, as the team could not reach the site. According to him, the damage is estimated to be around Rs 1 billion. The inspection of tunnel of the MWSP was scheduled to be completed in two months.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">"The inspection work has been affected due to the floods. The Ambathan tunnel is reported to be filled with sand," Pant said. He informed that the project office is coordinating with the rural municipality and the Nepal Army.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">“The most important thing right now is to get to the headworks area. For that, it is necessary to build entrances and bridges,” he said, adding, “We are coordinating with the municipality, Nepal Army, and the Department of Roads for that. He said that all the structures and construction equipment have been flooded.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Even though the main structure was not damaged, the headwork diversion tunnel has been affected by the flood. He said that it was necessary to wait for the monsoon to end to bring water through alternative diversion. He informed that alternative water diversion will be started after clean water reaches Melamchi as it is not possible to irrigate in the rainy season.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Likewise, Pant said that the contract of the construction company should be extended as they could not finish the work within the stipulated period due to the disaster. However, the project office hasn't made any decision on extending the contract yet.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Eight Sino Hydro workers involved in the construction of the project's headworks went missing due to a landslide above the construction site. Of them, three bodies have been found so far.</span></span></span></p> <p><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-06-24', 'modified' => '2021-06-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13329', 'image' => '20210624021648_20210611103908_1623336277.melamchi.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-06-24 14:15:29', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13583', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => ' Corruption Case of Rs 1 Billion Filed against Mahat, Dhakal and Sharma ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 24: The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has filed a corruption case against the then Chairman of Tax Clearance Commission, Lumbadhwoj Mahat, and members Umesh Prasad Dhakal and Chudamani Sharma. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">June 24: The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has filed a corruption case against the then Chairman of Tax Clearance Commission, Lumbadhwoj Mahat, and members Umesh Prasad Dhakal and Chudamani Sharma. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The CIAA filed the case of Rs 1 billion for compromising with the taxpayers breaching the jurisdiction given by Tax Clearance Commission Act and the notice published in Nepal gazette. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The CIAA has sought recovery of Rs 1.3 billion from the accused, said CIAA Spokesperson Narayan Prasad Risal, along with imprisonment. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-06-24', 'modified' => '2021-06-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13328', 'image' => '20210624124455_20190205023717_aaaa.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-06-24 12:44:12', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13582', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Domestic Flights to Resume from July 1 ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 24: The government has decided to resume domestic flights from July 1. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">June 24: The government has decided to resume domestic flights from July 1. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to the state-owned national news agency (RSS), the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation has directed the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) to resume domestic flights not exceeding 50 percent of the total flights from July 1.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Such arrangement has been made until further notice. The ministry has also instructed the aviation governing body to ensure that the airline companies follow health protocol after resuming flights.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS""> The ministry issued the directive following a cabinet decision on Monday to allow flight resumption under certain conditions. Domestic flights were halted following the second wave of COVID-19. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">In case of international flights, the ministry issued a notice on Wednesday (June 23) and directed CAAN to resume flights to certain destinations from coming Thursday (June 24). The Ministry has published a flight schedule until June 30 in relation to international flights, RSS further reported. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to the flight schedule, Turkish Airlines will operate a flight from Istanbul to Kathmandu on June 24. Likewise, on June 25, NAC will operate a flight to Japan and Air India from New Delhi to Kathmandu. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">On June 26, Qatar Airways will run a flight from Doha to Kathmandu. On the same day, Air Arabia will operate a flight from Abu Dhabi to Kathmandu. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">On June 27, NAC will operate a flight from Kathmandu to Doha. On the same day, Himalaya Airlines will run a flight each to Kuala Lumpur and Dubai. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">On June 28, NAC will operate a flight to Dubai and Himalaya Airlines to Dammam and Qatar Airways from Doha to Kathmandu. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">On June 29, NAC will operate a flight from Kathmandu to Doha and Turkish Airlines to Kathmandu. Similarly, Fly Dubai will operate a flight to Kathmandu and Salam Airlines to Kathmandu. On June 30, NAC will run a flight from Kathmandu to Dubai, Himalaya Airlines from Kathmandu to Dammam, Qatar Airways from Doha to Kathmandu and Jazeera Airways from Kuwait to Kathmandu. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The government had halted domestic flights from May 3 and international flights from May 6 following the second wave of COVID-19. </span><br /> <img alt="" src="/app/webroot/userfiles/images/20190402115618_A320%281%29.jpg" style="height:330px; width:800px" /> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-06-24', 'modified' => '2021-06-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13327', 'image' => '20210624115748_20210221121806_Summit Air Landing.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-06-24 11:56:51', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13581', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'WHO Refutes Efficacy of ‘Mix and Match’ of Different Vaccines', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 24: The World Health Organization (WHO) Nepal has refuted the claims that a ‘mix and match’ regimen for Vero Cell and AstraZeneca CoviShield Vaccine would yield more effective results. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">June 24: The World Health Organization (WHO) Nepal has refuted the claims that a ‘mix and match’ regimen for Vero Cell and AstraZeneca CoviShield Vaccine would yield more effective results. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Issuing a press statement on Wednesday (June 23), WHO clarified that it has not issued any such statements and the attribution is false. “Such misinformation can lead to grave consequences for the public”, reads the press release. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">WHO stated that data on the efficacy of ‘mix and match’ of vaccines remains limited. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><strong><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">“</span></strong><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">While studies are ongoing regarding the interchangeability between vaccines and more evidence is needed regarding interchangeability of the second dose of AstraZeneca with Vero Cell vaccines before conclusions can be made,” the statement further said.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-06-24', 'modified' => '2021-06-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13326', 'image' => '20210624114748_Kundan.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-06-24 11:46:57', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13580', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Finance Minister Urges Hoteliers to Benefit from Subsidy ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 23: Minister for Finance Bishnu Prasad Poudel has urged hoteliers and tourism entrepreneurs to benefit from the subsidy given by the government. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">June 23: Minister for Finance Bishnu Prasad Poudel has urged hoteliers and tourism entrepreneurs to benefit from the subsidy given by the government. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Receiving the recommendations submitted by the Hotel Association of Nepal (HAN) on Tuesday, Minister Poudel urged the hoteliers and business people to receive the benefits announced by the government for the upcoming fiscal year adding that the government has addressed most of the demands related to tourism sector. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Stating that the hotel and tourism sector has been given equal status to that of production sector, Poudel argued that it was unlikely to bring better budget than this due to COVID-19. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">In the budget for the fiscal year 2021/22, the government has announced to exempt electricity demand tariff to the hotels during the prohibitory period. The budget has also provision to automatically renew the registration of tourism industries including hotels and trekking agencies without any fee for the fiscal year 2021/22. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">President of HAN Srijana Rana stated that it was a big step to include hotels in the service sector and thanked the minister for incorporating the recommendations given by the HAN in budget. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Likewise, HAN recommended the government to increase the existing amount of refinancing and extend the time period for a year. It has also urged the central bank to monitor whether or not the decision of refinancing was implemented through the banks and financial institutions. --RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-06-23', 'modified' => '2021-06-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13325', 'image' => '20210623034921_20210531043451_20201015115013_1602717511.Clipboard02.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-06-23 15:48:45', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13578', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Investment Board Approves Foreign Investment worth Rs 97 Billion ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 23: The Investment Board Nepal has approved foreign investment of Rs 97 billion.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">June 23: The Investment Board Nepal has approved foreign investment of Rs 97 billion.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The 47th board meeting of the Investment Board chaired by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on June 22 approved foreign investment of around Rs 97 billion for various projects.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The meeting discussed the Upper Tamor Hydropower Project (285 MW) with an estimated cost of USD 540 million and the Lower Manang-Marsyangdi Hydropower Project (139.2 MW) with an estimated cost of Rs 33.41 billion. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Similarly, the Investment Board has been instructed to make necessary preparations for the project development agreement with the developer by approving the detailed project report of China-Nepal Friendship Industrial Park, the largest industrial park in the country proposed to be constructed in Damak, Jhapa under public-private partnership model.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The meeting also approved the draft of the memorandum of understanding to be signed with project developer SJVN Limited India to issue a survey license for the detailed feasibility study of the Lower Arun Hydropower Project (679 MW) to be constructed in Sankhuwasabha district.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The meeting has also decided to direct the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation to make necessary legal reforms by addressing the ambiguities in granting survey permission for the Tamor Reservoir Hydropower Project (756 MW).</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The meeting has formed a committee under the coordination of the Vice-Chairman of the National Planning Commission to study and prepare a blueprint for the development and investment of the West Seti and SR-6 joint hydropower projects.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The meeting also approved the 'Procedure on Recommendation of Foreign Exchange and Transfer Facility, 2078' for the institutional reform and management of the working system of the Investment Board.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Prime Minister Oli during the meeting instructed concerned authorities to take a decision on the hydropower project only after considering the transmission line, consumption of electricity generated from it, and export potential. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">"The mistakes of the past should not be repeated. If we generate electricity but are not able to build transmission lines, we will have to pay for the unused electricity in accordance to the PPA," he said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">During the meeting, Finance Minister and Vice-Chairman of the Board, Bishnu Poudel, said that the proposals submitted to the Investment Board would help in the economic development of the country.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-06-23', 'modified' => '2021-06-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13324', 'image' => '20210623122152_20210115025352_20160222122813_ep3.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-06-23 12:20:50', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = false $xml = falseinclude - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 133 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
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Kathmandu Valley has witnessed incessant rain and foggy sky since early this morning. <br /> According to the TIA source, no international flight has been obstructed due to the adverse weather conditions. However, domestic flights to some destinations have been normally affected due to poor visibility and foggy conditions. Now the weather is gradually improving. <br /> At least 2,500-metre visibility is necessary for landings and take-offs for the international aircrafts. Most of the international flights took place in the morning time. There are no disruptions in international flights as flight services are scheduled in the morning and evening, said the TIA source. <br /> Aircraft have landed in Kathmandu this morning and outgoing flights are scheduled for evening, the sources added. <br /> Towards domestic service, limited charted and rescue flights are taking place. The government has decided to resume domestic flight services in the country from July 1. <br /> Number of international flights to some destinations has been added since June 24. In order to contain the second wave of coronavirus pandemic, the government had enforced prohibitory orders in various parts of the country, including the Kathmandu Valley since April 29. <br /> The domestic flights have been put off since May 3 and international flights since May 6 as part of its measures to stem the virus outbreak. -- RSS <br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-06-26', 'modified' => '2021-06-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13338', 'image' => '20210626025244_DOmestic flights.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-06-26 14:50:40', 'homepage' => true, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '35' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13592', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Monsoon Rain Lashes Majority Parts of the Country', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Majority of the country is experiencing general to mostly cloudy weather today. ', 'content' => '<p>June 26: Several parts of Nepal are receiving lashes of rain as monsoon hits the country . Likewise, moderate to heavy rainfall is likely to continue at many places of the country, according to the Weather Forecasting Division. </p> <p>There are also chances of heavy rain with thunder and lightning in few places of Province 1, Province 2, Bagmati, Gandaki and Lumbini provinces. Province 1, Province 2 and Bagmati province are already experiencing light rainfall since this morning.</p> <p>The weather is likely to remain generally to mostly cloudy in the country later tonight while light to moderate rain is possible at many places of the country. There are chances of heavy rain with thunder and lightning at one or two places of Province 1, Province 2 and Lumbini Province tonight, adds the Division. The temperature of Kathmandu is expected to remain at a maximum of 27.4 and minimum of 20.2 degree Celsius today. --RSS <br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-06-26', 'modified' => '2021-06-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13337', 'image' => '20210626022910_Monsoon.jpeg', 'article_date' => '2021-06-26 14:24:59', 'homepage' => true, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '35' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13591', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Staffers of BFIs Warn of Strike against Social Security Fund', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 25: Employees of banks and financial institutions (BFIs) as well as insurance companies have warned of a strike against the contribution-based Social Security Fund (SSF) if their concerns are not addressed.', '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"">June 25: Employees of banks and financial institutions (BFIs) as well as insurance companies have warned of a strike against the contribution-based Social Security Fund (SSF) if their concerns are not addressed.</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"">Employees' unions of about two dozen banks, financial institutions, and insurance companies issued a joint statement on Thursday, June 24, urging the SSF to consider their suggestions.</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 employees have been protesting against the mandatory provision of joining SSF and have demanded voluntary participation. They have also submitted dozens of suggestions after the Social Security Fund directed all private sectors to get registered in the government scheme by mid-July.</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 the employees' union, the pressure of the social security fund has created panic amongst the BFI's employees.</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 pressure from the fund has made a psychological impact and has affected the productivity of the employees. Therefore, we are unable to be join the existing plan of the fund,” mentions the press statement.</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"">"If we create unnecessary fear, intimidation, and pressure in this area by ignoring the suggestions given at various period to amend the provisions of the Act, Rules, and Procedures, we will be compelled to start a movement against the scheme," the statement said.</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 employees’ unions had earlier submitted a 14-point recommendation to the fund. As some provisions of the contribution-based Social Security Act, Rules and Procedures do not favor the employees, amendments are necessary to make them in favour of the workers and guarantee that the services provided to the employees will not be reduced. </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 Clause 19 (4) (c) of the work procedure of SSF, if the workers do not want to transfer the amount from the provident fund and gratuity allowance to the SSF before the date of commencement of contribution to SSF, the contributor can receive the amount themselves or deposit the amount to any other retirement fund. However, this provision is not mentioned in the Social Security Act and the employees have demanded the SSF to include it in the act as well, besides suggesting the fund to remove double taxation for them.</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"">Similarly, they suggest that in case of death of the contributor with 180 months of contribution to the fund, the deposited amount should be returned to his / her family or the person he/she has nominated.</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 employees have also demanded amendment of the provision that allows them to take out only 80 percent of the amount deposited after three years of joining the social security fund and to make it possible to take loans up to 90 percent at any time.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-06-25', 'modified' => '2021-06-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13336', 'image' => '20210625024103_20210225124654_Social-Security-Fund-SSF.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-06-25 14:40:30', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13588', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Demand for Electricity Rises after Relaxation of Prohibitory Order', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 25: Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has stated that the consumption of electricity has been gradually increasing after the relaxation of prohibitory order.', '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"">June 25: Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has stated that the consumption of electricity has been gradually increasing after the relaxation of prohibitory order. Due to the prohibitory order imposed to contain the second wave of coronavirus, the demand for electricity had gone down. </span></span></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 government has eased the restrictions since June 22 in the valley. Ever since, the consumption of electricity has gone up. Spokesperson of NEA, Madan Timisina said that the power consumption stood at 1365 MW during the peak hour on June 22. During the period of prohibitory order, electricity consumption had declined to 1170 MW at the peak hour. Timsina said that demand for electricity has improved following the relaxation of prohibitory order. </span></span></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"">After the government eased people's movement, corporate offices, banks and financial institutions, industries, departmental stores have come into operation leading to a rise in electricity consumption. </span></span></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 NEA is currently generating 400MW electricity through different projects. The private sector is generating 440 MW electricity and an additional 520 MW is being imported from India. </span></span></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"">"Due to landslides and floods, some of the NEA projects are not in operation so import of electricity has been increased,” Timsina informed. Before the government imposed restrictions, the normal peak hour demand was 1300 MW which was reduced to 1170 MW. </span></span></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"">Meanwhile, the prohibitory order imposed this time did not affect the electricity consumption as much as in the first phase of lockdown. The power consumption had reduced to 600 MW during the lockdown imposed in 2020. </span></span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-06-25', 'modified' => '2021-06-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13335', 'image' => '20210625105528_20210111032406_1610322387.1.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-06-25 10:55:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13587', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => ' Government Backs 'Make in Nepal' Campaign ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 25: The 'Make in Nepal: Swadesi' campaign initiated by the Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) is to receive the backing of the government. ', 'content' => '<p><em>Signing ceremony between CNI and Government of Nepal at Singha Durbar on June 24. Photo Courtesy: CNI</em></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">June 25: The 'Make in Nepal: Swadesi' campaign initiated by the Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) is to receive the backing of the government. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">Issuing a statement on Thursday (June 24), CNI said that the campaign initiated with the objective of promoting goods and services produced in Nepal has received strong backing from the government</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">The statement further said that an agreement to this end was signed between the government and the CNI at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers on Thursday (June 24). </span><br /> <span style="font-family:Arial">During the signing ceremony, Chief Secretary Shanker Das Bairagi expressed the confidence that the campaign would prove a milestone in developing Nepal into a self-reliant and export-oriented economy. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">"Accordingly, the government is simplifying policy and procedures, and also developing environment conducive for investment," the statement quoted Chief Secretary Bairagi as saying.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">Meanwhile, CNI President Satish Kumar More said that the production and promotion of Nepal-made goods is the need of the moment, and urged for support and cooperation from all sectors s. </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-06-25', 'modified' => '2021-06-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13334', 'image' => '20210625104610_MoU_CNI_&_Nepal_Govt-2.jpeg', 'article_date' => '2021-06-25 10:44:34', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13586', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Exports Goods worth Rs 121 Billion in Current FY ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 25: In the first 11 months of the current fiscal year, Nepal exported goods worth Rs 121.25 billion, which is 37.78 per cent more than the goods exported in the corresponding period of the last fiscal year.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">June 25: In the first 11 months of the current fiscal year, Nepal exported goods worth Rs 121.25 billion, which is 37.78 per cent more than the goods exported in the corresponding period of the last fiscal year.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">According the Department of Customs, Nepal had exported goods worth Rs 88 billion during the same period in the last fiscal year. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Likewise, Nepal imported goods worth Rs 1383.36 billion during the review period. According to the Department, the import of goods rose by 25.67 per cent compared to last fiscal year. Nepal had imported goods and services equal to Rs 1100.81 billion in the same period last year. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">From mid-May to mid-June, Nepal imported goods and services of Rs 129.25 billion while the export remained just Rs 12.77 billion. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">As per the statistics, the country’s trade deficit in the current fiscal year has widened by 24.61 per cent. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">In the country’s foreign trade, the share of import is 91.94 per cent while it is just 8.06 per cent of export. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The top importing goods of Nepal include diesel, iron products (steel), legume oil, mobile phone, cooking gas and petrol. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Likewise, legume oil, cardamom, carpet, tea and jute carpet remained the top export goods of Nepal. --RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-06-25', 'modified' => '2021-06-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13333', 'image' => '20210625103247_20190227014053_aadfsaff.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-06-25 10:32:14', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13589', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Chinese Team Arrives to Design Tunnel of KTM-Terai Fast Track ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 25: A Chinese team has arrived in the country to design a tunnel under the second package of the Kathmandu-Terai Fast Track. ', '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"">June 25: A Chinese team has arrived in the country to design a tunnel under the second package of the Kathmandu-Terai Fast Track. The Chinese team of Poly Chhangda Engineering Corporation will design the tunnel between Dhadrekhola to Lanedada and a special bridge in this section. </span></span></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"">As per the contract agreement signed on May 14, a group of 14 people from the company arrived in Nepal on Wednesday, June 23, on a chartered flight. The agreement was signed to build the Fast Track under Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) model. Spokesperson of the Nepalese Army Santosh Ballabh Poudel informed that the officials of the company who got the contract for the second package have arrived.</span></span></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 team consists of the necessary experts, including project managers, tunnels, bridges and road engineers," Poudel said, adding, “The team will design the structure and start field work after completing quarantine."</span></span></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 human resources of the company present in the country have already started the work of geophysical and geotechnical survey and the team that arrived on Wednesday will look into the design of the tunnel. </span></span></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 is an achievement that the team has arrived in the country even in such difficult times. This will help to complete the project on time," Brigadier General Poudel added. </span></span></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 design of the project to be constructed through this medium should also be done by the same company.</span></span></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"">As per the agreement, the design has to be completed within six months. He said that the army would facilitate the team to start the design work as soon as possible. Similarly, a team of China State Construction Engineering Corporation Limited, which was awarded the contract to build the first package of the Chhokredanda-Dhedrekhola tunnel, will also arrive in Kathmandu in two or three days, he said.</span></span></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 Nepalese Army has signed agreements with two Chinese companies to build special bridges with tunnels within three and a half years at an estimated cost of Rs 50.14 billion. The army had signed the contract despite a directive from the Public Accounts Committee of the parliament to cancel the process citing irregularities in the process.</span></span></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 cost of the first package of the bridge construction including the tunnel is estimated to be Rs 21.61 billion while that of the second package is Rs 28.53 billion. The company will complete the design in six months and the tunnel / bridge construction within the next three years. The 72.5 km long fast-track will have tunnels at three different locations and 16 complex bridges.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-06-25', 'modified' => '2021-06-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13332', 'image' => '20210625110719_20210516122418_20170616052456_fast track nov 21.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-06-25 11:06:29', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13590', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Bank and Financial Institutions Demand Voluntary Participation in SSF', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 25: Employees of banks and financial institutions (BFIs) have demanded voluntary participation in the government’s Social Security Fund (SSF) instead of mandatory provision.', '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"">June 25: Employees of banks and financial institutions (BFIs) have demanded voluntary participation in the government’s Social Security Fund (SSF) instead of mandatory provision. They have expressed objection toward mandatory participation after the central bank directed BFIs to join the SSF mandatorily.</span></span></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"">Various associations of BFI employees have accused the government of compelling BFIs to participate by submitting false details of their participation. Varun Khadka, treasurer of Nepal Financial Institution Employees Union, has expressed dissatisfaction over the mandatory participation in SSF. According to him, most of the employees of banks and financial institutions are not interested in joining SSF. He said that lack of uniformity in SSF's rules and procedure has created reservations among the employees.</span></span></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"">He said that the unwanted pressure to include SSF in the social security scheme would not be acceptable as joining SSF would also deprive them of existing perks and facilities.</span></span></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"">He fears that the government is intending to transfer billions of rupees of employees accumulated since the last 10 to 20 years in the Employee Provident Fund to the SSF. This mandatory provision has compelled many employees of BFIs to tender their resignations.</span></span></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"">Roshan Koirala, head of Nabil Bank’s human resources department, said that around six employees have already resigned due to this very reason. According to him, there are many issues of the SSF work procedure and the related Act that do not match. Amendment of only the work procedure does not make sense. SSF work procedure states that all funds of Employee Provident Fund should be kept in the SSF but the same thing is not mentioned in the SSF Act, so employees are resigning due to lack of security.</span></span></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 would be more beneficial to deposit their money in banks' fixed deposit rather than joining SSF, he said. Nabil Bank is currently holding discussions over the issue of participation in SSF.</span></span></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"">Bank and financial sector employees say that the SSF discriminates against the government and private sector employees in terms of social security facilities.</span></span></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 Saroj Kaji Tuladhar, president of the Nepal Financial Institutions Association, the monthly pension is the amount earned by dividing the amount deposited by the workers during the service period by 160. But, this amount is much less for the private sector employees than that provisioned for the government employees.</span></span></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"">Employees are required to contribute 31 percent of their monthly salary to the social security fund, but government employees are required to contribute 6 percent to the pension fund while the government contributes 100 percent. Tuladhar said that private sector employees don’t receive pension equivalent to their contribution. So it is not appropriate to compel private sector employees to join SSF. </span></span></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 SSF, said that the work procedure has been amended to accommodate everyone and will be amended in the future as well when needed. According to him, the ministry has formulated the work procedure on the recommendation of the SSF board using the authority provided by Article 70 of the Act. He claims that the second amendment to the work procedure has addressed the grievances of the contributors. However it is not possible to make any decision yet regarding the voluntary participation.</span></span></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"">Nepal Bankers' Association had also submitted an application to the Ministry of Labor and the SSF two weeks ago objecting to some provisions. Anil Sharma, Executive Director of the Association, said that they have urged the concerned bodies to make the provisions reasonable and participation voluntary. He said that it is not justifiable to ask to choose SSF pension fund by 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"">According to the SSF, only a small number of commercial banks, development banks, finance and microfinance institutions have participated in the fund. So far, 2246 employees of 10 out of 27 commercial banks have been registered. Banks including Laxmi Bank, Prime Commercial Bank, Mega Bank, Nepal Credit and Commerce (NCC) Bank and Global IME Bank are listed. Three out of 18 development banks, 11 out of 20 finance companies and 40 out of 72 microfinance institutions have been registered. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"> </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-06-25', 'modified' => '2021-06-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13331', 'image' => '20210625125128_20210215042205_20200401094426_1585693701.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-06-25 12:50:48', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13584', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Foodstuff worth more than 70 Million sold by 2 Government Entities during Prohibitory Period ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 24: Two state-owned companies, Food Management and Trading Company Limited and Salt Trading Corporation, have sold food items worth more than Rs 75 million at a discount of 20 percent.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">June 24: Two state-owned companies, Food Management and Trading Company Limited and Salt Trading Corporation, have sold food items worth more than Rs 75 million at a discount of 20 percent. The government in the budget for FY 2021/22 had announced a 20 percent discount on food sold by these two companies.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">As announced by the government in the budget, the companies provided a 20 percent discount on the prices of food items including rice, nuts, and sugar from June 7. Both the companies have sold food items worth Rs 78.3 million as of June 19.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The Food Management and Trading Company has sold 12,488 quintals of food worth Rs 69.1 million. Sharmila Subedi, information officer of the company, informed that they gave a discount of Rs 13.8 million. A total of 41,174 households have been estimated to have benefitted from the discounts.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">In the meantime, Salt Trading Corporation has sold food items worth Rs 9.1 million and provided a discount of Rs 1.8 million. A total of 1.52 million households have benefitted from the exemption given by Salt Trading Corporation, said Kumar Raj Bhandari, spokesperson of the corporation.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The Food Management and Trading Company gave discounts on Karnali beans, sugar, and rice except for Marcy and Basmati rice, while the Salt Trading Corporation offered discounts on items like salt, sugar, flour, cooking oil, and cooking gas. Both the companies have discontinued the 20 percent discount offer after the prohibitory order was eased on Tuesday, June 22.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">"We have stopped giving the discount after the government instructed us to postpone the waiver program for the time being," said Bhandari.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-06-24', 'modified' => '2021-06-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13330', 'image' => '20210624020623_20201123043159_92926.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-06-24 14:05:31', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13585', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Technical Team Finds it Difficult to Ascertain the Damage of Melamchi Water Supply Project.', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 24: The project office of Melamchi Water Supply Project (MWSP) has yet to ascertain the extent of damage caused by the floods last week as the technical team that went to inspect the damage at the project site could not reach the headworks area at Ambathan', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">June 24: The project office of Melamchi Water Supply Project (MWSP) has yet to ascertain the extent of damage caused by the floods last week as the technical team that went to inspect the damage at the project site could not reach the headworks area at Ambathan in Helambu Rural Municipality-1. A six-member team led by Madhav Nepal, senior divisional engineer of the project, had visited Ambathan. However, Rajendra Prasad Pant, the spokesperson of the Melamchi Water Supply Development Board, informed that the team could not assess the headworks and returned from Kiul.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">"A technical team is at the site to ascertain the extent of damage, but they could not reach the headworks. It would have been easier to plan if the team could ascertain the damage,” informed Pant. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The headworks of MWSP at Ambathan is about 5 km away from Kiul. The team could not reach the headworks due to continuous floods and rainfall.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">All the temporary structures of the headworks have been washed away due to the flood. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">"The headworks appears to be submerged," Pant said. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">According to Pant, the retaining wall on the left is not visible, and the team was unable to calculate the damage done to the headworks to analyze the time and resources needed for its reconstruction.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The team had to cross four bridges to reach the structure, which is 21 km away from Melamchi Bazaar. He said that only a preliminary estimate of the damage was made, as the team could not reach the site. According to him, the damage is estimated to be around Rs 1 billion. The inspection of tunnel of the MWSP was scheduled to be completed in two months.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">"The inspection work has been affected due to the floods. The Ambathan tunnel is reported to be filled with sand," Pant said. He informed that the project office is coordinating with the rural municipality and the Nepal Army.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">“The most important thing right now is to get to the headworks area. For that, it is necessary to build entrances and bridges,” he said, adding, “We are coordinating with the municipality, Nepal Army, and the Department of Roads for that. He said that all the structures and construction equipment have been flooded.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Even though the main structure was not damaged, the headwork diversion tunnel has been affected by the flood. He said that it was necessary to wait for the monsoon to end to bring water through alternative diversion. He informed that alternative water diversion will be started after clean water reaches Melamchi as it is not possible to irrigate in the rainy season.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Likewise, Pant said that the contract of the construction company should be extended as they could not finish the work within the stipulated period due to the disaster. However, the project office hasn't made any decision on extending the contract yet.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Eight Sino Hydro workers involved in the construction of the project's headworks went missing due to a landslide above the construction site. Of them, three bodies have been found so far.</span></span></span></p> <p><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-06-24', 'modified' => '2021-06-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13329', 'image' => '20210624021648_20210611103908_1623336277.melamchi.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-06-24 14:15:29', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13583', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => ' Corruption Case of Rs 1 Billion Filed against Mahat, Dhakal and Sharma ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 24: The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has filed a corruption case against the then Chairman of Tax Clearance Commission, Lumbadhwoj Mahat, and members Umesh Prasad Dhakal and Chudamani Sharma. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">June 24: The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has filed a corruption case against the then Chairman of Tax Clearance Commission, Lumbadhwoj Mahat, and members Umesh Prasad Dhakal and Chudamani Sharma. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The CIAA filed the case of Rs 1 billion for compromising with the taxpayers breaching the jurisdiction given by Tax Clearance Commission Act and the notice published in Nepal gazette. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The CIAA has sought recovery of Rs 1.3 billion from the accused, said CIAA Spokesperson Narayan Prasad Risal, along with imprisonment. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-06-24', 'modified' => '2021-06-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13328', 'image' => '20210624124455_20190205023717_aaaa.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-06-24 12:44:12', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13582', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Domestic Flights to Resume from July 1 ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 24: The government has decided to resume domestic flights from July 1. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">June 24: The government has decided to resume domestic flights from July 1. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to the state-owned national news agency (RSS), the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation has directed the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) to resume domestic flights not exceeding 50 percent of the total flights from July 1.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Such arrangement has been made until further notice. The ministry has also instructed the aviation governing body to ensure that the airline companies follow health protocol after resuming flights.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS""> The ministry issued the directive following a cabinet decision on Monday to allow flight resumption under certain conditions. Domestic flights were halted following the second wave of COVID-19. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">In case of international flights, the ministry issued a notice on Wednesday (June 23) and directed CAAN to resume flights to certain destinations from coming Thursday (June 24). The Ministry has published a flight schedule until June 30 in relation to international flights, RSS further reported. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to the flight schedule, Turkish Airlines will operate a flight from Istanbul to Kathmandu on June 24. Likewise, on June 25, NAC will operate a flight to Japan and Air India from New Delhi to Kathmandu. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">On June 26, Qatar Airways will run a flight from Doha to Kathmandu. On the same day, Air Arabia will operate a flight from Abu Dhabi to Kathmandu. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">On June 27, NAC will operate a flight from Kathmandu to Doha. On the same day, Himalaya Airlines will run a flight each to Kuala Lumpur and Dubai. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">On June 28, NAC will operate a flight to Dubai and Himalaya Airlines to Dammam and Qatar Airways from Doha to Kathmandu. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">On June 29, NAC will operate a flight from Kathmandu to Doha and Turkish Airlines to Kathmandu. Similarly, Fly Dubai will operate a flight to Kathmandu and Salam Airlines to Kathmandu. On June 30, NAC will run a flight from Kathmandu to Dubai, Himalaya Airlines from Kathmandu to Dammam, Qatar Airways from Doha to Kathmandu and Jazeera Airways from Kuwait to Kathmandu. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The government had halted domestic flights from May 3 and international flights from May 6 following the second wave of COVID-19. </span><br /> <img alt="" src="/app/webroot/userfiles/images/20190402115618_A320%281%29.jpg" style="height:330px; width:800px" /> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-06-24', 'modified' => '2021-06-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13327', 'image' => '20210624115748_20210221121806_Summit Air Landing.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-06-24 11:56:51', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13581', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'WHO Refutes Efficacy of ‘Mix and Match’ of Different Vaccines', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 24: The World Health Organization (WHO) Nepal has refuted the claims that a ‘mix and match’ regimen for Vero Cell and AstraZeneca CoviShield Vaccine would yield more effective results. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">June 24: The World Health Organization (WHO) Nepal has refuted the claims that a ‘mix and match’ regimen for Vero Cell and AstraZeneca CoviShield Vaccine would yield more effective results. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Issuing a press statement on Wednesday (June 23), WHO clarified that it has not issued any such statements and the attribution is false. “Such misinformation can lead to grave consequences for the public”, reads the press release. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">WHO stated that data on the efficacy of ‘mix and match’ of vaccines remains limited. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><strong><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">“</span></strong><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">While studies are ongoing regarding the interchangeability between vaccines and more evidence is needed regarding interchangeability of the second dose of AstraZeneca with Vero Cell vaccines before conclusions can be made,” the statement further said.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-06-24', 'modified' => '2021-06-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13326', 'image' => '20210624114748_Kundan.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-06-24 11:46:57', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13580', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Finance Minister Urges Hoteliers to Benefit from Subsidy ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 23: Minister for Finance Bishnu Prasad Poudel has urged hoteliers and tourism entrepreneurs to benefit from the subsidy given by the government. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">June 23: Minister for Finance Bishnu Prasad Poudel has urged hoteliers and tourism entrepreneurs to benefit from the subsidy given by the government. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Receiving the recommendations submitted by the Hotel Association of Nepal (HAN) on Tuesday, Minister Poudel urged the hoteliers and business people to receive the benefits announced by the government for the upcoming fiscal year adding that the government has addressed most of the demands related to tourism sector. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Stating that the hotel and tourism sector has been given equal status to that of production sector, Poudel argued that it was unlikely to bring better budget than this due to COVID-19. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">In the budget for the fiscal year 2021/22, the government has announced to exempt electricity demand tariff to the hotels during the prohibitory period. The budget has also provision to automatically renew the registration of tourism industries including hotels and trekking agencies without any fee for the fiscal year 2021/22. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">President of HAN Srijana Rana stated that it was a big step to include hotels in the service sector and thanked the minister for incorporating the recommendations given by the HAN in budget. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Likewise, HAN recommended the government to increase the existing amount of refinancing and extend the time period for a year. It has also urged the central bank to monitor whether or not the decision of refinancing was implemented through the banks and financial institutions. --RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-06-23', 'modified' => '2021-06-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13325', 'image' => '20210623034921_20210531043451_20201015115013_1602717511.Clipboard02.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-06-23 15:48:45', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13578', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Investment Board Approves Foreign Investment worth Rs 97 Billion ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 23: The Investment Board Nepal has approved foreign investment of Rs 97 billion.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">June 23: The Investment Board Nepal has approved foreign investment of Rs 97 billion.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The 47th board meeting of the Investment Board chaired by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on June 22 approved foreign investment of around Rs 97 billion for various projects.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The meeting discussed the Upper Tamor Hydropower Project (285 MW) with an estimated cost of USD 540 million and the Lower Manang-Marsyangdi Hydropower Project (139.2 MW) with an estimated cost of Rs 33.41 billion. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Similarly, the Investment Board has been instructed to make necessary preparations for the project development agreement with the developer by approving the detailed project report of China-Nepal Friendship Industrial Park, the largest industrial park in the country proposed to be constructed in Damak, Jhapa under public-private partnership model.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The meeting also approved the draft of the memorandum of understanding to be signed with project developer SJVN Limited India to issue a survey license for the detailed feasibility study of the Lower Arun Hydropower Project (679 MW) to be constructed in Sankhuwasabha district.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The meeting has also decided to direct the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation to make necessary legal reforms by addressing the ambiguities in granting survey permission for the Tamor Reservoir Hydropower Project (756 MW).</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The meeting has formed a committee under the coordination of the Vice-Chairman of the National Planning Commission to study and prepare a blueprint for the development and investment of the West Seti and SR-6 joint hydropower projects.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The meeting also approved the 'Procedure on Recommendation of Foreign Exchange and Transfer Facility, 2078' for the institutional reform and management of the working system of the Investment Board.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Prime Minister Oli during the meeting instructed concerned authorities to take a decision on the hydropower project only after considering the transmission line, consumption of electricity generated from it, and export potential. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">"The mistakes of the past should not be repeated. If we generate electricity but are not able to build transmission lines, we will have to pay for the unused electricity in accordance to the PPA," he said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">During the meeting, Finance Minister and Vice-Chairman of the Board, Bishnu Poudel, said that the proposals submitted to the Investment Board would help in the economic development of the country.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-06-23', 'modified' => '2021-06-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13324', 'image' => '20210623122152_20210115025352_20160222122813_ep3.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-06-23 12:20:50', '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
