Test Drive of India-Made Train along Janakpur-Jayanagar Section Today

Sep 18, 2020 0 1 minutes 46 seconds to read

September 18: A brand new train that arrived in Jayanagar on Thursday evening will undergo test drive today along the 34-kilometer section of the Janakpur-Jayanagar Railway.…

Tax Exemption on Raw Materials for Medicines not yet Implemented

Sep 18, 2020 0 1 minutes 54 seconds to read

September 18: The government in its annual budget for the current fiscal year had announced to provide VAT exemption for raw materials and packing materials required for the pharmaceutical companies of…

India Seeks Permission to Prepare DPR of Kathmandu-Raxaul Railway

Sep 17, 2020 0 1 minutes 46 seconds to read

September 17: India has sought permission from the Government of Nepal to prepare the detailed project report (DPR) of the Kathmandu-Raxaul…

Nepal-Bound Goods Stuck across Rasuwagadhi Border

Sep 17, 2020 0 1 minutes 41 seconds to read

September 17: Nepali importers are unable to get customs clearance of goods stuck at Kerung of China due to the obstruction in reopening Rasuwagadhi Customs Point since the last seven months.…

Rift Over 50 Percent Seating Capacity Casts Doubts on Resuming Domestic Flights

Sep 17, 2020 0 2 minutes 23 seconds to read

September 17: Although the government has lifted a ban on domestic flights effective from September 17, private airline companies have said they cannot provide the service with just 50 percent…

Pandemic Threatens Gains of the Past Decade: World Bank

Sep 17, 2020 0 4 minutes 7 seconds to read

September 17: The COVID-19 pandemic threatens hard-won gains in health and education over the past decade, especially in the poorest countries, a new World Bank Group analysis finds.…

India’s Ban on Export of Onion leads to Arbitrary Pricing in the Market

Sep 16, 2020 0 2 minutes 17 seconds to read

September 16: The price of onion has skyrocketed in the market after the Indian government banned the export of onion.…

Rs 3 billion needed for repairing roads and bridges damaged by natural disasters

Sep 16, 2020 0 1 minutes 40 seconds to read

September 16: A preliminary study conducted by the Department of Roads shows that more than Rs 3 billion is required to repair the roads and bridges damaged by floods and landslides across the…

Developing Asia Witnessing First Recession in 6 Decades: ADB

Sep 16, 2020 0 2 minutes 20 seconds to read

September 16: As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to disrupt global economic activity, developing Asia's gross domestic product (GDP) is now expected to contract by 0.7% in 2020, according to the Asian Development…

Long-Distance Transportation and Air Service to Resume from Tomorrow

Sep 16, 2020 0 2 minutes 56 seconds to read

September 16: The government has decided to resume long-distance transportation service as well as domestic flights from coming Thursday (September 17) instead of September…

Yuba Raj Khatiwada Appointed Special Financial Advisor to PM Oli

Sep 16, 2020 0 1 minutes 20 seconds to read

September 16: The Council of Ministers has appointed former finance minister Yuba Raj Khatiwada as the special financial advisor to Prime Minsiter KP Oli.…

Nepali Students Spending Billions of Rupees for Education in India

Sep 15, 2020 0 4 minutes 52 seconds to read

September 15: India’s economy is getting richer by billions of rupees collected as educational fees from Nepali students every…

Thousands of Workers Unemployed in Sunsari-Morang Industrial Corridor

Sep 15, 2020 0 1 minutes 44 seconds to read

September 15: Thousands of workers have lost their jobs in the Sunsari-Morang Industrial Corridor within the last six months due to…

Kathmandu Marriott Hotel Bags Award at Asia Pacific Hotel Awards 2020 -2021

Sep 15, 2020 0 1 minutes 36 seconds to read

September 15: Kathmandu Marriott Hotel has won the award for the Best Luxury Hotel of Nepal at the Asia Pacific Hotel Award 2020…

Government Unable to Rescue Stranded Nepalis

Sep 14, 2020 0 1 minutes 57 seconds to read

September 14: Nepali citizens stranded abroad after losing their jobs due to the coronavirus pandemic have not been able to come back to Nepal due to the lack of sufficient repatriation…

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NEPSE

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			'id' => '12486',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Test Drive of India-Made Train along Janakpur-Jayanagar Section Today',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'September 18: A brand new train that arrived in Jayanagar on Thursday evening will undergo test drive today along the 34-kilometer section of the Janakpur-Jayanagar Railway. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">September 18: A brand new train that arrived in Jayanagar on Thursday evening will undergo test drive today along the 34-kilometer section of the Janakpur-Jayanagar Railway. The train manufactured by Konkan Railway Corporation, a company owned by the Government of India, arrived in Jayanagar on Thursday (September 17) evening. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">The train with a capacity of about 1300 passengers is&nbsp;being brought to Janakpur from Jayanagar on Friday, September 18 (today). Guru Bhattarai, general manager of Nepal Railway Company Limited, informed that the train will undergo test drive today along the Jayanagar-Janakpur section.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Konkan Railway Corporation is planning to hand over the train to Nepal after completing the test drive. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Bhattarai informed that the technicians of Konkan Railway Corporation will operate the train to Janakpur in Nepal for the test. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">He added that the modalities for the regular operation of the train will be made within a year after discussions with India.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">The Indian-made train had arrived at Hajipur in Bihar a few weeks ago.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">The Jayanagar-Janakpur-Bardiwas railway which is currently under construction with the assistance of the Government of India is 69 kilometers long. Out of that, the&nbsp;test will be conducted along 34 kilometers of Jayanagar-Janakpur section.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Tax Exemption on Raw Materials for Medicines not yet Implemented',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'September 18: The government in its annual budget for the current fiscal year had announced to provide VAT exemption for raw materials and packing materials required for the pharmaceutical companies of Nepal.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">September 18: The government in its annual budget for the current fiscal year had announced to provide VAT exemption for raw materials and packing materials required for the pharmaceutical companies of Nepal. However, the decision is yet to be implemented. Pharmaceutical companies complain that they have been paying VAT (value added tax) while importing over three dozen such products.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">General Secretary of the Association of Pharmaceutical Producers of Nepal (APPN) Biplav Adhikari says they have been paying VAT for raw materials required for producing medicines including active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) for which the government has announced tax exemption.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">&ldquo;The government had announced tax exemption while unveiling the budget for the current fiscal year but the customs offices have been collecting tax from us,&rdquo; said Adhikari.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Stakeholders say the provision to grant tax exemption for APIs and packing materials is already included in the Financial Act and therefore the customs offices continue charging tax as per the provision in the law. Pharmaceutical companies have urged the concerned authorities including the finance ministry, health ministry to amend the law to ensure that they get the facilities announced in the budget but to no avail. </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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">It has been almost three and a half months since the budget announcement was made but the tax exemption has not been implemented. Pharmaceutical companies have reduced the import of raw materials and packing materials after they were denied tax exemption.&nbsp; They have been importing only limited quantity of those products that are currently required.</span></span></span></span></p>
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			'id' => '12484',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'India Seeks Permission to Prepare DPR of Kathmandu-Raxaul Railway',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'September 17: India has sought permission from the Government of Nepal to prepare the detailed project report (DPR) of the Kathmandu-Raxaul Railway.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Devanagari Sangam MN&quot;">September 17: </span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Bangla MN&quot;">India has sought permission from the Government of Nepal to prepare the detailed project report (DPR) of the Kathmandu-Raxaul Railway. India and China are among the two countries that have shown interest to invest in trans-border railway in Nepal. Meanwhile, China has said it will start the study only after the risk of coronavirus subsides.</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:&quot;Bangla MN&quot;">According to the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport, they are currently preparing to give permission to India for the DPR. The ministry clarified that there hasn&rsquo;t been any discussion with China recently for the feasibility study.</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:&quot;Bangla MN&quot;">China hasn&rsquo;t been able to study the railway route that falls in Nepal due to the risk of coronavirus. However, China has started survey of the trans-border railway route between Shigatshe and Kerung that falls within its border. </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:&quot;Bangla MN&quot;">In a virtual meeting between Finance Ministry and China International Development Corporation Agency (CIDCA) in late August, the two sides had agreed to start the survey of Nepal Tokha-Chahare and Syafrybesi-Betrawati tunnel sections of the railway after the&nbsp; coronavirus pandemic subsides.</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:&quot;Bangla MN&quot;">Meanwhile, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport Gopal Sigdel informed New Business Age that India sought permission to prepare the DPR of Kathmandu-Raxaul Railway a few weeks ago. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'id' => '12483',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Nepal-Bound Goods Stuck across Rasuwagadhi Border',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'September 17: Nepali importers are unable to get customs clearance of goods stuck at Kerung of China due to the obstruction in reopening Rasuwagadhi Customs Point since the last seven months. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Bangla MN&quot;">September 17: Nepali importers are unable to get customs clearance of goods stuck at Kerung of China due to the obstruction in reopening Rasuwagadhi Customs Point since the last seven months. The importers have sought help from the concerned government bodies but they only get assurance.</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:&quot;Bangla MN&quot;">The border has remained closed since January after a surge in coronavirus cases in China. More than 1000 containers carrying readymade garments, shoes and electronic appliances are struck across the border due to the obstruction. </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:&quot;Bangla MN&quot;">Although the customs point along with Tatopani customs was opened for some time in between, it has been obstructed again. Importers are worried if they can bring clothes for the upcoming Dashain festival or not.</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:&quot;Bangla MN&quot;">The importers have submitted memorandum to various government bodies to resolve the problem diplomatically. All of them have assured to help in releasing the goods but to no avail, says Naresh Katuwal, chairman of Nepal National Entrepreneurs Federation.</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:&quot;Bangla MN&quot;">Of late, the border has been closed after coronavirus was detected among the workers involved in loading goods.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Bangla MN&quot;">Besides coronavirus, the border has also been obstructed by landslides time and again.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12482',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Rift Over 50 Percent Seating Capacity Casts Doubts on Resuming Domestic Flights',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'September 17: Although the government has lifted a ban on domestic flights effective from September 17, private airline companies have said they cannot provide the service with just 50 percent passengers.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">September 17: Although the government has lifted a ban on domestic flights effective from September 17, private airline companies have said they cannot provide the service with just 50 percent passengers.</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:Arial">A meeting of the Council of Ministers on Monday (September 14) decided to allow airline companies to resume domestic flights with just 50 percent passengers.</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:Arial">However, airline companies have said that it is impractical to operate flights with 50 percent passengers.</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:Arial">&ldquo;First of all there is confusion regarding the date of resuming service. Secondly, if we are to provide service by adopting all necessary safety precautions then it is impractical to fly only 50 percent passengers,&rdquo; says Manoj Karki, general secretary of Airline Operators Association of Nepal (AOAN).</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:Arial">&ldquo;It will only raise the air fare by double amount,&rdquo; added Karki, who is also the managing director of Summit Air. </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:Arial">Karki says resuming air service is a praiseworthy decision but provision of 50 percent seating capacity should be revised. He said that they have submitted a memorandum to the concerned ministry to revise the provision. </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:Arial">AOAN spokesperson Yograj Kandel says it is not possible to provide air service under the terms and conditions set by the government. Therefore, the airline operators have decided not to resume service at the moment. </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:Arial">The government lifted a ban on regular international flights on September 1 after almost 5 months of lockdown. Resuming domestic flights was delayed due to increase in coronavirus cases across the country. </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:Arial">The government was under pressure to resume domestic flights. Although the government lifted a ban on domestic flights, it is still not certain when the flights will resume due to the differences in seating capacity for the flights.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
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	(int) 5 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12481',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Pandemic Threatens Gains of the Past Decade: World Bank',
			'sub_title' => 'Nepal Makes Pre-Pandemic Progress in Human Capital Development',
			'summary' => 'September 17: The COVID-19 pandemic threatens hard-won gains in health and education over the past decade, especially in the poorest countries, a new World Bank Group analysis finds. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">September 17:</span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial"> The COVID-19 pandemic threatens hard-won gains in health and education over the past decade, especially in the poorest countries, a new World Bank Group analysis finds. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Investments in human capital&mdash;the knowledge, skills, and health that people accumulate over their lives&mdash;are key to unlocking a child&rsquo;s potential and to improving economic growth in every country, World Bank said in a statement. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">The World Bank Group&rsquo;s 2020 Human Capital Index shows that most countries had made steady progress in building human capital of children, with the biggest strides made in low-income countries before the pandemic. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">&ldquo;Investment in human capital is just as important as investment in infrastructure, if not more, and brings returns in the form of a healthier and more productive workforce in the long run,&rdquo; stated Faris Hadad-Zervos, World Bank&rsquo;s country director for the Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka. &ldquo;There is a need for an accelerated push to focus on investing in human capital in the recovery and rebuilding phases after the pandemic. This requires close collaborations among all three levels of the government in order to bring about large and sustainable changes.&rdquo;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">&nbsp;Due to the pandemic&#39;s impact, most children &ndash; more than 1 billion &ndash; have been out of school and could lose, on average, half a year of schooling, translating into considerable monetary losses in the future, according to the World Bank. Data also shows significant disruptions to essential health services for women and children, with many children missing out on crucial vaccinations. The economic impact of the pandemic has been particularly deep for women and for the most disadvantaged families, leaving many vulnerable to food insecurity and poverty. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">&nbsp;The 2020 Human Capital Index includes </span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">health and education data up to March 2020 for 174 countries covering 98 percent of the world&rsquo;s population, providing a pre-pandemic baseline on the health and education status of children. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria">&nbsp;<span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Today, hard-won human capital gains in many countries are at risk. But countries can do more than just work to recover the lost ground. To protect and extend earlier human capital gains, countries need to expand health service coverage and quality among marginalized communities, boost learning outcomes together with school enrollments, and support vulnerable families with social protection measures adapted to the scale of the COVID-19 crisis, the statement further said. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">&nbsp;In Nepal, it is essential to invest more in the early years, with a focus on those children who have been left behind. This includes safeguarding access to nutritious, safe and affordable diets and providing opportunities for learning and stimulation especially for the poorest and most-affected households. Given the current high cost of medical care, resources can be refocused towards ensuring universal access to quality essential primary, emergency and referral health services.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria">&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">The World Bank Group said it is working closely with governments to develop long-term solutions to protect and invest in people during and after the pandemic. In Nepal, the Bank is supporting the development of school safety and hygiene protocols while working with WASH teams to provide basic sanitization and hygiene supplies. The Bank is helping strengthen government systems and expand coverage of social security allowances and civil registration to support vulnerable communities. The Bank is also supporting the government to strengthen health systems and security and improve the health financing landscape of the country.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria">&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria">&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 6 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12480',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'India’s Ban on Export of Onion leads to Arbitrary Pricing in the Market ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'September 16: The price of onion has skyrocketed in the market after the Indian government banned the export of onion. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">September 16: The price of onion has skyrocketed in the market after the Indian government banned the export of onion. The retail price of onion has reached up to Rs 100 as the traders have started fixing the price arbitrarily. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The import of onion has stopped in the Kalimati Fruits and Vegetables market since September 14 after India banned the export. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The price of onion was rising in Nepal some days before India banned the export. According to the daily price list of Kalimati Fruits and Vegetables Market, the price of onion has increased by 89 percent in the last 15 days. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The wholesale price of onion, which was Rs 42 per kg on September 1, has increased to Rs 75 per kg since then. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The shortage of onion in Nepal is expected to become acute after India stopped the export. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Vinay Shrestha, information officer of Kalimati Fruits and Vegetables Market Development Board, says that traders have already increased the price in Nepal due to the increase in price in India. He claims that arbitrary prices should not be fixed while selling old products that were in stock. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">&ldquo;The domestic production of Nepal cannot meet the market demand while onions cannot be imported from India now. Consumers will face the problem after the ban by India,&rdquo; said Shrestha. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Some traders have suddenly increased the price of onions. Onions were being sold at Rs 75 per kg on Tuesday, while it was sold at Rs 100 per kg in the same afternoon. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 7 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12479',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Rs 3 billion needed for repairing roads and bridges damaged by natural disasters ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'September 16: A preliminary study conducted by the Department of Roads shows that more than Rs 3 billion is required to repair the roads and bridges damaged by floods and landslides across the country.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">September 16: A preliminary study conducted by the Department of Roads shows that more than Rs 3 billion is required to repair the roads and bridges damaged by floods and landslides across the country.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">The estimated amount is required for repairing the roads and bridges in 226 various locations across the country where damages were caused by the monsoon that started last July.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">The Department informed that out of the total required amount, Rs 1.5 billion is required for the reconstruction and maintenance of damaged structures along the Araniko Highway.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Floods and landslides cause loss of life and property every year, and the country has to invest billions of rupees in rebuilding roads and bridges. The calamities caused by monsoon has created an additional liability of more than Rs 3 billion this year for the state, informed the department.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Out of 226 places across the country, the Araniko Highway, Sanphe-Martadi road, and North-South Corridor of the Beni-Jomsom road section have been severely damaged, informed Shivahari Sapkota, spokesperson of the department.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Although no section of the Araniko Highway is currently blocked, landslides and flooded river have damaged bridges and roads which are being operated partially. This has affected the traffic in 15 various places.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
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	(int) 8 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12478',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Developing Asia Witnessing First Recession in 6 Decades: ADB',
			'sub_title' => 'Asia’s GDP to Contract by 0.7 Percent',
			'summary' => 'September 16: As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to disrupt global economic activity, developing Asia's gross domestic product (GDP) is now expected to contract by 0.7% in 2020, according to the Asian Development Outlook.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">September 16: As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to disrupt global economic activity, developing Asia&#39;s gross domestic product (GDP) is now expected to contract by 0.7% in 2020, according to the Asian Development Outlook 2020. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">&nbsp;The report published by the Asian Development Bank on September 15 states that it </span><span style="font-size:14.0pt">is the region&#39;s first recession in nearly 6 decades.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">However, the GDP is projected to grow by 6.8% in 2021.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">&ldquo;Excluding high-income newly industrialized economies, regional GDP is expected to contract by 0.5% this year before growing by 7.2% next year,&rdquo; states the report. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Softening demand and subdued food prices will keep inflation benign. The inflation forecast is revised down from 3.2% to 2.9% for 2020 and maintained at 2.3% for 2021.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The threat of a prolonged COVID-19 pandemic and a return to more stringent containment measures is the main risk to the outlook. While economies in developing Asia remain resilient, continued policy support is needed to underpin recovery, the report further states.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:Helvetica">Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal managed to grow in their recently completed fiscal years because COVID-19 affected only their tail end, says the report. They are set to continue expanding in the current fiscal year, though only minimally for Bhutan and Nepal. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:Helvetica">Inflationary pressures have begun to intensify in South Asia, especially in India, as supply chain disruption pushed up food prices. </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:Calibri">The outlook says </span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt">physical and mental health is vital to post-pandemic recovery. The report&rsquo;s theme chapter explores wellness, or the pursuit of holistic health and well-being. It examines the state of wellness in Asia and the Pacific and its growing role in the region&rsquo;s economy. It discusses how policy makers can promote wellness by creating healthy living environments, encouraging physical activity and healthy diets, and enhancing workplace wellness.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 9 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12476',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Long-Distance Transportation and Air Service to Resume from Tomorrow',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'September 16: The government has decided to resume long-distance transportation service as well as domestic flights from coming Thursday (September 17) instead of September 21.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">September 16: The government has decided to resume long-distance transportation service as well as domestic flights from coming Thursday (September 17) instead of September 21.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">A meeting of the Council of Ministers recently decided to resume the services that were disrupted since lockdown was imposed on March 24. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Earlier, it was reported that the inter-district transportation service and domestic flight would resume next week starting from September 21. However,&nbsp; Foreign Minister Pradeep Gyawali, who is the new government spokesperson, confirmed that the services will be available from Thursday itself. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">As per the latest decision, long route vehicles will come into operation from September 17 along with domestic air service. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">The government has also decided to allow hotels, restaurants as well as trekking and travel agencies to reopen from Thursday.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Long-route vehicles and other means of public transportation should however adopt safety measures amid coronavirus pandemic. Such vehicles will be allowed to keep only one passenger in a row and must maintain physical distance among them. Public vehicles will not be allowed to take in passengers beyond the seating capacity. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">All the passengers and drivers as well as helpers must compulsorily wear masks and gloves while sanitizers must be available at the door of the vehicles.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Meanwhile, transport entrepreneurs also discussed about ways to ensure safety measures anticipating large number of people returning to their homes during the upcoming Dashain festival.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Public vehicles will be allowed to charge a maximum of 50 percent amount to the fares fixed by the government.&nbsp; </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Similarly, the cabinet has decided to extend the closure of international borders for a month. As per the cabinet decision, the border entry points will remain closed until October 16. People will not be allowed to enter into the country unless there is an emergency. The government has decided to open two more border entry points for emergency purpose. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">According to government officials, Ilam&#39;s Pashupatinagar and Darchula have been opened for emergency visit along with 10 other border points. Likewise, Rasuwagadhi border has also been opened especially for transport of goods that have been stranded there since months. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 10 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12477',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Yuba Raj Khatiwada Appointed Special Financial Advisor to PM Oli',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'September 16: The Council of Ministers has appointed former finance minister Yuba Raj Khatiwada as the special financial advisor to Prime Minsiter KP Oli. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">September 16: The Council of Ministers has appointed former finance minister Yuba Raj Khatiwada as the special financial advisor to Prime Minsiter KP Oli. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Khatiwada, a former governor of Nepal Rastra Bank, was earlier appointed as finance minister by the Oli-led government after nominating him as a member of the National Assembly under the president&rsquo;s quota. After his second term in upper house ended recently, Khatiwada resigned from the post of finance minister. Ten days after his resignation, he was appointed to a post where he enjoys all the privileges as a minister, informed Foreign Minister Pradeep Gyawali, who is the new spokesperson of the Government of Nepal.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">PM Oli was in favour of giving continuity to Khatiwada as finance minister. However, he was forced to choose Nepal Communist Party Vice Chairman Bamdev Gautam for the vacant post of upper house member under pressure from party leaders. Khatiwada could not be appointed finance minister for a third term after his tenure as upper house member ended on September 5. But he is expected to play a key role in decision making after being appointed PM Oli&rsquo;s advisor, especially because Oli himself holds the portfolio of finance minister.</span></span></span></span></p>
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	(int) 11 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12475',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Nepali Students Spending Billions of Rupees for Education in India',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'September 15: India’s economy is getting richer by billions of rupees collected as educational fees from Nepali students every year.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">September 15: India&rsquo;s economy is getting richer by billions of rupees collected as educational fees from Nepali students every year.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The number of Nepali students in India is the highest among all foreign students, according to the records kept by the Human Resource Development Ministry of India. However, this fact is hardly talked about. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Indian educational institutions are being inclined towards Nepali students. On the other hand, policy makers in Nepal are hardly concerned about finding out the reason for thousands of Nepali students opting to study abroad. Neither are they concerned about retaining the students by giving better opportunities within the country.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">India has adopted a strategy of attracting foreign students. Nepali students fall in the top priority of India.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The All India Survey on Higher Education 2018/19 made public by the Human Resource Development Ministry of India in 2019 shows that Nepali students top the list of foreign students studying in India.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Nepali students constitute 26.88 percent of the total foreign students in India, states the survey report. During the review period, a total of 47,724 foreign students were enrolled in various educational institutions in India. Among them, there were around 13,000 students from Nepal.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Taking into consideration five years of average study in higher level, it is estimated that there are around 65,000 Nepali students in India. Nepali students spend billions of rupees on tuition fees, admission, food and accommodation as well as transportation.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">In an average, one Nepali student spends around IRs 800,000 every year, according to the guardians who send their wards to India for higher education. Taking this into consideration, Nepali students spend around Rs 52 billion for studying in India every year.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The expenses would be much higher if the educational fees paid by countless other Nepali students pursuing education in convents of Dehradun, Nainital, Lucknow and Darjeeling are also taken into account.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Professor Dr Deepak Shakya says Nepali students have been pursuing education abroad due to the failure of the Government of Nepal to ensure proper infrastructure and educational system here in Nepal.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">&ldquo;The government&rsquo;s education policy itself is not stable. The main reason for students going abroad is lack of adequate infrastructure and opportunities,&rdquo; says Shakya.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Professor Dr Shakya says that the government must instead focus on adopting a policy of attracting foreign students.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Informed sources say that the Indian government has been providing various facilities to the educational institutes to make education accessible at affordable rates. The Government of India has been spending millions of rupees to attract foreign students.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The government of India reportedly approved budget of IRs 1.5 billion for promotional programmes between 2018 to 2020.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The Human Resource Development Ministry of India has set a target to attract more than 200,000 foreign students in the next five years. The Indian government has told reputed institutes of India to allocate 15,000 seats for foreign students.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Meanwhile, Nepali students have been opting to study abroad due to uncertain academic calendar, says educationist Indu Shekhar Mishra.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">&ldquo;India still has three-year course for undergraduate level except for technical subjects. But we have four-year course here in Nepal. On top of that, the course does not get completed in time,&rdquo; says Mishra. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 12 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12474',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Thousands of Workers Unemployed in Sunsari-Morang Industrial Corridor',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'September 15: Thousands of workers have lost their jobs in the Sunsari-Morang Industrial Corridor within the last six months due to Covid-19.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">September 15: Thousands of workers have lost their jobs in the Sunsari-Morang Industrial Corridor within the last six months due to Covid-19.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Out of 50,000 workers employeed in 500 different industries in the corridor, 15,000 have already been unemployed while 14,000 are kept in reserve.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Large industries that normally operated in three shifts have reduced their production to two shifts causing massive unemployment. Similarly, small and medium enterprises have cut off 30 percent of their employees due to the reduction in production.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Industrialists at the Sunsari-Morang Industrial Corridor&nbsp; inform that they are currently facing challenges of raw materials, labor management and manufacturing goods. The industries producing jute, yarn, noodles, oil, rice, milk, soap, cookies, and grains are currently operating in the corridor but most of them are producing only 60 to 70 percent of their actual capacity.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Arihant Multi-Fibres and Raghupati Jute Mill, which once used to have the highest number of workers in the corridor, used to run their industries in three shifts. However, both the industries currently are carrying their production in two shifts only. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Raj Kumar Golchha, operator of Arihant Multifibres and Raghupati Jute Mill informed that the reduction in number of shifts has left 30 percent of the workers unemployed. &ldquo;We are employing workers in 15/15 days alternatively (15-day work and 15-day rest),&rdquo; he informed.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12473',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Kathmandu Marriott Hotel Bags Award at Asia Pacific Hotel Awards 2020 -2021',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'September 15: Kathmandu Marriott Hotel has won the award for the Best Luxury Hotel of Nepal at the Asia Pacific Hotel Award 2020 -2021.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">September 15: Kathmandu Marriott Hotel has won the award for the Best Luxury Hotel of Nepal at the Asia Pacific Hotel Award 2020 -2021.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The newly established hotel said in a statement that it also won Nepal&rsquo;s Best Employer Brand Award 2019, the Best Hotel Launch of the Year, the Best Bar Award, the Best Event Venue Award and the award for the Most Preferred Spa of 2019.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">&ldquo;This achievement was earned through hard work, shaped by the strength of the foundations we set within our very first year of operations. Our commitment to excellence was the overriding sentiment that drove every one of our associates on property to excel at their work,&rdquo; the statement said.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">According to Kathmandu Marriott Hotel, the award ceremony was hosted jointly by the Employer Branding Institute, Hotel Industry Leadership Award and World HRD Congress during a recent function.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">&ldquo;We also were delighted and humbled to know that Kathmandu Marriott Hotel was selected as Trip Advisor&rsquo;s Traveler&rsquo;s Choice Awards in 2020 placing us in the top 10% percentile of hotels in the world,&rdquo; the statement added. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Kathmandu Marriott Hotel, located in the capital city of Kathmandu, said in the statement that it offers modern design, 5-star services and deluxe amenities. </span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12469',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Government Unable to Rescue Stranded Nepalis',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'September 14: Nepali citizens stranded abroad after losing their jobs due to the coronavirus pandemic have not been able to come back to Nepal due to the lack of sufficient repatriation flights.',
			'content' => '<p><em>A sketch taken from the cover page of Nepal Labour Migration Report 2020. Photo Courtesy: MOLESS</em></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">September 14: Nepali citizens stranded abroad after losing their jobs due to the coronavirus pandemic have not been able to come back to Nepal due to the lack of sufficient repatriation flights.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Even though the government had announced that it will rescue the stranded Nepalis by availing money from the Foreign Employment Welfare Fund, it has been able to bring back only a handful of stranded citizens considering the total number of Nepalis in need of rescue. The lack of flights has created difficulties to conduct the repatriation operation for the government.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">According to the Foreign Employment Board under the Ministry of Labor, Employment and Social Security, so far only 15 people have been brought from Malaysia by utilizing the fund.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Rajan Shrestha, executive director of the Foreign Employment Board, informed that the government has not been able to bring the stranded workers from Bahrain, the UAE, Qatar, and other countries due to the&nbsp;lack of flights.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">&quot;People willing to return back to Nepal on their expenses also aren&rsquo;t able to return,&quot; Shrestha informed.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">He urged the government to immediately make the flight operation convenient and rescue stranded Nepalis. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">According to the Ministry of Labor, around 50,000 Nepalis are willing to come to Nepal even by paying exorbitant airfare themselves. &nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12486',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Test Drive of India-Made Train along Janakpur-Jayanagar Section Today',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'September 18: A brand new train that arrived in Jayanagar on Thursday evening will undergo test drive today along the 34-kilometer section of the Janakpur-Jayanagar Railway. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">September 18: A brand new train that arrived in Jayanagar on Thursday evening will undergo test drive today along the 34-kilometer section of the Janakpur-Jayanagar Railway. The train manufactured by Konkan Railway Corporation, a company owned by the Government of India, arrived in Jayanagar on Thursday (September 17) evening. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">The train with a capacity of about 1300 passengers is&nbsp;being brought to Janakpur from Jayanagar on Friday, September 18 (today). Guru Bhattarai, general manager of Nepal Railway Company Limited, informed that the train will undergo test drive today along the Jayanagar-Janakpur section.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Konkan Railway Corporation is planning to hand over the train to Nepal after completing the test drive. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Bhattarai informed that the technicians of Konkan Railway Corporation will operate the train to Janakpur in Nepal for the test. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">He added that the modalities for the regular operation of the train will be made within a year after discussions with India.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">The Indian-made train had arrived at Hajipur in Bihar a few weeks ago.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">The Jayanagar-Janakpur-Bardiwas railway which is currently under construction with the assistance of the Government of India is 69 kilometers long. Out of that, the&nbsp;test will be conducted along 34 kilometers of Jayanagar-Janakpur section.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12485',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Tax Exemption on Raw Materials for Medicines not yet Implemented',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'September 18: The government in its annual budget for the current fiscal year had announced to provide VAT exemption for raw materials and packing materials required for the pharmaceutical companies of Nepal.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">September 18: The government in its annual budget for the current fiscal year had announced to provide VAT exemption for raw materials and packing materials required for the pharmaceutical companies of Nepal. However, the decision is yet to be implemented. Pharmaceutical companies complain that they have been paying VAT (value added tax) while importing over three dozen such products.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">General Secretary of the Association of Pharmaceutical Producers of Nepal (APPN) Biplav Adhikari says they have been paying VAT for raw materials required for producing medicines including active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) for which the government has announced tax exemption.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">&ldquo;The government had announced tax exemption while unveiling the budget for the current fiscal year but the customs offices have been collecting tax from us,&rdquo; said Adhikari.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Stakeholders say the provision to grant tax exemption for APIs and packing materials is already included in the Financial Act and therefore the customs offices continue charging tax as per the provision in the law. Pharmaceutical companies have urged the concerned authorities including the finance ministry, health ministry to amend the law to ensure that they get the facilities announced in the budget but to no avail. </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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">It has been almost three and a half months since the budget announcement was made but the tax exemption has not been implemented. Pharmaceutical companies have reduced the import of raw materials and packing materials after they were denied tax exemption.&nbsp; They have been importing only limited quantity of those products that are currently required.</span></span></span></span></p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12484',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'India Seeks Permission to Prepare DPR of Kathmandu-Raxaul Railway',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'September 17: India has sought permission from the Government of Nepal to prepare the detailed project report (DPR) of the Kathmandu-Raxaul Railway.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Devanagari Sangam MN&quot;">September 17: </span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Bangla MN&quot;">India has sought permission from the Government of Nepal to prepare the detailed project report (DPR) of the Kathmandu-Raxaul Railway. India and China are among the two countries that have shown interest to invest in trans-border railway in Nepal. Meanwhile, China has said it will start the study only after the risk of coronavirus subsides.</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:&quot;Bangla MN&quot;">According to the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport, they are currently preparing to give permission to India for the DPR. The ministry clarified that there hasn&rsquo;t been any discussion with China recently for the feasibility study.</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:&quot;Bangla MN&quot;">China hasn&rsquo;t been able to study the railway route that falls in Nepal due to the risk of coronavirus. However, China has started survey of the trans-border railway route between Shigatshe and Kerung that falls within its border. </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:&quot;Bangla MN&quot;">In a virtual meeting between Finance Ministry and China International Development Corporation Agency (CIDCA) in late August, the two sides had agreed to start the survey of Nepal Tokha-Chahare and Syafrybesi-Betrawati tunnel sections of the railway after the&nbsp; coronavirus pandemic subsides.</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:&quot;Bangla MN&quot;">Meanwhile, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport Gopal Sigdel informed New Business Age that India sought permission to prepare the DPR of Kathmandu-Raxaul Railway a few weeks ago. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
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			'sortorder' => '12231',
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	(int) 3 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12483',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Nepal-Bound Goods Stuck across Rasuwagadhi Border',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'September 17: Nepali importers are unable to get customs clearance of goods stuck at Kerung of China due to the obstruction in reopening Rasuwagadhi Customs Point since the last seven months. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Bangla MN&quot;">September 17: Nepali importers are unable to get customs clearance of goods stuck at Kerung of China due to the obstruction in reopening Rasuwagadhi Customs Point since the last seven months. The importers have sought help from the concerned government bodies but they only get assurance.</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:&quot;Bangla MN&quot;">The border has remained closed since January after a surge in coronavirus cases in China. More than 1000 containers carrying readymade garments, shoes and electronic appliances are struck across the border due to the obstruction. </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:&quot;Bangla MN&quot;">Although the customs point along with Tatopani customs was opened for some time in between, it has been obstructed again. Importers are worried if they can bring clothes for the upcoming Dashain festival or not.</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:&quot;Bangla MN&quot;">The importers have submitted memorandum to various government bodies to resolve the problem diplomatically. All of them have assured to help in releasing the goods but to no avail, says Naresh Katuwal, chairman of Nepal National Entrepreneurs Federation.</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:&quot;Bangla MN&quot;">Of late, the border has been closed after coronavirus was detected among the workers involved in loading goods.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Bangla MN&quot;">Besides coronavirus, the border has also been obstructed by landslides time and again.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12482',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Rift Over 50 Percent Seating Capacity Casts Doubts on Resuming Domestic Flights',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'September 17: Although the government has lifted a ban on domestic flights effective from September 17, private airline companies have said they cannot provide the service with just 50 percent passengers.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">September 17: Although the government has lifted a ban on domestic flights effective from September 17, private airline companies have said they cannot provide the service with just 50 percent passengers.</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:Arial">A meeting of the Council of Ministers on Monday (September 14) decided to allow airline companies to resume domestic flights with just 50 percent passengers.</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:Arial">However, airline companies have said that it is impractical to operate flights with 50 percent passengers.</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:Arial">&ldquo;First of all there is confusion regarding the date of resuming service. Secondly, if we are to provide service by adopting all necessary safety precautions then it is impractical to fly only 50 percent passengers,&rdquo; says Manoj Karki, general secretary of Airline Operators Association of Nepal (AOAN).</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:Arial">&ldquo;It will only raise the air fare by double amount,&rdquo; added Karki, who is also the managing director of Summit Air. </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:Arial">Karki says resuming air service is a praiseworthy decision but provision of 50 percent seating capacity should be revised. He said that they have submitted a memorandum to the concerned ministry to revise the provision. </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:Arial">AOAN spokesperson Yograj Kandel says it is not possible to provide air service under the terms and conditions set by the government. Therefore, the airline operators have decided not to resume service at the moment. </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:Arial">The government lifted a ban on regular international flights on September 1 after almost 5 months of lockdown. Resuming domestic flights was delayed due to increase in coronavirus cases across the country. </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:Arial">The government was under pressure to resume domestic flights. Although the government lifted a ban on domestic flights, it is still not certain when the flights will resume due to the differences in seating capacity for the flights.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 5 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12481',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Pandemic Threatens Gains of the Past Decade: World Bank',
			'sub_title' => 'Nepal Makes Pre-Pandemic Progress in Human Capital Development',
			'summary' => 'September 17: The COVID-19 pandemic threatens hard-won gains in health and education over the past decade, especially in the poorest countries, a new World Bank Group analysis finds. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">September 17:</span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial"> The COVID-19 pandemic threatens hard-won gains in health and education over the past decade, especially in the poorest countries, a new World Bank Group analysis finds. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Investments in human capital&mdash;the knowledge, skills, and health that people accumulate over their lives&mdash;are key to unlocking a child&rsquo;s potential and to improving economic growth in every country, World Bank said in a statement. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">The World Bank Group&rsquo;s 2020 Human Capital Index shows that most countries had made steady progress in building human capital of children, with the biggest strides made in low-income countries before the pandemic. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">&ldquo;Investment in human capital is just as important as investment in infrastructure, if not more, and brings returns in the form of a healthier and more productive workforce in the long run,&rdquo; stated Faris Hadad-Zervos, World Bank&rsquo;s country director for the Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka. &ldquo;There is a need for an accelerated push to focus on investing in human capital in the recovery and rebuilding phases after the pandemic. This requires close collaborations among all three levels of the government in order to bring about large and sustainable changes.&rdquo;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">&nbsp;Due to the pandemic&#39;s impact, most children &ndash; more than 1 billion &ndash; have been out of school and could lose, on average, half a year of schooling, translating into considerable monetary losses in the future, according to the World Bank. Data also shows significant disruptions to essential health services for women and children, with many children missing out on crucial vaccinations. The economic impact of the pandemic has been particularly deep for women and for the most disadvantaged families, leaving many vulnerable to food insecurity and poverty. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">&nbsp;The 2020 Human Capital Index includes </span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">health and education data up to March 2020 for 174 countries covering 98 percent of the world&rsquo;s population, providing a pre-pandemic baseline on the health and education status of children. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria">&nbsp;<span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Today, hard-won human capital gains in many countries are at risk. But countries can do more than just work to recover the lost ground. To protect and extend earlier human capital gains, countries need to expand health service coverage and quality among marginalized communities, boost learning outcomes together with school enrollments, and support vulnerable families with social protection measures adapted to the scale of the COVID-19 crisis, the statement further said. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">&nbsp;In Nepal, it is essential to invest more in the early years, with a focus on those children who have been left behind. This includes safeguarding access to nutritious, safe and affordable diets and providing opportunities for learning and stimulation especially for the poorest and most-affected households. Given the current high cost of medical care, resources can be refocused towards ensuring universal access to quality essential primary, emergency and referral health services.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria">&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">The World Bank Group said it is working closely with governments to develop long-term solutions to protect and invest in people during and after the pandemic. In Nepal, the Bank is supporting the development of school safety and hygiene protocols while working with WASH teams to provide basic sanitization and hygiene supplies. The Bank is helping strengthen government systems and expand coverage of social security allowances and civil registration to support vulnerable communities. The Bank is also supporting the government to strengthen health systems and security and improve the health financing landscape of the country.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria">&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria">&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 6 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12480',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'India’s Ban on Export of Onion leads to Arbitrary Pricing in the Market ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'September 16: The price of onion has skyrocketed in the market after the Indian government banned the export of onion. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">September 16: The price of onion has skyrocketed in the market after the Indian government banned the export of onion. The retail price of onion has reached up to Rs 100 as the traders have started fixing the price arbitrarily. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The import of onion has stopped in the Kalimati Fruits and Vegetables market since September 14 after India banned the export. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The price of onion was rising in Nepal some days before India banned the export. According to the daily price list of Kalimati Fruits and Vegetables Market, the price of onion has increased by 89 percent in the last 15 days. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The wholesale price of onion, which was Rs 42 per kg on September 1, has increased to Rs 75 per kg since then. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The shortage of onion in Nepal is expected to become acute after India stopped the export. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Vinay Shrestha, information officer of Kalimati Fruits and Vegetables Market Development Board, says that traders have already increased the price in Nepal due to the increase in price in India. He claims that arbitrary prices should not be fixed while selling old products that were in stock. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">&ldquo;The domestic production of Nepal cannot meet the market demand while onions cannot be imported from India now. Consumers will face the problem after the ban by India,&rdquo; said Shrestha. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Some traders have suddenly increased the price of onions. Onions were being sold at Rs 75 per kg on Tuesday, while it was sold at Rs 100 per kg in the same afternoon. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 7 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12479',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Rs 3 billion needed for repairing roads and bridges damaged by natural disasters ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'September 16: A preliminary study conducted by the Department of Roads shows that more than Rs 3 billion is required to repair the roads and bridges damaged by floods and landslides across the country.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">September 16: A preliminary study conducted by the Department of Roads shows that more than Rs 3 billion is required to repair the roads and bridges damaged by floods and landslides across the country.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">The estimated amount is required for repairing the roads and bridges in 226 various locations across the country where damages were caused by the monsoon that started last July.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">The Department informed that out of the total required amount, Rs 1.5 billion is required for the reconstruction and maintenance of damaged structures along the Araniko Highway.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Floods and landslides cause loss of life and property every year, and the country has to invest billions of rupees in rebuilding roads and bridges. The calamities caused by monsoon has created an additional liability of more than Rs 3 billion this year for the state, informed the department.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Out of 226 places across the country, the Araniko Highway, Sanphe-Martadi road, and North-South Corridor of the Beni-Jomsom road section have been severely damaged, informed Shivahari Sapkota, spokesperson of the department.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Although no section of the Araniko Highway is currently blocked, landslides and flooded river have damaged bridges and roads which are being operated partially. This has affected the traffic in 15 various places.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 8 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12478',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Developing Asia Witnessing First Recession in 6 Decades: ADB',
			'sub_title' => 'Asia’s GDP to Contract by 0.7 Percent',
			'summary' => 'September 16: As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to disrupt global economic activity, developing Asia's gross domestic product (GDP) is now expected to contract by 0.7% in 2020, according to the Asian Development Outlook.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">September 16: As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to disrupt global economic activity, developing Asia&#39;s gross domestic product (GDP) is now expected to contract by 0.7% in 2020, according to the Asian Development Outlook 2020. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">&nbsp;The report published by the Asian Development Bank on September 15 states that it </span><span style="font-size:14.0pt">is the region&#39;s first recession in nearly 6 decades.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">However, the GDP is projected to grow by 6.8% in 2021.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">&ldquo;Excluding high-income newly industrialized economies, regional GDP is expected to contract by 0.5% this year before growing by 7.2% next year,&rdquo; states the report. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Softening demand and subdued food prices will keep inflation benign. The inflation forecast is revised down from 3.2% to 2.9% for 2020 and maintained at 2.3% for 2021.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The threat of a prolonged COVID-19 pandemic and a return to more stringent containment measures is the main risk to the outlook. While economies in developing Asia remain resilient, continued policy support is needed to underpin recovery, the report further states.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:Helvetica">Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal managed to grow in their recently completed fiscal years because COVID-19 affected only their tail end, says the report. They are set to continue expanding in the current fiscal year, though only minimally for Bhutan and Nepal. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:Helvetica">Inflationary pressures have begun to intensify in South Asia, especially in India, as supply chain disruption pushed up food prices. </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:Calibri">The outlook says </span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt">physical and mental health is vital to post-pandemic recovery. The report&rsquo;s theme chapter explores wellness, or the pursuit of holistic health and well-being. It examines the state of wellness in Asia and the Pacific and its growing role in the region&rsquo;s economy. It discusses how policy makers can promote wellness by creating healthy living environments, encouraging physical activity and healthy diets, and enhancing workplace wellness.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 9 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12476',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Long-Distance Transportation and Air Service to Resume from Tomorrow',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'September 16: The government has decided to resume long-distance transportation service as well as domestic flights from coming Thursday (September 17) instead of September 21.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">September 16: The government has decided to resume long-distance transportation service as well as domestic flights from coming Thursday (September 17) instead of September 21.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">A meeting of the Council of Ministers recently decided to resume the services that were disrupted since lockdown was imposed on March 24. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Earlier, it was reported that the inter-district transportation service and domestic flight would resume next week starting from September 21. However,&nbsp; Foreign Minister Pradeep Gyawali, who is the new government spokesperson, confirmed that the services will be available from Thursday itself. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">As per the latest decision, long route vehicles will come into operation from September 17 along with domestic air service. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">The government has also decided to allow hotels, restaurants as well as trekking and travel agencies to reopen from Thursday.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Long-route vehicles and other means of public transportation should however adopt safety measures amid coronavirus pandemic. Such vehicles will be allowed to keep only one passenger in a row and must maintain physical distance among them. Public vehicles will not be allowed to take in passengers beyond the seating capacity. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">All the passengers and drivers as well as helpers must compulsorily wear masks and gloves while sanitizers must be available at the door of the vehicles.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Meanwhile, transport entrepreneurs also discussed about ways to ensure safety measures anticipating large number of people returning to their homes during the upcoming Dashain festival.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Public vehicles will be allowed to charge a maximum of 50 percent amount to the fares fixed by the government.&nbsp; </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Similarly, the cabinet has decided to extend the closure of international borders for a month. As per the cabinet decision, the border entry points will remain closed until October 16. People will not be allowed to enter into the country unless there is an emergency. The government has decided to open two more border entry points for emergency purpose. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">According to government officials, Ilam&#39;s Pashupatinagar and Darchula have been opened for emergency visit along with 10 other border points. Likewise, Rasuwagadhi border has also been opened especially for transport of goods that have been stranded there since months. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12477',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Yuba Raj Khatiwada Appointed Special Financial Advisor to PM Oli',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'September 16: The Council of Ministers has appointed former finance minister Yuba Raj Khatiwada as the special financial advisor to Prime Minsiter KP Oli. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">September 16: The Council of Ministers has appointed former finance minister Yuba Raj Khatiwada as the special financial advisor to Prime Minsiter KP Oli. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Khatiwada, a former governor of Nepal Rastra Bank, was earlier appointed as finance minister by the Oli-led government after nominating him as a member of the National Assembly under the president&rsquo;s quota. After his second term in upper house ended recently, Khatiwada resigned from the post of finance minister. Ten days after his resignation, he was appointed to a post where he enjoys all the privileges as a minister, informed Foreign Minister Pradeep Gyawali, who is the new spokesperson of the Government of Nepal.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">PM Oli was in favour of giving continuity to Khatiwada as finance minister. However, he was forced to choose Nepal Communist Party Vice Chairman Bamdev Gautam for the vacant post of upper house member under pressure from party leaders. Khatiwada could not be appointed finance minister for a third term after his tenure as upper house member ended on September 5. But he is expected to play a key role in decision making after being appointed PM Oli&rsquo;s advisor, especially because Oli himself holds the portfolio of finance minister.</span></span></span></span></p>
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			'image' => '20200916112550_1600175427.yubaraj-khatiwada.jpg',
			'article_date' => '2020-09-16 11:25:21',
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	(int) 11 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12475',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Nepali Students Spending Billions of Rupees for Education in India',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'September 15: India’s economy is getting richer by billions of rupees collected as educational fees from Nepali students every year.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">September 15: India&rsquo;s economy is getting richer by billions of rupees collected as educational fees from Nepali students every year.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The number of Nepali students in India is the highest among all foreign students, according to the records kept by the Human Resource Development Ministry of India. However, this fact is hardly talked about. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Indian educational institutions are being inclined towards Nepali students. On the other hand, policy makers in Nepal are hardly concerned about finding out the reason for thousands of Nepali students opting to study abroad. Neither are they concerned about retaining the students by giving better opportunities within the country.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">India has adopted a strategy of attracting foreign students. Nepali students fall in the top priority of India.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The All India Survey on Higher Education 2018/19 made public by the Human Resource Development Ministry of India in 2019 shows that Nepali students top the list of foreign students studying in India.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Nepali students constitute 26.88 percent of the total foreign students in India, states the survey report. During the review period, a total of 47,724 foreign students were enrolled in various educational institutions in India. Among them, there were around 13,000 students from Nepal.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Taking into consideration five years of average study in higher level, it is estimated that there are around 65,000 Nepali students in India. Nepali students spend billions of rupees on tuition fees, admission, food and accommodation as well as transportation.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">In an average, one Nepali student spends around IRs 800,000 every year, according to the guardians who send their wards to India for higher education. Taking this into consideration, Nepali students spend around Rs 52 billion for studying in India every year.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The expenses would be much higher if the educational fees paid by countless other Nepali students pursuing education in convents of Dehradun, Nainital, Lucknow and Darjeeling are also taken into account.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Professor Dr Deepak Shakya says Nepali students have been pursuing education abroad due to the failure of the Government of Nepal to ensure proper infrastructure and educational system here in Nepal.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">&ldquo;The government&rsquo;s education policy itself is not stable. The main reason for students going abroad is lack of adequate infrastructure and opportunities,&rdquo; says Shakya.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Professor Dr Shakya says that the government must instead focus on adopting a policy of attracting foreign students.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Informed sources say that the Indian government has been providing various facilities to the educational institutes to make education accessible at affordable rates. The Government of India has been spending millions of rupees to attract foreign students.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The government of India reportedly approved budget of IRs 1.5 billion for promotional programmes between 2018 to 2020.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The Human Resource Development Ministry of India has set a target to attract more than 200,000 foreign students in the next five years. The Indian government has told reputed institutes of India to allocate 15,000 seats for foreign students.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Meanwhile, Nepali students have been opting to study abroad due to uncertain academic calendar, says educationist Indu Shekhar Mishra.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">&ldquo;India still has three-year course for undergraduate level except for technical subjects. But we have four-year course here in Nepal. On top of that, the course does not get completed in time,&rdquo; says Mishra. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 12 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12474',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Thousands of Workers Unemployed in Sunsari-Morang Industrial Corridor',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'September 15: Thousands of workers have lost their jobs in the Sunsari-Morang Industrial Corridor within the last six months due to Covid-19.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">September 15: Thousands of workers have lost their jobs in the Sunsari-Morang Industrial Corridor within the last six months due to Covid-19.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Out of 50,000 workers employeed in 500 different industries in the corridor, 15,000 have already been unemployed while 14,000 are kept in reserve.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Large industries that normally operated in three shifts have reduced their production to two shifts causing massive unemployment. Similarly, small and medium enterprises have cut off 30 percent of their employees due to the reduction in production.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Industrialists at the Sunsari-Morang Industrial Corridor&nbsp; inform that they are currently facing challenges of raw materials, labor management and manufacturing goods. The industries producing jute, yarn, noodles, oil, rice, milk, soap, cookies, and grains are currently operating in the corridor but most of them are producing only 60 to 70 percent of their actual capacity.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Arihant Multi-Fibres and Raghupati Jute Mill, which once used to have the highest number of workers in the corridor, used to run their industries in three shifts. However, both the industries currently are carrying their production in two shifts only. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Raj Kumar Golchha, operator of Arihant Multifibres and Raghupati Jute Mill informed that the reduction in number of shifts has left 30 percent of the workers unemployed. &ldquo;We are employing workers in 15/15 days alternatively (15-day work and 15-day rest),&rdquo; he informed.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12473',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Kathmandu Marriott Hotel Bags Award at Asia Pacific Hotel Awards 2020 -2021',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'September 15: Kathmandu Marriott Hotel has won the award for the Best Luxury Hotel of Nepal at the Asia Pacific Hotel Award 2020 -2021.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">September 15: Kathmandu Marriott Hotel has won the award for the Best Luxury Hotel of Nepal at the Asia Pacific Hotel Award 2020 -2021.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The newly established hotel said in a statement that it also won Nepal&rsquo;s Best Employer Brand Award 2019, the Best Hotel Launch of the Year, the Best Bar Award, the Best Event Venue Award and the award for the Most Preferred Spa of 2019.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">&ldquo;This achievement was earned through hard work, shaped by the strength of the foundations we set within our very first year of operations. Our commitment to excellence was the overriding sentiment that drove every one of our associates on property to excel at their work,&rdquo; the statement said.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">According to Kathmandu Marriott Hotel, the award ceremony was hosted jointly by the Employer Branding Institute, Hotel Industry Leadership Award and World HRD Congress during a recent function.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">&ldquo;We also were delighted and humbled to know that Kathmandu Marriott Hotel was selected as Trip Advisor&rsquo;s Traveler&rsquo;s Choice Awards in 2020 placing us in the top 10% percentile of hotels in the world,&rdquo; the statement added. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Kathmandu Marriott Hotel, located in the capital city of Kathmandu, said in the statement that it offers modern design, 5-star services and deluxe amenities. </span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12469',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Government Unable to Rescue Stranded Nepalis',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'September 14: Nepali citizens stranded abroad after losing their jobs due to the coronavirus pandemic have not been able to come back to Nepal due to the lack of sufficient repatriation flights.',
			'content' => '<p><em>A sketch taken from the cover page of Nepal Labour Migration Report 2020. Photo Courtesy: MOLESS</em></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">September 14: Nepali citizens stranded abroad after losing their jobs due to the coronavirus pandemic have not been able to come back to Nepal due to the lack of sufficient repatriation flights.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Even though the government had announced that it will rescue the stranded Nepalis by availing money from the Foreign Employment Welfare Fund, it has been able to bring back only a handful of stranded citizens considering the total number of Nepalis in need of rescue. The lack of flights has created difficulties to conduct the repatriation operation for the government.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">According to the Foreign Employment Board under the Ministry of Labor, Employment and Social Security, so far only 15 people have been brought from Malaysia by utilizing the fund.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Rajan Shrestha, executive director of the Foreign Employment Board, informed that the government has not been able to bring the stranded workers from Bahrain, the UAE, Qatar, and other countries due to the&nbsp;lack of flights.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">&quot;People willing to return back to Nepal on their expenses also aren&rsquo;t able to return,&quot; Shrestha informed.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">He urged the government to immediately make the flight operation convenient and rescue stranded Nepalis. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">According to the Ministry of Labor, around 50,000 Nepalis are willing to come to Nepal even by paying exorbitant airfare themselves. &nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12486',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Test Drive of India-Made Train along Janakpur-Jayanagar Section Today',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'September 18: A brand new train that arrived in Jayanagar on Thursday evening will undergo test drive today along the 34-kilometer section of the Janakpur-Jayanagar Railway. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">September 18: A brand new train that arrived in Jayanagar on Thursday evening will undergo test drive today along the 34-kilometer section of the Janakpur-Jayanagar Railway. The train manufactured by Konkan Railway Corporation, a company owned by the Government of India, arrived in Jayanagar on Thursday (September 17) evening. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">The train with a capacity of about 1300 passengers is&nbsp;being brought to Janakpur from Jayanagar on Friday, September 18 (today). Guru Bhattarai, general manager of Nepal Railway Company Limited, informed that the train will undergo test drive today along the Jayanagar-Janakpur section.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Konkan Railway Corporation is planning to hand over the train to Nepal after completing the test drive. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Bhattarai informed that the technicians of Konkan Railway Corporation will operate the train to Janakpur in Nepal for the test. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">He added that the modalities for the regular operation of the train will be made within a year after discussions with India.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">The Indian-made train had arrived at Hajipur in Bihar a few weeks ago.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">The Jayanagar-Janakpur-Bardiwas railway which is currently under construction with the assistance of the Government of India is 69 kilometers long. Out of that, the&nbsp;test will be conducted along 34 kilometers of Jayanagar-Janakpur section.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Tax Exemption on Raw Materials for Medicines not yet Implemented',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'September 18: The government in its annual budget for the current fiscal year had announced to provide VAT exemption for raw materials and packing materials required for the pharmaceutical companies of Nepal.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">September 18: The government in its annual budget for the current fiscal year had announced to provide VAT exemption for raw materials and packing materials required for the pharmaceutical companies of Nepal. However, the decision is yet to be implemented. Pharmaceutical companies complain that they have been paying VAT (value added tax) while importing over three dozen such products.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">General Secretary of the Association of Pharmaceutical Producers of Nepal (APPN) Biplav Adhikari says they have been paying VAT for raw materials required for producing medicines including active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) for which the government has announced tax exemption.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">&ldquo;The government had announced tax exemption while unveiling the budget for the current fiscal year but the customs offices have been collecting tax from us,&rdquo; said Adhikari.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Stakeholders say the provision to grant tax exemption for APIs and packing materials is already included in the Financial Act and therefore the customs offices continue charging tax as per the provision in the law. Pharmaceutical companies have urged the concerned authorities including the finance ministry, health ministry to amend the law to ensure that they get the facilities announced in the budget but to no avail. </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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">It has been almost three and a half months since the budget announcement was made but the tax exemption has not been implemented. Pharmaceutical companies have reduced the import of raw materials and packing materials after they were denied tax exemption.&nbsp; They have been importing only limited quantity of those products that are currently required.</span></span></span></span></p>
',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2020-09-18',
			'modified' => '2020-09-18',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '12232',
			'image' => '20200918115048_1600382098.Clipboard02.jpg',
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	(int) 2 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12484',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'India Seeks Permission to Prepare DPR of Kathmandu-Raxaul Railway',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'September 17: India has sought permission from the Government of Nepal to prepare the detailed project report (DPR) of the Kathmandu-Raxaul Railway.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Devanagari Sangam MN&quot;">September 17: </span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Bangla MN&quot;">India has sought permission from the Government of Nepal to prepare the detailed project report (DPR) of the Kathmandu-Raxaul Railway. India and China are among the two countries that have shown interest to invest in trans-border railway in Nepal. Meanwhile, China has said it will start the study only after the risk of coronavirus subsides.</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:&quot;Bangla MN&quot;">According to the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport, they are currently preparing to give permission to India for the DPR. The ministry clarified that there hasn&rsquo;t been any discussion with China recently for the feasibility study.</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:&quot;Bangla MN&quot;">China hasn&rsquo;t been able to study the railway route that falls in Nepal due to the risk of coronavirus. However, China has started survey of the trans-border railway route between Shigatshe and Kerung that falls within its border. </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:&quot;Bangla MN&quot;">In a virtual meeting between Finance Ministry and China International Development Corporation Agency (CIDCA) in late August, the two sides had agreed to start the survey of Nepal Tokha-Chahare and Syafrybesi-Betrawati tunnel sections of the railway after the&nbsp; coronavirus pandemic subsides.</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:&quot;Bangla MN&quot;">Meanwhile, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport Gopal Sigdel informed New Business Age that India sought permission to prepare the DPR of Kathmandu-Raxaul Railway a few weeks ago. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
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			'description' => '',
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	(int) 3 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12483',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Nepal-Bound Goods Stuck across Rasuwagadhi Border',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'September 17: Nepali importers are unable to get customs clearance of goods stuck at Kerung of China due to the obstruction in reopening Rasuwagadhi Customs Point since the last seven months. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Bangla MN&quot;">September 17: Nepali importers are unable to get customs clearance of goods stuck at Kerung of China due to the obstruction in reopening Rasuwagadhi Customs Point since the last seven months. The importers have sought help from the concerned government bodies but they only get assurance.</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:&quot;Bangla MN&quot;">The border has remained closed since January after a surge in coronavirus cases in China. More than 1000 containers carrying readymade garments, shoes and electronic appliances are struck across the border due to the obstruction. </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:&quot;Bangla MN&quot;">Although the customs point along with Tatopani customs was opened for some time in between, it has been obstructed again. Importers are worried if they can bring clothes for the upcoming Dashain festival or not.</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:&quot;Bangla MN&quot;">The importers have submitted memorandum to various government bodies to resolve the problem diplomatically. All of them have assured to help in releasing the goods but to no avail, says Naresh Katuwal, chairman of Nepal National Entrepreneurs Federation.</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:&quot;Bangla MN&quot;">Of late, the border has been closed after coronavirus was detected among the workers involved in loading goods.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Bangla MN&quot;">Besides coronavirus, the border has also been obstructed by landslides time and again.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
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			'description' => '',
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	(int) 4 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12482',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Rift Over 50 Percent Seating Capacity Casts Doubts on Resuming Domestic Flights',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'September 17: Although the government has lifted a ban on domestic flights effective from September 17, private airline companies have said they cannot provide the service with just 50 percent passengers.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">September 17: Although the government has lifted a ban on domestic flights effective from September 17, private airline companies have said they cannot provide the service with just 50 percent passengers.</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:Arial">A meeting of the Council of Ministers on Monday (September 14) decided to allow airline companies to resume domestic flights with just 50 percent passengers.</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:Arial">However, airline companies have said that it is impractical to operate flights with 50 percent passengers.</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:Arial">&ldquo;First of all there is confusion regarding the date of resuming service. Secondly, if we are to provide service by adopting all necessary safety precautions then it is impractical to fly only 50 percent passengers,&rdquo; says Manoj Karki, general secretary of Airline Operators Association of Nepal (AOAN).</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:Arial">&ldquo;It will only raise the air fare by double amount,&rdquo; added Karki, who is also the managing director of Summit Air. </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:Arial">Karki says resuming air service is a praiseworthy decision but provision of 50 percent seating capacity should be revised. He said that they have submitted a memorandum to the concerned ministry to revise the provision. </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:Arial">AOAN spokesperson Yograj Kandel says it is not possible to provide air service under the terms and conditions set by the government. Therefore, the airline operators have decided not to resume service at the moment. </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:Arial">The government lifted a ban on regular international flights on September 1 after almost 5 months of lockdown. Resuming domestic flights was delayed due to increase in coronavirus cases across the country. </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:Arial">The government was under pressure to resume domestic flights. Although the government lifted a ban on domestic flights, it is still not certain when the flights will resume due to the differences in seating capacity for the flights.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
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			'description' => '',
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	(int) 5 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12481',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Pandemic Threatens Gains of the Past Decade: World Bank',
			'sub_title' => 'Nepal Makes Pre-Pandemic Progress in Human Capital Development',
			'summary' => 'September 17: The COVID-19 pandemic threatens hard-won gains in health and education over the past decade, especially in the poorest countries, a new World Bank Group analysis finds. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">September 17:</span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial"> The COVID-19 pandemic threatens hard-won gains in health and education over the past decade, especially in the poorest countries, a new World Bank Group analysis finds. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Investments in human capital&mdash;the knowledge, skills, and health that people accumulate over their lives&mdash;are key to unlocking a child&rsquo;s potential and to improving economic growth in every country, World Bank said in a statement. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">The World Bank Group&rsquo;s 2020 Human Capital Index shows that most countries had made steady progress in building human capital of children, with the biggest strides made in low-income countries before the pandemic. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">&ldquo;Investment in human capital is just as important as investment in infrastructure, if not more, and brings returns in the form of a healthier and more productive workforce in the long run,&rdquo; stated Faris Hadad-Zervos, World Bank&rsquo;s country director for the Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka. &ldquo;There is a need for an accelerated push to focus on investing in human capital in the recovery and rebuilding phases after the pandemic. This requires close collaborations among all three levels of the government in order to bring about large and sustainable changes.&rdquo;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">&nbsp;Due to the pandemic&#39;s impact, most children &ndash; more than 1 billion &ndash; have been out of school and could lose, on average, half a year of schooling, translating into considerable monetary losses in the future, according to the World Bank. Data also shows significant disruptions to essential health services for women and children, with many children missing out on crucial vaccinations. The economic impact of the pandemic has been particularly deep for women and for the most disadvantaged families, leaving many vulnerable to food insecurity and poverty. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">&nbsp;The 2020 Human Capital Index includes </span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">health and education data up to March 2020 for 174 countries covering 98 percent of the world&rsquo;s population, providing a pre-pandemic baseline on the health and education status of children. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria">&nbsp;<span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Today, hard-won human capital gains in many countries are at risk. But countries can do more than just work to recover the lost ground. To protect and extend earlier human capital gains, countries need to expand health service coverage and quality among marginalized communities, boost learning outcomes together with school enrollments, and support vulnerable families with social protection measures adapted to the scale of the COVID-19 crisis, the statement further said. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">&nbsp;In Nepal, it is essential to invest more in the early years, with a focus on those children who have been left behind. This includes safeguarding access to nutritious, safe and affordable diets and providing opportunities for learning and stimulation especially for the poorest and most-affected households. Given the current high cost of medical care, resources can be refocused towards ensuring universal access to quality essential primary, emergency and referral health services.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria">&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">The World Bank Group said it is working closely with governments to develop long-term solutions to protect and invest in people during and after the pandemic. In Nepal, the Bank is supporting the development of school safety and hygiene protocols while working with WASH teams to provide basic sanitization and hygiene supplies. The Bank is helping strengthen government systems and expand coverage of social security allowances and civil registration to support vulnerable communities. The Bank is also supporting the government to strengthen health systems and security and improve the health financing landscape of the country.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria">&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria">&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 6 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12480',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'India’s Ban on Export of Onion leads to Arbitrary Pricing in the Market ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'September 16: The price of onion has skyrocketed in the market after the Indian government banned the export of onion. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">September 16: The price of onion has skyrocketed in the market after the Indian government banned the export of onion. The retail price of onion has reached up to Rs 100 as the traders have started fixing the price arbitrarily. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The import of onion has stopped in the Kalimati Fruits and Vegetables market since September 14 after India banned the export. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The price of onion was rising in Nepal some days before India banned the export. According to the daily price list of Kalimati Fruits and Vegetables Market, the price of onion has increased by 89 percent in the last 15 days. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The wholesale price of onion, which was Rs 42 per kg on September 1, has increased to Rs 75 per kg since then. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The shortage of onion in Nepal is expected to become acute after India stopped the export. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Vinay Shrestha, information officer of Kalimati Fruits and Vegetables Market Development Board, says that traders have already increased the price in Nepal due to the increase in price in India. He claims that arbitrary prices should not be fixed while selling old products that were in stock. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">&ldquo;The domestic production of Nepal cannot meet the market demand while onions cannot be imported from India now. Consumers will face the problem after the ban by India,&rdquo; said Shrestha. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Some traders have suddenly increased the price of onions. Onions were being sold at Rs 75 per kg on Tuesday, while it was sold at Rs 100 per kg in the same afternoon. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 7 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12479',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Rs 3 billion needed for repairing roads and bridges damaged by natural disasters ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'September 16: A preliminary study conducted by the Department of Roads shows that more than Rs 3 billion is required to repair the roads and bridges damaged by floods and landslides across the country.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">September 16: A preliminary study conducted by the Department of Roads shows that more than Rs 3 billion is required to repair the roads and bridges damaged by floods and landslides across the country.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">The estimated amount is required for repairing the roads and bridges in 226 various locations across the country where damages were caused by the monsoon that started last July.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">The Department informed that out of the total required amount, Rs 1.5 billion is required for the reconstruction and maintenance of damaged structures along the Araniko Highway.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Floods and landslides cause loss of life and property every year, and the country has to invest billions of rupees in rebuilding roads and bridges. The calamities caused by monsoon has created an additional liability of more than Rs 3 billion this year for the state, informed the department.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Out of 226 places across the country, the Araniko Highway, Sanphe-Martadi road, and North-South Corridor of the Beni-Jomsom road section have been severely damaged, informed Shivahari Sapkota, spokesperson of the department.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Although no section of the Araniko Highway is currently blocked, landslides and flooded river have damaged bridges and roads which are being operated partially. This has affected the traffic in 15 various places.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 8 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12478',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Developing Asia Witnessing First Recession in 6 Decades: ADB',
			'sub_title' => 'Asia’s GDP to Contract by 0.7 Percent',
			'summary' => 'September 16: As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to disrupt global economic activity, developing Asia's gross domestic product (GDP) is now expected to contract by 0.7% in 2020, according to the Asian Development Outlook.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">September 16: As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to disrupt global economic activity, developing Asia&#39;s gross domestic product (GDP) is now expected to contract by 0.7% in 2020, according to the Asian Development Outlook 2020. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">&nbsp;The report published by the Asian Development Bank on September 15 states that it </span><span style="font-size:14.0pt">is the region&#39;s first recession in nearly 6 decades.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">However, the GDP is projected to grow by 6.8% in 2021.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">&ldquo;Excluding high-income newly industrialized economies, regional GDP is expected to contract by 0.5% this year before growing by 7.2% next year,&rdquo; states the report. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Softening demand and subdued food prices will keep inflation benign. The inflation forecast is revised down from 3.2% to 2.9% for 2020 and maintained at 2.3% for 2021.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The threat of a prolonged COVID-19 pandemic and a return to more stringent containment measures is the main risk to the outlook. While economies in developing Asia remain resilient, continued policy support is needed to underpin recovery, the report further states.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:Helvetica">Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal managed to grow in their recently completed fiscal years because COVID-19 affected only their tail end, says the report. They are set to continue expanding in the current fiscal year, though only minimally for Bhutan and Nepal. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:Helvetica">Inflationary pressures have begun to intensify in South Asia, especially in India, as supply chain disruption pushed up food prices. </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:Calibri">The outlook says </span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt">physical and mental health is vital to post-pandemic recovery. The report&rsquo;s theme chapter explores wellness, or the pursuit of holistic health and well-being. It examines the state of wellness in Asia and the Pacific and its growing role in the region&rsquo;s economy. It discusses how policy makers can promote wellness by creating healthy living environments, encouraging physical activity and healthy diets, and enhancing workplace wellness.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 9 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12476',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Long-Distance Transportation and Air Service to Resume from Tomorrow',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'September 16: The government has decided to resume long-distance transportation service as well as domestic flights from coming Thursday (September 17) instead of September 21.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">September 16: The government has decided to resume long-distance transportation service as well as domestic flights from coming Thursday (September 17) instead of September 21.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">A meeting of the Council of Ministers recently decided to resume the services that were disrupted since lockdown was imposed on March 24. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Earlier, it was reported that the inter-district transportation service and domestic flight would resume next week starting from September 21. However,&nbsp; Foreign Minister Pradeep Gyawali, who is the new government spokesperson, confirmed that the services will be available from Thursday itself. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">As per the latest decision, long route vehicles will come into operation from September 17 along with domestic air service. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">The government has also decided to allow hotels, restaurants as well as trekking and travel agencies to reopen from Thursday.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Long-route vehicles and other means of public transportation should however adopt safety measures amid coronavirus pandemic. Such vehicles will be allowed to keep only one passenger in a row and must maintain physical distance among them. Public vehicles will not be allowed to take in passengers beyond the seating capacity. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">All the passengers and drivers as well as helpers must compulsorily wear masks and gloves while sanitizers must be available at the door of the vehicles.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Meanwhile, transport entrepreneurs also discussed about ways to ensure safety measures anticipating large number of people returning to their homes during the upcoming Dashain festival.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Public vehicles will be allowed to charge a maximum of 50 percent amount to the fares fixed by the government.&nbsp; </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Similarly, the cabinet has decided to extend the closure of international borders for a month. As per the cabinet decision, the border entry points will remain closed until October 16. People will not be allowed to enter into the country unless there is an emergency. The government has decided to open two more border entry points for emergency purpose. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">According to government officials, Ilam&#39;s Pashupatinagar and Darchula have been opened for emergency visit along with 10 other border points. Likewise, Rasuwagadhi border has also been opened especially for transport of goods that have been stranded there since months. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
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	(int) 10 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12477',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Yuba Raj Khatiwada Appointed Special Financial Advisor to PM Oli',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'September 16: The Council of Ministers has appointed former finance minister Yuba Raj Khatiwada as the special financial advisor to Prime Minsiter KP Oli. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">September 16: The Council of Ministers has appointed former finance minister Yuba Raj Khatiwada as the special financial advisor to Prime Minsiter KP Oli. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Khatiwada, a former governor of Nepal Rastra Bank, was earlier appointed as finance minister by the Oli-led government after nominating him as a member of the National Assembly under the president&rsquo;s quota. After his second term in upper house ended recently, Khatiwada resigned from the post of finance minister. Ten days after his resignation, he was appointed to a post where he enjoys all the privileges as a minister, informed Foreign Minister Pradeep Gyawali, who is the new spokesperson of the Government of Nepal.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">PM Oli was in favour of giving continuity to Khatiwada as finance minister. However, he was forced to choose Nepal Communist Party Vice Chairman Bamdev Gautam for the vacant post of upper house member under pressure from party leaders. Khatiwada could not be appointed finance minister for a third term after his tenure as upper house member ended on September 5. But he is expected to play a key role in decision making after being appointed PM Oli&rsquo;s advisor, especially because Oli himself holds the portfolio of finance minister.</span></span></span></span></p>
',
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			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '12223',
			'image' => '20200916112550_1600175427.yubaraj-khatiwada.jpg',
			'article_date' => '2020-09-16 11:25:21',
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	(int) 11 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12475',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Nepali Students Spending Billions of Rupees for Education in India',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'September 15: India’s economy is getting richer by billions of rupees collected as educational fees from Nepali students every year.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">September 15: India&rsquo;s economy is getting richer by billions of rupees collected as educational fees from Nepali students every year.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The number of Nepali students in India is the highest among all foreign students, according to the records kept by the Human Resource Development Ministry of India. However, this fact is hardly talked about. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Indian educational institutions are being inclined towards Nepali students. On the other hand, policy makers in Nepal are hardly concerned about finding out the reason for thousands of Nepali students opting to study abroad. Neither are they concerned about retaining the students by giving better opportunities within the country.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">India has adopted a strategy of attracting foreign students. Nepali students fall in the top priority of India.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The All India Survey on Higher Education 2018/19 made public by the Human Resource Development Ministry of India in 2019 shows that Nepali students top the list of foreign students studying in India.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Nepali students constitute 26.88 percent of the total foreign students in India, states the survey report. During the review period, a total of 47,724 foreign students were enrolled in various educational institutions in India. Among them, there were around 13,000 students from Nepal.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Taking into consideration five years of average study in higher level, it is estimated that there are around 65,000 Nepali students in India. Nepali students spend billions of rupees on tuition fees, admission, food and accommodation as well as transportation.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">In an average, one Nepali student spends around IRs 800,000 every year, according to the guardians who send their wards to India for higher education. Taking this into consideration, Nepali students spend around Rs 52 billion for studying in India every year.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The expenses would be much higher if the educational fees paid by countless other Nepali students pursuing education in convents of Dehradun, Nainital, Lucknow and Darjeeling are also taken into account.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Professor Dr Deepak Shakya says Nepali students have been pursuing education abroad due to the failure of the Government of Nepal to ensure proper infrastructure and educational system here in Nepal.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">&ldquo;The government&rsquo;s education policy itself is not stable. The main reason for students going abroad is lack of adequate infrastructure and opportunities,&rdquo; says Shakya.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Professor Dr Shakya says that the government must instead focus on adopting a policy of attracting foreign students.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Informed sources say that the Indian government has been providing various facilities to the educational institutes to make education accessible at affordable rates. The Government of India has been spending millions of rupees to attract foreign students.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The government of India reportedly approved budget of IRs 1.5 billion for promotional programmes between 2018 to 2020.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The Human Resource Development Ministry of India has set a target to attract more than 200,000 foreign students in the next five years. The Indian government has told reputed institutes of India to allocate 15,000 seats for foreign students.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Meanwhile, Nepali students have been opting to study abroad due to uncertain academic calendar, says educationist Indu Shekhar Mishra.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">&ldquo;India still has three-year course for undergraduate level except for technical subjects. But we have four-year course here in Nepal. On top of that, the course does not get completed in time,&rdquo; says Mishra. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
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	(int) 12 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12474',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Thousands of Workers Unemployed in Sunsari-Morang Industrial Corridor',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'September 15: Thousands of workers have lost their jobs in the Sunsari-Morang Industrial Corridor within the last six months due to Covid-19.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">September 15: Thousands of workers have lost their jobs in the Sunsari-Morang Industrial Corridor within the last six months due to Covid-19.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Out of 50,000 workers employeed in 500 different industries in the corridor, 15,000 have already been unemployed while 14,000 are kept in reserve.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Large industries that normally operated in three shifts have reduced their production to two shifts causing massive unemployment. Similarly, small and medium enterprises have cut off 30 percent of their employees due to the reduction in production.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Industrialists at the Sunsari-Morang Industrial Corridor&nbsp; inform that they are currently facing challenges of raw materials, labor management and manufacturing goods. The industries producing jute, yarn, noodles, oil, rice, milk, soap, cookies, and grains are currently operating in the corridor but most of them are producing only 60 to 70 percent of their actual capacity.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Arihant Multi-Fibres and Raghupati Jute Mill, which once used to have the highest number of workers in the corridor, used to run their industries in three shifts. However, both the industries currently are carrying their production in two shifts only. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Raj Kumar Golchha, operator of Arihant Multifibres and Raghupati Jute Mill informed that the reduction in number of shifts has left 30 percent of the workers unemployed. &ldquo;We are employing workers in 15/15 days alternatively (15-day work and 15-day rest),&rdquo; he informed.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
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	(int) 13 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12473',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Kathmandu Marriott Hotel Bags Award at Asia Pacific Hotel Awards 2020 -2021',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'September 15: Kathmandu Marriott Hotel has won the award for the Best Luxury Hotel of Nepal at the Asia Pacific Hotel Award 2020 -2021.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">September 15: Kathmandu Marriott Hotel has won the award for the Best Luxury Hotel of Nepal at the Asia Pacific Hotel Award 2020 -2021.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The newly established hotel said in a statement that it also won Nepal&rsquo;s Best Employer Brand Award 2019, the Best Hotel Launch of the Year, the Best Bar Award, the Best Event Venue Award and the award for the Most Preferred Spa of 2019.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">&ldquo;This achievement was earned through hard work, shaped by the strength of the foundations we set within our very first year of operations. Our commitment to excellence was the overriding sentiment that drove every one of our associates on property to excel at their work,&rdquo; the statement said.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">According to Kathmandu Marriott Hotel, the award ceremony was hosted jointly by the Employer Branding Institute, Hotel Industry Leadership Award and World HRD Congress during a recent function.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">&ldquo;We also were delighted and humbled to know that Kathmandu Marriott Hotel was selected as Trip Advisor&rsquo;s Traveler&rsquo;s Choice Awards in 2020 placing us in the top 10% percentile of hotels in the world,&rdquo; the statement added. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Kathmandu Marriott Hotel, located in the capital city of Kathmandu, said in the statement that it offers modern design, 5-star services and deluxe amenities. </span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
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	(int) 14 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12469',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Government Unable to Rescue Stranded Nepalis',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'September 14: Nepali citizens stranded abroad after losing their jobs due to the coronavirus pandemic have not been able to come back to Nepal due to the lack of sufficient repatriation flights.',
			'content' => '<p><em>A sketch taken from the cover page of Nepal Labour Migration Report 2020. Photo Courtesy: MOLESS</em></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">September 14: Nepali citizens stranded abroad after losing their jobs due to the coronavirus pandemic have not been able to come back to Nepal due to the lack of sufficient repatriation flights.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Even though the government had announced that it will rescue the stranded Nepalis by availing money from the Foreign Employment Welfare Fund, it has been able to bring back only a handful of stranded citizens considering the total number of Nepalis in need of rescue. The lack of flights has created difficulties to conduct the repatriation operation for the government.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">According to the Foreign Employment Board under the Ministry of Labor, Employment and Social Security, so far only 15 people have been brought from Malaysia by utilizing the fund.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Rajan Shrestha, executive director of the Foreign Employment Board, informed that the government has not been able to bring the stranded workers from Bahrain, the UAE, Qatar, and other countries due to the&nbsp;lack of flights.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">&quot;People willing to return back to Nepal on their expenses also aren&rsquo;t able to return,&quot; Shrestha informed.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">He urged the government to immediately make the flight operation convenient and rescue stranded Nepalis. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">According to the Ministry of Labor, around 50,000 Nepalis are willing to come to Nepal even by paying exorbitant airfare themselves. &nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12486',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Test Drive of India-Made Train along Janakpur-Jayanagar Section Today',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'September 18: A brand new train that arrived in Jayanagar on Thursday evening will undergo test drive today along the 34-kilometer section of the Janakpur-Jayanagar Railway. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">September 18: A brand new train that arrived in Jayanagar on Thursday evening will undergo test drive today along the 34-kilometer section of the Janakpur-Jayanagar Railway. The train manufactured by Konkan Railway Corporation, a company owned by the Government of India, arrived in Jayanagar on Thursday (September 17) evening. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">The train with a capacity of about 1300 passengers is&nbsp;being brought to Janakpur from Jayanagar on Friday, September 18 (today). Guru Bhattarai, general manager of Nepal Railway Company Limited, informed that the train will undergo test drive today along the Jayanagar-Janakpur section.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Konkan Railway Corporation is planning to hand over the train to Nepal after completing the test drive. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Bhattarai informed that the technicians of Konkan Railway Corporation will operate the train to Janakpur in Nepal for the test. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">He added that the modalities for the regular operation of the train will be made within a year after discussions with India.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">The Indian-made train had arrived at Hajipur in Bihar a few weeks ago.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">The Jayanagar-Janakpur-Bardiwas railway which is currently under construction with the assistance of the Government of India is 69 kilometers long. Out of that, the&nbsp;test will be conducted along 34 kilometers of Jayanagar-Janakpur section.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12485',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Tax Exemption on Raw Materials for Medicines not yet Implemented',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'September 18: The government in its annual budget for the current fiscal year had announced to provide VAT exemption for raw materials and packing materials required for the pharmaceutical companies of Nepal.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">September 18: The government in its annual budget for the current fiscal year had announced to provide VAT exemption for raw materials and packing materials required for the pharmaceutical companies of Nepal. However, the decision is yet to be implemented. Pharmaceutical companies complain that they have been paying VAT (value added tax) while importing over three dozen such products.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">General Secretary of the Association of Pharmaceutical Producers of Nepal (APPN) Biplav Adhikari says they have been paying VAT for raw materials required for producing medicines including active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) for which the government has announced tax exemption.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">&ldquo;The government had announced tax exemption while unveiling the budget for the current fiscal year but the customs offices have been collecting tax from us,&rdquo; said Adhikari.</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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Stakeholders say the provision to grant tax exemption for APIs and packing materials is already included in the Financial Act and therefore the customs offices continue charging tax as per the provision in the law. Pharmaceutical companies have urged the concerned authorities including the finance ministry, health ministry to amend the law to ensure that they get the facilities announced in the budget but to no avail. </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:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">It has been almost three and a half months since the budget announcement was made but the tax exemption has not been implemented. Pharmaceutical companies have reduced the import of raw materials and packing materials after they were denied tax exemption.&nbsp; They have been importing only limited quantity of those products that are currently required.</span></span></span></span></p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12484',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'India Seeks Permission to Prepare DPR of Kathmandu-Raxaul Railway',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'September 17: India has sought permission from the Government of Nepal to prepare the detailed project report (DPR) of the Kathmandu-Raxaul Railway.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Devanagari Sangam MN&quot;">September 17: </span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Bangla MN&quot;">India has sought permission from the Government of Nepal to prepare the detailed project report (DPR) of the Kathmandu-Raxaul Railway. India and China are among the two countries that have shown interest to invest in trans-border railway in Nepal. Meanwhile, China has said it will start the study only after the risk of coronavirus subsides.</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:&quot;Bangla MN&quot;">According to the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport, they are currently preparing to give permission to India for the DPR. The ministry clarified that there hasn&rsquo;t been any discussion with China recently for the feasibility study.</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:&quot;Bangla MN&quot;">China hasn&rsquo;t been able to study the railway route that falls in Nepal due to the risk of coronavirus. However, China has started survey of the trans-border railway route between Shigatshe and Kerung that falls within its border. </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:&quot;Bangla MN&quot;">In a virtual meeting between Finance Ministry and China International Development Corporation Agency (CIDCA) in late August, the two sides had agreed to start the survey of Nepal Tokha-Chahare and Syafrybesi-Betrawati tunnel sections of the railway after the&nbsp; coronavirus pandemic subsides.</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:&quot;Bangla MN&quot;">Meanwhile, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport Gopal Sigdel informed New Business Age that India sought permission to prepare the DPR of Kathmandu-Raxaul Railway a few weeks ago. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'sortorder' => '12231',
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12483',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Nepal-Bound Goods Stuck across Rasuwagadhi Border',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'September 17: Nepali importers are unable to get customs clearance of goods stuck at Kerung of China due to the obstruction in reopening Rasuwagadhi Customs Point since the last seven months. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Bangla MN&quot;">September 17: Nepali importers are unable to get customs clearance of goods stuck at Kerung of China due to the obstruction in reopening Rasuwagadhi Customs Point since the last seven months. The importers have sought help from the concerned government bodies but they only get assurance.</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:&quot;Bangla MN&quot;">The border has remained closed since January after a surge in coronavirus cases in China. More than 1000 containers carrying readymade garments, shoes and electronic appliances are struck across the border due to the obstruction. </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:&quot;Bangla MN&quot;">Although the customs point along with Tatopani customs was opened for some time in between, it has been obstructed again. Importers are worried if they can bring clothes for the upcoming Dashain festival or not.</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:&quot;Bangla MN&quot;">The importers have submitted memorandum to various government bodies to resolve the problem diplomatically. All of them have assured to help in releasing the goods but to no avail, says Naresh Katuwal, chairman of Nepal National Entrepreneurs Federation.</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:&quot;Bangla MN&quot;">Of late, the border has been closed after coronavirus was detected among the workers involved in loading goods.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Bangla MN&quot;">Besides coronavirus, the border has also been obstructed by landslides time and again.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'id' => '12482',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Rift Over 50 Percent Seating Capacity Casts Doubts on Resuming Domestic Flights',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'September 17: Although the government has lifted a ban on domestic flights effective from September 17, private airline companies have said they cannot provide the service with just 50 percent passengers.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">September 17: Although the government has lifted a ban on domestic flights effective from September 17, private airline companies have said they cannot provide the service with just 50 percent passengers.</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:Arial">A meeting of the Council of Ministers on Monday (September 14) decided to allow airline companies to resume domestic flights with just 50 percent passengers.</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:Arial">However, airline companies have said that it is impractical to operate flights with 50 percent passengers.</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:Arial">&ldquo;First of all there is confusion regarding the date of resuming service. Secondly, if we are to provide service by adopting all necessary safety precautions then it is impractical to fly only 50 percent passengers,&rdquo; says Manoj Karki, general secretary of Airline Operators Association of Nepal (AOAN).</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:Arial">&ldquo;It will only raise the air fare by double amount,&rdquo; added Karki, who is also the managing director of Summit Air. </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:Arial">Karki says resuming air service is a praiseworthy decision but provision of 50 percent seating capacity should be revised. He said that they have submitted a memorandum to the concerned ministry to revise the provision. </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:Arial">AOAN spokesperson Yograj Kandel says it is not possible to provide air service under the terms and conditions set by the government. Therefore, the airline operators have decided not to resume service at the moment. </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:Arial">The government lifted a ban on regular international flights on September 1 after almost 5 months of lockdown. Resuming domestic flights was delayed due to increase in coronavirus cases across the country. </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:Arial">The government was under pressure to resume domestic flights. Although the government lifted a ban on domestic flights, it is still not certain when the flights will resume due to the differences in seating capacity for the flights.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'id' => '12481',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Pandemic Threatens Gains of the Past Decade: World Bank',
			'sub_title' => 'Nepal Makes Pre-Pandemic Progress in Human Capital Development',
			'summary' => 'September 17: The COVID-19 pandemic threatens hard-won gains in health and education over the past decade, especially in the poorest countries, a new World Bank Group analysis finds. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">September 17:</span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial"> The COVID-19 pandemic threatens hard-won gains in health and education over the past decade, especially in the poorest countries, a new World Bank Group analysis finds. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Investments in human capital&mdash;the knowledge, skills, and health that people accumulate over their lives&mdash;are key to unlocking a child&rsquo;s potential and to improving economic growth in every country, World Bank said in a statement. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">The World Bank Group&rsquo;s 2020 Human Capital Index shows that most countries had made steady progress in building human capital of children, with the biggest strides made in low-income countries before the pandemic. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">&ldquo;Investment in human capital is just as important as investment in infrastructure, if not more, and brings returns in the form of a healthier and more productive workforce in the long run,&rdquo; stated Faris Hadad-Zervos, World Bank&rsquo;s country director for the Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka. &ldquo;There is a need for an accelerated push to focus on investing in human capital in the recovery and rebuilding phases after the pandemic. This requires close collaborations among all three levels of the government in order to bring about large and sustainable changes.&rdquo;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">&nbsp;Due to the pandemic&#39;s impact, most children &ndash; more than 1 billion &ndash; have been out of school and could lose, on average, half a year of schooling, translating into considerable monetary losses in the future, according to the World Bank. Data also shows significant disruptions to essential health services for women and children, with many children missing out on crucial vaccinations. The economic impact of the pandemic has been particularly deep for women and for the most disadvantaged families, leaving many vulnerable to food insecurity and poverty. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">&nbsp;The 2020 Human Capital Index includes </span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">health and education data up to March 2020 for 174 countries covering 98 percent of the world&rsquo;s population, providing a pre-pandemic baseline on the health and education status of children. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria">&nbsp;<span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Today, hard-won human capital gains in many countries are at risk. But countries can do more than just work to recover the lost ground. To protect and extend earlier human capital gains, countries need to expand health service coverage and quality among marginalized communities, boost learning outcomes together with school enrollments, and support vulnerable families with social protection measures adapted to the scale of the COVID-19 crisis, the statement further said. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">&nbsp;In Nepal, it is essential to invest more in the early years, with a focus on those children who have been left behind. This includes safeguarding access to nutritious, safe and affordable diets and providing opportunities for learning and stimulation especially for the poorest and most-affected households. Given the current high cost of medical care, resources can be refocused towards ensuring universal access to quality essential primary, emergency and referral health services.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria">&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">The World Bank Group said it is working closely with governments to develop long-term solutions to protect and invest in people during and after the pandemic. In Nepal, the Bank is supporting the development of school safety and hygiene protocols while working with WASH teams to provide basic sanitization and hygiene supplies. The Bank is helping strengthen government systems and expand coverage of social security allowances and civil registration to support vulnerable communities. The Bank is also supporting the government to strengthen health systems and security and improve the health financing landscape of the country.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria">&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria">&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'title' => 'India’s Ban on Export of Onion leads to Arbitrary Pricing in the Market ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'September 16: The price of onion has skyrocketed in the market after the Indian government banned the export of onion. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">September 16: The price of onion has skyrocketed in the market after the Indian government banned the export of onion. The retail price of onion has reached up to Rs 100 as the traders have started fixing the price arbitrarily. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The import of onion has stopped in the Kalimati Fruits and Vegetables market since September 14 after India banned the export. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The price of onion was rising in Nepal some days before India banned the export. According to the daily price list of Kalimati Fruits and Vegetables Market, the price of onion has increased by 89 percent in the last 15 days. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The wholesale price of onion, which was Rs 42 per kg on September 1, has increased to Rs 75 per kg since then. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The shortage of onion in Nepal is expected to become acute after India stopped the export. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Vinay Shrestha, information officer of Kalimati Fruits and Vegetables Market Development Board, says that traders have already increased the price in Nepal due to the increase in price in India. He claims that arbitrary prices should not be fixed while selling old products that were in stock. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">&ldquo;The domestic production of Nepal cannot meet the market demand while onions cannot be imported from India now. Consumers will face the problem after the ban by India,&rdquo; said Shrestha. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Some traders have suddenly increased the price of onions. Onions were being sold at Rs 75 per kg on Tuesday, while it was sold at Rs 100 per kg in the same afternoon. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 7 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12479',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Rs 3 billion needed for repairing roads and bridges damaged by natural disasters ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'September 16: A preliminary study conducted by the Department of Roads shows that more than Rs 3 billion is required to repair the roads and bridges damaged by floods and landslides across the country.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">September 16: A preliminary study conducted by the Department of Roads shows that more than Rs 3 billion is required to repair the roads and bridges damaged by floods and landslides across the country.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">The estimated amount is required for repairing the roads and bridges in 226 various locations across the country where damages were caused by the monsoon that started last July.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">The Department informed that out of the total required amount, Rs 1.5 billion is required for the reconstruction and maintenance of damaged structures along the Araniko Highway.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Floods and landslides cause loss of life and property every year, and the country has to invest billions of rupees in rebuilding roads and bridges. The calamities caused by monsoon has created an additional liability of more than Rs 3 billion this year for the state, informed the department.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Out of 226 places across the country, the Araniko Highway, Sanphe-Martadi road, and North-South Corridor of the Beni-Jomsom road section have been severely damaged, informed Shivahari Sapkota, spokesperson of the department.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Although no section of the Araniko Highway is currently blocked, landslides and flooded river have damaged bridges and roads which are being operated partially. This has affected the traffic in 15 various places.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
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			'description' => '',
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	(int) 8 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12478',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Developing Asia Witnessing First Recession in 6 Decades: ADB',
			'sub_title' => 'Asia’s GDP to Contract by 0.7 Percent',
			'summary' => 'September 16: As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to disrupt global economic activity, developing Asia's gross domestic product (GDP) is now expected to contract by 0.7% in 2020, according to the Asian Development Outlook.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">September 16: As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to disrupt global economic activity, developing Asia&#39;s gross domestic product (GDP) is now expected to contract by 0.7% in 2020, according to the Asian Development Outlook 2020. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">&nbsp;The report published by the Asian Development Bank on September 15 states that it </span><span style="font-size:14.0pt">is the region&#39;s first recession in nearly 6 decades.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">However, the GDP is projected to grow by 6.8% in 2021.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">&ldquo;Excluding high-income newly industrialized economies, regional GDP is expected to contract by 0.5% this year before growing by 7.2% next year,&rdquo; states the report. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Softening demand and subdued food prices will keep inflation benign. The inflation forecast is revised down from 3.2% to 2.9% for 2020 and maintained at 2.3% for 2021.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The threat of a prolonged COVID-19 pandemic and a return to more stringent containment measures is the main risk to the outlook. While economies in developing Asia remain resilient, continued policy support is needed to underpin recovery, the report further states.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:Helvetica">Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal managed to grow in their recently completed fiscal years because COVID-19 affected only their tail end, says the report. They are set to continue expanding in the current fiscal year, though only minimally for Bhutan and Nepal. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:Helvetica">Inflationary pressures have begun to intensify in South Asia, especially in India, as supply chain disruption pushed up food prices. </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:Calibri">The outlook says </span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt">physical and mental health is vital to post-pandemic recovery. The report&rsquo;s theme chapter explores wellness, or the pursuit of holistic health and well-being. It examines the state of wellness in Asia and the Pacific and its growing role in the region&rsquo;s economy. It discusses how policy makers can promote wellness by creating healthy living environments, encouraging physical activity and healthy diets, and enhancing workplace wellness.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
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	(int) 9 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12476',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Long-Distance Transportation and Air Service to Resume from Tomorrow',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'September 16: The government has decided to resume long-distance transportation service as well as domestic flights from coming Thursday (September 17) instead of September 21.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">September 16: The government has decided to resume long-distance transportation service as well as domestic flights from coming Thursday (September 17) instead of September 21.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">A meeting of the Council of Ministers recently decided to resume the services that were disrupted since lockdown was imposed on March 24. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Earlier, it was reported that the inter-district transportation service and domestic flight would resume next week starting from September 21. However,&nbsp; Foreign Minister Pradeep Gyawali, who is the new government spokesperson, confirmed that the services will be available from Thursday itself. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">As per the latest decision, long route vehicles will come into operation from September 17 along with domestic air service. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">The government has also decided to allow hotels, restaurants as well as trekking and travel agencies to reopen from Thursday.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Long-route vehicles and other means of public transportation should however adopt safety measures amid coronavirus pandemic. Such vehicles will be allowed to keep only one passenger in a row and must maintain physical distance among them. Public vehicles will not be allowed to take in passengers beyond the seating capacity. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">All the passengers and drivers as well as helpers must compulsorily wear masks and gloves while sanitizers must be available at the door of the vehicles.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Meanwhile, transport entrepreneurs also discussed about ways to ensure safety measures anticipating large number of people returning to their homes during the upcoming Dashain festival.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Public vehicles will be allowed to charge a maximum of 50 percent amount to the fares fixed by the government.&nbsp; </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Similarly, the cabinet has decided to extend the closure of international borders for a month. As per the cabinet decision, the border entry points will remain closed until October 16. People will not be allowed to enter into the country unless there is an emergency. The government has decided to open two more border entry points for emergency purpose. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">According to government officials, Ilam&#39;s Pashupatinagar and Darchula have been opened for emergency visit along with 10 other border points. Likewise, Rasuwagadhi border has also been opened especially for transport of goods that have been stranded there since months. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 10 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12477',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Yuba Raj Khatiwada Appointed Special Financial Advisor to PM Oli',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'September 16: The Council of Ministers has appointed former finance minister Yuba Raj Khatiwada as the special financial advisor to Prime Minsiter KP Oli. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">September 16: The Council of Ministers has appointed former finance minister Yuba Raj Khatiwada as the special financial advisor to Prime Minsiter KP Oli. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Khatiwada, a former governor of Nepal Rastra Bank, was earlier appointed as finance minister by the Oli-led government after nominating him as a member of the National Assembly under the president&rsquo;s quota. After his second term in upper house ended recently, Khatiwada resigned from the post of finance minister. Ten days after his resignation, he was appointed to a post where he enjoys all the privileges as a minister, informed Foreign Minister Pradeep Gyawali, who is the new spokesperson of the Government of Nepal.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">PM Oli was in favour of giving continuity to Khatiwada as finance minister. However, he was forced to choose Nepal Communist Party Vice Chairman Bamdev Gautam for the vacant post of upper house member under pressure from party leaders. Khatiwada could not be appointed finance minister for a third term after his tenure as upper house member ended on September 5. But he is expected to play a key role in decision making after being appointed PM Oli&rsquo;s advisor, especially because Oli himself holds the portfolio of finance minister.</span></span></span></span></p>
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	(int) 11 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12475',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Nepali Students Spending Billions of Rupees for Education in India',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'September 15: India’s economy is getting richer by billions of rupees collected as educational fees from Nepali students every year.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">September 15: India&rsquo;s economy is getting richer by billions of rupees collected as educational fees from Nepali students every year.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The number of Nepali students in India is the highest among all foreign students, according to the records kept by the Human Resource Development Ministry of India. However, this fact is hardly talked about. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Indian educational institutions are being inclined towards Nepali students. On the other hand, policy makers in Nepal are hardly concerned about finding out the reason for thousands of Nepali students opting to study abroad. Neither are they concerned about retaining the students by giving better opportunities within the country.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">India has adopted a strategy of attracting foreign students. Nepali students fall in the top priority of India.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The All India Survey on Higher Education 2018/19 made public by the Human Resource Development Ministry of India in 2019 shows that Nepali students top the list of foreign students studying in India.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Nepali students constitute 26.88 percent of the total foreign students in India, states the survey report. During the review period, a total of 47,724 foreign students were enrolled in various educational institutions in India. Among them, there were around 13,000 students from Nepal.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Taking into consideration five years of average study in higher level, it is estimated that there are around 65,000 Nepali students in India. Nepali students spend billions of rupees on tuition fees, admission, food and accommodation as well as transportation.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">In an average, one Nepali student spends around IRs 800,000 every year, according to the guardians who send their wards to India for higher education. Taking this into consideration, Nepali students spend around Rs 52 billion for studying in India every year.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The expenses would be much higher if the educational fees paid by countless other Nepali students pursuing education in convents of Dehradun, Nainital, Lucknow and Darjeeling are also taken into account.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Professor Dr Deepak Shakya says Nepali students have been pursuing education abroad due to the failure of the Government of Nepal to ensure proper infrastructure and educational system here in Nepal.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">&ldquo;The government&rsquo;s education policy itself is not stable. The main reason for students going abroad is lack of adequate infrastructure and opportunities,&rdquo; says Shakya.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Professor Dr Shakya says that the government must instead focus on adopting a policy of attracting foreign students.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Informed sources say that the Indian government has been providing various facilities to the educational institutes to make education accessible at affordable rates. The Government of India has been spending millions of rupees to attract foreign students.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The government of India reportedly approved budget of IRs 1.5 billion for promotional programmes between 2018 to 2020.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The Human Resource Development Ministry of India has set a target to attract more than 200,000 foreign students in the next five years. The Indian government has told reputed institutes of India to allocate 15,000 seats for foreign students.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Meanwhile, Nepali students have been opting to study abroad due to uncertain academic calendar, says educationist Indu Shekhar Mishra.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">&ldquo;India still has three-year course for undergraduate level except for technical subjects. But we have four-year course here in Nepal. On top of that, the course does not get completed in time,&rdquo; says Mishra. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 12 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12474',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Thousands of Workers Unemployed in Sunsari-Morang Industrial Corridor',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'September 15: Thousands of workers have lost their jobs in the Sunsari-Morang Industrial Corridor within the last six months due to Covid-19.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">September 15: Thousands of workers have lost their jobs in the Sunsari-Morang Industrial Corridor within the last six months due to Covid-19.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Out of 50,000 workers employeed in 500 different industries in the corridor, 15,000 have already been unemployed while 14,000 are kept in reserve.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Large industries that normally operated in three shifts have reduced their production to two shifts causing massive unemployment. Similarly, small and medium enterprises have cut off 30 percent of their employees due to the reduction in production.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Industrialists at the Sunsari-Morang Industrial Corridor&nbsp; inform that they are currently facing challenges of raw materials, labor management and manufacturing goods. The industries producing jute, yarn, noodles, oil, rice, milk, soap, cookies, and grains are currently operating in the corridor but most of them are producing only 60 to 70 percent of their actual capacity.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Arihant Multi-Fibres and Raghupati Jute Mill, which once used to have the highest number of workers in the corridor, used to run their industries in three shifts. However, both the industries currently are carrying their production in two shifts only. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Raj Kumar Golchha, operator of Arihant Multifibres and Raghupati Jute Mill informed that the reduction in number of shifts has left 30 percent of the workers unemployed. &ldquo;We are employing workers in 15/15 days alternatively (15-day work and 15-day rest),&rdquo; he informed.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'id' => '12473',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Kathmandu Marriott Hotel Bags Award at Asia Pacific Hotel Awards 2020 -2021',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'September 15: Kathmandu Marriott Hotel has won the award for the Best Luxury Hotel of Nepal at the Asia Pacific Hotel Award 2020 -2021.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">September 15: Kathmandu Marriott Hotel has won the award for the Best Luxury Hotel of Nepal at the Asia Pacific Hotel Award 2020 -2021.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The newly established hotel said in a statement that it also won Nepal&rsquo;s Best Employer Brand Award 2019, the Best Hotel Launch of the Year, the Best Bar Award, the Best Event Venue Award and the award for the Most Preferred Spa of 2019.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">&ldquo;This achievement was earned through hard work, shaped by the strength of the foundations we set within our very first year of operations. Our commitment to excellence was the overriding sentiment that drove every one of our associates on property to excel at their work,&rdquo; the statement said.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">According to Kathmandu Marriott Hotel, the award ceremony was hosted jointly by the Employer Branding Institute, Hotel Industry Leadership Award and World HRD Congress during a recent function.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">&ldquo;We also were delighted and humbled to know that Kathmandu Marriott Hotel was selected as Trip Advisor&rsquo;s Traveler&rsquo;s Choice Awards in 2020 placing us in the top 10% percentile of hotels in the world,&rdquo; the statement added. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Kathmandu Marriott Hotel, located in the capital city of Kathmandu, said in the statement that it offers modern design, 5-star services and deluxe amenities. </span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'id' => '12469',
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			'title' => 'Government Unable to Rescue Stranded Nepalis',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'September 14: Nepali citizens stranded abroad after losing their jobs due to the coronavirus pandemic have not been able to come back to Nepal due to the lack of sufficient repatriation flights.',
			'content' => '<p><em>A sketch taken from the cover page of Nepal Labour Migration Report 2020. Photo Courtesy: MOLESS</em></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">September 14: Nepali citizens stranded abroad after losing their jobs due to the coronavirus pandemic have not been able to come back to Nepal due to the lack of sufficient repatriation flights.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Even though the government had announced that it will rescue the stranded Nepalis by availing money from the Foreign Employment Welfare Fund, it has been able to bring back only a handful of stranded citizens considering the total number of Nepalis in need of rescue. The lack of flights has created difficulties to conduct the repatriation operation for the government.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">According to the Foreign Employment Board under the Ministry of Labor, Employment and Social Security, so far only 15 people have been brought from Malaysia by utilizing the fund.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Rajan Shrestha, executive director of the Foreign Employment Board, informed that the government has not been able to bring the stranded workers from Bahrain, the UAE, Qatar, and other countries due to the&nbsp;lack of flights.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">&quot;People willing to return back to Nepal on their expenses also aren&rsquo;t able to return,&quot; Shrestha informed.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">He urged the government to immediately make the flight operation convenient and rescue stranded Nepalis. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">According to the Ministry of Labor, around 50,000 Nepalis are willing to come to Nepal even by paying exorbitant airfare themselves. &nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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FOREX

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)

Bullion

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

Petroleum

Petrol	1 Liter	106.00
Diesel	1 Liter	95.00
Kerosene	1 Liter	95.00
LP Gas	1 Cylinder	1375.00