Consumer price inflation down to 3.65%, remittance up

The consumer price inflation has declined during the first 10 months of the current fiscal year 2020/21. According to the current macroeconomic and financial report published by Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) on Monday, the year-on-year (y-o-y) consumer price inflation stood at 3.65 per cent in the first 10th month of the current fiscal year compared to 5.83 per cent a year ago. Food and beverage inflation stood at 4.72 per cen

Provinces set to announce budgets today

Provinces are set to announce the budget for the Fiscal Year 2021/22 on Tuesday with a focus on COVID-19 control, tourism and connectivity infrastructure development and modernisation of agriculture.

Large herd of elephants enters Nepal from India

On June 10, a group of 40 to 45 elephants entered Bardiya district in Lumbini Province of western Nepal, coinciding the news stories of a group of elephants in China embarking on their unknown journey.

2,049 new cases of COVID-19, 5,147 recoveries, 53 fatalities in 24 hours

In 9,438 Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) tests done in the past 24 hours, a total of 2,049 persons were found infected with SARS-CoV-2, informed the Ministry of Health and Population in its regular update.

Capital budget needs aggressive mobilisation

With only 32 days left of the current fiscal year, the government is under pressure to mobilise about Rs. 3.47 billion or so of development budget per day according to the revised figures of the total allocation. Only 39.76 per cent of the capital budget is mobilised till Saturday, according to the Financial Comptroller General Office (FCGO)'s daily receipts and payments status report. Finance Minister Dr. Yuba Raj Khatiwada budget of the current Fiscal Year 2020/21 had earmarked Rs. 352.91 billion...

Govt releases Rs. 200M for disaster relief, rehabilitation in 14 districts

As the monsoon season sets in, the government has released relief amount worth Rs. 200 million for relief and rehabilitation programmes in 14 disaster-hit districts. "This budget disbursed by the central government to the local bodies is meant only for 14 districts including Gulmi, Sindhupalchowk, Baglung, Myagdi, Palpa, Nuwakot," Liladhar Adhikari, spokesperson and under-secretary for National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Authority (NDRRMA), said.

Tourism infrastructure in Khaptad lack maintenance

The tourism infrastructures constructed in Khaptad, a major attraction of the Sudurpashchim Province, are in a sorry state due to lack of maintenance. Tens of millions of rupees are allocated and different structures are built every year for the development of tourism in the Khaptad region. However, these structures are not maintained, turning them into sheds for stray cows and buffaloes. Many infrastructures like waiting rooms, view towers, toilets, fences and temples built to attract tourists...

1,694 new cases of COVID-19, 3,994 recoveries, 46 fatalities in 24 hours

In 7,517 Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) tests done in the past 24 hours, a total of 1,694 persons were found infected with SARS-CoV-2, informed Dr. Krishna Prasad Poudel, spokesperson at the Ministry of Health and Population in the regular press briefing.

Prime Minister virtually lays foundation stone for nation's first liquid oxygen plant

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on Sunday virtually laid the foundation stone for installing the nation's first liquid oxygen plant in Simarhawa, Rupandehi.

NC postpones its general convention to September

The Nepali Congress on Saturday decided to revise the calendar of its 14th general convention. A meeting of the party’s sitting and former office bearers held at party president Sher Bahadur Deuba’s residence in Budhanilkantha decided to hold the party’s 14th general convention from September 1 to 4 in Kathmandu. Earlier, the general convention was slated from August 23-26.

Karnali Province unveils policy and programmes

Chief of the Karnali Province Govinda Prasad Kalauni on Saturday unveiled the provincial government’s policy and programmes for the fiscal year 2021/22 at a meeting of the Provincial Assembly. The policy and programmes mainly focus on prevention of and response to COVID-19 this year and has given continuity to the past programmes. The provincial government has stated that saving lives of the people is the top priority of the government.

Fertiliser supply improves

Lack of fertiliser during the paddy plantation season has been a recurrent problem in Nepal. Every year, the farmers face ordeals of fertiliser shortage. However, this year, the authorities have claimed that there would be no shortage of chemical fertiliser at least during the plantation season. They said they would manage to cater at least half of the demand to each farmer. “We will provide fertiliser to the farmers. They will not face dearth of fertiliser this year like in the past years as...

6,295 COVID patients recover with 2,382 infections and 61 fatalities in 24 hrs

In 8,506 Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) tests done in the past 24 hours, a total of 2,382 persons were found infected with SARS-CoV-2, informed the Ministry of Health and Population in the regular update.

'Access to financial service to visually impaired is like fighting a battle'

Visually impaired people have physical, technological and informational constraints in accessing the banking, financial and stock market services. "Only a few of them have availed the banking and financial services after a long efforts and struggle with the respective company while many of us are deprived of the basic financial activities," Senior Vice-president of Nepal Association of the Blinds (NAB) Khom Raj Sharma said while speaking at an interaction on the issue organised by Nepali Association...

Assess manpower needs before policy formulation: PM Oli

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has instructed the concerned bodies to formulate education policy and regulation only after making a projection of required manpower for the country. He gave that instruction while addressing the 7th meeting of the Medical Education Commission at the Prime Minister’s official residence in Baluwatar on Friday. Prime Minister Oli, who is also the chairperson of the commission, said before preparing education policy, the number of manpower the country needs should be...

Monsoon enters from eastern Nepal

This year's monsoon has finally entered the country through Eastern Nepal on Friday. According to a special bulletin issued by the Meteorological Forecasting Division (MFD) under the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology this afternoon at 2:00 pm, the monsoon has entered two days ahead of its scheduled date.

99 species of reptiles, amphibians recorded in Chure range

At least 99 species of herpetofauna (reptiles and amphibians) were recorded from the entire Chure Range of Nepal. That accounts for 55 per cent of the total herpetofauna recorded in the country. A study titled “Amphibians and Reptiles of Chure Range of Nepal” carried out by President Chure Terai-Madesh Conservation Development Board and National Trust for Conservation Nepal (NTNC) revealed that among the 99 species of herpetofauna, 24 species were amphibians belonging to six families and 75...

PM asks Water Supply Ministry to start Melamchi Phase II work

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has directed the Ministry of Water Supply (MoWS) to immediately begin the work to bring the water of the Yangri and Larke rivers in Sindhupalchowk district to the Kathmandu Valley.

Monsoon to enter Nepal in two days

Monsoon clouds are likely to enter Nepal’s skies from the east in a day or two, the Meteorological Forecasting Department (MFD) said on Thursday. Due to the development of low pressure around the Bay of Bengal, monsoon onset is expected to occur from eastern Nepal in a day or two, said Meteorologist Ganga Nagarkoti.

PM directs to run drinking water projects in Yangri, Larke rivers

Taking update of the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, and Melamchi Drinking Water Project at the Prime Minister’s official residence in Baluwatar today, PM Oli asked the officials to begin the construction of drinking water projects in the two rivers to supply water to the Kathmandu Valley.