- Thursday, 19 February 2026
TRN Online
Price of oil, vegetables, milk products goes soaring
By A Staff ReporterKathmandu, Apr. 13: The economic crisis has its toll on price inflation of goods and services. Consumer price inflation more than doubled to reach 7.14 per cent in the eighth month (mid-March) of Fiscal Year 2021/22 compared to 3.03 per cent a year ago, according to the Current Macroeconomic and Financial Situation report of the Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB).Food and beverage inflation stood at 7.51 per cent whereas non-food and service inflation stood at 6.84 per cent in mid-March. In mid-April 2021, food and beverage inflation was 3.80 per cent and non-food and service inflation stood at 2.42 per cent.Price of ghee and oil went up by 26.34 per cent, vegetable by 13.96 per cent, milk products and eggs by 11.30 per cent, and pulses and legumes rose by 10.30 per cent on year-on-year basis. Likewise, under the non-food and services category, the prices of transportation, miscellaneous goods and services and education sub-categories rose by 16.27 per cent, 9.01 per cent and 8.79 per cent respectively.In the review month, hill area experienced the highest inflation of 7.69 per cent. The Kathmandu Valley, Terai and Mountain witnessed inflation of 6.31 per cent, 7.36 per cent and 7.56 per cent respectively. Inflation in these regions was 2.50 per cent, 3.25 per cent, 3.40 per cent and 1.31 per cent respectively in mid-March 2021.Remittances continue to slumpRemittance inflows decreased by 1.7 per cent to Rs. 631.19 billion by the end of the eighth month of the fiscal year against an increase of 8.7 per cent of the previous year. Number of Nepali workers taking approval for foreign employment increased significantly to 227,900 in the review period. It had decreased by 82.9 per cent in the same period of the previous year. The number of Nepali workers taking approval for making re-entry for foreign employment increased by 240.9 per cent to 178,262. It had decreased by 70.2 per cent in the same period of the previous year.Net transfer decreased by 2.0 per cent to Rs. 704.33 billion in the review period. Such a transfer had increased by 7.2 per cent last year.Current account deficit reaches Rs. 463 billionThe report states that the current account remained at a deficit of Rs. 462.93 billion in the eighth month of this year compared to a deficit of Rs. 151.42 billion in the same period of the previous year.Likewise, capital transfer decreased by 41.2 per cent to Rs. 7 billion and net foreign direct investment (FDI) increased by 60.0 per cent to Rs. 16.30 billion. In the same period of the previous year, capital transfer and net FDI amounted to Rs. 11.91 billion and Rs. 10.18 billion respectively. BOP deficit continues to growBalance of Payments (BOP) remained at a deficit of Rs. 258.64 billion against a surplus of Rs. 68.01 billion of the previous year. Similarly, gross foreign exchange reserves decreased by 16.3 per cent to Rs. 1171 billion in mid-March 2022 from Rs. 1399.03 billion in mid-July 2021.The central bank said that based on the imports of eight months of 2021/22, the foreign exchange reserves of the banking sector is sufficient to cover the prospective merchandise imports of 7.4 months, and merchandise and services imports of 6.7 months.Similarly, deposits at Banks and Financial Institutions (BFIs) increased by 4.1 per cent in the review period compared to an increase of 11.0 per cent in the corresponding period of the previous year. Private sector credit from BFIs increased by 12.8 per cent this year compared to an increase of 17.4 per cent last year.
Preparations for CAN Infotech 2022 in final stage
By A Staff ReporterKathmandu, Apr. 13:Preparations for the IME Pay CAN Infotech 2022 slated for April 20-25 have reached final stage. The six-day event will be held at the Bhrikuti Mandap Exhibition Centre in Kathmandu.CAN Federation, organiser of the event, said that 27th edition of the country's only exhibition on information and communication technology and entertainment products is being held three months later from the traditional date in January and February.It has been postponed twice due to the COVID-19 pandemic but exhibitors and entrepreneurs are enthusiastic as it is happening for the first time after the outbreak of the pandemic, said Narayan Thapa, General Secretary of CAN Federation.The organiser expects that the project will provide relief and assistance to all information and communication technology practitioners and stakeholders affected by COVID-19.The show has been organised regularly since 1995 and the 26th edition was organised successfully in 2020."The event will help all ICT entrepreneurs and stakeholders affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. We will try to bring in new innovations and developments in the sector of infotech," said Nawaraj Kunwar, President of CAN Federation. A virtual exhibition is also being arranged through caninfotech2022.com so that this edition of CAN Infotech could be participated from anywhere around the globe. Mandala Systems has partnered with CAN Federation as a Virtual Exhibition Partner to create the facility.CAN Infotech 2022 will have different segments, with branding, fintech, startups and innovation, ICT accessories and product launches and e-governance being the main ones. In the branding section, there will be participation of CAN member organisations as well as various national and international ICT-related companies and products in the information technology exhibition.The Fintech section will include services and products related to the use of information and communication technology of banks and financial, and related institutions in Nepal. In the Startup and Innovation Section, 26 startup and innovation related individuals or organisations will showcase their new products and ideas. CAN Federation has partnered with the Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) to showcase innovations.To promote new and innovative ideas in the field of information and communication technology, CAN Federation has given special priority to startups and innovations. It also aims to develop the capacity of students studying and working on information technology, providing a platform for their ideas, helping to turn innovative ideas into businesses, and contributing to practical learning. In the ICT Accessories and Product Launching Segment, entrepreneurs will be able to use business expansion as a place to showcase new technologies, while observers will be able to view and purchase new information and communication technology and future technologies, and equipment in one place.In addition to it, CAN Infotech 2022 will feature robotics, emerging technologies, WiFi and the internet, as well as software, networking and cloud solutions, electrical and electronics, security solutions, solar power systems, inverter, computer, UPS, LPT products such as solutions, computer accessories, antivirus software, banking solutions, CCTV and hard disks.
Integrated law on urban development in offing: PM Deuba
By A Staff ReporterKathmandu, Apr. 13: Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba on Tuesday said that integrated laws would be enacted to tackle the problems that may arise in urban infrastructure development in absence of such laws. Duplication in such legal provision related to urban infrastructure development would also be ended, Prime Minister Deuba, who is also the president of the ruling Nepali Congress, said while speaking at a consultative seminar held on formulating National Urban Policy, Urban Development Act and Utility Corridor Act.Prime Minister Deuba stressed on the need for drafting an urban development bill comprising utility corridor to push forward the development works in a coordinated manner. He said that the government has planned to implement some roadmap projects in the upcoming fiscal year in some big cities of the country to translate the concept of national city policy and urban development into action.Urban infrastructure development concept should be expanded to the hills and mountain regions to discourage unorganised and unmanaged migration of people from the hills to the Terai and the major city areas, he said. Terming Nepal as one of the fast urbanising countries in the world, PM Debua said although the government had been trying to control unmanaged urbanisation since the second five-year plan it had failed to develop cities as expected.Expressing his disappointment at not being able to seek long-term solution to the solid waste generated in the Kathmandu Valley, he said that gas and electricity can be produced from solid waste. “To help us towards that endeavour, some foreign envoys have pledged needed support,” he added. He also said that the vacant and public land in the valley is in the possession of land mafias and that there will be neither public nor government land left in Kathmandu in future should this go unchecked.Former Prime Minister and Chairman of CPN Maoist Centre Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ said that Nepal’s development programme should be taken forward in our own traditional model and practices, rather than copying other nation’s development formula based on mechanical process. Similarly, Former Prime Minister and leader of CPN Unified Socialist Jhalanath Khanal said that time has come to seriously think about how to manage the growing urbanisation. Leader Khanal stressed on enacting long-term and effective laws while planning cities in ways that will not invite problems in the long run. Likewise, Minister for Home Affairs Bal Krishna Khand said the malpractice of constructing road by one office and then digging out by another must end and that infrastructural development should be taken to rural areas.Minister for Communication and Information Technology Gyanendra Bahadur Karki said that rural and urban infrastructure development programmes should be implemented in a balanced and sustainable manner. Minister Karki stressed on enacting policy helping people stay in their own places rather than migrating elsewhere to control haphazard urbanisation.Minister for Urban Development Ram Kumari Jhankri said that the government was facing a hard time to prevent encroachment of public lands, and that there should be proper coordination and communication among the concerned ministries like Drinking Water, Energy, Road, Communication and the Home for controlling unmanaged urbanisation and haphazard practice of digging roads.
Lhakpa Sherpa to climb Everest for 10th time
By A Staff ReporterKathmandu, Apr. 13: Lhakpa Sherpa is set to break her own record and climb Mount Everest for the 10th time. Sherpa, who already holds the record for the highest number of successful Everest ascents by a woman, arrived in Kathmandu from the United States of America on Friday and was feted by the Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA) on Monday. The Association wished her the best for her attempt at scaling the world’s tallest mountain a historic 10th time and handed her an NMA flag to hoist at the top.Born in the then Makalu Village Development Committee (now part of Makalu Rural Municipality), 48-year-old Sherpa first climbed Everest from the Nepal side in 2000. After that, all her other attempts were made from the Chinese side and this year will be her second time scaling the mountain from Nepal.This year though, she has something special planned. “I will follow the original style of climbing that Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary had followed during the very first ascent of Mount Everest,” she shared.That means that she will first travel to Salleri, Solukhumbu and then trek to the Everest basecamp with a team of porters.Sherpa also said that she wanted to dedicate her climb to the cause of women empowerment. “Nepali women are hardworking and can do anything they want,” she said.
Samjhana Birsana to be released on May 20
By A Staff ReporterKathmandu, Apr. 13: With the lifting of lockdown, film producers have started announcing the release dates of their films. Samjhana Birsana is the latest movie to announce its release date.The film starred Aakash Shrestha and Pooja Sharma is scheduled to be released on May 20.One of the songs of the film was made public recently.Anju Pant and Nimesh Pradhan have sung the song Pareli which was shot in Darjeeling, India. The film was produced by Rebecca Pradhan.Film director, singer, songwriter and composer of the film Nimesh said that it was a love story film and it would entertain the audience.Actress Pooja said that she was very happy to work with the Samjhana Birsana team. She also added that she felt comfortable to work with actors Akash Adhikari and Paul Shah. “The audience also wants to see me and Akash on the screen once again that is why I am very fond of this film,” the actress added. Similarly, actor Akash said that Samjhana Birsana is a film worth remembering and expressed his belief that he would be loved by the audience as he was coming to the screen through this film after COVID -19 pandemic.Producer Rebecca said that she has expected encouragement and love from everyone as they have made the film with great effort. Choreographer Kamal Rai claimed that audiences from all walks of life would love the film.Sunil Thapa, Shisir Rana and Chulthim Gurung have also done in the film distributed by RR Films.The film was shot in Darjeeling, Siliguri and Sikkim of India.Shisir Rana has assisted him in writing the dialogues in the film.It was shot by Shiv Dhakal and edited by Tara Thapa. Director Nimesh has informed that the trailer of the film will be made public soon.
Mahuwa collection season begins
By Our CorrespondentDhangadhi, Apr. 13: With the onset of spring, the season to collect the flowers of Butter Tree, locally called Mahuwa, has begun. People of Kailali have started flocking to the forests to collect the flowers which fall from the tree in the months of March and April. These flowers are then used to make fragrant liquor. This is also the time to harvest wheat, so senior citizens, children and others who are not involved in field work use their time to gather Mahuwa. Bikram Chaudhary of Bhajani Municipality–3 said, “This is the time of the year when our forests come to life. People from all walks of life enter the woods to collect as many Mahuwa flowers as they can.”Butter Tree can be used to make medicines as well, according to conservationist Bijay Raj Shrestha. However, the locals only use it to make alcohol, he complained. “If we study the plant and utilise its properties adequately, this can provide a path to economic prosperity.”Butter Tree is also considered an energy-giving plant. People put the tree’s flowers in milk or hot water and drink the solution to boost immunity. However, there is no scientific evidence to support this belief.According to Ganga Datta Bhatta, head of the Plant Research Centre, Kailali, Butter Tree is a non-woody tree specially used by the Tharu community. Stating that the tree could be used for various purposes, Bhatta stressed the need to protect it.
Students display culinary skill at cookery competition
By Laxmi Chaudhary Janakpurdham, April. 13: Mithila people have a robust appetite for delicious cuisines and the students of Premier College of Hospitality have proved how delicious Maithili cuisines are. Mithila cuisines, the provincial skill competition in Maithili cookery was organised in Janakpurdham, provincial capital of Province-1 on Monday to promote the traditional Maithili cuisine and to showcase the talent of those engaged in the hospitality sector.The students of Premier College of Hospitality Management, Damak of Province-1 won the competition after they served delicious Maithili Cuisine Thali to the guests from home and abroad.Similarly, Premier Hotel Management School of Itahari and Sunrise Hotel Management College Itahari secured second and third position in the competition.The event garnered participation of hotel management students from six colleges of Itahari and Damak of Province-1.The students of six schools prepared 56 varieties of Maithil cuisines and served the guests.The judging panel of the competition included winner of BBC MasterChef 'Rematch' Santosh Sah and finalists of BBC Master Chief and chef Mahesh Sah.An array of mouth-watering Mathili Thali, filled with Taruwa, Kadhi, fried bitter gourd, soybean curry, mango pickles, lentils with butter, lotus seeds pudding and rice-were prepared by the winning team and put on display.President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Janakpur Jitendra Kumar Mahaseth professionals and students from the hospitality industry and people from different walks of life attended the event with great fanfare.The event was organised by New Mithila Foundation in collaboration with Janakpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Prez Approves Army Mobilisation For Local Poll
By TRN Online, Kathmandu, Apr. 12: President Bidya Devi Bhandari has approved mobilization of the army for the purpose of the local level election slated for May 13.The mobilization of the army will be made as provisioned in the 'unified security plan for local level election, 2078'.Sagar Acharya, spokesperson of the Office of the President, stated in the press release that the army mobilization was approved in order to hold the local level election in free, fair and impartial manner.There will be a security circle of the army, armed police force, and temporary police under Nepal Police.The army mobilization has been approved as per the recommendation of national security council, Council of Ministers and the Prime Minister, according to the press release.
Follow Election Code Of Conduct: EC
By TRN Online, Kathmandu, Apr. 12: Election Commission has reminded all the political parties and others concerned to fully follow the code of conduct for the local level election.The election code of conduct prohibits people participating in rallies or those involved in publicity from using materials and things that show election symbols of the political parties."As all the political parties have expressed commitment to follow the election code of conduct 2078 has, EC is in the belief that the parties will abide by the rule about the size of the party's flag and the election symbol," EC stated in its statement today.
23 New Cases, 37 Recoveries In 24 Hrs
By TRN Online, Kathmandu, Apr. 12: Additional 23 people have been found infected with the novel coronavirus in the PCR test of 2,866 people in the last 24 hours.According to the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP), three persons tested positive in the antigen test of 1,212 people.Meanwhile, 37 people got rid of the virus infection. There are 554 active cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus infection, in the country.41,407 people have been administered the vaccine against COVID-19 across the country in the last 24 hours, according to the MoHP.
Electoral Alliance As Needed, Based On Party Statute: Dr. Mahat
By TRN Online, Kathmandu, Apr. 12: The main ruling Nepali Congress has concluded its 'Let's conduct home visits, Let's make NC victorious' campaign carried out in the context of the May 13 Local Level Election."Our teams listened to the complaints and concerns of the voters as they visited homes. We informed the people about our works in the past as well as at present. We made clear the people about various rumours and also the scandals of the Oli led government," said Dr. Prakash Sharan Mahat, NC spokesperson at a press meet at NC central office, Sanepa, Lalitpur.Hundreds of teams have been formed under all the seven provinces, 77 districts and 753 local levels in course of the campaign, he said.He said the campaign gave a message of the NC unity and it also tore down all the remours regarding the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC).The NC spokesperson said that the electoral alliance for the local poll will be made as per the local situation, necessity and structure of the party statute.
CPN (Maoist Center) To Field At Least A Woman Candidate As Chief In A Local Level In All Districts
By TRN Online, Kathmandu, Apr. 12: CPN (Maoist Center) has issued circular to its rank and file that at least a woman should be fielded as chief of a local level in a district while filing nomination from the party for the upcoming local level election.The circular issued by the party Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' has made it mandatory for party committees to field a woman candidate for the post of mayor or chef in such local levels where the party is in a strong position to win the election.The CPN (Maoist Center) has expressed belief that there will be at least a woman chief in at least a local level in all the 77 districts from the party, which means at least 77 women chiefs in the total of 753 local levels.Similarly, the circular states that party should field a woman as a candidate as chairperson of at least a ward in a local level.As per the CPN (Maoist Center) statute, the party committee of a local level should have 35 per cent women in it.The party has also provided leading role to women in provincial committees, for instance two out of seven provincial committees of the party are led by women as chairperson.Going a step further ahead of the Constitutional provision of 33 per cent representation of women, the Maoist Center party has ensured 35 per cent representation of women in all of its party organisation committees.Bimala KC, chairperson of the CPN (Maoist Center) Karnali Provincial Committee, viewed that the latest circular of the party would help development of women leadership.
Nepal's Economy In Far Better Position Than Sri Lanka's: Former Governor Nepal
By TRN Online, Kathmandu, Apr. 12: Former Governor Chiranjibi Nepal has said that Nepal's economic condition is in a far better position in comparison to that of Sri Lanka.Speaking at an interaction programme in the capital on Tuesday, the former governor of Nepal Rastra Bank, the central bank of Nepal, viewed that Sri Lanka drifted into the current crisis due to sharp decline in the foreign exchange reserve and rising outstanding debt.He made it a point that Sri Lanka's foreign debt has risen to 60 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) while in comparison Nepal's foreign debt consists of only 22 per cent of the GDP.Though trade deficit is widening, Nepal still possess the foreign exchange reserve equivalent to import of good and service for 6.7 months which is above the International Monetary Fund (IMF) suggestion of 3 months for a developing country like Nepal.He attributed the current liquidity shortage to the sudden rise in the credit expansion which rose above 32 per cent against 18 per cent as targeted by monetary policy. He termed the credit expansion a historically high one.Foreign exchange reserve of Nepal declined in comparison to COVID period due to slid in remittance and tourism, he said.He also predicted that Russia-Ukraine crisis could stoke up the fuel and a few commodities' price, which ultimately could lead to inflation.
Central Mechanism To Make Final Decision On Seat Sharing Among Ruling Parties In Local Polls
By TRN Online, Kathmandu, Apr. 12: The high level political mechanism of the ruling coalition has endorsed the procedures for seat sharing among the ruling parties in the local polls.The seat sharing among the ruling parties with regard to the mayor and deputy mayor of the metropolis and sub-metropolis will be decided by the political mechanism itself, according to the decision of the meeting of the mechanism held under chairmanship of Prime Minister and Nepali Congress president Sher Bahadur Deuba.Informing the journalists about the outcome of the meeting, government spokesperson and minister for Communications and Information Technology Gyanendra Bahadur Karki said thatThe district level mechanism of the ruling coalition will take necessary decision on electoral alliance for mayor/deputy mayor in municipalities and chief and deputy chief in rural municipalities by April 16 and send the decision to the provincial mechanism which in turn will report to the central mechanism within April 18, according to Gyanendra Bahadur Karki, government spokesperson and minister for Communications and Information Technology, informing the journalists about the outcome of the meeting held today.The number of votes secured by a given party in the previous local polls held in 2017 will be taken as the basis for selecting the given party in a given local level's key posts.
PM Deuba Sees Need Of Utility Corridor For Coordinated Development
PM Deuba Sees Need Of Utility Corridor For Coordinated Development
