Submit your Article

The government has decided to suspend Yuvaraj Adhikari, Chairman of the Nepal Airlines Corporation.

A Cabinet meeting held on Monday decided to suspend Adhikari, Minister for Labor, Employment and Social Security Krishna Kumar Shrestha said.

The government has decided to suspend Nepal Airlines Corporation Chairman Yuvaraj Adhikari. There were demands to remove him from the post," he said.

The Annapurna Post, the sister publication of the Annapurna Express, had recently made public an audio conversation between Tourism Minister Prem Ale and Adhikari where Ale is found abusing Adhikari on telephone.

According to a source, there was a tussle between Minister Ale and Adhikari.

The government had even formed a probe committee to investigate the matter of Adhikari.

The government has decided not to participate in the State Partnership Program (SPP) of the United States.

A Cabinet meeting held on Monday made the decision to this effect, Minister for Labor, Employment and Social Security Krishna Kumar Shrestha said.

"The Cabinet has decided not to implement the State Partnership Program," he said, adding, " The United States will be informed about the decision."

At a time when the preparations for the Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba's US visit was going on in full swing, the US State Partnership Program took the center stage in the Parliament after its documents were made public.

The then Chief of Army Staff had written a letter to the United States for participation in the SPP.

But the SPP was not taken ahead after it was placed under the Indo Pacific Strategy.

Earlier, the US embassy in Kathmandu had said that the SPP could be revoked if the government wrote a letter to the United States  asking to scrap the agreement.

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) index plunged by 49. 31 points to close at 1,884.81 points on Monday. 

Similarly, the sensitive index fell 7. 66 points to reach 366. 19 points.

A total of 6,186,941 units of shares of 230 companies were traded for Rs 1.75 billion.

Likewise, all sub-indices saw red in today’s market with Non Life Insurance on the top of the table. 

Meanwhile, Adhikhola Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited was the top gainer today with its price surging by 10 percent. Likewise, Terhathum Power Company Limited was the top loser with its price dropped by 10 percent. 

At the end of the day, total market civilization stands at Rs 2. 68 trillion.

Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Dilendra Prasad Badu said that it was the compulsion of the government to jack up the prices of petroleum products.

Speaking at a meeting of the Industry Committee under the House of Representatives on Monday, Minister Badu said that the government has reduced the tax levied on petroleum products by Rs 10 and cannot slash more than that.

Despite the increase in fuel prices, the Nepal Oil Corporation is still facing the loss, leader Badu further said.

He said that the government did not increase the price of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) so as not to give further stress to the people.

Nepali Congress general secretary duo Gagan Thapa and Bishwo Prakash Sharma held a meeting with party President and Prime Minister Sher Bahadur at the latter’s residence in Baluwatar on Monday.

During the meeting, the duo raised nine issues of the party’s internal, national politics and contemporary issues.

The general secretary duo drew the attention of the Prime Minister towards holding policy convention, Central Working Committee meeting, giving full shape to the departments within June 23 and full shape to the Working Committee of the Nepal Students Union and Tarun Dal at the earliest among others.

In response, Prime Minister Deuba said that he will take the decision after holding discussions with other party leaders.

They also suggested the Prime Minister call the opposition parties for a discussion and develop a common opinion on the State Partnership Program. They have demanded that the government close the chapter of the SPP forever by completing all the due process.

The two general secretaries also drew the attention of the government to the rise in the prices of petroleum products.

Speaker Agni Prasad Sapkota issued a ruling directing the government to respond to the price hike in petroleum products.

The Speaker issued the ruling after the main opposition CPN-UML demanded answers from the government on the rise in fuel prices in the Parliament on Monday.

“My attention has been drawn towards the rise in petroleum products. I want to draw the attention of the government as well. I instruct the government to present the facts on the issue before the Parliament,” he said.

The Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC), the state-owned monopoly, hiked the prices of petroleum products on Sunday.

The NOC has decided to increase Rs 21 per liter each in petrol and Rs 27 per liter in diesel and kerosene.

As per the new revised rate, the petrol will now cost Rs 199 per litre and diesel and kerosene will cost Rs 192 per litre.

The NOC, however, has not increased the price of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG).

Representatives from 24 prominent Canadian universities and colleges will be highlighting education opportunities in Canada during the first EduCanada Mission to Kathmandu.

The participating universities and colleges will highlight the courses they offer, scholarships, information on student experience, accessibility, affordability, and career paths to potential students from Nepal during the event that will start from June 27 to 29, read a statement issued by the Government of Canada High Commission of Canada.

The EduCanada Mission provides an opportunity for Nepali students, education consultants, school/college principals and other key influencers to interact with representatives of Canadian educational institutions and Government of Canada officials.

The Mission also offers a platform to gain knowledge about studying and living in Canada, student visas, the Canadian business environment, and future prospects upon graduation, the statement read.

Program highlights include: the EduCanada ‘Study in Canada’ Seminar on June 28, that will be open for students, parents, education consultants and school counsellors from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm at The Hotel Soaltee in Kathmandu.

Additionally, there will be seminars during the delegation’s visits to schools and colleges in Kathmandu, education roundtables with consultants, as well as meetings with government officials and academic institutions.

Sharing his thoughts about the education Mission to Nepal, Cameron MacKay, Ambassador for Canada to Nepal, said: “We are very pleased to present the first EduCanada Mission to Nepal. Canada’s globally recognized educational institutions encompass a culture of experiential learning, strong entrepreneurship, and cutting-edge research, development and innovation," adding, " I encourage students from Nepal to take full advantage of this visit and understand the benefits of studying in Canada and the opportunities that it can open up for them.”

Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC), the state-owned monopoly, hiked the prices of petroleum products.

The NOC has decided to increase Rs 21 per liter each in petrol and Rs 27 per liter in diesel and kerosene.

As per the new revised rate, the petrol will now cost Rs 199 per litre and diesel and kerosene will cost Rs 192 per litre.

The NOC, however, has not increased the price of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG).