Is Tariff good for people?

Tariffs have long been a fundamental tool in international trade, shaping economies and political landscapes worldwide. A tariff is a tax imposed on imported goods, often used to protect domestic industries, generate government revenue, or retaliate against trade imbalances. While tariffs can provide short-term economic benefits for certain sectors, they can also lead to trade wars, increased consumer costs, and global economic disruptions.

The use of tariffs dates back to ancient civilizations, where rulers imposed duties on imported goods to fund governments and control trade. In the 18th and 19th centuries, tariffs became a central economic policy tool, especially during the Industrial Revolution. Countries like Britain and the United States implemented protective tariffs to foster domestic industry growth.

One of the most notable historical tariff policies was the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act of 1930 in the United States. This act raised tariffs on thousands of imported goods, leading to retaliatory measures from other countries and exacerbating the Great Depression. The failure of protectionist policies in this era highlighted the dangers of trade restrictions, leading to a gradual shift towards free trade agreements in the latter half of the 20th century.

The Impact of Tariffs on Economies and Consumers

Tariffs can have both positive and negative economic consequences, depending on the context in which they are implemented:

1. Domestic Industry Protection: Tariffs can shield local industries from foreign competition, allowing them to develop and thrive. This can be beneficial for emerging economies looking to grow their manufacturing and production capabilities.

2. Increased Prices for Consumers: Since tariffs raise the cost of imported goods, businesses often pass these costs onto consumers, leading to higher prices for everyday products.

3. Trade Wars and Retaliation: When one country imposes tariffs, others may respond with their own, leading to trade wars that disrupt global supply chains. The U.S.-China trade war of recent years illustrates how escalating tariffs can affect multiple industries and international relations.

4. Revenue Generation for Governments: Tariffs provide a source of income for governments, especially in countries that rely heavily on trade taxes rather than income or corporate taxes.

5. Market Distortions: By altering the natural flow of goods and services, tariffs can lead to inefficiencies in the global market, causing companies to shift production or seek alternative supply sources.

What a fight!

 

Boxers were ready. The cameras were ready. The house was ready. People were cheering and supporting for their players. Both players were determined to win. Who is going to win, the home team or visitors?  The prize was high. It was lucrative. All we needed to see was some action. Each boxer was waiting for their time to punch. 

After some warm up, punches were thrown. They were ugly. They did not follow the rules. They just punched at the free style. The boxing match was cancelled. Nobody won. 

Did this match look like this? 

नेपालको अचेल

 अचेल मालपोत र यातायात कार्यालयमा नजान कर्मचारीहरुबीच लडाइँ हुने गरेको छ । घरजग्गा, गाडीको किनबेचमा मात्र मन्दी आएको छैन । व्यापार व्यवसाय ठप्पै भएको छ । उपत्यकासहित देशभर सटर, कोठा र फ्ल्याट खाली हुने क्रम बढेको छ । बजार सुनसान छ । अहिले दुई ठाउँमा मात्रै मानिसहरुको भीड देखिन्छ । एउटा राहदानी बनाउने ठाउँ, अर्को एयरपोर्ट । युवाहरु विदेशिरहेका छन् । गाउँदेखि शहरसम्म बूढापाका र बालबच्चा मात्रै छन् । देशमै बस्न चाहे पनि एकातिर रोजगारी छैन, अर्कोतिर काम पाए पनि तलब दिइँदैन । यसले देशका युवाहरु बाध्य भएर विदेश पलायन भइरहेका छन् । त्यसो त तिनै युवाहरुले पठाइरहेको रेमिट्यान्सले देशको अर्थतन्त्र धानिरहेको छ ।

सरकारमा बसेकाहरुलाई आफ्नो कुर्सीको मात्र चिन्ता छ ।  सत्तामा बस्न पाइन्छ कि पाइँदैन ? भ्रष्टाचार गर्न पाइन्छ कि पाइँदैन ? सरकारी ढुकुटीमा मोज गर्न पाइन्छ कि पाइँदैन ? सरकारी, सार्वजनिक जग्गा आफ्ना कार्यकर्तालाई बाँड्न पाइन्छ कि पाइँदैन ? 

नेपालको अचेल येस्तै छ !

क्रिप्टोको ठगी - Crypto Scam

 

करेन्सी कारोबारमा संलग्न एक गिरोहलाई प्रहरी पक्राउ गरेको छ। नेपालमा गैरकानुनी रहेको क्रिप्टो कारोबार तथा अनलाइन  ठगी गरेको गरेको कसुरमा प्रहरीले काठमाडौंका विभिन्न स्थानबाट  सात जनालाई पक्राउ गरेको हो। यो समूहले हालसम्म अभौतिक मुद्राको कारोबार गरेर तीन अर्बभन्दा बढी रकम ठगी गरेको पाइएको छ। यो रकम डिजिटल फरेन्सिक रिपोर्टको विवरणबाट प्राप्त भएको  थियो। विभिन्न बैंक तथा डिजिटल वालेट प्रयोगकर्ताहरूलाई समूहले झुक्याएर बैंक तथा वालेटहरूको आधिकारिक व्यक्ति भन्ने गरेको थियो।  प्रयोगकर्ताको ओटिपी/पिन माग गरेर अनाधिकृत रुपमा बैंक तथा वालेटहरूमा यो समूहले पहुँच पुर्‍याउँथ्यो। यो समूहले सोसल मिडिया ह्वाट्सएप, टेलिग्राम, फेसबुकहरूमा अनलाइन जब पाइने भन्दै ‘घरमै बसेर धेरै कमाउने सकिने’ भनी विज्ञापन गर्ने गरेको थियो।

केही महिना अघि सिङ्गापुरका 20 वर्षको एक व्यक्तिले ३० मिलियन अमेरिकी डलर क्रिप्टोकरेन्सी चोरेको आरोपमा अमेरिका को मायामी समातिएको थियो । रुजा इग्नाटोभा, बुल्गेरियामा जन्मेकी जर्मन व्यवसायी महिला 4 बिलियन यूरोको बिटक्वाइनको सबैभन्दा ठूलो घोटाला गर्ने व्यक्ति हुन्।

Friends of Nepal and former US president Jimmy Carter laid to rest in Plains, Georgia

 

Former US President and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Jimmy Carter passed away at his home in Plains, Georgia, on Sunday (local time) at the age of 100 in December 29. He was laid to rest in his home town after his body was brought to U.S Capital Rotunda this week. He was buried to his beloved wife of 77 years, Rosalynn Carter per his wish.

Carter leaves profound and enduring legacy in Nepal's journey from conflict to peace. He played an important role in facilitating the end of the decade-long armed conflict and helping the integration of Maoist Rebels into mainstream politics. He co-founded The Carter Center with his wife which facilitated dialogue and monitored Nepal's transition from monarchy to federal democratic governance. His work helped Maoist guerilla to delist from the terrorist list. He also introduced The Camp David Accords and signed with Egyptian President Anwar Sadat, and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin in September 1978 and established a framework for a historic peace treaty concluded between Israel and Egypt in March 1979.

After leaving the White House, he earned a reputation as a committed humanitarian. He was widely seen as a better former president than he was a president. He announced in 2015 he would build 100 homes in Gairigaun, Chitwan as a part of Habitat for Humanity. However, due to a massive earthquake in Nepal, he had to cancel the plan due to resource constraints. Habitat for Humanity has helped build or improve more than 39 million homes since its founding in 1976 and helped 13.4 million people build or improve homes in 70 countries. It relies in volunteers to build new homes and repairs existing homes.

Nepali Trending Videos 2024

December

November

कस्ले जित्छ ?

खरायो र कछुवाको दौड यो कथा हामीले धेरै पटक सुनेका छौं। खरायो उफ्रिन्छ र छिटो दौडन्छ। तर कछुवा, यो एक ढिलो चल्ने जनावर हो, लगभग एक चिप्लेकिरा  जस्तै। तर कथामा कछुवाले दौड जित्छ। र कथाको नैतिकता निरन्तरताको मिहिनेतले  सफल भैइन्छ भनेको छ   । तर वास्तविक जीवनमा यस्तो हुन्छ त ? खरायो र कछुवा बीचको वास्तविक दौड।

यहाँ भिडियो प्रमाण छ, ल हेर्नुस कछुवाले दौड जित्छ।

India drops below Pakistan and Afghanistan in press freedom

Press freedom in India has taken a turn for the worse, according to the World Press Freedom Index. 

The country’s ranking has slipped to 159 out of 180 countries, according to a report released by Paris-based Reporters Without Borders. It's neighboring country Nepal is at 74. However other neighboring countries are in the similar range e.g. Bangladesh is at 165, Pakistan is at 152 and Srilanka is at 150.

“The situation has gone from ‘problematic’ to ‘very bad’ in three other countries: Tajikistan down to 155th, India down to 159th and Turkey down to155th.

Even Taliban-led Afghanistan and crisis-hit Pakistan fared better at 152 and 150 respectively. Norway topped the ranking.

India’s slide has come amid many developments in the country that may indicate a shrinking of space for free media.

For instance, the British broadcaster BBC is under severe pressure from prime minister Narendra Modi’s government. It was subjected to income tax raids and a forex-related probe after it carried a documentary scathing of Modi for his alleged role in the Gujarat 2002 in 2023.

If big media like BBC has trouble in India, how about the situation of small medias and bloggers?

भारतलाई अमेरिकाले समात्यो रङेहात - भाग २

विश्वकै धनी व्यक्तिमध्येका एक भारतीय धनाड्य गौतम अदानी  विरुद्ध अमेरिकामा  घुस आरोपमा मुद्दा दायर भएको छ । अडानी र उनका भतिजा सागर अदानी  सहित सात जना विरुद्ध सौर्य ऊर्जा प्लान्ट परियोजनाको ठेक्का हात पार्न २५ करोड अमेरिकी डलर घुस दिएको र यो कुरा लुकाउन खोजेको आरोपमा मुद्दा दायर भएको हो  ।

न्यूयोर्कको पूर्वी जिल्लास्थित अमेरिकी महान्यायाधिवक्ताको कार्यालयले भनेको छ, “गौतम अदानी , सागर आर अडानी र विनीत एस जैनलाई झूटा र भ्रामक बयानका आधारमा अमेरिकी लगानीकर्ता र विश्वव्यापी वित्तीय संस्थाहरूबाट रकम प्राप्त गर्न अर्बौं डलरको योजनामा उनीहरूको भूमिकाको लागि प्रतिभूति र तार जालसाजी र ठोस प्रतिभूति जालसाजी गर्ने षडयन्त्रको आरोप लगाउँदै संघीय अदालतमा अभियोग दर्ता गरिएको छ ।

 यो परियोजनाका लागि अदानी  र उनको कम्पनी ग्रीन इनर्जीका पूर्व सीईओले अमेरिकी लगानीकर्ताबाट तीन अर्ब डलर उठाएको आरोप समेत लगाइएको छ ।  उनि भारतीय प्रधानमन्त्री नरेन्द्र मोदी निकट मनिन्छ ।

एस अघि  भारतका नागरिक निखिल गुप्ताले भारतकै गुप्तचरसँग मिलेर गुरपतवंत सिंह पन्नूलाई मार्नको लागी १ लाख डलर तय गरेका भनेर निखिल गुप्तालाई पक्रेर जेलमा राखेको छ।  

अदानी  ग्रुपले भने अमेरिकी न्याय मन्त्रालय र अमेरिकी सेक्युरिटीज एन्ड एक्सचेन्ज कमिसनले अडानी ग्रीनका निर्देशकहरूविरुद्ध लगाएको घूसखोरीको आरोपलाई आधारहीन भन्दै खण्डन गरेको छ ।

विश्वमा कतै पनि महिला सुरक्षित छैनन्

संसारमा 50% भन्दा बढी महिलाहरू छन्। तर विश्वमा कतै पनि महिला सुरक्षित छैनन् । उनीहरुको घर, विद्यालय, बजार जेलमा समेत दिनहुँ बलात्कार भइरहेका छन् ।  अनुमानित 80 करोड महिलाहरू - लगभग तीन मध्ये एक - शारीरिक र/वा यौन घनिष्ठ साझेदार हिंसा, गैर-साझेदार यौन हिंसा, वा उनीहरूको जीवनमा कम्तिमा एक पटक (30 प्रतिशत महिलाहरू 15 र माथिका) शिकार भएका छन्।

राजविराज कारागारमा बन्दी जिवन बिताइरहेकी एक महिला कैदीलाई बलात्कार गरेको आरोप लागेका सोही कारागारका कर्मचारी बिरुद्ध अदालतले पक्राउ पूर्जी जारि गरेको छ । राजविराज ८ निवासी चन्दन भनिने चन्द्रनारायण यादवबिरुद्ध सप्तरी जिल्ला अदालतले आइतबार पक्राउ पुर्जी जारि गरेको हो । ३० वर्षि यादव राजविराज कारागारका कार्यालय सहयोगि हुन् । विगत १७ वर्षदेखी करार सेवामा कार्यरत यादवविरुद्ध पक्राउ पूर्जी जारि भएसँगै उनको करार सम्झौता रद्द गरिएको जेलर प्रविण कुमार अधिकारीले जानकारी दिए ।

हरियाणाको फरीदाबादमा एक बाबुले आफ्ना दुई नाबालिग छोरीलाई बलात्कार गरेको घटना सार्वजनिक भएको छ । अभियुक्तलाई प्रहरीले पक्राउ गरेको छ । आरोपितकी श्रीमतीले एसजीएम नगर प्रहरी चौकीमा  उजुरीका आधारमा आरोपितविरुद्ध जबरजस्ती करणीको मुद्दा दर्ता गरिएको हो । यो डरलाग्दो घटना  एसजीएम नगर पुलिस स्टेशनमा दर्ता भएको थियो। अभियुक्तले आफ्नो अपराध स्वीकार गरेको प्रहरीले जनाएको छ । 

संयुक्त राज्य अमेरिका एउटा हाई स्कूलमा  रातमा बलात्कार भएको थियो, जब एक हाई स्कूल केटी, रक्सीले असक्षम थिहिन। उनकै साथीहरुले पालै पालो बलात्कार गरेर, बलात्कार गरेको फोटो हरु सामाजिक संजाल मा राखेका थिए।   उनलाई अन्य विद्यार्थीहरूको औंलाहरू (डिजिटल प्रवेश) द्वारा योनिमा घुसाइएको थियो। पीडितलाई अस्पताल लगीयो र यौन दुर्व्यवहार  फोटो खिचियो। यो केशमा ५ जना बिद्द्यार्थी समातिए भने स्कुल प्रसाशक समेत केशमा मुछिएका थिए।  

प्रदूषण के मामले में भारत से बराबरी कर रहा है पाकिस्तान!

 

पाकिस्तान के लाहौर शहर और भारत के नई दिल्ली में लगातार प्रदूषण बढ़ने के बाद वायु प्रदूषण की स्थिति गंभीर स्तर पर पहुंच गई है. सोमवार को लाहौर का गुणवत्ता सूचकांक 485 AQI था, जबकि नई दिल्ली का AQI 437 था, जो प्रदूषण का गंभीर स्तर है। 

भारत की राष्ट्रीय राजधानी दिल्ली समेत उत्तर प्रदेश, हरियाणा और राजस्थान के पांच प्रमुख शहरों में वायु गुणवत्ता सूचकांक 300 से अधिक हो गया है। सबसे खराब स्थिति दिल्ली की है, जहां सोमवार सुबह औसत वायु गुणवत्ता 400 के पार पहुंच गई है.

Tihar in Nepal

 In Nepal, Deepawali (called Tihar or Yamapanchak) is a unique and vibrant festival, celebrated over five days with distinct customs that blend reverence for nature, animals, and familial bonds. Here’s how Tihar is celebrated in Nepal:

First Day: Kaag Tihar (Worship of Crows)

• The festival begins by honoring crows, known as messengers of death. People offer rice, sweets, and other food to crows on this day, believing it brings good fortune and drives away sorrow.

Second Day: Kukur Tihar (Worship of Dogs)

• The second day is dedicated to dogs, regarded as protectors and messengers. People garland dogs with marigold flowers, apply tika (a red mark on the forehead), and feed them special treats as a sign of respect and gratitude.
• This day emphasizes the bond between humans and animals, and it’s celebrated with great joy.

Third Day: Gai Tihar and Laxmi Puja (Worship of Cows and Goddess Lakshmi)

• The morning begins with Gai Tihar, where cows are worshipped as symbols of prosperity and sacred animals. People decorate cows with garlands, tika, and offer them the best food.
• In the evening, homes are decorated with oil lamps, candles, and colorful rangolis (artistic patterns on the floor), and families perform Lakshmi Puja (worship of the goddess of wealth). This day is the most vibrant, with lights and songs creating a festive atmosphere.