NEWS

Nepal Exports Plywood and Veneer Worth Rs 3 Billion to India in FY 2023/24

Jul 29, 2024 0 56 seconds to read

JHAPA, July 28: Nepal exported 99,801 metric tons of plywood and other wood products worth Rs 2.96 billion to India in FY 2023/24.…

Mechinagar Municipality Collects Over Rs 130 Million in Internal Revenue

Jul 29, 2024 0 1 minutes 42 seconds to read

Mechinagar Municipality collected internal revenue amounting to Rs 135,205,897 in the fiscal year 2080/81. This represents an increase of Rs 19,084,200 compared to the fiscal year…

Nepal’s Electricity Export Surpasses Import in Last Fiscal Year

Jul 28, 2024 0 5 minutes 1 seconds to read

KATHMANDU, July 28: Nepal has become the net-exporter of electricity, three years after entering in the energy trade with…

Rise in Banking Sector Propels NEPSE to Grow by 113.42 Points

Jul 28, 2024 0 1 minutes 50 seconds to read

On the first trading day following the announcement of the Monetary Policy for 2024/25 by Nepal Rastra Bank, the Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) Index gained 113.42 points, or 4.41%, closing at 2,681.56 on…

Department of Customs Investigating Birgunj ICP Officials

Jul 28, 2024 0 5 minutes 16 seconds to read

The Department of Customs has started an investigation against the officials at the Integrated Check Post in Birgunj who had given clearance to the processed palm oil by categorising it as crude…

Electricity Sales to Bangladesh Uncertain due to Students' Protest

Jul 28, 2024 0 4 minutes 32 seconds to read

KATHMANDU, July 28: Due to ongoing violent protests in Bangladesh, the scheduled agreement between Bangladesh and Nepal for the purchase and sale of electricity, planned for July 28, has been postponed, raising doubts about electricity exports to Bangladesh this…

NEPSE Sees Positive Circuit Breaker, Trading Closed for 20 Minutes

Jul 28, 2024 0 32 seconds to read

KATHMANDU, July 28: The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) imposed a positive circuit breaker today, July…

Mahakali Irrigation Project Sees Only 22 Percent Physical Progress in 18 Years

Jul 28, 2024 0 3 minutes 19 seconds to read

DODHARA CHANDANI, July 28: The Mahakali Irrigation Project, which started 18 years ago, has achieved only 22 percent physical progress. Locals are distressed as the construction of this national pride project remains incomplete nearly two decades…

Road Accidents in Kathmandu Valley Down by 16 Percent

Jul 28, 2024 0 2 minutes 19 seconds to read

KATHMANDU, July 28: Amid growing concerns over road accidents and fatalities across the country, the Kathmandu Valley has seen a decline in road incidents in recent…

Bhedetar Hoteliers Thrilled by Sky Walk Tower Launch

Jul 28, 2024 0 2 minutes 10 seconds to read

The launch of the Sky Walk Tower in the tourist site of Bhedetar has brought a lot of excitement among local hotel…

France's High-Speed Railway Hit by 'Sabotage' during Olympics

Jul 27, 2024 0 3 minutes 29 seconds to read

PARIS: France's high-speed rail network was hit by "malicious acts" including arson attacks that have disrupted the transport system, train operator SNCF said Friday, hours before the opening ceremony of the Paris…

Monetary Policy Encourages Microfinance Institutions for Merger

Jul 27, 2024 0 44 seconds to read

KATHMANDU, July 27: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has unveiled the monetary policy of the current fiscal year with a target of encouraging the microfinance institutions for…

Nine Aircrafts Crashed in Nepal in Twelve Years Killing 205

Jul 26, 2024 0 5 minutes 19 seconds to read

KATHMANDU, July 26: In the last 12 years, there have been nine air crashes across the country as the frequency of air crashes is increasing in recent years.…

Global Shapers Kathmandu Hub Hosts Third Global Talk on Sustainable Agriculture

Jul 26, 2024 0 2 minutes 22 seconds to read

KATHMANDU: The Global Shapers Kathmandu Hub, supported by GIZ Nepal, hosted the third session of its Global Talk Series under the GRAPE Project on…

NRB unveils Monetary Policy 2024/25

Jul 26, 2024 0 3 minutes 38 seconds to read

Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has reduced the policy rate for the current fiscal year.…

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NEPSE

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			'id' => '21669',
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			'title' => 'Nepal Exports Plywood and Veneer Worth Rs 3 Billion to India in FY 2023/24',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'JHAPA, July 28: Nepal exported 99,801 metric tons of plywood and other wood products worth Rs 2.96 billion to India in FY 2023/24. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">JHAPA, July 28: Nepal exported 99,801 metric tons of plywood and other wood products worth Rs 2.96 billion to India in FY 2023/24. Plywood is produced by planting fast-growing trees such as uttis (Alder tree) in the farmlands of the eastern hills in Nepal.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Veneer wood is produced from wooden boards and processed to make plywood for furniture and other wooden items.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">During the review period, 21,994 metric tons of veneer worth Rs 241 million were exported to India, according to Chandreshwar Yadav, the information officer at Plant Quarantine Office Kakarvitta. He further shared that plywood worth Rs 2.71 billion has been exported to India during the same period. -- RSS</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'title' => 'Mechinagar Municipality Collects Over Rs 130 Million in Internal Revenue',
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			'summary' => 'Mechinagar Municipality collected internal revenue amounting to Rs 135,205,897 in the fiscal year 2080/81. This represents an increase of Rs 19,084,200 compared to the fiscal year 2079/80.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">July 29: Mechinagar Municipality collected internal revenue amounting to Rs 135,205,897 in the fiscal year 2080/81. This represents an increase of Rs 19,084,200 compared to the fiscal year 2079/80.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Meena Pokhrel Upreti, the coordinator of the municipality&#39;s Revenue Advisory Committee and deputy mayor, informed that Rs 116,121,697 was collected as internal revenue in the fiscal year 2079/80. </span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Upreti said that an increase of approximately Rs 20 million in internal revenue within a year is encouraging from an economic standpoint.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The municipality&#39;s revenue sub-division has been collecting revenue under 50 different headings. Property tax accounted for Rs 34,019,645, and service charges accounted for Rs 23,197,381. </span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Other revenue sources and headings include business taxes, map approval fees, and recommendation fees, said Upreti. </span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Among the 15 wards in Mechinagar, Ward No. 6 collected the highest revenue during this period, amounting to Rs 17,627,701, according to Chief Administrative Officer Agni Prasad Adhikari. </span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Ward No. 10 followed in second place with Rs 16,399,545 in revenue collection. On a ward basis, Ward No. 10 collected the highest property tax, amounting to Rs 5,979,043.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Prem Prasad Parajuli, the head of the revenue sub-division, stated that the municipality has set the target to collect Rs 167,700,000 in internal revenue in the current fiscal year. </span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The total budget of the municipality for the current fiscal year is Rs 2,052,902,000.</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'id' => '21667',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Nepal’s Electricity Export Surpasses Import in Last Fiscal Year',
			'sub_title' => 'Electricity export to India exceeded the import from the Southern neighbour by around Rs. 122 million, according to the NEA',
			'summary' => 'KATHMANDU,  July 28: Nepal has become the net-exporter of electricity, three years after entering in the energy trade with India.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">KATHMANDU,&nbsp; July 28:</span></span> <span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Nepal has become the net-exporter of electricity, three years after entering in the energy trade with India.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Nepal exported around 1.94 billion units of electricity worth Rs 16.93 billion to India during the rainy season in the last fiscal year, 2023-24, while importing electricity worth Rs 16.81 billion from the southern neighbour during the dry season in the same year, according to the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA).</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">The NEA has been selling surplus energy generated in the country in the day-ahead and real-time markets of the Indian Energy Exchange at competitive rates as well as to the NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam Limited (NVVN) of India as per the mid-term energy trade.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">The NVVN sells the energy bought from Nepal in India&rsquo;s Haryana state at an average rate of Rs 8.72 per unit.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">According to the NEA, Nepal imported around 1.83 billion units of electricity during the dry season in the last fiscal year, at an average rate of Rs 9.17 per unit.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Electricity exports exceeded imports by around Rs 122 million in the last fiscal year.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">In terms of quantity, Nepal exported around 109 million units more electricity to India than it imported.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">In the previous fiscal year, 2022-23, Nepal had exported electricity worth around Rs 10.45 billion to India while importing electricity worth around Rs 19.45 billion from the southern neighbour.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Kul Man Ghising, the executive director of NEA, said while Nepal might continue to import electricity from India to fulfil the domestic demand in the dry season for a few more years, the country&rsquo;s export will continue to rise.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">&ldquo;Though we have become a net exporter by a small margin, it is an important milestone in the energy sector,&rdquo; said Ghising, claiming that the regular supply of electricity in the market has increased the use of electric vehicles and induction stoves, causing reduction in the import of petroleum products.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">&ldquo;The surge in electricity export has contributed to reduce Nepal&rsquo;s trade deficit with India,&rdquo; Ghising added. &ldquo;It has also positively impacted the country&rsquo;s foreign exchange reserves.&rdquo;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Nepal was allowed to enter in the day-ahead market of the Indian Energy Exchange on May 1, 2021 for the import while it was given the go ahead to export electricity on November 3, 2021.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Nepal has been selling 690 megawatts of electricity daily in the medium term, day-ahead and real-time markets in India, produced from 16 hydropower projects across the country.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">NEA is in the process of being allowed to export an additional 400 megawatts of electricity as per the mid-term agreement, according to Ghising. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">&ldquo;We are also in the process of completing the agreement with Bangladesh to export 40 megawatts of electricity this year,&rdquo; he added.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">However, the tripartite agreement to be signed between Nepal, Bangladesh and India today (July 28) has been postponed indefinitely due to the students&rsquo; protest in Bangladesh.&nbsp; <em>(With inputs from RSS)</em></span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '21666',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Rise in Banking Sector Propels  NEPSE to Grow by 113.42 Points',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => ' On the first trading day following the announcement of the Monetary Policy for 2024/25 by Nepal Rastra Bank, the Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) Index gained 113.42 points, or 4.41%, closing at 2,681.56 on Sunday.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">July 28: On the first trading day following the announcement of the Monetary Policy for 2024/25 by Nepal Rastra Bank, the Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) Index gained 113.42 points, or 4.41%, closing at 2,681.56 on Sunday.&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The new monetary policy by the NRB has emboldened investors, being described as flexible, convenient, and investment-friendly.&nbsp;</span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Additionally, the removal of the 200 million cap on institutional investors&#39; loans against shares has added more excitement to the stock market.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">During today&rsquo;s trading session, 318 scrips were traded through 163,810 transactions on the NEPSE. A total of 40,314,517 shares were exchanged, resulting in a substantial turnover of Rs. 15.81 billion. Kumari Bank Limited (KBL) led the market in turnover, achieving a value of Rs. 36.1 crores and closing at Rs. 212.40 per share.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The NEPSE hit the positive circuit breaker twice during the intraday session due to the significant rise in the banking sector. Various policies made public by the central bank are expected to boost the profitability of commercial banks, attracting investors to commercial banks.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Fifteen companies hit the positive circuit with a 10% increase, most of them being commercial banks, indicating significant excitement in the banking sector.&nbsp;</span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Conversely, Ganapati Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited (GMFBS) faced the steepest decline, falling by 9.35%.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Sensitive Index rose by 5.82%, while the Float Index and Sensitive Float Index surged by 5.03% and 6.56%, respectively. </span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In terms of sector indices, only the Microfinance sector ended in the red. The Banking Index led the gains with a 9.89% increase, while the Hotel and Tourism Index experienced the least gain, rising by 0.46%.</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'id' => '21665',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Department of Customs Investigating Birgunj ICP Officials',
			'sub_title' => 'The officials have been accused of giving clearance to the import of processed palm oil by categorising it as crude oil',
			'summary' => 'The Department of Customs has started an investigation against the officials at the Integrated Check Post in Birgunj who had given clearance to the processed palm oil by categorising it as crude oil.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">NewBiz Report</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Birgunj</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">The Department of Customs has started an investigation against the officials at the Integrated Check Post in Birgunj who had given clearance to the processed palm oil by categorising it as crude oil.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">The department made the discovery after testing the imported palm oil on suspicion that traders might have imported the processed palm oil in the name of crude oil.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">The customs office had cleared the consignment of the palm oil imported by RMC Foods Pvt. Ltd. on July 9.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">The officials had given the clearance without examining the oil, against the directive of the department.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Dhundi Prasad Niraula, director general at the Department of Customs, confirmed that an officer and an examiner at the customs office were summoned to the department for investigation.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Officer Sunita Paudel and examiner Ramesh Majhi were asked in writing on July 14 to come to the department within 24 hours.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">&ldquo;There might be involvement of more individuals. Only an officer and an examiner could not have dared it,&rdquo; said a high level official at the department.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">The Investigation and Compliance Branch under the Department of Customs has been asked to move the investigation forward and submit a report within three days, according to Niraula.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Traders are found lying about their consignment as they are charged 10% import duty on crude palm oil and 15% on the processed one, department officials say.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">The Department suspects an alliance among the customs officials and traders.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Importers can get the clearance of the goods, whose sample is under examination, by keeping the additional revenue they are liable to pay as a security. However, Paudel and Majhi had given the clearance to the processed palm oil by collecting the revenue after categorising it as crude palm oil.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">It was found out that an additional security of 5% was charged to the trader under the directive of Chief Customs Administrator Dilaram Panthi after the Department of Customs moved forward the investigation.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">The office document showed that around Rs. 2.2 million was collected from the trader as 5 % customs duty and VAT on July 15, a day after the department wrote the letter summoning the officials.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">While the attempts to reach Panthi and Paudel for their comments on the matter were unsuccessful, the Information Officer at the Department of Customs Punya Bikram Khadka and Information Officer at Birgunj Customs Raghu Lal Karna said they were not aware about the matter.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">There is a legal provision of 200% fine on anyone found guilty of lying about the category while importing the palm oil.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Meanwhile, individuals aware of the matter said that attempts were being made to protect the two officials from any proceedings as they happen to be the members of the employee union close to the ruling political party.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">The investigation report is yet to come despite the end of the three-day deadline.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><br />
&nbsp;</p>
',
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	(int) 5 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '21664',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Electricity Sales to Bangladesh Uncertain due to Students' Protest',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'KATHMANDU, July 28: Due to ongoing violent protests in Bangladesh, the scheduled agreement between Bangladesh and Nepal for the purchase and sale of electricity, planned for July 28, has been postponed, raising doubts about electricity exports to Bangladesh this year.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">KATHMANDU, July 28: Due to ongoing violent protests in Bangladesh, the scheduled agreement between Bangladesh and Nepal for the purchase and sale of electricity, planned for July 28, has been postponed, raising doubts about electricity exports to Bangladesh this year.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">The agreement&#39;s signing would have marked the first time Nepal could export electricity to a third country besides India. Since 2021, Nepal has been exporting electricity to India through a competitive method.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">A tripartite agreement between the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), India&#39;s NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam Ltd. (NVVN), and the Bangladesh Power Development Board was scheduled for July 28. The agreement would have allowed Nepal to sell 40 megawatts of electricity to Bangladesh at the rate of 6.4 US cents per unit for five years, specifically during the six months of the rainy season.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">However, the Bangladeshi government team informed that they could not attend the signing ceremony due to the ongoing student movement in the country, causing a setback for the NEA&#39;s plan to export electricity to Bangladesh. Naveen Raj Singh, spokesperson for the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation, told New Business Age, &quot;The signing of the agreement has been postponed for an indefinite period.&quot;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Singh explained that the continued protests in Bangladesh have made it uncertain when the agreement will be signed. He said, &quot;Even if they come for an agreement after the movement stops, it may take a month to make the necessary preparations.&quot; </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Singh also mentioned that the Energy Minister of Nepal, Deepak Khadka, had invited the Energy Minister from Bangladesh and the Energy Minister and Energy Secretary from India for the agreement but the signing ceremony could not be held.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">As a result, the NEA, which aims to export electricity to Bangladesh, now has to wait longer. The NEA is concerned that if the tripartite agreement is not reached soon, it will lose the opportunity to export electricity to Bangladesh during this rainy season. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Chandan Kumar Ghosh, spokesperson for the NEA, said, &quot;It is not in our hands when the agreement will be made. Our desire is to be able to sell the electricity as soon as possible, but since the agreement is for a long term, there is no need to worry too much if it gets delayed for 1-2 months.&quot; </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">According to the ministry, after the agreement, 28,800 megawatt hours of electricity will be exported to Bangladesh per month. Over the next five months, a total of 144,000 megawatt hours of electricity will be exported to Bangladesh, earning the NEA Rs 1.23 billion.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">In addition to the tripartite agreement, the bilateral high-level mechanism meeting on energy between Nepal and Bangladesh, scheduled for July 29 and 30 in Pokhara, has also been postponed. The joint secretary level joint working group meeting was scheduled for July 29, and the secretary level joint steering committee meeting was scheduled for July 30.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">During the bilateral mechanism meeting, discussions or agreements were planned regarding a joint venture to build the Sunkoshi 3 hydropower project with a capacity of 683 MW. Singh previously told New Business Age that Nepal has already sent the draft agreement to Bangladesh. In past bilateral talks, the joint venture agreement was discussed between the NEA and the Bangladesh Power Development Board. According to Ghosh, the agreement has not been finalized, but Bangladesh is willing to build the project.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 6 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '21663',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'NEPSE Sees Positive Circuit Breaker, Trading Closed for 20 Minutes',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'KATHMANDU, July 28: The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) imposed a positive circuit breaker today, July 28.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">KATHMANDU, July 28: The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) imposed a positive circuit breaker today, July 28. As a result, NEPSE announced that trading was suspended for 20 minutes as the index surged by four percent within one minute and 31 seconds after the start of today&#39;s trading.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">The positive effect of the monetary policy for the current fiscal year 2081/82 has been evident in the capital market. -- RSS</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
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			'article_date' => '2024-07-28 13:57:30',
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	(int) 7 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '21661',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Mahakali Irrigation Project Sees Only 22 Percent Physical Progress in 18 Years',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'DODHARA CHANDANI, July 28: The Mahakali Irrigation Project, which started 18 years ago, has achieved only 22 percent physical progress. Locals are distressed as the construction of this national pride project remains incomplete nearly two decades later.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">DODHARA CHANDANI, July 28: The Mahakali Irrigation Project, which started 18 years ago, has achieved only 22 percent physical progress. Locals are distressed as the construction of this national pride project remains incomplete nearly two decades later. Initiated in the year 2006, only 28 kilometers of the main canal has been completed so far.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">The project, estimated to cost Rs 35 billion, has spent Rs 7.68 billion till date. Aimed at providing irrigation facilities to 33,520 hectares of land in Kanchanpur and Kailali districts, the project has been delayed due to various reasons, including budget constraints.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Twenty-two sub-canals are under construction in the area where the main canal has been built, but water has not yet been released into the 28-kilometer canal. Senior Engineer of the Mahakali Irrigation third phase project, Lekhnath Subedi, stated that water has not been released due to the Indian side&#39;s stance of not providing water before the formal inauguration.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">&quot;We have already informed our higher office about it,&quot; said Subedi.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Divisional Engineer Subedi reported that the project has recorded 22 percent progress so far. According to the decision made on February 11, 2021, the canal stretching up to Malakheti of Kailali is to be completed by FY 2030/31.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">&quot;Only Rs 2 billion has been allocated for the project in the current fiscal year, which is very negligible. If adequate budget is allocated and disputes relating to compensation distribution and the use of forest areas are addressed, the project would be completed within the stipulated deadline,&quot; Subedi added.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Various issues, such as lack of adequate budget, disputes over compensation distribution, and usage of forest areas, have impeded the project&#39;s progress.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">So far, 28.9 km of the 151 km main canal has been constructed under this project, which was initiated in FY 2005/06. There are 22 branch canals under construction in the areas surrounding the main canal. These branch canals are expected to provide irrigation facilities to 5,200 hectares of land by the coming fiscal year.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">The project is estimated to irrigate a total of 33,520 hectares of land in Kailali and Kanchanpur districts. Due to the lack of irrigation facilities, paddy was planted on only 43 percent of the fields in Kanchanpur district as of mid-July. Of the total 161,741 hectares of arable land in Kanchanpur, only 59,602 hectares are used for farming. -- RSS</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
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	(int) 8 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '21659',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Road Accidents in Kathmandu Valley Down by 16 Percent',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'KATHMANDU, July 28: Amid growing concerns over road accidents and fatalities across the country, the Kathmandu Valley has seen a decline in road incidents in recent years.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">KATHMANDU, July 28: Amid growing concerns over road accidents and fatalities across the country, the Kathmandu Valley has seen a decline in road incidents in recent years.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">According to the Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office, the number of accidents decreased by 16.8 percent, and human fatalities fell by 6 percent compared to the previous fiscal year.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">SP Bishwaraj Khadka reported that 177 people died in 8,881 road accidents in FY 2023/24, while 187 people died in 10,675 road accidents in the previous fiscal year. In FY 2022/23, 191 people lost their lives in 10,733 road accidents.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">SP Khadka attributed the reduction in road accidents to various factors, including public awareness programs, strict security checks, and various traffic campaigns, which, he argued, made traffic management more effective.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Plans to enhance traffic management to further reduce road accidents have been proposed for the current fiscal year. Public awareness programs encouraged road users to comply with traffic rules and take road safety seriously. These campaigns have directly benefited 477,303 people so far, said SP Khadka.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Office Chief SSP Jivan Kumar Shrestha added that the campaigns also helped reduce road accidents caused by driving under the influence of alcohol or narcotic drugs, non-compliance with lane discipline, and over-speeding. Traffic police took action against over one million traffic rule violators, collecting over Rs 720 million in fines.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Regular patrols are conducted in inner streets, narrow roads, and river corridors, while traffic beats have been expanded in several places, SSP Shrestha noted. -- RSS</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 9 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '21657',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Bhedetar Hoteliers Thrilled by Sky Walk Tower Launch',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'The launch of the Sky Walk Tower in the tourist site of Bhedetar has brought a lot of excitement among local hotel owners.  ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">July 28: The launch of the Sky Walk Tower in the tourist site of Bhedetar has brought a lot of excitement among local hotel owners.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Wonders Amusement Parks and Attractions Pvt. Ltd. has invested Rs 200 million to operate the Sky Walk Tower on 11 ropani (1.38 hectares) of land in Sangurigadhi Rural Municipality-6, Dhankuta.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">With the tower now operational, tourism activities in the area are expected to increase, according to local tourism entrepreneurs. </span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Tumaraj Limbu, the president of the Hotel Association Bhedetar, expressed his belief that the launch of the tower will invigorate tourism activities.</span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">&nbsp;&quot;The inauguration of the tower has already attracted more tourists, and we expect the hotel business to improve,&quot; he said.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Ramesh Shrestha, the operator of Arun Top Hotel, who has been in the hotel business for a long time, mentioned that the increased tourist traffic would also benefit the sale of local agricultural products.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Lilaraj Lawati, former president of the Hotel Association Bhedetar and operator of Lawati Corner Hotel, highlighted that the project would significantly support more than a hundred large hotels operating in the area.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">During the summer, many tourists from the Terai region visit Bhedetar. The area, situated in the Chure hills, offers panoramic views of the Himalayas, hills, and the Terai plains. </span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">According to the Hotel Association, over 2,000 tourists from various parts of eastern India and Nepal visit Bhedetar daily for sightseeing.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Jitendra Rumdali Rai, the chairman of Sangurigadhi Rural Municipality, stated that the operation of the tower would contribute to the development of tourism in the area.&nbsp;</span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Currently, there are over 200 small and large hotels in operation in Bhedetar. </span></span></p>
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	(int) 10 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '21656',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'France's High-Speed Railway Hit by 'Sabotage' during Olympics   ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'PARIS: France's high-speed rail network was hit by "malicious acts" including arson attacks that have disrupted the transport system, train operator SNCF said Friday, hours before the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics.    ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">PARIS: France&#39;s high-speed rail network was hit by &quot;malicious acts&quot; including arson attacks that have disrupted the transport system, train operator SNCF said Friday, hours before the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">A source close to the investigation told AFP the attacks were coordinated acts of &quot;sabotage&quot;.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">&quot;This is a massive attack on a large scale to paralyse the TGV network,&quot; SNCF told AFP, adding that many routes will have to be cancelled.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">&quot;SNCF was the victim of several simultaneous malicious acts overnight,&quot; the national train operator said, adding that the attacks affected its Atlantic, northern and eastern lines.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">&quot;Arson attacks were started to damage our facilities,&quot; it said, adding that traffic on the affected lines was &quot;heavily disrupted&quot; and the situation would last through the weekend as repairs are conducted.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Trains were being diverted to different tracks &quot;but we will have to cancel a large number of them&quot;, the statement said.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The southeastern line was not affected as &quot;a malicious act was foiled&quot;.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">SNCF urged passengers to postpone their trips and stay away from train stations.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">- Olympics under heavy security -&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The attacks were launched as Paris was under heavy security ahead of the opening ceremony of the Summer Olympics, with 300,000 spectators and an audience of VIPs expected at the event.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The parade on Friday evening will see up to 7,500 competitors travel down a six-kilometre (four-mile) stretch of the river Seine on a flotilla of 85 boats.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">It will be the first time a Summer Olympics has opened outside the main athletics stadium, a decision fraught with danger at a time when France is on its highest alert for terror attacks.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">At Paris&#39;s Montparnasse train station, dozens of passengers were waiting for more information about their trips after delays of 30 minutes to almost two hours were announced.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">&quot;Normal traffic is expected to resume on Monday, July 29,&quot; read one of the signs in the departure hall.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">&quot;We arrived around 7:00 am but we were told that we might not be able to leave before Monday,&quot; said 27-year-old student Jocelyn, who had planned to travel to Bretagne and refused to give her full name.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">&quot;We expected it to be a bit chaotic in Paris with the opening ceremony scheduled for this evening, but we didn&#39;t think it could be this bad,&quot; she said. &ndash;AFP/RSS&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2024-07-27',
			'modified' => '2024-07-27',
			'keywords' => 'Olympics, France, Paris, sabotage, railway',
			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '21382',
			'image' => '20240727100040_parisOlympics_0.jpeg',
			'article_date' => '2024-07-27 09:59:49',
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '21655',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Monetary Policy Encourages Microfinance Institutions for Merger',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'KATHMANDU, July 27: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has unveiled the monetary policy of the current fiscal year with a target of encouraging the microfinance institutions for merger.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">KATHMANDU, July 27: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has unveiled the monetary policy of the current fiscal year with a target of encouraging the microfinance institutions for merger.</span><br />
The monetary policy has prioritized protecting clients&#39; interest in response to the complaints regarding service of such institutions. NRB Governor Maha Prasad Adhikari said necessary regulatory arrangements would be placed keeping the protection of clients&#39; interest based on international good practices in priority.<br />
The monetary policy has made arrangements of contemporary review on regulatory arrangement related to interest rate on loan and services charged by microfinance institutions, as well as rescheduling the loan by paying a certain percent of interest for customers who are unable to pay their loans to the microfinance institutions. -RSS</span></span></p>
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			'article_date' => '2024-07-27 09:44:35',
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			'id' => '21653',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Nine Aircrafts Crashed in Nepal in Twelve Years Killing 205',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'KATHMANDU, July 26: In the last 12 years, there have been nine air crashes across the country as the frequency of air crashes is increasing in recent years. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">KATHMANDU, July 26: In the last 12 years, there have been nine air crashes across the country, according to the records of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal</span></span></span><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">. Since the crash of the Sita Air aircraft in September 2012, Nepal Airlines, Turkish Airlines, Goma Air, US-Bangla, Summit Air, Tara Air, Yeti Airlines and Saurya Airlines have met with fatal accidents.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">During the review period, 205 people lost their lives in plane crashes. Among all the crashes, the Yeti ATR-72 crash in January last year, in Pokhara, had the highest casualties. Altogether 72 people including the crew members died in the incident, which is the biggest air disaster involving a domestic aircraft in Nepal in terms of human casualties.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">All the crashes saw passengers killed except the Turkish Airlines runway excursion incident in TIA.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<table cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse:collapse">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:1px solid black; vertical-align:top; width:623px">
			<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Number of crashes with casualties and injuries in 12 years</span></span></span></p>
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; vertical-align:top; width:623px">
			<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><strong><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Date&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Airlines&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Number of Casualties and Injuries</span></strong></span></span></p>
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; vertical-align:top; width:623px">
			<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">July 2024&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;Saurya&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 18 fatalities and 1 injured</span></span></span></p>
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; vertical-align:top; width:623px">
			<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">January 2023&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Yeti&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 72 fatalities</span></span></span></p>
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; vertical-align:top; width:623px">
			<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">May 2022</span>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Tara&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 22 fatalities</span></span></p>
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; vertical-align:top; width:623px">
			<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">April 2019</span>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Summit&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;3 fatalities</span></span></p>
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; vertical-align:top; width:623px">
			<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">February 2017&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; US-Bangla&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 51 fatalities</span></span></span></p>
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; vertical-align:top; width:623px">
			<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">May 2017</span>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Goma(Summit)&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 2 fatalities</span></span></p>
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; vertical-align:top; width:623px">
			<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">February 2014&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Turkish&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 1 minor injury</span></span></span></p>
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; vertical-align:top; width:623px">
			<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">February 2013&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; NAC&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 18 fatalities</span></span></span></p>
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; vertical-align:top; width:623px">
			<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">October 2012&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Sita&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;19 fatalities</span></span></span></p>
			</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

<p><em>Source: CAAN</em></p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '21654',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Global Shapers Kathmandu Hub Hosts Third Global Talk on Sustainable Agriculture',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'KATHMANDU: The Global Shapers Kathmandu Hub, supported by GIZ Nepal, hosted the third session of its Global Talk Series under the GRAPE Project on Wednesday.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">KATHMANDU: The Global Shapers Kathmandu Hub, supported by GIZ Nepal, hosted the third session of its Global Talk Series under the GRAPE Project on Wednesday. The theme of the session was &ldquo;Policies for Progress: Enabling Environments for Sustainable Agriculture.&rdquo;</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The keynote speaker for the event was Vanshica Kant, a climate, social, and human development expert from the Asian Development Bank&rsquo;s Delhi Office, reads a statement issued by the Global Shapers Kathmandu Hub. Her presentation focused on the critical need for sustainable agriculture, citing that 25-30% of global greenhouse gas emissions originate from this sector and that one-third of food produced worldwide is wasted.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">According to the organisers of the event, the session featured a panel discussion titled &ldquo;Strategic Pathways for Achieving Sustainable Agriculture in Nepal: Policy, Implementation, and Collaboration.&rdquo; The diverse panel included Brinda Kathayat, member of the Federal Parliament; Ashmita Gautam from the FAO; Sunita Nhempahuki, founder of R&amp;D Innovative Solution; and Dr Krishna P Poudel, an agricultural policy analyst and activist.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Kant advocated for innovative financing and cooperative models to transition towards sustainable, inclusive, and equitable agriculture. &ldquo;We must establish innovative financing and co-operation models for sustainable, inclusive, and equitable agriculture to facilitate this transition,&rdquo; she said.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">In her remarks, MP Kathayat stressed the importance of sustainable agriculture for Nepal and called for greater attention and sectoral collaboration. &ldquo;There hasn&rsquo;t been adequate attention given to this sector. That must change for this sector to thrive and be an economic driver,&rdquo; Kathayat emphasized.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The Global Shapers Kathmandu Hub, part of the World Economic Forum&rsquo;s Global Shapers Community, was established in 2012. It currently engages over 30 active shapers across five projects focusing on mental health, climate change, heritage promotion, and political leadership.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 14 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '21650',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'NRB unveils Monetary Policy 2024/25',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has reduced the policy rate for the current fiscal year. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><strong>-- Policy Rate reduced to 5 percent, Bank Rate to 6.5 percent</strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><strong>-- Credit Expansion Target of 12.5 percent for FY 2024/25</strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><strong>-- Existing Maximum Margin Loan Limit for Institutional Investors Abolished</strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><strong>-- Asset Management Company to be Established</strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><strong>-- Flexible Approach for Construction Businesses</strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><strong>NewBiz Report</strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">KATHMANDU, July </span><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">26&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has reduced the policy rate for the current fiscal year. While announcing the new monetary policy on Friday, Governor Maha Prasad Adhikari said that the policy rate has been reduced from 5.5 percent to 5 percent. Similarly, the bank rate has been reduced from 7 percent to 6.5 percent.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The central bankhas set a credit expansion target of 12.5 percent for the current fiscal year. This is an increase from last year&#39;s target of 11 percent, of which only half was achieved. Unveiling the Monetary Policy 2024/25, the central bank has lowered the upper limit of the interest rate corridor from 7 percent to 6.5 percent. This adjustment is expected to result in a reduction in interest rates.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The central bank has introduced flexibility in margin loans by abolishing the Rs 200million limit for the institutional investors. Governor Maha Prasad Adhikari, during the announcement of the new monetary policy, stated that the existing maximum loan limit of Rs 200 million for margin lending to institutional investors primarily focused on capital market investments will be abolished.Top of Form</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The central bank has announced the establishment of an asset management company. Governor Adhikari stated that a draft of the Asset Management Act will be prepared and submitted to the government.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The new company will focus on managing non-banking assets and non-performing assets of banks and financial institutions. In response to the increase in bad loans, the central bank has advocated for this new structure to better address these challenges. The Asset Management Company (AMC) aims to manage distressed assets and mitigate the impact of bad loans on the banking sector.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has introduced a more flexible approach for the construction sector. In its latest monetary policy announcement on Friday, NRB Governor Maha Prasad Adhikari stated that the interest payment period for loans extended to construction businesses will be extended until mid-December 2024.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Under the new policy, construction businesses will not be blacklisted solely due to check dishonor, unless specified otherwise by credit notification provisions. Additionally, measures will be implemented to ensure that the banking activities of other joint venture (JV) partners are not disrupted by the blacklisting of any single JV partner. Should the Government of Nepal extend the construction period, arrangements will be made to renew the guarantees provided by banks and financial institutions.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Nepal Rastra Bank will begin developing the design characteristics of a wholesale Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), drawing from studies of central bank electronic currencies.Governor Adhikari also announced that preparations will be made for the necessary infrastructure and institutional framework to fully operationalize the National Payment Switch.</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '21669',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Nepal Exports Plywood and Veneer Worth Rs 3 Billion to India in FY 2023/24',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'JHAPA, July 28: Nepal exported 99,801 metric tons of plywood and other wood products worth Rs 2.96 billion to India in FY 2023/24. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">JHAPA, July 28: Nepal exported 99,801 metric tons of plywood and other wood products worth Rs 2.96 billion to India in FY 2023/24. Plywood is produced by planting fast-growing trees such as uttis (Alder tree) in the farmlands of the eastern hills in Nepal.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Veneer wood is produced from wooden boards and processed to make plywood for furniture and other wooden items.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">During the review period, 21,994 metric tons of veneer worth Rs 241 million were exported to India, according to Chandreshwar Yadav, the information officer at Plant Quarantine Office Kakarvitta. He further shared that plywood worth Rs 2.71 billion has been exported to India during the same period. -- RSS</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'sortorder' => '21395',
			'image' => '20240729110954_20220916121009_ply.jpg',
			'article_date' => '2024-07-29 11:09:11',
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			'title' => 'Mechinagar Municipality Collects Over Rs 130 Million in Internal Revenue',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'Mechinagar Municipality collected internal revenue amounting to Rs 135,205,897 in the fiscal year 2080/81. This represents an increase of Rs 19,084,200 compared to the fiscal year 2079/80.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">July 29: Mechinagar Municipality collected internal revenue amounting to Rs 135,205,897 in the fiscal year 2080/81. This represents an increase of Rs 19,084,200 compared to the fiscal year 2079/80.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Meena Pokhrel Upreti, the coordinator of the municipality&#39;s Revenue Advisory Committee and deputy mayor, informed that Rs 116,121,697 was collected as internal revenue in the fiscal year 2079/80. </span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Upreti said that an increase of approximately Rs 20 million in internal revenue within a year is encouraging from an economic standpoint.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The municipality&#39;s revenue sub-division has been collecting revenue under 50 different headings. Property tax accounted for Rs 34,019,645, and service charges accounted for Rs 23,197,381. </span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Other revenue sources and headings include business taxes, map approval fees, and recommendation fees, said Upreti. </span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Among the 15 wards in Mechinagar, Ward No. 6 collected the highest revenue during this period, amounting to Rs 17,627,701, according to Chief Administrative Officer Agni Prasad Adhikari. </span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Ward No. 10 followed in second place with Rs 16,399,545 in revenue collection. On a ward basis, Ward No. 10 collected the highest property tax, amounting to Rs 5,979,043.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Prem Prasad Parajuli, the head of the revenue sub-division, stated that the municipality has set the target to collect Rs 167,700,000 in internal revenue in the current fiscal year. </span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The total budget of the municipality for the current fiscal year is Rs 2,052,902,000.</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'id' => '21667',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Nepal’s Electricity Export Surpasses Import in Last Fiscal Year',
			'sub_title' => 'Electricity export to India exceeded the import from the Southern neighbour by around Rs. 122 million, according to the NEA',
			'summary' => 'KATHMANDU,  July 28: Nepal has become the net-exporter of electricity, three years after entering in the energy trade with India.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">KATHMANDU,&nbsp; July 28:</span></span> <span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Nepal has become the net-exporter of electricity, three years after entering in the energy trade with India.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Nepal exported around 1.94 billion units of electricity worth Rs 16.93 billion to India during the rainy season in the last fiscal year, 2023-24, while importing electricity worth Rs 16.81 billion from the southern neighbour during the dry season in the same year, according to the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA).</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">The NEA has been selling surplus energy generated in the country in the day-ahead and real-time markets of the Indian Energy Exchange at competitive rates as well as to the NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam Limited (NVVN) of India as per the mid-term energy trade.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">The NVVN sells the energy bought from Nepal in India&rsquo;s Haryana state at an average rate of Rs 8.72 per unit.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">According to the NEA, Nepal imported around 1.83 billion units of electricity during the dry season in the last fiscal year, at an average rate of Rs 9.17 per unit.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Electricity exports exceeded imports by around Rs 122 million in the last fiscal year.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">In terms of quantity, Nepal exported around 109 million units more electricity to India than it imported.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">In the previous fiscal year, 2022-23, Nepal had exported electricity worth around Rs 10.45 billion to India while importing electricity worth around Rs 19.45 billion from the southern neighbour.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Kul Man Ghising, the executive director of NEA, said while Nepal might continue to import electricity from India to fulfil the domestic demand in the dry season for a few more years, the country&rsquo;s export will continue to rise.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">&ldquo;Though we have become a net exporter by a small margin, it is an important milestone in the energy sector,&rdquo; said Ghising, claiming that the regular supply of electricity in the market has increased the use of electric vehicles and induction stoves, causing reduction in the import of petroleum products.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">&ldquo;The surge in electricity export has contributed to reduce Nepal&rsquo;s trade deficit with India,&rdquo; Ghising added. &ldquo;It has also positively impacted the country&rsquo;s foreign exchange reserves.&rdquo;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Nepal was allowed to enter in the day-ahead market of the Indian Energy Exchange on May 1, 2021 for the import while it was given the go ahead to export electricity on November 3, 2021.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Nepal has been selling 690 megawatts of electricity daily in the medium term, day-ahead and real-time markets in India, produced from 16 hydropower projects across the country.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">NEA is in the process of being allowed to export an additional 400 megawatts of electricity as per the mid-term agreement, according to Ghising. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">&ldquo;We are also in the process of completing the agreement with Bangladesh to export 40 megawatts of electricity this year,&rdquo; he added.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">However, the tripartite agreement to be signed between Nepal, Bangladesh and India today (July 28) has been postponed indefinitely due to the students&rsquo; protest in Bangladesh.&nbsp; <em>(With inputs from RSS)</em></span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'created' => '2024-07-28',
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			'sortorder' => '21393',
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	(int) 3 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '21666',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Rise in Banking Sector Propels  NEPSE to Grow by 113.42 Points',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => ' On the first trading day following the announcement of the Monetary Policy for 2024/25 by Nepal Rastra Bank, the Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) Index gained 113.42 points, or 4.41%, closing at 2,681.56 on Sunday.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">July 28: On the first trading day following the announcement of the Monetary Policy for 2024/25 by Nepal Rastra Bank, the Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) Index gained 113.42 points, or 4.41%, closing at 2,681.56 on Sunday.&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The new monetary policy by the NRB has emboldened investors, being described as flexible, convenient, and investment-friendly.&nbsp;</span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Additionally, the removal of the 200 million cap on institutional investors&#39; loans against shares has added more excitement to the stock market.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">During today&rsquo;s trading session, 318 scrips were traded through 163,810 transactions on the NEPSE. A total of 40,314,517 shares were exchanged, resulting in a substantial turnover of Rs. 15.81 billion. Kumari Bank Limited (KBL) led the market in turnover, achieving a value of Rs. 36.1 crores and closing at Rs. 212.40 per share.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The NEPSE hit the positive circuit breaker twice during the intraday session due to the significant rise in the banking sector. Various policies made public by the central bank are expected to boost the profitability of commercial banks, attracting investors to commercial banks.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Fifteen companies hit the positive circuit with a 10% increase, most of them being commercial banks, indicating significant excitement in the banking sector.&nbsp;</span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Conversely, Ganapati Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited (GMFBS) faced the steepest decline, falling by 9.35%.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Sensitive Index rose by 5.82%, while the Float Index and Sensitive Float Index surged by 5.03% and 6.56%, respectively. </span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In terms of sector indices, only the Microfinance sector ended in the red. The Banking Index led the gains with a 9.89% increase, while the Hotel and Tourism Index experienced the least gain, rising by 0.46%.</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'id' => '21665',
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			'title' => 'Department of Customs Investigating Birgunj ICP Officials',
			'sub_title' => 'The officials have been accused of giving clearance to the import of processed palm oil by categorising it as crude oil',
			'summary' => 'The Department of Customs has started an investigation against the officials at the Integrated Check Post in Birgunj who had given clearance to the processed palm oil by categorising it as crude oil.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">NewBiz Report</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Birgunj</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">The Department of Customs has started an investigation against the officials at the Integrated Check Post in Birgunj who had given clearance to the processed palm oil by categorising it as crude oil.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">The department made the discovery after testing the imported palm oil on suspicion that traders might have imported the processed palm oil in the name of crude oil.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">The customs office had cleared the consignment of the palm oil imported by RMC Foods Pvt. Ltd. on July 9.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">The officials had given the clearance without examining the oil, against the directive of the department.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Dhundi Prasad Niraula, director general at the Department of Customs, confirmed that an officer and an examiner at the customs office were summoned to the department for investigation.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Officer Sunita Paudel and examiner Ramesh Majhi were asked in writing on July 14 to come to the department within 24 hours.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">&ldquo;There might be involvement of more individuals. Only an officer and an examiner could not have dared it,&rdquo; said a high level official at the department.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">The Investigation and Compliance Branch under the Department of Customs has been asked to move the investigation forward and submit a report within three days, according to Niraula.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Traders are found lying about their consignment as they are charged 10% import duty on crude palm oil and 15% on the processed one, department officials say.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">The Department suspects an alliance among the customs officials and traders.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Importers can get the clearance of the goods, whose sample is under examination, by keeping the additional revenue they are liable to pay as a security. However, Paudel and Majhi had given the clearance to the processed palm oil by collecting the revenue after categorising it as crude palm oil.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">It was found out that an additional security of 5% was charged to the trader under the directive of Chief Customs Administrator Dilaram Panthi after the Department of Customs moved forward the investigation.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">The office document showed that around Rs. 2.2 million was collected from the trader as 5 % customs duty and VAT on July 15, a day after the department wrote the letter summoning the officials.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">While the attempts to reach Panthi and Paudel for their comments on the matter were unsuccessful, the Information Officer at the Department of Customs Punya Bikram Khadka and Information Officer at Birgunj Customs Raghu Lal Karna said they were not aware about the matter.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">There is a legal provision of 200% fine on anyone found guilty of lying about the category while importing the palm oil.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Meanwhile, individuals aware of the matter said that attempts were being made to protect the two officials from any proceedings as they happen to be the members of the employee union close to the ruling political party.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">The investigation report is yet to come despite the end of the three-day deadline.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><br />
&nbsp;</p>
',
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	(int) 5 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '21664',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Electricity Sales to Bangladesh Uncertain due to Students' Protest',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'KATHMANDU, July 28: Due to ongoing violent protests in Bangladesh, the scheduled agreement between Bangladesh and Nepal for the purchase and sale of electricity, planned for July 28, has been postponed, raising doubts about electricity exports to Bangladesh this year.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">KATHMANDU, July 28: Due to ongoing violent protests in Bangladesh, the scheduled agreement between Bangladesh and Nepal for the purchase and sale of electricity, planned for July 28, has been postponed, raising doubts about electricity exports to Bangladesh this year.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">The agreement&#39;s signing would have marked the first time Nepal could export electricity to a third country besides India. Since 2021, Nepal has been exporting electricity to India through a competitive method.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">A tripartite agreement between the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), India&#39;s NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam Ltd. (NVVN), and the Bangladesh Power Development Board was scheduled for July 28. The agreement would have allowed Nepal to sell 40 megawatts of electricity to Bangladesh at the rate of 6.4 US cents per unit for five years, specifically during the six months of the rainy season.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">However, the Bangladeshi government team informed that they could not attend the signing ceremony due to the ongoing student movement in the country, causing a setback for the NEA&#39;s plan to export electricity to Bangladesh. Naveen Raj Singh, spokesperson for the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation, told New Business Age, &quot;The signing of the agreement has been postponed for an indefinite period.&quot;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Singh explained that the continued protests in Bangladesh have made it uncertain when the agreement will be signed. He said, &quot;Even if they come for an agreement after the movement stops, it may take a month to make the necessary preparations.&quot; </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Singh also mentioned that the Energy Minister of Nepal, Deepak Khadka, had invited the Energy Minister from Bangladesh and the Energy Minister and Energy Secretary from India for the agreement but the signing ceremony could not be held.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">As a result, the NEA, which aims to export electricity to Bangladesh, now has to wait longer. The NEA is concerned that if the tripartite agreement is not reached soon, it will lose the opportunity to export electricity to Bangladesh during this rainy season. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Chandan Kumar Ghosh, spokesperson for the NEA, said, &quot;It is not in our hands when the agreement will be made. Our desire is to be able to sell the electricity as soon as possible, but since the agreement is for a long term, there is no need to worry too much if it gets delayed for 1-2 months.&quot; </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">According to the ministry, after the agreement, 28,800 megawatt hours of electricity will be exported to Bangladesh per month. Over the next five months, a total of 144,000 megawatt hours of electricity will be exported to Bangladesh, earning the NEA Rs 1.23 billion.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">In addition to the tripartite agreement, the bilateral high-level mechanism meeting on energy between Nepal and Bangladesh, scheduled for July 29 and 30 in Pokhara, has also been postponed. The joint secretary level joint working group meeting was scheduled for July 29, and the secretary level joint steering committee meeting was scheduled for July 30.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">During the bilateral mechanism meeting, discussions or agreements were planned regarding a joint venture to build the Sunkoshi 3 hydropower project with a capacity of 683 MW. Singh previously told New Business Age that Nepal has already sent the draft agreement to Bangladesh. In past bilateral talks, the joint venture agreement was discussed between the NEA and the Bangladesh Power Development Board. According to Ghosh, the agreement has not been finalized, but Bangladesh is willing to build the project.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
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			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '21390',
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	(int) 6 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '21663',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'NEPSE Sees Positive Circuit Breaker, Trading Closed for 20 Minutes',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'KATHMANDU, July 28: The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) imposed a positive circuit breaker today, July 28.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">KATHMANDU, July 28: The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) imposed a positive circuit breaker today, July 28. As a result, NEPSE announced that trading was suspended for 20 minutes as the index surged by four percent within one minute and 31 seconds after the start of today&#39;s trading.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">The positive effect of the monetary policy for the current fiscal year 2081/82 has been evident in the capital market. -- RSS</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
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			'sortorder' => '21388',
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			'article_date' => '2024-07-28 13:57:30',
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	(int) 7 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '21661',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Mahakali Irrigation Project Sees Only 22 Percent Physical Progress in 18 Years',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'DODHARA CHANDANI, July 28: The Mahakali Irrigation Project, which started 18 years ago, has achieved only 22 percent physical progress. Locals are distressed as the construction of this national pride project remains incomplete nearly two decades later.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">DODHARA CHANDANI, July 28: The Mahakali Irrigation Project, which started 18 years ago, has achieved only 22 percent physical progress. Locals are distressed as the construction of this national pride project remains incomplete nearly two decades later. Initiated in the year 2006, only 28 kilometers of the main canal has been completed so far.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">The project, estimated to cost Rs 35 billion, has spent Rs 7.68 billion till date. Aimed at providing irrigation facilities to 33,520 hectares of land in Kanchanpur and Kailali districts, the project has been delayed due to various reasons, including budget constraints.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Twenty-two sub-canals are under construction in the area where the main canal has been built, but water has not yet been released into the 28-kilometer canal. Senior Engineer of the Mahakali Irrigation third phase project, Lekhnath Subedi, stated that water has not been released due to the Indian side&#39;s stance of not providing water before the formal inauguration.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">&quot;We have already informed our higher office about it,&quot; said Subedi.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Divisional Engineer Subedi reported that the project has recorded 22 percent progress so far. According to the decision made on February 11, 2021, the canal stretching up to Malakheti of Kailali is to be completed by FY 2030/31.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">&quot;Only Rs 2 billion has been allocated for the project in the current fiscal year, which is very negligible. If adequate budget is allocated and disputes relating to compensation distribution and the use of forest areas are addressed, the project would be completed within the stipulated deadline,&quot; Subedi added.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Various issues, such as lack of adequate budget, disputes over compensation distribution, and usage of forest areas, have impeded the project&#39;s progress.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">So far, 28.9 km of the 151 km main canal has been constructed under this project, which was initiated in FY 2005/06. There are 22 branch canals under construction in the areas surrounding the main canal. These branch canals are expected to provide irrigation facilities to 5,200 hectares of land by the coming fiscal year.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">The project is estimated to irrigate a total of 33,520 hectares of land in Kailali and Kanchanpur districts. Due to the lack of irrigation facilities, paddy was planted on only 43 percent of the fields in Kanchanpur district as of mid-July. Of the total 161,741 hectares of arable land in Kanchanpur, only 59,602 hectares are used for farming. -- RSS</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
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	(int) 8 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '21659',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Road Accidents in Kathmandu Valley Down by 16 Percent',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'KATHMANDU, July 28: Amid growing concerns over road accidents and fatalities across the country, the Kathmandu Valley has seen a decline in road incidents in recent years.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">KATHMANDU, July 28: Amid growing concerns over road accidents and fatalities across the country, the Kathmandu Valley has seen a decline in road incidents in recent years.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">According to the Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office, the number of accidents decreased by 16.8 percent, and human fatalities fell by 6 percent compared to the previous fiscal year.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">SP Bishwaraj Khadka reported that 177 people died in 8,881 road accidents in FY 2023/24, while 187 people died in 10,675 road accidents in the previous fiscal year. In FY 2022/23, 191 people lost their lives in 10,733 road accidents.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">SP Khadka attributed the reduction in road accidents to various factors, including public awareness programs, strict security checks, and various traffic campaigns, which, he argued, made traffic management more effective.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Plans to enhance traffic management to further reduce road accidents have been proposed for the current fiscal year. Public awareness programs encouraged road users to comply with traffic rules and take road safety seriously. These campaigns have directly benefited 477,303 people so far, said SP Khadka.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Office Chief SSP Jivan Kumar Shrestha added that the campaigns also helped reduce road accidents caused by driving under the influence of alcohol or narcotic drugs, non-compliance with lane discipline, and over-speeding. Traffic police took action against over one million traffic rule violators, collecting over Rs 720 million in fines.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Regular patrols are conducted in inner streets, narrow roads, and river corridors, while traffic beats have been expanded in several places, SSP Shrestha noted. -- RSS</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
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			'sortorder' => '21385',
			'image' => '20240728113509_20240103104030_KTM eight by six - Copy.jpg',
			'article_date' => '2024-07-28 11:34:39',
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	(int) 9 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '21657',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Bhedetar Hoteliers Thrilled by Sky Walk Tower Launch',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'The launch of the Sky Walk Tower in the tourist site of Bhedetar has brought a lot of excitement among local hotel owners.  ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">July 28: The launch of the Sky Walk Tower in the tourist site of Bhedetar has brought a lot of excitement among local hotel owners.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Wonders Amusement Parks and Attractions Pvt. Ltd. has invested Rs 200 million to operate the Sky Walk Tower on 11 ropani (1.38 hectares) of land in Sangurigadhi Rural Municipality-6, Dhankuta.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">With the tower now operational, tourism activities in the area are expected to increase, according to local tourism entrepreneurs. </span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Tumaraj Limbu, the president of the Hotel Association Bhedetar, expressed his belief that the launch of the tower will invigorate tourism activities.</span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">&nbsp;&quot;The inauguration of the tower has already attracted more tourists, and we expect the hotel business to improve,&quot; he said.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Ramesh Shrestha, the operator of Arun Top Hotel, who has been in the hotel business for a long time, mentioned that the increased tourist traffic would also benefit the sale of local agricultural products.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Lilaraj Lawati, former president of the Hotel Association Bhedetar and operator of Lawati Corner Hotel, highlighted that the project would significantly support more than a hundred large hotels operating in the area.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">During the summer, many tourists from the Terai region visit Bhedetar. The area, situated in the Chure hills, offers panoramic views of the Himalayas, hills, and the Terai plains. </span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">According to the Hotel Association, over 2,000 tourists from various parts of eastern India and Nepal visit Bhedetar daily for sightseeing.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Jitendra Rumdali Rai, the chairman of Sangurigadhi Rural Municipality, stated that the operation of the tower would contribute to the development of tourism in the area.&nbsp;</span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Currently, there are over 200 small and large hotels in operation in Bhedetar. </span></span></p>
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	(int) 10 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '21656',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'France's High-Speed Railway Hit by 'Sabotage' during Olympics   ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'PARIS: France's high-speed rail network was hit by "malicious acts" including arson attacks that have disrupted the transport system, train operator SNCF said Friday, hours before the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics.    ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">PARIS: France&#39;s high-speed rail network was hit by &quot;malicious acts&quot; including arson attacks that have disrupted the transport system, train operator SNCF said Friday, hours before the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">A source close to the investigation told AFP the attacks were coordinated acts of &quot;sabotage&quot;.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">&quot;This is a massive attack on a large scale to paralyse the TGV network,&quot; SNCF told AFP, adding that many routes will have to be cancelled.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">&quot;SNCF was the victim of several simultaneous malicious acts overnight,&quot; the national train operator said, adding that the attacks affected its Atlantic, northern and eastern lines.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">&quot;Arson attacks were started to damage our facilities,&quot; it said, adding that traffic on the affected lines was &quot;heavily disrupted&quot; and the situation would last through the weekend as repairs are conducted.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Trains were being diverted to different tracks &quot;but we will have to cancel a large number of them&quot;, the statement said.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The southeastern line was not affected as &quot;a malicious act was foiled&quot;.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">SNCF urged passengers to postpone their trips and stay away from train stations.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">- Olympics under heavy security -&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The attacks were launched as Paris was under heavy security ahead of the opening ceremony of the Summer Olympics, with 300,000 spectators and an audience of VIPs expected at the event.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The parade on Friday evening will see up to 7,500 competitors travel down a six-kilometre (four-mile) stretch of the river Seine on a flotilla of 85 boats.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">It will be the first time a Summer Olympics has opened outside the main athletics stadium, a decision fraught with danger at a time when France is on its highest alert for terror attacks.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">At Paris&#39;s Montparnasse train station, dozens of passengers were waiting for more information about their trips after delays of 30 minutes to almost two hours were announced.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">&quot;Normal traffic is expected to resume on Monday, July 29,&quot; read one of the signs in the departure hall.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">&quot;We arrived around 7:00 am but we were told that we might not be able to leave before Monday,&quot; said 27-year-old student Jocelyn, who had planned to travel to Bretagne and refused to give her full name.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">&quot;We expected it to be a bit chaotic in Paris with the opening ceremony scheduled for this evening, but we didn&#39;t think it could be this bad,&quot; she said. &ndash;AFP/RSS&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'title' => 'Monetary Policy Encourages Microfinance Institutions for Merger',
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			'summary' => 'KATHMANDU, July 27: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has unveiled the monetary policy of the current fiscal year with a target of encouraging the microfinance institutions for merger.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">KATHMANDU, July 27: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has unveiled the monetary policy of the current fiscal year with a target of encouraging the microfinance institutions for merger.</span><br />
The monetary policy has prioritized protecting clients&#39; interest in response to the complaints regarding service of such institutions. NRB Governor Maha Prasad Adhikari said necessary regulatory arrangements would be placed keeping the protection of clients&#39; interest based on international good practices in priority.<br />
The monetary policy has made arrangements of contemporary review on regulatory arrangement related to interest rate on loan and services charged by microfinance institutions, as well as rescheduling the loan by paying a certain percent of interest for customers who are unable to pay their loans to the microfinance institutions. -RSS</span></span></p>
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			'title' => 'Nine Aircrafts Crashed in Nepal in Twelve Years Killing 205',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'KATHMANDU, July 26: In the last 12 years, there have been nine air crashes across the country as the frequency of air crashes is increasing in recent years. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">KATHMANDU, July 26: In the last 12 years, there have been nine air crashes across the country, according to the records of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal</span></span></span><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">. Since the crash of the Sita Air aircraft in September 2012, Nepal Airlines, Turkish Airlines, Goma Air, US-Bangla, Summit Air, Tara Air, Yeti Airlines and Saurya Airlines have met with fatal accidents.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">During the review period, 205 people lost their lives in plane crashes. Among all the crashes, the Yeti ATR-72 crash in January last year, in Pokhara, had the highest casualties. Altogether 72 people including the crew members died in the incident, which is the biggest air disaster involving a domestic aircraft in Nepal in terms of human casualties.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">All the crashes saw passengers killed except the Turkish Airlines runway excursion incident in TIA.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<table cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse:collapse">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:1px solid black; vertical-align:top; width:623px">
			<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Number of crashes with casualties and injuries in 12 years</span></span></span></p>
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; vertical-align:top; width:623px">
			<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><strong><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Date&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Airlines&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Number of Casualties and Injuries</span></strong></span></span></p>
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; vertical-align:top; width:623px">
			<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">July 2024&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;Saurya&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 18 fatalities and 1 injured</span></span></span></p>
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; vertical-align:top; width:623px">
			<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">January 2023&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Yeti&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 72 fatalities</span></span></span></p>
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; vertical-align:top; width:623px">
			<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">May 2022</span>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Tara&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 22 fatalities</span></span></p>
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; vertical-align:top; width:623px">
			<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">April 2019</span>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Summit&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;3 fatalities</span></span></p>
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; vertical-align:top; width:623px">
			<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">February 2017&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; US-Bangla&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 51 fatalities</span></span></span></p>
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; vertical-align:top; width:623px">
			<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">May 2017</span>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Goma(Summit)&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 2 fatalities</span></span></p>
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; vertical-align:top; width:623px">
			<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">February 2014&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Turkish&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 1 minor injury</span></span></span></p>
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; vertical-align:top; width:623px">
			<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">February 2013&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; NAC&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 18 fatalities</span></span></span></p>
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; vertical-align:top; width:623px">
			<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">October 2012&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Sita&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;19 fatalities</span></span></span></p>
			</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

<p><em>Source: CAAN</em></p>
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			'id' => '21654',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Global Shapers Kathmandu Hub Hosts Third Global Talk on Sustainable Agriculture',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'KATHMANDU: The Global Shapers Kathmandu Hub, supported by GIZ Nepal, hosted the third session of its Global Talk Series under the GRAPE Project on Wednesday.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">KATHMANDU: The Global Shapers Kathmandu Hub, supported by GIZ Nepal, hosted the third session of its Global Talk Series under the GRAPE Project on Wednesday. The theme of the session was &ldquo;Policies for Progress: Enabling Environments for Sustainable Agriculture.&rdquo;</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The keynote speaker for the event was Vanshica Kant, a climate, social, and human development expert from the Asian Development Bank&rsquo;s Delhi Office, reads a statement issued by the Global Shapers Kathmandu Hub. Her presentation focused on the critical need for sustainable agriculture, citing that 25-30% of global greenhouse gas emissions originate from this sector and that one-third of food produced worldwide is wasted.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">According to the organisers of the event, the session featured a panel discussion titled &ldquo;Strategic Pathways for Achieving Sustainable Agriculture in Nepal: Policy, Implementation, and Collaboration.&rdquo; The diverse panel included Brinda Kathayat, member of the Federal Parliament; Ashmita Gautam from the FAO; Sunita Nhempahuki, founder of R&amp;D Innovative Solution; and Dr Krishna P Poudel, an agricultural policy analyst and activist.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Kant advocated for innovative financing and cooperative models to transition towards sustainable, inclusive, and equitable agriculture. &ldquo;We must establish innovative financing and co-operation models for sustainable, inclusive, and equitable agriculture to facilitate this transition,&rdquo; she said.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">In her remarks, MP Kathayat stressed the importance of sustainable agriculture for Nepal and called for greater attention and sectoral collaboration. &ldquo;There hasn&rsquo;t been adequate attention given to this sector. That must change for this sector to thrive and be an economic driver,&rdquo; Kathayat emphasized.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The Global Shapers Kathmandu Hub, part of the World Economic Forum&rsquo;s Global Shapers Community, was established in 2012. It currently engages over 30 active shapers across five projects focusing on mental health, climate change, heritage promotion, and political leadership.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'title' => 'NRB unveils Monetary Policy 2024/25',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has reduced the policy rate for the current fiscal year. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><strong>-- Policy Rate reduced to 5 percent, Bank Rate to 6.5 percent</strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><strong>-- Credit Expansion Target of 12.5 percent for FY 2024/25</strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><strong>-- Existing Maximum Margin Loan Limit for Institutional Investors Abolished</strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><strong>-- Asset Management Company to be Established</strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><strong>-- Flexible Approach for Construction Businesses</strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><strong>NewBiz Report</strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">KATHMANDU, July </span><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">26&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has reduced the policy rate for the current fiscal year. While announcing the new monetary policy on Friday, Governor Maha Prasad Adhikari said that the policy rate has been reduced from 5.5 percent to 5 percent. Similarly, the bank rate has been reduced from 7 percent to 6.5 percent.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The central bankhas set a credit expansion target of 12.5 percent for the current fiscal year. This is an increase from last year&#39;s target of 11 percent, of which only half was achieved. Unveiling the Monetary Policy 2024/25, the central bank has lowered the upper limit of the interest rate corridor from 7 percent to 6.5 percent. This adjustment is expected to result in a reduction in interest rates.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The central bank has introduced flexibility in margin loans by abolishing the Rs 200million limit for the institutional investors. Governor Maha Prasad Adhikari, during the announcement of the new monetary policy, stated that the existing maximum loan limit of Rs 200 million for margin lending to institutional investors primarily focused on capital market investments will be abolished.Top of Form</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The central bank has announced the establishment of an asset management company. Governor Adhikari stated that a draft of the Asset Management Act will be prepared and submitted to the government.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The new company will focus on managing non-banking assets and non-performing assets of banks and financial institutions. In response to the increase in bad loans, the central bank has advocated for this new structure to better address these challenges. The Asset Management Company (AMC) aims to manage distressed assets and mitigate the impact of bad loans on the banking sector.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has introduced a more flexible approach for the construction sector. In its latest monetary policy announcement on Friday, NRB Governor Maha Prasad Adhikari stated that the interest payment period for loans extended to construction businesses will be extended until mid-December 2024.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Under the new policy, construction businesses will not be blacklisted solely due to check dishonor, unless specified otherwise by credit notification provisions. Additionally, measures will be implemented to ensure that the banking activities of other joint venture (JV) partners are not disrupted by the blacklisting of any single JV partner. Should the Government of Nepal extend the construction period, arrangements will be made to renew the guarantees provided by banks and financial institutions.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Nepal Rastra Bank will begin developing the design characteristics of a wholesale Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), drawing from studies of central bank electronic currencies.Governor Adhikari also announced that preparations will be made for the necessary infrastructure and institutional framework to fully operationalize the National Payment Switch.</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '21669',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Nepal Exports Plywood and Veneer Worth Rs 3 Billion to India in FY 2023/24',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'JHAPA, July 28: Nepal exported 99,801 metric tons of plywood and other wood products worth Rs 2.96 billion to India in FY 2023/24. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">JHAPA, July 28: Nepal exported 99,801 metric tons of plywood and other wood products worth Rs 2.96 billion to India in FY 2023/24. Plywood is produced by planting fast-growing trees such as uttis (Alder tree) in the farmlands of the eastern hills in Nepal.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Veneer wood is produced from wooden boards and processed to make plywood for furniture and other wooden items.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">During the review period, 21,994 metric tons of veneer worth Rs 241 million were exported to India, according to Chandreshwar Yadav, the information officer at Plant Quarantine Office Kakarvitta. He further shared that plywood worth Rs 2.71 billion has been exported to India during the same period. -- RSS</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
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			'created' => '2024-07-29',
			'modified' => '2024-07-29',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '21395',
			'image' => '20240729110954_20220916121009_ply.jpg',
			'article_date' => '2024-07-29 11:09:11',
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '21668',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Mechinagar Municipality Collects Over Rs 130 Million in Internal Revenue',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'Mechinagar Municipality collected internal revenue amounting to Rs 135,205,897 in the fiscal year 2080/81. This represents an increase of Rs 19,084,200 compared to the fiscal year 2079/80.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">July 29: Mechinagar Municipality collected internal revenue amounting to Rs 135,205,897 in the fiscal year 2080/81. This represents an increase of Rs 19,084,200 compared to the fiscal year 2079/80.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Meena Pokhrel Upreti, the coordinator of the municipality&#39;s Revenue Advisory Committee and deputy mayor, informed that Rs 116,121,697 was collected as internal revenue in the fiscal year 2079/80. </span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Upreti said that an increase of approximately Rs 20 million in internal revenue within a year is encouraging from an economic standpoint.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The municipality&#39;s revenue sub-division has been collecting revenue under 50 different headings. Property tax accounted for Rs 34,019,645, and service charges accounted for Rs 23,197,381. </span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Other revenue sources and headings include business taxes, map approval fees, and recommendation fees, said Upreti. </span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Among the 15 wards in Mechinagar, Ward No. 6 collected the highest revenue during this period, amounting to Rs 17,627,701, according to Chief Administrative Officer Agni Prasad Adhikari. </span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Ward No. 10 followed in second place with Rs 16,399,545 in revenue collection. On a ward basis, Ward No. 10 collected the highest property tax, amounting to Rs 5,979,043.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Prem Prasad Parajuli, the head of the revenue sub-division, stated that the municipality has set the target to collect Rs 167,700,000 in internal revenue in the current fiscal year. </span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The total budget of the municipality for the current fiscal year is Rs 2,052,902,000.</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '21667',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Nepal’s Electricity Export Surpasses Import in Last Fiscal Year',
			'sub_title' => 'Electricity export to India exceeded the import from the Southern neighbour by around Rs. 122 million, according to the NEA',
			'summary' => 'KATHMANDU,  July 28: Nepal has become the net-exporter of electricity, three years after entering in the energy trade with India.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">KATHMANDU,&nbsp; July 28:</span></span> <span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Nepal has become the net-exporter of electricity, three years after entering in the energy trade with India.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Nepal exported around 1.94 billion units of electricity worth Rs 16.93 billion to India during the rainy season in the last fiscal year, 2023-24, while importing electricity worth Rs 16.81 billion from the southern neighbour during the dry season in the same year, according to the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA).</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">The NEA has been selling surplus energy generated in the country in the day-ahead and real-time markets of the Indian Energy Exchange at competitive rates as well as to the NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam Limited (NVVN) of India as per the mid-term energy trade.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">The NVVN sells the energy bought from Nepal in India&rsquo;s Haryana state at an average rate of Rs 8.72 per unit.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">According to the NEA, Nepal imported around 1.83 billion units of electricity during the dry season in the last fiscal year, at an average rate of Rs 9.17 per unit.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Electricity exports exceeded imports by around Rs 122 million in the last fiscal year.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">In terms of quantity, Nepal exported around 109 million units more electricity to India than it imported.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">In the previous fiscal year, 2022-23, Nepal had exported electricity worth around Rs 10.45 billion to India while importing electricity worth around Rs 19.45 billion from the southern neighbour.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Kul Man Ghising, the executive director of NEA, said while Nepal might continue to import electricity from India to fulfil the domestic demand in the dry season for a few more years, the country&rsquo;s export will continue to rise.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">&ldquo;Though we have become a net exporter by a small margin, it is an important milestone in the energy sector,&rdquo; said Ghising, claiming that the regular supply of electricity in the market has increased the use of electric vehicles and induction stoves, causing reduction in the import of petroleum products.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">&ldquo;The surge in electricity export has contributed to reduce Nepal&rsquo;s trade deficit with India,&rdquo; Ghising added. &ldquo;It has also positively impacted the country&rsquo;s foreign exchange reserves.&rdquo;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Nepal was allowed to enter in the day-ahead market of the Indian Energy Exchange on May 1, 2021 for the import while it was given the go ahead to export electricity on November 3, 2021.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Nepal has been selling 690 megawatts of electricity daily in the medium term, day-ahead and real-time markets in India, produced from 16 hydropower projects across the country.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">NEA is in the process of being allowed to export an additional 400 megawatts of electricity as per the mid-term agreement, according to Ghising. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">&ldquo;We are also in the process of completing the agreement with Bangladesh to export 40 megawatts of electricity this year,&rdquo; he added.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">However, the tripartite agreement to be signed between Nepal, Bangladesh and India today (July 28) has been postponed indefinitely due to the students&rsquo; protest in Bangladesh.&nbsp; <em>(With inputs from RSS)</em></span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '21666',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Rise in Banking Sector Propels  NEPSE to Grow by 113.42 Points',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => ' On the first trading day following the announcement of the Monetary Policy for 2024/25 by Nepal Rastra Bank, the Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) Index gained 113.42 points, or 4.41%, closing at 2,681.56 on Sunday.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">July 28: On the first trading day following the announcement of the Monetary Policy for 2024/25 by Nepal Rastra Bank, the Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) Index gained 113.42 points, or 4.41%, closing at 2,681.56 on Sunday.&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The new monetary policy by the NRB has emboldened investors, being described as flexible, convenient, and investment-friendly.&nbsp;</span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Additionally, the removal of the 200 million cap on institutional investors&#39; loans against shares has added more excitement to the stock market.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">During today&rsquo;s trading session, 318 scrips were traded through 163,810 transactions on the NEPSE. A total of 40,314,517 shares were exchanged, resulting in a substantial turnover of Rs. 15.81 billion. Kumari Bank Limited (KBL) led the market in turnover, achieving a value of Rs. 36.1 crores and closing at Rs. 212.40 per share.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The NEPSE hit the positive circuit breaker twice during the intraday session due to the significant rise in the banking sector. Various policies made public by the central bank are expected to boost the profitability of commercial banks, attracting investors to commercial banks.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Fifteen companies hit the positive circuit with a 10% increase, most of them being commercial banks, indicating significant excitement in the banking sector.&nbsp;</span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Conversely, Ganapati Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited (GMFBS) faced the steepest decline, falling by 9.35%.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Sensitive Index rose by 5.82%, while the Float Index and Sensitive Float Index surged by 5.03% and 6.56%, respectively. </span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In terms of sector indices, only the Microfinance sector ended in the red. The Banking Index led the gains with a 9.89% increase, while the Hotel and Tourism Index experienced the least gain, rising by 0.46%.</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '21665',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Department of Customs Investigating Birgunj ICP Officials',
			'sub_title' => 'The officials have been accused of giving clearance to the import of processed palm oil by categorising it as crude oil',
			'summary' => 'The Department of Customs has started an investigation against the officials at the Integrated Check Post in Birgunj who had given clearance to the processed palm oil by categorising it as crude oil.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">NewBiz Report</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Birgunj</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">The Department of Customs has started an investigation against the officials at the Integrated Check Post in Birgunj who had given clearance to the processed palm oil by categorising it as crude oil.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">The department made the discovery after testing the imported palm oil on suspicion that traders might have imported the processed palm oil in the name of crude oil.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">The customs office had cleared the consignment of the palm oil imported by RMC Foods Pvt. Ltd. on July 9.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">The officials had given the clearance without examining the oil, against the directive of the department.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Dhundi Prasad Niraula, director general at the Department of Customs, confirmed that an officer and an examiner at the customs office were summoned to the department for investigation.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Officer Sunita Paudel and examiner Ramesh Majhi were asked in writing on July 14 to come to the department within 24 hours.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">&ldquo;There might be involvement of more individuals. Only an officer and an examiner could not have dared it,&rdquo; said a high level official at the department.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">The Investigation and Compliance Branch under the Department of Customs has been asked to move the investigation forward and submit a report within three days, according to Niraula.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Traders are found lying about their consignment as they are charged 10% import duty on crude palm oil and 15% on the processed one, department officials say.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">The Department suspects an alliance among the customs officials and traders.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Importers can get the clearance of the goods, whose sample is under examination, by keeping the additional revenue they are liable to pay as a security. However, Paudel and Majhi had given the clearance to the processed palm oil by collecting the revenue after categorising it as crude palm oil.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">It was found out that an additional security of 5% was charged to the trader under the directive of Chief Customs Administrator Dilaram Panthi after the Department of Customs moved forward the investigation.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">The office document showed that around Rs. 2.2 million was collected from the trader as 5 % customs duty and VAT on July 15, a day after the department wrote the letter summoning the officials.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">While the attempts to reach Panthi and Paudel for their comments on the matter were unsuccessful, the Information Officer at the Department of Customs Punya Bikram Khadka and Information Officer at Birgunj Customs Raghu Lal Karna said they were not aware about the matter.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">There is a legal provision of 200% fine on anyone found guilty of lying about the category while importing the palm oil.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Meanwhile, individuals aware of the matter said that attempts were being made to protect the two officials from any proceedings as they happen to be the members of the employee union close to the ruling political party.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">The investigation report is yet to come despite the end of the three-day deadline.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><br />
&nbsp;</p>
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			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Electricity Sales to Bangladesh Uncertain due to Students' Protest',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'KATHMANDU, July 28: Due to ongoing violent protests in Bangladesh, the scheduled agreement between Bangladesh and Nepal for the purchase and sale of electricity, planned for July 28, has been postponed, raising doubts about electricity exports to Bangladesh this year.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">KATHMANDU, July 28: Due to ongoing violent protests in Bangladesh, the scheduled agreement between Bangladesh and Nepal for the purchase and sale of electricity, planned for July 28, has been postponed, raising doubts about electricity exports to Bangladesh this year.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">The agreement&#39;s signing would have marked the first time Nepal could export electricity to a third country besides India. Since 2021, Nepal has been exporting electricity to India through a competitive method.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">A tripartite agreement between the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), India&#39;s NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam Ltd. (NVVN), and the Bangladesh Power Development Board was scheduled for July 28. The agreement would have allowed Nepal to sell 40 megawatts of electricity to Bangladesh at the rate of 6.4 US cents per unit for five years, specifically during the six months of the rainy season.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">However, the Bangladeshi government team informed that they could not attend the signing ceremony due to the ongoing student movement in the country, causing a setback for the NEA&#39;s plan to export electricity to Bangladesh. Naveen Raj Singh, spokesperson for the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation, told New Business Age, &quot;The signing of the agreement has been postponed for an indefinite period.&quot;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Singh explained that the continued protests in Bangladesh have made it uncertain when the agreement will be signed. He said, &quot;Even if they come for an agreement after the movement stops, it may take a month to make the necessary preparations.&quot; </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Singh also mentioned that the Energy Minister of Nepal, Deepak Khadka, had invited the Energy Minister from Bangladesh and the Energy Minister and Energy Secretary from India for the agreement but the signing ceremony could not be held.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">As a result, the NEA, which aims to export electricity to Bangladesh, now has to wait longer. The NEA is concerned that if the tripartite agreement is not reached soon, it will lose the opportunity to export electricity to Bangladesh during this rainy season. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Chandan Kumar Ghosh, spokesperson for the NEA, said, &quot;It is not in our hands when the agreement will be made. Our desire is to be able to sell the electricity as soon as possible, but since the agreement is for a long term, there is no need to worry too much if it gets delayed for 1-2 months.&quot; </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">According to the ministry, after the agreement, 28,800 megawatt hours of electricity will be exported to Bangladesh per month. Over the next five months, a total of 144,000 megawatt hours of electricity will be exported to Bangladesh, earning the NEA Rs 1.23 billion.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">In addition to the tripartite agreement, the bilateral high-level mechanism meeting on energy between Nepal and Bangladesh, scheduled for July 29 and 30 in Pokhara, has also been postponed. The joint secretary level joint working group meeting was scheduled for July 29, and the secretary level joint steering committee meeting was scheduled for July 30.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">During the bilateral mechanism meeting, discussions or agreements were planned regarding a joint venture to build the Sunkoshi 3 hydropower project with a capacity of 683 MW. Singh previously told New Business Age that Nepal has already sent the draft agreement to Bangladesh. In past bilateral talks, the joint venture agreement was discussed between the NEA and the Bangladesh Power Development Board. According to Ghosh, the agreement has not been finalized, but Bangladesh is willing to build the project.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 6 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '21663',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'NEPSE Sees Positive Circuit Breaker, Trading Closed for 20 Minutes',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'KATHMANDU, July 28: The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) imposed a positive circuit breaker today, July 28.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">KATHMANDU, July 28: The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) imposed a positive circuit breaker today, July 28. As a result, NEPSE announced that trading was suspended for 20 minutes as the index surged by four percent within one minute and 31 seconds after the start of today&#39;s trading.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">The positive effect of the monetary policy for the current fiscal year 2081/82 has been evident in the capital market. -- RSS</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
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			'sortorder' => '21388',
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			'article_date' => '2024-07-28 13:57:30',
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	(int) 7 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '21661',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Mahakali Irrigation Project Sees Only 22 Percent Physical Progress in 18 Years',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'DODHARA CHANDANI, July 28: The Mahakali Irrigation Project, which started 18 years ago, has achieved only 22 percent physical progress. Locals are distressed as the construction of this national pride project remains incomplete nearly two decades later.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">DODHARA CHANDANI, July 28: The Mahakali Irrigation Project, which started 18 years ago, has achieved only 22 percent physical progress. Locals are distressed as the construction of this national pride project remains incomplete nearly two decades later. Initiated in the year 2006, only 28 kilometers of the main canal has been completed so far.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">The project, estimated to cost Rs 35 billion, has spent Rs 7.68 billion till date. Aimed at providing irrigation facilities to 33,520 hectares of land in Kanchanpur and Kailali districts, the project has been delayed due to various reasons, including budget constraints.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Twenty-two sub-canals are under construction in the area where the main canal has been built, but water has not yet been released into the 28-kilometer canal. Senior Engineer of the Mahakali Irrigation third phase project, Lekhnath Subedi, stated that water has not been released due to the Indian side&#39;s stance of not providing water before the formal inauguration.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">&quot;We have already informed our higher office about it,&quot; said Subedi.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Divisional Engineer Subedi reported that the project has recorded 22 percent progress so far. According to the decision made on February 11, 2021, the canal stretching up to Malakheti of Kailali is to be completed by FY 2030/31.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">&quot;Only Rs 2 billion has been allocated for the project in the current fiscal year, which is very negligible. If adequate budget is allocated and disputes relating to compensation distribution and the use of forest areas are addressed, the project would be completed within the stipulated deadline,&quot; Subedi added.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Various issues, such as lack of adequate budget, disputes over compensation distribution, and usage of forest areas, have impeded the project&#39;s progress.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">So far, 28.9 km of the 151 km main canal has been constructed under this project, which was initiated in FY 2005/06. There are 22 branch canals under construction in the areas surrounding the main canal. These branch canals are expected to provide irrigation facilities to 5,200 hectares of land by the coming fiscal year.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">The project is estimated to irrigate a total of 33,520 hectares of land in Kailali and Kanchanpur districts. Due to the lack of irrigation facilities, paddy was planted on only 43 percent of the fields in Kanchanpur district as of mid-July. Of the total 161,741 hectares of arable land in Kanchanpur, only 59,602 hectares are used for farming. -- RSS</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 8 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '21659',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Road Accidents in Kathmandu Valley Down by 16 Percent',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'KATHMANDU, July 28: Amid growing concerns over road accidents and fatalities across the country, the Kathmandu Valley has seen a decline in road incidents in recent years.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">KATHMANDU, July 28: Amid growing concerns over road accidents and fatalities across the country, the Kathmandu Valley has seen a decline in road incidents in recent years.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">According to the Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office, the number of accidents decreased by 16.8 percent, and human fatalities fell by 6 percent compared to the previous fiscal year.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">SP Bishwaraj Khadka reported that 177 people died in 8,881 road accidents in FY 2023/24, while 187 people died in 10,675 road accidents in the previous fiscal year. In FY 2022/23, 191 people lost their lives in 10,733 road accidents.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">SP Khadka attributed the reduction in road accidents to various factors, including public awareness programs, strict security checks, and various traffic campaigns, which, he argued, made traffic management more effective.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Plans to enhance traffic management to further reduce road accidents have been proposed for the current fiscal year. Public awareness programs encouraged road users to comply with traffic rules and take road safety seriously. These campaigns have directly benefited 477,303 people so far, said SP Khadka.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Office Chief SSP Jivan Kumar Shrestha added that the campaigns also helped reduce road accidents caused by driving under the influence of alcohol or narcotic drugs, non-compliance with lane discipline, and over-speeding. Traffic police took action against over one million traffic rule violators, collecting over Rs 720 million in fines.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Regular patrols are conducted in inner streets, narrow roads, and river corridors, while traffic beats have been expanded in several places, SSP Shrestha noted. -- RSS</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
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			'sortorder' => '21385',
			'image' => '20240728113509_20240103104030_KTM eight by six - Copy.jpg',
			'article_date' => '2024-07-28 11:34:39',
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	(int) 9 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '21657',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Bhedetar Hoteliers Thrilled by Sky Walk Tower Launch',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'The launch of the Sky Walk Tower in the tourist site of Bhedetar has brought a lot of excitement among local hotel owners.  ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">July 28: The launch of the Sky Walk Tower in the tourist site of Bhedetar has brought a lot of excitement among local hotel owners.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Wonders Amusement Parks and Attractions Pvt. Ltd. has invested Rs 200 million to operate the Sky Walk Tower on 11 ropani (1.38 hectares) of land in Sangurigadhi Rural Municipality-6, Dhankuta.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">With the tower now operational, tourism activities in the area are expected to increase, according to local tourism entrepreneurs. </span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Tumaraj Limbu, the president of the Hotel Association Bhedetar, expressed his belief that the launch of the tower will invigorate tourism activities.</span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">&nbsp;&quot;The inauguration of the tower has already attracted more tourists, and we expect the hotel business to improve,&quot; he said.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Ramesh Shrestha, the operator of Arun Top Hotel, who has been in the hotel business for a long time, mentioned that the increased tourist traffic would also benefit the sale of local agricultural products.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Lilaraj Lawati, former president of the Hotel Association Bhedetar and operator of Lawati Corner Hotel, highlighted that the project would significantly support more than a hundred large hotels operating in the area.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">During the summer, many tourists from the Terai region visit Bhedetar. The area, situated in the Chure hills, offers panoramic views of the Himalayas, hills, and the Terai plains. </span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">According to the Hotel Association, over 2,000 tourists from various parts of eastern India and Nepal visit Bhedetar daily for sightseeing.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Jitendra Rumdali Rai, the chairman of Sangurigadhi Rural Municipality, stated that the operation of the tower would contribute to the development of tourism in the area.&nbsp;</span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Currently, there are over 200 small and large hotels in operation in Bhedetar. </span></span></p>
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	(int) 10 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '21656',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'France's High-Speed Railway Hit by 'Sabotage' during Olympics   ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'PARIS: France's high-speed rail network was hit by "malicious acts" including arson attacks that have disrupted the transport system, train operator SNCF said Friday, hours before the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics.    ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">PARIS: France&#39;s high-speed rail network was hit by &quot;malicious acts&quot; including arson attacks that have disrupted the transport system, train operator SNCF said Friday, hours before the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">A source close to the investigation told AFP the attacks were coordinated acts of &quot;sabotage&quot;.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">&quot;This is a massive attack on a large scale to paralyse the TGV network,&quot; SNCF told AFP, adding that many routes will have to be cancelled.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">&quot;SNCF was the victim of several simultaneous malicious acts overnight,&quot; the national train operator said, adding that the attacks affected its Atlantic, northern and eastern lines.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">&quot;Arson attacks were started to damage our facilities,&quot; it said, adding that traffic on the affected lines was &quot;heavily disrupted&quot; and the situation would last through the weekend as repairs are conducted.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Trains were being diverted to different tracks &quot;but we will have to cancel a large number of them&quot;, the statement said.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The southeastern line was not affected as &quot;a malicious act was foiled&quot;.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">SNCF urged passengers to postpone their trips and stay away from train stations.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">- Olympics under heavy security -&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The attacks were launched as Paris was under heavy security ahead of the opening ceremony of the Summer Olympics, with 300,000 spectators and an audience of VIPs expected at the event.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The parade on Friday evening will see up to 7,500 competitors travel down a six-kilometre (four-mile) stretch of the river Seine on a flotilla of 85 boats.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">It will be the first time a Summer Olympics has opened outside the main athletics stadium, a decision fraught with danger at a time when France is on its highest alert for terror attacks.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">At Paris&#39;s Montparnasse train station, dozens of passengers were waiting for more information about their trips after delays of 30 minutes to almost two hours were announced.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">&quot;Normal traffic is expected to resume on Monday, July 29,&quot; read one of the signs in the departure hall.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">&quot;We arrived around 7:00 am but we were told that we might not be able to leave before Monday,&quot; said 27-year-old student Jocelyn, who had planned to travel to Bretagne and refused to give her full name.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">&quot;We expected it to be a bit chaotic in Paris with the opening ceremony scheduled for this evening, but we didn&#39;t think it could be this bad,&quot; she said. &ndash;AFP/RSS&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'id' => '21655',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Monetary Policy Encourages Microfinance Institutions for Merger',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'KATHMANDU, July 27: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has unveiled the monetary policy of the current fiscal year with a target of encouraging the microfinance institutions for merger.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">KATHMANDU, July 27: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has unveiled the monetary policy of the current fiscal year with a target of encouraging the microfinance institutions for merger.</span><br />
The monetary policy has prioritized protecting clients&#39; interest in response to the complaints regarding service of such institutions. NRB Governor Maha Prasad Adhikari said necessary regulatory arrangements would be placed keeping the protection of clients&#39; interest based on international good practices in priority.<br />
The monetary policy has made arrangements of contemporary review on regulatory arrangement related to interest rate on loan and services charged by microfinance institutions, as well as rescheduling the loan by paying a certain percent of interest for customers who are unable to pay their loans to the microfinance institutions. -RSS</span></span></p>
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			'title' => 'Nine Aircrafts Crashed in Nepal in Twelve Years Killing 205',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'KATHMANDU, July 26: In the last 12 years, there have been nine air crashes across the country as the frequency of air crashes is increasing in recent years. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">KATHMANDU, July 26: In the last 12 years, there have been nine air crashes across the country, according to the records of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal</span></span></span><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">. Since the crash of the Sita Air aircraft in September 2012, Nepal Airlines, Turkish Airlines, Goma Air, US-Bangla, Summit Air, Tara Air, Yeti Airlines and Saurya Airlines have met with fatal accidents.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">During the review period, 205 people lost their lives in plane crashes. Among all the crashes, the Yeti ATR-72 crash in January last year, in Pokhara, had the highest casualties. Altogether 72 people including the crew members died in the incident, which is the biggest air disaster involving a domestic aircraft in Nepal in terms of human casualties.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">All the crashes saw passengers killed except the Turkish Airlines runway excursion incident in TIA.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<table cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse:collapse">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:1px solid black; vertical-align:top; width:623px">
			<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Number of crashes with casualties and injuries in 12 years</span></span></span></p>
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; vertical-align:top; width:623px">
			<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><strong><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Date&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Airlines&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Number of Casualties and Injuries</span></strong></span></span></p>
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; vertical-align:top; width:623px">
			<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">July 2024&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;Saurya&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 18 fatalities and 1 injured</span></span></span></p>
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; vertical-align:top; width:623px">
			<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">January 2023&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Yeti&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 72 fatalities</span></span></span></p>
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; vertical-align:top; width:623px">
			<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">May 2022</span>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Tara&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 22 fatalities</span></span></p>
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; vertical-align:top; width:623px">
			<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">April 2019</span>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Summit&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;3 fatalities</span></span></p>
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; vertical-align:top; width:623px">
			<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">February 2017&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; US-Bangla&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 51 fatalities</span></span></span></p>
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; vertical-align:top; width:623px">
			<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">May 2017</span>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Goma(Summit)&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 2 fatalities</span></span></p>
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; vertical-align:top; width:623px">
			<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">February 2014&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Turkish&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 1 minor injury</span></span></span></p>
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; vertical-align:top; width:623px">
			<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">February 2013&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; NAC&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 18 fatalities</span></span></span></p>
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; vertical-align:top; width:623px">
			<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">October 2012&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Sita&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;19 fatalities</span></span></span></p>
			</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

<p><em>Source: CAAN</em></p>
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			'id' => '21654',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Global Shapers Kathmandu Hub Hosts Third Global Talk on Sustainable Agriculture',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'KATHMANDU: The Global Shapers Kathmandu Hub, supported by GIZ Nepal, hosted the third session of its Global Talk Series under the GRAPE Project on Wednesday.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">KATHMANDU: The Global Shapers Kathmandu Hub, supported by GIZ Nepal, hosted the third session of its Global Talk Series under the GRAPE Project on Wednesday. The theme of the session was &ldquo;Policies for Progress: Enabling Environments for Sustainable Agriculture.&rdquo;</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The keynote speaker for the event was Vanshica Kant, a climate, social, and human development expert from the Asian Development Bank&rsquo;s Delhi Office, reads a statement issued by the Global Shapers Kathmandu Hub. Her presentation focused on the critical need for sustainable agriculture, citing that 25-30% of global greenhouse gas emissions originate from this sector and that one-third of food produced worldwide is wasted.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">According to the organisers of the event, the session featured a panel discussion titled &ldquo;Strategic Pathways for Achieving Sustainable Agriculture in Nepal: Policy, Implementation, and Collaboration.&rdquo; The diverse panel included Brinda Kathayat, member of the Federal Parliament; Ashmita Gautam from the FAO; Sunita Nhempahuki, founder of R&amp;D Innovative Solution; and Dr Krishna P Poudel, an agricultural policy analyst and activist.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Kant advocated for innovative financing and cooperative models to transition towards sustainable, inclusive, and equitable agriculture. &ldquo;We must establish innovative financing and co-operation models for sustainable, inclusive, and equitable agriculture to facilitate this transition,&rdquo; she said.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">In her remarks, MP Kathayat stressed the importance of sustainable agriculture for Nepal and called for greater attention and sectoral collaboration. &ldquo;There hasn&rsquo;t been adequate attention given to this sector. That must change for this sector to thrive and be an economic driver,&rdquo; Kathayat emphasized.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The Global Shapers Kathmandu Hub, part of the World Economic Forum&rsquo;s Global Shapers Community, was established in 2012. It currently engages over 30 active shapers across five projects focusing on mental health, climate change, heritage promotion, and political leadership.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'title' => 'NRB unveils Monetary Policy 2024/25',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has reduced the policy rate for the current fiscal year. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><strong>-- Policy Rate reduced to 5 percent, Bank Rate to 6.5 percent</strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><strong>-- Credit Expansion Target of 12.5 percent for FY 2024/25</strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><strong>-- Existing Maximum Margin Loan Limit for Institutional Investors Abolished</strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><strong>-- Asset Management Company to be Established</strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><strong>-- Flexible Approach for Construction Businesses</strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><strong>NewBiz Report</strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">KATHMANDU, July </span><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">26&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has reduced the policy rate for the current fiscal year. While announcing the new monetary policy on Friday, Governor Maha Prasad Adhikari said that the policy rate has been reduced from 5.5 percent to 5 percent. Similarly, the bank rate has been reduced from 7 percent to 6.5 percent.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The central bankhas set a credit expansion target of 12.5 percent for the current fiscal year. This is an increase from last year&#39;s target of 11 percent, of which only half was achieved. Unveiling the Monetary Policy 2024/25, the central bank has lowered the upper limit of the interest rate corridor from 7 percent to 6.5 percent. This adjustment is expected to result in a reduction in interest rates.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The central bank has introduced flexibility in margin loans by abolishing the Rs 200million limit for the institutional investors. Governor Maha Prasad Adhikari, during the announcement of the new monetary policy, stated that the existing maximum loan limit of Rs 200 million for margin lending to institutional investors primarily focused on capital market investments will be abolished.Top of Form</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The central bank has announced the establishment of an asset management company. Governor Adhikari stated that a draft of the Asset Management Act will be prepared and submitted to the government.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The new company will focus on managing non-banking assets and non-performing assets of banks and financial institutions. In response to the increase in bad loans, the central bank has advocated for this new structure to better address these challenges. The Asset Management Company (AMC) aims to manage distressed assets and mitigate the impact of bad loans on the banking sector.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has introduced a more flexible approach for the construction sector. In its latest monetary policy announcement on Friday, NRB Governor Maha Prasad Adhikari stated that the interest payment period for loans extended to construction businesses will be extended until mid-December 2024.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Under the new policy, construction businesses will not be blacklisted solely due to check dishonor, unless specified otherwise by credit notification provisions. Additionally, measures will be implemented to ensure that the banking activities of other joint venture (JV) partners are not disrupted by the blacklisting of any single JV partner. Should the Government of Nepal extend the construction period, arrangements will be made to renew the guarantees provided by banks and financial institutions.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Nepal Rastra Bank will begin developing the design characteristics of a wholesale Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), drawing from studies of central bank electronic currencies.Governor Adhikari also announced that preparations will be made for the necessary infrastructure and institutional framework to fully operationalize the National Payment Switch.</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'title' => 'Nepal Exports Plywood and Veneer Worth Rs 3 Billion to India in FY 2023/24',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'JHAPA, July 28: Nepal exported 99,801 metric tons of plywood and other wood products worth Rs 2.96 billion to India in FY 2023/24. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">JHAPA, July 28: Nepal exported 99,801 metric tons of plywood and other wood products worth Rs 2.96 billion to India in FY 2023/24. Plywood is produced by planting fast-growing trees such as uttis (Alder tree) in the farmlands of the eastern hills in Nepal.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Veneer wood is produced from wooden boards and processed to make plywood for furniture and other wooden items.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">During the review period, 21,994 metric tons of veneer worth Rs 241 million were exported to India, according to Chandreshwar Yadav, the information officer at Plant Quarantine Office Kakarvitta. He further shared that plywood worth Rs 2.71 billion has been exported to India during the same period. -- RSS</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'image' => '20240729110954_20220916121009_ply.jpg',
			'article_date' => '2024-07-29 11:09:11',
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	(int) 1 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '21668',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Mechinagar Municipality Collects Over Rs 130 Million in Internal Revenue',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'Mechinagar Municipality collected internal revenue amounting to Rs 135,205,897 in the fiscal year 2080/81. This represents an increase of Rs 19,084,200 compared to the fiscal year 2079/80.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">July 29: Mechinagar Municipality collected internal revenue amounting to Rs 135,205,897 in the fiscal year 2080/81. This represents an increase of Rs 19,084,200 compared to the fiscal year 2079/80.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Meena Pokhrel Upreti, the coordinator of the municipality&#39;s Revenue Advisory Committee and deputy mayor, informed that Rs 116,121,697 was collected as internal revenue in the fiscal year 2079/80. </span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Upreti said that an increase of approximately Rs 20 million in internal revenue within a year is encouraging from an economic standpoint.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The municipality&#39;s revenue sub-division has been collecting revenue under 50 different headings. Property tax accounted for Rs 34,019,645, and service charges accounted for Rs 23,197,381. </span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Other revenue sources and headings include business taxes, map approval fees, and recommendation fees, said Upreti. </span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Among the 15 wards in Mechinagar, Ward No. 6 collected the highest revenue during this period, amounting to Rs 17,627,701, according to Chief Administrative Officer Agni Prasad Adhikari. </span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Ward No. 10 followed in second place with Rs 16,399,545 in revenue collection. On a ward basis, Ward No. 10 collected the highest property tax, amounting to Rs 5,979,043.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Prem Prasad Parajuli, the head of the revenue sub-division, stated that the municipality has set the target to collect Rs 167,700,000 in internal revenue in the current fiscal year. </span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The total budget of the municipality for the current fiscal year is Rs 2,052,902,000.</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 2 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '21667',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Nepal’s Electricity Export Surpasses Import in Last Fiscal Year',
			'sub_title' => 'Electricity export to India exceeded the import from the Southern neighbour by around Rs. 122 million, according to the NEA',
			'summary' => 'KATHMANDU,  July 28: Nepal has become the net-exporter of electricity, three years after entering in the energy trade with India.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">KATHMANDU,&nbsp; July 28:</span></span> <span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Nepal has become the net-exporter of electricity, three years after entering in the energy trade with India.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Nepal exported around 1.94 billion units of electricity worth Rs 16.93 billion to India during the rainy season in the last fiscal year, 2023-24, while importing electricity worth Rs 16.81 billion from the southern neighbour during the dry season in the same year, according to the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA).</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">The NEA has been selling surplus energy generated in the country in the day-ahead and real-time markets of the Indian Energy Exchange at competitive rates as well as to the NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam Limited (NVVN) of India as per the mid-term energy trade.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">The NVVN sells the energy bought from Nepal in India&rsquo;s Haryana state at an average rate of Rs 8.72 per unit.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">According to the NEA, Nepal imported around 1.83 billion units of electricity during the dry season in the last fiscal year, at an average rate of Rs 9.17 per unit.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Electricity exports exceeded imports by around Rs 122 million in the last fiscal year.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">In terms of quantity, Nepal exported around 109 million units more electricity to India than it imported.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">In the previous fiscal year, 2022-23, Nepal had exported electricity worth around Rs 10.45 billion to India while importing electricity worth around Rs 19.45 billion from the southern neighbour.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Kul Man Ghising, the executive director of NEA, said while Nepal might continue to import electricity from India to fulfil the domestic demand in the dry season for a few more years, the country&rsquo;s export will continue to rise.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">&ldquo;Though we have become a net exporter by a small margin, it is an important milestone in the energy sector,&rdquo; said Ghising, claiming that the regular supply of electricity in the market has increased the use of electric vehicles and induction stoves, causing reduction in the import of petroleum products.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">&ldquo;The surge in electricity export has contributed to reduce Nepal&rsquo;s trade deficit with India,&rdquo; Ghising added. &ldquo;It has also positively impacted the country&rsquo;s foreign exchange reserves.&rdquo;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Nepal was allowed to enter in the day-ahead market of the Indian Energy Exchange on May 1, 2021 for the import while it was given the go ahead to export electricity on November 3, 2021.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Nepal has been selling 690 megawatts of electricity daily in the medium term, day-ahead and real-time markets in India, produced from 16 hydropower projects across the country.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">NEA is in the process of being allowed to export an additional 400 megawatts of electricity as per the mid-term agreement, according to Ghising. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">&ldquo;We are also in the process of completing the agreement with Bangladesh to export 40 megawatts of electricity this year,&rdquo; he added.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">However, the tripartite agreement to be signed between Nepal, Bangladesh and India today (July 28) has been postponed indefinitely due to the students&rsquo; protest in Bangladesh.&nbsp; <em>(With inputs from RSS)</em></span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
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	(int) 3 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '21666',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Rise in Banking Sector Propels  NEPSE to Grow by 113.42 Points',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => ' On the first trading day following the announcement of the Monetary Policy for 2024/25 by Nepal Rastra Bank, the Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) Index gained 113.42 points, or 4.41%, closing at 2,681.56 on Sunday.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">July 28: On the first trading day following the announcement of the Monetary Policy for 2024/25 by Nepal Rastra Bank, the Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) Index gained 113.42 points, or 4.41%, closing at 2,681.56 on Sunday.&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The new monetary policy by the NRB has emboldened investors, being described as flexible, convenient, and investment-friendly.&nbsp;</span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Additionally, the removal of the 200 million cap on institutional investors&#39; loans against shares has added more excitement to the stock market.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">During today&rsquo;s trading session, 318 scrips were traded through 163,810 transactions on the NEPSE. A total of 40,314,517 shares were exchanged, resulting in a substantial turnover of Rs. 15.81 billion. Kumari Bank Limited (KBL) led the market in turnover, achieving a value of Rs. 36.1 crores and closing at Rs. 212.40 per share.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The NEPSE hit the positive circuit breaker twice during the intraday session due to the significant rise in the banking sector. Various policies made public by the central bank are expected to boost the profitability of commercial banks, attracting investors to commercial banks.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Fifteen companies hit the positive circuit with a 10% increase, most of them being commercial banks, indicating significant excitement in the banking sector.&nbsp;</span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Conversely, Ganapati Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited (GMFBS) faced the steepest decline, falling by 9.35%.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Sensitive Index rose by 5.82%, while the Float Index and Sensitive Float Index surged by 5.03% and 6.56%, respectively. </span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In terms of sector indices, only the Microfinance sector ended in the red. The Banking Index led the gains with a 9.89% increase, while the Hotel and Tourism Index experienced the least gain, rising by 0.46%.</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
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			'article_date' => '2024-07-28 16:14:53',
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	(int) 4 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '21665',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Department of Customs Investigating Birgunj ICP Officials',
			'sub_title' => 'The officials have been accused of giving clearance to the import of processed palm oil by categorising it as crude oil',
			'summary' => 'The Department of Customs has started an investigation against the officials at the Integrated Check Post in Birgunj who had given clearance to the processed palm oil by categorising it as crude oil.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">NewBiz Report</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Birgunj</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">The Department of Customs has started an investigation against the officials at the Integrated Check Post in Birgunj who had given clearance to the processed palm oil by categorising it as crude oil.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">The department made the discovery after testing the imported palm oil on suspicion that traders might have imported the processed palm oil in the name of crude oil.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">The customs office had cleared the consignment of the palm oil imported by RMC Foods Pvt. Ltd. on July 9.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">The officials had given the clearance without examining the oil, against the directive of the department.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Dhundi Prasad Niraula, director general at the Department of Customs, confirmed that an officer and an examiner at the customs office were summoned to the department for investigation.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Officer Sunita Paudel and examiner Ramesh Majhi were asked in writing on July 14 to come to the department within 24 hours.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">&ldquo;There might be involvement of more individuals. Only an officer and an examiner could not have dared it,&rdquo; said a high level official at the department.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">The Investigation and Compliance Branch under the Department of Customs has been asked to move the investigation forward and submit a report within three days, according to Niraula.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Traders are found lying about their consignment as they are charged 10% import duty on crude palm oil and 15% on the processed one, department officials say.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">The Department suspects an alliance among the customs officials and traders.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Importers can get the clearance of the goods, whose sample is under examination, by keeping the additional revenue they are liable to pay as a security. However, Paudel and Majhi had given the clearance to the processed palm oil by collecting the revenue after categorising it as crude palm oil.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">It was found out that an additional security of 5% was charged to the trader under the directive of Chief Customs Administrator Dilaram Panthi after the Department of Customs moved forward the investigation.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">The office document showed that around Rs. 2.2 million was collected from the trader as 5 % customs duty and VAT on July 15, a day after the department wrote the letter summoning the officials.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">While the attempts to reach Panthi and Paudel for their comments on the matter were unsuccessful, the Information Officer at the Department of Customs Punya Bikram Khadka and Information Officer at Birgunj Customs Raghu Lal Karna said they were not aware about the matter.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">There is a legal provision of 200% fine on anyone found guilty of lying about the category while importing the palm oil.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Meanwhile, individuals aware of the matter said that attempts were being made to protect the two officials from any proceedings as they happen to be the members of the employee union close to the ruling political party.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">The investigation report is yet to come despite the end of the three-day deadline.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><br />
&nbsp;</p>
',
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	(int) 5 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '21664',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Electricity Sales to Bangladesh Uncertain due to Students' Protest',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'KATHMANDU, July 28: Due to ongoing violent protests in Bangladesh, the scheduled agreement between Bangladesh and Nepal for the purchase and sale of electricity, planned for July 28, has been postponed, raising doubts about electricity exports to Bangladesh this year.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">KATHMANDU, July 28: Due to ongoing violent protests in Bangladesh, the scheduled agreement between Bangladesh and Nepal for the purchase and sale of electricity, planned for July 28, has been postponed, raising doubts about electricity exports to Bangladesh this year.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">The agreement&#39;s signing would have marked the first time Nepal could export electricity to a third country besides India. Since 2021, Nepal has been exporting electricity to India through a competitive method.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">A tripartite agreement between the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), India&#39;s NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam Ltd. (NVVN), and the Bangladesh Power Development Board was scheduled for July 28. The agreement would have allowed Nepal to sell 40 megawatts of electricity to Bangladesh at the rate of 6.4 US cents per unit for five years, specifically during the six months of the rainy season.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">However, the Bangladeshi government team informed that they could not attend the signing ceremony due to the ongoing student movement in the country, causing a setback for the NEA&#39;s plan to export electricity to Bangladesh. Naveen Raj Singh, spokesperson for the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation, told New Business Age, &quot;The signing of the agreement has been postponed for an indefinite period.&quot;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Singh explained that the continued protests in Bangladesh have made it uncertain when the agreement will be signed. He said, &quot;Even if they come for an agreement after the movement stops, it may take a month to make the necessary preparations.&quot; </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Singh also mentioned that the Energy Minister of Nepal, Deepak Khadka, had invited the Energy Minister from Bangladesh and the Energy Minister and Energy Secretary from India for the agreement but the signing ceremony could not be held.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">As a result, the NEA, which aims to export electricity to Bangladesh, now has to wait longer. The NEA is concerned that if the tripartite agreement is not reached soon, it will lose the opportunity to export electricity to Bangladesh during this rainy season. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Chandan Kumar Ghosh, spokesperson for the NEA, said, &quot;It is not in our hands when the agreement will be made. Our desire is to be able to sell the electricity as soon as possible, but since the agreement is for a long term, there is no need to worry too much if it gets delayed for 1-2 months.&quot; </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">According to the ministry, after the agreement, 28,800 megawatt hours of electricity will be exported to Bangladesh per month. Over the next five months, a total of 144,000 megawatt hours of electricity will be exported to Bangladesh, earning the NEA Rs 1.23 billion.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">In addition to the tripartite agreement, the bilateral high-level mechanism meeting on energy between Nepal and Bangladesh, scheduled for July 29 and 30 in Pokhara, has also been postponed. The joint secretary level joint working group meeting was scheduled for July 29, and the secretary level joint steering committee meeting was scheduled for July 30.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">During the bilateral mechanism meeting, discussions or agreements were planned regarding a joint venture to build the Sunkoshi 3 hydropower project with a capacity of 683 MW. Singh previously told New Business Age that Nepal has already sent the draft agreement to Bangladesh. In past bilateral talks, the joint venture agreement was discussed between the NEA and the Bangladesh Power Development Board. According to Ghosh, the agreement has not been finalized, but Bangladesh is willing to build the project.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 6 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '21663',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'NEPSE Sees Positive Circuit Breaker, Trading Closed for 20 Minutes',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'KATHMANDU, July 28: The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) imposed a positive circuit breaker today, July 28.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">KATHMANDU, July 28: The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) imposed a positive circuit breaker today, July 28. As a result, NEPSE announced that trading was suspended for 20 minutes as the index surged by four percent within one minute and 31 seconds after the start of today&#39;s trading.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">The positive effect of the monetary policy for the current fiscal year 2081/82 has been evident in the capital market. -- RSS</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
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			'sortorder' => '21388',
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			'article_date' => '2024-07-28 13:57:30',
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	(int) 7 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '21661',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Mahakali Irrigation Project Sees Only 22 Percent Physical Progress in 18 Years',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'DODHARA CHANDANI, July 28: The Mahakali Irrigation Project, which started 18 years ago, has achieved only 22 percent physical progress. Locals are distressed as the construction of this national pride project remains incomplete nearly two decades later.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">DODHARA CHANDANI, July 28: The Mahakali Irrigation Project, which started 18 years ago, has achieved only 22 percent physical progress. Locals are distressed as the construction of this national pride project remains incomplete nearly two decades later. Initiated in the year 2006, only 28 kilometers of the main canal has been completed so far.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">The project, estimated to cost Rs 35 billion, has spent Rs 7.68 billion till date. Aimed at providing irrigation facilities to 33,520 hectares of land in Kanchanpur and Kailali districts, the project has been delayed due to various reasons, including budget constraints.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Twenty-two sub-canals are under construction in the area where the main canal has been built, but water has not yet been released into the 28-kilometer canal. Senior Engineer of the Mahakali Irrigation third phase project, Lekhnath Subedi, stated that water has not been released due to the Indian side&#39;s stance of not providing water before the formal inauguration.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">&quot;We have already informed our higher office about it,&quot; said Subedi.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Divisional Engineer Subedi reported that the project has recorded 22 percent progress so far. According to the decision made on February 11, 2021, the canal stretching up to Malakheti of Kailali is to be completed by FY 2030/31.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">&quot;Only Rs 2 billion has been allocated for the project in the current fiscal year, which is very negligible. If adequate budget is allocated and disputes relating to compensation distribution and the use of forest areas are addressed, the project would be completed within the stipulated deadline,&quot; Subedi added.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Various issues, such as lack of adequate budget, disputes over compensation distribution, and usage of forest areas, have impeded the project&#39;s progress.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">So far, 28.9 km of the 151 km main canal has been constructed under this project, which was initiated in FY 2005/06. There are 22 branch canals under construction in the areas surrounding the main canal. These branch canals are expected to provide irrigation facilities to 5,200 hectares of land by the coming fiscal year.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">The project is estimated to irrigate a total of 33,520 hectares of land in Kailali and Kanchanpur districts. Due to the lack of irrigation facilities, paddy was planted on only 43 percent of the fields in Kanchanpur district as of mid-July. Of the total 161,741 hectares of arable land in Kanchanpur, only 59,602 hectares are used for farming. -- RSS</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 8 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '21659',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Road Accidents in Kathmandu Valley Down by 16 Percent',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'KATHMANDU, July 28: Amid growing concerns over road accidents and fatalities across the country, the Kathmandu Valley has seen a decline in road incidents in recent years.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">KATHMANDU, July 28: Amid growing concerns over road accidents and fatalities across the country, the Kathmandu Valley has seen a decline in road incidents in recent years.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">According to the Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office, the number of accidents decreased by 16.8 percent, and human fatalities fell by 6 percent compared to the previous fiscal year.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">SP Bishwaraj Khadka reported that 177 people died in 8,881 road accidents in FY 2023/24, while 187 people died in 10,675 road accidents in the previous fiscal year. In FY 2022/23, 191 people lost their lives in 10,733 road accidents.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">SP Khadka attributed the reduction in road accidents to various factors, including public awareness programs, strict security checks, and various traffic campaigns, which, he argued, made traffic management more effective.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Plans to enhance traffic management to further reduce road accidents have been proposed for the current fiscal year. Public awareness programs encouraged road users to comply with traffic rules and take road safety seriously. These campaigns have directly benefited 477,303 people so far, said SP Khadka.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Office Chief SSP Jivan Kumar Shrestha added that the campaigns also helped reduce road accidents caused by driving under the influence of alcohol or narcotic drugs, non-compliance with lane discipline, and over-speeding. Traffic police took action against over one million traffic rule violators, collecting over Rs 720 million in fines.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Regular patrols are conducted in inner streets, narrow roads, and river corridors, while traffic beats have been expanded in several places, SSP Shrestha noted. -- RSS</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '21385',
			'image' => '20240728113509_20240103104030_KTM eight by six - Copy.jpg',
			'article_date' => '2024-07-28 11:34:39',
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	(int) 9 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '21657',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Bhedetar Hoteliers Thrilled by Sky Walk Tower Launch',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'The launch of the Sky Walk Tower in the tourist site of Bhedetar has brought a lot of excitement among local hotel owners.  ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">July 28: The launch of the Sky Walk Tower in the tourist site of Bhedetar has brought a lot of excitement among local hotel owners.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Wonders Amusement Parks and Attractions Pvt. Ltd. has invested Rs 200 million to operate the Sky Walk Tower on 11 ropani (1.38 hectares) of land in Sangurigadhi Rural Municipality-6, Dhankuta.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">With the tower now operational, tourism activities in the area are expected to increase, according to local tourism entrepreneurs. </span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Tumaraj Limbu, the president of the Hotel Association Bhedetar, expressed his belief that the launch of the tower will invigorate tourism activities.</span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">&nbsp;&quot;The inauguration of the tower has already attracted more tourists, and we expect the hotel business to improve,&quot; he said.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Ramesh Shrestha, the operator of Arun Top Hotel, who has been in the hotel business for a long time, mentioned that the increased tourist traffic would also benefit the sale of local agricultural products.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Lilaraj Lawati, former president of the Hotel Association Bhedetar and operator of Lawati Corner Hotel, highlighted that the project would significantly support more than a hundred large hotels operating in the area.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">During the summer, many tourists from the Terai region visit Bhedetar. The area, situated in the Chure hills, offers panoramic views of the Himalayas, hills, and the Terai plains. </span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">According to the Hotel Association, over 2,000 tourists from various parts of eastern India and Nepal visit Bhedetar daily for sightseeing.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Jitendra Rumdali Rai, the chairman of Sangurigadhi Rural Municipality, stated that the operation of the tower would contribute to the development of tourism in the area.&nbsp;</span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Currently, there are over 200 small and large hotels in operation in Bhedetar. </span></span></p>
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	(int) 10 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '21656',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'France's High-Speed Railway Hit by 'Sabotage' during Olympics   ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'PARIS: France's high-speed rail network was hit by "malicious acts" including arson attacks that have disrupted the transport system, train operator SNCF said Friday, hours before the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics.    ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">PARIS: France&#39;s high-speed rail network was hit by &quot;malicious acts&quot; including arson attacks that have disrupted the transport system, train operator SNCF said Friday, hours before the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">A source close to the investigation told AFP the attacks were coordinated acts of &quot;sabotage&quot;.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">&quot;This is a massive attack on a large scale to paralyse the TGV network,&quot; SNCF told AFP, adding that many routes will have to be cancelled.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">&quot;SNCF was the victim of several simultaneous malicious acts overnight,&quot; the national train operator said, adding that the attacks affected its Atlantic, northern and eastern lines.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">&quot;Arson attacks were started to damage our facilities,&quot; it said, adding that traffic on the affected lines was &quot;heavily disrupted&quot; and the situation would last through the weekend as repairs are conducted.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Trains were being diverted to different tracks &quot;but we will have to cancel a large number of them&quot;, the statement said.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The southeastern line was not affected as &quot;a malicious act was foiled&quot;.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">SNCF urged passengers to postpone their trips and stay away from train stations.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">- Olympics under heavy security -&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The attacks were launched as Paris was under heavy security ahead of the opening ceremony of the Summer Olympics, with 300,000 spectators and an audience of VIPs expected at the event.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The parade on Friday evening will see up to 7,500 competitors travel down a six-kilometre (four-mile) stretch of the river Seine on a flotilla of 85 boats.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">It will be the first time a Summer Olympics has opened outside the main athletics stadium, a decision fraught with danger at a time when France is on its highest alert for terror attacks.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">At Paris&#39;s Montparnasse train station, dozens of passengers were waiting for more information about their trips after delays of 30 minutes to almost two hours were announced.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">&quot;Normal traffic is expected to resume on Monday, July 29,&quot; read one of the signs in the departure hall.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">&quot;We arrived around 7:00 am but we were told that we might not be able to leave before Monday,&quot; said 27-year-old student Jocelyn, who had planned to travel to Bretagne and refused to give her full name.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">&quot;We expected it to be a bit chaotic in Paris with the opening ceremony scheduled for this evening, but we didn&#39;t think it could be this bad,&quot; she said. &ndash;AFP/RSS&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '21655',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Monetary Policy Encourages Microfinance Institutions for Merger',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'KATHMANDU, July 27: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has unveiled the monetary policy of the current fiscal year with a target of encouraging the microfinance institutions for merger.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">KATHMANDU, July 27: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has unveiled the monetary policy of the current fiscal year with a target of encouraging the microfinance institutions for merger.</span><br />
The monetary policy has prioritized protecting clients&#39; interest in response to the complaints regarding service of such institutions. NRB Governor Maha Prasad Adhikari said necessary regulatory arrangements would be placed keeping the protection of clients&#39; interest based on international good practices in priority.<br />
The monetary policy has made arrangements of contemporary review on regulatory arrangement related to interest rate on loan and services charged by microfinance institutions, as well as rescheduling the loan by paying a certain percent of interest for customers who are unable to pay their loans to the microfinance institutions. -RSS</span></span></p>
',
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			'keywords' => '',
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			'sortorder' => '21381',
			'image' => '20240727094527_20220713054958_merger.jpg',
			'article_date' => '2024-07-27 09:44:35',
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	(int) 12 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '21653',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Nine Aircrafts Crashed in Nepal in Twelve Years Killing 205',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'KATHMANDU, July 26: In the last 12 years, there have been nine air crashes across the country as the frequency of air crashes is increasing in recent years. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">KATHMANDU, July 26: In the last 12 years, there have been nine air crashes across the country, according to the records of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal</span></span></span><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">. Since the crash of the Sita Air aircraft in September 2012, Nepal Airlines, Turkish Airlines, Goma Air, US-Bangla, Summit Air, Tara Air, Yeti Airlines and Saurya Airlines have met with fatal accidents.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">During the review period, 205 people lost their lives in plane crashes. Among all the crashes, the Yeti ATR-72 crash in January last year, in Pokhara, had the highest casualties. Altogether 72 people including the crew members died in the incident, which is the biggest air disaster involving a domestic aircraft in Nepal in terms of human casualties.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">All the crashes saw passengers killed except the Turkish Airlines runway excursion incident in TIA.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<table cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse:collapse">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:1px solid black; vertical-align:top; width:623px">
			<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Number of crashes with casualties and injuries in 12 years</span></span></span></p>
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; vertical-align:top; width:623px">
			<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><strong><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Date&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Airlines&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Number of Casualties and Injuries</span></strong></span></span></p>
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; vertical-align:top; width:623px">
			<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">July 2024&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;Saurya&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 18 fatalities and 1 injured</span></span></span></p>
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; vertical-align:top; width:623px">
			<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">January 2023&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Yeti&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 72 fatalities</span></span></span></p>
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; vertical-align:top; width:623px">
			<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">May 2022</span>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Tara&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 22 fatalities</span></span></p>
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; vertical-align:top; width:623px">
			<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">April 2019</span>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Summit&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;3 fatalities</span></span></p>
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; vertical-align:top; width:623px">
			<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">February 2017&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; US-Bangla&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 51 fatalities</span></span></span></p>
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; vertical-align:top; width:623px">
			<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">May 2017</span>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Goma(Summit)&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 2 fatalities</span></span></p>
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; vertical-align:top; width:623px">
			<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">February 2014&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Turkish&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 1 minor injury</span></span></span></p>
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; vertical-align:top; width:623px">
			<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">February 2013&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; NAC&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 18 fatalities</span></span></span></p>
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-top:none; vertical-align:top; width:623px">
			<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">October 2012&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Sita&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;19 fatalities</span></span></span></p>
			</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

<p><em>Source: CAAN</em></p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '21654',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Global Shapers Kathmandu Hub Hosts Third Global Talk on Sustainable Agriculture',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'KATHMANDU: The Global Shapers Kathmandu Hub, supported by GIZ Nepal, hosted the third session of its Global Talk Series under the GRAPE Project on Wednesday.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">KATHMANDU: The Global Shapers Kathmandu Hub, supported by GIZ Nepal, hosted the third session of its Global Talk Series under the GRAPE Project on Wednesday. The theme of the session was &ldquo;Policies for Progress: Enabling Environments for Sustainable Agriculture.&rdquo;</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The keynote speaker for the event was Vanshica Kant, a climate, social, and human development expert from the Asian Development Bank&rsquo;s Delhi Office, reads a statement issued by the Global Shapers Kathmandu Hub. Her presentation focused on the critical need for sustainable agriculture, citing that 25-30% of global greenhouse gas emissions originate from this sector and that one-third of food produced worldwide is wasted.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">According to the organisers of the event, the session featured a panel discussion titled &ldquo;Strategic Pathways for Achieving Sustainable Agriculture in Nepal: Policy, Implementation, and Collaboration.&rdquo; The diverse panel included Brinda Kathayat, member of the Federal Parliament; Ashmita Gautam from the FAO; Sunita Nhempahuki, founder of R&amp;D Innovative Solution; and Dr Krishna P Poudel, an agricultural policy analyst and activist.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Kant advocated for innovative financing and cooperative models to transition towards sustainable, inclusive, and equitable agriculture. &ldquo;We must establish innovative financing and co-operation models for sustainable, inclusive, and equitable agriculture to facilitate this transition,&rdquo; she said.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">In her remarks, MP Kathayat stressed the importance of sustainable agriculture for Nepal and called for greater attention and sectoral collaboration. &ldquo;There hasn&rsquo;t been adequate attention given to this sector. That must change for this sector to thrive and be an economic driver,&rdquo; Kathayat emphasized.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The Global Shapers Kathmandu Hub, part of the World Economic Forum&rsquo;s Global Shapers Community, was established in 2012. It currently engages over 30 active shapers across five projects focusing on mental health, climate change, heritage promotion, and political leadership.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '21650',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'NRB unveils Monetary Policy 2024/25',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has reduced the policy rate for the current fiscal year. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><strong>-- Policy Rate reduced to 5 percent, Bank Rate to 6.5 percent</strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><strong>-- Credit Expansion Target of 12.5 percent for FY 2024/25</strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><strong>-- Existing Maximum Margin Loan Limit for Institutional Investors Abolished</strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><strong>-- Asset Management Company to be Established</strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><strong>-- Flexible Approach for Construction Businesses</strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><strong>NewBiz Report</strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">KATHMANDU, July </span><span style="font-family:&quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">26&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has reduced the policy rate for the current fiscal year. While announcing the new monetary policy on Friday, Governor Maha Prasad Adhikari said that the policy rate has been reduced from 5.5 percent to 5 percent. Similarly, the bank rate has been reduced from 7 percent to 6.5 percent.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The central bankhas set a credit expansion target of 12.5 percent for the current fiscal year. This is an increase from last year&#39;s target of 11 percent, of which only half was achieved. Unveiling the Monetary Policy 2024/25, the central bank has lowered the upper limit of the interest rate corridor from 7 percent to 6.5 percent. This adjustment is expected to result in a reduction in interest rates.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The central bank has introduced flexibility in margin loans by abolishing the Rs 200million limit for the institutional investors. Governor Maha Prasad Adhikari, during the announcement of the new monetary policy, stated that the existing maximum loan limit of Rs 200 million for margin lending to institutional investors primarily focused on capital market investments will be abolished.Top of Form</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The central bank has announced the establishment of an asset management company. Governor Adhikari stated that a draft of the Asset Management Act will be prepared and submitted to the government.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The new company will focus on managing non-banking assets and non-performing assets of banks and financial institutions. In response to the increase in bad loans, the central bank has advocated for this new structure to better address these challenges. The Asset Management Company (AMC) aims to manage distressed assets and mitigate the impact of bad loans on the banking sector.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has introduced a more flexible approach for the construction sector. In its latest monetary policy announcement on Friday, NRB Governor Maha Prasad Adhikari stated that the interest payment period for loans extended to construction businesses will be extended until mid-December 2024.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Under the new policy, construction businesses will not be blacklisted solely due to check dishonor, unless specified otherwise by credit notification provisions. Additionally, measures will be implemented to ensure that the banking activities of other joint venture (JV) partners are not disrupted by the blacklisting of any single JV partner. Should the Government of Nepal extend the construction period, arrangements will be made to renew the guarantees provided by banks and financial institutions.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Nepal Rastra Bank will begin developing the design characteristics of a wholesale Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), drawing from studies of central bank electronic currencies.Governor Adhikari also announced that preparations will be made for the necessary infrastructure and institutional framework to fully operationalize the National Payment Switch.</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</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