The Nepal Stock Exchange(NEPSE) Index gained 13.18 points or 0.71% and closed at 1864.62 on the third trading day of the week…
The Nepal Stock Exchange(NEPSE) Index gained 13.18 points or 0.71% and closed at 1864.62 on the third trading day of the week…
October 17: Nepal received remittances worth Rs 228 billion in the first two months of the current fiscal year…
October 17: Around one-fourth of the customers of Nepal Electricity Authority are found to be paying the electricity bills through online…
October 17: The government has announced discounts on milk products produced by the state-owned Dairy Development Corporation…
October 17: The Kathmandu Valley Police Office has urged the citizens to stay safe during the festivals and contribute to creating a secure atmosphere for the family, community and the entire…
October 17: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs, Narayan Kaji Shrestha, reached Beijing on Monday evening to attend the 3rd Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation at the invitation of Chinese Minister of Ecology and Environment, Wang…
October 17: China on Monday prepared to host representatives of 130 countries for a forum that will be overshadowed by the Israel-Gaza war, as an increasingly assertive Beijing is asked to help de-escalate the…
October 17: The untimely rainfall has disappointed farmers in Kailali district.…
Finance Minister Dr. Prakash Sharan Mahat emphasized the importance of collective efforts to improve the country's economy. He stressed that relying solely on government initiatives would not be sufficient for economic…
The Nepal Stock(NEPSE) Index lost 23.16 points or 1.23%, closing at 1851.43 points on the first trading day of the week,…
October 16: Nepal Rastra Bank has neglected the implementation of the interest rate corridor, which was started with the aim of maintaining interest rate stability by minimizing short-term interest rate…
October 16: The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has once again received the 'Double A Plus' credit…
October 16: A new industrial zone is going to be built on the land of the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Bara's…
October 16: The government has failed in its efforts to supply duty-free sugar to the consumers before Dashain.…
October 16: An earthquake was felt in the hill districts of Sudurpaschim province, including in Baitadi, this…
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Similarly, NIBL Pragati Fund (NIBLPF) experienced the highest gain of 7.35%, closing at a market price of Rs 9.20.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Hathway Investment Nepal Limited (HATHY) witnessed the highest loss of 8.53%, closing at a market price of Rs 284 per share.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In terms of sector indices, Finance Index gained the highest 1.30%, while Trading Index lost the highest 1.25%.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Similarly, Sensitive Index gained 0.86% while Float Index and Sensitive Float Index experienced a gain of 0.78% and 0.94% respectively. </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-17', 'modified' => '2023-10-17', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '19010', 'image' => '20231017040759_collage (26).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-17 16:06:49', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19281', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Remittance Inflow Rs 228 Billion in Two Months ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 17: Nepal received remittances worth Rs 228 billion in the first two months of the current fiscal year 2023/24. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 17: Nepal received remittances worth Rs 228 billion in the first two months of the current fiscal year 2023/24. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the Current Macroeconomic and Financial Situation Report of Nepal based on the statistics until the 17th of September, 2023, unveiled by Nepal Rastra Bank on Tuesday, the remittance inflow increased by 22.1 percent in this period and reached Rs 228. 37 billion. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The remittance inflow during the corresponding period last year had increased by 19.8 percent. In US dollars terms, the remittance inflow grew by 17.7 percent to reach 1. 73 billion. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The number of Nepalis taking labour permit for foreign employment until September 17, 2023 of the current fiscal year beginning July 17 decreased by 28.3 percent to 74,455. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, the number of Nepalis renewing their work permit for foreign employment stood at 32,004, a decrease of 18.3 percent. In the previous fiscal year, this number had increased by 70.6 percent, the NRB stated in the report. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-17', 'modified' => '2023-10-17', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '19009', 'image' => '20231017031249_Remittance.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-17 15:12:05', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19280', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'One Fourth of NEA Customers Pay Electricity Bills Online', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 17: Around one-fourth of the customers of Nepal Electricity Authority are found to be paying the electricity bills through online medium.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">October 17: Around one-fourth of the customers of Nepal Electricity Authority are found to be paying the electricity bills through online medium.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">While the NEA has been saying that it is running a campaign to make its service delivery technology-friendly, it has been found that only 28 percent of the total service seekers pay online.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Manoj Silwal, deputy executive director of the NEA, revealed this information during a recent interaction with the private sector. Silwal also claimed that the NEA is making its service delivery based on technology.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The NEA’s customers have been paying the fee through 10 different types of wallets. At present, the NEA has made arrangements for online payment of electricity bills up to Rs 500,000 through digital wallets.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Customers who have to pay more than that amount are required to visit the NEA’s counter. Silwal said, “Now we are preparing to increase the limit of Rs 500,000. Then this complaint will also be resolved.”</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He said that the NEA is promoting online services to adress the complaints of customers who have experienced unnecessary hassles from the employees while taking services and to maintain transparency.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-17', 'modified' => '2023-10-17', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '19008', 'image' => '20231017030815_20230913111412_NEA_20191104081559.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-17 15:07:44', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19279', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'DDC to Provide Discounts on its Products during the Festive Season', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 17: The government has announced discounts on milk products produced by the state-owned Dairy Development Corporation (DDC).', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">October 17: The government has announced discounts on milk products produced by the state-owned Dairy Development Corporation (DDC). The government made such an arrangement so that the consumers can consume milk products at concessional prices during the festive season.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development held a press conference on Monday and informed about the discounts on dairy products. According to the ministry, there is a discount of Rs 2 per liter on the price of standard milk of 1 liter pouch. Now, the one-litre milk has been priced at Rs 97. The price per packet of half a liter of standard milk, which was earlier Rs 50, has now been fixed at Rs 49.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The ministry informed that the consumers will be given a discount of Rs 20 per liter on yoghurt. Currently, the price of DDC yoghurt is Rs 190 per litre. Now, it will be available for Rs 170. The government has decided to give the maximum discount on Yak butter. As per the decision, customers can avail a discount of Rs 150 rupees on Yak butter, which costs Rs 1250 per kilogram. Similarly, the ministry said that 500 grams of cottage cheese worth Rs 500, as well as butter which costs Rs 1100 per kilogram, and 250 grams of table butter worth Rs 400 will all get discount of Rs 50 each.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">There will be a discount of Rs 100 on DDC ghee worth Rs 1200 per kg. A packet of DDC sweets worth Rs 290 will now be available at Rs 280. Similarly, 500 grams of yak cheese priced at Rs 960 will be cheaper by Rs 60, while 500 grams of Kanchan cheese priced at Rs 810 will be discounted by Rs 50 and fresh milk of 200 ml bottles priced at Rs 75 will be discounted by Rs 5. Speaking at the press conference, Agriculture and Livestock Development Minister Dr Beduram Bhusal said that the ministry decided to give a discount on dairy products to control the increase in the sale of unhealthy fish and meat and dairy products during the festive period and to control the arbitrary price hike in market. He also added that the livestock market is being monitored through the agencies under the ministry.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-17', 'modified' => '2023-10-17', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '19007', 'image' => '20231017021509_20220211081950_20220203111904_20220121121357_20200423093954_1542865405_16685959.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-17 14:14:22', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19278', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Valley Police Office Urges Public to Take Measures for Safe Celebrations during Festivals ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 17: The Kathmandu Valley Police Office has urged the citizens to stay safe during the festivals and contribute to creating a secure atmosphere for the family, community and the entire city. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 17: The Kathmandu Valley Police Office has urged the citizens to stay safe during the festivals and contribute to creating a secure atmosphere for the family, community and the entire city. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Issuing a 10-point appeal for the Valley denizens on Tuesday, the police urged one and all to join hands in the campaign for the 'Safe Kathmandu Valley'. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Valley Police Office Spokesperson Senior Superintendent of Police, Dinesh Raj Mainali, said they expect the public to remain alert to the possibilities of untoward incidents during the festive period. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He advised the people not to entertain the company of strangers during travel and not to accept food and drinks offered by strangers. Such food items may be tainted. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Valley Police Office further appealed to the Valley denizens to not join a crowd, possess cash, valuable gadgets, jewelries and expensive mobile phone sets. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, people have been urged to ensure that the doors, windows and entrances of houses are properly locked while going out. If possible, people are urged to use siren-fixed locks. If anyone has to go outside the home or shut the shops for long time during the festivals, they are advised to inform it to the neighbours and the local police. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The public have been advised to make monetary transactions digitally and to keep the password of mobile banking confidential. Likewise, they have been urged to not post personal details and update travel details on social sites. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The office has warned the general public of the consequences of gambling, playing cards and dice, drunk-driving and the violation of traffic rules. It has urged the people to confidently observe the festivals, assuring of a sound security with the mobilization of sniffer dogs and drones. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-17', 'modified' => '2023-10-17', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '19006', 'image' => '20231017011824_20230621110115_Kathmandu Valley.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-17 13:17:44', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19277', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'DPM Shrestha in Beijing to attend Belt and Road Forum ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 17: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs, Narayan Kaji Shrestha, reached Beijing on Monday evening to attend the 3rd Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation at the invitation of Chinese Minister of Ecology and Environment, Wang Xiaohong. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 17: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs, Narayan Kaji Shrestha, reached Beijing on Monday evening to attend the 3rd Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation at the invitation of Chinese Minister of Ecology and Environment, Wang Xiaohong. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">DPM Shrestha was welcomed by Ambassador of Nepal to China, Bishnu Pukar Shrestha, and high-level officials of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment of China, according to a press release issued by Nepal’s Embassy in China. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">DPM Shrestha will be attending the opening ceremony of the 3rd Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. He will address the high-level forum on Green Development “Green Silk Road for Harmony with Nature” at the National Convention Center on October 18. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He is scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with Chinese Minister of Emergency Management, Wang Xiangsi; and Member of the Secretariat of Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, Wang Xiaohong, during his stay in Beijing. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, DPM Shrestha will also meet Chinese Minister for International Department, Liu Jianchao. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Nepali delegation led by DPM Shrestha will return to Kathmandu on October 20, the press release added. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-17', 'modified' => '2023-10-17', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '19005', 'image' => '20231017124429_20231011113404_20201117123742_88500034 2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-17 12:43:45', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19276', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'China Prepares for BRI Summit under Shadow of Israel-Gaza War ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 17: China on Monday prepared to host representatives of 130 countries for a forum that will be overshadowed by the Israel-Gaza war, as an increasingly assertive Beijing is asked to help de-escalate the violence. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 17: China on Monday prepared to host representatives of 130 countries for a forum that will be overshadowed by the Israel-Gaza war, as an increasingly assertive Beijing is asked to help de-escalate the violence. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">At the top of the invite list to China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) forum is Russia's President Vladimir Putin, on his first trip to a major global power since the Ukraine invasion threw his regime into international isolation. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Leaders have begun to trickle into the Chinese capital for a gala event marking a decade of the BRI -- a key project of President Xi Jinping to extend China's global reach. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">While China hopes the forum will help boost its standing as a leading global power, Israel's war with Palestinian militant organisation Hamas will continue to dominate the headlines. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Israel declared war on the Islamist group after waves of its fighters broke through the heavily fortified border on October 7, shooting, stabbing and burning to death more than 1,400 people, most of them civilians. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Under heavy Israeli bombardment of the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip, more than one million people have fled their homes in scenes of chaos and despair. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Israel's bombing has left at least 2,670 people dead in Gaza, mainly civilians, and flattened entire neighbourhoods. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi has condemned Israel's actions for going "beyond the scope of self-defence" and called for it to "cease its collective punishment of the people of Gaza". </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"(Israel) should listen earnestly to the calls of the international community and the UN secretary general, and cease its collective punishment of the people of Gaza," Wang said Sunday, in what is the strongest stance China has expressed so far on the conflict. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Beijing has been criticised by Western officials for not specifically naming Hamas in its statements on the Israel-Gaza conflict. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Wang had on Sunday spoken with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who called on China to use its "influence" in the Middle East to push for calm. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">China has a warm relationship with Iran, whose clerical leadership supports both Hamas and Hezbollah, the Lebanese militant group that could open a second front against Israel. Earlier this year, China brokered an entente between former regional foes Iran and Saudi Arabia. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Beijing's special envoy Zhai Jun will visit the Middle East this week to push for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict and promote peace talks, China's state broadcaster CCTV said on Sunday, without specifying which countries he would visit. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Niva Yau, a nonresident fellow with the Atlantic Council's Global China Hub, told AFP the BRI summit would allow Beijing to frame attendance as a gesture of support for its position. "Any head of state that attends the summit, it's almost as if they agree with Beijing's positions on these global issues," she said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif""><strong>Strategic dependence </strong> </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A number of leaders have already arrived in Beijing ahead of the two-day forum, which kicks off Tuesday. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Among them are Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, Chilean President Gabriel Boric, Kenyan President William Ruto and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">On Monday Russia's top diplomat Sergei Lavrov flew into Beijing and within hours held talks with China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Putin -- whose strategic dependence on China has only grown since his invasion of neighbouring Ukraine thrust his country into international isolation -- was expected to arrive overnight. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">This year, trade between China and Russia has soared to levels not seen since the beginning of Moscow's war in Ukraine, with Chinese imports of Russian oil offering Moscow a critical lifeline as international sanctions bite. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">China has refused to condemn the Ukraine war in an effort to position itself as a neutral party, while at the same time offering Moscow vital diplomatic and financial support. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">At the heart of the deepening partnership is the relationship between Xi and Putin, who have described each other as "dear friends". </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Their alliance is also forged by a symbiotic necessity, each seeing the other as a necessary bulwark in their shared struggle against Western dominance. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In an interview with Chinese state broadcaster CGTN ahead of his visit this week, Putin hailed ties with Beijing and the "mutual benefits" of the BRI. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"President Putin pointed out that a multipolar world is taking shape, and the concepts and initiatives put forward by President Xi Jinping are highly relevant and significant," CGTN reported. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"He stated that President Xi Jinping is a well-recognised leader on the world stage and is a true world leader," it said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Putin also reportedly "shared pleasant memories between President Xi and him, and hoped tradition continues when they meet in China in the future." -- AFP/RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-17', 'modified' => '2023-10-17', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '19004', 'image' => '20231017112944_XxjpbeE007202_20231016_PEPFN1A001.JPG', 'article_date' => '2023-10-17 11:28:31', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19275', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Untimely Rainfall Disappoints Farmers ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 17: The untimely rainfall has disappointed farmers in Kailali district. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 17: The untimely rainfall has disappointed farmers in Kailali district. The rainfall which occurred since Monday afternoon upset farmers as they were about to harvest rice. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">They are worried how they would harvest rice safely amidst such erratic weather. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A farmer from Tikapur, Nirmal BK, said the paddy they harvested and spread to dry in the field has become wet due to the ill-timed rainfall.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"I waited for a tractor to collect the crop, but it did not come. The rainfall drenched the rice. The storm has further strewn it. If the rainfall continues, the crop will perish in the field," he shared his plight. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, another farmer Padam Oli shared that paddy is ripe in the field. He did not harvest the paddy, worrying about storms on Monday, but the rains coupled with storm damaged the ripe paddy. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"If the rainfall does not stop, it certainly damages the crop," he said, wondering, "Why does rainfall occur when it is time to harvest rice?" </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Most of the farmers in Kailali district are upset, reasoning rainfall occurs when they are ready to harvest rice. They experienced it for three years. It has resulted in loss of production. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"In 2078 BS, the floods triggered by the rainfall swept away the harvest time rice. Last year, we were able to save half of the crops," said Hari Chaudhary, adding, "We have not harvested rice due to erratic weather. The storm coupled with rainfall has damaged half the yield this year too. The adverse weather is a bane for farmers.” </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Another farmer Parbati Chaudhari said that the paddy harvested and spread to dry in the field was damaged due to the sudden change in weather. “Only half of the crop remained,” she added. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Meanwhile, Tikapur Municipality and Janaki Rural Municipality have suggested the farmers to wait for some days to harvest rice. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-17', 'modified' => '2023-10-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '19003', 'image' => '20231018110312_SureshAcharya_Surkhet_RSS_30_20231017_064031.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-17 11:03:37', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19274', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Collective Efforts Essential to Improve Economy: Finance Minister Mahat', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Finance Minister Dr. Prakash Sharan Mahat emphasized the importance of collective efforts to improve the country's economy. He stressed that relying solely on government initiatives would not be sufficient for economic improvement.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">October 17: Finance Minister Dr. Prakash Sharan Mahat emphasized the importance of collective efforts to improve the country's economy. </span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">He stressed that relying solely on government initiatives would not be sufficient for economic improvement. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">During an inauguration of the Female Economic Journalists Association (FEJA) in Kathmandu, Minister Mahat expressed need for support from all sectors to boost the economy. </span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Minister Mahat said the gradual signs of economic improvement in the country but stressed that the efforts of the government and the Finance Ministry alone were inadequate. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">He called for a joint commitment from all stakeholders to work towards economic enhancement, assuring that the Finance Ministry was prepared to address any obstacles hindering progress.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> Minister Mahat emphasized the importance of empowering women for the socio-economic development of the nation, highlighting the increased participation of women in various sectors, such as health and education, following the adoption of the concept of inclusive development.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Likewise, Sharmila Thakuri, Chair of FEJA, stated that FEJA's establishment is aimed at playing a coordinating role in the skill and capacity development of women journalists working in economic beat. (RSS) </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-17', 'modified' => '2023-10-17', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '19002', 'image' => '20231017055331_collage (13).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-17 05:51:37', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19273', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NEPSE’s Downfall Continues', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'The Nepal Stock(NEPSE) Index lost 23.16 points or 1.23%, closing at 1851.43 points on the first trading day of the week, Sunday.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">October 16: The Nepal Stock(NEPSE) Index lost 23.16 points or 1.23%, closing at 1851.43 points on the first trading day of the week, Sunday.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Experienced investors and stock analysts have attributed today's market loss to the impending Dashain festival. According to one investor, NEPSE experienced selling pressure as the Dashain festival draws near.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">During today's trading, 284 different stocks were traded in 69,832 transactions in the NEPSE. A total of 4,837,893 units of shares exchanged their hands, amounting to Rs 1.25 billion.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Prabhu Bank Limited Promoter Share (PRVUPO) had the highest turnover, reaching Rs. 6.24 crores, and closed at a market price of Rs. 108.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Similarly, Siddhartha Premier Insurance Limited (SPIL) recorded the highest gain of 7.87% today. </span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">On the flip side, Sayapatri Hydropower Limited (SPHL) and Hathway Investment Nepal Limited (HATHY) witnessed the highest loss of 10%. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In terms of sector indices, all indices closed in the red territory. "Life Insurance Index" lost the highest 2.09% while "Manufacturing And Processing" lost the least of 0.57% for today.</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-16', 'modified' => '2023-10-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '19001', 'image' => '20231016051813_collage (24).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-16 17:16:51', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19272', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NRB Neglects Maintaining Interest Rate Corridor', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 16: Nepal Rastra Bank has neglected the implementation of the interest rate corridor, which was started with the aim of maintaining interest rate stability by minimizing short-term interest rate fluctuations.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">October 16: Nepal Rastra Bank has neglected the implementation of the interest rate corridor, which was started with the aim of maintaining interest rate stability by minimizing short-term interest rate fluctuations.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The main objective of the interest corridor is to keep the interbank interest rate within a certain limit. However, even though the interbank interest rate has fallen below the limit since the last one month, NRB has not used monetary instruments to maintain the interest rate.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">NRB has set the target of keeping the average interbank interest rate higher than the bank rate and lower than the deposit collection rate in the monetary policy of the current financial year (FY). There is a provision in the policy to use various monetary tools to keep the interbank interest rate in the middle while keeping the upper limit of the interest rate corridor at 7.5 percent and the lower limit at 4.5 percent.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">However, even though the interbank interest rate has fallen below the monetary policy target since September 13, NRB has not used monetary instruments to draw liquidity from the market to increase the interest rate. In the monetary policy, it is mentioned that if the interest rate is higher or lower than the target, secondary market transactions and deposit collection will be opened.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">On September 13, the interbank interest rate fell to 4.14 percent. Since then, the interbank interest rate, which has been below the limit, remained at 1.90 percent even on Wednesday, October 11. Meanwhile, on October 6, the interbank interest rate had dropped to 1.79 percent.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the data of NRB, the average credit to deposit ratio (CD ratio) of banks on October 10 was 81.86 percent. As the banks are allowed to give loans by maintaining CD radio up to 90%, they still have the capacity to extend loans of around Rs 475 billion.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">However, banks have been saying that there is no demand for loans due to high interest rates and weak economy. Due to high liquidity in banks due to lack of demand for loans, the interbank interest rate has fallen below the lower limit of the corridor.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Due to the fall in interest rates, the government also emphasized on raising domestic debt. The government changed the schedule to collect loans when interest rates fell. Anil Sharma, Chief Executive Officer of Nepal Bankers' Association says that the interbank interest rate decreased after the government allowed the amount of local level accumulated funds to be counted as deposits, and at the same time, the government also raised internal loans.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">NRB Deputy Spokesperson Dr. Dilliram Pokharel says that the current interest rate is of a short-term nature and that monetary instruments were not used because the government insisted on raising internal debt.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-16', 'modified' => '2023-10-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '19000', 'image' => '20231016034603_Nepal_Rastra_Bank2 2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-16 15:45:08', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19271', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NEA Gets 'Double A Plus' Credit Rating ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 16: The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has once again received the 'Double A Plus' credit rating.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 16: The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has once again received the 'Double A Plus' credit rating. ICRA Nepal Ltd, a credit rating agency in Nepal, has granted the 'ICRA NP Double A Plus' to the NEA, the state-owned entity. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The recipients of this rating are considered to have a high degree of safety regarding timely servicing of financial obligations. They carry very low credit risk. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The financial status of NEA, assets, business and financial risks, managerial capacity, internal and external environmental factors affecting operational effectiveness were assessed by the ICRA Nepal before assigning an issuer rating of Double A Plus to the organisation. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Credit ratings serve as a tool for assessing the creditworthiness of both individuals and organizations and for expressing opinion. They provide opinions on an entity's ability to meet its debt obligations, presenting a clear and simple indicator about related financial risks. According to ICRA Nepal, the rating is only an opinion on the general creditworthiness of the rated entity and is not specific to any debt instrument. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">NEA Managing Director Kulman Ghising said the NEA has bagged the 'Double A Plus' credit rating from among the public entities, presenting its high-level of capacity to bear financial obligations. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-16', 'modified' => '2023-10-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18999', 'image' => '20231016030910_20230913111412_NEA_20191104081559.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-16 15:08:28', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19270', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Govt Preparing to Set Up an Industrial Zone in Simara SEZ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 16: A new industrial zone is going to be built on the land of the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Bara's Simara.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">October 16: A new industrial zone is going to be built on the land of the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Bara's Simara. The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supply is preparing to set up a new industrial zone in the SEZ.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Ramesh Rijal said in an interaction with the entrepreneurs that an industrial zone will be built on 400 bighas of land in the D and E blocks of Simara SEZ.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Senior Vice President of Birgunj Chamber of Commerce and Industries, Hari Gautam, informed NBA that Minister Rijal revealed the plan during a visit to Simara to discuss about the industrial sector.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“A proposal for the new industrial zone will be submitted to the Council of Ministers after Dashain. Once the proposal is passed by the Council of Ministers, the construction of the industrial zone will proceed," said Gautam, quoting Minister Rijal.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">SEZ has prepared structures in three of out of five blocks. Gautam said that getting land for new industries is becoming difficult in the Bara-Parsa Industrial Corridor, and that the entrepreneurs are excited about the preparation of a new industrial zone. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies had commissioned the Industrial Area Management Limited to conduct a feasibility study for the establishment of an industrial zone. The ministry said that the body has submitted a report with the conclusion that Simara is the most suitable place for establishing an industrial zone. It is mentioned in the report that the location is best for the industrial sector due to its infrastructure, and proximity to the seaport, and access to expressway.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Industrial Area Management Limited and the SEZ Authority Board of Directors have approved the proposal for the construction of the industrial zone. As entrepreneurs are not attracted to SEZs, there is a demand to make SEZs an industrial zone. Although the industries have been invited to SEZ's A, B and C blocks, the entrepreneurs are not excited.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Rijal also said that preparations are being made to reduce the mandatory export limit from 60 per cent to 30 per cent for the industries operating in SEZ. The minister informed that the rent of SEZ will also be reduced from Rs 20 to Rs 10 per square meter. This measure has been adopted to attract industries to SEZ. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-16', 'modified' => '2023-10-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18998', 'image' => '20231016021527_1697423282.2023-10-16 08.13.02.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-16 14:14:44', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19269', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Fails to Import Sugar Before Dashain', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 16: The government has failed in its efforts to supply duty-free sugar to the consumers before Dashain. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">October 16: The government has failed in its efforts to supply duty-free sugar to the consumers before Dashain. The government was unable to import sugar before Dashain as India did not show any interest to supply sugar to Nepal through the G2G process. Another reason for the failure was the delay in granting permission to import sugar to the Salt Trading Corporation (STC) and the Food Management and Trading Company (FMTC), which are responsible for the import and distribution of duty exempted sugar in the country.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies had sent a letter to the Ministry of Finance in July seeking permission to proceed with the process to import 60,000 metric tons of sugar with customs exemption, especially for the festive season. However, the Ministry of Finance did not respond to the letter.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">The STC and FMTC could not import sugar before Dashain due to the delay in getting approval for import. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">In mid-September, the Finance Ministry granted permission to the Salt Trading Corporation and Food Management and Trading Company to import 20,000 tons of sugar at 50 percent customs exepmtion. Although Salt Trading Corporation and Food Management and Trading Company were assigned the responsibility to import 10,000 tons of sugar each, both these companies have admitted that they will not be able to import sugar before Dashain.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">Kumar Rajbhandari, spokesperson of the Salt Trading Corporation, said that it is certain that subsidized sugar cannot be brought before Dashain. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">He blamed the Finance Ministry for giving approval to purchase sugar when it was already too late.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">He said that a 15-day notice was issued to import sugar on a fast-track basis and a company was also selected but it was not possible to bring sugar because India did not supply sugar. According to Rajbhandari, it would be too expensive to bring sugar from other countries.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">At present, India has not exported sugar to other countries, due to which the price of sugar has become expensive in the international market. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">“When we bring it from other countries, we have to sell it here at a high price. That is why we have reached the decision not to bring sugar for now," he said.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">The FMTC had issued a 45-day notice which will expire after mid-November. By that time, the festival of Dashain will already have finished. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">With the start of the festive season, the government took the initiative to bring 50,000 metric tons of sugar from India through the G2G (Government to Government) process, but it was not successful. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">Meanwhile, India banned sugar exports a few months ago after the price of sugar started increasing in its domestic market. India is one of the top sugar exporting countries in the world.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">According to Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Ramesh Rijal, Nepal had written to India in mid-July asking for 100,000 tons of rice, 50,000 tons of sugar and 5,000 tons of paddy. India has not yet sent a reply. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">“We requested food grains from India to prevent shortage in our market. However, India has not given any response,” said the minister, adding, “A few weeks ago, we again took a diplomatic initiative with the Indian government. The Indian side agreed to supply sugar but it is not certain when.”</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-16', 'modified' => '2023-10-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18997', 'image' => '20231016012240_sugar.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-16 13:21:54', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19268', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Tremor Felt in Sudurpaschim Province ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 16: An earthquake was felt in the hill districts of Sudurpaschim province, including in Baitadi, this morning. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 16: An earthquake was felt in the hill districts of Sudurpaschim province, including in Baitadi, this morning. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Chief of the Earthquake Measurement Centre Surkhet, Bal Bahadur Tamang, said that an earthquake measuring 4.8 on the Richter scale with epicentre at Batan, India, adjoining Darchula district occurred at 9.26 am on Monday. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The District Police Office Baitadi said they have not received any information about the damage so far.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Of late, earthquakes have been occurring frequently in far-western Nepal. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-16', 'modified' => '2023-10-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18996', 'image' => '20231016124037_earth.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-16 12:39:37', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = falseinclude - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 60 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
Warning (2): simplexml_load_file() [<a href='http://php.net/function.simplexml-load-file'>function.simplexml-load-file</a>]: I/O warning : failed to load external entity "" [APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 60]file not found!Code Context// $file = 'http://aabhiyan:QUVLg8Wzs2F7G9N7@nepalstock.com.np/api/indexdata.xml';if(!$xml = simplexml_load_file($file)){$viewFile = '/var/www/html/newbusinessage.com/app/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'articles' => array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ) ), 'current_user' => null, 'logged_in' => false ) $articles = array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19283', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NEPSE Index Gains 13.18 Points to Close at 1864.62 Points', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'The Nepal Stock Exchange(NEPSE) Index gained 13.18 points or 0.71% and closed at 1864.62 on the third trading day of the week today.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">October 17: The Nepal Stock Exchange(NEPSE) Index gained 13.18 points or 0.71% and closed at 1864.62 on the third trading day of the week today. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Experienced investors and stock analysts attribute today’s market gains to the reduction of interest rates by banks and financial institutions.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">As many as 289 scrips were traded in the NEPSE and a total of 3,813,233 shares exchanged their hands through 45,456 transactions, amounting to Rs 1 billion.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> Hathway Investment Nepal Limited (HATHY) has the highest turnover of Rs 4.62 crores, closing at a market price of Rs 284 per share. Similarly, NIBL Pragati Fund (NIBLPF) experienced the highest gain of 7.35%, closing at a market price of Rs 9.20.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Hathway Investment Nepal Limited (HATHY) witnessed the highest loss of 8.53%, closing at a market price of Rs 284 per share.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In terms of sector indices, Finance Index gained the highest 1.30%, while Trading Index lost the highest 1.25%.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Similarly, Sensitive Index gained 0.86% while Float Index and Sensitive Float Index experienced a gain of 0.78% and 0.94% respectively. </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-17', 'modified' => '2023-10-17', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '19010', 'image' => '20231017040759_collage (26).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-17 16:06:49', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19281', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Remittance Inflow Rs 228 Billion in Two Months ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 17: Nepal received remittances worth Rs 228 billion in the first two months of the current fiscal year 2023/24. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 17: Nepal received remittances worth Rs 228 billion in the first two months of the current fiscal year 2023/24. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the Current Macroeconomic and Financial Situation Report of Nepal based on the statistics until the 17th of September, 2023, unveiled by Nepal Rastra Bank on Tuesday, the remittance inflow increased by 22.1 percent in this period and reached Rs 228. 37 billion. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The remittance inflow during the corresponding period last year had increased by 19.8 percent. In US dollars terms, the remittance inflow grew by 17.7 percent to reach 1. 73 billion. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The number of Nepalis taking labour permit for foreign employment until September 17, 2023 of the current fiscal year beginning July 17 decreased by 28.3 percent to 74,455. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, the number of Nepalis renewing their work permit for foreign employment stood at 32,004, a decrease of 18.3 percent. In the previous fiscal year, this number had increased by 70.6 percent, the NRB stated in the report. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-17', 'modified' => '2023-10-17', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '19009', 'image' => '20231017031249_Remittance.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-17 15:12:05', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19280', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'One Fourth of NEA Customers Pay Electricity Bills Online', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 17: Around one-fourth of the customers of Nepal Electricity Authority are found to be paying the electricity bills through online medium.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">October 17: Around one-fourth of the customers of Nepal Electricity Authority are found to be paying the electricity bills through online medium.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">While the NEA has been saying that it is running a campaign to make its service delivery technology-friendly, it has been found that only 28 percent of the total service seekers pay online.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Manoj Silwal, deputy executive director of the NEA, revealed this information during a recent interaction with the private sector. Silwal also claimed that the NEA is making its service delivery based on technology.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The NEA’s customers have been paying the fee through 10 different types of wallets. At present, the NEA has made arrangements for online payment of electricity bills up to Rs 500,000 through digital wallets.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Customers who have to pay more than that amount are required to visit the NEA’s counter. Silwal said, “Now we are preparing to increase the limit of Rs 500,000. Then this complaint will also be resolved.”</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He said that the NEA is promoting online services to adress the complaints of customers who have experienced unnecessary hassles from the employees while taking services and to maintain transparency.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-17', 'modified' => '2023-10-17', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '19008', 'image' => '20231017030815_20230913111412_NEA_20191104081559.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-17 15:07:44', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19279', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'DDC to Provide Discounts on its Products during the Festive Season', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 17: The government has announced discounts on milk products produced by the state-owned Dairy Development Corporation (DDC).', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">October 17: The government has announced discounts on milk products produced by the state-owned Dairy Development Corporation (DDC). The government made such an arrangement so that the consumers can consume milk products at concessional prices during the festive season.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development held a press conference on Monday and informed about the discounts on dairy products. According to the ministry, there is a discount of Rs 2 per liter on the price of standard milk of 1 liter pouch. Now, the one-litre milk has been priced at Rs 97. The price per packet of half a liter of standard milk, which was earlier Rs 50, has now been fixed at Rs 49.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The ministry informed that the consumers will be given a discount of Rs 20 per liter on yoghurt. Currently, the price of DDC yoghurt is Rs 190 per litre. Now, it will be available for Rs 170. The government has decided to give the maximum discount on Yak butter. As per the decision, customers can avail a discount of Rs 150 rupees on Yak butter, which costs Rs 1250 per kilogram. Similarly, the ministry said that 500 grams of cottage cheese worth Rs 500, as well as butter which costs Rs 1100 per kilogram, and 250 grams of table butter worth Rs 400 will all get discount of Rs 50 each.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">There will be a discount of Rs 100 on DDC ghee worth Rs 1200 per kg. A packet of DDC sweets worth Rs 290 will now be available at Rs 280. Similarly, 500 grams of yak cheese priced at Rs 960 will be cheaper by Rs 60, while 500 grams of Kanchan cheese priced at Rs 810 will be discounted by Rs 50 and fresh milk of 200 ml bottles priced at Rs 75 will be discounted by Rs 5. Speaking at the press conference, Agriculture and Livestock Development Minister Dr Beduram Bhusal said that the ministry decided to give a discount on dairy products to control the increase in the sale of unhealthy fish and meat and dairy products during the festive period and to control the arbitrary price hike in market. He also added that the livestock market is being monitored through the agencies under the ministry.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-17', 'modified' => '2023-10-17', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '19007', 'image' => '20231017021509_20220211081950_20220203111904_20220121121357_20200423093954_1542865405_16685959.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-17 14:14:22', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19278', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Valley Police Office Urges Public to Take Measures for Safe Celebrations during Festivals ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 17: The Kathmandu Valley Police Office has urged the citizens to stay safe during the festivals and contribute to creating a secure atmosphere for the family, community and the entire city. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 17: The Kathmandu Valley Police Office has urged the citizens to stay safe during the festivals and contribute to creating a secure atmosphere for the family, community and the entire city. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Issuing a 10-point appeal for the Valley denizens on Tuesday, the police urged one and all to join hands in the campaign for the 'Safe Kathmandu Valley'. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Valley Police Office Spokesperson Senior Superintendent of Police, Dinesh Raj Mainali, said they expect the public to remain alert to the possibilities of untoward incidents during the festive period. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He advised the people not to entertain the company of strangers during travel and not to accept food and drinks offered by strangers. Such food items may be tainted. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Valley Police Office further appealed to the Valley denizens to not join a crowd, possess cash, valuable gadgets, jewelries and expensive mobile phone sets. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, people have been urged to ensure that the doors, windows and entrances of houses are properly locked while going out. If possible, people are urged to use siren-fixed locks. If anyone has to go outside the home or shut the shops for long time during the festivals, they are advised to inform it to the neighbours and the local police. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The public have been advised to make monetary transactions digitally and to keep the password of mobile banking confidential. Likewise, they have been urged to not post personal details and update travel details on social sites. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The office has warned the general public of the consequences of gambling, playing cards and dice, drunk-driving and the violation of traffic rules. It has urged the people to confidently observe the festivals, assuring of a sound security with the mobilization of sniffer dogs and drones. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-17', 'modified' => '2023-10-17', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '19006', 'image' => '20231017011824_20230621110115_Kathmandu Valley.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-17 13:17:44', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19277', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'DPM Shrestha in Beijing to attend Belt and Road Forum ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 17: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs, Narayan Kaji Shrestha, reached Beijing on Monday evening to attend the 3rd Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation at the invitation of Chinese Minister of Ecology and Environment, Wang Xiaohong. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 17: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs, Narayan Kaji Shrestha, reached Beijing on Monday evening to attend the 3rd Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation at the invitation of Chinese Minister of Ecology and Environment, Wang Xiaohong. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">DPM Shrestha was welcomed by Ambassador of Nepal to China, Bishnu Pukar Shrestha, and high-level officials of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment of China, according to a press release issued by Nepal’s Embassy in China. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">DPM Shrestha will be attending the opening ceremony of the 3rd Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. He will address the high-level forum on Green Development “Green Silk Road for Harmony with Nature” at the National Convention Center on October 18. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He is scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with Chinese Minister of Emergency Management, Wang Xiangsi; and Member of the Secretariat of Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, Wang Xiaohong, during his stay in Beijing. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, DPM Shrestha will also meet Chinese Minister for International Department, Liu Jianchao. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Nepali delegation led by DPM Shrestha will return to Kathmandu on October 20, the press release added. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-17', 'modified' => '2023-10-17', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '19005', 'image' => '20231017124429_20231011113404_20201117123742_88500034 2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-17 12:43:45', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19276', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'China Prepares for BRI Summit under Shadow of Israel-Gaza War ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 17: China on Monday prepared to host representatives of 130 countries for a forum that will be overshadowed by the Israel-Gaza war, as an increasingly assertive Beijing is asked to help de-escalate the violence. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 17: China on Monday prepared to host representatives of 130 countries for a forum that will be overshadowed by the Israel-Gaza war, as an increasingly assertive Beijing is asked to help de-escalate the violence. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">At the top of the invite list to China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) forum is Russia's President Vladimir Putin, on his first trip to a major global power since the Ukraine invasion threw his regime into international isolation. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Leaders have begun to trickle into the Chinese capital for a gala event marking a decade of the BRI -- a key project of President Xi Jinping to extend China's global reach. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">While China hopes the forum will help boost its standing as a leading global power, Israel's war with Palestinian militant organisation Hamas will continue to dominate the headlines. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Israel declared war on the Islamist group after waves of its fighters broke through the heavily fortified border on October 7, shooting, stabbing and burning to death more than 1,400 people, most of them civilians. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Under heavy Israeli bombardment of the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip, more than one million people have fled their homes in scenes of chaos and despair. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Israel's bombing has left at least 2,670 people dead in Gaza, mainly civilians, and flattened entire neighbourhoods. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi has condemned Israel's actions for going "beyond the scope of self-defence" and called for it to "cease its collective punishment of the people of Gaza". </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"(Israel) should listen earnestly to the calls of the international community and the UN secretary general, and cease its collective punishment of the people of Gaza," Wang said Sunday, in what is the strongest stance China has expressed so far on the conflict. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Beijing has been criticised by Western officials for not specifically naming Hamas in its statements on the Israel-Gaza conflict. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Wang had on Sunday spoken with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who called on China to use its "influence" in the Middle East to push for calm. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">China has a warm relationship with Iran, whose clerical leadership supports both Hamas and Hezbollah, the Lebanese militant group that could open a second front against Israel. Earlier this year, China brokered an entente between former regional foes Iran and Saudi Arabia. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Beijing's special envoy Zhai Jun will visit the Middle East this week to push for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict and promote peace talks, China's state broadcaster CCTV said on Sunday, without specifying which countries he would visit. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Niva Yau, a nonresident fellow with the Atlantic Council's Global China Hub, told AFP the BRI summit would allow Beijing to frame attendance as a gesture of support for its position. "Any head of state that attends the summit, it's almost as if they agree with Beijing's positions on these global issues," she said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif""><strong>Strategic dependence </strong> </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A number of leaders have already arrived in Beijing ahead of the two-day forum, which kicks off Tuesday. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Among them are Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, Chilean President Gabriel Boric, Kenyan President William Ruto and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">On Monday Russia's top diplomat Sergei Lavrov flew into Beijing and within hours held talks with China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Putin -- whose strategic dependence on China has only grown since his invasion of neighbouring Ukraine thrust his country into international isolation -- was expected to arrive overnight. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">This year, trade between China and Russia has soared to levels not seen since the beginning of Moscow's war in Ukraine, with Chinese imports of Russian oil offering Moscow a critical lifeline as international sanctions bite. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">China has refused to condemn the Ukraine war in an effort to position itself as a neutral party, while at the same time offering Moscow vital diplomatic and financial support. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">At the heart of the deepening partnership is the relationship between Xi and Putin, who have described each other as "dear friends". </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Their alliance is also forged by a symbiotic necessity, each seeing the other as a necessary bulwark in their shared struggle against Western dominance. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In an interview with Chinese state broadcaster CGTN ahead of his visit this week, Putin hailed ties with Beijing and the "mutual benefits" of the BRI. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"President Putin pointed out that a multipolar world is taking shape, and the concepts and initiatives put forward by President Xi Jinping are highly relevant and significant," CGTN reported. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"He stated that President Xi Jinping is a well-recognised leader on the world stage and is a true world leader," it said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Putin also reportedly "shared pleasant memories between President Xi and him, and hoped tradition continues when they meet in China in the future." -- AFP/RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-17', 'modified' => '2023-10-17', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '19004', 'image' => '20231017112944_XxjpbeE007202_20231016_PEPFN1A001.JPG', 'article_date' => '2023-10-17 11:28:31', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19275', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Untimely Rainfall Disappoints Farmers ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 17: The untimely rainfall has disappointed farmers in Kailali district. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 17: The untimely rainfall has disappointed farmers in Kailali district. The rainfall which occurred since Monday afternoon upset farmers as they were about to harvest rice. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">They are worried how they would harvest rice safely amidst such erratic weather. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A farmer from Tikapur, Nirmal BK, said the paddy they harvested and spread to dry in the field has become wet due to the ill-timed rainfall.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"I waited for a tractor to collect the crop, but it did not come. The rainfall drenched the rice. The storm has further strewn it. If the rainfall continues, the crop will perish in the field," he shared his plight. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, another farmer Padam Oli shared that paddy is ripe in the field. He did not harvest the paddy, worrying about storms on Monday, but the rains coupled with storm damaged the ripe paddy. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"If the rainfall does not stop, it certainly damages the crop," he said, wondering, "Why does rainfall occur when it is time to harvest rice?" </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Most of the farmers in Kailali district are upset, reasoning rainfall occurs when they are ready to harvest rice. They experienced it for three years. It has resulted in loss of production. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"In 2078 BS, the floods triggered by the rainfall swept away the harvest time rice. Last year, we were able to save half of the crops," said Hari Chaudhary, adding, "We have not harvested rice due to erratic weather. The storm coupled with rainfall has damaged half the yield this year too. The adverse weather is a bane for farmers.” </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Another farmer Parbati Chaudhari said that the paddy harvested and spread to dry in the field was damaged due to the sudden change in weather. “Only half of the crop remained,” she added. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Meanwhile, Tikapur Municipality and Janaki Rural Municipality have suggested the farmers to wait for some days to harvest rice. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-17', 'modified' => '2023-10-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '19003', 'image' => '20231018110312_SureshAcharya_Surkhet_RSS_30_20231017_064031.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-17 11:03:37', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19274', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Collective Efforts Essential to Improve Economy: Finance Minister Mahat', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Finance Minister Dr. Prakash Sharan Mahat emphasized the importance of collective efforts to improve the country's economy. He stressed that relying solely on government initiatives would not be sufficient for economic improvement.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">October 17: Finance Minister Dr. Prakash Sharan Mahat emphasized the importance of collective efforts to improve the country's economy. </span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">He stressed that relying solely on government initiatives would not be sufficient for economic improvement. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">During an inauguration of the Female Economic Journalists Association (FEJA) in Kathmandu, Minister Mahat expressed need for support from all sectors to boost the economy. </span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Minister Mahat said the gradual signs of economic improvement in the country but stressed that the efforts of the government and the Finance Ministry alone were inadequate. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">He called for a joint commitment from all stakeholders to work towards economic enhancement, assuring that the Finance Ministry was prepared to address any obstacles hindering progress.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> Minister Mahat emphasized the importance of empowering women for the socio-economic development of the nation, highlighting the increased participation of women in various sectors, such as health and education, following the adoption of the concept of inclusive development.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Likewise, Sharmila Thakuri, Chair of FEJA, stated that FEJA's establishment is aimed at playing a coordinating role in the skill and capacity development of women journalists working in economic beat. (RSS) </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-17', 'modified' => '2023-10-17', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '19002', 'image' => '20231017055331_collage (13).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-17 05:51:37', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19273', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NEPSE’s Downfall Continues', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'The Nepal Stock(NEPSE) Index lost 23.16 points or 1.23%, closing at 1851.43 points on the first trading day of the week, Sunday.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">October 16: The Nepal Stock(NEPSE) Index lost 23.16 points or 1.23%, closing at 1851.43 points on the first trading day of the week, Sunday.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Experienced investors and stock analysts have attributed today's market loss to the impending Dashain festival. According to one investor, NEPSE experienced selling pressure as the Dashain festival draws near.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">During today's trading, 284 different stocks were traded in 69,832 transactions in the NEPSE. A total of 4,837,893 units of shares exchanged their hands, amounting to Rs 1.25 billion.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Prabhu Bank Limited Promoter Share (PRVUPO) had the highest turnover, reaching Rs. 6.24 crores, and closed at a market price of Rs. 108.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Similarly, Siddhartha Premier Insurance Limited (SPIL) recorded the highest gain of 7.87% today. </span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">On the flip side, Sayapatri Hydropower Limited (SPHL) and Hathway Investment Nepal Limited (HATHY) witnessed the highest loss of 10%. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In terms of sector indices, all indices closed in the red territory. "Life Insurance Index" lost the highest 2.09% while "Manufacturing And Processing" lost the least of 0.57% for today.</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-16', 'modified' => '2023-10-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '19001', 'image' => '20231016051813_collage (24).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-16 17:16:51', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19272', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NRB Neglects Maintaining Interest Rate Corridor', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 16: Nepal Rastra Bank has neglected the implementation of the interest rate corridor, which was started with the aim of maintaining interest rate stability by minimizing short-term interest rate fluctuations.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">October 16: Nepal Rastra Bank has neglected the implementation of the interest rate corridor, which was started with the aim of maintaining interest rate stability by minimizing short-term interest rate fluctuations.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The main objective of the interest corridor is to keep the interbank interest rate within a certain limit. However, even though the interbank interest rate has fallen below the limit since the last one month, NRB has not used monetary instruments to maintain the interest rate.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">NRB has set the target of keeping the average interbank interest rate higher than the bank rate and lower than the deposit collection rate in the monetary policy of the current financial year (FY). There is a provision in the policy to use various monetary tools to keep the interbank interest rate in the middle while keeping the upper limit of the interest rate corridor at 7.5 percent and the lower limit at 4.5 percent.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">However, even though the interbank interest rate has fallen below the monetary policy target since September 13, NRB has not used monetary instruments to draw liquidity from the market to increase the interest rate. In the monetary policy, it is mentioned that if the interest rate is higher or lower than the target, secondary market transactions and deposit collection will be opened.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">On September 13, the interbank interest rate fell to 4.14 percent. Since then, the interbank interest rate, which has been below the limit, remained at 1.90 percent even on Wednesday, October 11. Meanwhile, on October 6, the interbank interest rate had dropped to 1.79 percent.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the data of NRB, the average credit to deposit ratio (CD ratio) of banks on October 10 was 81.86 percent. As the banks are allowed to give loans by maintaining CD radio up to 90%, they still have the capacity to extend loans of around Rs 475 billion.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">However, banks have been saying that there is no demand for loans due to high interest rates and weak economy. Due to high liquidity in banks due to lack of demand for loans, the interbank interest rate has fallen below the lower limit of the corridor.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Due to the fall in interest rates, the government also emphasized on raising domestic debt. The government changed the schedule to collect loans when interest rates fell. Anil Sharma, Chief Executive Officer of Nepal Bankers' Association says that the interbank interest rate decreased after the government allowed the amount of local level accumulated funds to be counted as deposits, and at the same time, the government also raised internal loans.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">NRB Deputy Spokesperson Dr. Dilliram Pokharel says that the current interest rate is of a short-term nature and that monetary instruments were not used because the government insisted on raising internal debt.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-16', 'modified' => '2023-10-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '19000', 'image' => '20231016034603_Nepal_Rastra_Bank2 2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-16 15:45:08', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19271', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NEA Gets 'Double A Plus' Credit Rating ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 16: The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has once again received the 'Double A Plus' credit rating.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 16: The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has once again received the 'Double A Plus' credit rating. ICRA Nepal Ltd, a credit rating agency in Nepal, has granted the 'ICRA NP Double A Plus' to the NEA, the state-owned entity. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The recipients of this rating are considered to have a high degree of safety regarding timely servicing of financial obligations. They carry very low credit risk. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The financial status of NEA, assets, business and financial risks, managerial capacity, internal and external environmental factors affecting operational effectiveness were assessed by the ICRA Nepal before assigning an issuer rating of Double A Plus to the organisation. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Credit ratings serve as a tool for assessing the creditworthiness of both individuals and organizations and for expressing opinion. They provide opinions on an entity's ability to meet its debt obligations, presenting a clear and simple indicator about related financial risks. According to ICRA Nepal, the rating is only an opinion on the general creditworthiness of the rated entity and is not specific to any debt instrument. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">NEA Managing Director Kulman Ghising said the NEA has bagged the 'Double A Plus' credit rating from among the public entities, presenting its high-level of capacity to bear financial obligations. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-16', 'modified' => '2023-10-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18999', 'image' => '20231016030910_20230913111412_NEA_20191104081559.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-16 15:08:28', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19270', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Govt Preparing to Set Up an Industrial Zone in Simara SEZ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 16: A new industrial zone is going to be built on the land of the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Bara's Simara.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">October 16: A new industrial zone is going to be built on the land of the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Bara's Simara. The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supply is preparing to set up a new industrial zone in the SEZ.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Ramesh Rijal said in an interaction with the entrepreneurs that an industrial zone will be built on 400 bighas of land in the D and E blocks of Simara SEZ.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Senior Vice President of Birgunj Chamber of Commerce and Industries, Hari Gautam, informed NBA that Minister Rijal revealed the plan during a visit to Simara to discuss about the industrial sector.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“A proposal for the new industrial zone will be submitted to the Council of Ministers after Dashain. Once the proposal is passed by the Council of Ministers, the construction of the industrial zone will proceed," said Gautam, quoting Minister Rijal.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">SEZ has prepared structures in three of out of five blocks. Gautam said that getting land for new industries is becoming difficult in the Bara-Parsa Industrial Corridor, and that the entrepreneurs are excited about the preparation of a new industrial zone. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies had commissioned the Industrial Area Management Limited to conduct a feasibility study for the establishment of an industrial zone. The ministry said that the body has submitted a report with the conclusion that Simara is the most suitable place for establishing an industrial zone. It is mentioned in the report that the location is best for the industrial sector due to its infrastructure, and proximity to the seaport, and access to expressway.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Industrial Area Management Limited and the SEZ Authority Board of Directors have approved the proposal for the construction of the industrial zone. As entrepreneurs are not attracted to SEZs, there is a demand to make SEZs an industrial zone. Although the industries have been invited to SEZ's A, B and C blocks, the entrepreneurs are not excited.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Rijal also said that preparations are being made to reduce the mandatory export limit from 60 per cent to 30 per cent for the industries operating in SEZ. The minister informed that the rent of SEZ will also be reduced from Rs 20 to Rs 10 per square meter. This measure has been adopted to attract industries to SEZ. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-16', 'modified' => '2023-10-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18998', 'image' => '20231016021527_1697423282.2023-10-16 08.13.02.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-16 14:14:44', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19269', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Fails to Import Sugar Before Dashain', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 16: The government has failed in its efforts to supply duty-free sugar to the consumers before Dashain. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">October 16: The government has failed in its efforts to supply duty-free sugar to the consumers before Dashain. The government was unable to import sugar before Dashain as India did not show any interest to supply sugar to Nepal through the G2G process. Another reason for the failure was the delay in granting permission to import sugar to the Salt Trading Corporation (STC) and the Food Management and Trading Company (FMTC), which are responsible for the import and distribution of duty exempted sugar in the country.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies had sent a letter to the Ministry of Finance in July seeking permission to proceed with the process to import 60,000 metric tons of sugar with customs exemption, especially for the festive season. However, the Ministry of Finance did not respond to the letter.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">The STC and FMTC could not import sugar before Dashain due to the delay in getting approval for import. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">In mid-September, the Finance Ministry granted permission to the Salt Trading Corporation and Food Management and Trading Company to import 20,000 tons of sugar at 50 percent customs exepmtion. Although Salt Trading Corporation and Food Management and Trading Company were assigned the responsibility to import 10,000 tons of sugar each, both these companies have admitted that they will not be able to import sugar before Dashain.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">Kumar Rajbhandari, spokesperson of the Salt Trading Corporation, said that it is certain that subsidized sugar cannot be brought before Dashain. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">He blamed the Finance Ministry for giving approval to purchase sugar when it was already too late.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">He said that a 15-day notice was issued to import sugar on a fast-track basis and a company was also selected but it was not possible to bring sugar because India did not supply sugar. According to Rajbhandari, it would be too expensive to bring sugar from other countries.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">At present, India has not exported sugar to other countries, due to which the price of sugar has become expensive in the international market. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">“When we bring it from other countries, we have to sell it here at a high price. That is why we have reached the decision not to bring sugar for now," he said.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">The FMTC had issued a 45-day notice which will expire after mid-November. By that time, the festival of Dashain will already have finished. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">With the start of the festive season, the government took the initiative to bring 50,000 metric tons of sugar from India through the G2G (Government to Government) process, but it was not successful. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">Meanwhile, India banned sugar exports a few months ago after the price of sugar started increasing in its domestic market. India is one of the top sugar exporting countries in the world.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">According to Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Ramesh Rijal, Nepal had written to India in mid-July asking for 100,000 tons of rice, 50,000 tons of sugar and 5,000 tons of paddy. India has not yet sent a reply. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">“We requested food grains from India to prevent shortage in our market. However, India has not given any response,” said the minister, adding, “A few weeks ago, we again took a diplomatic initiative with the Indian government. The Indian side agreed to supply sugar but it is not certain when.”</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-16', 'modified' => '2023-10-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18997', 'image' => '20231016012240_sugar.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-16 13:21:54', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19268', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Tremor Felt in Sudurpaschim Province ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 16: An earthquake was felt in the hill districts of Sudurpaschim province, including in Baitadi, this morning. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 16: An earthquake was felt in the hill districts of Sudurpaschim province, including in Baitadi, this morning. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Chief of the Earthquake Measurement Centre Surkhet, Bal Bahadur Tamang, said that an earthquake measuring 4.8 on the Richter scale with epicentre at Batan, India, adjoining Darchula district occurred at 9.26 am on Monday. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The District Police Office Baitadi said they have not received any information about the damage so far.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Of late, earthquakes have been occurring frequently in far-western Nepal. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-16', 'modified' => '2023-10-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18996', 'image' => '20231016124037_earth.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-16 12:39:37', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = falsesimplexml_load_file - [internal], line ?? include - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 60 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
Notice (8): Undefined variable: file [APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 133]Code Context// $file = 'http://aabhiyan:QUVLg8Wzs2F7G9N7@nepalstock.com.np/api/subindexdata.xml';if(!$xml = simplexml_load_file($file)){$viewFile = '/var/www/html/newbusinessage.com/app/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'articles' => array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ) ), 'current_user' => null, 'logged_in' => false ) $articles = array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19283', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NEPSE Index Gains 13.18 Points to Close at 1864.62 Points', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'The Nepal Stock Exchange(NEPSE) Index gained 13.18 points or 0.71% and closed at 1864.62 on the third trading day of the week today.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">October 17: The Nepal Stock Exchange(NEPSE) Index gained 13.18 points or 0.71% and closed at 1864.62 on the third trading day of the week today. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Experienced investors and stock analysts attribute today’s market gains to the reduction of interest rates by banks and financial institutions.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">As many as 289 scrips were traded in the NEPSE and a total of 3,813,233 shares exchanged their hands through 45,456 transactions, amounting to Rs 1 billion.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> Hathway Investment Nepal Limited (HATHY) has the highest turnover of Rs 4.62 crores, closing at a market price of Rs 284 per share. Similarly, NIBL Pragati Fund (NIBLPF) experienced the highest gain of 7.35%, closing at a market price of Rs 9.20.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Hathway Investment Nepal Limited (HATHY) witnessed the highest loss of 8.53%, closing at a market price of Rs 284 per share.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In terms of sector indices, Finance Index gained the highest 1.30%, while Trading Index lost the highest 1.25%.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Similarly, Sensitive Index gained 0.86% while Float Index and Sensitive Float Index experienced a gain of 0.78% and 0.94% respectively. </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-17', 'modified' => '2023-10-17', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '19010', 'image' => '20231017040759_collage (26).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-17 16:06:49', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19281', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Remittance Inflow Rs 228 Billion in Two Months ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 17: Nepal received remittances worth Rs 228 billion in the first two months of the current fiscal year 2023/24. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 17: Nepal received remittances worth Rs 228 billion in the first two months of the current fiscal year 2023/24. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the Current Macroeconomic and Financial Situation Report of Nepal based on the statistics until the 17th of September, 2023, unveiled by Nepal Rastra Bank on Tuesday, the remittance inflow increased by 22.1 percent in this period and reached Rs 228. 37 billion. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The remittance inflow during the corresponding period last year had increased by 19.8 percent. In US dollars terms, the remittance inflow grew by 17.7 percent to reach 1. 73 billion. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The number of Nepalis taking labour permit for foreign employment until September 17, 2023 of the current fiscal year beginning July 17 decreased by 28.3 percent to 74,455. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, the number of Nepalis renewing their work permit for foreign employment stood at 32,004, a decrease of 18.3 percent. In the previous fiscal year, this number had increased by 70.6 percent, the NRB stated in the report. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-17', 'modified' => '2023-10-17', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '19009', 'image' => '20231017031249_Remittance.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-17 15:12:05', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19280', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'One Fourth of NEA Customers Pay Electricity Bills Online', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 17: Around one-fourth of the customers of Nepal Electricity Authority are found to be paying the electricity bills through online medium.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">October 17: Around one-fourth of the customers of Nepal Electricity Authority are found to be paying the electricity bills through online medium.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">While the NEA has been saying that it is running a campaign to make its service delivery technology-friendly, it has been found that only 28 percent of the total service seekers pay online.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Manoj Silwal, deputy executive director of the NEA, revealed this information during a recent interaction with the private sector. Silwal also claimed that the NEA is making its service delivery based on technology.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The NEA’s customers have been paying the fee through 10 different types of wallets. At present, the NEA has made arrangements for online payment of electricity bills up to Rs 500,000 through digital wallets.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Customers who have to pay more than that amount are required to visit the NEA’s counter. Silwal said, “Now we are preparing to increase the limit of Rs 500,000. Then this complaint will also be resolved.”</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He said that the NEA is promoting online services to adress the complaints of customers who have experienced unnecessary hassles from the employees while taking services and to maintain transparency.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-17', 'modified' => '2023-10-17', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '19008', 'image' => '20231017030815_20230913111412_NEA_20191104081559.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-17 15:07:44', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19279', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'DDC to Provide Discounts on its Products during the Festive Season', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 17: The government has announced discounts on milk products produced by the state-owned Dairy Development Corporation (DDC).', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">October 17: The government has announced discounts on milk products produced by the state-owned Dairy Development Corporation (DDC). The government made such an arrangement so that the consumers can consume milk products at concessional prices during the festive season.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development held a press conference on Monday and informed about the discounts on dairy products. According to the ministry, there is a discount of Rs 2 per liter on the price of standard milk of 1 liter pouch. Now, the one-litre milk has been priced at Rs 97. The price per packet of half a liter of standard milk, which was earlier Rs 50, has now been fixed at Rs 49.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The ministry informed that the consumers will be given a discount of Rs 20 per liter on yoghurt. Currently, the price of DDC yoghurt is Rs 190 per litre. Now, it will be available for Rs 170. The government has decided to give the maximum discount on Yak butter. As per the decision, customers can avail a discount of Rs 150 rupees on Yak butter, which costs Rs 1250 per kilogram. Similarly, the ministry said that 500 grams of cottage cheese worth Rs 500, as well as butter which costs Rs 1100 per kilogram, and 250 grams of table butter worth Rs 400 will all get discount of Rs 50 each.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">There will be a discount of Rs 100 on DDC ghee worth Rs 1200 per kg. A packet of DDC sweets worth Rs 290 will now be available at Rs 280. Similarly, 500 grams of yak cheese priced at Rs 960 will be cheaper by Rs 60, while 500 grams of Kanchan cheese priced at Rs 810 will be discounted by Rs 50 and fresh milk of 200 ml bottles priced at Rs 75 will be discounted by Rs 5. Speaking at the press conference, Agriculture and Livestock Development Minister Dr Beduram Bhusal said that the ministry decided to give a discount on dairy products to control the increase in the sale of unhealthy fish and meat and dairy products during the festive period and to control the arbitrary price hike in market. He also added that the livestock market is being monitored through the agencies under the ministry.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-17', 'modified' => '2023-10-17', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '19007', 'image' => '20231017021509_20220211081950_20220203111904_20220121121357_20200423093954_1542865405_16685959.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-17 14:14:22', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19278', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Valley Police Office Urges Public to Take Measures for Safe Celebrations during Festivals ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 17: The Kathmandu Valley Police Office has urged the citizens to stay safe during the festivals and contribute to creating a secure atmosphere for the family, community and the entire city. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 17: The Kathmandu Valley Police Office has urged the citizens to stay safe during the festivals and contribute to creating a secure atmosphere for the family, community and the entire city. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Issuing a 10-point appeal for the Valley denizens on Tuesday, the police urged one and all to join hands in the campaign for the 'Safe Kathmandu Valley'. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Valley Police Office Spokesperson Senior Superintendent of Police, Dinesh Raj Mainali, said they expect the public to remain alert to the possibilities of untoward incidents during the festive period. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He advised the people not to entertain the company of strangers during travel and not to accept food and drinks offered by strangers. Such food items may be tainted. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Valley Police Office further appealed to the Valley denizens to not join a crowd, possess cash, valuable gadgets, jewelries and expensive mobile phone sets. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, people have been urged to ensure that the doors, windows and entrances of houses are properly locked while going out. If possible, people are urged to use siren-fixed locks. If anyone has to go outside the home or shut the shops for long time during the festivals, they are advised to inform it to the neighbours and the local police. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The public have been advised to make monetary transactions digitally and to keep the password of mobile banking confidential. Likewise, they have been urged to not post personal details and update travel details on social sites. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The office has warned the general public of the consequences of gambling, playing cards and dice, drunk-driving and the violation of traffic rules. It has urged the people to confidently observe the festivals, assuring of a sound security with the mobilization of sniffer dogs and drones. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-17', 'modified' => '2023-10-17', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '19006', 'image' => '20231017011824_20230621110115_Kathmandu Valley.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-17 13:17:44', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19277', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'DPM Shrestha in Beijing to attend Belt and Road Forum ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 17: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs, Narayan Kaji Shrestha, reached Beijing on Monday evening to attend the 3rd Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation at the invitation of Chinese Minister of Ecology and Environment, Wang Xiaohong. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 17: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs, Narayan Kaji Shrestha, reached Beijing on Monday evening to attend the 3rd Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation at the invitation of Chinese Minister of Ecology and Environment, Wang Xiaohong. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">DPM Shrestha was welcomed by Ambassador of Nepal to China, Bishnu Pukar Shrestha, and high-level officials of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment of China, according to a press release issued by Nepal’s Embassy in China. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">DPM Shrestha will be attending the opening ceremony of the 3rd Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. He will address the high-level forum on Green Development “Green Silk Road for Harmony with Nature” at the National Convention Center on October 18. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He is scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with Chinese Minister of Emergency Management, Wang Xiangsi; and Member of the Secretariat of Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, Wang Xiaohong, during his stay in Beijing. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, DPM Shrestha will also meet Chinese Minister for International Department, Liu Jianchao. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Nepali delegation led by DPM Shrestha will return to Kathmandu on October 20, the press release added. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-17', 'modified' => '2023-10-17', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '19005', 'image' => '20231017124429_20231011113404_20201117123742_88500034 2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-17 12:43:45', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19276', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'China Prepares for BRI Summit under Shadow of Israel-Gaza War ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 17: China on Monday prepared to host representatives of 130 countries for a forum that will be overshadowed by the Israel-Gaza war, as an increasingly assertive Beijing is asked to help de-escalate the violence. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 17: China on Monday prepared to host representatives of 130 countries for a forum that will be overshadowed by the Israel-Gaza war, as an increasingly assertive Beijing is asked to help de-escalate the violence. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">At the top of the invite list to China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) forum is Russia's President Vladimir Putin, on his first trip to a major global power since the Ukraine invasion threw his regime into international isolation. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Leaders have begun to trickle into the Chinese capital for a gala event marking a decade of the BRI -- a key project of President Xi Jinping to extend China's global reach. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">While China hopes the forum will help boost its standing as a leading global power, Israel's war with Palestinian militant organisation Hamas will continue to dominate the headlines. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Israel declared war on the Islamist group after waves of its fighters broke through the heavily fortified border on October 7, shooting, stabbing and burning to death more than 1,400 people, most of them civilians. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Under heavy Israeli bombardment of the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip, more than one million people have fled their homes in scenes of chaos and despair. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Israel's bombing has left at least 2,670 people dead in Gaza, mainly civilians, and flattened entire neighbourhoods. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi has condemned Israel's actions for going "beyond the scope of self-defence" and called for it to "cease its collective punishment of the people of Gaza". </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"(Israel) should listen earnestly to the calls of the international community and the UN secretary general, and cease its collective punishment of the people of Gaza," Wang said Sunday, in what is the strongest stance China has expressed so far on the conflict. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Beijing has been criticised by Western officials for not specifically naming Hamas in its statements on the Israel-Gaza conflict. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Wang had on Sunday spoken with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who called on China to use its "influence" in the Middle East to push for calm. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">China has a warm relationship with Iran, whose clerical leadership supports both Hamas and Hezbollah, the Lebanese militant group that could open a second front against Israel. Earlier this year, China brokered an entente between former regional foes Iran and Saudi Arabia. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Beijing's special envoy Zhai Jun will visit the Middle East this week to push for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict and promote peace talks, China's state broadcaster CCTV said on Sunday, without specifying which countries he would visit. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Niva Yau, a nonresident fellow with the Atlantic Council's Global China Hub, told AFP the BRI summit would allow Beijing to frame attendance as a gesture of support for its position. "Any head of state that attends the summit, it's almost as if they agree with Beijing's positions on these global issues," she said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif""><strong>Strategic dependence </strong> </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A number of leaders have already arrived in Beijing ahead of the two-day forum, which kicks off Tuesday. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Among them are Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, Chilean President Gabriel Boric, Kenyan President William Ruto and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">On Monday Russia's top diplomat Sergei Lavrov flew into Beijing and within hours held talks with China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Putin -- whose strategic dependence on China has only grown since his invasion of neighbouring Ukraine thrust his country into international isolation -- was expected to arrive overnight. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">This year, trade between China and Russia has soared to levels not seen since the beginning of Moscow's war in Ukraine, with Chinese imports of Russian oil offering Moscow a critical lifeline as international sanctions bite. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">China has refused to condemn the Ukraine war in an effort to position itself as a neutral party, while at the same time offering Moscow vital diplomatic and financial support. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">At the heart of the deepening partnership is the relationship between Xi and Putin, who have described each other as "dear friends". </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Their alliance is also forged by a symbiotic necessity, each seeing the other as a necessary bulwark in their shared struggle against Western dominance. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In an interview with Chinese state broadcaster CGTN ahead of his visit this week, Putin hailed ties with Beijing and the "mutual benefits" of the BRI. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"President Putin pointed out that a multipolar world is taking shape, and the concepts and initiatives put forward by President Xi Jinping are highly relevant and significant," CGTN reported. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"He stated that President Xi Jinping is a well-recognised leader on the world stage and is a true world leader," it said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Putin also reportedly "shared pleasant memories between President Xi and him, and hoped tradition continues when they meet in China in the future." -- AFP/RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-17', 'modified' => '2023-10-17', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '19004', 'image' => '20231017112944_XxjpbeE007202_20231016_PEPFN1A001.JPG', 'article_date' => '2023-10-17 11:28:31', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19275', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Untimely Rainfall Disappoints Farmers ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 17: The untimely rainfall has disappointed farmers in Kailali district. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 17: The untimely rainfall has disappointed farmers in Kailali district. The rainfall which occurred since Monday afternoon upset farmers as they were about to harvest rice. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">They are worried how they would harvest rice safely amidst such erratic weather. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A farmer from Tikapur, Nirmal BK, said the paddy they harvested and spread to dry in the field has become wet due to the ill-timed rainfall.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"I waited for a tractor to collect the crop, but it did not come. The rainfall drenched the rice. The storm has further strewn it. If the rainfall continues, the crop will perish in the field," he shared his plight. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, another farmer Padam Oli shared that paddy is ripe in the field. He did not harvest the paddy, worrying about storms on Monday, but the rains coupled with storm damaged the ripe paddy. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"If the rainfall does not stop, it certainly damages the crop," he said, wondering, "Why does rainfall occur when it is time to harvest rice?" </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Most of the farmers in Kailali district are upset, reasoning rainfall occurs when they are ready to harvest rice. They experienced it for three years. It has resulted in loss of production. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"In 2078 BS, the floods triggered by the rainfall swept away the harvest time rice. Last year, we were able to save half of the crops," said Hari Chaudhary, adding, "We have not harvested rice due to erratic weather. The storm coupled with rainfall has damaged half the yield this year too. The adverse weather is a bane for farmers.” </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Another farmer Parbati Chaudhari said that the paddy harvested and spread to dry in the field was damaged due to the sudden change in weather. “Only half of the crop remained,” she added. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Meanwhile, Tikapur Municipality and Janaki Rural Municipality have suggested the farmers to wait for some days to harvest rice. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-17', 'modified' => '2023-10-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '19003', 'image' => '20231018110312_SureshAcharya_Surkhet_RSS_30_20231017_064031.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-17 11:03:37', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19274', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Collective Efforts Essential to Improve Economy: Finance Minister Mahat', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Finance Minister Dr. Prakash Sharan Mahat emphasized the importance of collective efforts to improve the country's economy. He stressed that relying solely on government initiatives would not be sufficient for economic improvement.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">October 17: Finance Minister Dr. Prakash Sharan Mahat emphasized the importance of collective efforts to improve the country's economy. </span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">He stressed that relying solely on government initiatives would not be sufficient for economic improvement. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">During an inauguration of the Female Economic Journalists Association (FEJA) in Kathmandu, Minister Mahat expressed need for support from all sectors to boost the economy. </span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Minister Mahat said the gradual signs of economic improvement in the country but stressed that the efforts of the government and the Finance Ministry alone were inadequate. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">He called for a joint commitment from all stakeholders to work towards economic enhancement, assuring that the Finance Ministry was prepared to address any obstacles hindering progress.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> Minister Mahat emphasized the importance of empowering women for the socio-economic development of the nation, highlighting the increased participation of women in various sectors, such as health and education, following the adoption of the concept of inclusive development.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Likewise, Sharmila Thakuri, Chair of FEJA, stated that FEJA's establishment is aimed at playing a coordinating role in the skill and capacity development of women journalists working in economic beat. (RSS) </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-17', 'modified' => '2023-10-17', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '19002', 'image' => '20231017055331_collage (13).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-17 05:51:37', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19273', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NEPSE’s Downfall Continues', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'The Nepal Stock(NEPSE) Index lost 23.16 points or 1.23%, closing at 1851.43 points on the first trading day of the week, Sunday.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">October 16: The Nepal Stock(NEPSE) Index lost 23.16 points or 1.23%, closing at 1851.43 points on the first trading day of the week, Sunday.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Experienced investors and stock analysts have attributed today's market loss to the impending Dashain festival. According to one investor, NEPSE experienced selling pressure as the Dashain festival draws near.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">During today's trading, 284 different stocks were traded in 69,832 transactions in the NEPSE. A total of 4,837,893 units of shares exchanged their hands, amounting to Rs 1.25 billion.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Prabhu Bank Limited Promoter Share (PRVUPO) had the highest turnover, reaching Rs. 6.24 crores, and closed at a market price of Rs. 108.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Similarly, Siddhartha Premier Insurance Limited (SPIL) recorded the highest gain of 7.87% today. </span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">On the flip side, Sayapatri Hydropower Limited (SPHL) and Hathway Investment Nepal Limited (HATHY) witnessed the highest loss of 10%. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In terms of sector indices, all indices closed in the red territory. "Life Insurance Index" lost the highest 2.09% while "Manufacturing And Processing" lost the least of 0.57% for today.</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-16', 'modified' => '2023-10-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '19001', 'image' => '20231016051813_collage (24).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-16 17:16:51', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19272', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NRB Neglects Maintaining Interest Rate Corridor', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 16: Nepal Rastra Bank has neglected the implementation of the interest rate corridor, which was started with the aim of maintaining interest rate stability by minimizing short-term interest rate fluctuations.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">October 16: Nepal Rastra Bank has neglected the implementation of the interest rate corridor, which was started with the aim of maintaining interest rate stability by minimizing short-term interest rate fluctuations.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The main objective of the interest corridor is to keep the interbank interest rate within a certain limit. However, even though the interbank interest rate has fallen below the limit since the last one month, NRB has not used monetary instruments to maintain the interest rate.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">NRB has set the target of keeping the average interbank interest rate higher than the bank rate and lower than the deposit collection rate in the monetary policy of the current financial year (FY). There is a provision in the policy to use various monetary tools to keep the interbank interest rate in the middle while keeping the upper limit of the interest rate corridor at 7.5 percent and the lower limit at 4.5 percent.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">However, even though the interbank interest rate has fallen below the monetary policy target since September 13, NRB has not used monetary instruments to draw liquidity from the market to increase the interest rate. In the monetary policy, it is mentioned that if the interest rate is higher or lower than the target, secondary market transactions and deposit collection will be opened.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">On September 13, the interbank interest rate fell to 4.14 percent. Since then, the interbank interest rate, which has been below the limit, remained at 1.90 percent even on Wednesday, October 11. Meanwhile, on October 6, the interbank interest rate had dropped to 1.79 percent.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the data of NRB, the average credit to deposit ratio (CD ratio) of banks on October 10 was 81.86 percent. As the banks are allowed to give loans by maintaining CD radio up to 90%, they still have the capacity to extend loans of around Rs 475 billion.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">However, banks have been saying that there is no demand for loans due to high interest rates and weak economy. Due to high liquidity in banks due to lack of demand for loans, the interbank interest rate has fallen below the lower limit of the corridor.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Due to the fall in interest rates, the government also emphasized on raising domestic debt. The government changed the schedule to collect loans when interest rates fell. Anil Sharma, Chief Executive Officer of Nepal Bankers' Association says that the interbank interest rate decreased after the government allowed the amount of local level accumulated funds to be counted as deposits, and at the same time, the government also raised internal loans.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">NRB Deputy Spokesperson Dr. Dilliram Pokharel says that the current interest rate is of a short-term nature and that monetary instruments were not used because the government insisted on raising internal debt.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-16', 'modified' => '2023-10-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '19000', 'image' => '20231016034603_Nepal_Rastra_Bank2 2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-16 15:45:08', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19271', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NEA Gets 'Double A Plus' Credit Rating ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 16: The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has once again received the 'Double A Plus' credit rating.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 16: The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has once again received the 'Double A Plus' credit rating. ICRA Nepal Ltd, a credit rating agency in Nepal, has granted the 'ICRA NP Double A Plus' to the NEA, the state-owned entity. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The recipients of this rating are considered to have a high degree of safety regarding timely servicing of financial obligations. They carry very low credit risk. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The financial status of NEA, assets, business and financial risks, managerial capacity, internal and external environmental factors affecting operational effectiveness were assessed by the ICRA Nepal before assigning an issuer rating of Double A Plus to the organisation. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Credit ratings serve as a tool for assessing the creditworthiness of both individuals and organizations and for expressing opinion. They provide opinions on an entity's ability to meet its debt obligations, presenting a clear and simple indicator about related financial risks. According to ICRA Nepal, the rating is only an opinion on the general creditworthiness of the rated entity and is not specific to any debt instrument. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">NEA Managing Director Kulman Ghising said the NEA has bagged the 'Double A Plus' credit rating from among the public entities, presenting its high-level of capacity to bear financial obligations. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-16', 'modified' => '2023-10-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18999', 'image' => '20231016030910_20230913111412_NEA_20191104081559.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-16 15:08:28', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19270', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Govt Preparing to Set Up an Industrial Zone in Simara SEZ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 16: A new industrial zone is going to be built on the land of the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Bara's Simara.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">October 16: A new industrial zone is going to be built on the land of the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Bara's Simara. The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supply is preparing to set up a new industrial zone in the SEZ.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Ramesh Rijal said in an interaction with the entrepreneurs that an industrial zone will be built on 400 bighas of land in the D and E blocks of Simara SEZ.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Senior Vice President of Birgunj Chamber of Commerce and Industries, Hari Gautam, informed NBA that Minister Rijal revealed the plan during a visit to Simara to discuss about the industrial sector.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“A proposal for the new industrial zone will be submitted to the Council of Ministers after Dashain. Once the proposal is passed by the Council of Ministers, the construction of the industrial zone will proceed," said Gautam, quoting Minister Rijal.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">SEZ has prepared structures in three of out of five blocks. Gautam said that getting land for new industries is becoming difficult in the Bara-Parsa Industrial Corridor, and that the entrepreneurs are excited about the preparation of a new industrial zone. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies had commissioned the Industrial Area Management Limited to conduct a feasibility study for the establishment of an industrial zone. The ministry said that the body has submitted a report with the conclusion that Simara is the most suitable place for establishing an industrial zone. It is mentioned in the report that the location is best for the industrial sector due to its infrastructure, and proximity to the seaport, and access to expressway.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Industrial Area Management Limited and the SEZ Authority Board of Directors have approved the proposal for the construction of the industrial zone. As entrepreneurs are not attracted to SEZs, there is a demand to make SEZs an industrial zone. Although the industries have been invited to SEZ's A, B and C blocks, the entrepreneurs are not excited.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Rijal also said that preparations are being made to reduce the mandatory export limit from 60 per cent to 30 per cent for the industries operating in SEZ. The minister informed that the rent of SEZ will also be reduced from Rs 20 to Rs 10 per square meter. This measure has been adopted to attract industries to SEZ. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-16', 'modified' => '2023-10-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18998', 'image' => '20231016021527_1697423282.2023-10-16 08.13.02.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-16 14:14:44', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19269', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Fails to Import Sugar Before Dashain', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 16: The government has failed in its efforts to supply duty-free sugar to the consumers before Dashain. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">October 16: The government has failed in its efforts to supply duty-free sugar to the consumers before Dashain. The government was unable to import sugar before Dashain as India did not show any interest to supply sugar to Nepal through the G2G process. Another reason for the failure was the delay in granting permission to import sugar to the Salt Trading Corporation (STC) and the Food Management and Trading Company (FMTC), which are responsible for the import and distribution of duty exempted sugar in the country.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies had sent a letter to the Ministry of Finance in July seeking permission to proceed with the process to import 60,000 metric tons of sugar with customs exemption, especially for the festive season. However, the Ministry of Finance did not respond to the letter.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">The STC and FMTC could not import sugar before Dashain due to the delay in getting approval for import. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">In mid-September, the Finance Ministry granted permission to the Salt Trading Corporation and Food Management and Trading Company to import 20,000 tons of sugar at 50 percent customs exepmtion. Although Salt Trading Corporation and Food Management and Trading Company were assigned the responsibility to import 10,000 tons of sugar each, both these companies have admitted that they will not be able to import sugar before Dashain.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">Kumar Rajbhandari, spokesperson of the Salt Trading Corporation, said that it is certain that subsidized sugar cannot be brought before Dashain. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">He blamed the Finance Ministry for giving approval to purchase sugar when it was already too late.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">He said that a 15-day notice was issued to import sugar on a fast-track basis and a company was also selected but it was not possible to bring sugar because India did not supply sugar. According to Rajbhandari, it would be too expensive to bring sugar from other countries.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">At present, India has not exported sugar to other countries, due to which the price of sugar has become expensive in the international market. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">“When we bring it from other countries, we have to sell it here at a high price. That is why we have reached the decision not to bring sugar for now," he said.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">The FMTC had issued a 45-day notice which will expire after mid-November. By that time, the festival of Dashain will already have finished. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">With the start of the festive season, the government took the initiative to bring 50,000 metric tons of sugar from India through the G2G (Government to Government) process, but it was not successful. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">Meanwhile, India banned sugar exports a few months ago after the price of sugar started increasing in its domestic market. India is one of the top sugar exporting countries in the world.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">According to Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Ramesh Rijal, Nepal had written to India in mid-July asking for 100,000 tons of rice, 50,000 tons of sugar and 5,000 tons of paddy. India has not yet sent a reply. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">“We requested food grains from India to prevent shortage in our market. However, India has not given any response,” said the minister, adding, “A few weeks ago, we again took a diplomatic initiative with the Indian government. The Indian side agreed to supply sugar but it is not certain when.”</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-16', 'modified' => '2023-10-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18997', 'image' => '20231016012240_sugar.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-16 13:21:54', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19268', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Tremor Felt in Sudurpaschim Province ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 16: An earthquake was felt in the hill districts of Sudurpaschim province, including in Baitadi, this morning. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 16: An earthquake was felt in the hill districts of Sudurpaschim province, including in Baitadi, this morning. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Chief of the Earthquake Measurement Centre Surkhet, Bal Bahadur Tamang, said that an earthquake measuring 4.8 on the Richter scale with epicentre at Batan, India, adjoining Darchula district occurred at 9.26 am on Monday. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The District Police Office Baitadi said they have not received any information about the damage so far.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Of late, earthquakes have been occurring frequently in far-western Nepal. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-16', 'modified' => '2023-10-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18996', 'image' => '20231016124037_earth.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-16 12:39:37', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = false $xml = falseinclude - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 133 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
Warning (2): simplexml_load_file() [<a href='http://php.net/function.simplexml-load-file'>function.simplexml-load-file</a>]: I/O warning : failed to load external entity "" [APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 133]file not found!Code Context// $file = 'http://aabhiyan:QUVLg8Wzs2F7G9N7@nepalstock.com.np/api/subindexdata.xml';if(!$xml = simplexml_load_file($file)){$viewFile = '/var/www/html/newbusinessage.com/app/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'articles' => array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ) ), 'current_user' => null, 'logged_in' => false ) $articles = array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19283', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NEPSE Index Gains 13.18 Points to Close at 1864.62 Points', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'The Nepal Stock Exchange(NEPSE) Index gained 13.18 points or 0.71% and closed at 1864.62 on the third trading day of the week today.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">October 17: The Nepal Stock Exchange(NEPSE) Index gained 13.18 points or 0.71% and closed at 1864.62 on the third trading day of the week today. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Experienced investors and stock analysts attribute today’s market gains to the reduction of interest rates by banks and financial institutions.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">As many as 289 scrips were traded in the NEPSE and a total of 3,813,233 shares exchanged their hands through 45,456 transactions, amounting to Rs 1 billion.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> Hathway Investment Nepal Limited (HATHY) has the highest turnover of Rs 4.62 crores, closing at a market price of Rs 284 per share. Similarly, NIBL Pragati Fund (NIBLPF) experienced the highest gain of 7.35%, closing at a market price of Rs 9.20.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Hathway Investment Nepal Limited (HATHY) witnessed the highest loss of 8.53%, closing at a market price of Rs 284 per share.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In terms of sector indices, Finance Index gained the highest 1.30%, while Trading Index lost the highest 1.25%.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Similarly, Sensitive Index gained 0.86% while Float Index and Sensitive Float Index experienced a gain of 0.78% and 0.94% respectively. </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-17', 'modified' => '2023-10-17', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '19010', 'image' => '20231017040759_collage (26).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-17 16:06:49', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19281', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Remittance Inflow Rs 228 Billion in Two Months ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 17: Nepal received remittances worth Rs 228 billion in the first two months of the current fiscal year 2023/24. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 17: Nepal received remittances worth Rs 228 billion in the first two months of the current fiscal year 2023/24. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the Current Macroeconomic and Financial Situation Report of Nepal based on the statistics until the 17th of September, 2023, unveiled by Nepal Rastra Bank on Tuesday, the remittance inflow increased by 22.1 percent in this period and reached Rs 228. 37 billion. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The remittance inflow during the corresponding period last year had increased by 19.8 percent. In US dollars terms, the remittance inflow grew by 17.7 percent to reach 1. 73 billion. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The number of Nepalis taking labour permit for foreign employment until September 17, 2023 of the current fiscal year beginning July 17 decreased by 28.3 percent to 74,455. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, the number of Nepalis renewing their work permit for foreign employment stood at 32,004, a decrease of 18.3 percent. In the previous fiscal year, this number had increased by 70.6 percent, the NRB stated in the report. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-17', 'modified' => '2023-10-17', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '19009', 'image' => '20231017031249_Remittance.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-17 15:12:05', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19280', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'One Fourth of NEA Customers Pay Electricity Bills Online', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 17: Around one-fourth of the customers of Nepal Electricity Authority are found to be paying the electricity bills through online medium.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">October 17: Around one-fourth of the customers of Nepal Electricity Authority are found to be paying the electricity bills through online medium.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">While the NEA has been saying that it is running a campaign to make its service delivery technology-friendly, it has been found that only 28 percent of the total service seekers pay online.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Manoj Silwal, deputy executive director of the NEA, revealed this information during a recent interaction with the private sector. Silwal also claimed that the NEA is making its service delivery based on technology.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The NEA’s customers have been paying the fee through 10 different types of wallets. At present, the NEA has made arrangements for online payment of electricity bills up to Rs 500,000 through digital wallets.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Customers who have to pay more than that amount are required to visit the NEA’s counter. Silwal said, “Now we are preparing to increase the limit of Rs 500,000. Then this complaint will also be resolved.”</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He said that the NEA is promoting online services to adress the complaints of customers who have experienced unnecessary hassles from the employees while taking services and to maintain transparency.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-17', 'modified' => '2023-10-17', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '19008', 'image' => '20231017030815_20230913111412_NEA_20191104081559.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-17 15:07:44', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19279', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'DDC to Provide Discounts on its Products during the Festive Season', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 17: The government has announced discounts on milk products produced by the state-owned Dairy Development Corporation (DDC).', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">October 17: The government has announced discounts on milk products produced by the state-owned Dairy Development Corporation (DDC). The government made such an arrangement so that the consumers can consume milk products at concessional prices during the festive season.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development held a press conference on Monday and informed about the discounts on dairy products. According to the ministry, there is a discount of Rs 2 per liter on the price of standard milk of 1 liter pouch. Now, the one-litre milk has been priced at Rs 97. The price per packet of half a liter of standard milk, which was earlier Rs 50, has now been fixed at Rs 49.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The ministry informed that the consumers will be given a discount of Rs 20 per liter on yoghurt. Currently, the price of DDC yoghurt is Rs 190 per litre. Now, it will be available for Rs 170. The government has decided to give the maximum discount on Yak butter. As per the decision, customers can avail a discount of Rs 150 rupees on Yak butter, which costs Rs 1250 per kilogram. Similarly, the ministry said that 500 grams of cottage cheese worth Rs 500, as well as butter which costs Rs 1100 per kilogram, and 250 grams of table butter worth Rs 400 will all get discount of Rs 50 each.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">There will be a discount of Rs 100 on DDC ghee worth Rs 1200 per kg. A packet of DDC sweets worth Rs 290 will now be available at Rs 280. Similarly, 500 grams of yak cheese priced at Rs 960 will be cheaper by Rs 60, while 500 grams of Kanchan cheese priced at Rs 810 will be discounted by Rs 50 and fresh milk of 200 ml bottles priced at Rs 75 will be discounted by Rs 5. Speaking at the press conference, Agriculture and Livestock Development Minister Dr Beduram Bhusal said that the ministry decided to give a discount on dairy products to control the increase in the sale of unhealthy fish and meat and dairy products during the festive period and to control the arbitrary price hike in market. He also added that the livestock market is being monitored through the agencies under the ministry.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-17', 'modified' => '2023-10-17', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '19007', 'image' => '20231017021509_20220211081950_20220203111904_20220121121357_20200423093954_1542865405_16685959.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-17 14:14:22', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19278', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Valley Police Office Urges Public to Take Measures for Safe Celebrations during Festivals ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 17: The Kathmandu Valley Police Office has urged the citizens to stay safe during the festivals and contribute to creating a secure atmosphere for the family, community and the entire city. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 17: The Kathmandu Valley Police Office has urged the citizens to stay safe during the festivals and contribute to creating a secure atmosphere for the family, community and the entire city. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Issuing a 10-point appeal for the Valley denizens on Tuesday, the police urged one and all to join hands in the campaign for the 'Safe Kathmandu Valley'. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Valley Police Office Spokesperson Senior Superintendent of Police, Dinesh Raj Mainali, said they expect the public to remain alert to the possibilities of untoward incidents during the festive period. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He advised the people not to entertain the company of strangers during travel and not to accept food and drinks offered by strangers. Such food items may be tainted. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Valley Police Office further appealed to the Valley denizens to not join a crowd, possess cash, valuable gadgets, jewelries and expensive mobile phone sets. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, people have been urged to ensure that the doors, windows and entrances of houses are properly locked while going out. If possible, people are urged to use siren-fixed locks. If anyone has to go outside the home or shut the shops for long time during the festivals, they are advised to inform it to the neighbours and the local police. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The public have been advised to make monetary transactions digitally and to keep the password of mobile banking confidential. Likewise, they have been urged to not post personal details and update travel details on social sites. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The office has warned the general public of the consequences of gambling, playing cards and dice, drunk-driving and the violation of traffic rules. It has urged the people to confidently observe the festivals, assuring of a sound security with the mobilization of sniffer dogs and drones. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-17', 'modified' => '2023-10-17', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '19006', 'image' => '20231017011824_20230621110115_Kathmandu Valley.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-17 13:17:44', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19277', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'DPM Shrestha in Beijing to attend Belt and Road Forum ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 17: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs, Narayan Kaji Shrestha, reached Beijing on Monday evening to attend the 3rd Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation at the invitation of Chinese Minister of Ecology and Environment, Wang Xiaohong. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 17: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs, Narayan Kaji Shrestha, reached Beijing on Monday evening to attend the 3rd Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation at the invitation of Chinese Minister of Ecology and Environment, Wang Xiaohong. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">DPM Shrestha was welcomed by Ambassador of Nepal to China, Bishnu Pukar Shrestha, and high-level officials of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment of China, according to a press release issued by Nepal’s Embassy in China. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">DPM Shrestha will be attending the opening ceremony of the 3rd Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. He will address the high-level forum on Green Development “Green Silk Road for Harmony with Nature” at the National Convention Center on October 18. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He is scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with Chinese Minister of Emergency Management, Wang Xiangsi; and Member of the Secretariat of Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, Wang Xiaohong, during his stay in Beijing. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, DPM Shrestha will also meet Chinese Minister for International Department, Liu Jianchao. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Nepali delegation led by DPM Shrestha will return to Kathmandu on October 20, the press release added. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-17', 'modified' => '2023-10-17', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '19005', 'image' => '20231017124429_20231011113404_20201117123742_88500034 2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-17 12:43:45', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19276', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'China Prepares for BRI Summit under Shadow of Israel-Gaza War ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 17: China on Monday prepared to host representatives of 130 countries for a forum that will be overshadowed by the Israel-Gaza war, as an increasingly assertive Beijing is asked to help de-escalate the violence. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 17: China on Monday prepared to host representatives of 130 countries for a forum that will be overshadowed by the Israel-Gaza war, as an increasingly assertive Beijing is asked to help de-escalate the violence. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">At the top of the invite list to China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) forum is Russia's President Vladimir Putin, on his first trip to a major global power since the Ukraine invasion threw his regime into international isolation. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Leaders have begun to trickle into the Chinese capital for a gala event marking a decade of the BRI -- a key project of President Xi Jinping to extend China's global reach. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">While China hopes the forum will help boost its standing as a leading global power, Israel's war with Palestinian militant organisation Hamas will continue to dominate the headlines. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Israel declared war on the Islamist group after waves of its fighters broke through the heavily fortified border on October 7, shooting, stabbing and burning to death more than 1,400 people, most of them civilians. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Under heavy Israeli bombardment of the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip, more than one million people have fled their homes in scenes of chaos and despair. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Israel's bombing has left at least 2,670 people dead in Gaza, mainly civilians, and flattened entire neighbourhoods. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi has condemned Israel's actions for going "beyond the scope of self-defence" and called for it to "cease its collective punishment of the people of Gaza". </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"(Israel) should listen earnestly to the calls of the international community and the UN secretary general, and cease its collective punishment of the people of Gaza," Wang said Sunday, in what is the strongest stance China has expressed so far on the conflict. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Beijing has been criticised by Western officials for not specifically naming Hamas in its statements on the Israel-Gaza conflict. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Wang had on Sunday spoken with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who called on China to use its "influence" in the Middle East to push for calm. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">China has a warm relationship with Iran, whose clerical leadership supports both Hamas and Hezbollah, the Lebanese militant group that could open a second front against Israel. Earlier this year, China brokered an entente between former regional foes Iran and Saudi Arabia. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Beijing's special envoy Zhai Jun will visit the Middle East this week to push for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict and promote peace talks, China's state broadcaster CCTV said on Sunday, without specifying which countries he would visit. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Niva Yau, a nonresident fellow with the Atlantic Council's Global China Hub, told AFP the BRI summit would allow Beijing to frame attendance as a gesture of support for its position. "Any head of state that attends the summit, it's almost as if they agree with Beijing's positions on these global issues," she said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif""><strong>Strategic dependence </strong> </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A number of leaders have already arrived in Beijing ahead of the two-day forum, which kicks off Tuesday. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Among them are Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, Chilean President Gabriel Boric, Kenyan President William Ruto and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">On Monday Russia's top diplomat Sergei Lavrov flew into Beijing and within hours held talks with China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Putin -- whose strategic dependence on China has only grown since his invasion of neighbouring Ukraine thrust his country into international isolation -- was expected to arrive overnight. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">This year, trade between China and Russia has soared to levels not seen since the beginning of Moscow's war in Ukraine, with Chinese imports of Russian oil offering Moscow a critical lifeline as international sanctions bite. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">China has refused to condemn the Ukraine war in an effort to position itself as a neutral party, while at the same time offering Moscow vital diplomatic and financial support. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">At the heart of the deepening partnership is the relationship between Xi and Putin, who have described each other as "dear friends". </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Their alliance is also forged by a symbiotic necessity, each seeing the other as a necessary bulwark in their shared struggle against Western dominance. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In an interview with Chinese state broadcaster CGTN ahead of his visit this week, Putin hailed ties with Beijing and the "mutual benefits" of the BRI. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"President Putin pointed out that a multipolar world is taking shape, and the concepts and initiatives put forward by President Xi Jinping are highly relevant and significant," CGTN reported. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"He stated that President Xi Jinping is a well-recognised leader on the world stage and is a true world leader," it said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Putin also reportedly "shared pleasant memories between President Xi and him, and hoped tradition continues when they meet in China in the future." -- AFP/RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-17', 'modified' => '2023-10-17', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '19004', 'image' => '20231017112944_XxjpbeE007202_20231016_PEPFN1A001.JPG', 'article_date' => '2023-10-17 11:28:31', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19275', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Untimely Rainfall Disappoints Farmers ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 17: The untimely rainfall has disappointed farmers in Kailali district. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 17: The untimely rainfall has disappointed farmers in Kailali district. The rainfall which occurred since Monday afternoon upset farmers as they were about to harvest rice. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">They are worried how they would harvest rice safely amidst such erratic weather. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A farmer from Tikapur, Nirmal BK, said the paddy they harvested and spread to dry in the field has become wet due to the ill-timed rainfall.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"I waited for a tractor to collect the crop, but it did not come. The rainfall drenched the rice. The storm has further strewn it. If the rainfall continues, the crop will perish in the field," he shared his plight. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, another farmer Padam Oli shared that paddy is ripe in the field. He did not harvest the paddy, worrying about storms on Monday, but the rains coupled with storm damaged the ripe paddy. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"If the rainfall does not stop, it certainly damages the crop," he said, wondering, "Why does rainfall occur when it is time to harvest rice?" </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Most of the farmers in Kailali district are upset, reasoning rainfall occurs when they are ready to harvest rice. They experienced it for three years. It has resulted in loss of production. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"In 2078 BS, the floods triggered by the rainfall swept away the harvest time rice. Last year, we were able to save half of the crops," said Hari Chaudhary, adding, "We have not harvested rice due to erratic weather. The storm coupled with rainfall has damaged half the yield this year too. The adverse weather is a bane for farmers.” </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Another farmer Parbati Chaudhari said that the paddy harvested and spread to dry in the field was damaged due to the sudden change in weather. “Only half of the crop remained,” she added. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Meanwhile, Tikapur Municipality and Janaki Rural Municipality have suggested the farmers to wait for some days to harvest rice. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-17', 'modified' => '2023-10-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '19003', 'image' => '20231018110312_SureshAcharya_Surkhet_RSS_30_20231017_064031.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-17 11:03:37', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19274', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Collective Efforts Essential to Improve Economy: Finance Minister Mahat', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Finance Minister Dr. Prakash Sharan Mahat emphasized the importance of collective efforts to improve the country's economy. He stressed that relying solely on government initiatives would not be sufficient for economic improvement.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">October 17: Finance Minister Dr. Prakash Sharan Mahat emphasized the importance of collective efforts to improve the country's economy. </span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">He stressed that relying solely on government initiatives would not be sufficient for economic improvement. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">During an inauguration of the Female Economic Journalists Association (FEJA) in Kathmandu, Minister Mahat expressed need for support from all sectors to boost the economy. </span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Minister Mahat said the gradual signs of economic improvement in the country but stressed that the efforts of the government and the Finance Ministry alone were inadequate. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">He called for a joint commitment from all stakeholders to work towards economic enhancement, assuring that the Finance Ministry was prepared to address any obstacles hindering progress.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> Minister Mahat emphasized the importance of empowering women for the socio-economic development of the nation, highlighting the increased participation of women in various sectors, such as health and education, following the adoption of the concept of inclusive development.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Likewise, Sharmila Thakuri, Chair of FEJA, stated that FEJA's establishment is aimed at playing a coordinating role in the skill and capacity development of women journalists working in economic beat. (RSS) </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-17', 'modified' => '2023-10-17', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '19002', 'image' => '20231017055331_collage (13).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-17 05:51:37', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19273', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NEPSE’s Downfall Continues', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'The Nepal Stock(NEPSE) Index lost 23.16 points or 1.23%, closing at 1851.43 points on the first trading day of the week, Sunday.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">October 16: The Nepal Stock(NEPSE) Index lost 23.16 points or 1.23%, closing at 1851.43 points on the first trading day of the week, Sunday.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Experienced investors and stock analysts have attributed today's market loss to the impending Dashain festival. According to one investor, NEPSE experienced selling pressure as the Dashain festival draws near.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">During today's trading, 284 different stocks were traded in 69,832 transactions in the NEPSE. A total of 4,837,893 units of shares exchanged their hands, amounting to Rs 1.25 billion.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Prabhu Bank Limited Promoter Share (PRVUPO) had the highest turnover, reaching Rs. 6.24 crores, and closed at a market price of Rs. 108.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Similarly, Siddhartha Premier Insurance Limited (SPIL) recorded the highest gain of 7.87% today. </span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">On the flip side, Sayapatri Hydropower Limited (SPHL) and Hathway Investment Nepal Limited (HATHY) witnessed the highest loss of 10%. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In terms of sector indices, all indices closed in the red territory. "Life Insurance Index" lost the highest 2.09% while "Manufacturing And Processing" lost the least of 0.57% for today.</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-16', 'modified' => '2023-10-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '19001', 'image' => '20231016051813_collage (24).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-16 17:16:51', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19272', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NRB Neglects Maintaining Interest Rate Corridor', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 16: Nepal Rastra Bank has neglected the implementation of the interest rate corridor, which was started with the aim of maintaining interest rate stability by minimizing short-term interest rate fluctuations.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">October 16: Nepal Rastra Bank has neglected the implementation of the interest rate corridor, which was started with the aim of maintaining interest rate stability by minimizing short-term interest rate fluctuations.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The main objective of the interest corridor is to keep the interbank interest rate within a certain limit. However, even though the interbank interest rate has fallen below the limit since the last one month, NRB has not used monetary instruments to maintain the interest rate.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">NRB has set the target of keeping the average interbank interest rate higher than the bank rate and lower than the deposit collection rate in the monetary policy of the current financial year (FY). There is a provision in the policy to use various monetary tools to keep the interbank interest rate in the middle while keeping the upper limit of the interest rate corridor at 7.5 percent and the lower limit at 4.5 percent.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">However, even though the interbank interest rate has fallen below the monetary policy target since September 13, NRB has not used monetary instruments to draw liquidity from the market to increase the interest rate. In the monetary policy, it is mentioned that if the interest rate is higher or lower than the target, secondary market transactions and deposit collection will be opened.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">On September 13, the interbank interest rate fell to 4.14 percent. Since then, the interbank interest rate, which has been below the limit, remained at 1.90 percent even on Wednesday, October 11. Meanwhile, on October 6, the interbank interest rate had dropped to 1.79 percent.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the data of NRB, the average credit to deposit ratio (CD ratio) of banks on October 10 was 81.86 percent. As the banks are allowed to give loans by maintaining CD radio up to 90%, they still have the capacity to extend loans of around Rs 475 billion.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">However, banks have been saying that there is no demand for loans due to high interest rates and weak economy. Due to high liquidity in banks due to lack of demand for loans, the interbank interest rate has fallen below the lower limit of the corridor.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Due to the fall in interest rates, the government also emphasized on raising domestic debt. The government changed the schedule to collect loans when interest rates fell. Anil Sharma, Chief Executive Officer of Nepal Bankers' Association says that the interbank interest rate decreased after the government allowed the amount of local level accumulated funds to be counted as deposits, and at the same time, the government also raised internal loans.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">NRB Deputy Spokesperson Dr. Dilliram Pokharel says that the current interest rate is of a short-term nature and that monetary instruments were not used because the government insisted on raising internal debt.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-16', 'modified' => '2023-10-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '19000', 'image' => '20231016034603_Nepal_Rastra_Bank2 2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-16 15:45:08', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19271', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NEA Gets 'Double A Plus' Credit Rating ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 16: The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has once again received the 'Double A Plus' credit rating.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 16: The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has once again received the 'Double A Plus' credit rating. ICRA Nepal Ltd, a credit rating agency in Nepal, has granted the 'ICRA NP Double A Plus' to the NEA, the state-owned entity. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The recipients of this rating are considered to have a high degree of safety regarding timely servicing of financial obligations. They carry very low credit risk. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The financial status of NEA, assets, business and financial risks, managerial capacity, internal and external environmental factors affecting operational effectiveness were assessed by the ICRA Nepal before assigning an issuer rating of Double A Plus to the organisation. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Credit ratings serve as a tool for assessing the creditworthiness of both individuals and organizations and for expressing opinion. They provide opinions on an entity's ability to meet its debt obligations, presenting a clear and simple indicator about related financial risks. According to ICRA Nepal, the rating is only an opinion on the general creditworthiness of the rated entity and is not specific to any debt instrument. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">NEA Managing Director Kulman Ghising said the NEA has bagged the 'Double A Plus' credit rating from among the public entities, presenting its high-level of capacity to bear financial obligations. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-16', 'modified' => '2023-10-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18999', 'image' => '20231016030910_20230913111412_NEA_20191104081559.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-16 15:08:28', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19270', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Govt Preparing to Set Up an Industrial Zone in Simara SEZ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 16: A new industrial zone is going to be built on the land of the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Bara's Simara.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">October 16: A new industrial zone is going to be built on the land of the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Bara's Simara. The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supply is preparing to set up a new industrial zone in the SEZ.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Ramesh Rijal said in an interaction with the entrepreneurs that an industrial zone will be built on 400 bighas of land in the D and E blocks of Simara SEZ.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Senior Vice President of Birgunj Chamber of Commerce and Industries, Hari Gautam, informed NBA that Minister Rijal revealed the plan during a visit to Simara to discuss about the industrial sector.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“A proposal for the new industrial zone will be submitted to the Council of Ministers after Dashain. Once the proposal is passed by the Council of Ministers, the construction of the industrial zone will proceed," said Gautam, quoting Minister Rijal.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">SEZ has prepared structures in three of out of five blocks. Gautam said that getting land for new industries is becoming difficult in the Bara-Parsa Industrial Corridor, and that the entrepreneurs are excited about the preparation of a new industrial zone. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies had commissioned the Industrial Area Management Limited to conduct a feasibility study for the establishment of an industrial zone. The ministry said that the body has submitted a report with the conclusion that Simara is the most suitable place for establishing an industrial zone. It is mentioned in the report that the location is best for the industrial sector due to its infrastructure, and proximity to the seaport, and access to expressway.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Industrial Area Management Limited and the SEZ Authority Board of Directors have approved the proposal for the construction of the industrial zone. As entrepreneurs are not attracted to SEZs, there is a demand to make SEZs an industrial zone. Although the industries have been invited to SEZ's A, B and C blocks, the entrepreneurs are not excited.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Rijal also said that preparations are being made to reduce the mandatory export limit from 60 per cent to 30 per cent for the industries operating in SEZ. The minister informed that the rent of SEZ will also be reduced from Rs 20 to Rs 10 per square meter. This measure has been adopted to attract industries to SEZ. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-16', 'modified' => '2023-10-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18998', 'image' => '20231016021527_1697423282.2023-10-16 08.13.02.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-16 14:14:44', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19269', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Fails to Import Sugar Before Dashain', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 16: The government has failed in its efforts to supply duty-free sugar to the consumers before Dashain. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">October 16: The government has failed in its efforts to supply duty-free sugar to the consumers before Dashain. The government was unable to import sugar before Dashain as India did not show any interest to supply sugar to Nepal through the G2G process. Another reason for the failure was the delay in granting permission to import sugar to the Salt Trading Corporation (STC) and the Food Management and Trading Company (FMTC), which are responsible for the import and distribution of duty exempted sugar in the country.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies had sent a letter to the Ministry of Finance in July seeking permission to proceed with the process to import 60,000 metric tons of sugar with customs exemption, especially for the festive season. However, the Ministry of Finance did not respond to the letter.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">The STC and FMTC could not import sugar before Dashain due to the delay in getting approval for import. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">In mid-September, the Finance Ministry granted permission to the Salt Trading Corporation and Food Management and Trading Company to import 20,000 tons of sugar at 50 percent customs exepmtion. Although Salt Trading Corporation and Food Management and Trading Company were assigned the responsibility to import 10,000 tons of sugar each, both these companies have admitted that they will not be able to import sugar before Dashain.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">Kumar Rajbhandari, spokesperson of the Salt Trading Corporation, said that it is certain that subsidized sugar cannot be brought before Dashain. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">He blamed the Finance Ministry for giving approval to purchase sugar when it was already too late.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">He said that a 15-day notice was issued to import sugar on a fast-track basis and a company was also selected but it was not possible to bring sugar because India did not supply sugar. According to Rajbhandari, it would be too expensive to bring sugar from other countries.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">At present, India has not exported sugar to other countries, due to which the price of sugar has become expensive in the international market. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">“When we bring it from other countries, we have to sell it here at a high price. That is why we have reached the decision not to bring sugar for now," he said.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">The FMTC had issued a 45-day notice which will expire after mid-November. By that time, the festival of Dashain will already have finished. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">With the start of the festive season, the government took the initiative to bring 50,000 metric tons of sugar from India through the G2G (Government to Government) process, but it was not successful. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">Meanwhile, India banned sugar exports a few months ago after the price of sugar started increasing in its domestic market. India is one of the top sugar exporting countries in the world.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">According to Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Ramesh Rijal, Nepal had written to India in mid-July asking for 100,000 tons of rice, 50,000 tons of sugar and 5,000 tons of paddy. India has not yet sent a reply. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">“We requested food grains from India to prevent shortage in our market. However, India has not given any response,” said the minister, adding, “A few weeks ago, we again took a diplomatic initiative with the Indian government. The Indian side agreed to supply sugar but it is not certain when.”</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-16', 'modified' => '2023-10-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18997', 'image' => '20231016012240_sugar.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-16 13:21:54', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19268', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Tremor Felt in Sudurpaschim Province ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 16: An earthquake was felt in the hill districts of Sudurpaschim province, including in Baitadi, this morning. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 16: An earthquake was felt in the hill districts of Sudurpaschim province, including in Baitadi, this morning. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Chief of the Earthquake Measurement Centre Surkhet, Bal Bahadur Tamang, said that an earthquake measuring 4.8 on the Richter scale with epicentre at Batan, India, adjoining Darchula district occurred at 9.26 am on Monday. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The District Police Office Baitadi said they have not received any information about the damage so far.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Of late, earthquakes have been occurring frequently in far-western Nepal. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-16', 'modified' => '2023-10-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18996', 'image' => '20231016124037_earth.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-16 12:39:37', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = false $xml = falsesimplexml_load_file - [internal], line ?? include - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 133 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
| 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)
| 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
| Petrol | 1 Liter | 106.00 |
| Diesel | 1 Liter | 95.00 |
| Kerosene | 1 Liter | 95.00 |
| LP Gas | 1 Cylinder | 1375.00 |
Update : 2020-03-25
