October 6: Government authorities of Nepal and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) team have reached a staff-level agreement for the disbursement of about $51.3 million under the Extended Credit Facility (ECF) arrangement.…
October 6: Government authorities of Nepal and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) team have reached a staff-level agreement for the disbursement of about $51.3 million under the Extended Credit Facility (ECF) arrangement.…
October 6: Nepal has finally succeeded in winning a medal in the ongoing 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.…
October 6: Two more earthquakes were felt last night (Thursday) with epicenters at Chainpur of Bajhang district in Sudurpaschim…
October 5: The Government of Nepal and the Government of Japan on Tursday signed agreement for utilizing the grant assistance of JPY 3,296 million (approximately NPR 2.95 billion) for the implementation of the ‘Project for the Improvement of Dhulikhel Hospital’s Trauma and Emergency…
October 6: A US citizen has died after falling off cliff while visiting Manang, a mountainous district.…
The Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has made changes to its Integrated Guidelines for the year 2080 BS. One of the remarkable changes is the removal of the previous upper cap on margin lending, which was set at Rs 120 million. Under the new guidelines, the NRB has increased the limit for margin…
Chief Minister of Gandaki Province, Surendra Raj Pandey, said that preparations have been completed to open the Korala cross-border checkpoint in…
October 5: The Supreme Court issued a ‘show cause order’ to the government regarding the provision under the Finance Act 2080 that requires payment of tax on income earned through the merger or acquisition of companies and through the issuance of further public offering (FPO) of…
October 5: Thirty-eight nations have so far won medals at the ongoing 19th Asian Games while China continues to remain at the top of medals…
October 5: The Industry and Commerce, and Labour and Consumer Interest Committee under the House of Representatives has instructed the government to ensure smooth supply of daily essentials during festivals of Dashain, Tihar and…
October 5: The weather across the country has improved from Thursday after continuous rainfall for the past five…
October 5: Experts have suggested the government make public the report prepared by the Eminent Persons Group (EPG) on Nepal-India…
October 5: The Government of Nepal is all set to enter into bilateral labour agreements with two European countries, Germany and Romania, in a move aimed at facilitating labour migration and employment opportunities for Nepali workers…
Chitwan’s Sauraha, the third-largest tourist destination in the country, is wearing a deserted look. Even though the tourism season has started, tourists are not coming, leaving business owners disappointed. The tourism season has set in, but hotel bookings are not made, rendering tourism entrepreneurs…
October 4: Edible oil industries opened in the border areas targeting the Indian market are now forced to sell oil at throw-away prices.…
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', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 6: Government authorities of Nepal and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) team have reached a staff-level agreement for the disbursement of about $51.3 million under the Extended Credit Facility (ECF) arrangement. The third review of the agreement is subject to approval by the IMF’s Executive Board, according to a press release issued by IMF on October 5. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Nepal’s external position has strengthened, supported by prudent fiscal and monetary policies, buoyant remittances, and increasing tourism activity. Following a slowdown last year, growth is projected to recover to 3.5 percent in FY 2023/24, but to remain below potential, reflecting weak domestic demand, the IMF statement said adding inflation is declining but is still elevated. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">It further stated that necessary balance sheet repairs have been limiting credit growth in spite of monetary relaxation. Reforms under the ECF aim to generate more stable, pro-growth credit while maintaining price and external stability. Accelerating the planned increase in capital spending, as envisaged in the budget, will help boost demand. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The IMF acknowledged that the government authorities of Nepal are diligently making progress to improve AML/CFT, including enacting amendments of AML laws to bring them in line with international standards. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The press statement was released upon the conclusion of IMF team visit led by Tidiane Kinda from September 21 to October 5. The team held discussions on the policies and reforms that could lead to the completion of the third review of the economic programme supported by the IMF’s ECF. At the end of the mission, Kinda issued statement asserting that Nepal continues to make progress with the implementation of the ECF-supported program. </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 the fiscal front, important achievements by the Ministry of Finance include the formulation of a fiscal risk register, the publication of the non-custom tax exemptions, and the implementation of a cash flow forecasting framework, all reforms aimed at strengthening transparency of public finances and further enhancing fiscal management," the press stated quoted Kinda as saying. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The ECF is a scheme that provides financial assistance to countries with protracted balance of payments problems. It supports countries’ economic programs aimed at moving toward a stable and sustainable macroeconomic position consistent with strong and durable poverty reduction and growth. It is also expected to help catalyze additional foreign aid. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-06', 'modified' => '2023-10-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18917', 'image' => '20231006125525_20220426051733_imf.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-06 12:54:23', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19187', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Secures First Medal in 19th Asian Games', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 6: Nepal has finally succeeded in winning a medal in the ongoing 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 6: Nepal has finally succeeded in winning a medal in the ongoing 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China. Nepal received a bronze medal in women’s kabaddi event. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Nepal secured a bronze medal in the event after being defeated by India 61-17 in the semifinal. </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"">Nepal had entered semifinal as a first runner up of Group 'B'. Similarly, India had entered seminal as the winner of Group 'A'. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">All four teams playing the seminal in kabaddi were assured of medals. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">It was the first time Nepal participated in the Asian Games under women’s kabaddi. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Group 'B' has Iran and Bangladesh as well. As a winner of Group 'B', Iran got entry to the semifinal and is playing against first runner up of Group 'A', Chinese Taipei. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The players in the Nepali team were Menuka Kumari Rajbanshi (captain), Manmati Bista, Jayanti Badu, Sunita Thapa, Rabina Chaudhari, Anuja Kulung Rai, Ganga Rai, Nitu Gurung, Isha Rai, Arpana Chaudhari, Sirjana Tharu and Kalawati Pant. Team instructor is Bishnu Datt Bhatta. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-06', 'modified' => '2023-10-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18916', 'image' => '20231006120602_a.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-06 12:05:09', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19186', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Two more Earthquakes Jolt Bajhang', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 6: Two more earthquakes were felt last night (Thursday) with epicenters at Chainpur of Bajhang district in Sudurpaschim Province. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 6: Two more earthquakes were felt last night (Thursday) with epicenters at Chainpur of Bajhang district in Sudurpaschim Province. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The National Earthquake Monitoring and Research Centre, Lainchaur informed that the earthquakes – one measuring 4.3 in the Richter scale and another measuring 3.9 in the Richter scale – were recorded at 10:52 pm and 12:23 am last night. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The centre further informed that on Tuesday afternoon an earthquake measuring 5.3 in the Richter scale had occurred in Bajhang with its epicenter at Talkot. On the same day, a 6.3 Richter scale quake jolted the district at 3:06 pm. It was followed by 4.1 Richter scale tremor at 3:45 pm. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A person died while a dozen others were injured in the earthquake. Similarly, hundreds of houses were damaged in the quake. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Geologist at the Centre, Dr Lok Bijay Adhikari, informed that the western belt of Nepal is vulnerable to earthquake anytime. "For 500 years, Nepal's western region has not seen any noticeable earthquake. So the tremors felt in recent times in this region is a wake-up call." -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-06', 'modified' => '2023-10-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18915', 'image' => '20231006112012_20230620111902_earth.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-06 11:19:18', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19185', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Japan Extends Grant to Improve Dhulikhel Hospital Trauma and Emergency Centre ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 5: The Government of Nepal and the Government of Japan on Tursday signed agreement for utilizing the grant assistance of JPY 3,296 million (approximately NPR 2.95 billion) for the implementation of the ‘Project for the Improvement of Dhulikhel Hospital’s Trauma and Emergency Center’. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 5: The Government of Nepal and the Government of Japan on Tursday signed agreement for utilizing the grant assistance of JPY 3,296 million (approximately NPR 2.95 billion) for the implementation of the ‘Project for the Improvement of Dhulikhel Hospital’s Trauma and Emergency Center’. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Finance Secretary Dr Krishna Hari Pushkar and Japanese Ambassador to Nepal Kikuta Yutaka exchanged the notes on behalf of their respective governments, reads a press release issued by the Ministry of Finance. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, the grant agreement was signed by Shreekrishna Nepal, joint secretary at the International Economic Cooperation Coordination Division of the Ministry of Finance and Okubo Akimitsu, chief representative of JICA Nepal Office on behalf of GON and JICA respectively. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The project aims to strengthen medical services for the rapidly growing number of trauma and emergency patients in Nepal by constructing a trauma and emergency center including emergency rooms, operating rooms, an ICU, and outpatient consultation rooms and providing medical equipment such as MRI, CT, C-arm, and X-ray machines, high steam sterilizers, etc at Dhulikhel Hospital. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The project implementation period is 48 months and the proposed assistance will be mobilized through the Ministry of Health and Population as a conditional grant, reads the statement. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">“I would like to thank the Government of Japan for its continuous support in strengthening the health sector of Nepal. This project will be instrumental in catering to the emergency services especially to the patients of Dhulikhel and nearby places,” said Finance Secretary, Dr Krishna Hari Pushkar. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">“I hope that the project will contribute to ensuring the healthy lives and promoting the welfare of Nepali people, thereby promoting the self-sustaining development of Nepal. I am confident that the objectives of the project will be achieved, thereby further strengthening the existing cordial relationship of friendship and cooperation between the peoples of Japan and Nepal,” stated Kikuta Yutaka, ambassador of Japan to Nepal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In Nepal, the number of trauma and emergency patients is increasing due to frequent disasters, public health emergencies, traffic accidents caused by increased traffic volume, and strokes and heart diseases caused by dietary changes associated with economic development. Therefore, it is urgent and important to increase the number of hospital beds and introduce necessary medical equipment, added the statement. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-06', 'modified' => '2023-10-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18914', 'image' => '20231006105840_duli.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-06 10:57:37', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19189', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'US National Dies after Falling off a Cliff ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 6: A US citizen has died after falling off cliff while visiting Manang, a mountainous 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 6: A US citizen has died after falling off cliff while visiting Manang, a mountainous district. The victim has been identified as 69-year-old Charles Keith Davis. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He was traveling to Chame from Lamjung in a jeep (Ba 6 Cha 756) on Wednesday night when the incident occurred. He was together with his spouse, guide, driver and porter. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Davis suddenly fell from the road when he was trying to remove a rock from the road at Khotrodanda of Naso Rural Municipality-3 along the Beshisahar-Chame road section. He fell some 100 meters down onto the Marsyangdi River bank, according to Deputy Superintendent of Police, Phanindra Ranabhat. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A police team mobilized from District Police Office, Chame rushed him to District Hospital after rescuing him the same night, but the foreign traveler succumbed to his injuries during treatment. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Davis' body has been sent to TU Teaching Hospital, Kathmandu for postmortem, the police added. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-06', 'modified' => '2023-10-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18913', 'image' => '20231006011016_manang_july_9_cover_202202261308221689212297_1024.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-06 13:09:31', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19184', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Rastra Bank Amends Margin Lending Cap of Rs 120 Million', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'The Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has made changes to its Integrated Guidelines for the year 2080 BS. One of the remarkable changes is the removal of the previous upper cap on margin lending, which was set at Rs 120 million. Under the new guidelines, the NRB has increased the limit for margin lending.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">October 6: The Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has made changes to its Integrated Guidelines for the year 2080 BS. </span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">One of the remarkable changes is the removal of the previous upper cap on margin lending, which was set at Rs 120 million. </span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Under the new guidelines, the NRB has increased the limit for margin lending.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Individual investors can now avail margin lending up to Rs 150 million, while institutional investors have a higher limit of Rs 200 million.</span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">This means that investors now have more flexibility in borrowing money for investing in the stock market.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">This decision to remove the cap on margin lending comes in response to pressure from share market investors who argued that the cap of Rs 120 million on loans against the securities was negatively impacting the stock market.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Additionally, the amended guidelines require commercial banks to maintain a counter cyclical buffer of 0.5 percent by the end of the current fiscal year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-06', 'modified' => '2023-10-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18912', 'image' => '20231006060613_collage (1).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-06 06:04:48', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19183', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Preparation Made to Open Korala Checkpoint: CM Pandey', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Chief Minister of Gandaki Province, Surendra Raj Pandey, said that preparations have been completed to open the Korala cross-border checkpoint in Mustang.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:15.0pt">October 5: Chief Minister of Gandaki Province, Surendra Raj Pandey, said that preparations have been completed to open the Korala cross-border checkpoint in Mustang. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:15.0pt">During a recent visit to Pillar no 24, located at the border between Mustang and the Tibet Autonomous Region of China, Chief Minister Pandey emphasized the urgent need for constructing physical infrastructure at the Mustang border, as infrastructure toward Tibet has already been developed. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:15.0pt">CM Pandey revealed that discussions have taken place with the federal government, Prime Minister, and relevant ministries to facilitate the opening of the Korala checkpoint.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:15.0pt">The government is focused on improving the road leading to the Korala checkpoint to ensure regular vehicle movement. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the trade fair, held biannually at the Korala checkpoint, has not taken place since 2076 BS.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:15.0pt">Additionally, Chief District Officer of Mustang, Janak Raj Pandey, mentioned that Chinese officials are willing to open the checkpoint, and talks with them are scheduled. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:15.0pt">There are also plans to permit cross-border movement for residents living within approximately 30 kilometers of the checkpoint based on identity card verification.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:15.0pt">Following an inspection of the checkpoint, meetings were conducted by the Gandaki Province-level security committee and Mustang district-level security committee in Korala. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:15.0pt">A delegation consisting of Chief Minister Pandey, federal parliament members, and province assembly members visited more than 10 bordering villages, engaging in discussions with locals about the status of provincial government projects, the budget allocation for the current fiscal year, and addressing the concerns of the residents, said Narahari Sapkota. (RSS)</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-05', 'modified' => '2023-10-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18911', 'image' => '20231005054242_collage (13).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-05 17:41:30', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19181', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'SC Issues Show Cause Order for Taxation on Income Earned from Merger and FPO Issuance', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 5: The Supreme Court issued a ‘show cause order’ to the government regarding the provision under the Finance Act 2080 that requires payment of tax on income earned through the merger or acquisition of companies and through the issuance of further public offering (FPO) of shares.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">October 5: The Supreme Court issued a ‘show cause order’ to the government regarding the provision under the Finance Act 2080 that requires payment of tax on income earned through the merger or acquisition of companies and through the issuance of further public offering (FPO) of shares.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The banks had filed separate writ petitions against the provisions of the Finance Act arguing that the profits from mergers and acquisitions and dividends from share premiums should not be subjected to income tax. The banks sought injunctions and interim orders in both the writs. The constitutional bench of the SC issued the show cause order on Wednesday.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Govinda Prasad Ghimire, information officer of SC, informed that both the parties were called for a discussion on November 8.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">On Wednesday, Supreme Court’s full bench chaired by Chief Justice Bishwambhar Prasad Shrestha along with justices Ishwar Prasad Khatiwada, Dr Ananda Mohan Bhattarai, Prakash Kumar Dhungana, and Sushma Lata Mathema presided over the hearings on both the cases. The first hearing of the writ filed on September 15 was adjourned due to the fact that it was not sent for hearing on September 27.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Standard Chartered Bank and Nepal SBI had filed a writ against the provision of tax on issuance of FPO at premium rate. Likewise, Sanima Bank, Siddhartha Bank, NIC Asia Bank, Kumari Bank, Himalayan Bank, Prime Commercial Bank, Prabhu Bank, Global IME Bank, Laxmi Sunrise Bank, and Machhapuchhre Bank filed a writ against the provision of taxation on gains through merger/acquisition. Similarly, Citizens Bank, NMB Bank, Nabil Bank and Nepal Investment Mega Bank have filed writs in both cases.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">In the writ petition, it has been claimed that the provision of taxation on profit received through merger or acquisition and issuance of FPO at premium rate is an ‘ex post facto taxation' and it is against the constitution.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-05', 'modified' => '2023-10-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18909', 'image' => '20231005021316_Supreme Court.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-05 14:12:33', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19180', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '38 Nations Win Medals at Asian Games, China Tops Medal Tally ', 'sub_title' => 'Nepal Assured of Medal in Women's Kabaddi ', 'summary' => 'October 5: Thirty-eight nations have so far won medals at the ongoing 19th Asian Games while China continues to remain at the top of medals tally. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 5: Thirty-eight nations have so far won medals at the ongoing 19th Asian Games while China continues to remain at the top of medals tally. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">As of Wednesday, 38 of the total 45 countries participating in the event won medals while China remained at the top with 319 medals: 172 gold, 95 silver and 52 bronze. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, Japan is in the second place with 147 medals including 37 gold, 51 silver and 59 bronze followed South Korea with 148 medals including 33 gold, 45 silver and 70 bronze. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">India is fourth with 81 medals, comprising 18 gold, 31 silver, and 32 bronze, while Uzbekistan is fifth with 54 medals, including 16 gold, 16 silver, and 22 bronze. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Chinese Taipei has secured the sixth position with 13 gold, 14 silver, and 21 bronze, while Thailand is in seventh place with 10 gold, 12 silver, and 24 bronze, with a total of 46 medals. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Bahrain holds the eighth position with 16 medals, including 10 gold, one silver, and five bronze. North Korea is in the ninth position with nine gold, 12 silver, and eight bronze medals, with a total of 29 medals while Hong Kong lies in the 10th position with seven gold, 15 silver, and 28 bronze. </span><br /> <strong><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Nepal secures medal in Women's Kabaddi</span></strong> <br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Nepal has avoided the possibility of returning home without a medal in the 19th Asian Games as the women's kabaddi team by reaching the semi-finals as the runner-up from Group 'B' on Wednesday. With this, Nepal assured of at least one medal in Hangzhou. There is a provision that all four teams that reach the semi-finals in kabaddi will receive medals. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-05', 'modified' => '2023-10-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18908', 'image' => '20231005013758_XxjpseE009522_20231004_PEPFN1A001.JPG', 'article_date' => '2023-10-05 13:37:03', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19179', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Parliamentary Panel Directs Government to Ensure Smooth Supply of Daily Consumables during Festivals', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 5: The Industry and Commerce, and Labour and Consumer Interest Committee under the House of Representatives has instructed the government to ensure smooth supply of daily essentials during festivals of Dashain, Tihar and Chhath. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 5: The Industry and Commerce, and Labour and Consumer Interest Committee under the House of Representatives has instructed the government to ensure smooth supply of daily essentials during festivals of Dashain, Tihar and Chhath. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A meeting of the committee on Wednesday directed the government to increase the number of fair-price shops, ensure adequate supplies of food to the remote areas including Karnali and intensify market monitoring during the festivals. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Sharing about the decisions of the meeting with media, committee President Abudul Khan said the government has been instructed to take additional efforts to ensure smooth supplies of food during the festivals. </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"">"The government’s decision to launch the fair-price shop targeting upcoming festivals is welcoming," he said, adding that the number of such outlets should be increased. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, the government has been asked for taking measures to prevent the potential market irregularities such as artificial price-hike, food adulteration, black marketing and artificial shortages during the festive season. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">During the meeting, the committee held discussions with betel nuts producers and suppliers and representatives from the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies regarding issues related to the exports of betel nuts. The meeting also decided to take further updates about the issues from stakeholders. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-05', 'modified' => '2023-10-05', 'keywords' => 'parliament, committee, consumer, festivals, smooth, supply, daily, essentials, black, marketing, artificial, shortage, hoarding, price, hike', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18907', 'image' => '20231005124641_iStock_000034378286Small-1.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-05 12:45:07', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19178', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Weather Improves after Five Days of Rainfall ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 5: The weather across the country has improved from Thursday after continuous rainfall for the past five days. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 5: The weather across the country has improved from Thursday after continuous rainfall for the past five days. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the Meteorological Forecasting Division, the atmospheric condition is expected to steadily improve further. Meteorologist Govinda Jha said the eastern parts of the country has been under the partial influence of a low-pressure system which is now in the process of shifting to the northwest and weakening. Such shift will have its impact on Sikkim and its surrounding areas, as well as Bangladesh. </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"">Jha further said that Koshi Province has thick cloud cover, while skies in other regions are relatively clear at present. Although moderate rainfall is expected for the next two or three days, there is no possibility of heavy rainfall. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the division, the weather will be partly to generally cloudy today in Koshi Province, Bagmati Province and Gandaki Province and partly cloudy in rest of the country. Light to moderate rainfall with thunder and lightning is likely to occur at a few places of Koshi Province, Bagmati Province and Gandaki Province and at one or two places in rest of the provinces. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, the weather is expected be partly to generally cloudy tonight in Koshi Province, Madesh Province, Bagmati Province and Gandaki Province and partly cloudy to mainly fair in rest of the provinces. Light rain or thunder and lightning is likely to occur at a few places of Koshi Province, Madesh Province, Bagmati Province and Gandaki Province. The monsoon, which normally enters Nepal on June 13, withdraws on October 2. This year, however, the monsoon entered Nepal a day later on June 14 and its exit was delayed by a few days. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-05', 'modified' => '2023-10-05', 'keywords' => 'weather, Nepal, rainfall, improvement, thunder, cloudy, monsoon, low, pressure, system', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18906', 'image' => '20231005115016_HKC-Jajarkot-shephoksundo.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-05 11:49:03', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19177', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Experts Suggest Government to Make EPG Report Public ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 5: Experts have suggested the government make public the report prepared by the Eminent Persons Group (EPG) on Nepal-India relations. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 5: Experts have suggested the government make public the report prepared by the Eminent Persons Group (EPG) on Nepal-India relations. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Speaking at a meeting of the National Concern and Coordination Committee under the National Assembly held on Wednesday, they said the determination of border between the two countries should be finalized and given an official status. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Expressing the view on the issues regarding Nepal-India relations, opportunities, problems and solutions, the experts laid emphasis on implementing the border map prepared by technical mechanism of both the countries taking a long time of 26 years. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">On the occasion, EPG member and former Water Resources Secretary, Suryanath Upadhyay, asked the government through parliament to give an official status to the two-country border by determining disputed areas. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"As per border determination, it is necessary to remove encroachment at no man's land, to fence from one side if possible and to implement the mandamus of the Supreme Court regarding border and its regulation," said Upadhyay, adding that local levels and concerned police offices should keep record of Indian nationals in Nepal and it should be updated every six months. According to Upadhyay, labour permit should be effectively implemented in both formal and informal sectors as per the provision of Labour Law. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The EPG member further stressed the need to effectively raise the issues like drug smuggling, human trafficking and other criminal activities in the parliament as Nepal is facing challenges in maintaining peace and security due to such activities. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, former Director General of the Department of Survey, Toyanath Baral, said it was necessary to manage border regulation between the two countries in an integrated manner. He also suggested the government to implement the border related map prepared by the EPG. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-05', 'modified' => '2023-10-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18905', 'image' => '20231005111322_Flag-Pins-Nepal-India_600x600.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-05 11:12:38', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19176', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal to Sign Labour Pacts with Germany and Romania', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 5: The Government of Nepal is all set to enter into bilateral labour agreements with two European countries, Germany and Romania, in a move aimed at facilitating labour migration and employment opportunities for Nepali workers abroad.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">October 5: The Government of Nepal is all set to enter into bilateral labour agreements with two European countries, Germany and Romania, in a move aimed at facilitating labour migration and employment opportunities for Nepali workers abroad.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">A meeting of the Council of Ministers took a decision to this effect on Tuesday. Minister for Communication and Information Technology Rekha Sharma confirmed that the cabinet has approved the signing of the labor agreements with these two countries. The Ministry of Labour, Employment, and Social Security has been granted the authority to proceed with the agreements.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Minister Sharma also mentioned that a delegation led by Labour Minister Sharat Singh Bhandari will participate in the signing ceremony of the labour agreements with Germany and Romania.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Additionally, the government has given its approval for bilateral talks and air service agreements between Nepal and Switzerland, as well as Nepal and Rwanda.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">In a further development, the cabinet meeting decided to establish a bilateral consultation mechanism between the foreign ministries of Nepal and Malaysia, aimed at enhancing diplomatic and international relations between the two countries. -- RSS</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-05', 'modified' => '2023-10-05', 'keywords' => 'Labour, agreement, pact, Nepal, Malaysia, Germany, Romania, Switzerland, Rwanda', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18904', 'image' => '20231005094916_ed.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-05 09:48:26', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19175', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Sauraha’s Tourism in Crisis: Hotels Empty Despite Start of Season', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Chitwan’s Sauraha, the third-largest tourist destination in the country, is wearing a deserted look. Even though the tourism season has started, tourists are not coming, leaving business owners disappointed. The tourism season has set in, but hotel bookings are not made, rendering tourism entrepreneurs disappointed.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">October 5: Chitwan’s Sauraha, the third-largest tourist destination in the country, is wearing a deserted look. Even though the tourism season has started, tourists are not coming, leaving business owners disappointed. </span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The tourism season has set in, but hotel bookings are not made, rendering tourism entrepreneurs disappointed. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Tourism entrepreneurs say that Sauraha has received less than 10% of the expected tourists. </span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Suman Ghimire, the former president of the Regional Hotel Association in Sauraha, they are expecting the tourism business hit hard by COVID to revive and ready to welcome the tourists. However, tourists are not turning up, Ghimire said. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Ghimire attributes the lack of domestic tourists to the economic downturn in the country. "Firstly, the country is in an economic crisis, and secondly, air travel has become expensive, and the roads are in sorry state," he explains. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Ghimire also mentions that the tourists who have come to Nepal are more interested in trekking, and there is an expectation that they might come to Sauraha from the next month.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Sauraha is globally recognized. It has its own brand. But, the young generation of tourism entrepreneurs lack the zeal and creativity to introduce new products to attract the tourists to Sauraha. </span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">“We have not been able to introduce new products like our predecessors,” said Deepak Bhattarai, the erstwhile president of the association.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Sauraha is known for jungle safaris worldwide. However, most tourists coming here are not interested in jungle safaris these days. Safety challenges in the jungle, issue of animal rights, and other factors have caused a decrease in tourists interested in activities like elephant safaris and jungle walking.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The exodus of the youth from the country has dealt a severe blow to the production and consumption in the country, causing setback to the tourism promotion in the country, said Bhattarai. </span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Economic difficulties, high-interest rates, and increased operating costs have forced some major tourism entrepreneurs to leave the country. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">"We did not experience such a crisis even during the time of COVID," says Ganga Giri, the president of the Regional Hotel Association, Sauraha. "Now, the tourist occupancy in Sauraha is less than 10%." </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">When the occupancy is 100% in the hotels and bars, they just make 20% profit. The current scenario of tourist arrivals in Sauraha is pessimistic, forcing entrepreneurs to quit their businesses. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The policy of the federal government and negligence on the part of the local government are responsible for the sorry state of the tourists in Sauraha, say the local entrepreneurs. </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-05', 'modified' => '2023-10-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18903', 'image' => '20231005060417_collage.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-05 06:01:36', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19173', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Fierce Competition Forcing Oil Industries to Sell their Products Below Cost Price', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 4: Edible oil industries opened in the border areas targeting the Indian market are now forced to sell oil at throw-away prices. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">October 4: </span><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Edible oil industries opened in the border areas targeting the Indian market are now forced to sell oil at throw-away prices. The industrialists are worried that their investment of Rs 15 billion in the oil industry is in peril.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The industrialists say that about two dozen industries will be closed if the government does not provide immediate policy protection. According to an industrialist, the production of one litre of oil currently costs Rs 190.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Industrialists are selling oil at Rs 170 a litre from the factory.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">In the past, when India imposed a high rate of customs duty on the import of oil, the industries of Nepal made good income from oil exports taking advantage of the concessions given to Nepal. But now, those industries are on the brink of collapse after India lowered the customs duty. Previously, India used to charge up to 40 per cent duty on oil imported from other countries but only zero to 5 per cent for oil supplied by Nepali industries under SAFTA concession.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Earlier, the export used to be more profitable as the duty paid to the local customs and value-added tax was also refunded. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Suresh Rungta, the owner of OCB Food, said that after India adopted a zero-duty policy on imports to control the price of oil in its domestic market, exports from Nepal have come to a standstill. He said that they were forced to sell oil at a loss because it was essential to meet the expenses of the industry. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">At present, the retail price of cooking oil in the border Indian market is Rs 178 per litre. Industrialists added that the cost of transporting raw materials from Kolkata to Birgunj is Rs 7 per litre. They say that if the processing cost is added, the production cost of one litre of oil will reach Rs 190. Industries of Nepal have been bringing semi-refined oil from Ukraine, Indonesia and Malaysia and processing it here. The industry of Nepal refines sunflower, soybean, palm oil and mustard oil and used to exports them, mostly to India until recently.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">But now, since the export to India is not possible, there is fierce competition between more than two dozen industries in the domestic market. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Prabhu Dayal Aggarwal, the owner of Annapurna Vegetable Products, said that he had to do a 'push sale' after the sale stopped.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">"Now, there is fierce competition in the domestic market. Oil has to be sold at a lower price than the cost. If the situation like this persists, we will not be able to sustain any longer,'' Agarwal shared.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Currently, 22 industries produce oil. At a time when exports were easy to India, most of the industries expanded their investments. Some new industries were also added. Among them, 14 are based in the Bara-Parsa corridor, and others are in Biratnagar and Bhairahawa. The annual production capacity of such industries is 2.5 million tons. Industrialists say that the domestic market consumption is only 500,000 tons. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Nikhil Chauhan, the owner of Narayani Oil Refinery, shared that this wide gap between production and the market has led to fierce competition.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">It is said that the Indian government is keeping the interest of the common consumer at the forefront, considering the Lok Sabha elections to be held in 2024.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">India is making many policy changes to make food supply easier and cheaper. There is also control over the export of essential grains like paddy, rice, wheat and sugar. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">In the context of Nepal, the government had reduced the customs duty on the import of raw materials to 1 per cent last year to save the oil industry from the crisis.</span> <span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Chauhan said that the current year's budget has removed this concession and brought it back to 10 per cent.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Agarwal demanded that the government should protect the investment of the domestic oil industry as a matter of policy.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Chachan also agrees to this demand. He added that if there is a policy of reducing the tariff on the import of raw materials to 1 per cent and giving at least a 10 per cent subsidy on exports, the oil industry can be protected from the current crisis. </span></span></span></p> <p><br /> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-04', 'modified' => '2023-10-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18902', 'image' => '20231004030739_oil1501009175_7.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-04 15:06:46', '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' => '19188', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'IMF reaches Staff-Level Agreement to Review Extended Credit Facility ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 6: Government authorities of Nepal and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) team have reached a staff-level agreement for the disbursement of about $51.3 million under the Extended Credit Facility (ECF) arrangement. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 6: Government authorities of Nepal and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) team have reached a staff-level agreement for the disbursement of about $51.3 million under the Extended Credit Facility (ECF) arrangement. The third review of the agreement is subject to approval by the IMF’s Executive Board, according to a press release issued by IMF on October 5. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Nepal’s external position has strengthened, supported by prudent fiscal and monetary policies, buoyant remittances, and increasing tourism activity. Following a slowdown last year, growth is projected to recover to 3.5 percent in FY 2023/24, but to remain below potential, reflecting weak domestic demand, the IMF statement said adding inflation is declining but is still elevated. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">It further stated that necessary balance sheet repairs have been limiting credit growth in spite of monetary relaxation. Reforms under the ECF aim to generate more stable, pro-growth credit while maintaining price and external stability. Accelerating the planned increase in capital spending, as envisaged in the budget, will help boost demand. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The IMF acknowledged that the government authorities of Nepal are diligently making progress to improve AML/CFT, including enacting amendments of AML laws to bring them in line with international standards. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The press statement was released upon the conclusion of IMF team visit led by Tidiane Kinda from September 21 to October 5. The team held discussions on the policies and reforms that could lead to the completion of the third review of the economic programme supported by the IMF’s ECF. At the end of the mission, Kinda issued statement asserting that Nepal continues to make progress with the implementation of the ECF-supported program. </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 the fiscal front, important achievements by the Ministry of Finance include the formulation of a fiscal risk register, the publication of the non-custom tax exemptions, and the implementation of a cash flow forecasting framework, all reforms aimed at strengthening transparency of public finances and further enhancing fiscal management," the press stated quoted Kinda as saying. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The ECF is a scheme that provides financial assistance to countries with protracted balance of payments problems. It supports countries’ economic programs aimed at moving toward a stable and sustainable macroeconomic position consistent with strong and durable poverty reduction and growth. It is also expected to help catalyze additional foreign aid. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-06', 'modified' => '2023-10-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18917', 'image' => '20231006125525_20220426051733_imf.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-06 12:54:23', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19187', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Secures First Medal in 19th Asian Games', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 6: Nepal has finally succeeded in winning a medal in the ongoing 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 6: Nepal has finally succeeded in winning a medal in the ongoing 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China. Nepal received a bronze medal in women’s kabaddi event. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Nepal secured a bronze medal in the event after being defeated by India 61-17 in the semifinal. </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"">Nepal had entered semifinal as a first runner up of Group 'B'. Similarly, India had entered seminal as the winner of Group 'A'. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">All four teams playing the seminal in kabaddi were assured of medals. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">It was the first time Nepal participated in the Asian Games under women’s kabaddi. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Group 'B' has Iran and Bangladesh as well. As a winner of Group 'B', Iran got entry to the semifinal and is playing against first runner up of Group 'A', Chinese Taipei. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The players in the Nepali team were Menuka Kumari Rajbanshi (captain), Manmati Bista, Jayanti Badu, Sunita Thapa, Rabina Chaudhari, Anuja Kulung Rai, Ganga Rai, Nitu Gurung, Isha Rai, Arpana Chaudhari, Sirjana Tharu and Kalawati Pant. Team instructor is Bishnu Datt Bhatta. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-06', 'modified' => '2023-10-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18916', 'image' => '20231006120602_a.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-06 12:05:09', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19186', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Two more Earthquakes Jolt Bajhang', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 6: Two more earthquakes were felt last night (Thursday) with epicenters at Chainpur of Bajhang district in Sudurpaschim Province. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 6: Two more earthquakes were felt last night (Thursday) with epicenters at Chainpur of Bajhang district in Sudurpaschim Province. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The National Earthquake Monitoring and Research Centre, Lainchaur informed that the earthquakes – one measuring 4.3 in the Richter scale and another measuring 3.9 in the Richter scale – were recorded at 10:52 pm and 12:23 am last night. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The centre further informed that on Tuesday afternoon an earthquake measuring 5.3 in the Richter scale had occurred in Bajhang with its epicenter at Talkot. On the same day, a 6.3 Richter scale quake jolted the district at 3:06 pm. It was followed by 4.1 Richter scale tremor at 3:45 pm. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A person died while a dozen others were injured in the earthquake. Similarly, hundreds of houses were damaged in the quake. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Geologist at the Centre, Dr Lok Bijay Adhikari, informed that the western belt of Nepal is vulnerable to earthquake anytime. "For 500 years, Nepal's western region has not seen any noticeable earthquake. So the tremors felt in recent times in this region is a wake-up call." -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-06', 'modified' => '2023-10-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18915', 'image' => '20231006112012_20230620111902_earth.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-06 11:19:18', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19185', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Japan Extends Grant to Improve Dhulikhel Hospital Trauma and Emergency Centre ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 5: The Government of Nepal and the Government of Japan on Tursday signed agreement for utilizing the grant assistance of JPY 3,296 million (approximately NPR 2.95 billion) for the implementation of the ‘Project for the Improvement of Dhulikhel Hospital’s Trauma and Emergency Center’. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 5: The Government of Nepal and the Government of Japan on Tursday signed agreement for utilizing the grant assistance of JPY 3,296 million (approximately NPR 2.95 billion) for the implementation of the ‘Project for the Improvement of Dhulikhel Hospital’s Trauma and Emergency Center’. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Finance Secretary Dr Krishna Hari Pushkar and Japanese Ambassador to Nepal Kikuta Yutaka exchanged the notes on behalf of their respective governments, reads a press release issued by the Ministry of Finance. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, the grant agreement was signed by Shreekrishna Nepal, joint secretary at the International Economic Cooperation Coordination Division of the Ministry of Finance and Okubo Akimitsu, chief representative of JICA Nepal Office on behalf of GON and JICA respectively. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The project aims to strengthen medical services for the rapidly growing number of trauma and emergency patients in Nepal by constructing a trauma and emergency center including emergency rooms, operating rooms, an ICU, and outpatient consultation rooms and providing medical equipment such as MRI, CT, C-arm, and X-ray machines, high steam sterilizers, etc at Dhulikhel Hospital. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The project implementation period is 48 months and the proposed assistance will be mobilized through the Ministry of Health and Population as a conditional grant, reads the statement. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">“I would like to thank the Government of Japan for its continuous support in strengthening the health sector of Nepal. This project will be instrumental in catering to the emergency services especially to the patients of Dhulikhel and nearby places,” said Finance Secretary, Dr Krishna Hari Pushkar. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">“I hope that the project will contribute to ensuring the healthy lives and promoting the welfare of Nepali people, thereby promoting the self-sustaining development of Nepal. I am confident that the objectives of the project will be achieved, thereby further strengthening the existing cordial relationship of friendship and cooperation between the peoples of Japan and Nepal,” stated Kikuta Yutaka, ambassador of Japan to Nepal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In Nepal, the number of trauma and emergency patients is increasing due to frequent disasters, public health emergencies, traffic accidents caused by increased traffic volume, and strokes and heart diseases caused by dietary changes associated with economic development. Therefore, it is urgent and important to increase the number of hospital beds and introduce necessary medical equipment, added the statement. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-06', 'modified' => '2023-10-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18914', 'image' => '20231006105840_duli.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-06 10:57:37', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19189', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'US National Dies after Falling off a Cliff ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 6: A US citizen has died after falling off cliff while visiting Manang, a mountainous 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 6: A US citizen has died after falling off cliff while visiting Manang, a mountainous district. The victim has been identified as 69-year-old Charles Keith Davis. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He was traveling to Chame from Lamjung in a jeep (Ba 6 Cha 756) on Wednesday night when the incident occurred. He was together with his spouse, guide, driver and porter. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Davis suddenly fell from the road when he was trying to remove a rock from the road at Khotrodanda of Naso Rural Municipality-3 along the Beshisahar-Chame road section. He fell some 100 meters down onto the Marsyangdi River bank, according to Deputy Superintendent of Police, Phanindra Ranabhat. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A police team mobilized from District Police Office, Chame rushed him to District Hospital after rescuing him the same night, but the foreign traveler succumbed to his injuries during treatment. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Davis' body has been sent to TU Teaching Hospital, Kathmandu for postmortem, the police added. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-06', 'modified' => '2023-10-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18913', 'image' => '20231006011016_manang_july_9_cover_202202261308221689212297_1024.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-06 13:09:31', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19184', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Rastra Bank Amends Margin Lending Cap of Rs 120 Million', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'The Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has made changes to its Integrated Guidelines for the year 2080 BS. One of the remarkable changes is the removal of the previous upper cap on margin lending, which was set at Rs 120 million. Under the new guidelines, the NRB has increased the limit for margin lending.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">October 6: The Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has made changes to its Integrated Guidelines for the year 2080 BS. </span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">One of the remarkable changes is the removal of the previous upper cap on margin lending, which was set at Rs 120 million. </span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Under the new guidelines, the NRB has increased the limit for margin lending.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Individual investors can now avail margin lending up to Rs 150 million, while institutional investors have a higher limit of Rs 200 million.</span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">This means that investors now have more flexibility in borrowing money for investing in the stock market.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">This decision to remove the cap on margin lending comes in response to pressure from share market investors who argued that the cap of Rs 120 million on loans against the securities was negatively impacting the stock market.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Additionally, the amended guidelines require commercial banks to maintain a counter cyclical buffer of 0.5 percent by the end of the current fiscal year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-06', 'modified' => '2023-10-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18912', 'image' => '20231006060613_collage (1).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-06 06:04:48', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19183', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Preparation Made to Open Korala Checkpoint: CM Pandey', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Chief Minister of Gandaki Province, Surendra Raj Pandey, said that preparations have been completed to open the Korala cross-border checkpoint in Mustang.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:15.0pt">October 5: Chief Minister of Gandaki Province, Surendra Raj Pandey, said that preparations have been completed to open the Korala cross-border checkpoint in Mustang. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:15.0pt">During a recent visit to Pillar no 24, located at the border between Mustang and the Tibet Autonomous Region of China, Chief Minister Pandey emphasized the urgent need for constructing physical infrastructure at the Mustang border, as infrastructure toward Tibet has already been developed. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:15.0pt">CM Pandey revealed that discussions have taken place with the federal government, Prime Minister, and relevant ministries to facilitate the opening of the Korala checkpoint.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:15.0pt">The government is focused on improving the road leading to the Korala checkpoint to ensure regular vehicle movement. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the trade fair, held biannually at the Korala checkpoint, has not taken place since 2076 BS.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:15.0pt">Additionally, Chief District Officer of Mustang, Janak Raj Pandey, mentioned that Chinese officials are willing to open the checkpoint, and talks with them are scheduled. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:15.0pt">There are also plans to permit cross-border movement for residents living within approximately 30 kilometers of the checkpoint based on identity card verification.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:15.0pt">Following an inspection of the checkpoint, meetings were conducted by the Gandaki Province-level security committee and Mustang district-level security committee in Korala. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:15.0pt">A delegation consisting of Chief Minister Pandey, federal parliament members, and province assembly members visited more than 10 bordering villages, engaging in discussions with locals about the status of provincial government projects, the budget allocation for the current fiscal year, and addressing the concerns of the residents, said Narahari Sapkota. (RSS)</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-05', 'modified' => '2023-10-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18911', 'image' => '20231005054242_collage (13).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-05 17:41:30', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19181', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'SC Issues Show Cause Order for Taxation on Income Earned from Merger and FPO Issuance', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 5: The Supreme Court issued a ‘show cause order’ to the government regarding the provision under the Finance Act 2080 that requires payment of tax on income earned through the merger or acquisition of companies and through the issuance of further public offering (FPO) of shares.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">October 5: The Supreme Court issued a ‘show cause order’ to the government regarding the provision under the Finance Act 2080 that requires payment of tax on income earned through the merger or acquisition of companies and through the issuance of further public offering (FPO) of shares.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The banks had filed separate writ petitions against the provisions of the Finance Act arguing that the profits from mergers and acquisitions and dividends from share premiums should not be subjected to income tax. The banks sought injunctions and interim orders in both the writs. The constitutional bench of the SC issued the show cause order on Wednesday.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Govinda Prasad Ghimire, information officer of SC, informed that both the parties were called for a discussion on November 8.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">On Wednesday, Supreme Court’s full bench chaired by Chief Justice Bishwambhar Prasad Shrestha along with justices Ishwar Prasad Khatiwada, Dr Ananda Mohan Bhattarai, Prakash Kumar Dhungana, and Sushma Lata Mathema presided over the hearings on both the cases. The first hearing of the writ filed on September 15 was adjourned due to the fact that it was not sent for hearing on September 27.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Standard Chartered Bank and Nepal SBI had filed a writ against the provision of tax on issuance of FPO at premium rate. Likewise, Sanima Bank, Siddhartha Bank, NIC Asia Bank, Kumari Bank, Himalayan Bank, Prime Commercial Bank, Prabhu Bank, Global IME Bank, Laxmi Sunrise Bank, and Machhapuchhre Bank filed a writ against the provision of taxation on gains through merger/acquisition. Similarly, Citizens Bank, NMB Bank, Nabil Bank and Nepal Investment Mega Bank have filed writs in both cases.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">In the writ petition, it has been claimed that the provision of taxation on profit received through merger or acquisition and issuance of FPO at premium rate is an ‘ex post facto taxation' and it is against the constitution.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-05', 'modified' => '2023-10-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18909', 'image' => '20231005021316_Supreme Court.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-05 14:12:33', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19180', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '38 Nations Win Medals at Asian Games, China Tops Medal Tally ', 'sub_title' => 'Nepal Assured of Medal in Women's Kabaddi ', 'summary' => 'October 5: Thirty-eight nations have so far won medals at the ongoing 19th Asian Games while China continues to remain at the top of medals tally. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 5: Thirty-eight nations have so far won medals at the ongoing 19th Asian Games while China continues to remain at the top of medals tally. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">As of Wednesday, 38 of the total 45 countries participating in the event won medals while China remained at the top with 319 medals: 172 gold, 95 silver and 52 bronze. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, Japan is in the second place with 147 medals including 37 gold, 51 silver and 59 bronze followed South Korea with 148 medals including 33 gold, 45 silver and 70 bronze. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">India is fourth with 81 medals, comprising 18 gold, 31 silver, and 32 bronze, while Uzbekistan is fifth with 54 medals, including 16 gold, 16 silver, and 22 bronze. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Chinese Taipei has secured the sixth position with 13 gold, 14 silver, and 21 bronze, while Thailand is in seventh place with 10 gold, 12 silver, and 24 bronze, with a total of 46 medals. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Bahrain holds the eighth position with 16 medals, including 10 gold, one silver, and five bronze. North Korea is in the ninth position with nine gold, 12 silver, and eight bronze medals, with a total of 29 medals while Hong Kong lies in the 10th position with seven gold, 15 silver, and 28 bronze. </span><br /> <strong><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Nepal secures medal in Women's Kabaddi</span></strong> <br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Nepal has avoided the possibility of returning home without a medal in the 19th Asian Games as the women's kabaddi team by reaching the semi-finals as the runner-up from Group 'B' on Wednesday. With this, Nepal assured of at least one medal in Hangzhou. There is a provision that all four teams that reach the semi-finals in kabaddi will receive medals. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-05', 'modified' => '2023-10-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18908', 'image' => '20231005013758_XxjpseE009522_20231004_PEPFN1A001.JPG', 'article_date' => '2023-10-05 13:37:03', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19179', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Parliamentary Panel Directs Government to Ensure Smooth Supply of Daily Consumables during Festivals', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 5: The Industry and Commerce, and Labour and Consumer Interest Committee under the House of Representatives has instructed the government to ensure smooth supply of daily essentials during festivals of Dashain, Tihar and Chhath. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 5: The Industry and Commerce, and Labour and Consumer Interest Committee under the House of Representatives has instructed the government to ensure smooth supply of daily essentials during festivals of Dashain, Tihar and Chhath. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A meeting of the committee on Wednesday directed the government to increase the number of fair-price shops, ensure adequate supplies of food to the remote areas including Karnali and intensify market monitoring during the festivals. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Sharing about the decisions of the meeting with media, committee President Abudul Khan said the government has been instructed to take additional efforts to ensure smooth supplies of food during the festivals. </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"">"The government’s decision to launch the fair-price shop targeting upcoming festivals is welcoming," he said, adding that the number of such outlets should be increased. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, the government has been asked for taking measures to prevent the potential market irregularities such as artificial price-hike, food adulteration, black marketing and artificial shortages during the festive season. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">During the meeting, the committee held discussions with betel nuts producers and suppliers and representatives from the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies regarding issues related to the exports of betel nuts. The meeting also decided to take further updates about the issues from stakeholders. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-05', 'modified' => '2023-10-05', 'keywords' => 'parliament, committee, consumer, festivals, smooth, supply, daily, essentials, black, marketing, artificial, shortage, hoarding, price, hike', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18907', 'image' => '20231005124641_iStock_000034378286Small-1.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-05 12:45:07', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19178', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Weather Improves after Five Days of Rainfall ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 5: The weather across the country has improved from Thursday after continuous rainfall for the past five days. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 5: The weather across the country has improved from Thursday after continuous rainfall for the past five days. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the Meteorological Forecasting Division, the atmospheric condition is expected to steadily improve further. Meteorologist Govinda Jha said the eastern parts of the country has been under the partial influence of a low-pressure system which is now in the process of shifting to the northwest and weakening. Such shift will have its impact on Sikkim and its surrounding areas, as well as Bangladesh. </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"">Jha further said that Koshi Province has thick cloud cover, while skies in other regions are relatively clear at present. Although moderate rainfall is expected for the next two or three days, there is no possibility of heavy rainfall. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the division, the weather will be partly to generally cloudy today in Koshi Province, Bagmati Province and Gandaki Province and partly cloudy in rest of the country. Light to moderate rainfall with thunder and lightning is likely to occur at a few places of Koshi Province, Bagmati Province and Gandaki Province and at one or two places in rest of the provinces. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, the weather is expected be partly to generally cloudy tonight in Koshi Province, Madesh Province, Bagmati Province and Gandaki Province and partly cloudy to mainly fair in rest of the provinces. Light rain or thunder and lightning is likely to occur at a few places of Koshi Province, Madesh Province, Bagmati Province and Gandaki Province. The monsoon, which normally enters Nepal on June 13, withdraws on October 2. This year, however, the monsoon entered Nepal a day later on June 14 and its exit was delayed by a few days. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-05', 'modified' => '2023-10-05', 'keywords' => 'weather, Nepal, rainfall, improvement, thunder, cloudy, monsoon, low, pressure, system', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18906', 'image' => '20231005115016_HKC-Jajarkot-shephoksundo.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-05 11:49:03', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19177', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Experts Suggest Government to Make EPG Report Public ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 5: Experts have suggested the government make public the report prepared by the Eminent Persons Group (EPG) on Nepal-India relations. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 5: Experts have suggested the government make public the report prepared by the Eminent Persons Group (EPG) on Nepal-India relations. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Speaking at a meeting of the National Concern and Coordination Committee under the National Assembly held on Wednesday, they said the determination of border between the two countries should be finalized and given an official status. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Expressing the view on the issues regarding Nepal-India relations, opportunities, problems and solutions, the experts laid emphasis on implementing the border map prepared by technical mechanism of both the countries taking a long time of 26 years. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">On the occasion, EPG member and former Water Resources Secretary, Suryanath Upadhyay, asked the government through parliament to give an official status to the two-country border by determining disputed areas. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"As per border determination, it is necessary to remove encroachment at no man's land, to fence from one side if possible and to implement the mandamus of the Supreme Court regarding border and its regulation," said Upadhyay, adding that local levels and concerned police offices should keep record of Indian nationals in Nepal and it should be updated every six months. According to Upadhyay, labour permit should be effectively implemented in both formal and informal sectors as per the provision of Labour Law. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The EPG member further stressed the need to effectively raise the issues like drug smuggling, human trafficking and other criminal activities in the parliament as Nepal is facing challenges in maintaining peace and security due to such activities. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, former Director General of the Department of Survey, Toyanath Baral, said it was necessary to manage border regulation between the two countries in an integrated manner. He also suggested the government to implement the border related map prepared by the EPG. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-05', 'modified' => '2023-10-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18905', 'image' => '20231005111322_Flag-Pins-Nepal-India_600x600.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-05 11:12:38', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19176', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal to Sign Labour Pacts with Germany and Romania', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 5: The Government of Nepal is all set to enter into bilateral labour agreements with two European countries, Germany and Romania, in a move aimed at facilitating labour migration and employment opportunities for Nepali workers abroad.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">October 5: The Government of Nepal is all set to enter into bilateral labour agreements with two European countries, Germany and Romania, in a move aimed at facilitating labour migration and employment opportunities for Nepali workers abroad.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">A meeting of the Council of Ministers took a decision to this effect on Tuesday. Minister for Communication and Information Technology Rekha Sharma confirmed that the cabinet has approved the signing of the labor agreements with these two countries. The Ministry of Labour, Employment, and Social Security has been granted the authority to proceed with the agreements.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Minister Sharma also mentioned that a delegation led by Labour Minister Sharat Singh Bhandari will participate in the signing ceremony of the labour agreements with Germany and Romania.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Additionally, the government has given its approval for bilateral talks and air service agreements between Nepal and Switzerland, as well as Nepal and Rwanda.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">In a further development, the cabinet meeting decided to establish a bilateral consultation mechanism between the foreign ministries of Nepal and Malaysia, aimed at enhancing diplomatic and international relations between the two countries. -- RSS</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-05', 'modified' => '2023-10-05', 'keywords' => 'Labour, agreement, pact, Nepal, Malaysia, Germany, Romania, Switzerland, Rwanda', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18904', 'image' => '20231005094916_ed.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-05 09:48:26', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19175', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Sauraha’s Tourism in Crisis: Hotels Empty Despite Start of Season', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Chitwan’s Sauraha, the third-largest tourist destination in the country, is wearing a deserted look. Even though the tourism season has started, tourists are not coming, leaving business owners disappointed. The tourism season has set in, but hotel bookings are not made, rendering tourism entrepreneurs disappointed.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">October 5: Chitwan’s Sauraha, the third-largest tourist destination in the country, is wearing a deserted look. Even though the tourism season has started, tourists are not coming, leaving business owners disappointed. </span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The tourism season has set in, but hotel bookings are not made, rendering tourism entrepreneurs disappointed. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Tourism entrepreneurs say that Sauraha has received less than 10% of the expected tourists. </span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Suman Ghimire, the former president of the Regional Hotel Association in Sauraha, they are expecting the tourism business hit hard by COVID to revive and ready to welcome the tourists. However, tourists are not turning up, Ghimire said. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Ghimire attributes the lack of domestic tourists to the economic downturn in the country. "Firstly, the country is in an economic crisis, and secondly, air travel has become expensive, and the roads are in sorry state," he explains. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Ghimire also mentions that the tourists who have come to Nepal are more interested in trekking, and there is an expectation that they might come to Sauraha from the next month.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Sauraha is globally recognized. It has its own brand. But, the young generation of tourism entrepreneurs lack the zeal and creativity to introduce new products to attract the tourists to Sauraha. </span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">“We have not been able to introduce new products like our predecessors,” said Deepak Bhattarai, the erstwhile president of the association.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Sauraha is known for jungle safaris worldwide. However, most tourists coming here are not interested in jungle safaris these days. Safety challenges in the jungle, issue of animal rights, and other factors have caused a decrease in tourists interested in activities like elephant safaris and jungle walking.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The exodus of the youth from the country has dealt a severe blow to the production and consumption in the country, causing setback to the tourism promotion in the country, said Bhattarai. </span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Economic difficulties, high-interest rates, and increased operating costs have forced some major tourism entrepreneurs to leave the country. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">"We did not experience such a crisis even during the time of COVID," says Ganga Giri, the president of the Regional Hotel Association, Sauraha. "Now, the tourist occupancy in Sauraha is less than 10%." </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">When the occupancy is 100% in the hotels and bars, they just make 20% profit. The current scenario of tourist arrivals in Sauraha is pessimistic, forcing entrepreneurs to quit their businesses. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The policy of the federal government and negligence on the part of the local government are responsible for the sorry state of the tourists in Sauraha, say the local entrepreneurs. </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-05', 'modified' => '2023-10-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18903', 'image' => '20231005060417_collage.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-05 06:01:36', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19173', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Fierce Competition Forcing Oil Industries to Sell their Products Below Cost Price', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 4: Edible oil industries opened in the border areas targeting the Indian market are now forced to sell oil at throw-away prices. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">October 4: </span><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Edible oil industries opened in the border areas targeting the Indian market are now forced to sell oil at throw-away prices. The industrialists are worried that their investment of Rs 15 billion in the oil industry is in peril.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The industrialists say that about two dozen industries will be closed if the government does not provide immediate policy protection. According to an industrialist, the production of one litre of oil currently costs Rs 190.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Industrialists are selling oil at Rs 170 a litre from the factory.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">In the past, when India imposed a high rate of customs duty on the import of oil, the industries of Nepal made good income from oil exports taking advantage of the concessions given to Nepal. But now, those industries are on the brink of collapse after India lowered the customs duty. Previously, India used to charge up to 40 per cent duty on oil imported from other countries but only zero to 5 per cent for oil supplied by Nepali industries under SAFTA concession.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Earlier, the export used to be more profitable as the duty paid to the local customs and value-added tax was also refunded. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Suresh Rungta, the owner of OCB Food, said that after India adopted a zero-duty policy on imports to control the price of oil in its domestic market, exports from Nepal have come to a standstill. He said that they were forced to sell oil at a loss because it was essential to meet the expenses of the industry. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">At present, the retail price of cooking oil in the border Indian market is Rs 178 per litre. Industrialists added that the cost of transporting raw materials from Kolkata to Birgunj is Rs 7 per litre. They say that if the processing cost is added, the production cost of one litre of oil will reach Rs 190. Industries of Nepal have been bringing semi-refined oil from Ukraine, Indonesia and Malaysia and processing it here. The industry of Nepal refines sunflower, soybean, palm oil and mustard oil and used to exports them, mostly to India until recently.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">But now, since the export to India is not possible, there is fierce competition between more than two dozen industries in the domestic market. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Prabhu Dayal Aggarwal, the owner of Annapurna Vegetable Products, said that he had to do a 'push sale' after the sale stopped.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">"Now, there is fierce competition in the domestic market. Oil has to be sold at a lower price than the cost. If the situation like this persists, we will not be able to sustain any longer,'' Agarwal shared.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Currently, 22 industries produce oil. At a time when exports were easy to India, most of the industries expanded their investments. Some new industries were also added. Among them, 14 are based in the Bara-Parsa corridor, and others are in Biratnagar and Bhairahawa. The annual production capacity of such industries is 2.5 million tons. Industrialists say that the domestic market consumption is only 500,000 tons. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Nikhil Chauhan, the owner of Narayani Oil Refinery, shared that this wide gap between production and the market has led to fierce competition.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">It is said that the Indian government is keeping the interest of the common consumer at the forefront, considering the Lok Sabha elections to be held in 2024.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">India is making many policy changes to make food supply easier and cheaper. There is also control over the export of essential grains like paddy, rice, wheat and sugar. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">In the context of Nepal, the government had reduced the customs duty on the import of raw materials to 1 per cent last year to save the oil industry from the crisis.</span> <span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Chauhan said that the current year's budget has removed this concession and brought it back to 10 per cent.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Agarwal demanded that the government should protect the investment of the domestic oil industry as a matter of policy.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Chachan also agrees to this demand. He added that if there is a policy of reducing the tariff on the import of raw materials to 1 per cent and giving at least a 10 per cent subsidy on exports, the oil industry can be protected from the current crisis. </span></span></span></p> <p><br /> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-04', 'modified' => '2023-10-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18902', 'image' => '20231004030739_oil1501009175_7.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-04 15:06:46', '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' => '19188', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'IMF reaches Staff-Level Agreement to Review Extended Credit Facility ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 6: Government authorities of Nepal and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) team have reached a staff-level agreement for the disbursement of about $51.3 million under the Extended Credit Facility (ECF) arrangement. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 6: Government authorities of Nepal and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) team have reached a staff-level agreement for the disbursement of about $51.3 million under the Extended Credit Facility (ECF) arrangement. The third review of the agreement is subject to approval by the IMF’s Executive Board, according to a press release issued by IMF on October 5. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Nepal’s external position has strengthened, supported by prudent fiscal and monetary policies, buoyant remittances, and increasing tourism activity. Following a slowdown last year, growth is projected to recover to 3.5 percent in FY 2023/24, but to remain below potential, reflecting weak domestic demand, the IMF statement said adding inflation is declining but is still elevated. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">It further stated that necessary balance sheet repairs have been limiting credit growth in spite of monetary relaxation. Reforms under the ECF aim to generate more stable, pro-growth credit while maintaining price and external stability. Accelerating the planned increase in capital spending, as envisaged in the budget, will help boost demand. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The IMF acknowledged that the government authorities of Nepal are diligently making progress to improve AML/CFT, including enacting amendments of AML laws to bring them in line with international standards. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The press statement was released upon the conclusion of IMF team visit led by Tidiane Kinda from September 21 to October 5. The team held discussions on the policies and reforms that could lead to the completion of the third review of the economic programme supported by the IMF’s ECF. At the end of the mission, Kinda issued statement asserting that Nepal continues to make progress with the implementation of the ECF-supported program. </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 the fiscal front, important achievements by the Ministry of Finance include the formulation of a fiscal risk register, the publication of the non-custom tax exemptions, and the implementation of a cash flow forecasting framework, all reforms aimed at strengthening transparency of public finances and further enhancing fiscal management," the press stated quoted Kinda as saying. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The ECF is a scheme that provides financial assistance to countries with protracted balance of payments problems. It supports countries’ economic programs aimed at moving toward a stable and sustainable macroeconomic position consistent with strong and durable poverty reduction and growth. It is also expected to help catalyze additional foreign aid. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-06', 'modified' => '2023-10-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18917', 'image' => '20231006125525_20220426051733_imf.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-06 12:54:23', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19187', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Secures First Medal in 19th Asian Games', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 6: Nepal has finally succeeded in winning a medal in the ongoing 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 6: Nepal has finally succeeded in winning a medal in the ongoing 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China. Nepal received a bronze medal in women’s kabaddi event. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Nepal secured a bronze medal in the event after being defeated by India 61-17 in the semifinal. </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"">Nepal had entered semifinal as a first runner up of Group 'B'. Similarly, India had entered seminal as the winner of Group 'A'. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">All four teams playing the seminal in kabaddi were assured of medals. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">It was the first time Nepal participated in the Asian Games under women’s kabaddi. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Group 'B' has Iran and Bangladesh as well. As a winner of Group 'B', Iran got entry to the semifinal and is playing against first runner up of Group 'A', Chinese Taipei. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The players in the Nepali team were Menuka Kumari Rajbanshi (captain), Manmati Bista, Jayanti Badu, Sunita Thapa, Rabina Chaudhari, Anuja Kulung Rai, Ganga Rai, Nitu Gurung, Isha Rai, Arpana Chaudhari, Sirjana Tharu and Kalawati Pant. Team instructor is Bishnu Datt Bhatta. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-06', 'modified' => '2023-10-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18916', 'image' => '20231006120602_a.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-06 12:05:09', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19186', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Two more Earthquakes Jolt Bajhang', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 6: Two more earthquakes were felt last night (Thursday) with epicenters at Chainpur of Bajhang district in Sudurpaschim Province. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 6: Two more earthquakes were felt last night (Thursday) with epicenters at Chainpur of Bajhang district in Sudurpaschim Province. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The National Earthquake Monitoring and Research Centre, Lainchaur informed that the earthquakes – one measuring 4.3 in the Richter scale and another measuring 3.9 in the Richter scale – were recorded at 10:52 pm and 12:23 am last night. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The centre further informed that on Tuesday afternoon an earthquake measuring 5.3 in the Richter scale had occurred in Bajhang with its epicenter at Talkot. On the same day, a 6.3 Richter scale quake jolted the district at 3:06 pm. It was followed by 4.1 Richter scale tremor at 3:45 pm. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A person died while a dozen others were injured in the earthquake. Similarly, hundreds of houses were damaged in the quake. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Geologist at the Centre, Dr Lok Bijay Adhikari, informed that the western belt of Nepal is vulnerable to earthquake anytime. "For 500 years, Nepal's western region has not seen any noticeable earthquake. So the tremors felt in recent times in this region is a wake-up call." -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-06', 'modified' => '2023-10-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18915', 'image' => '20231006112012_20230620111902_earth.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-06 11:19:18', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19185', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Japan Extends Grant to Improve Dhulikhel Hospital Trauma and Emergency Centre ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 5: The Government of Nepal and the Government of Japan on Tursday signed agreement for utilizing the grant assistance of JPY 3,296 million (approximately NPR 2.95 billion) for the implementation of the ‘Project for the Improvement of Dhulikhel Hospital’s Trauma and Emergency Center’. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 5: The Government of Nepal and the Government of Japan on Tursday signed agreement for utilizing the grant assistance of JPY 3,296 million (approximately NPR 2.95 billion) for the implementation of the ‘Project for the Improvement of Dhulikhel Hospital’s Trauma and Emergency Center’. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Finance Secretary Dr Krishna Hari Pushkar and Japanese Ambassador to Nepal Kikuta Yutaka exchanged the notes on behalf of their respective governments, reads a press release issued by the Ministry of Finance. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, the grant agreement was signed by Shreekrishna Nepal, joint secretary at the International Economic Cooperation Coordination Division of the Ministry of Finance and Okubo Akimitsu, chief representative of JICA Nepal Office on behalf of GON and JICA respectively. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The project aims to strengthen medical services for the rapidly growing number of trauma and emergency patients in Nepal by constructing a trauma and emergency center including emergency rooms, operating rooms, an ICU, and outpatient consultation rooms and providing medical equipment such as MRI, CT, C-arm, and X-ray machines, high steam sterilizers, etc at Dhulikhel Hospital. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The project implementation period is 48 months and the proposed assistance will be mobilized through the Ministry of Health and Population as a conditional grant, reads the statement. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">“I would like to thank the Government of Japan for its continuous support in strengthening the health sector of Nepal. This project will be instrumental in catering to the emergency services especially to the patients of Dhulikhel and nearby places,” said Finance Secretary, Dr Krishna Hari Pushkar. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">“I hope that the project will contribute to ensuring the healthy lives and promoting the welfare of Nepali people, thereby promoting the self-sustaining development of Nepal. I am confident that the objectives of the project will be achieved, thereby further strengthening the existing cordial relationship of friendship and cooperation between the peoples of Japan and Nepal,” stated Kikuta Yutaka, ambassador of Japan to Nepal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In Nepal, the number of trauma and emergency patients is increasing due to frequent disasters, public health emergencies, traffic accidents caused by increased traffic volume, and strokes and heart diseases caused by dietary changes associated with economic development. Therefore, it is urgent and important to increase the number of hospital beds and introduce necessary medical equipment, added the statement. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-06', 'modified' => '2023-10-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18914', 'image' => '20231006105840_duli.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-06 10:57:37', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19189', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'US National Dies after Falling off a Cliff ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 6: A US citizen has died after falling off cliff while visiting Manang, a mountainous 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 6: A US citizen has died after falling off cliff while visiting Manang, a mountainous district. The victim has been identified as 69-year-old Charles Keith Davis. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He was traveling to Chame from Lamjung in a jeep (Ba 6 Cha 756) on Wednesday night when the incident occurred. He was together with his spouse, guide, driver and porter. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Davis suddenly fell from the road when he was trying to remove a rock from the road at Khotrodanda of Naso Rural Municipality-3 along the Beshisahar-Chame road section. He fell some 100 meters down onto the Marsyangdi River bank, according to Deputy Superintendent of Police, Phanindra Ranabhat. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A police team mobilized from District Police Office, Chame rushed him to District Hospital after rescuing him the same night, but the foreign traveler succumbed to his injuries during treatment. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Davis' body has been sent to TU Teaching Hospital, Kathmandu for postmortem, the police added. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-06', 'modified' => '2023-10-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18913', 'image' => '20231006011016_manang_july_9_cover_202202261308221689212297_1024.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-06 13:09:31', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19184', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Rastra Bank Amends Margin Lending Cap of Rs 120 Million', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'The Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has made changes to its Integrated Guidelines for the year 2080 BS. One of the remarkable changes is the removal of the previous upper cap on margin lending, which was set at Rs 120 million. Under the new guidelines, the NRB has increased the limit for margin lending.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">October 6: The Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has made changes to its Integrated Guidelines for the year 2080 BS. </span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">One of the remarkable changes is the removal of the previous upper cap on margin lending, which was set at Rs 120 million. </span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Under the new guidelines, the NRB has increased the limit for margin lending.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Individual investors can now avail margin lending up to Rs 150 million, while institutional investors have a higher limit of Rs 200 million.</span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">This means that investors now have more flexibility in borrowing money for investing in the stock market.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">This decision to remove the cap on margin lending comes in response to pressure from share market investors who argued that the cap of Rs 120 million on loans against the securities was negatively impacting the stock market.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Additionally, the amended guidelines require commercial banks to maintain a counter cyclical buffer of 0.5 percent by the end of the current fiscal year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-06', 'modified' => '2023-10-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18912', 'image' => '20231006060613_collage (1).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-06 06:04:48', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19183', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Preparation Made to Open Korala Checkpoint: CM Pandey', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Chief Minister of Gandaki Province, Surendra Raj Pandey, said that preparations have been completed to open the Korala cross-border checkpoint in Mustang.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:15.0pt">October 5: Chief Minister of Gandaki Province, Surendra Raj Pandey, said that preparations have been completed to open the Korala cross-border checkpoint in Mustang. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:15.0pt">During a recent visit to Pillar no 24, located at the border between Mustang and the Tibet Autonomous Region of China, Chief Minister Pandey emphasized the urgent need for constructing physical infrastructure at the Mustang border, as infrastructure toward Tibet has already been developed. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:15.0pt">CM Pandey revealed that discussions have taken place with the federal government, Prime Minister, and relevant ministries to facilitate the opening of the Korala checkpoint.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:15.0pt">The government is focused on improving the road leading to the Korala checkpoint to ensure regular vehicle movement. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the trade fair, held biannually at the Korala checkpoint, has not taken place since 2076 BS.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:15.0pt">Additionally, Chief District Officer of Mustang, Janak Raj Pandey, mentioned that Chinese officials are willing to open the checkpoint, and talks with them are scheduled. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:15.0pt">There are also plans to permit cross-border movement for residents living within approximately 30 kilometers of the checkpoint based on identity card verification.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:15.0pt">Following an inspection of the checkpoint, meetings were conducted by the Gandaki Province-level security committee and Mustang district-level security committee in Korala. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:15.0pt">A delegation consisting of Chief Minister Pandey, federal parliament members, and province assembly members visited more than 10 bordering villages, engaging in discussions with locals about the status of provincial government projects, the budget allocation for the current fiscal year, and addressing the concerns of the residents, said Narahari Sapkota. (RSS)</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-05', 'modified' => '2023-10-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18911', 'image' => '20231005054242_collage (13).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-05 17:41:30', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19181', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'SC Issues Show Cause Order for Taxation on Income Earned from Merger and FPO Issuance', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 5: The Supreme Court issued a ‘show cause order’ to the government regarding the provision under the Finance Act 2080 that requires payment of tax on income earned through the merger or acquisition of companies and through the issuance of further public offering (FPO) of shares.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">October 5: The Supreme Court issued a ‘show cause order’ to the government regarding the provision under the Finance Act 2080 that requires payment of tax on income earned through the merger or acquisition of companies and through the issuance of further public offering (FPO) of shares.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The banks had filed separate writ petitions against the provisions of the Finance Act arguing that the profits from mergers and acquisitions and dividends from share premiums should not be subjected to income tax. The banks sought injunctions and interim orders in both the writs. The constitutional bench of the SC issued the show cause order on Wednesday.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Govinda Prasad Ghimire, information officer of SC, informed that both the parties were called for a discussion on November 8.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">On Wednesday, Supreme Court’s full bench chaired by Chief Justice Bishwambhar Prasad Shrestha along with justices Ishwar Prasad Khatiwada, Dr Ananda Mohan Bhattarai, Prakash Kumar Dhungana, and Sushma Lata Mathema presided over the hearings on both the cases. The first hearing of the writ filed on September 15 was adjourned due to the fact that it was not sent for hearing on September 27.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Standard Chartered Bank and Nepal SBI had filed a writ against the provision of tax on issuance of FPO at premium rate. Likewise, Sanima Bank, Siddhartha Bank, NIC Asia Bank, Kumari Bank, Himalayan Bank, Prime Commercial Bank, Prabhu Bank, Global IME Bank, Laxmi Sunrise Bank, and Machhapuchhre Bank filed a writ against the provision of taxation on gains through merger/acquisition. Similarly, Citizens Bank, NMB Bank, Nabil Bank and Nepal Investment Mega Bank have filed writs in both cases.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">In the writ petition, it has been claimed that the provision of taxation on profit received through merger or acquisition and issuance of FPO at premium rate is an ‘ex post facto taxation' and it is against the constitution.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-05', 'modified' => '2023-10-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18909', 'image' => '20231005021316_Supreme Court.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-05 14:12:33', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19180', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '38 Nations Win Medals at Asian Games, China Tops Medal Tally ', 'sub_title' => 'Nepal Assured of Medal in Women's Kabaddi ', 'summary' => 'October 5: Thirty-eight nations have so far won medals at the ongoing 19th Asian Games while China continues to remain at the top of medals tally. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 5: Thirty-eight nations have so far won medals at the ongoing 19th Asian Games while China continues to remain at the top of medals tally. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">As of Wednesday, 38 of the total 45 countries participating in the event won medals while China remained at the top with 319 medals: 172 gold, 95 silver and 52 bronze. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, Japan is in the second place with 147 medals including 37 gold, 51 silver and 59 bronze followed South Korea with 148 medals including 33 gold, 45 silver and 70 bronze. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">India is fourth with 81 medals, comprising 18 gold, 31 silver, and 32 bronze, while Uzbekistan is fifth with 54 medals, including 16 gold, 16 silver, and 22 bronze. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Chinese Taipei has secured the sixth position with 13 gold, 14 silver, and 21 bronze, while Thailand is in seventh place with 10 gold, 12 silver, and 24 bronze, with a total of 46 medals. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Bahrain holds the eighth position with 16 medals, including 10 gold, one silver, and five bronze. North Korea is in the ninth position with nine gold, 12 silver, and eight bronze medals, with a total of 29 medals while Hong Kong lies in the 10th position with seven gold, 15 silver, and 28 bronze. </span><br /> <strong><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Nepal secures medal in Women's Kabaddi</span></strong> <br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Nepal has avoided the possibility of returning home without a medal in the 19th Asian Games as the women's kabaddi team by reaching the semi-finals as the runner-up from Group 'B' on Wednesday. With this, Nepal assured of at least one medal in Hangzhou. There is a provision that all four teams that reach the semi-finals in kabaddi will receive medals. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-05', 'modified' => '2023-10-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18908', 'image' => '20231005013758_XxjpseE009522_20231004_PEPFN1A001.JPG', 'article_date' => '2023-10-05 13:37:03', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19179', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Parliamentary Panel Directs Government to Ensure Smooth Supply of Daily Consumables during Festivals', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 5: The Industry and Commerce, and Labour and Consumer Interest Committee under the House of Representatives has instructed the government to ensure smooth supply of daily essentials during festivals of Dashain, Tihar and Chhath. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 5: The Industry and Commerce, and Labour and Consumer Interest Committee under the House of Representatives has instructed the government to ensure smooth supply of daily essentials during festivals of Dashain, Tihar and Chhath. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A meeting of the committee on Wednesday directed the government to increase the number of fair-price shops, ensure adequate supplies of food to the remote areas including Karnali and intensify market monitoring during the festivals. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Sharing about the decisions of the meeting with media, committee President Abudul Khan said the government has been instructed to take additional efforts to ensure smooth supplies of food during the festivals. </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"">"The government’s decision to launch the fair-price shop targeting upcoming festivals is welcoming," he said, adding that the number of such outlets should be increased. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, the government has been asked for taking measures to prevent the potential market irregularities such as artificial price-hike, food adulteration, black marketing and artificial shortages during the festive season. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">During the meeting, the committee held discussions with betel nuts producers and suppliers and representatives from the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies regarding issues related to the exports of betel nuts. The meeting also decided to take further updates about the issues from stakeholders. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-05', 'modified' => '2023-10-05', 'keywords' => 'parliament, committee, consumer, festivals, smooth, supply, daily, essentials, black, marketing, artificial, shortage, hoarding, price, hike', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18907', 'image' => '20231005124641_iStock_000034378286Small-1.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-05 12:45:07', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19178', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Weather Improves after Five Days of Rainfall ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 5: The weather across the country has improved from Thursday after continuous rainfall for the past five days. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 5: The weather across the country has improved from Thursday after continuous rainfall for the past five days. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the Meteorological Forecasting Division, the atmospheric condition is expected to steadily improve further. Meteorologist Govinda Jha said the eastern parts of the country has been under the partial influence of a low-pressure system which is now in the process of shifting to the northwest and weakening. Such shift will have its impact on Sikkim and its surrounding areas, as well as Bangladesh. </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"">Jha further said that Koshi Province has thick cloud cover, while skies in other regions are relatively clear at present. Although moderate rainfall is expected for the next two or three days, there is no possibility of heavy rainfall. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the division, the weather will be partly to generally cloudy today in Koshi Province, Bagmati Province and Gandaki Province and partly cloudy in rest of the country. Light to moderate rainfall with thunder and lightning is likely to occur at a few places of Koshi Province, Bagmati Province and Gandaki Province and at one or two places in rest of the provinces. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, the weather is expected be partly to generally cloudy tonight in Koshi Province, Madesh Province, Bagmati Province and Gandaki Province and partly cloudy to mainly fair in rest of the provinces. Light rain or thunder and lightning is likely to occur at a few places of Koshi Province, Madesh Province, Bagmati Province and Gandaki Province. The monsoon, which normally enters Nepal on June 13, withdraws on October 2. This year, however, the monsoon entered Nepal a day later on June 14 and its exit was delayed by a few days. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-05', 'modified' => '2023-10-05', 'keywords' => 'weather, Nepal, rainfall, improvement, thunder, cloudy, monsoon, low, pressure, system', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18906', 'image' => '20231005115016_HKC-Jajarkot-shephoksundo.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-05 11:49:03', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19177', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Experts Suggest Government to Make EPG Report Public ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 5: Experts have suggested the government make public the report prepared by the Eminent Persons Group (EPG) on Nepal-India relations. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 5: Experts have suggested the government make public the report prepared by the Eminent Persons Group (EPG) on Nepal-India relations. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Speaking at a meeting of the National Concern and Coordination Committee under the National Assembly held on Wednesday, they said the determination of border between the two countries should be finalized and given an official status. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Expressing the view on the issues regarding Nepal-India relations, opportunities, problems and solutions, the experts laid emphasis on implementing the border map prepared by technical mechanism of both the countries taking a long time of 26 years. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">On the occasion, EPG member and former Water Resources Secretary, Suryanath Upadhyay, asked the government through parliament to give an official status to the two-country border by determining disputed areas. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"As per border determination, it is necessary to remove encroachment at no man's land, to fence from one side if possible and to implement the mandamus of the Supreme Court regarding border and its regulation," said Upadhyay, adding that local levels and concerned police offices should keep record of Indian nationals in Nepal and it should be updated every six months. According to Upadhyay, labour permit should be effectively implemented in both formal and informal sectors as per the provision of Labour Law. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The EPG member further stressed the need to effectively raise the issues like drug smuggling, human trafficking and other criminal activities in the parliament as Nepal is facing challenges in maintaining peace and security due to such activities. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, former Director General of the Department of Survey, Toyanath Baral, said it was necessary to manage border regulation between the two countries in an integrated manner. He also suggested the government to implement the border related map prepared by the EPG. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-05', 'modified' => '2023-10-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18905', 'image' => '20231005111322_Flag-Pins-Nepal-India_600x600.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-05 11:12:38', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19176', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal to Sign Labour Pacts with Germany and Romania', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 5: The Government of Nepal is all set to enter into bilateral labour agreements with two European countries, Germany and Romania, in a move aimed at facilitating labour migration and employment opportunities for Nepali workers abroad.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">October 5: The Government of Nepal is all set to enter into bilateral labour agreements with two European countries, Germany and Romania, in a move aimed at facilitating labour migration and employment opportunities for Nepali workers abroad.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">A meeting of the Council of Ministers took a decision to this effect on Tuesday. Minister for Communication and Information Technology Rekha Sharma confirmed that the cabinet has approved the signing of the labor agreements with these two countries. The Ministry of Labour, Employment, and Social Security has been granted the authority to proceed with the agreements.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Minister Sharma also mentioned that a delegation led by Labour Minister Sharat Singh Bhandari will participate in the signing ceremony of the labour agreements with Germany and Romania.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Additionally, the government has given its approval for bilateral talks and air service agreements between Nepal and Switzerland, as well as Nepal and Rwanda.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">In a further development, the cabinet meeting decided to establish a bilateral consultation mechanism between the foreign ministries of Nepal and Malaysia, aimed at enhancing diplomatic and international relations between the two countries. -- RSS</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-05', 'modified' => '2023-10-05', 'keywords' => 'Labour, agreement, pact, Nepal, Malaysia, Germany, Romania, Switzerland, Rwanda', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18904', 'image' => '20231005094916_ed.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-05 09:48:26', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19175', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Sauraha’s Tourism in Crisis: Hotels Empty Despite Start of Season', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Chitwan’s Sauraha, the third-largest tourist destination in the country, is wearing a deserted look. Even though the tourism season has started, tourists are not coming, leaving business owners disappointed. The tourism season has set in, but hotel bookings are not made, rendering tourism entrepreneurs disappointed.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">October 5: Chitwan’s Sauraha, the third-largest tourist destination in the country, is wearing a deserted look. Even though the tourism season has started, tourists are not coming, leaving business owners disappointed. </span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The tourism season has set in, but hotel bookings are not made, rendering tourism entrepreneurs disappointed. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Tourism entrepreneurs say that Sauraha has received less than 10% of the expected tourists. </span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Suman Ghimire, the former president of the Regional Hotel Association in Sauraha, they are expecting the tourism business hit hard by COVID to revive and ready to welcome the tourists. However, tourists are not turning up, Ghimire said. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Ghimire attributes the lack of domestic tourists to the economic downturn in the country. "Firstly, the country is in an economic crisis, and secondly, air travel has become expensive, and the roads are in sorry state," he explains. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Ghimire also mentions that the tourists who have come to Nepal are more interested in trekking, and there is an expectation that they might come to Sauraha from the next month.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Sauraha is globally recognized. It has its own brand. But, the young generation of tourism entrepreneurs lack the zeal and creativity to introduce new products to attract the tourists to Sauraha. </span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">“We have not been able to introduce new products like our predecessors,” said Deepak Bhattarai, the erstwhile president of the association.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Sauraha is known for jungle safaris worldwide. However, most tourists coming here are not interested in jungle safaris these days. Safety challenges in the jungle, issue of animal rights, and other factors have caused a decrease in tourists interested in activities like elephant safaris and jungle walking.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The exodus of the youth from the country has dealt a severe blow to the production and consumption in the country, causing setback to the tourism promotion in the country, said Bhattarai. </span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Economic difficulties, high-interest rates, and increased operating costs have forced some major tourism entrepreneurs to leave the country. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">"We did not experience such a crisis even during the time of COVID," says Ganga Giri, the president of the Regional Hotel Association, Sauraha. "Now, the tourist occupancy in Sauraha is less than 10%." </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">When the occupancy is 100% in the hotels and bars, they just make 20% profit. The current scenario of tourist arrivals in Sauraha is pessimistic, forcing entrepreneurs to quit their businesses. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The policy of the federal government and negligence on the part of the local government are responsible for the sorry state of the tourists in Sauraha, say the local entrepreneurs. </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-05', 'modified' => '2023-10-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18903', 'image' => '20231005060417_collage.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-05 06:01:36', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19173', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Fierce Competition Forcing Oil Industries to Sell their Products Below Cost Price', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 4: Edible oil industries opened in the border areas targeting the Indian market are now forced to sell oil at throw-away prices. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">October 4: </span><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Edible oil industries opened in the border areas targeting the Indian market are now forced to sell oil at throw-away prices. The industrialists are worried that their investment of Rs 15 billion in the oil industry is in peril.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The industrialists say that about two dozen industries will be closed if the government does not provide immediate policy protection. According to an industrialist, the production of one litre of oil currently costs Rs 190.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Industrialists are selling oil at Rs 170 a litre from the factory.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">In the past, when India imposed a high rate of customs duty on the import of oil, the industries of Nepal made good income from oil exports taking advantage of the concessions given to Nepal. But now, those industries are on the brink of collapse after India lowered the customs duty. Previously, India used to charge up to 40 per cent duty on oil imported from other countries but only zero to 5 per cent for oil supplied by Nepali industries under SAFTA concession.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Earlier, the export used to be more profitable as the duty paid to the local customs and value-added tax was also refunded. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Suresh Rungta, the owner of OCB Food, said that after India adopted a zero-duty policy on imports to control the price of oil in its domestic market, exports from Nepal have come to a standstill. He said that they were forced to sell oil at a loss because it was essential to meet the expenses of the industry. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">At present, the retail price of cooking oil in the border Indian market is Rs 178 per litre. Industrialists added that the cost of transporting raw materials from Kolkata to Birgunj is Rs 7 per litre. They say that if the processing cost is added, the production cost of one litre of oil will reach Rs 190. Industries of Nepal have been bringing semi-refined oil from Ukraine, Indonesia and Malaysia and processing it here. The industry of Nepal refines sunflower, soybean, palm oil and mustard oil and used to exports them, mostly to India until recently.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">But now, since the export to India is not possible, there is fierce competition between more than two dozen industries in the domestic market. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Prabhu Dayal Aggarwal, the owner of Annapurna Vegetable Products, said that he had to do a 'push sale' after the sale stopped.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">"Now, there is fierce competition in the domestic market. Oil has to be sold at a lower price than the cost. If the situation like this persists, we will not be able to sustain any longer,'' Agarwal shared.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Currently, 22 industries produce oil. At a time when exports were easy to India, most of the industries expanded their investments. Some new industries were also added. Among them, 14 are based in the Bara-Parsa corridor, and others are in Biratnagar and Bhairahawa. The annual production capacity of such industries is 2.5 million tons. Industrialists say that the domestic market consumption is only 500,000 tons. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Nikhil Chauhan, the owner of Narayani Oil Refinery, shared that this wide gap between production and the market has led to fierce competition.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">It is said that the Indian government is keeping the interest of the common consumer at the forefront, considering the Lok Sabha elections to be held in 2024.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">India is making many policy changes to make food supply easier and cheaper. There is also control over the export of essential grains like paddy, rice, wheat and sugar. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">In the context of Nepal, the government had reduced the customs duty on the import of raw materials to 1 per cent last year to save the oil industry from the crisis.</span> <span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Chauhan said that the current year's budget has removed this concession and brought it back to 10 per cent.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Agarwal demanded that the government should protect the investment of the domestic oil industry as a matter of policy.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Chachan also agrees to this demand. He added that if there is a policy of reducing the tariff on the import of raw materials to 1 per cent and giving at least a 10 per cent subsidy on exports, the oil industry can be protected from the current crisis. </span></span></span></p> <p><br /> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-04', 'modified' => '2023-10-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18902', 'image' => '20231004030739_oil1501009175_7.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-04 15:06:46', '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' => '19188', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'IMF reaches Staff-Level Agreement to Review Extended Credit Facility ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 6: Government authorities of Nepal and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) team have reached a staff-level agreement for the disbursement of about $51.3 million under the Extended Credit Facility (ECF) arrangement. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 6: Government authorities of Nepal and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) team have reached a staff-level agreement for the disbursement of about $51.3 million under the Extended Credit Facility (ECF) arrangement. The third review of the agreement is subject to approval by the IMF’s Executive Board, according to a press release issued by IMF on October 5. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Nepal’s external position has strengthened, supported by prudent fiscal and monetary policies, buoyant remittances, and increasing tourism activity. Following a slowdown last year, growth is projected to recover to 3.5 percent in FY 2023/24, but to remain below potential, reflecting weak domestic demand, the IMF statement said adding inflation is declining but is still elevated. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">It further stated that necessary balance sheet repairs have been limiting credit growth in spite of monetary relaxation. Reforms under the ECF aim to generate more stable, pro-growth credit while maintaining price and external stability. Accelerating the planned increase in capital spending, as envisaged in the budget, will help boost demand. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The IMF acknowledged that the government authorities of Nepal are diligently making progress to improve AML/CFT, including enacting amendments of AML laws to bring them in line with international standards. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The press statement was released upon the conclusion of IMF team visit led by Tidiane Kinda from September 21 to October 5. The team held discussions on the policies and reforms that could lead to the completion of the third review of the economic programme supported by the IMF’s ECF. At the end of the mission, Kinda issued statement asserting that Nepal continues to make progress with the implementation of the ECF-supported program. </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 the fiscal front, important achievements by the Ministry of Finance include the formulation of a fiscal risk register, the publication of the non-custom tax exemptions, and the implementation of a cash flow forecasting framework, all reforms aimed at strengthening transparency of public finances and further enhancing fiscal management," the press stated quoted Kinda as saying. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The ECF is a scheme that provides financial assistance to countries with protracted balance of payments problems. It supports countries’ economic programs aimed at moving toward a stable and sustainable macroeconomic position consistent with strong and durable poverty reduction and growth. It is also expected to help catalyze additional foreign aid. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-06', 'modified' => '2023-10-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18917', 'image' => '20231006125525_20220426051733_imf.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-06 12:54:23', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19187', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Secures First Medal in 19th Asian Games', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 6: Nepal has finally succeeded in winning a medal in the ongoing 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 6: Nepal has finally succeeded in winning a medal in the ongoing 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China. Nepal received a bronze medal in women’s kabaddi event. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Nepal secured a bronze medal in the event after being defeated by India 61-17 in the semifinal. </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"">Nepal had entered semifinal as a first runner up of Group 'B'. Similarly, India had entered seminal as the winner of Group 'A'. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">All four teams playing the seminal in kabaddi were assured of medals. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">It was the first time Nepal participated in the Asian Games under women’s kabaddi. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Group 'B' has Iran and Bangladesh as well. As a winner of Group 'B', Iran got entry to the semifinal and is playing against first runner up of Group 'A', Chinese Taipei. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The players in the Nepali team were Menuka Kumari Rajbanshi (captain), Manmati Bista, Jayanti Badu, Sunita Thapa, Rabina Chaudhari, Anuja Kulung Rai, Ganga Rai, Nitu Gurung, Isha Rai, Arpana Chaudhari, Sirjana Tharu and Kalawati Pant. Team instructor is Bishnu Datt Bhatta. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-06', 'modified' => '2023-10-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18916', 'image' => '20231006120602_a.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-06 12:05:09', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19186', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Two more Earthquakes Jolt Bajhang', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 6: Two more earthquakes were felt last night (Thursday) with epicenters at Chainpur of Bajhang district in Sudurpaschim Province. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 6: Two more earthquakes were felt last night (Thursday) with epicenters at Chainpur of Bajhang district in Sudurpaschim Province. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The National Earthquake Monitoring and Research Centre, Lainchaur informed that the earthquakes – one measuring 4.3 in the Richter scale and another measuring 3.9 in the Richter scale – were recorded at 10:52 pm and 12:23 am last night. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The centre further informed that on Tuesday afternoon an earthquake measuring 5.3 in the Richter scale had occurred in Bajhang with its epicenter at Talkot. On the same day, a 6.3 Richter scale quake jolted the district at 3:06 pm. It was followed by 4.1 Richter scale tremor at 3:45 pm. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A person died while a dozen others were injured in the earthquake. Similarly, hundreds of houses were damaged in the quake. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Geologist at the Centre, Dr Lok Bijay Adhikari, informed that the western belt of Nepal is vulnerable to earthquake anytime. "For 500 years, Nepal's western region has not seen any noticeable earthquake. So the tremors felt in recent times in this region is a wake-up call." -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-06', 'modified' => '2023-10-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18915', 'image' => '20231006112012_20230620111902_earth.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-06 11:19:18', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19185', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Japan Extends Grant to Improve Dhulikhel Hospital Trauma and Emergency Centre ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 5: The Government of Nepal and the Government of Japan on Tursday signed agreement for utilizing the grant assistance of JPY 3,296 million (approximately NPR 2.95 billion) for the implementation of the ‘Project for the Improvement of Dhulikhel Hospital’s Trauma and Emergency Center’. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 5: The Government of Nepal and the Government of Japan on Tursday signed agreement for utilizing the grant assistance of JPY 3,296 million (approximately NPR 2.95 billion) for the implementation of the ‘Project for the Improvement of Dhulikhel Hospital’s Trauma and Emergency Center’. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Finance Secretary Dr Krishna Hari Pushkar and Japanese Ambassador to Nepal Kikuta Yutaka exchanged the notes on behalf of their respective governments, reads a press release issued by the Ministry of Finance. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, the grant agreement was signed by Shreekrishna Nepal, joint secretary at the International Economic Cooperation Coordination Division of the Ministry of Finance and Okubo Akimitsu, chief representative of JICA Nepal Office on behalf of GON and JICA respectively. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The project aims to strengthen medical services for the rapidly growing number of trauma and emergency patients in Nepal by constructing a trauma and emergency center including emergency rooms, operating rooms, an ICU, and outpatient consultation rooms and providing medical equipment such as MRI, CT, C-arm, and X-ray machines, high steam sterilizers, etc at Dhulikhel Hospital. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The project implementation period is 48 months and the proposed assistance will be mobilized through the Ministry of Health and Population as a conditional grant, reads the statement. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">“I would like to thank the Government of Japan for its continuous support in strengthening the health sector of Nepal. This project will be instrumental in catering to the emergency services especially to the patients of Dhulikhel and nearby places,” said Finance Secretary, Dr Krishna Hari Pushkar. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">“I hope that the project will contribute to ensuring the healthy lives and promoting the welfare of Nepali people, thereby promoting the self-sustaining development of Nepal. I am confident that the objectives of the project will be achieved, thereby further strengthening the existing cordial relationship of friendship and cooperation between the peoples of Japan and Nepal,” stated Kikuta Yutaka, ambassador of Japan to Nepal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In Nepal, the number of trauma and emergency patients is increasing due to frequent disasters, public health emergencies, traffic accidents caused by increased traffic volume, and strokes and heart diseases caused by dietary changes associated with economic development. Therefore, it is urgent and important to increase the number of hospital beds and introduce necessary medical equipment, added the statement. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-06', 'modified' => '2023-10-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18914', 'image' => '20231006105840_duli.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-06 10:57:37', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19189', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'US National Dies after Falling off a Cliff ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 6: A US citizen has died after falling off cliff while visiting Manang, a mountainous 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 6: A US citizen has died after falling off cliff while visiting Manang, a mountainous district. The victim has been identified as 69-year-old Charles Keith Davis. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He was traveling to Chame from Lamjung in a jeep (Ba 6 Cha 756) on Wednesday night when the incident occurred. He was together with his spouse, guide, driver and porter. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Davis suddenly fell from the road when he was trying to remove a rock from the road at Khotrodanda of Naso Rural Municipality-3 along the Beshisahar-Chame road section. He fell some 100 meters down onto the Marsyangdi River bank, according to Deputy Superintendent of Police, Phanindra Ranabhat. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A police team mobilized from District Police Office, Chame rushed him to District Hospital after rescuing him the same night, but the foreign traveler succumbed to his injuries during treatment. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Davis' body has been sent to TU Teaching Hospital, Kathmandu for postmortem, the police added. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-06', 'modified' => '2023-10-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18913', 'image' => '20231006011016_manang_july_9_cover_202202261308221689212297_1024.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-06 13:09:31', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19184', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Rastra Bank Amends Margin Lending Cap of Rs 120 Million', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'The Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has made changes to its Integrated Guidelines for the year 2080 BS. One of the remarkable changes is the removal of the previous upper cap on margin lending, which was set at Rs 120 million. Under the new guidelines, the NRB has increased the limit for margin lending.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">October 6: The Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has made changes to its Integrated Guidelines for the year 2080 BS. </span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">One of the remarkable changes is the removal of the previous upper cap on margin lending, which was set at Rs 120 million. </span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Under the new guidelines, the NRB has increased the limit for margin lending.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Individual investors can now avail margin lending up to Rs 150 million, while institutional investors have a higher limit of Rs 200 million.</span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">This means that investors now have more flexibility in borrowing money for investing in the stock market.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">This decision to remove the cap on margin lending comes in response to pressure from share market investors who argued that the cap of Rs 120 million on loans against the securities was negatively impacting the stock market.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Additionally, the amended guidelines require commercial banks to maintain a counter cyclical buffer of 0.5 percent by the end of the current fiscal year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-06', 'modified' => '2023-10-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18912', 'image' => '20231006060613_collage (1).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-06 06:04:48', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19183', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Preparation Made to Open Korala Checkpoint: CM Pandey', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Chief Minister of Gandaki Province, Surendra Raj Pandey, said that preparations have been completed to open the Korala cross-border checkpoint in Mustang.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:15.0pt">October 5: Chief Minister of Gandaki Province, Surendra Raj Pandey, said that preparations have been completed to open the Korala cross-border checkpoint in Mustang. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:15.0pt">During a recent visit to Pillar no 24, located at the border between Mustang and the Tibet Autonomous Region of China, Chief Minister Pandey emphasized the urgent need for constructing physical infrastructure at the Mustang border, as infrastructure toward Tibet has already been developed. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:15.0pt">CM Pandey revealed that discussions have taken place with the federal government, Prime Minister, and relevant ministries to facilitate the opening of the Korala checkpoint.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:15.0pt">The government is focused on improving the road leading to the Korala checkpoint to ensure regular vehicle movement. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the trade fair, held biannually at the Korala checkpoint, has not taken place since 2076 BS.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:15.0pt">Additionally, Chief District Officer of Mustang, Janak Raj Pandey, mentioned that Chinese officials are willing to open the checkpoint, and talks with them are scheduled. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:15.0pt">There are also plans to permit cross-border movement for residents living within approximately 30 kilometers of the checkpoint based on identity card verification.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:15.0pt">Following an inspection of the checkpoint, meetings were conducted by the Gandaki Province-level security committee and Mustang district-level security committee in Korala. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:15.0pt">A delegation consisting of Chief Minister Pandey, federal parliament members, and province assembly members visited more than 10 bordering villages, engaging in discussions with locals about the status of provincial government projects, the budget allocation for the current fiscal year, and addressing the concerns of the residents, said Narahari Sapkota. (RSS)</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-05', 'modified' => '2023-10-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18911', 'image' => '20231005054242_collage (13).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-05 17:41:30', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19181', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'SC Issues Show Cause Order for Taxation on Income Earned from Merger and FPO Issuance', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 5: The Supreme Court issued a ‘show cause order’ to the government regarding the provision under the Finance Act 2080 that requires payment of tax on income earned through the merger or acquisition of companies and through the issuance of further public offering (FPO) of shares.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">October 5: The Supreme Court issued a ‘show cause order’ to the government regarding the provision under the Finance Act 2080 that requires payment of tax on income earned through the merger or acquisition of companies and through the issuance of further public offering (FPO) of shares.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The banks had filed separate writ petitions against the provisions of the Finance Act arguing that the profits from mergers and acquisitions and dividends from share premiums should not be subjected to income tax. The banks sought injunctions and interim orders in both the writs. The constitutional bench of the SC issued the show cause order on Wednesday.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Govinda Prasad Ghimire, information officer of SC, informed that both the parties were called for a discussion on November 8.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">On Wednesday, Supreme Court’s full bench chaired by Chief Justice Bishwambhar Prasad Shrestha along with justices Ishwar Prasad Khatiwada, Dr Ananda Mohan Bhattarai, Prakash Kumar Dhungana, and Sushma Lata Mathema presided over the hearings on both the cases. The first hearing of the writ filed on September 15 was adjourned due to the fact that it was not sent for hearing on September 27.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Standard Chartered Bank and Nepal SBI had filed a writ against the provision of tax on issuance of FPO at premium rate. Likewise, Sanima Bank, Siddhartha Bank, NIC Asia Bank, Kumari Bank, Himalayan Bank, Prime Commercial Bank, Prabhu Bank, Global IME Bank, Laxmi Sunrise Bank, and Machhapuchhre Bank filed a writ against the provision of taxation on gains through merger/acquisition. Similarly, Citizens Bank, NMB Bank, Nabil Bank and Nepal Investment Mega Bank have filed writs in both cases.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">In the writ petition, it has been claimed that the provision of taxation on profit received through merger or acquisition and issuance of FPO at premium rate is an ‘ex post facto taxation' and it is against the constitution.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-05', 'modified' => '2023-10-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18909', 'image' => '20231005021316_Supreme Court.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-05 14:12:33', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19180', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '38 Nations Win Medals at Asian Games, China Tops Medal Tally ', 'sub_title' => 'Nepal Assured of Medal in Women's Kabaddi ', 'summary' => 'October 5: Thirty-eight nations have so far won medals at the ongoing 19th Asian Games while China continues to remain at the top of medals tally. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 5: Thirty-eight nations have so far won medals at the ongoing 19th Asian Games while China continues to remain at the top of medals tally. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">As of Wednesday, 38 of the total 45 countries participating in the event won medals while China remained at the top with 319 medals: 172 gold, 95 silver and 52 bronze. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, Japan is in the second place with 147 medals including 37 gold, 51 silver and 59 bronze followed South Korea with 148 medals including 33 gold, 45 silver and 70 bronze. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">India is fourth with 81 medals, comprising 18 gold, 31 silver, and 32 bronze, while Uzbekistan is fifth with 54 medals, including 16 gold, 16 silver, and 22 bronze. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Chinese Taipei has secured the sixth position with 13 gold, 14 silver, and 21 bronze, while Thailand is in seventh place with 10 gold, 12 silver, and 24 bronze, with a total of 46 medals. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Bahrain holds the eighth position with 16 medals, including 10 gold, one silver, and five bronze. North Korea is in the ninth position with nine gold, 12 silver, and eight bronze medals, with a total of 29 medals while Hong Kong lies in the 10th position with seven gold, 15 silver, and 28 bronze. </span><br /> <strong><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Nepal secures medal in Women's Kabaddi</span></strong> <br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Nepal has avoided the possibility of returning home without a medal in the 19th Asian Games as the women's kabaddi team by reaching the semi-finals as the runner-up from Group 'B' on Wednesday. With this, Nepal assured of at least one medal in Hangzhou. There is a provision that all four teams that reach the semi-finals in kabaddi will receive medals. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-05', 'modified' => '2023-10-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18908', 'image' => '20231005013758_XxjpseE009522_20231004_PEPFN1A001.JPG', 'article_date' => '2023-10-05 13:37:03', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19179', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Parliamentary Panel Directs Government to Ensure Smooth Supply of Daily Consumables during Festivals', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 5: The Industry and Commerce, and Labour and Consumer Interest Committee under the House of Representatives has instructed the government to ensure smooth supply of daily essentials during festivals of Dashain, Tihar and Chhath. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 5: The Industry and Commerce, and Labour and Consumer Interest Committee under the House of Representatives has instructed the government to ensure smooth supply of daily essentials during festivals of Dashain, Tihar and Chhath. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A meeting of the committee on Wednesday directed the government to increase the number of fair-price shops, ensure adequate supplies of food to the remote areas including Karnali and intensify market monitoring during the festivals. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Sharing about the decisions of the meeting with media, committee President Abudul Khan said the government has been instructed to take additional efforts to ensure smooth supplies of food during the festivals. </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"">"The government’s decision to launch the fair-price shop targeting upcoming festivals is welcoming," he said, adding that the number of such outlets should be increased. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, the government has been asked for taking measures to prevent the potential market irregularities such as artificial price-hike, food adulteration, black marketing and artificial shortages during the festive season. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">During the meeting, the committee held discussions with betel nuts producers and suppliers and representatives from the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies regarding issues related to the exports of betel nuts. The meeting also decided to take further updates about the issues from stakeholders. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-05', 'modified' => '2023-10-05', 'keywords' => 'parliament, committee, consumer, festivals, smooth, supply, daily, essentials, black, marketing, artificial, shortage, hoarding, price, hike', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18907', 'image' => '20231005124641_iStock_000034378286Small-1.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-05 12:45:07', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19178', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Weather Improves after Five Days of Rainfall ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 5: The weather across the country has improved from Thursday after continuous rainfall for the past five days. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 5: The weather across the country has improved from Thursday after continuous rainfall for the past five days. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the Meteorological Forecasting Division, the atmospheric condition is expected to steadily improve further. Meteorologist Govinda Jha said the eastern parts of the country has been under the partial influence of a low-pressure system which is now in the process of shifting to the northwest and weakening. Such shift will have its impact on Sikkim and its surrounding areas, as well as Bangladesh. </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"">Jha further said that Koshi Province has thick cloud cover, while skies in other regions are relatively clear at present. Although moderate rainfall is expected for the next two or three days, there is no possibility of heavy rainfall. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the division, the weather will be partly to generally cloudy today in Koshi Province, Bagmati Province and Gandaki Province and partly cloudy in rest of the country. Light to moderate rainfall with thunder and lightning is likely to occur at a few places of Koshi Province, Bagmati Province and Gandaki Province and at one or two places in rest of the provinces. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, the weather is expected be partly to generally cloudy tonight in Koshi Province, Madesh Province, Bagmati Province and Gandaki Province and partly cloudy to mainly fair in rest of the provinces. Light rain or thunder and lightning is likely to occur at a few places of Koshi Province, Madesh Province, Bagmati Province and Gandaki Province. The monsoon, which normally enters Nepal on June 13, withdraws on October 2. This year, however, the monsoon entered Nepal a day later on June 14 and its exit was delayed by a few days. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-05', 'modified' => '2023-10-05', 'keywords' => 'weather, Nepal, rainfall, improvement, thunder, cloudy, monsoon, low, pressure, system', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18906', 'image' => '20231005115016_HKC-Jajarkot-shephoksundo.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-05 11:49:03', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19177', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Experts Suggest Government to Make EPG Report Public ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 5: Experts have suggested the government make public the report prepared by the Eminent Persons Group (EPG) on Nepal-India relations. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 5: Experts have suggested the government make public the report prepared by the Eminent Persons Group (EPG) on Nepal-India relations. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Speaking at a meeting of the National Concern and Coordination Committee under the National Assembly held on Wednesday, they said the determination of border between the two countries should be finalized and given an official status. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Expressing the view on the issues regarding Nepal-India relations, opportunities, problems and solutions, the experts laid emphasis on implementing the border map prepared by technical mechanism of both the countries taking a long time of 26 years. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">On the occasion, EPG member and former Water Resources Secretary, Suryanath Upadhyay, asked the government through parliament to give an official status to the two-country border by determining disputed areas. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"As per border determination, it is necessary to remove encroachment at no man's land, to fence from one side if possible and to implement the mandamus of the Supreme Court regarding border and its regulation," said Upadhyay, adding that local levels and concerned police offices should keep record of Indian nationals in Nepal and it should be updated every six months. According to Upadhyay, labour permit should be effectively implemented in both formal and informal sectors as per the provision of Labour Law. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The EPG member further stressed the need to effectively raise the issues like drug smuggling, human trafficking and other criminal activities in the parliament as Nepal is facing challenges in maintaining peace and security due to such activities. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, former Director General of the Department of Survey, Toyanath Baral, said it was necessary to manage border regulation between the two countries in an integrated manner. He also suggested the government to implement the border related map prepared by the EPG. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-05', 'modified' => '2023-10-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18905', 'image' => '20231005111322_Flag-Pins-Nepal-India_600x600.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-05 11:12:38', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19176', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal to Sign Labour Pacts with Germany and Romania', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 5: The Government of Nepal is all set to enter into bilateral labour agreements with two European countries, Germany and Romania, in a move aimed at facilitating labour migration and employment opportunities for Nepali workers abroad.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">October 5: The Government of Nepal is all set to enter into bilateral labour agreements with two European countries, Germany and Romania, in a move aimed at facilitating labour migration and employment opportunities for Nepali workers abroad.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">A meeting of the Council of Ministers took a decision to this effect on Tuesday. Minister for Communication and Information Technology Rekha Sharma confirmed that the cabinet has approved the signing of the labor agreements with these two countries. The Ministry of Labour, Employment, and Social Security has been granted the authority to proceed with the agreements.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Minister Sharma also mentioned that a delegation led by Labour Minister Sharat Singh Bhandari will participate in the signing ceremony of the labour agreements with Germany and Romania.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Additionally, the government has given its approval for bilateral talks and air service agreements between Nepal and Switzerland, as well as Nepal and Rwanda.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">In a further development, the cabinet meeting decided to establish a bilateral consultation mechanism between the foreign ministries of Nepal and Malaysia, aimed at enhancing diplomatic and international relations between the two countries. -- RSS</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-05', 'modified' => '2023-10-05', 'keywords' => 'Labour, agreement, pact, Nepal, Malaysia, Germany, Romania, Switzerland, Rwanda', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18904', 'image' => '20231005094916_ed.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-05 09:48:26', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19175', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Sauraha’s Tourism in Crisis: Hotels Empty Despite Start of Season', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Chitwan’s Sauraha, the third-largest tourist destination in the country, is wearing a deserted look. Even though the tourism season has started, tourists are not coming, leaving business owners disappointed. The tourism season has set in, but hotel bookings are not made, rendering tourism entrepreneurs disappointed.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">October 5: Chitwan’s Sauraha, the third-largest tourist destination in the country, is wearing a deserted look. Even though the tourism season has started, tourists are not coming, leaving business owners disappointed. </span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The tourism season has set in, but hotel bookings are not made, rendering tourism entrepreneurs disappointed. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Tourism entrepreneurs say that Sauraha has received less than 10% of the expected tourists. </span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Suman Ghimire, the former president of the Regional Hotel Association in Sauraha, they are expecting the tourism business hit hard by COVID to revive and ready to welcome the tourists. However, tourists are not turning up, Ghimire said. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Ghimire attributes the lack of domestic tourists to the economic downturn in the country. "Firstly, the country is in an economic crisis, and secondly, air travel has become expensive, and the roads are in sorry state," he explains. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Ghimire also mentions that the tourists who have come to Nepal are more interested in trekking, and there is an expectation that they might come to Sauraha from the next month.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Sauraha is globally recognized. It has its own brand. But, the young generation of tourism entrepreneurs lack the zeal and creativity to introduce new products to attract the tourists to Sauraha. </span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">“We have not been able to introduce new products like our predecessors,” said Deepak Bhattarai, the erstwhile president of the association.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Sauraha is known for jungle safaris worldwide. However, most tourists coming here are not interested in jungle safaris these days. Safety challenges in the jungle, issue of animal rights, and other factors have caused a decrease in tourists interested in activities like elephant safaris and jungle walking.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The exodus of the youth from the country has dealt a severe blow to the production and consumption in the country, causing setback to the tourism promotion in the country, said Bhattarai. </span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Economic difficulties, high-interest rates, and increased operating costs have forced some major tourism entrepreneurs to leave the country. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">"We did not experience such a crisis even during the time of COVID," says Ganga Giri, the president of the Regional Hotel Association, Sauraha. "Now, the tourist occupancy in Sauraha is less than 10%." </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">When the occupancy is 100% in the hotels and bars, they just make 20% profit. The current scenario of tourist arrivals in Sauraha is pessimistic, forcing entrepreneurs to quit their businesses. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The policy of the federal government and negligence on the part of the local government are responsible for the sorry state of the tourists in Sauraha, say the local entrepreneurs. </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-05', 'modified' => '2023-10-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18903', 'image' => '20231005060417_collage.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-05 06:01:36', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19173', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Fierce Competition Forcing Oil Industries to Sell their Products Below Cost Price', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 4: Edible oil industries opened in the border areas targeting the Indian market are now forced to sell oil at throw-away prices. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">October 4: </span><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Edible oil industries opened in the border areas targeting the Indian market are now forced to sell oil at throw-away prices. The industrialists are worried that their investment of Rs 15 billion in the oil industry is in peril.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The industrialists say that about two dozen industries will be closed if the government does not provide immediate policy protection. According to an industrialist, the production of one litre of oil currently costs Rs 190.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Industrialists are selling oil at Rs 170 a litre from the factory.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">In the past, when India imposed a high rate of customs duty on the import of oil, the industries of Nepal made good income from oil exports taking advantage of the concessions given to Nepal. But now, those industries are on the brink of collapse after India lowered the customs duty. Previously, India used to charge up to 40 per cent duty on oil imported from other countries but only zero to 5 per cent for oil supplied by Nepali industries under SAFTA concession.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Earlier, the export used to be more profitable as the duty paid to the local customs and value-added tax was also refunded. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Suresh Rungta, the owner of OCB Food, said that after India adopted a zero-duty policy on imports to control the price of oil in its domestic market, exports from Nepal have come to a standstill. He said that they were forced to sell oil at a loss because it was essential to meet the expenses of the industry. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">At present, the retail price of cooking oil in the border Indian market is Rs 178 per litre. Industrialists added that the cost of transporting raw materials from Kolkata to Birgunj is Rs 7 per litre. They say that if the processing cost is added, the production cost of one litre of oil will reach Rs 190. Industries of Nepal have been bringing semi-refined oil from Ukraine, Indonesia and Malaysia and processing it here. The industry of Nepal refines sunflower, soybean, palm oil and mustard oil and used to exports them, mostly to India until recently.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">But now, since the export to India is not possible, there is fierce competition between more than two dozen industries in the domestic market. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Prabhu Dayal Aggarwal, the owner of Annapurna Vegetable Products, said that he had to do a 'push sale' after the sale stopped.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">"Now, there is fierce competition in the domestic market. Oil has to be sold at a lower price than the cost. If the situation like this persists, we will not be able to sustain any longer,'' Agarwal shared.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Currently, 22 industries produce oil. At a time when exports were easy to India, most of the industries expanded their investments. Some new industries were also added. Among them, 14 are based in the Bara-Parsa corridor, and others are in Biratnagar and Bhairahawa. The annual production capacity of such industries is 2.5 million tons. Industrialists say that the domestic market consumption is only 500,000 tons. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Nikhil Chauhan, the owner of Narayani Oil Refinery, shared that this wide gap between production and the market has led to fierce competition.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">It is said that the Indian government is keeping the interest of the common consumer at the forefront, considering the Lok Sabha elections to be held in 2024.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">India is making many policy changes to make food supply easier and cheaper. There is also control over the export of essential grains like paddy, rice, wheat and sugar. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">In the context of Nepal, the government had reduced the customs duty on the import of raw materials to 1 per cent last year to save the oil industry from the crisis.</span> <span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Chauhan said that the current year's budget has removed this concession and brought it back to 10 per cent.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Agarwal demanded that the government should protect the investment of the domestic oil industry as a matter of policy.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Chachan also agrees to this demand. He added that if there is a policy of reducing the tariff on the import of raw materials to 1 per cent and giving at least a 10 per cent subsidy on exports, the oil industry can be protected from the current crisis. </span></span></span></p> <p><br /> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-10-04', 'modified' => '2023-10-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18902', 'image' => '20231004030739_oil1501009175_7.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-10-04 15:06:46', '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
