September 24: The government is preparing to expand the score of credit guarantee on provided by banks and financial institutions.…
September 24: The government is preparing to expand the score of credit guarantee on provided by banks and financial institutions.…
September 24: Nepal is yet to benefit from concessional loans from Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank…
September 24: Nepal has been knocked out from the group stage in table tennis team event under the 19th Asian games underway in…
September 24: Aadhyanta Fund Management Limited, a Nepal-based fund mobilization platform, wrapped up its inaugural Aadhyanta Accelerator Program recently in Biratnagar, highlighting the high-growth potential of Koshi Province's Agri…
September 24: Jum Bahadur Budhathoki Magar, 73, from Nisikhola Rural Municipality-5 of Baglung district has an apple orchard with 200 trees of both local and Italian…
September 24: After Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal left for a week-long visit to China, the issue related to the operation of Korala transit point bordering Tibet Autonomous Region of China has emerged as a matter of public…
September 24: The World Bank has approved a grant of US$20 million to support the Government of Nepal’s Food and Nutrition Security Enhancement Project…
Tata Motors has launched a new showroom in Bharatpur, Chitwan. Authorized distributor SH Motors for Siprdai Trading, the official distributor of Tata Motors for Nepal, Sipradi Trading, has started operations in Bharatpur from…
Kamana Sewa Bikas Bank conducted a financial literacy program on Saturday at the Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office on Ram Shah Path. Information regarding banking systems, savings, loans, and the recent developments in digital banking was provided to the traffic…
September 23: Chinese President Xi Jinping inaugurated the 19th Asian Games in a colourful ceremony in Hangzhou city on Saturday, launching a two-week sporting extravaganza that boasts more athletes than the…
September 23: The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has urged one and all not to fly kites, drones and balloons around the Tribhuvan International Airport…
September 22: Government authorities have adopted strict measures at the border areas to prevent the spread of panama disease in bananas, fearing that the disease might spread in the country with the import of bananas from…
September 22: The Government of Nepal has prepared an ambitious and comprehensive action-plan including investing USD 46 billion for the overall development of the country's energy sector by…
In the first two months of the current fiscal year 2023/2024, more than 1,00,000 Nepalis have received labour…
September 22: The government has granted permission to 339 climbers from 35 expedition groups to climb 10 different mountain peaks during this autumn…
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', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">September 24: The government is preparing to expand the score of credit guarantee on provided by banks and financial institutions. The government’s decision to amend the Credit Guarantee Regulations 2080 to allow credit guarantee programs in new areas has paved the way to expand the scope of the Deposit and Credit Guarantee Fund (DCGF).</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to the revised regulations, the fund will be able to launch new credit guarantee programs in areas related to climate change, start-ups, information technology, skill development training, environmental protection, disaster management, alternative and renewable energy, women's entrepreneurship, etc. For this, the fund can take appropriate decision based on the size of the credit guarantee fund, financial resources of the fund, market demand and needs. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">So far, the fund has been guaranteeing credit provided to small and medium enterprises by banks and microfinance companies as well as deprived sector lending and loans provided at subsidized interest rates.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Ramesh Ghimire, the chief executive officer of DCGF, said that the amendment of the regulations has paved the way for the fund to expand the scope of credit guarantee in the areas according to market needs. He claimed that the role of the fund is important in expanding the access to credit in Nepal and that the banks have been able to extend credit with confidence because of security assurance.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Until the last fiscal year, the fund covered credit guarantee of loans worth Rs 2.74 billion of 1.7 million borrowers.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Once the banks have been assured of credit guarantee, the DCGF will have to bear the loss if the banks fail to recover the loans due to any reason.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">For this, the banks and financial institution or the liquidator should make a claim with the fund for the loss they have had to bear.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Since 2010, the fund has also been giving credit guarantee for deposits up to Rs 500,000 in the individual accounts maintained at banks. As of last fiscal year-end, the Deposit and Credit Guarantee Fund assured to guarantee deposits worth Rs 1233 billion maintained at 41.5 million accounts.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-24', 'modified' => '2023-09-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18806', 'image' => '20230924025245_blank - Copy.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-24 14:52:09', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19076', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Fails to Acquire Concessional Loans from AIIB', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 24: Nepal is yet to benefit from concessional loans from Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">September 24: Nepal is yet to benefit from concessional loans from Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).</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 every annual meeting of AIIB, the finance ministry of Nepal submits proposals for concessional loans from the multilateral donor organisation but the AIIB turns down the proposals every time. Even now, Finance Minister Dr Parkash Sharan Mahat, leading a high-level delegation of the Ministry of Finance, has reached Cairo to lobby for concessional loan.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">AIIB, which was established under the leadership of China, has set high interest rates on commercial loans, so underdeveloped countries like Nepal have a problem in getting concessional loan facilities. Nepal is also a founding member of the bank. Even though Nepal is not able to benefit much from the bank, Finance Minister Mahat has gone to Cairo to participate in the annual meeting of AIIB to be held this week with the proposal of subsidized loans.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Nepal is seeking loans from AIIB at the same interest and facilities as the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank. In every annual meeting and bilateral discussion, Nepal has been seeking for loans at subsidized interest rates. Nepal is not ready to take a loans other than concessional loans from AIIB as the interest rate is higher than that of Exim Bank. The bank’s officials have repeatedly requested Nepal to take loans, but they have refused to give concessions on interest rates.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">AIIB has been giving loans at 2.5 percent interest rate. Finance Minister Mahat says that Nepal is not in a position to invest in infrastructure with such loans given in US dollars. Minister Mahat will make a proposal for a concessional loan with AIIB, mainly with the argument that there is a lack of capital for Nepal's infrastructure development.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">When taking a loan from AIIB, the interest rate is fixed by adding 1 to 1.5 percentage points to the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR). The Ministry of Finance said that AIIB's loan can be used only by blending it with loans received from other donor agencies at cheaper interest rates. The Chinese government has 30 percent shares in the bank. Nepal has invested Rs 8 billion in it, which is 0.08 percent of the bank's capital. The purpose of this bank is to mobilize more capital in the Belt and Road Initiative launched by China. Chinese President Xi Jinping announced the establishment of the bank in 2013. The government of Nepal has not been able to benefit much from AIIB, which has emerged as a competitive bank among international financial institutions.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-24', 'modified' => '2023-09-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18805', 'image' => '20230924020450_AIIB_20221212_Press-Release_ESS-Communications_1129X620px.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-24 14:04:13', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19075', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '19th Asian Games: Nepal's Table Tennis Team Eliminated in Group Stage ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 24: Nepal has been knocked out from the group stage in table tennis team event under the 19th Asian games underway in China.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">September 24: Nepal has been knocked out from the group stage in table tennis team event under the 19th Asian games underway in China. Both the Nepali women's and men's teams have been eliminated in the group stage of the team event. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In the matches held at the Gongshu Canal Sports Park Gymnasium in Hangzhou city on Saturday, the Nepali women's team lost to India with a score of 0-3. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Nepal's Sikka Suwal was defeated by India's Diya Parag Chitale 11-1, 11-6 and 11-8 while Nabita Shrestha was defeated by Ahyika Mukharjee 11-3, 11-7, and Ivana Thapa Magar lost the match to Sutirtha Mukherjee with a score of 1-11, 5-11 and 2-11. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, Nepal's men's team was also defeated by North Korea in straight sets of 3-0. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Samyog Kapali lost to North Korea's player 7-11, 4-11 and 5-11. In another match, Rubin Maharjan was defeated by a score of 11-2, 11-6, and 11-2, while Bilosh Shrestha lost the match 8-11, 2-11 and 3-11. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-24', 'modified' => '2023-09-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18804', 'image' => '20230924013702_720 - Copy.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-24 13:36:16', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19077', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Aadhyanta Accelerator Program Concludes with ‘Historic’ Rs 200 Million Commitment for 10 Enterprises', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 24: Aadhyanta Fund Management Limited, a Nepal-based fund mobilization platform, wrapped up its inaugural Aadhyanta Accelerator Program recently in Biratnagar, highlighting the high-growth potential of Koshi Province's Agri SMEs.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Arial,"sans-serif"">September 24: Aadhyanta Fund Management Limited, a Nepal-based fund mobilization platform, wrapped up its inaugural Aadhyanta Accelerator Program recently in Biratnagar, highlighting the high-growth potential of Koshi Province's Agri SMEs.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Arial,"sans-serif"">The eight-month program organised in collaboration with Sahaj-NAMDP, FNCCI Koshi Province, and the Provincial Investment Authority, zeroed in on empowering agricultural enterprises, priming them for scalability and drawing investors. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Arial,"sans-serif"">Issuing a statement, the fund management company said that the initiative actively envisions amplifying the entrepreneurship in Koshi Province, and to expedite economic activities as well as to promote pioneering and innovation.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Arial,"sans-serif"">According to the statement, 10 enterprises emerged investment-ready at the culmination of the accelerator program. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Arial,"sans-serif"">Significant investors, including Global Equity Fund, NIMB Ace Capital Limited, Himalayan Capital Limited, Reliable Ventures Limited, and Aadhyanta Fund Management, expressed interest in five enterprises, signaling commitments to the tune of Rs 200 million, reads the statement.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Arial,"sans-serif"">Beneficiaries of this financial pact include Birat Group, Khetipati Organics, Agri Center Jhapa, Raktakali Tea Estate, and Dibyadristi Veneration and Agro.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Arial,"sans-serif"">Rajendra Raut, executive member of FNCCI and President of FNCCI Koshi Province, chaired the momentous gathering. The event was attended by Chief Minister of Koshi Province, Hikmat Karki, Mayor of Biratnagar Metropolitan City Nagesh Koirlaa, and distinguished personalities including Reema Shrestha, Dr Saroj Koirala, among others.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Arial,"sans-serif"">Commenting on the day's significance, Manoj Paudel of Aadhyanta shed light on the transformational potential of the alternative finance industry for the Nepali economy, positioning it as a robust counterweight to political uncertainties impacting economic stability.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-24', 'modified' => '2023-09-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18803', 'image' => '20230924022241_Picture.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-24 14:20:38', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19074', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Apple Production Declines in Dhorpatan Area ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 24: Jum Bahadur Budhathoki Magar, 73, from Nisikhola Rural Municipality-5 of Baglung district has an apple orchard with 200 trees of both local and Italian species. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">September 24: Jum Bahadur Budhathoki Magar, 73, from Nisikhola Rural Municipality-5 of Baglung district has an apple orchard with 200 trees of both local and Italian species. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He sold 15 quintals of apple last year, but the production slumped this year. The apple production declined sharply because of hailstones that occurred in March and April. Now, the orchard wears a dreary look. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Magar has been involved in traditional apple farming since 2048 BS. He has the farm in 15 ropanies of land at Masgaon.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"I was expecting to sell 20 to 25 quintals of apple this year, but in vain," he said, adding that the hailstones damaged it in the beginning of the flowering season. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Even the farmers at Niseldhor area are worried over the meagre product. With this, some of them have shifted to potato farming. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Magar had planted 200 saplings of Italian species of apple. He explained, "After I became Chairman of Dhorpatan Apple Bloc, we began collective apple farming. I'm leading the apple farmers of Neseldhoka as well. The Italian species of apple gave good harvest last year, but the hailstone damaged it during the flowering season this year." </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Earlier, Dhorpatan valley, Sentung, Shyalpakhe, Niseldhor and Mas were doing traditional farming, but in minimum scale. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Farmer from Dhorpatan-9, Ram Bahadur Gharti, informed that he also had good harvest from 181 trees of apple last year. But, the production declined this time. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-24', 'modified' => '2023-09-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18802', 'image' => '20230924012733_image039.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-24 13:26:54', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19073', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Mustang Folks Demand Operation of Korala Transit Point ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 24: After Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal left for a week-long visit to China, the issue related to the operation of Korala transit point bordering Tibet Autonomous Region of China has emerged as a matter of public concern. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">September 24: After Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal left for a week-long visit to China, the issue related to the operation of Korala transit point bordering Tibet Autonomous Region of China has emerged as a matter of public concern. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In the context when both the countries have yet to materialise the operation of Korala transit point, the prime minister’s official visit to China has boosted the local people's confidence about its operations. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">China had reached an understanding with Nepal some years ago to open eight transits including Korala check point.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">China has protected its land with a barbed wire fence at Korala transit point. It has placed security arrangement and also built a building in the no man’s land. The Chinese side has already blacktopped the road up to the border, and has made all preparations for a port, security post and customs office. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">China has completed all preparations for the operations of Korala transit, and is seeking security from the Nepali side along with preparations to open the border point, said Namdu Gurung, member of the Gandaki Province Assembly. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">As China has completed all the preparations for the operations of the transit point, there is a hope for agreement during Prime Minister Dahal's visit for the operations of the transit point, which is considered as the lifeline for the economic development of Gandaki Province, he said. The border is important in terms of both transit and tourism. If the border can be brought into operations, flow of international trade and religious tourism will begin. The transit point is expected to play a major role in the development of Mustang and Gandaki Province. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"We have been continuously raising our voice on the issue before the provincial government and the Province Assembly. Even the federal government is aware of the matter,” he said. </span></span></span><br /> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Nepal had signed a trade and transit agreement with China during the official visit of the then Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli to China in March, 2016. During his next visit in June 2018, an agreement was reached between the two countries to open additional transit points. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">There has been a delay in the construction of the Myagdi section of the under-construction Beni-Jomsom-Korala road targeting the Korala transit. The under-construction Kaligandaki corridor road, which is considered very important in terms of transit and trade. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The graveling and blacktopping of the road up to Korala through Ghansa and Jomsom has reached its final stage. But the construction of the road between Beni and Ghansa has been affected due to factors like floods, landslides and river erosion. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">While the famous Korala border has drawn widespread attention between the two countries, the trade fair which had been traditionally taking place biannually has been closed for four years, said Tasi Nharbu Gurung, chairperson of the Lo Manthang Rural Municipality. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">As the Chinese side has showed its desire to open the border crossing this year after completing the construction of the entire infrastructure, the news that the issue will be taken up during the visit of Prime Minister Dahal to China has made residents of Mustang more confident that there will be further progress in the border operations, he said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The acquisition of around 1,000 ropanis of land has been completed for the construction of the infrastructure for an integrated customs office on Korala transit premises, and soil testing has been also done. The soil was tested after the Ministry of Commerce released the budget for the survey and detailed project report. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the district administration office, Mustang, a team assigned to test the soil examined the soil in the proposed site to build infrastructures at the Korala transit. Targeting the Korala transit, a border police post has been set up in Lo Manthang, and an area police office at Nechung of Chhoser. Keeping in view of the border security, a border outpost of the Armed Police Force has also been established at Nechung, around 20 km away from the Korala transit. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-24', 'modified' => '2023-09-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18801', 'image' => '20230924113840_Majestic-Panorama-view-of-Upper-Mustang-mountain-landscape-nea-Lo-Monthang..jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-24 11:38:02', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19072', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'World Bank Approves $20 Million Grant to Support Nepal’s Agriculture and Nutrition Sector', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 24: The World Bank has approved a grant of US$20 million to support the Government of Nepal’s Food and Nutrition Security Enhancement Project (FANSEP)-II.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px">September 24: The World Bank has approved a grant of US$20 million to support the Government of Nepal’s Food and Nutrition Security Enhancement Project (FANSEP)-II.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Issuing a statement on Friday, the World Bank said that the project aims to benefit more than 55,000 small-holder farmers in 16 rural municipalities in Nepal through improved agricultural productivity and nutrition practices and scaling up climate-smart agriculture practices.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">“Achieving food and nutrition security and reducing poverty are national goals of the Government of Nepal, in line with commitments to realize the Sustainable Development Goals and Zero Hunger Challenge,” the statement quoted Faris Hadad-Zervos, World Bank’s country director for the Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, as saying.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">“This operation supports the Government of Nepal’s efforts to enhance productivity and livelihoods and improve nutrition security of marginalized communities,” he added.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">According to the World Bank, FANSEP-II has three components: climate and nutrition smart agricultural technology adaptation and dissemination, income generation and diversification, and improving nutrition security. It aims to build on the success of the Food and Nutrition Security Enhancement Project, which is closing on June 30, 2024, added the statement.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">“The operation, financed by a grant from the Global Agriculture Food Security Program (GAFSP) Trust Fund, is aligned with Nepal’s green, resilient, and inclusive development agenda and will help build the resilience of marginalized communities in food insecure and disaster-affected areas of Nepal,” stated Karishma Wasti, World Bank’s project task team leader.</span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-24', 'modified' => '2023-09-24', 'keywords' => 'world, bank, Nepal, agriculture, nutrition, grant', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18800', 'image' => '20230924110100_20230923081546_20221101101708_World.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-24 10:59:40', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19071', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Tata Motors’ New Showroom in Chitwan', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => ' Tata Motors has launched a new showroom in Bharatpur, Chitwan. Authorized distributor SH Motors for Siprdai Trading, the official distributor of Tata Motors for Nepal, Sipradi Trading, has started operations in Bharatpur from Friday.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">September 24: Tata Motors has launched a new showroom in Bharatpur, Chitwan. </span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Authorized distributor SH Motors for Siprdai Trading, the official distributor of Tata Motors for Nepal, has started operations in Bharatpur from Friday. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It has been stated that the entire range of Tata Motors' cars will be available at the showroom located at Bharatpur's Rijal Chowk. </span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The sales and distribution of Tata Punch and Tata Tiago electric cars (EVs) have also begun from the new showroom. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> The program was attended by Sipradi's Passenger Vehicle Segment Head Saurabh Sijapati and SH Motors' Managing Director Sharmila Sedhai. </span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Sijapati, the head of the passenger vehicle segment of the company, said that customer satisfaction is the company's top priority. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Sijapati said, "Under the leadership of Sipradi Trading and SH Motors, the operation of this showroom will bring new dimensions to the sales, service, and customer satisfaction in this sector." </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-24', 'modified' => '2023-09-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18799', 'image' => '20230924095044_collage (10).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-24 09:49:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19070', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Kamana Sewa Bikas Bank Provides Financial Literacy to Traffic Police', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => ' Kamana Sewa Bikas Bank conducted a financial literacy program on Saturday at the Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office on Ram Shah Path. Information regarding banking systems, savings, loans, and the recent developments in digital banking was provided to the traffic police.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">September 24: Kamana Sewa Bikas Bank conducted a financial literacy program on Saturday at the Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office on Ram Shah Path.</span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> Information regarding banking systems, savings, loans, and the recent developments in digital banking was provided to the traffic police. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Sushil Poudel, Head of the Bank's Branding Department, made a presentation on the importance of savings, daily financial habits, loan management, financial discipline, and the significance of digital banking, as well as the opportunities and challenges they present.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">During the program, Superintendent of Police (SP) Santosh Acharya from the Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office said that the programme had helped understand the importance of savings in daily life. </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-24', 'modified' => '2023-09-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18798', 'image' => '20230924092954_collage (8).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-24 09:28:26', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19069', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'China's President Xi Inaugurates Biggest-ever Asian Games', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 23: Chinese President Xi Jinping inaugurated the 19th Asian Games in a colourful ceremony in Hangzhou city on Saturday, launching a two-week sporting extravaganza that boasts more athletes than the Olympics.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">September 23: Chinese President Xi Jinping inaugurated the 19th Asian Games in a colourful ceremony in Hangzhou city on Saturday, launching a two-week sporting extravaganza that boasts more athletes than the Olympics.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">After being delayed by a year because of China's now-abandoned zero-Covid policy, more than 12,000 competitors from 45 nations and territories will battle it out in 40 sports, AFP reported.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">According to the French news agency, Xi officially opened the Games at the 80,000-capacity Hangzhou Olympic Stadium, also known as "the Big Lotus".</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Xi was given a rapturous reception by spectators waving mini Chinese flags.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach was also among the dignitaries. Leaders from Cambodia, Kuwait and Nepal, among others, also attend the event.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">The theme of the ceremony was water and it also celebrated Hangzhou's ancient history and landscape, while giving a nod to the city's reputation as the unofficial home of China's tech industry.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">A "digital torch bearer" strode into the stadium and was projected onto a large screen behind the Games cauldron at the climax.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">"I feel very happy and excited," AFP quoted a 35-year-old woman spectator surnamed Zhang as saying.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">"I feel it's a great honour for the city."</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Jung-Woo Lee, sport policy expert at the University of Edinburgh, told AFP the Games were "China's post-pandemic soft-power exercise".</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">China's status as a sporting and business destination took a severe hit during the pandemic, when snap lockdowns and strict travel rules saw almost all international events cancelled in the country.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">The event has been rocked by a row between New Delhi and China over three Indian martial arts fighters, with a trip to the city by India's sports minister cancelled on Friday.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">According to AFP, China denied Indian claims that the trio had been barred from entering the country.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Games athletes will fight for medals in Olympic staples such as athletics, swimming, football, gymnastics and cycling.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">There will also be regional specialities including dragon boat racing, the Chinese martial art wushu and kabaddi.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Nine sports -- among them boxing, break dancing and tennis -- will serve as Asia qualifiers for next year's Paris Olympics.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Although the Games officially opened on Saturday, sports such as football, cricket, volleyball and table tennis had already begun.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">The Games will be staged at 54 venues -- 14 newly constructed -- mostly in Hangzhou but also extending to cities as far afield as Wenzhou, 300 kilometres south, added AFP.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-23', 'modified' => '2023-09-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18797', 'image' => '20230923092908_AP23266464142731.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-23 21:28:23', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19067', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'CAAN urges not to Fly Kites, Drones near Airport ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 23: The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has urged one and all not to fly kites, drones and balloons around the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA). ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">September 23: The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has urged one and all not to fly kites, drones and balloons around the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA). </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">CAAN Spokesperson and Deputy Director General Jagannath Niraula said cases of flying kites, drones and balloons in the vicinity of the airport have been reported despite a prohibition. It has posed a serious threat to aviation safety, he added. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The situation has prompted the aviation regulatory body to urge all to not repeat such acts any more. The risk is potentially high during Dashain and Tihar as these festivals are marked by flying kites. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The CAAN issued a public notice on Friday seeking cooperation from the public not5 to indulge in any activities that affect the safety of flights, and warned of action if the request is violated. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-23', 'modified' => '2023-09-23', 'keywords' => 'CAAN, TIA, airport, safety, aviation, Nepal, flight, kites, drones, balloon', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18795', 'image' => '20230923061623_1653535_802362103120205_5575686185315399586_n.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-23 18:15:58', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19066', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Govt Adopts Measures at Border Points to Prevent the Spread of Panama Disease in Banana Plantations', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 22: Government authorities have adopted strict measures at the border areas to prevent the spread of panama disease in bananas, fearing that the disease might spread in the country with the import of bananas from India.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">September 22: Government authorities have adopted strict measures at the border areas to prevent the spread of panama disease in bananas, fearing that the disease might spread in the country with the import of bananas from India. With the outbreak of the panama disease in Tikapur of Kailali, high alert has been maintained in all plant quarantines at all border points with India. Panama disease is considered to be the most destructive disease in bananas.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development has issued a notice to take precautions as banana plants in some gardens in Tikapur have started withering due to the disease. Race 1 variant of the disease is said to have entered Nepal from India some 14 years ago, said Shiva Lal Aryal, head of the Agriculture Knowledge Centre, Bhairahawa. This disease has been widely spreading in Chitwan for seven years.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">"Race 1 causes a lot of damage to local breeds including the Malbhog variety. New variety G9, Williams Hybrid, Chini Champa and other varieties can fully tolerate race 1 variant. The new variant of panama disease has the ability to completely destroy all the banana varieties available for cultivation in Nepal," said Aryal.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">Due to the disease, the bottom of old banana leaves turns yellow, then the edge of the leaf turns yellow and the leaf dries and the stem breaks. "Plants show the symptoms of this disease four to five months after the attack. If infected plants are planted, symptoms can be seen within two months of the disease," he said. The disease spreads due to fungus found in the soil, said Kuldeep Ghimire, head of the plant quarantine office, Bhairahawa.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">According to him, the infection spreads from one place to another, infected plants, soil, water and agricultural tools. Additionally, there is a possibility of spreading the disease from one farm to another through the soil stuck to tyres of vehicles carrying bananas, shoes and sandals, he said. Infected soil, water and agricultural tools are the main sources of the disease, he added.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">The customs has been tightened as trucks carrying bananas from India are the main source of the disease transmission, said Ghimire. "We do not allow anything other than banana fruits to be brought in vehicles carrying bananas. TR 4 does not spread from banana plants to its fruits. We have quarantined only those banana fruits that have been transported safely," he said. Vehicles loaded with bananas are sent after cleaning their tyres on the customs premises ensuring that there is no mud anywhere, he said. "All this work is done by the plant quarantine office. Bringing any type of banana saplings from India is banned," he said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">Bhairahawa customs office is the main customs point for importing Indian bananas. Bananas are imported from various parts of India through this transit point. Narayan Datta Joshi, information officer for the Bhairahawa customs office, said 37,638 metric tonnes of bananas worth over Rs 1.5 billion were imported from India through this transit in the previous fiscal year, 2022/23.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">According to him, within the Nepali month of Bhadra of the current FY, 2023/24, altogether 4,619 metric tonnes of bananas worth more than Rs 194 million have been imported through this transit.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">As bananas are cultivated on a large scale in Rupandehi and Nawalparasi (West), the border has been tightened to prevent the spread of the disease, said Joshi. The Prime Minister Agriculture Modernisation Project has designated Nawalparasi (West) as a banana zone for its cultivation. Banana has been cultivated on 1,150 hectares of land in Nawalparasi alone, said Narayan Kafle, head of the project implementation unit, Bhairahawa. Banana has been grown on 280 hectares of land in Rupandehi, said the agriculture knowledge center head Aryal. "All bananas cultivated here are G9 species, they cannot fight TR 4. Lumbini Province is at high risk of infection. So, it is necessary to be cautious," he said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">Banana plants planted in Pratappur of Nawalparasi (West) have shown symptoms similar to the disease, said Kafle. The samples have been sent to the National Plant Pathology Research Centre for research to find out whether the disease is TR 4 or other strain, he said.</span> -- <strong><span style="font-size:13.0pt">RSS</span></strong></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-22', 'modified' => '2023-09-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18794', 'image' => '20230922095027_20230830114301_20230823015131_1692756184.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-22 21:49:07', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19065', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Needs to Invest USD 46 Billion in Energy Sector within 12 Years ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 22: The Government of Nepal has prepared an ambitious and comprehensive action-plan including investing USD 46 billion for the overall development of the country's energy sector by 2035. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">September 22: The Government of Nepal has prepared an ambitious and comprehensive action-plan including investing USD 46 billion for the overall development of the country's energy sector by 2035. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The government set the target of massive investment considering the energy sector as the major basis for the country's economic development. The comprehensive action-plan that starts from 2023 and ends in 2035 envisage harnessing country's untapped energy potential. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, the action-plan was prepared with the goal of addressing the changing situations in energy landscape of the country. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The 'Energy Development Roadmap and Action Plan 2080 BS' action-plan prepared by the taskforce coordinated by the ministry's Joint-Secretary Sandeep Kumar Dev encompasses details about investment estimates for projects, transmission lines and sub-stations. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The task-force formed after the ministerial decision on July 11 this year included Sanjay Dhungel, Deputy Director-General of Department of Energy Development; Pradeep Kumar Thike, Deputy Executive Director of the Nepal Electricity Authority; Prabal Adhikari, NEA Director; and Ministry of Energy's Baburaj Adhikari among others. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The taskforce recently submitted a report containing the ambitious action-plan to the Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Shakti Bahadur Basnet. More detailed discussion would be held among the stakeholders on the report before endorsing it from the Council of Ministers. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The comprehensive action-plan was launched at a time when Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal in his last India visit had inked an agreement to export 10,000 megawatts of energy to India within 10 years and when Bangladesh showed its willingness to import 9,000 megawatt electricity from Nepal by 2040. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A target has been set to increase the installed electricity production capacity of the country to 28,000 megawatt by 2035. At present, the country's total installed electricity capacity has reached 2,860 megawatts. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Energy Minister Basnet shared the government has determined a modality of investment by projecting the demand of electricity to be equal to 28,500 megawatts keeping in mind the exports of power to the neighbouring countries. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A target has been set to export 15,000 megawatt electricity to other countries which requires investment of USD 46 billion. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the Ministry, financial resources equal to USD eight billion have been guaranteed so far. Government, private sector and the general public would also have share in the investment towards energy sector. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, capitals of non-resident Nepalis and Nepali migrant workers would also be incorporated with equal importance. The report of the taskforce has mentioned that USD 2.6 billion has already been invested in country's energy sector so far. However, the report mentioned that additional financial resources worth USD 39 billion are still needed. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Nepal Electricity Authority's earnings of USD eight billion would be mobilized in development of energy sector till 2035. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to Minister Basnet, USD two billion would be received through the climate investment for construction of the projects and transmission lines. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, the government has set the target of investing additional USD 500 million through the budgetary system for the development of the energy sector. It is also stated that more that USD 12 billion would be mobilized from those who have gone for foreign employment, the Nepal Infrastructure Bank and through the issuance of bonds. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, a goal has been set to increase the per capita electricity consumption to 1500 units to boost domestic consumption of electricity. This would help reduce the country's trade deficit. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">As per the same report, at least 50 persons will be employed at the management level for the production of 1,000 megawatts electricity. Similarly, towards engineering nearly 600 persons will be employed while around 2,000 individuals get employment towards workforce as supervisors, foremen and the like at the site. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, nearly 6,000 skilled workers and 25,000 general workers will get employment opportunity for generating 28,000 megawatts of energy. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-22', 'modified' => '2023-09-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18793', 'image' => '20230922080741_20230306031824_Clipboard32.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-22 20:07:12', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19064', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Over 100,000 Nepalis Obtain Labour Permits for Foreign Employment in First Two Months of Current FY ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'In the first two months of the current fiscal year 2023/2024, more than 1,00,000 Nepalis have received labour permits.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">September 22: In the first two months of the current fiscal year 2023/2024, more than 1,00,000 Nepalis have received labour permits. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">According to the Department of Foreign Employment, during the first two months of the fiscal year 2023/2024, a total of 1,06,459 individuals obtained labour permits.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">As per the department, 55,575 individuals received labour permits in the month of Shrawan, and 50,884 individuals received them in the month of Bhadra. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Over the course of these two months, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) attracted the highest number of workers, with 23,587 individuals securing work permits. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Additionally, 20,717 individuals acquired work permits for employment in Saudi Arabia, while 20,328 individuals did so for Qatar. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Malaysia was also a popular destination, with 17,437 individuals obtaining work permits to seek employment there.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In the first two months of the fiscal year 2022/2023, the number of individuals going abroad for foreign employment was 139,442. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">As reported by the Department of Foreign Employment, this represents a 23 percent decrease in the number of individuals going abroad for foreign employment during the same period this year compared to the last fiscal year.</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-22', 'modified' => '2023-09-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18792', 'image' => '20230922043726_collage (4).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-22 16:36:04', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19062', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '339 Climbers get Permits to Climb Mountains in Autumn Season this Year', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 22: The government has granted permission to 339 climbers from 35 expedition groups to climb 10 different mountain peaks during this autumn season.', '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"">September 22: The government has granted permission to 339 climbers from 35 expedition groups to climb 10 different mountain peaks during this autumn season.</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"">According to the Department of Tourism, mountaineers have taken permission to climb Manaslu, Raksha Yurai, Hiuchuli, Kumbakarna Himal, Himalung, Nemjung, Makalu, Thapa Peak, Annapurna and Dhaulagiri. </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"">Among the total number of climbers, the number of women is 73. The department has collected a royalty of Rs 36.49 million by issuing climbing permits.</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"">During the spring time, there is a rush to climb Mount Everest, while this season is ideal for climbing Mount Manaslu. According to the department, 301 mountaineers have taken permission to climb this mountain so far. After Manaslu, climbers are attracted to scale Dhaulagiri in the autumn season.</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 total of 10 climbers have taken permission to climb Dhaulagiri. Climbers from 47 countries of the world have received permission to climb mountains in this season in Nepal. Most of the climbers are Chinese. Altogether 67 Chinese climbers have received permission to climb mountains peaks in Nepal.</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"">Climbers from the United States are second only to the Chinese. A total of 33 climbers from the US have received permission to climb mountains in Nepal followed by 27 from Russia. </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"">Likewise, 24 Indians have acquired permits to climb mountains this season. Similarly, there are 14 climbers from other countries who have been granted permission by the department.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-22', 'modified' => '2023-09-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18791', 'image' => '20230922030208_20220224024229_eveest-expedition-.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-22 15:01:20', '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' => '19078', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Govt Expands Scope of Credit Guarantee', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 24: The government is preparing to expand the score of credit guarantee on provided by banks and financial institutions. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">September 24: The government is preparing to expand the score of credit guarantee on provided by banks and financial institutions. The government’s decision to amend the Credit Guarantee Regulations 2080 to allow credit guarantee programs in new areas has paved the way to expand the scope of the Deposit and Credit Guarantee Fund (DCGF).</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to the revised regulations, the fund will be able to launch new credit guarantee programs in areas related to climate change, start-ups, information technology, skill development training, environmental protection, disaster management, alternative and renewable energy, women's entrepreneurship, etc. For this, the fund can take appropriate decision based on the size of the credit guarantee fund, financial resources of the fund, market demand and needs. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">So far, the fund has been guaranteeing credit provided to small and medium enterprises by banks and microfinance companies as well as deprived sector lending and loans provided at subsidized interest rates.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Ramesh Ghimire, the chief executive officer of DCGF, said that the amendment of the regulations has paved the way for the fund to expand the scope of credit guarantee in the areas according to market needs. He claimed that the role of the fund is important in expanding the access to credit in Nepal and that the banks have been able to extend credit with confidence because of security assurance.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Until the last fiscal year, the fund covered credit guarantee of loans worth Rs 2.74 billion of 1.7 million borrowers.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Once the banks have been assured of credit guarantee, the DCGF will have to bear the loss if the banks fail to recover the loans due to any reason.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">For this, the banks and financial institution or the liquidator should make a claim with the fund for the loss they have had to bear.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Since 2010, the fund has also been giving credit guarantee for deposits up to Rs 500,000 in the individual accounts maintained at banks. As of last fiscal year-end, the Deposit and Credit Guarantee Fund assured to guarantee deposits worth Rs 1233 billion maintained at 41.5 million accounts.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-24', 'modified' => '2023-09-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18806', 'image' => '20230924025245_blank - Copy.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-24 14:52:09', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19076', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Fails to Acquire Concessional Loans from AIIB', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 24: Nepal is yet to benefit from concessional loans from Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">September 24: Nepal is yet to benefit from concessional loans from Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).</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 every annual meeting of AIIB, the finance ministry of Nepal submits proposals for concessional loans from the multilateral donor organisation but the AIIB turns down the proposals every time. Even now, Finance Minister Dr Parkash Sharan Mahat, leading a high-level delegation of the Ministry of Finance, has reached Cairo to lobby for concessional loan.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">AIIB, which was established under the leadership of China, has set high interest rates on commercial loans, so underdeveloped countries like Nepal have a problem in getting concessional loan facilities. Nepal is also a founding member of the bank. Even though Nepal is not able to benefit much from the bank, Finance Minister Mahat has gone to Cairo to participate in the annual meeting of AIIB to be held this week with the proposal of subsidized loans.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Nepal is seeking loans from AIIB at the same interest and facilities as the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank. In every annual meeting and bilateral discussion, Nepal has been seeking for loans at subsidized interest rates. Nepal is not ready to take a loans other than concessional loans from AIIB as the interest rate is higher than that of Exim Bank. The bank’s officials have repeatedly requested Nepal to take loans, but they have refused to give concessions on interest rates.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">AIIB has been giving loans at 2.5 percent interest rate. Finance Minister Mahat says that Nepal is not in a position to invest in infrastructure with such loans given in US dollars. Minister Mahat will make a proposal for a concessional loan with AIIB, mainly with the argument that there is a lack of capital for Nepal's infrastructure development.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">When taking a loan from AIIB, the interest rate is fixed by adding 1 to 1.5 percentage points to the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR). The Ministry of Finance said that AIIB's loan can be used only by blending it with loans received from other donor agencies at cheaper interest rates. The Chinese government has 30 percent shares in the bank. Nepal has invested Rs 8 billion in it, which is 0.08 percent of the bank's capital. The purpose of this bank is to mobilize more capital in the Belt and Road Initiative launched by China. Chinese President Xi Jinping announced the establishment of the bank in 2013. The government of Nepal has not been able to benefit much from AIIB, which has emerged as a competitive bank among international financial institutions.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-24', 'modified' => '2023-09-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18805', 'image' => '20230924020450_AIIB_20221212_Press-Release_ESS-Communications_1129X620px.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-24 14:04:13', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19075', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '19th Asian Games: Nepal's Table Tennis Team Eliminated in Group Stage ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 24: Nepal has been knocked out from the group stage in table tennis team event under the 19th Asian games underway in China.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">September 24: Nepal has been knocked out from the group stage in table tennis team event under the 19th Asian games underway in China. Both the Nepali women's and men's teams have been eliminated in the group stage of the team event. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In the matches held at the Gongshu Canal Sports Park Gymnasium in Hangzhou city on Saturday, the Nepali women's team lost to India with a score of 0-3. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Nepal's Sikka Suwal was defeated by India's Diya Parag Chitale 11-1, 11-6 and 11-8 while Nabita Shrestha was defeated by Ahyika Mukharjee 11-3, 11-7, and Ivana Thapa Magar lost the match to Sutirtha Mukherjee with a score of 1-11, 5-11 and 2-11. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, Nepal's men's team was also defeated by North Korea in straight sets of 3-0. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Samyog Kapali lost to North Korea's player 7-11, 4-11 and 5-11. In another match, Rubin Maharjan was defeated by a score of 11-2, 11-6, and 11-2, while Bilosh Shrestha lost the match 8-11, 2-11 and 3-11. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-24', 'modified' => '2023-09-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18804', 'image' => '20230924013702_720 - Copy.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-24 13:36:16', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19077', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Aadhyanta Accelerator Program Concludes with ‘Historic’ Rs 200 Million Commitment for 10 Enterprises', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 24: Aadhyanta Fund Management Limited, a Nepal-based fund mobilization platform, wrapped up its inaugural Aadhyanta Accelerator Program recently in Biratnagar, highlighting the high-growth potential of Koshi Province's Agri SMEs.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Arial,"sans-serif"">September 24: Aadhyanta Fund Management Limited, a Nepal-based fund mobilization platform, wrapped up its inaugural Aadhyanta Accelerator Program recently in Biratnagar, highlighting the high-growth potential of Koshi Province's Agri SMEs.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Arial,"sans-serif"">The eight-month program organised in collaboration with Sahaj-NAMDP, FNCCI Koshi Province, and the Provincial Investment Authority, zeroed in on empowering agricultural enterprises, priming them for scalability and drawing investors. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Arial,"sans-serif"">Issuing a statement, the fund management company said that the initiative actively envisions amplifying the entrepreneurship in Koshi Province, and to expedite economic activities as well as to promote pioneering and innovation.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Arial,"sans-serif"">According to the statement, 10 enterprises emerged investment-ready at the culmination of the accelerator program. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Arial,"sans-serif"">Significant investors, including Global Equity Fund, NIMB Ace Capital Limited, Himalayan Capital Limited, Reliable Ventures Limited, and Aadhyanta Fund Management, expressed interest in five enterprises, signaling commitments to the tune of Rs 200 million, reads the statement.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Arial,"sans-serif"">Beneficiaries of this financial pact include Birat Group, Khetipati Organics, Agri Center Jhapa, Raktakali Tea Estate, and Dibyadristi Veneration and Agro.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Arial,"sans-serif"">Rajendra Raut, executive member of FNCCI and President of FNCCI Koshi Province, chaired the momentous gathering. The event was attended by Chief Minister of Koshi Province, Hikmat Karki, Mayor of Biratnagar Metropolitan City Nagesh Koirlaa, and distinguished personalities including Reema Shrestha, Dr Saroj Koirala, among others.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Arial,"sans-serif"">Commenting on the day's significance, Manoj Paudel of Aadhyanta shed light on the transformational potential of the alternative finance industry for the Nepali economy, positioning it as a robust counterweight to political uncertainties impacting economic stability.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-24', 'modified' => '2023-09-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18803', 'image' => '20230924022241_Picture.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-24 14:20:38', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19074', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Apple Production Declines in Dhorpatan Area ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 24: Jum Bahadur Budhathoki Magar, 73, from Nisikhola Rural Municipality-5 of Baglung district has an apple orchard with 200 trees of both local and Italian species. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">September 24: Jum Bahadur Budhathoki Magar, 73, from Nisikhola Rural Municipality-5 of Baglung district has an apple orchard with 200 trees of both local and Italian species. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He sold 15 quintals of apple last year, but the production slumped this year. The apple production declined sharply because of hailstones that occurred in March and April. Now, the orchard wears a dreary look. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Magar has been involved in traditional apple farming since 2048 BS. He has the farm in 15 ropanies of land at Masgaon.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"I was expecting to sell 20 to 25 quintals of apple this year, but in vain," he said, adding that the hailstones damaged it in the beginning of the flowering season. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Even the farmers at Niseldhor area are worried over the meagre product. With this, some of them have shifted to potato farming. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Magar had planted 200 saplings of Italian species of apple. He explained, "After I became Chairman of Dhorpatan Apple Bloc, we began collective apple farming. I'm leading the apple farmers of Neseldhoka as well. The Italian species of apple gave good harvest last year, but the hailstone damaged it during the flowering season this year." </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Earlier, Dhorpatan valley, Sentung, Shyalpakhe, Niseldhor and Mas were doing traditional farming, but in minimum scale. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Farmer from Dhorpatan-9, Ram Bahadur Gharti, informed that he also had good harvest from 181 trees of apple last year. But, the production declined this time. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-24', 'modified' => '2023-09-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18802', 'image' => '20230924012733_image039.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-24 13:26:54', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19073', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Mustang Folks Demand Operation of Korala Transit Point ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 24: After Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal left for a week-long visit to China, the issue related to the operation of Korala transit point bordering Tibet Autonomous Region of China has emerged as a matter of public concern. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">September 24: After Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal left for a week-long visit to China, the issue related to the operation of Korala transit point bordering Tibet Autonomous Region of China has emerged as a matter of public concern. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In the context when both the countries have yet to materialise the operation of Korala transit point, the prime minister’s official visit to China has boosted the local people's confidence about its operations. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">China had reached an understanding with Nepal some years ago to open eight transits including Korala check point.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">China has protected its land with a barbed wire fence at Korala transit point. It has placed security arrangement and also built a building in the no man’s land. The Chinese side has already blacktopped the road up to the border, and has made all preparations for a port, security post and customs office. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">China has completed all preparations for the operations of Korala transit, and is seeking security from the Nepali side along with preparations to open the border point, said Namdu Gurung, member of the Gandaki Province Assembly. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">As China has completed all the preparations for the operations of the transit point, there is a hope for agreement during Prime Minister Dahal's visit for the operations of the transit point, which is considered as the lifeline for the economic development of Gandaki Province, he said. The border is important in terms of both transit and tourism. If the border can be brought into operations, flow of international trade and religious tourism will begin. The transit point is expected to play a major role in the development of Mustang and Gandaki Province. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"We have been continuously raising our voice on the issue before the provincial government and the Province Assembly. Even the federal government is aware of the matter,” he said. </span></span></span><br /> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Nepal had signed a trade and transit agreement with China during the official visit of the then Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli to China in March, 2016. During his next visit in June 2018, an agreement was reached between the two countries to open additional transit points. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">There has been a delay in the construction of the Myagdi section of the under-construction Beni-Jomsom-Korala road targeting the Korala transit. The under-construction Kaligandaki corridor road, which is considered very important in terms of transit and trade. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The graveling and blacktopping of the road up to Korala through Ghansa and Jomsom has reached its final stage. But the construction of the road between Beni and Ghansa has been affected due to factors like floods, landslides and river erosion. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">While the famous Korala border has drawn widespread attention between the two countries, the trade fair which had been traditionally taking place biannually has been closed for four years, said Tasi Nharbu Gurung, chairperson of the Lo Manthang Rural Municipality. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">As the Chinese side has showed its desire to open the border crossing this year after completing the construction of the entire infrastructure, the news that the issue will be taken up during the visit of Prime Minister Dahal to China has made residents of Mustang more confident that there will be further progress in the border operations, he said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The acquisition of around 1,000 ropanis of land has been completed for the construction of the infrastructure for an integrated customs office on Korala transit premises, and soil testing has been also done. The soil was tested after the Ministry of Commerce released the budget for the survey and detailed project report. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the district administration office, Mustang, a team assigned to test the soil examined the soil in the proposed site to build infrastructures at the Korala transit. Targeting the Korala transit, a border police post has been set up in Lo Manthang, and an area police office at Nechung of Chhoser. Keeping in view of the border security, a border outpost of the Armed Police Force has also been established at Nechung, around 20 km away from the Korala transit. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-24', 'modified' => '2023-09-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18801', 'image' => '20230924113840_Majestic-Panorama-view-of-Upper-Mustang-mountain-landscape-nea-Lo-Monthang..jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-24 11:38:02', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19072', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'World Bank Approves $20 Million Grant to Support Nepal’s Agriculture and Nutrition Sector', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 24: The World Bank has approved a grant of US$20 million to support the Government of Nepal’s Food and Nutrition Security Enhancement Project (FANSEP)-II.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px">September 24: The World Bank has approved a grant of US$20 million to support the Government of Nepal’s Food and Nutrition Security Enhancement Project (FANSEP)-II.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Issuing a statement on Friday, the World Bank said that the project aims to benefit more than 55,000 small-holder farmers in 16 rural municipalities in Nepal through improved agricultural productivity and nutrition practices and scaling up climate-smart agriculture practices.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">“Achieving food and nutrition security and reducing poverty are national goals of the Government of Nepal, in line with commitments to realize the Sustainable Development Goals and Zero Hunger Challenge,” the statement quoted Faris Hadad-Zervos, World Bank’s country director for the Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, as saying.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">“This operation supports the Government of Nepal’s efforts to enhance productivity and livelihoods and improve nutrition security of marginalized communities,” he added.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">According to the World Bank, FANSEP-II has three components: climate and nutrition smart agricultural technology adaptation and dissemination, income generation and diversification, and improving nutrition security. It aims to build on the success of the Food and Nutrition Security Enhancement Project, which is closing on June 30, 2024, added the statement.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">“The operation, financed by a grant from the Global Agriculture Food Security Program (GAFSP) Trust Fund, is aligned with Nepal’s green, resilient, and inclusive development agenda and will help build the resilience of marginalized communities in food insecure and disaster-affected areas of Nepal,” stated Karishma Wasti, World Bank’s project task team leader.</span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-24', 'modified' => '2023-09-24', 'keywords' => 'world, bank, Nepal, agriculture, nutrition, grant', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18800', 'image' => '20230924110100_20230923081546_20221101101708_World.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-24 10:59:40', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19071', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Tata Motors’ New Showroom in Chitwan', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => ' Tata Motors has launched a new showroom in Bharatpur, Chitwan. Authorized distributor SH Motors for Siprdai Trading, the official distributor of Tata Motors for Nepal, Sipradi Trading, has started operations in Bharatpur from Friday.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">September 24: Tata Motors has launched a new showroom in Bharatpur, Chitwan. </span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Authorized distributor SH Motors for Siprdai Trading, the official distributor of Tata Motors for Nepal, has started operations in Bharatpur from Friday. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It has been stated that the entire range of Tata Motors' cars will be available at the showroom located at Bharatpur's Rijal Chowk. </span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The sales and distribution of Tata Punch and Tata Tiago electric cars (EVs) have also begun from the new showroom. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> The program was attended by Sipradi's Passenger Vehicle Segment Head Saurabh Sijapati and SH Motors' Managing Director Sharmila Sedhai. </span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Sijapati, the head of the passenger vehicle segment of the company, said that customer satisfaction is the company's top priority. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Sijapati said, "Under the leadership of Sipradi Trading and SH Motors, the operation of this showroom will bring new dimensions to the sales, service, and customer satisfaction in this sector." </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-24', 'modified' => '2023-09-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18799', 'image' => '20230924095044_collage (10).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-24 09:49:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19070', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Kamana Sewa Bikas Bank Provides Financial Literacy to Traffic Police', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => ' Kamana Sewa Bikas Bank conducted a financial literacy program on Saturday at the Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office on Ram Shah Path. Information regarding banking systems, savings, loans, and the recent developments in digital banking was provided to the traffic police.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">September 24: Kamana Sewa Bikas Bank conducted a financial literacy program on Saturday at the Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office on Ram Shah Path.</span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> Information regarding banking systems, savings, loans, and the recent developments in digital banking was provided to the traffic police. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Sushil Poudel, Head of the Bank's Branding Department, made a presentation on the importance of savings, daily financial habits, loan management, financial discipline, and the significance of digital banking, as well as the opportunities and challenges they present.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">During the program, Superintendent of Police (SP) Santosh Acharya from the Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office said that the programme had helped understand the importance of savings in daily life. </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-24', 'modified' => '2023-09-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18798', 'image' => '20230924092954_collage (8).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-24 09:28:26', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19069', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'China's President Xi Inaugurates Biggest-ever Asian Games', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 23: Chinese President Xi Jinping inaugurated the 19th Asian Games in a colourful ceremony in Hangzhou city on Saturday, launching a two-week sporting extravaganza that boasts more athletes than the Olympics.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">September 23: Chinese President Xi Jinping inaugurated the 19th Asian Games in a colourful ceremony in Hangzhou city on Saturday, launching a two-week sporting extravaganza that boasts more athletes than the Olympics.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">After being delayed by a year because of China's now-abandoned zero-Covid policy, more than 12,000 competitors from 45 nations and territories will battle it out in 40 sports, AFP reported.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">According to the French news agency, Xi officially opened the Games at the 80,000-capacity Hangzhou Olympic Stadium, also known as "the Big Lotus".</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Xi was given a rapturous reception by spectators waving mini Chinese flags.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach was also among the dignitaries. Leaders from Cambodia, Kuwait and Nepal, among others, also attend the event.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">The theme of the ceremony was water and it also celebrated Hangzhou's ancient history and landscape, while giving a nod to the city's reputation as the unofficial home of China's tech industry.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">A "digital torch bearer" strode into the stadium and was projected onto a large screen behind the Games cauldron at the climax.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">"I feel very happy and excited," AFP quoted a 35-year-old woman spectator surnamed Zhang as saying.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">"I feel it's a great honour for the city."</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Jung-Woo Lee, sport policy expert at the University of Edinburgh, told AFP the Games were "China's post-pandemic soft-power exercise".</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">China's status as a sporting and business destination took a severe hit during the pandemic, when snap lockdowns and strict travel rules saw almost all international events cancelled in the country.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">The event has been rocked by a row between New Delhi and China over three Indian martial arts fighters, with a trip to the city by India's sports minister cancelled on Friday.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">According to AFP, China denied Indian claims that the trio had been barred from entering the country.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Games athletes will fight for medals in Olympic staples such as athletics, swimming, football, gymnastics and cycling.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">There will also be regional specialities including dragon boat racing, the Chinese martial art wushu and kabaddi.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Nine sports -- among them boxing, break dancing and tennis -- will serve as Asia qualifiers for next year's Paris Olympics.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Although the Games officially opened on Saturday, sports such as football, cricket, volleyball and table tennis had already begun.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">The Games will be staged at 54 venues -- 14 newly constructed -- mostly in Hangzhou but also extending to cities as far afield as Wenzhou, 300 kilometres south, added AFP.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-23', 'modified' => '2023-09-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18797', 'image' => '20230923092908_AP23266464142731.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-23 21:28:23', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19067', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'CAAN urges not to Fly Kites, Drones near Airport ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 23: The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has urged one and all not to fly kites, drones and balloons around the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA). ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">September 23: The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has urged one and all not to fly kites, drones and balloons around the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA). </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">CAAN Spokesperson and Deputy Director General Jagannath Niraula said cases of flying kites, drones and balloons in the vicinity of the airport have been reported despite a prohibition. It has posed a serious threat to aviation safety, he added. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The situation has prompted the aviation regulatory body to urge all to not repeat such acts any more. The risk is potentially high during Dashain and Tihar as these festivals are marked by flying kites. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The CAAN issued a public notice on Friday seeking cooperation from the public not5 to indulge in any activities that affect the safety of flights, and warned of action if the request is violated. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-23', 'modified' => '2023-09-23', 'keywords' => 'CAAN, TIA, airport, safety, aviation, Nepal, flight, kites, drones, balloon', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18795', 'image' => '20230923061623_1653535_802362103120205_5575686185315399586_n.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-23 18:15:58', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19066', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Govt Adopts Measures at Border Points to Prevent the Spread of Panama Disease in Banana Plantations', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 22: Government authorities have adopted strict measures at the border areas to prevent the spread of panama disease in bananas, fearing that the disease might spread in the country with the import of bananas from India.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">September 22: Government authorities have adopted strict measures at the border areas to prevent the spread of panama disease in bananas, fearing that the disease might spread in the country with the import of bananas from India. With the outbreak of the panama disease in Tikapur of Kailali, high alert has been maintained in all plant quarantines at all border points with India. Panama disease is considered to be the most destructive disease in bananas.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development has issued a notice to take precautions as banana plants in some gardens in Tikapur have started withering due to the disease. Race 1 variant of the disease is said to have entered Nepal from India some 14 years ago, said Shiva Lal Aryal, head of the Agriculture Knowledge Centre, Bhairahawa. This disease has been widely spreading in Chitwan for seven years.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">"Race 1 causes a lot of damage to local breeds including the Malbhog variety. New variety G9, Williams Hybrid, Chini Champa and other varieties can fully tolerate race 1 variant. The new variant of panama disease has the ability to completely destroy all the banana varieties available for cultivation in Nepal," said Aryal.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">Due to the disease, the bottom of old banana leaves turns yellow, then the edge of the leaf turns yellow and the leaf dries and the stem breaks. "Plants show the symptoms of this disease four to five months after the attack. If infected plants are planted, symptoms can be seen within two months of the disease," he said. The disease spreads due to fungus found in the soil, said Kuldeep Ghimire, head of the plant quarantine office, Bhairahawa.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">According to him, the infection spreads from one place to another, infected plants, soil, water and agricultural tools. Additionally, there is a possibility of spreading the disease from one farm to another through the soil stuck to tyres of vehicles carrying bananas, shoes and sandals, he said. Infected soil, water and agricultural tools are the main sources of the disease, he added.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">The customs has been tightened as trucks carrying bananas from India are the main source of the disease transmission, said Ghimire. "We do not allow anything other than banana fruits to be brought in vehicles carrying bananas. TR 4 does not spread from banana plants to its fruits. We have quarantined only those banana fruits that have been transported safely," he said. Vehicles loaded with bananas are sent after cleaning their tyres on the customs premises ensuring that there is no mud anywhere, he said. "All this work is done by the plant quarantine office. Bringing any type of banana saplings from India is banned," he said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">Bhairahawa customs office is the main customs point for importing Indian bananas. Bananas are imported from various parts of India through this transit point. Narayan Datta Joshi, information officer for the Bhairahawa customs office, said 37,638 metric tonnes of bananas worth over Rs 1.5 billion were imported from India through this transit in the previous fiscal year, 2022/23.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">According to him, within the Nepali month of Bhadra of the current FY, 2023/24, altogether 4,619 metric tonnes of bananas worth more than Rs 194 million have been imported through this transit.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">As bananas are cultivated on a large scale in Rupandehi and Nawalparasi (West), the border has been tightened to prevent the spread of the disease, said Joshi. The Prime Minister Agriculture Modernisation Project has designated Nawalparasi (West) as a banana zone for its cultivation. Banana has been cultivated on 1,150 hectares of land in Nawalparasi alone, said Narayan Kafle, head of the project implementation unit, Bhairahawa. Banana has been grown on 280 hectares of land in Rupandehi, said the agriculture knowledge center head Aryal. "All bananas cultivated here are G9 species, they cannot fight TR 4. Lumbini Province is at high risk of infection. So, it is necessary to be cautious," he said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">Banana plants planted in Pratappur of Nawalparasi (West) have shown symptoms similar to the disease, said Kafle. The samples have been sent to the National Plant Pathology Research Centre for research to find out whether the disease is TR 4 or other strain, he said.</span> -- <strong><span style="font-size:13.0pt">RSS</span></strong></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-22', 'modified' => '2023-09-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18794', 'image' => '20230922095027_20230830114301_20230823015131_1692756184.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-22 21:49:07', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19065', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Needs to Invest USD 46 Billion in Energy Sector within 12 Years ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 22: The Government of Nepal has prepared an ambitious and comprehensive action-plan including investing USD 46 billion for the overall development of the country's energy sector by 2035. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">September 22: The Government of Nepal has prepared an ambitious and comprehensive action-plan including investing USD 46 billion for the overall development of the country's energy sector by 2035. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The government set the target of massive investment considering the energy sector as the major basis for the country's economic development. The comprehensive action-plan that starts from 2023 and ends in 2035 envisage harnessing country's untapped energy potential. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, the action-plan was prepared with the goal of addressing the changing situations in energy landscape of the country. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The 'Energy Development Roadmap and Action Plan 2080 BS' action-plan prepared by the taskforce coordinated by the ministry's Joint-Secretary Sandeep Kumar Dev encompasses details about investment estimates for projects, transmission lines and sub-stations. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The task-force formed after the ministerial decision on July 11 this year included Sanjay Dhungel, Deputy Director-General of Department of Energy Development; Pradeep Kumar Thike, Deputy Executive Director of the Nepal Electricity Authority; Prabal Adhikari, NEA Director; and Ministry of Energy's Baburaj Adhikari among others. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The taskforce recently submitted a report containing the ambitious action-plan to the Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Shakti Bahadur Basnet. More detailed discussion would be held among the stakeholders on the report before endorsing it from the Council of Ministers. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The comprehensive action-plan was launched at a time when Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal in his last India visit had inked an agreement to export 10,000 megawatts of energy to India within 10 years and when Bangladesh showed its willingness to import 9,000 megawatt electricity from Nepal by 2040. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A target has been set to increase the installed electricity production capacity of the country to 28,000 megawatt by 2035. At present, the country's total installed electricity capacity has reached 2,860 megawatts. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Energy Minister Basnet shared the government has determined a modality of investment by projecting the demand of electricity to be equal to 28,500 megawatts keeping in mind the exports of power to the neighbouring countries. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A target has been set to export 15,000 megawatt electricity to other countries which requires investment of USD 46 billion. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the Ministry, financial resources equal to USD eight billion have been guaranteed so far. Government, private sector and the general public would also have share in the investment towards energy sector. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, capitals of non-resident Nepalis and Nepali migrant workers would also be incorporated with equal importance. The report of the taskforce has mentioned that USD 2.6 billion has already been invested in country's energy sector so far. However, the report mentioned that additional financial resources worth USD 39 billion are still needed. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Nepal Electricity Authority's earnings of USD eight billion would be mobilized in development of energy sector till 2035. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to Minister Basnet, USD two billion would be received through the climate investment for construction of the projects and transmission lines. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, the government has set the target of investing additional USD 500 million through the budgetary system for the development of the energy sector. It is also stated that more that USD 12 billion would be mobilized from those who have gone for foreign employment, the Nepal Infrastructure Bank and through the issuance of bonds. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, a goal has been set to increase the per capita electricity consumption to 1500 units to boost domestic consumption of electricity. This would help reduce the country's trade deficit. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">As per the same report, at least 50 persons will be employed at the management level for the production of 1,000 megawatts electricity. Similarly, towards engineering nearly 600 persons will be employed while around 2,000 individuals get employment towards workforce as supervisors, foremen and the like at the site. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, nearly 6,000 skilled workers and 25,000 general workers will get employment opportunity for generating 28,000 megawatts of energy. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-22', 'modified' => '2023-09-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18793', 'image' => '20230922080741_20230306031824_Clipboard32.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-22 20:07:12', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19064', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Over 100,000 Nepalis Obtain Labour Permits for Foreign Employment in First Two Months of Current FY ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'In the first two months of the current fiscal year 2023/2024, more than 1,00,000 Nepalis have received labour permits.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">September 22: In the first two months of the current fiscal year 2023/2024, more than 1,00,000 Nepalis have received labour permits. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">According to the Department of Foreign Employment, during the first two months of the fiscal year 2023/2024, a total of 1,06,459 individuals obtained labour permits.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">As per the department, 55,575 individuals received labour permits in the month of Shrawan, and 50,884 individuals received them in the month of Bhadra. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Over the course of these two months, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) attracted the highest number of workers, with 23,587 individuals securing work permits. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Additionally, 20,717 individuals acquired work permits for employment in Saudi Arabia, while 20,328 individuals did so for Qatar. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Malaysia was also a popular destination, with 17,437 individuals obtaining work permits to seek employment there.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In the first two months of the fiscal year 2022/2023, the number of individuals going abroad for foreign employment was 139,442. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">As reported by the Department of Foreign Employment, this represents a 23 percent decrease in the number of individuals going abroad for foreign employment during the same period this year compared to the last fiscal year.</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-22', 'modified' => '2023-09-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18792', 'image' => '20230922043726_collage (4).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-22 16:36:04', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19062', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '339 Climbers get Permits to Climb Mountains in Autumn Season this Year', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 22: The government has granted permission to 339 climbers from 35 expedition groups to climb 10 different mountain peaks during this autumn season.', '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"">September 22: The government has granted permission to 339 climbers from 35 expedition groups to climb 10 different mountain peaks during this autumn season.</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"">According to the Department of Tourism, mountaineers have taken permission to climb Manaslu, Raksha Yurai, Hiuchuli, Kumbakarna Himal, Himalung, Nemjung, Makalu, Thapa Peak, Annapurna and Dhaulagiri. </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"">Among the total number of climbers, the number of women is 73. The department has collected a royalty of Rs 36.49 million by issuing climbing permits.</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"">During the spring time, there is a rush to climb Mount Everest, while this season is ideal for climbing Mount Manaslu. According to the department, 301 mountaineers have taken permission to climb this mountain so far. After Manaslu, climbers are attracted to scale Dhaulagiri in the autumn season.</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 total of 10 climbers have taken permission to climb Dhaulagiri. Climbers from 47 countries of the world have received permission to climb mountains in this season in Nepal. Most of the climbers are Chinese. Altogether 67 Chinese climbers have received permission to climb mountains peaks in Nepal.</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"">Climbers from the United States are second only to the Chinese. A total of 33 climbers from the US have received permission to climb mountains in Nepal followed by 27 from Russia. </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"">Likewise, 24 Indians have acquired permits to climb mountains this season. Similarly, there are 14 climbers from other countries who have been granted permission by the department.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-22', 'modified' => '2023-09-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18791', 'image' => '20230922030208_20220224024229_eveest-expedition-.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-22 15:01:20', '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' => '19078', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Govt Expands Scope of Credit Guarantee', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 24: The government is preparing to expand the score of credit guarantee on provided by banks and financial institutions. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">September 24: The government is preparing to expand the score of credit guarantee on provided by banks and financial institutions. The government’s decision to amend the Credit Guarantee Regulations 2080 to allow credit guarantee programs in new areas has paved the way to expand the scope of the Deposit and Credit Guarantee Fund (DCGF).</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to the revised regulations, the fund will be able to launch new credit guarantee programs in areas related to climate change, start-ups, information technology, skill development training, environmental protection, disaster management, alternative and renewable energy, women's entrepreneurship, etc. For this, the fund can take appropriate decision based on the size of the credit guarantee fund, financial resources of the fund, market demand and needs. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">So far, the fund has been guaranteeing credit provided to small and medium enterprises by banks and microfinance companies as well as deprived sector lending and loans provided at subsidized interest rates.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Ramesh Ghimire, the chief executive officer of DCGF, said that the amendment of the regulations has paved the way for the fund to expand the scope of credit guarantee in the areas according to market needs. He claimed that the role of the fund is important in expanding the access to credit in Nepal and that the banks have been able to extend credit with confidence because of security assurance.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Until the last fiscal year, the fund covered credit guarantee of loans worth Rs 2.74 billion of 1.7 million borrowers.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Once the banks have been assured of credit guarantee, the DCGF will have to bear the loss if the banks fail to recover the loans due to any reason.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">For this, the banks and financial institution or the liquidator should make a claim with the fund for the loss they have had to bear.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Since 2010, the fund has also been giving credit guarantee for deposits up to Rs 500,000 in the individual accounts maintained at banks. As of last fiscal year-end, the Deposit and Credit Guarantee Fund assured to guarantee deposits worth Rs 1233 billion maintained at 41.5 million accounts.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-24', 'modified' => '2023-09-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18806', 'image' => '20230924025245_blank - Copy.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-24 14:52:09', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19076', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Fails to Acquire Concessional Loans from AIIB', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 24: Nepal is yet to benefit from concessional loans from Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">September 24: Nepal is yet to benefit from concessional loans from Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).</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 every annual meeting of AIIB, the finance ministry of Nepal submits proposals for concessional loans from the multilateral donor organisation but the AIIB turns down the proposals every time. Even now, Finance Minister Dr Parkash Sharan Mahat, leading a high-level delegation of the Ministry of Finance, has reached Cairo to lobby for concessional loan.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">AIIB, which was established under the leadership of China, has set high interest rates on commercial loans, so underdeveloped countries like Nepal have a problem in getting concessional loan facilities. Nepal is also a founding member of the bank. Even though Nepal is not able to benefit much from the bank, Finance Minister Mahat has gone to Cairo to participate in the annual meeting of AIIB to be held this week with the proposal of subsidized loans.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Nepal is seeking loans from AIIB at the same interest and facilities as the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank. In every annual meeting and bilateral discussion, Nepal has been seeking for loans at subsidized interest rates. Nepal is not ready to take a loans other than concessional loans from AIIB as the interest rate is higher than that of Exim Bank. The bank’s officials have repeatedly requested Nepal to take loans, but they have refused to give concessions on interest rates.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">AIIB has been giving loans at 2.5 percent interest rate. Finance Minister Mahat says that Nepal is not in a position to invest in infrastructure with such loans given in US dollars. Minister Mahat will make a proposal for a concessional loan with AIIB, mainly with the argument that there is a lack of capital for Nepal's infrastructure development.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">When taking a loan from AIIB, the interest rate is fixed by adding 1 to 1.5 percentage points to the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR). The Ministry of Finance said that AIIB's loan can be used only by blending it with loans received from other donor agencies at cheaper interest rates. The Chinese government has 30 percent shares in the bank. Nepal has invested Rs 8 billion in it, which is 0.08 percent of the bank's capital. The purpose of this bank is to mobilize more capital in the Belt and Road Initiative launched by China. Chinese President Xi Jinping announced the establishment of the bank in 2013. The government of Nepal has not been able to benefit much from AIIB, which has emerged as a competitive bank among international financial institutions.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-24', 'modified' => '2023-09-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18805', 'image' => '20230924020450_AIIB_20221212_Press-Release_ESS-Communications_1129X620px.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-24 14:04:13', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19075', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '19th Asian Games: Nepal's Table Tennis Team Eliminated in Group Stage ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 24: Nepal has been knocked out from the group stage in table tennis team event under the 19th Asian games underway in China.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">September 24: Nepal has been knocked out from the group stage in table tennis team event under the 19th Asian games underway in China. Both the Nepali women's and men's teams have been eliminated in the group stage of the team event. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In the matches held at the Gongshu Canal Sports Park Gymnasium in Hangzhou city on Saturday, the Nepali women's team lost to India with a score of 0-3. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Nepal's Sikka Suwal was defeated by India's Diya Parag Chitale 11-1, 11-6 and 11-8 while Nabita Shrestha was defeated by Ahyika Mukharjee 11-3, 11-7, and Ivana Thapa Magar lost the match to Sutirtha Mukherjee with a score of 1-11, 5-11 and 2-11. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, Nepal's men's team was also defeated by North Korea in straight sets of 3-0. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Samyog Kapali lost to North Korea's player 7-11, 4-11 and 5-11. In another match, Rubin Maharjan was defeated by a score of 11-2, 11-6, and 11-2, while Bilosh Shrestha lost the match 8-11, 2-11 and 3-11. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-24', 'modified' => '2023-09-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18804', 'image' => '20230924013702_720 - Copy.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-24 13:36:16', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19077', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Aadhyanta Accelerator Program Concludes with ‘Historic’ Rs 200 Million Commitment for 10 Enterprises', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 24: Aadhyanta Fund Management Limited, a Nepal-based fund mobilization platform, wrapped up its inaugural Aadhyanta Accelerator Program recently in Biratnagar, highlighting the high-growth potential of Koshi Province's Agri SMEs.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Arial,"sans-serif"">September 24: Aadhyanta Fund Management Limited, a Nepal-based fund mobilization platform, wrapped up its inaugural Aadhyanta Accelerator Program recently in Biratnagar, highlighting the high-growth potential of Koshi Province's Agri SMEs.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Arial,"sans-serif"">The eight-month program organised in collaboration with Sahaj-NAMDP, FNCCI Koshi Province, and the Provincial Investment Authority, zeroed in on empowering agricultural enterprises, priming them for scalability and drawing investors. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Arial,"sans-serif"">Issuing a statement, the fund management company said that the initiative actively envisions amplifying the entrepreneurship in Koshi Province, and to expedite economic activities as well as to promote pioneering and innovation.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Arial,"sans-serif"">According to the statement, 10 enterprises emerged investment-ready at the culmination of the accelerator program. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Arial,"sans-serif"">Significant investors, including Global Equity Fund, NIMB Ace Capital Limited, Himalayan Capital Limited, Reliable Ventures Limited, and Aadhyanta Fund Management, expressed interest in five enterprises, signaling commitments to the tune of Rs 200 million, reads the statement.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Arial,"sans-serif"">Beneficiaries of this financial pact include Birat Group, Khetipati Organics, Agri Center Jhapa, Raktakali Tea Estate, and Dibyadristi Veneration and Agro.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Arial,"sans-serif"">Rajendra Raut, executive member of FNCCI and President of FNCCI Koshi Province, chaired the momentous gathering. The event was attended by Chief Minister of Koshi Province, Hikmat Karki, Mayor of Biratnagar Metropolitan City Nagesh Koirlaa, and distinguished personalities including Reema Shrestha, Dr Saroj Koirala, among others.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Arial,"sans-serif"">Commenting on the day's significance, Manoj Paudel of Aadhyanta shed light on the transformational potential of the alternative finance industry for the Nepali economy, positioning it as a robust counterweight to political uncertainties impacting economic stability.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-24', 'modified' => '2023-09-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18803', 'image' => '20230924022241_Picture.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-24 14:20:38', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19074', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Apple Production Declines in Dhorpatan Area ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 24: Jum Bahadur Budhathoki Magar, 73, from Nisikhola Rural Municipality-5 of Baglung district has an apple orchard with 200 trees of both local and Italian species. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">September 24: Jum Bahadur Budhathoki Magar, 73, from Nisikhola Rural Municipality-5 of Baglung district has an apple orchard with 200 trees of both local and Italian species. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He sold 15 quintals of apple last year, but the production slumped this year. The apple production declined sharply because of hailstones that occurred in March and April. Now, the orchard wears a dreary look. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Magar has been involved in traditional apple farming since 2048 BS. He has the farm in 15 ropanies of land at Masgaon.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"I was expecting to sell 20 to 25 quintals of apple this year, but in vain," he said, adding that the hailstones damaged it in the beginning of the flowering season. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Even the farmers at Niseldhor area are worried over the meagre product. With this, some of them have shifted to potato farming. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Magar had planted 200 saplings of Italian species of apple. He explained, "After I became Chairman of Dhorpatan Apple Bloc, we began collective apple farming. I'm leading the apple farmers of Neseldhoka as well. The Italian species of apple gave good harvest last year, but the hailstone damaged it during the flowering season this year." </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Earlier, Dhorpatan valley, Sentung, Shyalpakhe, Niseldhor and Mas were doing traditional farming, but in minimum scale. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Farmer from Dhorpatan-9, Ram Bahadur Gharti, informed that he also had good harvest from 181 trees of apple last year. But, the production declined this time. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-24', 'modified' => '2023-09-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18802', 'image' => '20230924012733_image039.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-24 13:26:54', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19073', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Mustang Folks Demand Operation of Korala Transit Point ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 24: After Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal left for a week-long visit to China, the issue related to the operation of Korala transit point bordering Tibet Autonomous Region of China has emerged as a matter of public concern. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">September 24: After Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal left for a week-long visit to China, the issue related to the operation of Korala transit point bordering Tibet Autonomous Region of China has emerged as a matter of public concern. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In the context when both the countries have yet to materialise the operation of Korala transit point, the prime minister’s official visit to China has boosted the local people's confidence about its operations. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">China had reached an understanding with Nepal some years ago to open eight transits including Korala check point.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">China has protected its land with a barbed wire fence at Korala transit point. It has placed security arrangement and also built a building in the no man’s land. The Chinese side has already blacktopped the road up to the border, and has made all preparations for a port, security post and customs office. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">China has completed all preparations for the operations of Korala transit, and is seeking security from the Nepali side along with preparations to open the border point, said Namdu Gurung, member of the Gandaki Province Assembly. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">As China has completed all the preparations for the operations of the transit point, there is a hope for agreement during Prime Minister Dahal's visit for the operations of the transit point, which is considered as the lifeline for the economic development of Gandaki Province, he said. The border is important in terms of both transit and tourism. If the border can be brought into operations, flow of international trade and religious tourism will begin. The transit point is expected to play a major role in the development of Mustang and Gandaki Province. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"We have been continuously raising our voice on the issue before the provincial government and the Province Assembly. Even the federal government is aware of the matter,” he said. </span></span></span><br /> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Nepal had signed a trade and transit agreement with China during the official visit of the then Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli to China in March, 2016. During his next visit in June 2018, an agreement was reached between the two countries to open additional transit points. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">There has been a delay in the construction of the Myagdi section of the under-construction Beni-Jomsom-Korala road targeting the Korala transit. The under-construction Kaligandaki corridor road, which is considered very important in terms of transit and trade. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The graveling and blacktopping of the road up to Korala through Ghansa and Jomsom has reached its final stage. But the construction of the road between Beni and Ghansa has been affected due to factors like floods, landslides and river erosion. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">While the famous Korala border has drawn widespread attention between the two countries, the trade fair which had been traditionally taking place biannually has been closed for four years, said Tasi Nharbu Gurung, chairperson of the Lo Manthang Rural Municipality. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">As the Chinese side has showed its desire to open the border crossing this year after completing the construction of the entire infrastructure, the news that the issue will be taken up during the visit of Prime Minister Dahal to China has made residents of Mustang more confident that there will be further progress in the border operations, he said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The acquisition of around 1,000 ropanis of land has been completed for the construction of the infrastructure for an integrated customs office on Korala transit premises, and soil testing has been also done. The soil was tested after the Ministry of Commerce released the budget for the survey and detailed project report. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the district administration office, Mustang, a team assigned to test the soil examined the soil in the proposed site to build infrastructures at the Korala transit. Targeting the Korala transit, a border police post has been set up in Lo Manthang, and an area police office at Nechung of Chhoser. Keeping in view of the border security, a border outpost of the Armed Police Force has also been established at Nechung, around 20 km away from the Korala transit. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-24', 'modified' => '2023-09-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18801', 'image' => '20230924113840_Majestic-Panorama-view-of-Upper-Mustang-mountain-landscape-nea-Lo-Monthang..jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-24 11:38:02', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19072', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'World Bank Approves $20 Million Grant to Support Nepal’s Agriculture and Nutrition Sector', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 24: The World Bank has approved a grant of US$20 million to support the Government of Nepal’s Food and Nutrition Security Enhancement Project (FANSEP)-II.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px">September 24: The World Bank has approved a grant of US$20 million to support the Government of Nepal’s Food and Nutrition Security Enhancement Project (FANSEP)-II.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Issuing a statement on Friday, the World Bank said that the project aims to benefit more than 55,000 small-holder farmers in 16 rural municipalities in Nepal through improved agricultural productivity and nutrition practices and scaling up climate-smart agriculture practices.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">“Achieving food and nutrition security and reducing poverty are national goals of the Government of Nepal, in line with commitments to realize the Sustainable Development Goals and Zero Hunger Challenge,” the statement quoted Faris Hadad-Zervos, World Bank’s country director for the Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, as saying.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">“This operation supports the Government of Nepal’s efforts to enhance productivity and livelihoods and improve nutrition security of marginalized communities,” he added.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">According to the World Bank, FANSEP-II has three components: climate and nutrition smart agricultural technology adaptation and dissemination, income generation and diversification, and improving nutrition security. It aims to build on the success of the Food and Nutrition Security Enhancement Project, which is closing on June 30, 2024, added the statement.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">“The operation, financed by a grant from the Global Agriculture Food Security Program (GAFSP) Trust Fund, is aligned with Nepal’s green, resilient, and inclusive development agenda and will help build the resilience of marginalized communities in food insecure and disaster-affected areas of Nepal,” stated Karishma Wasti, World Bank’s project task team leader.</span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-24', 'modified' => '2023-09-24', 'keywords' => 'world, bank, Nepal, agriculture, nutrition, grant', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18800', 'image' => '20230924110100_20230923081546_20221101101708_World.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-24 10:59:40', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19071', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Tata Motors’ New Showroom in Chitwan', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => ' Tata Motors has launched a new showroom in Bharatpur, Chitwan. Authorized distributor SH Motors for Siprdai Trading, the official distributor of Tata Motors for Nepal, Sipradi Trading, has started operations in Bharatpur from Friday.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">September 24: Tata Motors has launched a new showroom in Bharatpur, Chitwan. </span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Authorized distributor SH Motors for Siprdai Trading, the official distributor of Tata Motors for Nepal, has started operations in Bharatpur from Friday. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It has been stated that the entire range of Tata Motors' cars will be available at the showroom located at Bharatpur's Rijal Chowk. </span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The sales and distribution of Tata Punch and Tata Tiago electric cars (EVs) have also begun from the new showroom. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> The program was attended by Sipradi's Passenger Vehicle Segment Head Saurabh Sijapati and SH Motors' Managing Director Sharmila Sedhai. </span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Sijapati, the head of the passenger vehicle segment of the company, said that customer satisfaction is the company's top priority. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Sijapati said, "Under the leadership of Sipradi Trading and SH Motors, the operation of this showroom will bring new dimensions to the sales, service, and customer satisfaction in this sector." </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-24', 'modified' => '2023-09-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18799', 'image' => '20230924095044_collage (10).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-24 09:49:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19070', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Kamana Sewa Bikas Bank Provides Financial Literacy to Traffic Police', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => ' Kamana Sewa Bikas Bank conducted a financial literacy program on Saturday at the Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office on Ram Shah Path. Information regarding banking systems, savings, loans, and the recent developments in digital banking was provided to the traffic police.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">September 24: Kamana Sewa Bikas Bank conducted a financial literacy program on Saturday at the Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office on Ram Shah Path.</span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> Information regarding banking systems, savings, loans, and the recent developments in digital banking was provided to the traffic police. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Sushil Poudel, Head of the Bank's Branding Department, made a presentation on the importance of savings, daily financial habits, loan management, financial discipline, and the significance of digital banking, as well as the opportunities and challenges they present.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">During the program, Superintendent of Police (SP) Santosh Acharya from the Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office said that the programme had helped understand the importance of savings in daily life. </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-24', 'modified' => '2023-09-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18798', 'image' => '20230924092954_collage (8).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-24 09:28:26', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19069', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'China's President Xi Inaugurates Biggest-ever Asian Games', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 23: Chinese President Xi Jinping inaugurated the 19th Asian Games in a colourful ceremony in Hangzhou city on Saturday, launching a two-week sporting extravaganza that boasts more athletes than the Olympics.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">September 23: Chinese President Xi Jinping inaugurated the 19th Asian Games in a colourful ceremony in Hangzhou city on Saturday, launching a two-week sporting extravaganza that boasts more athletes than the Olympics.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">After being delayed by a year because of China's now-abandoned zero-Covid policy, more than 12,000 competitors from 45 nations and territories will battle it out in 40 sports, AFP reported.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">According to the French news agency, Xi officially opened the Games at the 80,000-capacity Hangzhou Olympic Stadium, also known as "the Big Lotus".</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Xi was given a rapturous reception by spectators waving mini Chinese flags.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach was also among the dignitaries. Leaders from Cambodia, Kuwait and Nepal, among others, also attend the event.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">The theme of the ceremony was water and it also celebrated Hangzhou's ancient history and landscape, while giving a nod to the city's reputation as the unofficial home of China's tech industry.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">A "digital torch bearer" strode into the stadium and was projected onto a large screen behind the Games cauldron at the climax.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">"I feel very happy and excited," AFP quoted a 35-year-old woman spectator surnamed Zhang as saying.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">"I feel it's a great honour for the city."</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Jung-Woo Lee, sport policy expert at the University of Edinburgh, told AFP the Games were "China's post-pandemic soft-power exercise".</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">China's status as a sporting and business destination took a severe hit during the pandemic, when snap lockdowns and strict travel rules saw almost all international events cancelled in the country.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">The event has been rocked by a row between New Delhi and China over three Indian martial arts fighters, with a trip to the city by India's sports minister cancelled on Friday.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">According to AFP, China denied Indian claims that the trio had been barred from entering the country.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Games athletes will fight for medals in Olympic staples such as athletics, swimming, football, gymnastics and cycling.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">There will also be regional specialities including dragon boat racing, the Chinese martial art wushu and kabaddi.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Nine sports -- among them boxing, break dancing and tennis -- will serve as Asia qualifiers for next year's Paris Olympics.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Although the Games officially opened on Saturday, sports such as football, cricket, volleyball and table tennis had already begun.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">The Games will be staged at 54 venues -- 14 newly constructed -- mostly in Hangzhou but also extending to cities as far afield as Wenzhou, 300 kilometres south, added AFP.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-23', 'modified' => '2023-09-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18797', 'image' => '20230923092908_AP23266464142731.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-23 21:28:23', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19067', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'CAAN urges not to Fly Kites, Drones near Airport ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 23: The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has urged one and all not to fly kites, drones and balloons around the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA). ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">September 23: The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has urged one and all not to fly kites, drones and balloons around the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA). </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">CAAN Spokesperson and Deputy Director General Jagannath Niraula said cases of flying kites, drones and balloons in the vicinity of the airport have been reported despite a prohibition. It has posed a serious threat to aviation safety, he added. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The situation has prompted the aviation regulatory body to urge all to not repeat such acts any more. The risk is potentially high during Dashain and Tihar as these festivals are marked by flying kites. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The CAAN issued a public notice on Friday seeking cooperation from the public not5 to indulge in any activities that affect the safety of flights, and warned of action if the request is violated. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-23', 'modified' => '2023-09-23', 'keywords' => 'CAAN, TIA, airport, safety, aviation, Nepal, flight, kites, drones, balloon', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18795', 'image' => '20230923061623_1653535_802362103120205_5575686185315399586_n.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-23 18:15:58', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19066', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Govt Adopts Measures at Border Points to Prevent the Spread of Panama Disease in Banana Plantations', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 22: Government authorities have adopted strict measures at the border areas to prevent the spread of panama disease in bananas, fearing that the disease might spread in the country with the import of bananas from India.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">September 22: Government authorities have adopted strict measures at the border areas to prevent the spread of panama disease in bananas, fearing that the disease might spread in the country with the import of bananas from India. With the outbreak of the panama disease in Tikapur of Kailali, high alert has been maintained in all plant quarantines at all border points with India. Panama disease is considered to be the most destructive disease in bananas.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development has issued a notice to take precautions as banana plants in some gardens in Tikapur have started withering due to the disease. Race 1 variant of the disease is said to have entered Nepal from India some 14 years ago, said Shiva Lal Aryal, head of the Agriculture Knowledge Centre, Bhairahawa. This disease has been widely spreading in Chitwan for seven years.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">"Race 1 causes a lot of damage to local breeds including the Malbhog variety. New variety G9, Williams Hybrid, Chini Champa and other varieties can fully tolerate race 1 variant. The new variant of panama disease has the ability to completely destroy all the banana varieties available for cultivation in Nepal," said Aryal.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">Due to the disease, the bottom of old banana leaves turns yellow, then the edge of the leaf turns yellow and the leaf dries and the stem breaks. "Plants show the symptoms of this disease four to five months after the attack. If infected plants are planted, symptoms can be seen within two months of the disease," he said. The disease spreads due to fungus found in the soil, said Kuldeep Ghimire, head of the plant quarantine office, Bhairahawa.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">According to him, the infection spreads from one place to another, infected plants, soil, water and agricultural tools. Additionally, there is a possibility of spreading the disease from one farm to another through the soil stuck to tyres of vehicles carrying bananas, shoes and sandals, he said. Infected soil, water and agricultural tools are the main sources of the disease, he added.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">The customs has been tightened as trucks carrying bananas from India are the main source of the disease transmission, said Ghimire. "We do not allow anything other than banana fruits to be brought in vehicles carrying bananas. TR 4 does not spread from banana plants to its fruits. We have quarantined only those banana fruits that have been transported safely," he said. Vehicles loaded with bananas are sent after cleaning their tyres on the customs premises ensuring that there is no mud anywhere, he said. "All this work is done by the plant quarantine office. Bringing any type of banana saplings from India is banned," he said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">Bhairahawa customs office is the main customs point for importing Indian bananas. Bananas are imported from various parts of India through this transit point. Narayan Datta Joshi, information officer for the Bhairahawa customs office, said 37,638 metric tonnes of bananas worth over Rs 1.5 billion were imported from India through this transit in the previous fiscal year, 2022/23.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">According to him, within the Nepali month of Bhadra of the current FY, 2023/24, altogether 4,619 metric tonnes of bananas worth more than Rs 194 million have been imported through this transit.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">As bananas are cultivated on a large scale in Rupandehi and Nawalparasi (West), the border has been tightened to prevent the spread of the disease, said Joshi. The Prime Minister Agriculture Modernisation Project has designated Nawalparasi (West) as a banana zone for its cultivation. Banana has been cultivated on 1,150 hectares of land in Nawalparasi alone, said Narayan Kafle, head of the project implementation unit, Bhairahawa. Banana has been grown on 280 hectares of land in Rupandehi, said the agriculture knowledge center head Aryal. "All bananas cultivated here are G9 species, they cannot fight TR 4. Lumbini Province is at high risk of infection. So, it is necessary to be cautious," he said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">Banana plants planted in Pratappur of Nawalparasi (West) have shown symptoms similar to the disease, said Kafle. The samples have been sent to the National Plant Pathology Research Centre for research to find out whether the disease is TR 4 or other strain, he said.</span> -- <strong><span style="font-size:13.0pt">RSS</span></strong></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-22', 'modified' => '2023-09-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18794', 'image' => '20230922095027_20230830114301_20230823015131_1692756184.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-22 21:49:07', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19065', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Needs to Invest USD 46 Billion in Energy Sector within 12 Years ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 22: The Government of Nepal has prepared an ambitious and comprehensive action-plan including investing USD 46 billion for the overall development of the country's energy sector by 2035. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">September 22: The Government of Nepal has prepared an ambitious and comprehensive action-plan including investing USD 46 billion for the overall development of the country's energy sector by 2035. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The government set the target of massive investment considering the energy sector as the major basis for the country's economic development. The comprehensive action-plan that starts from 2023 and ends in 2035 envisage harnessing country's untapped energy potential. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, the action-plan was prepared with the goal of addressing the changing situations in energy landscape of the country. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The 'Energy Development Roadmap and Action Plan 2080 BS' action-plan prepared by the taskforce coordinated by the ministry's Joint-Secretary Sandeep Kumar Dev encompasses details about investment estimates for projects, transmission lines and sub-stations. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The task-force formed after the ministerial decision on July 11 this year included Sanjay Dhungel, Deputy Director-General of Department of Energy Development; Pradeep Kumar Thike, Deputy Executive Director of the Nepal Electricity Authority; Prabal Adhikari, NEA Director; and Ministry of Energy's Baburaj Adhikari among others. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The taskforce recently submitted a report containing the ambitious action-plan to the Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Shakti Bahadur Basnet. More detailed discussion would be held among the stakeholders on the report before endorsing it from the Council of Ministers. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The comprehensive action-plan was launched at a time when Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal in his last India visit had inked an agreement to export 10,000 megawatts of energy to India within 10 years and when Bangladesh showed its willingness to import 9,000 megawatt electricity from Nepal by 2040. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A target has been set to increase the installed electricity production capacity of the country to 28,000 megawatt by 2035. At present, the country's total installed electricity capacity has reached 2,860 megawatts. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Energy Minister Basnet shared the government has determined a modality of investment by projecting the demand of electricity to be equal to 28,500 megawatts keeping in mind the exports of power to the neighbouring countries. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A target has been set to export 15,000 megawatt electricity to other countries which requires investment of USD 46 billion. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the Ministry, financial resources equal to USD eight billion have been guaranteed so far. Government, private sector and the general public would also have share in the investment towards energy sector. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, capitals of non-resident Nepalis and Nepali migrant workers would also be incorporated with equal importance. The report of the taskforce has mentioned that USD 2.6 billion has already been invested in country's energy sector so far. However, the report mentioned that additional financial resources worth USD 39 billion are still needed. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Nepal Electricity Authority's earnings of USD eight billion would be mobilized in development of energy sector till 2035. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to Minister Basnet, USD two billion would be received through the climate investment for construction of the projects and transmission lines. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, the government has set the target of investing additional USD 500 million through the budgetary system for the development of the energy sector. It is also stated that more that USD 12 billion would be mobilized from those who have gone for foreign employment, the Nepal Infrastructure Bank and through the issuance of bonds. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, a goal has been set to increase the per capita electricity consumption to 1500 units to boost domestic consumption of electricity. This would help reduce the country's trade deficit. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">As per the same report, at least 50 persons will be employed at the management level for the production of 1,000 megawatts electricity. Similarly, towards engineering nearly 600 persons will be employed while around 2,000 individuals get employment towards workforce as supervisors, foremen and the like at the site. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, nearly 6,000 skilled workers and 25,000 general workers will get employment opportunity for generating 28,000 megawatts of energy. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-22', 'modified' => '2023-09-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18793', 'image' => '20230922080741_20230306031824_Clipboard32.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-22 20:07:12', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19064', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Over 100,000 Nepalis Obtain Labour Permits for Foreign Employment in First Two Months of Current FY ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'In the first two months of the current fiscal year 2023/2024, more than 1,00,000 Nepalis have received labour permits.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">September 22: In the first two months of the current fiscal year 2023/2024, more than 1,00,000 Nepalis have received labour permits. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">According to the Department of Foreign Employment, during the first two months of the fiscal year 2023/2024, a total of 1,06,459 individuals obtained labour permits.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">As per the department, 55,575 individuals received labour permits in the month of Shrawan, and 50,884 individuals received them in the month of Bhadra. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Over the course of these two months, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) attracted the highest number of workers, with 23,587 individuals securing work permits. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Additionally, 20,717 individuals acquired work permits for employment in Saudi Arabia, while 20,328 individuals did so for Qatar. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Malaysia was also a popular destination, with 17,437 individuals obtaining work permits to seek employment there.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In the first two months of the fiscal year 2022/2023, the number of individuals going abroad for foreign employment was 139,442. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">As reported by the Department of Foreign Employment, this represents a 23 percent decrease in the number of individuals going abroad for foreign employment during the same period this year compared to the last fiscal year.</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-22', 'modified' => '2023-09-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18792', 'image' => '20230922043726_collage (4).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-22 16:36:04', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19062', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '339 Climbers get Permits to Climb Mountains in Autumn Season this Year', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 22: The government has granted permission to 339 climbers from 35 expedition groups to climb 10 different mountain peaks during this autumn season.', '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"">September 22: The government has granted permission to 339 climbers from 35 expedition groups to climb 10 different mountain peaks during this autumn season.</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"">According to the Department of Tourism, mountaineers have taken permission to climb Manaslu, Raksha Yurai, Hiuchuli, Kumbakarna Himal, Himalung, Nemjung, Makalu, Thapa Peak, Annapurna and Dhaulagiri. </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"">Among the total number of climbers, the number of women is 73. The department has collected a royalty of Rs 36.49 million by issuing climbing permits.</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"">During the spring time, there is a rush to climb Mount Everest, while this season is ideal for climbing Mount Manaslu. According to the department, 301 mountaineers have taken permission to climb this mountain so far. After Manaslu, climbers are attracted to scale Dhaulagiri in the autumn season.</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 total of 10 climbers have taken permission to climb Dhaulagiri. Climbers from 47 countries of the world have received permission to climb mountains in this season in Nepal. Most of the climbers are Chinese. Altogether 67 Chinese climbers have received permission to climb mountains peaks in Nepal.</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"">Climbers from the United States are second only to the Chinese. A total of 33 climbers from the US have received permission to climb mountains in Nepal followed by 27 from Russia. </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"">Likewise, 24 Indians have acquired permits to climb mountains this season. Similarly, there are 14 climbers from other countries who have been granted permission by the department.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-22', 'modified' => '2023-09-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18791', 'image' => '20230922030208_20220224024229_eveest-expedition-.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-22 15:01:20', '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' => '19078', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Govt Expands Scope of Credit Guarantee', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 24: The government is preparing to expand the score of credit guarantee on provided by banks and financial institutions. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">September 24: The government is preparing to expand the score of credit guarantee on provided by banks and financial institutions. The government’s decision to amend the Credit Guarantee Regulations 2080 to allow credit guarantee programs in new areas has paved the way to expand the scope of the Deposit and Credit Guarantee Fund (DCGF).</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to the revised regulations, the fund will be able to launch new credit guarantee programs in areas related to climate change, start-ups, information technology, skill development training, environmental protection, disaster management, alternative and renewable energy, women's entrepreneurship, etc. For this, the fund can take appropriate decision based on the size of the credit guarantee fund, financial resources of the fund, market demand and needs. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">So far, the fund has been guaranteeing credit provided to small and medium enterprises by banks and microfinance companies as well as deprived sector lending and loans provided at subsidized interest rates.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Ramesh Ghimire, the chief executive officer of DCGF, said that the amendment of the regulations has paved the way for the fund to expand the scope of credit guarantee in the areas according to market needs. He claimed that the role of the fund is important in expanding the access to credit in Nepal and that the banks have been able to extend credit with confidence because of security assurance.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Until the last fiscal year, the fund covered credit guarantee of loans worth Rs 2.74 billion of 1.7 million borrowers.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Once the banks have been assured of credit guarantee, the DCGF will have to bear the loss if the banks fail to recover the loans due to any reason.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">For this, the banks and financial institution or the liquidator should make a claim with the fund for the loss they have had to bear.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Since 2010, the fund has also been giving credit guarantee for deposits up to Rs 500,000 in the individual accounts maintained at banks. As of last fiscal year-end, the Deposit and Credit Guarantee Fund assured to guarantee deposits worth Rs 1233 billion maintained at 41.5 million accounts.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-24', 'modified' => '2023-09-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18806', 'image' => '20230924025245_blank - Copy.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-24 14:52:09', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19076', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Fails to Acquire Concessional Loans from AIIB', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 24: Nepal is yet to benefit from concessional loans from Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">September 24: Nepal is yet to benefit from concessional loans from Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).</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 every annual meeting of AIIB, the finance ministry of Nepal submits proposals for concessional loans from the multilateral donor organisation but the AIIB turns down the proposals every time. Even now, Finance Minister Dr Parkash Sharan Mahat, leading a high-level delegation of the Ministry of Finance, has reached Cairo to lobby for concessional loan.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">AIIB, which was established under the leadership of China, has set high interest rates on commercial loans, so underdeveloped countries like Nepal have a problem in getting concessional loan facilities. Nepal is also a founding member of the bank. Even though Nepal is not able to benefit much from the bank, Finance Minister Mahat has gone to Cairo to participate in the annual meeting of AIIB to be held this week with the proposal of subsidized loans.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Nepal is seeking loans from AIIB at the same interest and facilities as the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank. In every annual meeting and bilateral discussion, Nepal has been seeking for loans at subsidized interest rates. Nepal is not ready to take a loans other than concessional loans from AIIB as the interest rate is higher than that of Exim Bank. The bank’s officials have repeatedly requested Nepal to take loans, but they have refused to give concessions on interest rates.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">AIIB has been giving loans at 2.5 percent interest rate. Finance Minister Mahat says that Nepal is not in a position to invest in infrastructure with such loans given in US dollars. Minister Mahat will make a proposal for a concessional loan with AIIB, mainly with the argument that there is a lack of capital for Nepal's infrastructure development.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">When taking a loan from AIIB, the interest rate is fixed by adding 1 to 1.5 percentage points to the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR). The Ministry of Finance said that AIIB's loan can be used only by blending it with loans received from other donor agencies at cheaper interest rates. The Chinese government has 30 percent shares in the bank. Nepal has invested Rs 8 billion in it, which is 0.08 percent of the bank's capital. The purpose of this bank is to mobilize more capital in the Belt and Road Initiative launched by China. Chinese President Xi Jinping announced the establishment of the bank in 2013. The government of Nepal has not been able to benefit much from AIIB, which has emerged as a competitive bank among international financial institutions.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-24', 'modified' => '2023-09-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18805', 'image' => '20230924020450_AIIB_20221212_Press-Release_ESS-Communications_1129X620px.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-24 14:04:13', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19075', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '19th Asian Games: Nepal's Table Tennis Team Eliminated in Group Stage ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 24: Nepal has been knocked out from the group stage in table tennis team event under the 19th Asian games underway in China.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">September 24: Nepal has been knocked out from the group stage in table tennis team event under the 19th Asian games underway in China. Both the Nepali women's and men's teams have been eliminated in the group stage of the team event. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In the matches held at the Gongshu Canal Sports Park Gymnasium in Hangzhou city on Saturday, the Nepali women's team lost to India with a score of 0-3. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Nepal's Sikka Suwal was defeated by India's Diya Parag Chitale 11-1, 11-6 and 11-8 while Nabita Shrestha was defeated by Ahyika Mukharjee 11-3, 11-7, and Ivana Thapa Magar lost the match to Sutirtha Mukherjee with a score of 1-11, 5-11 and 2-11. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, Nepal's men's team was also defeated by North Korea in straight sets of 3-0. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Samyog Kapali lost to North Korea's player 7-11, 4-11 and 5-11. In another match, Rubin Maharjan was defeated by a score of 11-2, 11-6, and 11-2, while Bilosh Shrestha lost the match 8-11, 2-11 and 3-11. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-24', 'modified' => '2023-09-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18804', 'image' => '20230924013702_720 - Copy.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-24 13:36:16', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19077', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Aadhyanta Accelerator Program Concludes with ‘Historic’ Rs 200 Million Commitment for 10 Enterprises', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 24: Aadhyanta Fund Management Limited, a Nepal-based fund mobilization platform, wrapped up its inaugural Aadhyanta Accelerator Program recently in Biratnagar, highlighting the high-growth potential of Koshi Province's Agri SMEs.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Arial,"sans-serif"">September 24: Aadhyanta Fund Management Limited, a Nepal-based fund mobilization platform, wrapped up its inaugural Aadhyanta Accelerator Program recently in Biratnagar, highlighting the high-growth potential of Koshi Province's Agri SMEs.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Arial,"sans-serif"">The eight-month program organised in collaboration with Sahaj-NAMDP, FNCCI Koshi Province, and the Provincial Investment Authority, zeroed in on empowering agricultural enterprises, priming them for scalability and drawing investors. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Arial,"sans-serif"">Issuing a statement, the fund management company said that the initiative actively envisions amplifying the entrepreneurship in Koshi Province, and to expedite economic activities as well as to promote pioneering and innovation.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Arial,"sans-serif"">According to the statement, 10 enterprises emerged investment-ready at the culmination of the accelerator program. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Arial,"sans-serif"">Significant investors, including Global Equity Fund, NIMB Ace Capital Limited, Himalayan Capital Limited, Reliable Ventures Limited, and Aadhyanta Fund Management, expressed interest in five enterprises, signaling commitments to the tune of Rs 200 million, reads the statement.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Arial,"sans-serif"">Beneficiaries of this financial pact include Birat Group, Khetipati Organics, Agri Center Jhapa, Raktakali Tea Estate, and Dibyadristi Veneration and Agro.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Arial,"sans-serif"">Rajendra Raut, executive member of FNCCI and President of FNCCI Koshi Province, chaired the momentous gathering. The event was attended by Chief Minister of Koshi Province, Hikmat Karki, Mayor of Biratnagar Metropolitan City Nagesh Koirlaa, and distinguished personalities including Reema Shrestha, Dr Saroj Koirala, among others.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Arial,"sans-serif"">Commenting on the day's significance, Manoj Paudel of Aadhyanta shed light on the transformational potential of the alternative finance industry for the Nepali economy, positioning it as a robust counterweight to political uncertainties impacting economic stability.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-24', 'modified' => '2023-09-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18803', 'image' => '20230924022241_Picture.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-24 14:20:38', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19074', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Apple Production Declines in Dhorpatan Area ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 24: Jum Bahadur Budhathoki Magar, 73, from Nisikhola Rural Municipality-5 of Baglung district has an apple orchard with 200 trees of both local and Italian species. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">September 24: Jum Bahadur Budhathoki Magar, 73, from Nisikhola Rural Municipality-5 of Baglung district has an apple orchard with 200 trees of both local and Italian species. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He sold 15 quintals of apple last year, but the production slumped this year. The apple production declined sharply because of hailstones that occurred in March and April. Now, the orchard wears a dreary look. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Magar has been involved in traditional apple farming since 2048 BS. He has the farm in 15 ropanies of land at Masgaon.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"I was expecting to sell 20 to 25 quintals of apple this year, but in vain," he said, adding that the hailstones damaged it in the beginning of the flowering season. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Even the farmers at Niseldhor area are worried over the meagre product. With this, some of them have shifted to potato farming. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Magar had planted 200 saplings of Italian species of apple. He explained, "After I became Chairman of Dhorpatan Apple Bloc, we began collective apple farming. I'm leading the apple farmers of Neseldhoka as well. The Italian species of apple gave good harvest last year, but the hailstone damaged it during the flowering season this year." </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Earlier, Dhorpatan valley, Sentung, Shyalpakhe, Niseldhor and Mas were doing traditional farming, but in minimum scale. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Farmer from Dhorpatan-9, Ram Bahadur Gharti, informed that he also had good harvest from 181 trees of apple last year. But, the production declined this time. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-24', 'modified' => '2023-09-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18802', 'image' => '20230924012733_image039.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-24 13:26:54', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19073', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Mustang Folks Demand Operation of Korala Transit Point ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 24: After Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal left for a week-long visit to China, the issue related to the operation of Korala transit point bordering Tibet Autonomous Region of China has emerged as a matter of public concern. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">September 24: After Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal left for a week-long visit to China, the issue related to the operation of Korala transit point bordering Tibet Autonomous Region of China has emerged as a matter of public concern. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In the context when both the countries have yet to materialise the operation of Korala transit point, the prime minister’s official visit to China has boosted the local people's confidence about its operations. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">China had reached an understanding with Nepal some years ago to open eight transits including Korala check point.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">China has protected its land with a barbed wire fence at Korala transit point. It has placed security arrangement and also built a building in the no man’s land. The Chinese side has already blacktopped the road up to the border, and has made all preparations for a port, security post and customs office. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">China has completed all preparations for the operations of Korala transit, and is seeking security from the Nepali side along with preparations to open the border point, said Namdu Gurung, member of the Gandaki Province Assembly. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">As China has completed all the preparations for the operations of the transit point, there is a hope for agreement during Prime Minister Dahal's visit for the operations of the transit point, which is considered as the lifeline for the economic development of Gandaki Province, he said. The border is important in terms of both transit and tourism. If the border can be brought into operations, flow of international trade and religious tourism will begin. The transit point is expected to play a major role in the development of Mustang and Gandaki Province. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"We have been continuously raising our voice on the issue before the provincial government and the Province Assembly. Even the federal government is aware of the matter,” he said. </span></span></span><br /> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Nepal had signed a trade and transit agreement with China during the official visit of the then Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli to China in March, 2016. During his next visit in June 2018, an agreement was reached between the two countries to open additional transit points. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">There has been a delay in the construction of the Myagdi section of the under-construction Beni-Jomsom-Korala road targeting the Korala transit. The under-construction Kaligandaki corridor road, which is considered very important in terms of transit and trade. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The graveling and blacktopping of the road up to Korala through Ghansa and Jomsom has reached its final stage. But the construction of the road between Beni and Ghansa has been affected due to factors like floods, landslides and river erosion. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">While the famous Korala border has drawn widespread attention between the two countries, the trade fair which had been traditionally taking place biannually has been closed for four years, said Tasi Nharbu Gurung, chairperson of the Lo Manthang Rural Municipality. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">As the Chinese side has showed its desire to open the border crossing this year after completing the construction of the entire infrastructure, the news that the issue will be taken up during the visit of Prime Minister Dahal to China has made residents of Mustang more confident that there will be further progress in the border operations, he said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The acquisition of around 1,000 ropanis of land has been completed for the construction of the infrastructure for an integrated customs office on Korala transit premises, and soil testing has been also done. The soil was tested after the Ministry of Commerce released the budget for the survey and detailed project report. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the district administration office, Mustang, a team assigned to test the soil examined the soil in the proposed site to build infrastructures at the Korala transit. Targeting the Korala transit, a border police post has been set up in Lo Manthang, and an area police office at Nechung of Chhoser. Keeping in view of the border security, a border outpost of the Armed Police Force has also been established at Nechung, around 20 km away from the Korala transit. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-24', 'modified' => '2023-09-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18801', 'image' => '20230924113840_Majestic-Panorama-view-of-Upper-Mustang-mountain-landscape-nea-Lo-Monthang..jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-24 11:38:02', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19072', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'World Bank Approves $20 Million Grant to Support Nepal’s Agriculture and Nutrition Sector', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 24: The World Bank has approved a grant of US$20 million to support the Government of Nepal’s Food and Nutrition Security Enhancement Project (FANSEP)-II.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px">September 24: The World Bank has approved a grant of US$20 million to support the Government of Nepal’s Food and Nutrition Security Enhancement Project (FANSEP)-II.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Issuing a statement on Friday, the World Bank said that the project aims to benefit more than 55,000 small-holder farmers in 16 rural municipalities in Nepal through improved agricultural productivity and nutrition practices and scaling up climate-smart agriculture practices.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">“Achieving food and nutrition security and reducing poverty are national goals of the Government of Nepal, in line with commitments to realize the Sustainable Development Goals and Zero Hunger Challenge,” the statement quoted Faris Hadad-Zervos, World Bank’s country director for the Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, as saying.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">“This operation supports the Government of Nepal’s efforts to enhance productivity and livelihoods and improve nutrition security of marginalized communities,” he added.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">According to the World Bank, FANSEP-II has three components: climate and nutrition smart agricultural technology adaptation and dissemination, income generation and diversification, and improving nutrition security. It aims to build on the success of the Food and Nutrition Security Enhancement Project, which is closing on June 30, 2024, added the statement.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">“The operation, financed by a grant from the Global Agriculture Food Security Program (GAFSP) Trust Fund, is aligned with Nepal’s green, resilient, and inclusive development agenda and will help build the resilience of marginalized communities in food insecure and disaster-affected areas of Nepal,” stated Karishma Wasti, World Bank’s project task team leader.</span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-24', 'modified' => '2023-09-24', 'keywords' => 'world, bank, Nepal, agriculture, nutrition, grant', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18800', 'image' => '20230924110100_20230923081546_20221101101708_World.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-24 10:59:40', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19071', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Tata Motors’ New Showroom in Chitwan', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => ' Tata Motors has launched a new showroom in Bharatpur, Chitwan. Authorized distributor SH Motors for Siprdai Trading, the official distributor of Tata Motors for Nepal, Sipradi Trading, has started operations in Bharatpur from Friday.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">September 24: Tata Motors has launched a new showroom in Bharatpur, Chitwan. </span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Authorized distributor SH Motors for Siprdai Trading, the official distributor of Tata Motors for Nepal, has started operations in Bharatpur from Friday. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It has been stated that the entire range of Tata Motors' cars will be available at the showroom located at Bharatpur's Rijal Chowk. </span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The sales and distribution of Tata Punch and Tata Tiago electric cars (EVs) have also begun from the new showroom. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> The program was attended by Sipradi's Passenger Vehicle Segment Head Saurabh Sijapati and SH Motors' Managing Director Sharmila Sedhai. </span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Sijapati, the head of the passenger vehicle segment of the company, said that customer satisfaction is the company's top priority. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Sijapati said, "Under the leadership of Sipradi Trading and SH Motors, the operation of this showroom will bring new dimensions to the sales, service, and customer satisfaction in this sector." </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-24', 'modified' => '2023-09-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18799', 'image' => '20230924095044_collage (10).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-24 09:49:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19070', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Kamana Sewa Bikas Bank Provides Financial Literacy to Traffic Police', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => ' Kamana Sewa Bikas Bank conducted a financial literacy program on Saturday at the Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office on Ram Shah Path. Information regarding banking systems, savings, loans, and the recent developments in digital banking was provided to the traffic police.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">September 24: Kamana Sewa Bikas Bank conducted a financial literacy program on Saturday at the Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office on Ram Shah Path.</span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> Information regarding banking systems, savings, loans, and the recent developments in digital banking was provided to the traffic police. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Sushil Poudel, Head of the Bank's Branding Department, made a presentation on the importance of savings, daily financial habits, loan management, financial discipline, and the significance of digital banking, as well as the opportunities and challenges they present.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">During the program, Superintendent of Police (SP) Santosh Acharya from the Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office said that the programme had helped understand the importance of savings in daily life. </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-24', 'modified' => '2023-09-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18798', 'image' => '20230924092954_collage (8).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-24 09:28:26', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19069', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'China's President Xi Inaugurates Biggest-ever Asian Games', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 23: Chinese President Xi Jinping inaugurated the 19th Asian Games in a colourful ceremony in Hangzhou city on Saturday, launching a two-week sporting extravaganza that boasts more athletes than the Olympics.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">September 23: Chinese President Xi Jinping inaugurated the 19th Asian Games in a colourful ceremony in Hangzhou city on Saturday, launching a two-week sporting extravaganza that boasts more athletes than the Olympics.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">After being delayed by a year because of China's now-abandoned zero-Covid policy, more than 12,000 competitors from 45 nations and territories will battle it out in 40 sports, AFP reported.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">According to the French news agency, Xi officially opened the Games at the 80,000-capacity Hangzhou Olympic Stadium, also known as "the Big Lotus".</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Xi was given a rapturous reception by spectators waving mini Chinese flags.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach was also among the dignitaries. Leaders from Cambodia, Kuwait and Nepal, among others, also attend the event.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">The theme of the ceremony was water and it also celebrated Hangzhou's ancient history and landscape, while giving a nod to the city's reputation as the unofficial home of China's tech industry.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">A "digital torch bearer" strode into the stadium and was projected onto a large screen behind the Games cauldron at the climax.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">"I feel very happy and excited," AFP quoted a 35-year-old woman spectator surnamed Zhang as saying.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">"I feel it's a great honour for the city."</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Jung-Woo Lee, sport policy expert at the University of Edinburgh, told AFP the Games were "China's post-pandemic soft-power exercise".</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">China's status as a sporting and business destination took a severe hit during the pandemic, when snap lockdowns and strict travel rules saw almost all international events cancelled in the country.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">The event has been rocked by a row between New Delhi and China over three Indian martial arts fighters, with a trip to the city by India's sports minister cancelled on Friday.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">According to AFP, China denied Indian claims that the trio had been barred from entering the country.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Games athletes will fight for medals in Olympic staples such as athletics, swimming, football, gymnastics and cycling.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">There will also be regional specialities including dragon boat racing, the Chinese martial art wushu and kabaddi.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Nine sports -- among them boxing, break dancing and tennis -- will serve as Asia qualifiers for next year's Paris Olympics.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Although the Games officially opened on Saturday, sports such as football, cricket, volleyball and table tennis had already begun.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">The Games will be staged at 54 venues -- 14 newly constructed -- mostly in Hangzhou but also extending to cities as far afield as Wenzhou, 300 kilometres south, added AFP.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-23', 'modified' => '2023-09-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18797', 'image' => '20230923092908_AP23266464142731.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-23 21:28:23', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19067', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'CAAN urges not to Fly Kites, Drones near Airport ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 23: The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has urged one and all not to fly kites, drones and balloons around the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA). ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">September 23: The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has urged one and all not to fly kites, drones and balloons around the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA). </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">CAAN Spokesperson and Deputy Director General Jagannath Niraula said cases of flying kites, drones and balloons in the vicinity of the airport have been reported despite a prohibition. It has posed a serious threat to aviation safety, he added. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The situation has prompted the aviation regulatory body to urge all to not repeat such acts any more. The risk is potentially high during Dashain and Tihar as these festivals are marked by flying kites. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The CAAN issued a public notice on Friday seeking cooperation from the public not5 to indulge in any activities that affect the safety of flights, and warned of action if the request is violated. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-23', 'modified' => '2023-09-23', 'keywords' => 'CAAN, TIA, airport, safety, aviation, Nepal, flight, kites, drones, balloon', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18795', 'image' => '20230923061623_1653535_802362103120205_5575686185315399586_n.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-23 18:15:58', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19066', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Govt Adopts Measures at Border Points to Prevent the Spread of Panama Disease in Banana Plantations', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 22: Government authorities have adopted strict measures at the border areas to prevent the spread of panama disease in bananas, fearing that the disease might spread in the country with the import of bananas from India.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">September 22: Government authorities have adopted strict measures at the border areas to prevent the spread of panama disease in bananas, fearing that the disease might spread in the country with the import of bananas from India. With the outbreak of the panama disease in Tikapur of Kailali, high alert has been maintained in all plant quarantines at all border points with India. Panama disease is considered to be the most destructive disease in bananas.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development has issued a notice to take precautions as banana plants in some gardens in Tikapur have started withering due to the disease. Race 1 variant of the disease is said to have entered Nepal from India some 14 years ago, said Shiva Lal Aryal, head of the Agriculture Knowledge Centre, Bhairahawa. This disease has been widely spreading in Chitwan for seven years.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">"Race 1 causes a lot of damage to local breeds including the Malbhog variety. New variety G9, Williams Hybrid, Chini Champa and other varieties can fully tolerate race 1 variant. The new variant of panama disease has the ability to completely destroy all the banana varieties available for cultivation in Nepal," said Aryal.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">Due to the disease, the bottom of old banana leaves turns yellow, then the edge of the leaf turns yellow and the leaf dries and the stem breaks. "Plants show the symptoms of this disease four to five months after the attack. If infected plants are planted, symptoms can be seen within two months of the disease," he said. The disease spreads due to fungus found in the soil, said Kuldeep Ghimire, head of the plant quarantine office, Bhairahawa.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">According to him, the infection spreads from one place to another, infected plants, soil, water and agricultural tools. Additionally, there is a possibility of spreading the disease from one farm to another through the soil stuck to tyres of vehicles carrying bananas, shoes and sandals, he said. Infected soil, water and agricultural tools are the main sources of the disease, he added.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">The customs has been tightened as trucks carrying bananas from India are the main source of the disease transmission, said Ghimire. "We do not allow anything other than banana fruits to be brought in vehicles carrying bananas. TR 4 does not spread from banana plants to its fruits. We have quarantined only those banana fruits that have been transported safely," he said. Vehicles loaded with bananas are sent after cleaning their tyres on the customs premises ensuring that there is no mud anywhere, he said. "All this work is done by the plant quarantine office. Bringing any type of banana saplings from India is banned," he said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">Bhairahawa customs office is the main customs point for importing Indian bananas. Bananas are imported from various parts of India through this transit point. Narayan Datta Joshi, information officer for the Bhairahawa customs office, said 37,638 metric tonnes of bananas worth over Rs 1.5 billion were imported from India through this transit in the previous fiscal year, 2022/23.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">According to him, within the Nepali month of Bhadra of the current FY, 2023/24, altogether 4,619 metric tonnes of bananas worth more than Rs 194 million have been imported through this transit.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">As bananas are cultivated on a large scale in Rupandehi and Nawalparasi (West), the border has been tightened to prevent the spread of the disease, said Joshi. The Prime Minister Agriculture Modernisation Project has designated Nawalparasi (West) as a banana zone for its cultivation. Banana has been cultivated on 1,150 hectares of land in Nawalparasi alone, said Narayan Kafle, head of the project implementation unit, Bhairahawa. Banana has been grown on 280 hectares of land in Rupandehi, said the agriculture knowledge center head Aryal. "All bananas cultivated here are G9 species, they cannot fight TR 4. Lumbini Province is at high risk of infection. So, it is necessary to be cautious," he said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.0pt">Banana plants planted in Pratappur of Nawalparasi (West) have shown symptoms similar to the disease, said Kafle. The samples have been sent to the National Plant Pathology Research Centre for research to find out whether the disease is TR 4 or other strain, he said.</span> -- <strong><span style="font-size:13.0pt">RSS</span></strong></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-22', 'modified' => '2023-09-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18794', 'image' => '20230922095027_20230830114301_20230823015131_1692756184.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-22 21:49:07', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19065', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Needs to Invest USD 46 Billion in Energy Sector within 12 Years ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 22: The Government of Nepal has prepared an ambitious and comprehensive action-plan including investing USD 46 billion for the overall development of the country's energy sector by 2035. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">September 22: The Government of Nepal has prepared an ambitious and comprehensive action-plan including investing USD 46 billion for the overall development of the country's energy sector by 2035. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The government set the target of massive investment considering the energy sector as the major basis for the country's economic development. The comprehensive action-plan that starts from 2023 and ends in 2035 envisage harnessing country's untapped energy potential. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, the action-plan was prepared with the goal of addressing the changing situations in energy landscape of the country. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The 'Energy Development Roadmap and Action Plan 2080 BS' action-plan prepared by the taskforce coordinated by the ministry's Joint-Secretary Sandeep Kumar Dev encompasses details about investment estimates for projects, transmission lines and sub-stations. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The task-force formed after the ministerial decision on July 11 this year included Sanjay Dhungel, Deputy Director-General of Department of Energy Development; Pradeep Kumar Thike, Deputy Executive Director of the Nepal Electricity Authority; Prabal Adhikari, NEA Director; and Ministry of Energy's Baburaj Adhikari among others. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The taskforce recently submitted a report containing the ambitious action-plan to the Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Shakti Bahadur Basnet. More detailed discussion would be held among the stakeholders on the report before endorsing it from the Council of Ministers. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The comprehensive action-plan was launched at a time when Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal in his last India visit had inked an agreement to export 10,000 megawatts of energy to India within 10 years and when Bangladesh showed its willingness to import 9,000 megawatt electricity from Nepal by 2040. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A target has been set to increase the installed electricity production capacity of the country to 28,000 megawatt by 2035. At present, the country's total installed electricity capacity has reached 2,860 megawatts. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Energy Minister Basnet shared the government has determined a modality of investment by projecting the demand of electricity to be equal to 28,500 megawatts keeping in mind the exports of power to the neighbouring countries. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A target has been set to export 15,000 megawatt electricity to other countries which requires investment of USD 46 billion. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the Ministry, financial resources equal to USD eight billion have been guaranteed so far. Government, private sector and the general public would also have share in the investment towards energy sector. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, capitals of non-resident Nepalis and Nepali migrant workers would also be incorporated with equal importance. The report of the taskforce has mentioned that USD 2.6 billion has already been invested in country's energy sector so far. However, the report mentioned that additional financial resources worth USD 39 billion are still needed. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Nepal Electricity Authority's earnings of USD eight billion would be mobilized in development of energy sector till 2035. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to Minister Basnet, USD two billion would be received through the climate investment for construction of the projects and transmission lines. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, the government has set the target of investing additional USD 500 million through the budgetary system for the development of the energy sector. It is also stated that more that USD 12 billion would be mobilized from those who have gone for foreign employment, the Nepal Infrastructure Bank and through the issuance of bonds. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, a goal has been set to increase the per capita electricity consumption to 1500 units to boost domestic consumption of electricity. This would help reduce the country's trade deficit. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">As per the same report, at least 50 persons will be employed at the management level for the production of 1,000 megawatts electricity. Similarly, towards engineering nearly 600 persons will be employed while around 2,000 individuals get employment towards workforce as supervisors, foremen and the like at the site. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, nearly 6,000 skilled workers and 25,000 general workers will get employment opportunity for generating 28,000 megawatts of energy. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-22', 'modified' => '2023-09-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18793', 'image' => '20230922080741_20230306031824_Clipboard32.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-22 20:07:12', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19064', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Over 100,000 Nepalis Obtain Labour Permits for Foreign Employment in First Two Months of Current FY ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'In the first two months of the current fiscal year 2023/2024, more than 1,00,000 Nepalis have received labour permits.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">September 22: In the first two months of the current fiscal year 2023/2024, more than 1,00,000 Nepalis have received labour permits. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">According to the Department of Foreign Employment, during the first two months of the fiscal year 2023/2024, a total of 1,06,459 individuals obtained labour permits.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">As per the department, 55,575 individuals received labour permits in the month of Shrawan, and 50,884 individuals received them in the month of Bhadra. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Over the course of these two months, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) attracted the highest number of workers, with 23,587 individuals securing work permits. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Additionally, 20,717 individuals acquired work permits for employment in Saudi Arabia, while 20,328 individuals did so for Qatar. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Malaysia was also a popular destination, with 17,437 individuals obtaining work permits to seek employment there.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In the first two months of the fiscal year 2022/2023, the number of individuals going abroad for foreign employment was 139,442. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">As reported by the Department of Foreign Employment, this represents a 23 percent decrease in the number of individuals going abroad for foreign employment during the same period this year compared to the last fiscal year.</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-22', 'modified' => '2023-09-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18792', 'image' => '20230922043726_collage (4).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-22 16:36:04', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19062', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '339 Climbers get Permits to Climb Mountains in Autumn Season this Year', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 22: The government has granted permission to 339 climbers from 35 expedition groups to climb 10 different mountain peaks during this autumn season.', '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"">September 22: The government has granted permission to 339 climbers from 35 expedition groups to climb 10 different mountain peaks during this autumn season.</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"">According to the Department of Tourism, mountaineers have taken permission to climb Manaslu, Raksha Yurai, Hiuchuli, Kumbakarna Himal, Himalung, Nemjung, Makalu, Thapa Peak, Annapurna and Dhaulagiri. </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"">Among the total number of climbers, the number of women is 73. The department has collected a royalty of Rs 36.49 million by issuing climbing permits.</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"">During the spring time, there is a rush to climb Mount Everest, while this season is ideal for climbing Mount Manaslu. According to the department, 301 mountaineers have taken permission to climb this mountain so far. After Manaslu, climbers are attracted to scale Dhaulagiri in the autumn season.</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 total of 10 climbers have taken permission to climb Dhaulagiri. Climbers from 47 countries of the world have received permission to climb mountains in this season in Nepal. Most of the climbers are Chinese. Altogether 67 Chinese climbers have received permission to climb mountains peaks in Nepal.</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"">Climbers from the United States are second only to the Chinese. A total of 33 climbers from the US have received permission to climb mountains in Nepal followed by 27 from Russia. </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"">Likewise, 24 Indians have acquired permits to climb mountains this season. Similarly, there are 14 climbers from other countries who have been granted permission by the department.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-22', 'modified' => '2023-09-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18791', 'image' => '20230922030208_20220224024229_eveest-expedition-.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-22 15:01:20', '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
