NEWS

Extreme Shortage of Urea across the Country

Jul 30, 2020 0 1 minutes 40 seconds to read

July 30: Framers across Nepal are facing an acute shortage of urea fertilizer as 21,500 metric tons of the fertilizer is currently stuck at Kandla port in Gujarat,…

Most of the Donor Agencies yet to Respond to Government’s Request for Moratorium Period

Jul 30, 2020 0 3 minutes 2 seconds to read

July 30: The government has requested donor agencies for moratorium period due to its inability repay loan because of coronavirus pandemic but most of the donor agencies have not taken any decision in granting this facility to…

Contempt of Court Case Filed against Food Technology Department

Jul 29, 2020 0 2 minutes 7 seconds to read

July 29: The Supreme Court has issued a show cause notice to the Food Technology and Quality Control Department (FTQCD) for not letting a company import peas into…

Construction of Pokhara Airport Resumes in Full Fledge

Jul 29, 2020 0 2 minutes 53 seconds to read

July 29: The construction of Pokhara Regional Airport, which was affected by the lockdown imposed to curb coronavirus, has now gained momentum once…

Transport Entrepreneurs Preparing to Reduce Number of Vehicles

Jul 29, 2020 0 2 minutes 43 seconds to read

July 29: Private transport companies that have been operating public vehicles since mid-July are preparing to reduce the number of vehicles due to lack of passengers.…

Payment of Workers During Lockdown Sorted Out

Jul 29, 2020 0 2 minutes 49 seconds to read

July 29: The issue of workers’ payment by industries during the lockdown period has finally been sorted out after four months.…

Over 100 Local Units yet to Present Budget for Current Fiscal Year

Jul 29, 2020 0 1 minutes 40 seconds to read

July 29: A total of 182 local units have failed to present their budget for the current fiscal year to the village…

Food Industries Struggles to Return Back to Normal Situation

Jul 29, 2020 0 1 minutes 40 seconds to read

July 29: The production of food stuffs that declined during the lockdown, has not yet been able to get back to normal…

Central Bank Starts Implementing Monetary Policy

Jul 28, 2020 0 3 minutes 26 seconds to read

July 28: Nepal Rastra Bank has instructed banks and financial institutions (BFIs) to increase the time period for payment of loans and interest by six months to two years depending on the impact on the respective businesses.…

APF Confiscates Smuggled Goods but Hardly Arrests any Smuggler

Jul 28, 2020 0 2 minutes 17 seconds to read

July 28: It has been two years since the Armed Police Force (APF) set up a company in Baitadi, which shares an open border with neighbouring…

Price of Gold Rising Steadily

Jul 28, 2020 0 1 minutes 7 seconds to read

July 28: The price of gold has been rising steadily in the Nepali market due to the increase in its price in the international market.…

Floods, Landslides Cause Damage worth Rs 2 billion

Jul 28, 2020 0 2 minutes 40 seconds to read

July 28: With the onset of monsoon in Nepal, floods and landslides have damaged roads and bridges in various places causing financial loss of more than Rs 2 billion within 18…

Nepal's Foreign Trade Shrinks due to Covid-19

Jul 28, 2020 0 1 minutes 58 seconds to read

July 28: Nepal’s foreign trade witnessed a sharp decline in the fiscal year 2019/20 due to the effects of coronavirus…

Transfer of the Coordinator Delays Merger of Hetauda and Udayapur Cement Industries

Jul 28, 2020 0 1 minutes 46 seconds to read

July 28: The merger process of two state owned cement companies - Hetauda Cement Factory and Udayapur Cement Industry - has been delayed due to the transfer of the coordinator of the merger…

Deadline for Filing Land Ceiling Application Extended till August 16.

Jul 27, 2020 0 2 minutes 4 seconds to read

July 27: The government has started implementing the ceiling on land ownership in accordance to the Land Related Act (eighth…

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No Laughing Matter

The Sweet Rewards of Power

By Madan Lamsal

. . .
read more »

NEPSE

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			'title' => 'Extreme Shortage of Urea across the Country',
			'sub_title' => 'Farmers have not received the required amount of urea fertilizer even though paddy plantation is already done.',
			'summary' => 'July 30: Framers across Nepal are facing an acute shortage of urea fertilizer as 21,500 metric tons of the fertilizer is currently stuck at Kandla port in Gujarat, India.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Calibri">July 30: Framers across Nepal are facing an acute shortage of urea fertilizer as 21,500 metric tons of the fertilizer is currently stuck at Kandla port in Gujarat, India.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Calibri">According to agriculture department, a total of 40,000 metric tons of urea fertilizer is required for the period of one month from July to August during paddy plantation. However, only 1,060 metric tons of urea stock is currently available in the country. The agro-products suppliers and Salt Trading Corporation distribute the fertilizers to farmers in Nepal and are currently running out of stock.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Similarly, the country currently has 12,800 and 2,500 metric tons of DAP and Potassium respectively.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Calibri">However, demand of Urea is higher than DAP during the paddy plantation season. &nbsp;</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Pankaj Joshi, assistant general manager of Salt Trading Corporation informed that it may take another month for the 21,500 metric tons of urea fertilizer stopped at Kandla port to reach Nepal.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Calibri">At present, paddy plantation has been completed across the country. However, farmers are worried that the lack of urea fertilizer might affect their plantation, informed Chitra Bahadur Shrestha, chairman of the National Farmers Commission.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Calibri">He added that the government has failed to provide fertilizer to the farmers in time. &quot;If chemical fertilizers are not used regularly, it can affect production,&quot; he adds.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'id' => '12251',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Most of the Donor Agencies yet to Respond to Government’s Request for Moratorium Period',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'July 30: The government has requested donor agencies for moratorium period due to its inability repay loan because of coronavirus pandemic but most of the donor agencies have not taken any decision in granting this facility to Nepal.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">July 30: The government has requested donor agencies for moratorium period due to its inability repay loan because of coronavirus pandemic but most of the donor agencies have not taken any decision in granting this facility to Nepal.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">According to a highly-placed source at the Ministry of Finance, although Finance Minister Yuba Raj Khatiwada has been lobbying with the donor agencies to postpone the date of loan repayment,&nbsp; only Japan has responded positively.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The finance ministry confirmed that Japan has agreed to extend the date of loan repayment without any conditions while other donors have only given assurance to the government.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Officials at the Ministry of Finance say that the government is liable to pay a total of Rs 23 billion to the donor agencies between mid-April to mid-December 2020. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The government has to pay Rs 1.88 billion, including loan and interest, to India during this period while the outstanding amount to China is Rs 550 million and Rs 160 million to Saudi Arabia.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Likewise, the government needs to repay Rs 10.83 billion to Asian Development Bank and Rs 6.97 billion to the World Bank as loan and interest.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">According to the finance ministry, Japan has approved unconditional support to extend the time period for loan repayment by three years.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">&ldquo;No other donor agency besides Japan has given us any such facility,&rdquo; said the source requesting anonymity.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">With the commitment from Japan, the government will not face the burden or repaying Rs 780 million for the time being. Officials at the ministry say that the government has been trying to seek moratorium period from India as well but the southern neighbor has not responded yet.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Meanwhile, China has proposed certain conditions for similar request from the government of Nepal, informed the source. Although China has shown interest to extend the date for repayment of loan by 4 years, it has demanded interest for the period. The official said that the rate of interest charged by China is more than the rate charged by other countries. The source said that the government cannot accept the terms and conditions put forward by China.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'title' => 'Contempt of Court Case Filed against Food Technology Department',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'July 29: The Supreme Court has issued a show cause notice to the Food Technology and Quality Control Department (FTQCD) for not letting a company import peas into Nepal.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">July 29: The Supreme Court has issued a show cause notice to the Food Technology and Quality Control Department (FTQCD) for not letting a company import peas into Nepal.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">A single bench of justice Bam Kumar Shrestha issued the notice to the department on Tuesday (July 29) to furnish reason behind its act. Kalwar Agro Industries had filed a contempt of court case at the Supreme Court against the department, arguing that the department did not comply with the apex court order issued earlier.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The Supreme Court had earlier issued an order not to stop the import of goods if the importer has fulfilled all necessary processes.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The importer had reached the department with the verdict for customs clearance of the goods but the government officials denied permission to the company to import the goods.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The Supreme Court has issued the fresh notice against Director General of the FTQCD Manita Joshi Baidhya asking for valid reasons why the importer cannot import the items.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The government had imposed a ban on import of peas, pepper, betel nuts and dates on March 29. The order was published in Nepal Gazette on April 6. The importer has been demanding release of the peas that were in the process of import before the government imposed the ban.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The department has maintained that the importer needs to take prior permission for import of such items and that the department cannot release the goods because of government order.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'title' => 'Construction of Pokhara Airport Resumes in Full Fledge',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'July 29: The construction of Pokhara Regional Airport, which was affected by the lockdown imposed to curb coronavirus, has now gained momentum once again.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">July 29: The construction of Pokhara Regional Airport, which was affected by the lockdown imposed to curb coronavirus, has now gained momentum once again.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The construction work was halted because of difficulty in bringing in equipment from China and the delay in return of Chinese workers due to coronavirus. With the lifting of the lockdown, the construction work is taking place in war footing.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The construction company which bagged the project has expedited the work after assurance that the equipment and technicians from China will be available soon.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">A total of 370 workers including 270 Chinese and 100 Nepalese&nbsp; have been deployed for the construction of the airport. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The project has set a target to complete the work within July 2021. Currently, the work progress is 62 percent, according to Pokhara International Airport Project Chief Binesh Munakarmi.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">He said that they had been continuing work even during lockdown by adopting precautionary measures.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The airport, which is considered as one of the national pride projects, has so far seen completion of the runway, apron, taxi way, isolated parking, hangar, terminal building and access way.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">According to project chief Munakarmi, they are in the final phase of completing other buildings while other works are still remaining.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">&ldquo;The Chinese workers who had returned home to celebrate the new year in January were stranded after confirmation of coronavirus in Wuhan of China. After the lockdown was lifted in China in March, we were able to bring 107 Chinese workers and resume the work,&rdquo; he said.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Meanwhile, senior engineer Krishna Prasad Poudel informed that the construction of the runway, which is considered as the main work, was completed a year ago and now they are focusing on other infrastructural works.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Poudel added that the 2500-meter runway is the first-of-its-kind in Nepal.</span></span></span></span></p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12247',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Transport Entrepreneurs Preparing to Reduce Number of Vehicles ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'July 29: Private transport companies that have been operating public vehicles since mid-July are preparing to reduce the number of vehicles due to lack of passengers.  ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">July 29: Private transport companies that have been operating public vehicles since mid-July are preparing to reduce the number of vehicles due to lack of passengers.&nbsp; </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Although the government had allowed carrying half of the seat capacity due to the risk of coronavirus infection, the transport entrepreneurs say that the public vehicles have not received even half passengers. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Despite the government&rsquo;s decision to allow transport entrepreneurs to charge 50 percent more than the normal fare, Sundar Yatayat that has been operating four electric buses in the Valley is rendering its service at the price before the lockdown. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">&ldquo;Although we are providing service at the old fare, there are no passengers. Sometimes the bus runs without any passenger on board,&rdquo; chairman of Sundar Yatayat Bhesh Bahadur Thapa said. The company is preparing to run only two buses if the situation remains the same. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Likewise, secretary at Digo Yatayat, Lal Prasad Guragain says that they are also planning to operate only four buses from Sunday if the situation does not improve. The company had planned to operate all 17 buses from the first week of August. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Mahanagar Yatayat, which has a total of 39 buses, has only brought 10 buses in operation. &ldquo;We don&rsquo;t have plans to operate more buses at present we cannot even collect enough money for fuel and staff expense,&rdquo; said chief of Mahanagar Yatayat Keshav Nepal. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Similar is the case with the government owned transport company Sajha Yatayat. The company which has been operating 26 buses from July 16 had planned to operate all 71 buses within a month. However, they have halted the decision. &ldquo;Not even the operating cost is raised, but after the government&rsquo;s decision, we have been operating the buses to give transportation service,&rdquo; Mahendra Pandey, CEO of Sajha Yatayat said. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Saroj Sitaula, general secretary of the Federation of Nepali National Transport Entrepreneurs said that there won&rsquo;t be any difference to transport entrepreneurs if inter-district operation is not allowed. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'title' => 'Payment of Workers During Lockdown Sorted Out',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'July 29: The issue of workers’ payment by industries during the lockdown period has finally been sorted out after four months. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">July 29: The issue of workers&rsquo; payment by industries during the lockdown period has finally been sorted out after four months. &nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The employers reached an understanding with the umbrella organisation of workers on Tuesday (July 28) for the payment during the Nepali months of Chaitra (mid-March to mid-April), Baishakh and Jestha. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The payment issue for the month of Ashad (mid-June to mid-July) has not become much of a problem as the industries started deploying workers shift-wise and the payment has been assured accordingly.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">As per the agreement reached between the two sides, workers in the formal sector will get full salary for the month of Chaitra. Meanwhile, the salary of Baishakh and Jestha will be reduced by 50 percent despite the workers being unable to attend office due to lockdown.&nbsp; </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">With this agreement, the long standing issue of payment in the hotel industry, restaurants, as well as other organisations has come to an end.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The bilateral agreement between the employers and the trade unions will be submitted to a task force under the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security, informed Bharat Raj Acharya, deputy chairman of the Employment Council.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The ministry had formed the task force to sort out the payment issue during lockdown. The task force had held several rounds of meeting with both sides but failed to resolve the issue. It then instructed the warring sides to sort out the contentious issue themselves.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Representatives of the employers led by chairman of the Employment Council of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) Chandra Prasad Dhakal had been relentlessly trying to settle the issue amicably.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Meanwhile, vice chairman Acharya said that it is not possible to create new employment opportunities at the moment while it is also imperative to ensure the welfare of workers involved in the formal sector. In such a situation, the employers have decided to retain the workforce by deploying the workers in different shifts and to ensure minimum payment for them.</span></span></span></span></p>
',
			'published' => true,
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			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '11994',
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	(int) 6 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12248',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Over 100 Local Units yet to Present Budget for Current Fiscal Year',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'July 29: A total of 182 local units have failed to present their budget for the current fiscal year to the village council.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">July 29: A total of 182 local units have failed to present their budget for the current fiscal year to the village council.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">As per the constitutional provision, the local levels should present their budget for the new fiscal year to the village council by June 25. However, 182 local levels have not been able to present their budget yet.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">According to the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration, a total of 571 local levels have so far presented their budget to the village council for the fiscal year 2077/78 within the deadline set by the constitution.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Province 2 in this regard has the highest number of local levels failing to present the budget on time.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">According to the ministry, 74 local levels of Province 2 are yet to introduce the budget for the current fiscal year. Similarly, 27 local level governments from Province 1 and 25 from Far Western Province have also failed to launch their budget for the current fiscal year.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">&quot;The Ministry of Federal Affairs has directed the local levels to present their budget. Some of the local levels are not complying with the orders. The Finance Ministry will stop sending grants to such local levels,&quot; informed an official at the finance ministry.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
			'published' => true,
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			'description' => '',
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	(int) 7 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12245',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Food Industries Struggles to Return Back to Normal Situation ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'July 29: The production of food stuffs that declined during the lockdown, has not yet been able to get back to normal pace.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Calibri">July 29: The production of food stuffs that declined during the lockdown, has not yet been able to get back to normal pace.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Food manufacturers informed that even though the food industries came into operation less than a week after the lockdown was lifted, they are yet to operate in full fledge capacity. The industries have been producing at 50 percent of their full capacity since the last four months.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Calibri">The government had allowed food industries to operate even during the lockdown.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Chairman of the Nepal Rice, Oil and Pulses Industries Association, Subodh Kumar Gupta, informed that the food industry has been producing only half of its capacity even after the end of lockdown.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Calibri">According to the entrepreneurs, the food industry was compelled to limit the production during the lockdown due to lack of operating capital, raw materials and labor.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Calibri">&ldquo;The condition of industries in the Birgunj area, the center of food production, is even more problematic. Industries that are trying to resume normal production are facing more problems after the lockdown,&rdquo; informed Gupta.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Calibri">An indefinite curfew has been imposed in Birgunj since last Saturday as the number of Covid-19 cases has increased in the region. Gupta informed that panic of Corona and obstruction in transportation has affected their production.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2020-07-29',
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			'sortorder' => '11992',
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	(int) 8 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12244',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Central Bank Starts Implementing Monetary Policy',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'July 28: Nepal Rastra Bank has instructed banks and financial institutions (BFIs) to increase the time period for payment of loans and interest by six months to two years depending on the impact on the respective businesses. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">July 28: Nepal Rastra Bank has instructed banks and financial institutions (BFIs) to increase the time period for payment of loans and interest by six months to two years depending on the impact on the respective businesses. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The central bank has categorized the affected businesses into three groups &ndash; highly affected, affected and less affected. The time period for repayment of loan and interest has been fixed in accordance to the provision in the monetary policy for the current fiscal year. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The central bank has instructed the concerned bodies to implement the provision in the monetary policy after amending the Integrated Directive 2076 on Monday (July 27).</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">As per the instruction of the central bank, the businesses that have been highly affected by Covid-19 will be able to repay their loan and interest within two years from the start of the current fiscal year. NRB has also instructed to collect such loan gradually in two installments, three installments and 4 installments. The central bank has also instructed BFIs not to charge any interest or fine for such amount during the given period. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">All sectors affiliated to the tourism industry can avail such facility. Recreation businesses, party palaces, film industry, distributors, cinema halls also fall under the same category.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Workers who have lost their job and Nepalese migrant workers can also get such relief.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">People involved in vegetable and fruits business, floriculture, diary production, poultry farming and animal husbandry can also enjoy the facility of repaying loan in two years without any interest.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Readymade garments, handicraft and artisans as well as educational consultancies also fall under the same category.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Meanwhile, other sectors that have been affected by Covid-19 will be allowed to repay their loans within 9 months without any interest or fine. Plastic, iron and steel industries, leather and metal producers fall under this category. Likewise, private and residential schools and colleges, universities, technical schools, pre-schools and child care centres can avail this facility as well.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Transportation service providers, beauty parlours, consultation agencies, hospitals, construction companies, pharmaceutical industries, publication houses also fall under this category.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Similarly, the sectors least affected by Covid-19 can repay their loan within six months from the start of the current fiscal year.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Hydropower projects, e-commerce companies, food production companies, refinery, among others fall under this category.</span></span></span></span></p>
',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2020-07-28',
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			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '11991',
			'image' => '20200728053037_1595905789.NRB.jpg',
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	(int) 9 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12243',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'APF Confiscates Smuggled Goods but Hardly Arrests any Smuggler',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'July 28: It has been two years since the Armed Police Force (APF) set up a company in Baitadi, which shares an open border with neighbouring India.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">July 28: It has been two years since the Armed Police Force (APF) set up a company in Baitadi, which shares an open border with neighbouring India. During this period, APF has confiscated a large amount of goods smuggled into the country. But the para-military force hasn&rsquo;t arrested a single person in connection to smuggled goods, according to available reports.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">During the last fiscal year 2019/20, APF confiscated goods worth Rs 154,000 which were being imported without paying customs duty. But surprisingly, APF failed to arrest those who had brought the goods into the country. </span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">There are lots of similar instances in which Nepal Police has reportedly handed over unclaimed goods to the customs department. But Nepal Police has somehow managed to arrest a few persons in such cases.&nbsp; Nepal Police had arrested a person who had smuggled goods into Nepal a few days ago and handed over to the customs department.</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">However, the locals have started questioning the reason behind APF confiscating smuggled goods but failing to arrest the persons involved in smuggling.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">This has given rise to speculations that APF is colluding with the smugglers in bringing goods into the country.</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Amit Singh stationed in Baitadi informed New Business Age that last year they had arrested one person who had smuggled timber and another for illegally importing tobacco.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">DSP Singh addmitted that they are finding it difficult to curb smuggling because the locals inform the smugglers about their presence when they are in patrol.</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">APF has been patrolling Jhulaghat area of Dashrath Chand Municipality ever since it was deployed in the area. It is believed that maximum number of smuggling take place in this region. Mostly, tobacco and its products are smuggled into Nepal from India. Of late, APF has also started patrolling Pancheshwar area after establishing a Border Out Post (BOP). It is expected to reduce the incidents of smuggling.</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">&nbsp; </span></span></p>
',
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			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '11990',
			'image' => '20200728042959_APF_M3HfG0PyLF.jpg',
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	(int) 10 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12242',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Price of Gold Rising Steadily',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'July 28: The price of gold has been rising steadily in the Nepali market due to the increase in its price in the international market. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">July 28: The price of gold has been rising steadily in the Nepali market due to the increase in its price in the international market. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The price of gold set a new record once again on Tuesday (July 28) with an increase of Rs 800 per tola (11 grams approximately). Gold is being traded for Rs 98,200 with the new adjustment.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">According to the Federation of Nepalese Gold and Silver Dealers Association, the price of silver has also increased by Rs 35 per tola. The cost of silver per tola has reached Rs 1245.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The price of gold in the international market has increased to 1947 dollars. The price of the precious yellow metal has been increasing steadily since the last few days. Investors have been spending on gold in the international market to secure their investment, thereby causing a steady rise in its price.</span></span></span></p>
',
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	(int) 11 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12241',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Floods, Landslides Cause Damage worth Rs 2 billion ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'July 28: With the onset of monsoon in Nepal, floods and landslides have damaged roads and bridges in various places causing financial loss of more than Rs 2 billion within 18 days.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">July 28: With the onset of monsoon in Nepal, floods and landslides have damaged roads and bridges in various places causing financial loss of more than Rs 2 billion within 18 days. A preliminary study by the Department of Roads shows that infrastructures worth more than Rs 2 billion have been destroyed since July 9. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Spokesperson and deputy director general of the department, Shiva Hari Sapkota, said that as it was a preliminary assessment and the cost of damage could increase. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The extent of damage to roads and bridges by the natural calamities has increased because of geographical structure and delay in rehabilitation of old bridges and roads. In addition, as the major highways are adjoined to rivers and run through steep slopes, they are prone to floods and landslides. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Sapkota said that Barhabise-Tatopani section of Arniko highway, Dumre-Beshisahar-Chame road section, and Beni-Jomsom road section and parts of Mahakali Highway have been most affected by floods and landslides. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">&ldquo;The loss is likely to increase as the rainfall is still continuing,&rdquo; Sapkota said, &ldquo;All division offices are ready with machineries so as to reopen the landslide-affected roads as soon as possible.&rdquo; </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">He further said that it will take some time to repair the flood-damaged roads and washed-out bridges. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Critics say that the government only seeks immediate solution to this recurring problem instead of searching for long-term solution. The government on the other hand says it does not have other option besides removing the debris caused by landslides with machines and tools along the roads and operate one-way traffic during monsoon. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Former Secretary at the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport Tulsi Prasad Sitaula said that the government has failed to adopt long-term strategy to solve the problem of flooding and washout of bridges. He said that even if there are ways to control the damage, huge investment is required and the only option for the government is to work on the short-term solution. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
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	(int) 12 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12240',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Nepal's Foreign Trade Shrinks due to Covid-19',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'July 28: Nepal’s foreign trade witnessed a sharp decline in the fiscal year 2019/20 due to the effects of coronavirus pandemic.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">July 28: Nepal&rsquo;s foreign trade witnessed a sharp decline in the fiscal year 2019/20 due to the effects of coronavirus pandemic. Although the reduction in import has improved Nepal&rsquo;s trade deficit, it has also reduced revenue collection from customs duty significantly.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">In fiscal year 2018/19, the Department of Customs had collected revenue of Rs 354 billion. The department had set a target of collecting 30 percent more revenue in the last fiscal year. The department was expecting import to rise and thereby an increase in revenue collection. However, the government&rsquo;s restriction in import on top of coronavirus pandemic and the subsequent lockdown dented the customs department from achieving its target.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Revenue collection from customs duty, which was increasing every year, saw a decline&nbsp; during the last fiscal year. The revenue collection from customs duty last year was much lower than the previous year. According to the department, revenue collection during last fiscal year was less that the preceding year by Rs 56 billion. The department was able to collect revenue of Rs 298 billion in FY 2019/20.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Data provided by the department shows that the overall foreign trade of Nepal shrunk by Rs 222 billion last year. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Nepal imported goods worth Rs 1196 billion during the review period against Rs 1498 billion during FY 2018/19.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">According to the Department of Customs, Nepal&rsquo;s import reduced by 15.63 billion while export of goods was down by 0.98 percent during the last fiscal year.</span></span></span></span></p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12239',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Transfer of the Coordinator Delays Merger of Hetauda and Udayapur Cement Industries',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'July 28: The merger process of two state owned cement companies - Hetauda Cement Factory and Udayapur Cement Industry - has been delayed due to the transfer of the coordinator of the merger committee.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">July 28: The merger process of two state owned cement companies - Hetauda Cement Industry and Udayapur Cement Industry - has been delayed due to the transfer of the coordinator of the merger committee.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Shobha Kant Poudel, joint secretary at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, was appointed as the coordinator of the committee. However, he was later transferred from the ministry while the ministry has not been able to appoint a new coordinator to replace him.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Currently, a committee comprising representatives from the Ministry of Finance and the Company Registrar Office as well as mechanical engineers has been formed to study the financial and technical aspects of the two state-owned cement industries.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">The committee had to submit their report by May which now is expected to submit by August 2020.&nbsp; The study was delayed due to the transfer of joint secretaries from the ministry.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">According to the ministry, the committee will analyze the legislation of the merger as per the terms of reference (TOR), property liability and staff management of both the companies, institutional reform, production cost reduction and technological reform. Market study, competition and share structure are also&nbsp; other factors taken into consideration for the merger.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">An official at the ministry informed that the ministry is studying these issues while legal study has been completed.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'id' => '12238',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Deadline for Filing Land Ceiling Application Extended till August 16.',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'July 27: The government has started implementing the ceiling on land ownership in accordance to the Land Related Act (eighth amendment).',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">July 27: The government has started implementing the ceiling on land ownership in accordance to the Land Related Act (eighth amendment). There has been an encouraging participation from the private sector to claim the facilities announced by the government while implementing the act.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The government had made an announcement last year that private industries, companies and corporations that have purchased land against the law will get valid certificates for one time.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation has made a special provision with the amendment which allows the institutions that have acquired more land that the ceiling set by the government to keep the additional land provided that they submit a written application within three months validating the reason for the need of additional land.&nbsp; </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Before the lockdown, the government had sought applications within three months from those who wanted to bring the illegally possessed land within the legal ambit. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">According to the ministry, altogether 95 individuals have submitted applications for this purpose. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The ministry informed that the time period to submit the application has been extended until August 16 considering the difficulty caused by the lockdown. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">If the ministry considers it relevant for the individual or companies to keep the additional land, then those individuals or institutions will have to pay Rs 150,000 per bigha of land in terai and Rs 50,000 per ropani land in Kathmandu valley to validate their certificates.</span></span></span></span></p>
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$articles = array(
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12253',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Extreme Shortage of Urea across the Country',
			'sub_title' => 'Farmers have not received the required amount of urea fertilizer even though paddy plantation is already done.',
			'summary' => 'July 30: Framers across Nepal are facing an acute shortage of urea fertilizer as 21,500 metric tons of the fertilizer is currently stuck at Kandla port in Gujarat, India.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Calibri">July 30: Framers across Nepal are facing an acute shortage of urea fertilizer as 21,500 metric tons of the fertilizer is currently stuck at Kandla port in Gujarat, India.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Calibri">According to agriculture department, a total of 40,000 metric tons of urea fertilizer is required for the period of one month from July to August during paddy plantation. However, only 1,060 metric tons of urea stock is currently available in the country. The agro-products suppliers and Salt Trading Corporation distribute the fertilizers to farmers in Nepal and are currently running out of stock.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Similarly, the country currently has 12,800 and 2,500 metric tons of DAP and Potassium respectively.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Calibri">However, demand of Urea is higher than DAP during the paddy plantation season. &nbsp;</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Pankaj Joshi, assistant general manager of Salt Trading Corporation informed that it may take another month for the 21,500 metric tons of urea fertilizer stopped at Kandla port to reach Nepal.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Calibri">At present, paddy plantation has been completed across the country. However, farmers are worried that the lack of urea fertilizer might affect their plantation, informed Chitra Bahadur Shrestha, chairman of the National Farmers Commission.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Calibri">He added that the government has failed to provide fertilizer to the farmers in time. &quot;If chemical fertilizers are not used regularly, it can affect production,&quot; he adds.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'created' => '2020-07-30',
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			'sortorder' => '11999',
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12251',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Most of the Donor Agencies yet to Respond to Government’s Request for Moratorium Period',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'July 30: The government has requested donor agencies for moratorium period due to its inability repay loan because of coronavirus pandemic but most of the donor agencies have not taken any decision in granting this facility to Nepal.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">July 30: The government has requested donor agencies for moratorium period due to its inability repay loan because of coronavirus pandemic but most of the donor agencies have not taken any decision in granting this facility to Nepal.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">According to a highly-placed source at the Ministry of Finance, although Finance Minister Yuba Raj Khatiwada has been lobbying with the donor agencies to postpone the date of loan repayment,&nbsp; only Japan has responded positively.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The finance ministry confirmed that Japan has agreed to extend the date of loan repayment without any conditions while other donors have only given assurance to the government.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Officials at the Ministry of Finance say that the government is liable to pay a total of Rs 23 billion to the donor agencies between mid-April to mid-December 2020. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The government has to pay Rs 1.88 billion, including loan and interest, to India during this period while the outstanding amount to China is Rs 550 million and Rs 160 million to Saudi Arabia.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Likewise, the government needs to repay Rs 10.83 billion to Asian Development Bank and Rs 6.97 billion to the World Bank as loan and interest.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">According to the finance ministry, Japan has approved unconditional support to extend the time period for loan repayment by three years.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">&ldquo;No other donor agency besides Japan has given us any such facility,&rdquo; said the source requesting anonymity.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">With the commitment from Japan, the government will not face the burden or repaying Rs 780 million for the time being. Officials at the ministry say that the government has been trying to seek moratorium period from India as well but the southern neighbor has not responded yet.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Meanwhile, China has proposed certain conditions for similar request from the government of Nepal, informed the source. Although China has shown interest to extend the date for repayment of loan by 4 years, it has demanded interest for the period. The official said that the rate of interest charged by China is more than the rate charged by other countries. The source said that the government cannot accept the terms and conditions put forward by China.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12250',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Contempt of Court Case Filed against Food Technology Department',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'July 29: The Supreme Court has issued a show cause notice to the Food Technology and Quality Control Department (FTQCD) for not letting a company import peas into Nepal.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">July 29: The Supreme Court has issued a show cause notice to the Food Technology and Quality Control Department (FTQCD) for not letting a company import peas into Nepal.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">A single bench of justice Bam Kumar Shrestha issued the notice to the department on Tuesday (July 29) to furnish reason behind its act. Kalwar Agro Industries had filed a contempt of court case at the Supreme Court against the department, arguing that the department did not comply with the apex court order issued earlier.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The Supreme Court had earlier issued an order not to stop the import of goods if the importer has fulfilled all necessary processes.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The importer had reached the department with the verdict for customs clearance of the goods but the government officials denied permission to the company to import the goods.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The Supreme Court has issued the fresh notice against Director General of the FTQCD Manita Joshi Baidhya asking for valid reasons why the importer cannot import the items.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The government had imposed a ban on import of peas, pepper, betel nuts and dates on March 29. The order was published in Nepal Gazette on April 6. The importer has been demanding release of the peas that were in the process of import before the government imposed the ban.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The department has maintained that the importer needs to take prior permission for import of such items and that the department cannot release the goods because of government order.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'created' => '2020-07-29',
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12249',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Construction of Pokhara Airport Resumes in Full Fledge',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'July 29: The construction of Pokhara Regional Airport, which was affected by the lockdown imposed to curb coronavirus, has now gained momentum once again.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">July 29: The construction of Pokhara Regional Airport, which was affected by the lockdown imposed to curb coronavirus, has now gained momentum once again.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The construction work was halted because of difficulty in bringing in equipment from China and the delay in return of Chinese workers due to coronavirus. With the lifting of the lockdown, the construction work is taking place in war footing.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The construction company which bagged the project has expedited the work after assurance that the equipment and technicians from China will be available soon.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">A total of 370 workers including 270 Chinese and 100 Nepalese&nbsp; have been deployed for the construction of the airport. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The project has set a target to complete the work within July 2021. Currently, the work progress is 62 percent, according to Pokhara International Airport Project Chief Binesh Munakarmi.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">He said that they had been continuing work even during lockdown by adopting precautionary measures.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The airport, which is considered as one of the national pride projects, has so far seen completion of the runway, apron, taxi way, isolated parking, hangar, terminal building and access way.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">According to project chief Munakarmi, they are in the final phase of completing other buildings while other works are still remaining.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">&ldquo;The Chinese workers who had returned home to celebrate the new year in January were stranded after confirmation of coronavirus in Wuhan of China. After the lockdown was lifted in China in March, we were able to bring 107 Chinese workers and resume the work,&rdquo; he said.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Meanwhile, senior engineer Krishna Prasad Poudel informed that the construction of the runway, which is considered as the main work, was completed a year ago and now they are focusing on other infrastructural works.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Poudel added that the 2500-meter runway is the first-of-its-kind in Nepal.</span></span></span></span></p>
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	(int) 4 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12247',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Transport Entrepreneurs Preparing to Reduce Number of Vehicles ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'July 29: Private transport companies that have been operating public vehicles since mid-July are preparing to reduce the number of vehicles due to lack of passengers.  ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">July 29: Private transport companies that have been operating public vehicles since mid-July are preparing to reduce the number of vehicles due to lack of passengers.&nbsp; </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Although the government had allowed carrying half of the seat capacity due to the risk of coronavirus infection, the transport entrepreneurs say that the public vehicles have not received even half passengers. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Despite the government&rsquo;s decision to allow transport entrepreneurs to charge 50 percent more than the normal fare, Sundar Yatayat that has been operating four electric buses in the Valley is rendering its service at the price before the lockdown. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">&ldquo;Although we are providing service at the old fare, there are no passengers. Sometimes the bus runs without any passenger on board,&rdquo; chairman of Sundar Yatayat Bhesh Bahadur Thapa said. The company is preparing to run only two buses if the situation remains the same. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Likewise, secretary at Digo Yatayat, Lal Prasad Guragain says that they are also planning to operate only four buses from Sunday if the situation does not improve. The company had planned to operate all 17 buses from the first week of August. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Mahanagar Yatayat, which has a total of 39 buses, has only brought 10 buses in operation. &ldquo;We don&rsquo;t have plans to operate more buses at present we cannot even collect enough money for fuel and staff expense,&rdquo; said chief of Mahanagar Yatayat Keshav Nepal. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Similar is the case with the government owned transport company Sajha Yatayat. The company which has been operating 26 buses from July 16 had planned to operate all 71 buses within a month. However, they have halted the decision. &ldquo;Not even the operating cost is raised, but after the government&rsquo;s decision, we have been operating the buses to give transportation service,&rdquo; Mahendra Pandey, CEO of Sajha Yatayat said. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Saroj Sitaula, general secretary of the Federation of Nepali National Transport Entrepreneurs said that there won&rsquo;t be any difference to transport entrepreneurs if inter-district operation is not allowed. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
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			'description' => '',
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	(int) 5 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12246',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Payment of Workers During Lockdown Sorted Out',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'July 29: The issue of workers’ payment by industries during the lockdown period has finally been sorted out after four months. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">July 29: The issue of workers&rsquo; payment by industries during the lockdown period has finally been sorted out after four months. &nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The employers reached an understanding with the umbrella organisation of workers on Tuesday (July 28) for the payment during the Nepali months of Chaitra (mid-March to mid-April), Baishakh and Jestha. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The payment issue for the month of Ashad (mid-June to mid-July) has not become much of a problem as the industries started deploying workers shift-wise and the payment has been assured accordingly.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">As per the agreement reached between the two sides, workers in the formal sector will get full salary for the month of Chaitra. Meanwhile, the salary of Baishakh and Jestha will be reduced by 50 percent despite the workers being unable to attend office due to lockdown.&nbsp; </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">With this agreement, the long standing issue of payment in the hotel industry, restaurants, as well as other organisations has come to an end.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The bilateral agreement between the employers and the trade unions will be submitted to a task force under the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security, informed Bharat Raj Acharya, deputy chairman of the Employment Council.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The ministry had formed the task force to sort out the payment issue during lockdown. The task force had held several rounds of meeting with both sides but failed to resolve the issue. It then instructed the warring sides to sort out the contentious issue themselves.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Representatives of the employers led by chairman of the Employment Council of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) Chandra Prasad Dhakal had been relentlessly trying to settle the issue amicably.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Meanwhile, vice chairman Acharya said that it is not possible to create new employment opportunities at the moment while it is also imperative to ensure the welfare of workers involved in the formal sector. In such a situation, the employers have decided to retain the workforce by deploying the workers in different shifts and to ensure minimum payment for them.</span></span></span></span></p>
',
			'published' => true,
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			'sortorder' => '11994',
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	(int) 6 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12248',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Over 100 Local Units yet to Present Budget for Current Fiscal Year',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'July 29: A total of 182 local units have failed to present their budget for the current fiscal year to the village council.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">July 29: A total of 182 local units have failed to present their budget for the current fiscal year to the village council.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">As per the constitutional provision, the local levels should present their budget for the new fiscal year to the village council by June 25. However, 182 local levels have not been able to present their budget yet.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">According to the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration, a total of 571 local levels have so far presented their budget to the village council for the fiscal year 2077/78 within the deadline set by the constitution.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Province 2 in this regard has the highest number of local levels failing to present the budget on time.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">According to the ministry, 74 local levels of Province 2 are yet to introduce the budget for the current fiscal year. Similarly, 27 local level governments from Province 1 and 25 from Far Western Province have also failed to launch their budget for the current fiscal year.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">&quot;The Ministry of Federal Affairs has directed the local levels to present their budget. Some of the local levels are not complying with the orders. The Finance Ministry will stop sending grants to such local levels,&quot; informed an official at the finance ministry.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
			'published' => true,
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			'modified' => '2020-07-29',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '11993',
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	(int) 7 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12245',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Food Industries Struggles to Return Back to Normal Situation ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'July 29: The production of food stuffs that declined during the lockdown, has not yet been able to get back to normal pace.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Calibri">July 29: The production of food stuffs that declined during the lockdown, has not yet been able to get back to normal pace.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Food manufacturers informed that even though the food industries came into operation less than a week after the lockdown was lifted, they are yet to operate in full fledge capacity. The industries have been producing at 50 percent of their full capacity since the last four months.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Calibri">The government had allowed food industries to operate even during the lockdown.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Chairman of the Nepal Rice, Oil and Pulses Industries Association, Subodh Kumar Gupta, informed that the food industry has been producing only half of its capacity even after the end of lockdown.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Calibri">According to the entrepreneurs, the food industry was compelled to limit the production during the lockdown due to lack of operating capital, raw materials and labor.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Calibri">&ldquo;The condition of industries in the Birgunj area, the center of food production, is even more problematic. Industries that are trying to resume normal production are facing more problems after the lockdown,&rdquo; informed Gupta.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Calibri">An indefinite curfew has been imposed in Birgunj since last Saturday as the number of Covid-19 cases has increased in the region. Gupta informed that panic of Corona and obstruction in transportation has affected their production.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
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			'sortorder' => '11992',
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	(int) 8 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12244',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Central Bank Starts Implementing Monetary Policy',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'July 28: Nepal Rastra Bank has instructed banks and financial institutions (BFIs) to increase the time period for payment of loans and interest by six months to two years depending on the impact on the respective businesses. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">July 28: Nepal Rastra Bank has instructed banks and financial institutions (BFIs) to increase the time period for payment of loans and interest by six months to two years depending on the impact on the respective businesses. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The central bank has categorized the affected businesses into three groups &ndash; highly affected, affected and less affected. The time period for repayment of loan and interest has been fixed in accordance to the provision in the monetary policy for the current fiscal year. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The central bank has instructed the concerned bodies to implement the provision in the monetary policy after amending the Integrated Directive 2076 on Monday (July 27).</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">As per the instruction of the central bank, the businesses that have been highly affected by Covid-19 will be able to repay their loan and interest within two years from the start of the current fiscal year. NRB has also instructed to collect such loan gradually in two installments, three installments and 4 installments. The central bank has also instructed BFIs not to charge any interest or fine for such amount during the given period. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">All sectors affiliated to the tourism industry can avail such facility. Recreation businesses, party palaces, film industry, distributors, cinema halls also fall under the same category.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Workers who have lost their job and Nepalese migrant workers can also get such relief.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">People involved in vegetable and fruits business, floriculture, diary production, poultry farming and animal husbandry can also enjoy the facility of repaying loan in two years without any interest.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Readymade garments, handicraft and artisans as well as educational consultancies also fall under the same category.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Meanwhile, other sectors that have been affected by Covid-19 will be allowed to repay their loans within 9 months without any interest or fine. Plastic, iron and steel industries, leather and metal producers fall under this category. Likewise, private and residential schools and colleges, universities, technical schools, pre-schools and child care centres can avail this facility as well.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Transportation service providers, beauty parlours, consultation agencies, hospitals, construction companies, pharmaceutical industries, publication houses also fall under this category.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Similarly, the sectors least affected by Covid-19 can repay their loan within six months from the start of the current fiscal year.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Hydropower projects, e-commerce companies, food production companies, refinery, among others fall under this category.</span></span></span></span></p>
',
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			'created' => '2020-07-28',
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			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '11991',
			'image' => '20200728053037_1595905789.NRB.jpg',
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	(int) 9 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12243',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'APF Confiscates Smuggled Goods but Hardly Arrests any Smuggler',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'July 28: It has been two years since the Armed Police Force (APF) set up a company in Baitadi, which shares an open border with neighbouring India.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">July 28: It has been two years since the Armed Police Force (APF) set up a company in Baitadi, which shares an open border with neighbouring India. During this period, APF has confiscated a large amount of goods smuggled into the country. But the para-military force hasn&rsquo;t arrested a single person in connection to smuggled goods, according to available reports.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">During the last fiscal year 2019/20, APF confiscated goods worth Rs 154,000 which were being imported without paying customs duty. But surprisingly, APF failed to arrest those who had brought the goods into the country. </span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">There are lots of similar instances in which Nepal Police has reportedly handed over unclaimed goods to the customs department. But Nepal Police has somehow managed to arrest a few persons in such cases.&nbsp; Nepal Police had arrested a person who had smuggled goods into Nepal a few days ago and handed over to the customs department.</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">However, the locals have started questioning the reason behind APF confiscating smuggled goods but failing to arrest the persons involved in smuggling.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">This has given rise to speculations that APF is colluding with the smugglers in bringing goods into the country.</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Amit Singh stationed in Baitadi informed New Business Age that last year they had arrested one person who had smuggled timber and another for illegally importing tobacco.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">DSP Singh addmitted that they are finding it difficult to curb smuggling because the locals inform the smugglers about their presence when they are in patrol.</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">APF has been patrolling Jhulaghat area of Dashrath Chand Municipality ever since it was deployed in the area. It is believed that maximum number of smuggling take place in this region. Mostly, tobacco and its products are smuggled into Nepal from India. Of late, APF has also started patrolling Pancheshwar area after establishing a Border Out Post (BOP). It is expected to reduce the incidents of smuggling.</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">&nbsp; </span></span></p>
',
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	(int) 10 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12242',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Price of Gold Rising Steadily',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'July 28: The price of gold has been rising steadily in the Nepali market due to the increase in its price in the international market. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">July 28: The price of gold has been rising steadily in the Nepali market due to the increase in its price in the international market. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The price of gold set a new record once again on Tuesday (July 28) with an increase of Rs 800 per tola (11 grams approximately). Gold is being traded for Rs 98,200 with the new adjustment.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">According to the Federation of Nepalese Gold and Silver Dealers Association, the price of silver has also increased by Rs 35 per tola. The cost of silver per tola has reached Rs 1245.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The price of gold in the international market has increased to 1947 dollars. The price of the precious yellow metal has been increasing steadily since the last few days. Investors have been spending on gold in the international market to secure their investment, thereby causing a steady rise in its price.</span></span></span></p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12241',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Floods, Landslides Cause Damage worth Rs 2 billion ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'July 28: With the onset of monsoon in Nepal, floods and landslides have damaged roads and bridges in various places causing financial loss of more than Rs 2 billion within 18 days.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">July 28: With the onset of monsoon in Nepal, floods and landslides have damaged roads and bridges in various places causing financial loss of more than Rs 2 billion within 18 days. A preliminary study by the Department of Roads shows that infrastructures worth more than Rs 2 billion have been destroyed since July 9. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Spokesperson and deputy director general of the department, Shiva Hari Sapkota, said that as it was a preliminary assessment and the cost of damage could increase. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The extent of damage to roads and bridges by the natural calamities has increased because of geographical structure and delay in rehabilitation of old bridges and roads. In addition, as the major highways are adjoined to rivers and run through steep slopes, they are prone to floods and landslides. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Sapkota said that Barhabise-Tatopani section of Arniko highway, Dumre-Beshisahar-Chame road section, and Beni-Jomsom road section and parts of Mahakali Highway have been most affected by floods and landslides. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">&ldquo;The loss is likely to increase as the rainfall is still continuing,&rdquo; Sapkota said, &ldquo;All division offices are ready with machineries so as to reopen the landslide-affected roads as soon as possible.&rdquo; </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">He further said that it will take some time to repair the flood-damaged roads and washed-out bridges. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Critics say that the government only seeks immediate solution to this recurring problem instead of searching for long-term solution. The government on the other hand says it does not have other option besides removing the debris caused by landslides with machines and tools along the roads and operate one-way traffic during monsoon. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Former Secretary at the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport Tulsi Prasad Sitaula said that the government has failed to adopt long-term strategy to solve the problem of flooding and washout of bridges. He said that even if there are ways to control the damage, huge investment is required and the only option for the government is to work on the short-term solution. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'sortorder' => '11988',
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12240',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Nepal's Foreign Trade Shrinks due to Covid-19',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'July 28: Nepal’s foreign trade witnessed a sharp decline in the fiscal year 2019/20 due to the effects of coronavirus pandemic.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">July 28: Nepal&rsquo;s foreign trade witnessed a sharp decline in the fiscal year 2019/20 due to the effects of coronavirus pandemic. Although the reduction in import has improved Nepal&rsquo;s trade deficit, it has also reduced revenue collection from customs duty significantly.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">In fiscal year 2018/19, the Department of Customs had collected revenue of Rs 354 billion. The department had set a target of collecting 30 percent more revenue in the last fiscal year. The department was expecting import to rise and thereby an increase in revenue collection. However, the government&rsquo;s restriction in import on top of coronavirus pandemic and the subsequent lockdown dented the customs department from achieving its target.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Revenue collection from customs duty, which was increasing every year, saw a decline&nbsp; during the last fiscal year. The revenue collection from customs duty last year was much lower than the previous year. According to the department, revenue collection during last fiscal year was less that the preceding year by Rs 56 billion. The department was able to collect revenue of Rs 298 billion in FY 2019/20.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Data provided by the department shows that the overall foreign trade of Nepal shrunk by Rs 222 billion last year. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Nepal imported goods worth Rs 1196 billion during the review period against Rs 1498 billion during FY 2018/19.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">According to the Department of Customs, Nepal&rsquo;s import reduced by 15.63 billion while export of goods was down by 0.98 percent during the last fiscal year.</span></span></span></span></p>
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			'id' => '12239',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Transfer of the Coordinator Delays Merger of Hetauda and Udayapur Cement Industries',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'July 28: The merger process of two state owned cement companies - Hetauda Cement Factory and Udayapur Cement Industry - has been delayed due to the transfer of the coordinator of the merger committee.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">July 28: The merger process of two state owned cement companies - Hetauda Cement Industry and Udayapur Cement Industry - has been delayed due to the transfer of the coordinator of the merger committee.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Shobha Kant Poudel, joint secretary at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, was appointed as the coordinator of the committee. However, he was later transferred from the ministry while the ministry has not been able to appoint a new coordinator to replace him.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Currently, a committee comprising representatives from the Ministry of Finance and the Company Registrar Office as well as mechanical engineers has been formed to study the financial and technical aspects of the two state-owned cement industries.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">The committee had to submit their report by May which now is expected to submit by August 2020.&nbsp; The study was delayed due to the transfer of joint secretaries from the ministry.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">According to the ministry, the committee will analyze the legislation of the merger as per the terms of reference (TOR), property liability and staff management of both the companies, institutional reform, production cost reduction and technological reform. Market study, competition and share structure are also&nbsp; other factors taken into consideration for the merger.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">An official at the ministry informed that the ministry is studying these issues while legal study has been completed.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12238',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Deadline for Filing Land Ceiling Application Extended till August 16.',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'July 27: The government has started implementing the ceiling on land ownership in accordance to the Land Related Act (eighth amendment).',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">July 27: The government has started implementing the ceiling on land ownership in accordance to the Land Related Act (eighth amendment). There has been an encouraging participation from the private sector to claim the facilities announced by the government while implementing the act.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The government had made an announcement last year that private industries, companies and corporations that have purchased land against the law will get valid certificates for one time.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation has made a special provision with the amendment which allows the institutions that have acquired more land that the ceiling set by the government to keep the additional land provided that they submit a written application within three months validating the reason for the need of additional land.&nbsp; </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Before the lockdown, the government had sought applications within three months from those who wanted to bring the illegally possessed land within the legal ambit. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">According to the ministry, altogether 95 individuals have submitted applications for this purpose. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The ministry informed that the time period to submit the application has been extended until August 16 considering the difficulty caused by the lockdown. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">If the ministry considers it relevant for the individual or companies to keep the additional land, then those individuals or institutions will have to pay Rs 150,000 per bigha of land in terai and Rs 50,000 per ropani land in Kathmandu valley to validate their certificates.</span></span></span></span></p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12253',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Extreme Shortage of Urea across the Country',
			'sub_title' => 'Farmers have not received the required amount of urea fertilizer even though paddy plantation is already done.',
			'summary' => 'July 30: Framers across Nepal are facing an acute shortage of urea fertilizer as 21,500 metric tons of the fertilizer is currently stuck at Kandla port in Gujarat, India.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Calibri">July 30: Framers across Nepal are facing an acute shortage of urea fertilizer as 21,500 metric tons of the fertilizer is currently stuck at Kandla port in Gujarat, India.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Calibri">According to agriculture department, a total of 40,000 metric tons of urea fertilizer is required for the period of one month from July to August during paddy plantation. However, only 1,060 metric tons of urea stock is currently available in the country. The agro-products suppliers and Salt Trading Corporation distribute the fertilizers to farmers in Nepal and are currently running out of stock.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Similarly, the country currently has 12,800 and 2,500 metric tons of DAP and Potassium respectively.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Calibri">However, demand of Urea is higher than DAP during the paddy plantation season. &nbsp;</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Pankaj Joshi, assistant general manager of Salt Trading Corporation informed that it may take another month for the 21,500 metric tons of urea fertilizer stopped at Kandla port to reach Nepal.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Calibri">At present, paddy plantation has been completed across the country. However, farmers are worried that the lack of urea fertilizer might affect their plantation, informed Chitra Bahadur Shrestha, chairman of the National Farmers Commission.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Calibri">He added that the government has failed to provide fertilizer to the farmers in time. &quot;If chemical fertilizers are not used regularly, it can affect production,&quot; he adds.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12251',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Most of the Donor Agencies yet to Respond to Government’s Request for Moratorium Period',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'July 30: The government has requested donor agencies for moratorium period due to its inability repay loan because of coronavirus pandemic but most of the donor agencies have not taken any decision in granting this facility to Nepal.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">July 30: The government has requested donor agencies for moratorium period due to its inability repay loan because of coronavirus pandemic but most of the donor agencies have not taken any decision in granting this facility to Nepal.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">According to a highly-placed source at the Ministry of Finance, although Finance Minister Yuba Raj Khatiwada has been lobbying with the donor agencies to postpone the date of loan repayment,&nbsp; only Japan has responded positively.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The finance ministry confirmed that Japan has agreed to extend the date of loan repayment without any conditions while other donors have only given assurance to the government.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Officials at the Ministry of Finance say that the government is liable to pay a total of Rs 23 billion to the donor agencies between mid-April to mid-December 2020. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The government has to pay Rs 1.88 billion, including loan and interest, to India during this period while the outstanding amount to China is Rs 550 million and Rs 160 million to Saudi Arabia.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Likewise, the government needs to repay Rs 10.83 billion to Asian Development Bank and Rs 6.97 billion to the World Bank as loan and interest.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">According to the finance ministry, Japan has approved unconditional support to extend the time period for loan repayment by three years.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">&ldquo;No other donor agency besides Japan has given us any such facility,&rdquo; said the source requesting anonymity.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">With the commitment from Japan, the government will not face the burden or repaying Rs 780 million for the time being. Officials at the ministry say that the government has been trying to seek moratorium period from India as well but the southern neighbor has not responded yet.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Meanwhile, China has proposed certain conditions for similar request from the government of Nepal, informed the source. Although China has shown interest to extend the date for repayment of loan by 4 years, it has demanded interest for the period. The official said that the rate of interest charged by China is more than the rate charged by other countries. The source said that the government cannot accept the terms and conditions put forward by China.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 2 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12250',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Contempt of Court Case Filed against Food Technology Department',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'July 29: The Supreme Court has issued a show cause notice to the Food Technology and Quality Control Department (FTQCD) for not letting a company import peas into Nepal.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">July 29: The Supreme Court has issued a show cause notice to the Food Technology and Quality Control Department (FTQCD) for not letting a company import peas into Nepal.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">A single bench of justice Bam Kumar Shrestha issued the notice to the department on Tuesday (July 29) to furnish reason behind its act. Kalwar Agro Industries had filed a contempt of court case at the Supreme Court against the department, arguing that the department did not comply with the apex court order issued earlier.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The Supreme Court had earlier issued an order not to stop the import of goods if the importer has fulfilled all necessary processes.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The importer had reached the department with the verdict for customs clearance of the goods but the government officials denied permission to the company to import the goods.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The Supreme Court has issued the fresh notice against Director General of the FTQCD Manita Joshi Baidhya asking for valid reasons why the importer cannot import the items.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The government had imposed a ban on import of peas, pepper, betel nuts and dates on March 29. The order was published in Nepal Gazette on April 6. The importer has been demanding release of the peas that were in the process of import before the government imposed the ban.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The department has maintained that the importer needs to take prior permission for import of such items and that the department cannot release the goods because of government order.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 3 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12249',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Construction of Pokhara Airport Resumes in Full Fledge',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'July 29: The construction of Pokhara Regional Airport, which was affected by the lockdown imposed to curb coronavirus, has now gained momentum once again.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">July 29: The construction of Pokhara Regional Airport, which was affected by the lockdown imposed to curb coronavirus, has now gained momentum once again.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The construction work was halted because of difficulty in bringing in equipment from China and the delay in return of Chinese workers due to coronavirus. With the lifting of the lockdown, the construction work is taking place in war footing.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The construction company which bagged the project has expedited the work after assurance that the equipment and technicians from China will be available soon.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">A total of 370 workers including 270 Chinese and 100 Nepalese&nbsp; have been deployed for the construction of the airport. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The project has set a target to complete the work within July 2021. Currently, the work progress is 62 percent, according to Pokhara International Airport Project Chief Binesh Munakarmi.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">He said that they had been continuing work even during lockdown by adopting precautionary measures.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The airport, which is considered as one of the national pride projects, has so far seen completion of the runway, apron, taxi way, isolated parking, hangar, terminal building and access way.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">According to project chief Munakarmi, they are in the final phase of completing other buildings while other works are still remaining.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">&ldquo;The Chinese workers who had returned home to celebrate the new year in January were stranded after confirmation of coronavirus in Wuhan of China. After the lockdown was lifted in China in March, we were able to bring 107 Chinese workers and resume the work,&rdquo; he said.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Meanwhile, senior engineer Krishna Prasad Poudel informed that the construction of the runway, which is considered as the main work, was completed a year ago and now they are focusing on other infrastructural works.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Poudel added that the 2500-meter runway is the first-of-its-kind in Nepal.</span></span></span></span></p>
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	(int) 4 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12247',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Transport Entrepreneurs Preparing to Reduce Number of Vehicles ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'July 29: Private transport companies that have been operating public vehicles since mid-July are preparing to reduce the number of vehicles due to lack of passengers.  ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">July 29: Private transport companies that have been operating public vehicles since mid-July are preparing to reduce the number of vehicles due to lack of passengers.&nbsp; </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Although the government had allowed carrying half of the seat capacity due to the risk of coronavirus infection, the transport entrepreneurs say that the public vehicles have not received even half passengers. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Despite the government&rsquo;s decision to allow transport entrepreneurs to charge 50 percent more than the normal fare, Sundar Yatayat that has been operating four electric buses in the Valley is rendering its service at the price before the lockdown. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">&ldquo;Although we are providing service at the old fare, there are no passengers. Sometimes the bus runs without any passenger on board,&rdquo; chairman of Sundar Yatayat Bhesh Bahadur Thapa said. The company is preparing to run only two buses if the situation remains the same. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Likewise, secretary at Digo Yatayat, Lal Prasad Guragain says that they are also planning to operate only four buses from Sunday if the situation does not improve. The company had planned to operate all 17 buses from the first week of August. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Mahanagar Yatayat, which has a total of 39 buses, has only brought 10 buses in operation. &ldquo;We don&rsquo;t have plans to operate more buses at present we cannot even collect enough money for fuel and staff expense,&rdquo; said chief of Mahanagar Yatayat Keshav Nepal. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Similar is the case with the government owned transport company Sajha Yatayat. The company which has been operating 26 buses from July 16 had planned to operate all 71 buses within a month. However, they have halted the decision. &ldquo;Not even the operating cost is raised, but after the government&rsquo;s decision, we have been operating the buses to give transportation service,&rdquo; Mahendra Pandey, CEO of Sajha Yatayat said. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Saroj Sitaula, general secretary of the Federation of Nepali National Transport Entrepreneurs said that there won&rsquo;t be any difference to transport entrepreneurs if inter-district operation is not allowed. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
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	(int) 5 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12246',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Payment of Workers During Lockdown Sorted Out',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'July 29: The issue of workers’ payment by industries during the lockdown period has finally been sorted out after four months. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">July 29: The issue of workers&rsquo; payment by industries during the lockdown period has finally been sorted out after four months. &nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The employers reached an understanding with the umbrella organisation of workers on Tuesday (July 28) for the payment during the Nepali months of Chaitra (mid-March to mid-April), Baishakh and Jestha. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The payment issue for the month of Ashad (mid-June to mid-July) has not become much of a problem as the industries started deploying workers shift-wise and the payment has been assured accordingly.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">As per the agreement reached between the two sides, workers in the formal sector will get full salary for the month of Chaitra. Meanwhile, the salary of Baishakh and Jestha will be reduced by 50 percent despite the workers being unable to attend office due to lockdown.&nbsp; </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">With this agreement, the long standing issue of payment in the hotel industry, restaurants, as well as other organisations has come to an end.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The bilateral agreement between the employers and the trade unions will be submitted to a task force under the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security, informed Bharat Raj Acharya, deputy chairman of the Employment Council.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The ministry had formed the task force to sort out the payment issue during lockdown. The task force had held several rounds of meeting with both sides but failed to resolve the issue. It then instructed the warring sides to sort out the contentious issue themselves.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Representatives of the employers led by chairman of the Employment Council of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) Chandra Prasad Dhakal had been relentlessly trying to settle the issue amicably.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Meanwhile, vice chairman Acharya said that it is not possible to create new employment opportunities at the moment while it is also imperative to ensure the welfare of workers involved in the formal sector. In such a situation, the employers have decided to retain the workforce by deploying the workers in different shifts and to ensure minimum payment for them.</span></span></span></span></p>
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	(int) 6 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12248',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Over 100 Local Units yet to Present Budget for Current Fiscal Year',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'July 29: A total of 182 local units have failed to present their budget for the current fiscal year to the village council.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">July 29: A total of 182 local units have failed to present their budget for the current fiscal year to the village council.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">As per the constitutional provision, the local levels should present their budget for the new fiscal year to the village council by June 25. However, 182 local levels have not been able to present their budget yet.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">According to the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration, a total of 571 local levels have so far presented their budget to the village council for the fiscal year 2077/78 within the deadline set by the constitution.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Province 2 in this regard has the highest number of local levels failing to present the budget on time.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">According to the ministry, 74 local levels of Province 2 are yet to introduce the budget for the current fiscal year. Similarly, 27 local level governments from Province 1 and 25 from Far Western Province have also failed to launch their budget for the current fiscal year.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">&quot;The Ministry of Federal Affairs has directed the local levels to present their budget. Some of the local levels are not complying with the orders. The Finance Ministry will stop sending grants to such local levels,&quot; informed an official at the finance ministry.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2020-07-29',
			'modified' => '2020-07-29',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '11993',
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	(int) 7 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12245',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Food Industries Struggles to Return Back to Normal Situation ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'July 29: The production of food stuffs that declined during the lockdown, has not yet been able to get back to normal pace.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Calibri">July 29: The production of food stuffs that declined during the lockdown, has not yet been able to get back to normal pace.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Food manufacturers informed that even though the food industries came into operation less than a week after the lockdown was lifted, they are yet to operate in full fledge capacity. The industries have been producing at 50 percent of their full capacity since the last four months.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Calibri">The government had allowed food industries to operate even during the lockdown.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Chairman of the Nepal Rice, Oil and Pulses Industries Association, Subodh Kumar Gupta, informed that the food industry has been producing only half of its capacity even after the end of lockdown.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Calibri">According to the entrepreneurs, the food industry was compelled to limit the production during the lockdown due to lack of operating capital, raw materials and labor.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Calibri">&ldquo;The condition of industries in the Birgunj area, the center of food production, is even more problematic. Industries that are trying to resume normal production are facing more problems after the lockdown,&rdquo; informed Gupta.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Calibri">An indefinite curfew has been imposed in Birgunj since last Saturday as the number of Covid-19 cases has increased in the region. Gupta informed that panic of Corona and obstruction in transportation has affected their production.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
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	(int) 8 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12244',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Central Bank Starts Implementing Monetary Policy',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'July 28: Nepal Rastra Bank has instructed banks and financial institutions (BFIs) to increase the time period for payment of loans and interest by six months to two years depending on the impact on the respective businesses. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">July 28: Nepal Rastra Bank has instructed banks and financial institutions (BFIs) to increase the time period for payment of loans and interest by six months to two years depending on the impact on the respective businesses. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The central bank has categorized the affected businesses into three groups &ndash; highly affected, affected and less affected. The time period for repayment of loan and interest has been fixed in accordance to the provision in the monetary policy for the current fiscal year. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The central bank has instructed the concerned bodies to implement the provision in the monetary policy after amending the Integrated Directive 2076 on Monday (July 27).</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">As per the instruction of the central bank, the businesses that have been highly affected by Covid-19 will be able to repay their loan and interest within two years from the start of the current fiscal year. NRB has also instructed to collect such loan gradually in two installments, three installments and 4 installments. The central bank has also instructed BFIs not to charge any interest or fine for such amount during the given period. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">All sectors affiliated to the tourism industry can avail such facility. Recreation businesses, party palaces, film industry, distributors, cinema halls also fall under the same category.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Workers who have lost their job and Nepalese migrant workers can also get such relief.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">People involved in vegetable and fruits business, floriculture, diary production, poultry farming and animal husbandry can also enjoy the facility of repaying loan in two years without any interest.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Readymade garments, handicraft and artisans as well as educational consultancies also fall under the same category.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Meanwhile, other sectors that have been affected by Covid-19 will be allowed to repay their loans within 9 months without any interest or fine. Plastic, iron and steel industries, leather and metal producers fall under this category. Likewise, private and residential schools and colleges, universities, technical schools, pre-schools and child care centres can avail this facility as well.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Transportation service providers, beauty parlours, consultation agencies, hospitals, construction companies, pharmaceutical industries, publication houses also fall under this category.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Similarly, the sectors least affected by Covid-19 can repay their loan within six months from the start of the current fiscal year.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Hydropower projects, e-commerce companies, food production companies, refinery, among others fall under this category.</span></span></span></span></p>
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	(int) 9 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12243',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'APF Confiscates Smuggled Goods but Hardly Arrests any Smuggler',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'July 28: It has been two years since the Armed Police Force (APF) set up a company in Baitadi, which shares an open border with neighbouring India.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">July 28: It has been two years since the Armed Police Force (APF) set up a company in Baitadi, which shares an open border with neighbouring India. During this period, APF has confiscated a large amount of goods smuggled into the country. But the para-military force hasn&rsquo;t arrested a single person in connection to smuggled goods, according to available reports.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">During the last fiscal year 2019/20, APF confiscated goods worth Rs 154,000 which were being imported without paying customs duty. But surprisingly, APF failed to arrest those who had brought the goods into the country. </span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">There are lots of similar instances in which Nepal Police has reportedly handed over unclaimed goods to the customs department. But Nepal Police has somehow managed to arrest a few persons in such cases.&nbsp; Nepal Police had arrested a person who had smuggled goods into Nepal a few days ago and handed over to the customs department.</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">However, the locals have started questioning the reason behind APF confiscating smuggled goods but failing to arrest the persons involved in smuggling.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">This has given rise to speculations that APF is colluding with the smugglers in bringing goods into the country.</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Amit Singh stationed in Baitadi informed New Business Age that last year they had arrested one person who had smuggled timber and another for illegally importing tobacco.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">DSP Singh addmitted that they are finding it difficult to curb smuggling because the locals inform the smugglers about their presence when they are in patrol.</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">APF has been patrolling Jhulaghat area of Dashrath Chand Municipality ever since it was deployed in the area. It is believed that maximum number of smuggling take place in this region. Mostly, tobacco and its products are smuggled into Nepal from India. Of late, APF has also started patrolling Pancheshwar area after establishing a Border Out Post (BOP). It is expected to reduce the incidents of smuggling.</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">&nbsp; </span></span></p>
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	(int) 10 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12242',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Price of Gold Rising Steadily',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'July 28: The price of gold has been rising steadily in the Nepali market due to the increase in its price in the international market. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">July 28: The price of gold has been rising steadily in the Nepali market due to the increase in its price in the international market. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The price of gold set a new record once again on Tuesday (July 28) with an increase of Rs 800 per tola (11 grams approximately). Gold is being traded for Rs 98,200 with the new adjustment.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">According to the Federation of Nepalese Gold and Silver Dealers Association, the price of silver has also increased by Rs 35 per tola. The cost of silver per tola has reached Rs 1245.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The price of gold in the international market has increased to 1947 dollars. The price of the precious yellow metal has been increasing steadily since the last few days. Investors have been spending on gold in the international market to secure their investment, thereby causing a steady rise in its price.</span></span></span></p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12241',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Floods, Landslides Cause Damage worth Rs 2 billion ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'July 28: With the onset of monsoon in Nepal, floods and landslides have damaged roads and bridges in various places causing financial loss of more than Rs 2 billion within 18 days.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">July 28: With the onset of monsoon in Nepal, floods and landslides have damaged roads and bridges in various places causing financial loss of more than Rs 2 billion within 18 days. A preliminary study by the Department of Roads shows that infrastructures worth more than Rs 2 billion have been destroyed since July 9. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Spokesperson and deputy director general of the department, Shiva Hari Sapkota, said that as it was a preliminary assessment and the cost of damage could increase. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The extent of damage to roads and bridges by the natural calamities has increased because of geographical structure and delay in rehabilitation of old bridges and roads. In addition, as the major highways are adjoined to rivers and run through steep slopes, they are prone to floods and landslides. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Sapkota said that Barhabise-Tatopani section of Arniko highway, Dumre-Beshisahar-Chame road section, and Beni-Jomsom road section and parts of Mahakali Highway have been most affected by floods and landslides. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">&ldquo;The loss is likely to increase as the rainfall is still continuing,&rdquo; Sapkota said, &ldquo;All division offices are ready with machineries so as to reopen the landslide-affected roads as soon as possible.&rdquo; </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">He further said that it will take some time to repair the flood-damaged roads and washed-out bridges. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Critics say that the government only seeks immediate solution to this recurring problem instead of searching for long-term solution. The government on the other hand says it does not have other option besides removing the debris caused by landslides with machines and tools along the roads and operate one-way traffic during monsoon. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Former Secretary at the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport Tulsi Prasad Sitaula said that the government has failed to adopt long-term strategy to solve the problem of flooding and washout of bridges. He said that even if there are ways to control the damage, huge investment is required and the only option for the government is to work on the short-term solution. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12240',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Nepal's Foreign Trade Shrinks due to Covid-19',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'July 28: Nepal’s foreign trade witnessed a sharp decline in the fiscal year 2019/20 due to the effects of coronavirus pandemic.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">July 28: Nepal&rsquo;s foreign trade witnessed a sharp decline in the fiscal year 2019/20 due to the effects of coronavirus pandemic. Although the reduction in import has improved Nepal&rsquo;s trade deficit, it has also reduced revenue collection from customs duty significantly.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">In fiscal year 2018/19, the Department of Customs had collected revenue of Rs 354 billion. The department had set a target of collecting 30 percent more revenue in the last fiscal year. The department was expecting import to rise and thereby an increase in revenue collection. However, the government&rsquo;s restriction in import on top of coronavirus pandemic and the subsequent lockdown dented the customs department from achieving its target.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Revenue collection from customs duty, which was increasing every year, saw a decline&nbsp; during the last fiscal year. The revenue collection from customs duty last year was much lower than the previous year. According to the department, revenue collection during last fiscal year was less that the preceding year by Rs 56 billion. The department was able to collect revenue of Rs 298 billion in FY 2019/20.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Data provided by the department shows that the overall foreign trade of Nepal shrunk by Rs 222 billion last year. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Nepal imported goods worth Rs 1196 billion during the review period against Rs 1498 billion during FY 2018/19.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">According to the Department of Customs, Nepal&rsquo;s import reduced by 15.63 billion while export of goods was down by 0.98 percent during the last fiscal year.</span></span></span></span></p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12239',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Transfer of the Coordinator Delays Merger of Hetauda and Udayapur Cement Industries',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'July 28: The merger process of two state owned cement companies - Hetauda Cement Factory and Udayapur Cement Industry - has been delayed due to the transfer of the coordinator of the merger committee.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">July 28: The merger process of two state owned cement companies - Hetauda Cement Industry and Udayapur Cement Industry - has been delayed due to the transfer of the coordinator of the merger committee.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Shobha Kant Poudel, joint secretary at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, was appointed as the coordinator of the committee. However, he was later transferred from the ministry while the ministry has not been able to appoint a new coordinator to replace him.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Currently, a committee comprising representatives from the Ministry of Finance and the Company Registrar Office as well as mechanical engineers has been formed to study the financial and technical aspects of the two state-owned cement industries.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">The committee had to submit their report by May which now is expected to submit by August 2020.&nbsp; The study was delayed due to the transfer of joint secretaries from the ministry.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">According to the ministry, the committee will analyze the legislation of the merger as per the terms of reference (TOR), property liability and staff management of both the companies, institutional reform, production cost reduction and technological reform. Market study, competition and share structure are also&nbsp; other factors taken into consideration for the merger.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">An official at the ministry informed that the ministry is studying these issues while legal study has been completed.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'sortorder' => '11986',
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12238',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Deadline for Filing Land Ceiling Application Extended till August 16.',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'July 27: The government has started implementing the ceiling on land ownership in accordance to the Land Related Act (eighth amendment).',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">July 27: The government has started implementing the ceiling on land ownership in accordance to the Land Related Act (eighth amendment). There has been an encouraging participation from the private sector to claim the facilities announced by the government while implementing the act.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The government had made an announcement last year that private industries, companies and corporations that have purchased land against the law will get valid certificates for one time.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation has made a special provision with the amendment which allows the institutions that have acquired more land that the ceiling set by the government to keep the additional land provided that they submit a written application within three months validating the reason for the need of additional land.&nbsp; </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Before the lockdown, the government had sought applications within three months from those who wanted to bring the illegally possessed land within the legal ambit. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">According to the ministry, altogether 95 individuals have submitted applications for this purpose. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The ministry informed that the time period to submit the application has been extended until August 16 considering the difficulty caused by the lockdown. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">If the ministry considers it relevant for the individual or companies to keep the additional land, then those individuals or institutions will have to pay Rs 150,000 per bigha of land in terai and Rs 50,000 per ropani land in Kathmandu valley to validate their certificates.</span></span></span></span></p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12253',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Extreme Shortage of Urea across the Country',
			'sub_title' => 'Farmers have not received the required amount of urea fertilizer even though paddy plantation is already done.',
			'summary' => 'July 30: Framers across Nepal are facing an acute shortage of urea fertilizer as 21,500 metric tons of the fertilizer is currently stuck at Kandla port in Gujarat, India.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Calibri">July 30: Framers across Nepal are facing an acute shortage of urea fertilizer as 21,500 metric tons of the fertilizer is currently stuck at Kandla port in Gujarat, India.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Calibri">According to agriculture department, a total of 40,000 metric tons of urea fertilizer is required for the period of one month from July to August during paddy plantation. However, only 1,060 metric tons of urea stock is currently available in the country. The agro-products suppliers and Salt Trading Corporation distribute the fertilizers to farmers in Nepal and are currently running out of stock.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Similarly, the country currently has 12,800 and 2,500 metric tons of DAP and Potassium respectively.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Calibri">However, demand of Urea is higher than DAP during the paddy plantation season. &nbsp;</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Pankaj Joshi, assistant general manager of Salt Trading Corporation informed that it may take another month for the 21,500 metric tons of urea fertilizer stopped at Kandla port to reach Nepal.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Calibri">At present, paddy plantation has been completed across the country. However, farmers are worried that the lack of urea fertilizer might affect their plantation, informed Chitra Bahadur Shrestha, chairman of the National Farmers Commission.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Calibri">He added that the government has failed to provide fertilizer to the farmers in time. &quot;If chemical fertilizers are not used regularly, it can affect production,&quot; he adds.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 1 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12251',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Most of the Donor Agencies yet to Respond to Government’s Request for Moratorium Period',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'July 30: The government has requested donor agencies for moratorium period due to its inability repay loan because of coronavirus pandemic but most of the donor agencies have not taken any decision in granting this facility to Nepal.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">July 30: The government has requested donor agencies for moratorium period due to its inability repay loan because of coronavirus pandemic but most of the donor agencies have not taken any decision in granting this facility to Nepal.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">According to a highly-placed source at the Ministry of Finance, although Finance Minister Yuba Raj Khatiwada has been lobbying with the donor agencies to postpone the date of loan repayment,&nbsp; only Japan has responded positively.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The finance ministry confirmed that Japan has agreed to extend the date of loan repayment without any conditions while other donors have only given assurance to the government.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Officials at the Ministry of Finance say that the government is liable to pay a total of Rs 23 billion to the donor agencies between mid-April to mid-December 2020. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The government has to pay Rs 1.88 billion, including loan and interest, to India during this period while the outstanding amount to China is Rs 550 million and Rs 160 million to Saudi Arabia.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Likewise, the government needs to repay Rs 10.83 billion to Asian Development Bank and Rs 6.97 billion to the World Bank as loan and interest.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">According to the finance ministry, Japan has approved unconditional support to extend the time period for loan repayment by three years.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">&ldquo;No other donor agency besides Japan has given us any such facility,&rdquo; said the source requesting anonymity.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">With the commitment from Japan, the government will not face the burden or repaying Rs 780 million for the time being. Officials at the ministry say that the government has been trying to seek moratorium period from India as well but the southern neighbor has not responded yet.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Meanwhile, China has proposed certain conditions for similar request from the government of Nepal, informed the source. Although China has shown interest to extend the date for repayment of loan by 4 years, it has demanded interest for the period. The official said that the rate of interest charged by China is more than the rate charged by other countries. The source said that the government cannot accept the terms and conditions put forward by China.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 2 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12250',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Contempt of Court Case Filed against Food Technology Department',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'July 29: The Supreme Court has issued a show cause notice to the Food Technology and Quality Control Department (FTQCD) for not letting a company import peas into Nepal.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">July 29: The Supreme Court has issued a show cause notice to the Food Technology and Quality Control Department (FTQCD) for not letting a company import peas into Nepal.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">A single bench of justice Bam Kumar Shrestha issued the notice to the department on Tuesday (July 29) to furnish reason behind its act. Kalwar Agro Industries had filed a contempt of court case at the Supreme Court against the department, arguing that the department did not comply with the apex court order issued earlier.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The Supreme Court had earlier issued an order not to stop the import of goods if the importer has fulfilled all necessary processes.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The importer had reached the department with the verdict for customs clearance of the goods but the government officials denied permission to the company to import the goods.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The Supreme Court has issued the fresh notice against Director General of the FTQCD Manita Joshi Baidhya asking for valid reasons why the importer cannot import the items.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The government had imposed a ban on import of peas, pepper, betel nuts and dates on March 29. The order was published in Nepal Gazette on April 6. The importer has been demanding release of the peas that were in the process of import before the government imposed the ban.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The department has maintained that the importer needs to take prior permission for import of such items and that the department cannot release the goods because of government order.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
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	(int) 3 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12249',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Construction of Pokhara Airport Resumes in Full Fledge',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'July 29: The construction of Pokhara Regional Airport, which was affected by the lockdown imposed to curb coronavirus, has now gained momentum once again.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">July 29: The construction of Pokhara Regional Airport, which was affected by the lockdown imposed to curb coronavirus, has now gained momentum once again.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The construction work was halted because of difficulty in bringing in equipment from China and the delay in return of Chinese workers due to coronavirus. With the lifting of the lockdown, the construction work is taking place in war footing.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The construction company which bagged the project has expedited the work after assurance that the equipment and technicians from China will be available soon.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">A total of 370 workers including 270 Chinese and 100 Nepalese&nbsp; have been deployed for the construction of the airport. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The project has set a target to complete the work within July 2021. Currently, the work progress is 62 percent, according to Pokhara International Airport Project Chief Binesh Munakarmi.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">He said that they had been continuing work even during lockdown by adopting precautionary measures.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The airport, which is considered as one of the national pride projects, has so far seen completion of the runway, apron, taxi way, isolated parking, hangar, terminal building and access way.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">According to project chief Munakarmi, they are in the final phase of completing other buildings while other works are still remaining.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">&ldquo;The Chinese workers who had returned home to celebrate the new year in January were stranded after confirmation of coronavirus in Wuhan of China. After the lockdown was lifted in China in March, we were able to bring 107 Chinese workers and resume the work,&rdquo; he said.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Meanwhile, senior engineer Krishna Prasad Poudel informed that the construction of the runway, which is considered as the main work, was completed a year ago and now they are focusing on other infrastructural works.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Poudel added that the 2500-meter runway is the first-of-its-kind in Nepal.</span></span></span></span></p>
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	(int) 4 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12247',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Transport Entrepreneurs Preparing to Reduce Number of Vehicles ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'July 29: Private transport companies that have been operating public vehicles since mid-July are preparing to reduce the number of vehicles due to lack of passengers.  ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">July 29: Private transport companies that have been operating public vehicles since mid-July are preparing to reduce the number of vehicles due to lack of passengers.&nbsp; </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Although the government had allowed carrying half of the seat capacity due to the risk of coronavirus infection, the transport entrepreneurs say that the public vehicles have not received even half passengers. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Despite the government&rsquo;s decision to allow transport entrepreneurs to charge 50 percent more than the normal fare, Sundar Yatayat that has been operating four electric buses in the Valley is rendering its service at the price before the lockdown. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">&ldquo;Although we are providing service at the old fare, there are no passengers. Sometimes the bus runs without any passenger on board,&rdquo; chairman of Sundar Yatayat Bhesh Bahadur Thapa said. The company is preparing to run only two buses if the situation remains the same. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Likewise, secretary at Digo Yatayat, Lal Prasad Guragain says that they are also planning to operate only four buses from Sunday if the situation does not improve. The company had planned to operate all 17 buses from the first week of August. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Mahanagar Yatayat, which has a total of 39 buses, has only brought 10 buses in operation. &ldquo;We don&rsquo;t have plans to operate more buses at present we cannot even collect enough money for fuel and staff expense,&rdquo; said chief of Mahanagar Yatayat Keshav Nepal. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Similar is the case with the government owned transport company Sajha Yatayat. The company which has been operating 26 buses from July 16 had planned to operate all 71 buses within a month. However, they have halted the decision. &ldquo;Not even the operating cost is raised, but after the government&rsquo;s decision, we have been operating the buses to give transportation service,&rdquo; Mahendra Pandey, CEO of Sajha Yatayat said. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Saroj Sitaula, general secretary of the Federation of Nepali National Transport Entrepreneurs said that there won&rsquo;t be any difference to transport entrepreneurs if inter-district operation is not allowed. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 5 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12246',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Payment of Workers During Lockdown Sorted Out',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'July 29: The issue of workers’ payment by industries during the lockdown period has finally been sorted out after four months. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">July 29: The issue of workers&rsquo; payment by industries during the lockdown period has finally been sorted out after four months. &nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The employers reached an understanding with the umbrella organisation of workers on Tuesday (July 28) for the payment during the Nepali months of Chaitra (mid-March to mid-April), Baishakh and Jestha. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The payment issue for the month of Ashad (mid-June to mid-July) has not become much of a problem as the industries started deploying workers shift-wise and the payment has been assured accordingly.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">As per the agreement reached between the two sides, workers in the formal sector will get full salary for the month of Chaitra. Meanwhile, the salary of Baishakh and Jestha will be reduced by 50 percent despite the workers being unable to attend office due to lockdown.&nbsp; </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">With this agreement, the long standing issue of payment in the hotel industry, restaurants, as well as other organisations has come to an end.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The bilateral agreement between the employers and the trade unions will be submitted to a task force under the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security, informed Bharat Raj Acharya, deputy chairman of the Employment Council.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The ministry had formed the task force to sort out the payment issue during lockdown. The task force had held several rounds of meeting with both sides but failed to resolve the issue. It then instructed the warring sides to sort out the contentious issue themselves.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Representatives of the employers led by chairman of the Employment Council of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) Chandra Prasad Dhakal had been relentlessly trying to settle the issue amicably.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Meanwhile, vice chairman Acharya said that it is not possible to create new employment opportunities at the moment while it is also imperative to ensure the welfare of workers involved in the formal sector. In such a situation, the employers have decided to retain the workforce by deploying the workers in different shifts and to ensure minimum payment for them.</span></span></span></span></p>
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	(int) 6 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12248',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Over 100 Local Units yet to Present Budget for Current Fiscal Year',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'July 29: A total of 182 local units have failed to present their budget for the current fiscal year to the village council.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">July 29: A total of 182 local units have failed to present their budget for the current fiscal year to the village council.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">As per the constitutional provision, the local levels should present their budget for the new fiscal year to the village council by June 25. However, 182 local levels have not been able to present their budget yet.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">According to the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration, a total of 571 local levels have so far presented their budget to the village council for the fiscal year 2077/78 within the deadline set by the constitution.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Province 2 in this regard has the highest number of local levels failing to present the budget on time.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">According to the ministry, 74 local levels of Province 2 are yet to introduce the budget for the current fiscal year. Similarly, 27 local level governments from Province 1 and 25 from Far Western Province have also failed to launch their budget for the current fiscal year.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">&quot;The Ministry of Federal Affairs has directed the local levels to present their budget. Some of the local levels are not complying with the orders. The Finance Ministry will stop sending grants to such local levels,&quot; informed an official at the finance ministry.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12245',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Food Industries Struggles to Return Back to Normal Situation ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'July 29: The production of food stuffs that declined during the lockdown, has not yet been able to get back to normal pace.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Calibri">July 29: The production of food stuffs that declined during the lockdown, has not yet been able to get back to normal pace.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Food manufacturers informed that even though the food industries came into operation less than a week after the lockdown was lifted, they are yet to operate in full fledge capacity. The industries have been producing at 50 percent of their full capacity since the last four months.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Calibri">The government had allowed food industries to operate even during the lockdown.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Chairman of the Nepal Rice, Oil and Pulses Industries Association, Subodh Kumar Gupta, informed that the food industry has been producing only half of its capacity even after the end of lockdown.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Calibri">According to the entrepreneurs, the food industry was compelled to limit the production during the lockdown due to lack of operating capital, raw materials and labor.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Calibri">&ldquo;The condition of industries in the Birgunj area, the center of food production, is even more problematic. Industries that are trying to resume normal production are facing more problems after the lockdown,&rdquo; informed Gupta.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Calibri">An indefinite curfew has been imposed in Birgunj since last Saturday as the number of Covid-19 cases has increased in the region. Gupta informed that panic of Corona and obstruction in transportation has affected their production.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
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			'created' => '2020-07-29',
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			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '11992',
			'image' => '20200729111851_20200426114633_Food-Processing-11-2-19.jpg',
			'article_date' => '2020-07-29 11:18:08',
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	(int) 8 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12244',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Central Bank Starts Implementing Monetary Policy',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'July 28: Nepal Rastra Bank has instructed banks and financial institutions (BFIs) to increase the time period for payment of loans and interest by six months to two years depending on the impact on the respective businesses. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">July 28: Nepal Rastra Bank has instructed banks and financial institutions (BFIs) to increase the time period for payment of loans and interest by six months to two years depending on the impact on the respective businesses. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The central bank has categorized the affected businesses into three groups &ndash; highly affected, affected and less affected. The time period for repayment of loan and interest has been fixed in accordance to the provision in the monetary policy for the current fiscal year. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The central bank has instructed the concerned bodies to implement the provision in the monetary policy after amending the Integrated Directive 2076 on Monday (July 27).</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">As per the instruction of the central bank, the businesses that have been highly affected by Covid-19 will be able to repay their loan and interest within two years from the start of the current fiscal year. NRB has also instructed to collect such loan gradually in two installments, three installments and 4 installments. The central bank has also instructed BFIs not to charge any interest or fine for such amount during the given period. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">All sectors affiliated to the tourism industry can avail such facility. Recreation businesses, party palaces, film industry, distributors, cinema halls also fall under the same category.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Workers who have lost their job and Nepalese migrant workers can also get such relief.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">People involved in vegetable and fruits business, floriculture, diary production, poultry farming and animal husbandry can also enjoy the facility of repaying loan in two years without any interest.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Readymade garments, handicraft and artisans as well as educational consultancies also fall under the same category.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Meanwhile, other sectors that have been affected by Covid-19 will be allowed to repay their loans within 9 months without any interest or fine. Plastic, iron and steel industries, leather and metal producers fall under this category. Likewise, private and residential schools and colleges, universities, technical schools, pre-schools and child care centres can avail this facility as well.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Transportation service providers, beauty parlours, consultation agencies, hospitals, construction companies, pharmaceutical industries, publication houses also fall under this category.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Similarly, the sectors least affected by Covid-19 can repay their loan within six months from the start of the current fiscal year.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Hydropower projects, e-commerce companies, food production companies, refinery, among others fall under this category.</span></span></span></span></p>
',
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			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '11991',
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	(int) 9 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12243',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'APF Confiscates Smuggled Goods but Hardly Arrests any Smuggler',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'July 28: It has been two years since the Armed Police Force (APF) set up a company in Baitadi, which shares an open border with neighbouring India.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">July 28: It has been two years since the Armed Police Force (APF) set up a company in Baitadi, which shares an open border with neighbouring India. During this period, APF has confiscated a large amount of goods smuggled into the country. But the para-military force hasn&rsquo;t arrested a single person in connection to smuggled goods, according to available reports.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">During the last fiscal year 2019/20, APF confiscated goods worth Rs 154,000 which were being imported without paying customs duty. But surprisingly, APF failed to arrest those who had brought the goods into the country. </span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">There are lots of similar instances in which Nepal Police has reportedly handed over unclaimed goods to the customs department. But Nepal Police has somehow managed to arrest a few persons in such cases.&nbsp; Nepal Police had arrested a person who had smuggled goods into Nepal a few days ago and handed over to the customs department.</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">However, the locals have started questioning the reason behind APF confiscating smuggled goods but failing to arrest the persons involved in smuggling.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">This has given rise to speculations that APF is colluding with the smugglers in bringing goods into the country.</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Amit Singh stationed in Baitadi informed New Business Age that last year they had arrested one person who had smuggled timber and another for illegally importing tobacco.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">DSP Singh addmitted that they are finding it difficult to curb smuggling because the locals inform the smugglers about their presence when they are in patrol.</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">APF has been patrolling Jhulaghat area of Dashrath Chand Municipality ever since it was deployed in the area. It is believed that maximum number of smuggling take place in this region. Mostly, tobacco and its products are smuggled into Nepal from India. Of late, APF has also started patrolling Pancheshwar area after establishing a Border Out Post (BOP). It is expected to reduce the incidents of smuggling.</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">&nbsp; </span></span></p>
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			'sortorder' => '11990',
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	(int) 10 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12242',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Price of Gold Rising Steadily',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'July 28: The price of gold has been rising steadily in the Nepali market due to the increase in its price in the international market. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">July 28: The price of gold has been rising steadily in the Nepali market due to the increase in its price in the international market. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The price of gold set a new record once again on Tuesday (July 28) with an increase of Rs 800 per tola (11 grams approximately). Gold is being traded for Rs 98,200 with the new adjustment.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">According to the Federation of Nepalese Gold and Silver Dealers Association, the price of silver has also increased by Rs 35 per tola. The cost of silver per tola has reached Rs 1245.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The price of gold in the international market has increased to 1947 dollars. The price of the precious yellow metal has been increasing steadily since the last few days. Investors have been spending on gold in the international market to secure their investment, thereby causing a steady rise in its price.</span></span></span></p>
',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2020-07-28',
			'modified' => '2020-07-28',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '11989',
			'image' => '20200728040251_gold.jpg',
			'article_date' => '2020-07-28 16:01:50',
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	(int) 11 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12241',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Floods, Landslides Cause Damage worth Rs 2 billion ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'July 28: With the onset of monsoon in Nepal, floods and landslides have damaged roads and bridges in various places causing financial loss of more than Rs 2 billion within 18 days.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">July 28: With the onset of monsoon in Nepal, floods and landslides have damaged roads and bridges in various places causing financial loss of more than Rs 2 billion within 18 days. A preliminary study by the Department of Roads shows that infrastructures worth more than Rs 2 billion have been destroyed since July 9. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Spokesperson and deputy director general of the department, Shiva Hari Sapkota, said that as it was a preliminary assessment and the cost of damage could increase. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">The extent of damage to roads and bridges by the natural calamities has increased because of geographical structure and delay in rehabilitation of old bridges and roads. In addition, as the major highways are adjoined to rivers and run through steep slopes, they are prone to floods and landslides. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Sapkota said that Barhabise-Tatopani section of Arniko highway, Dumre-Beshisahar-Chame road section, and Beni-Jomsom road section and parts of Mahakali Highway have been most affected by floods and landslides. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">&ldquo;The loss is likely to increase as the rainfall is still continuing,&rdquo; Sapkota said, &ldquo;All division offices are ready with machineries so as to reopen the landslide-affected roads as soon as possible.&rdquo; </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">He further said that it will take some time to repair the flood-damaged roads and washed-out bridges. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Critics say that the government only seeks immediate solution to this recurring problem instead of searching for long-term solution. The government on the other hand says it does not have other option besides removing the debris caused by landslides with machines and tools along the roads and operate one-way traffic during monsoon. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">Former Secretary at the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport Tulsi Prasad Sitaula said that the government has failed to adopt long-term strategy to solve the problem of flooding and washout of bridges. He said that even if there are ways to control the damage, huge investment is required and the only option for the government is to work on the short-term solution. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '11988',
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	(int) 12 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12240',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Nepal's Foreign Trade Shrinks due to Covid-19',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'July 28: Nepal’s foreign trade witnessed a sharp decline in the fiscal year 2019/20 due to the effects of coronavirus pandemic.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">July 28: Nepal&rsquo;s foreign trade witnessed a sharp decline in the fiscal year 2019/20 due to the effects of coronavirus pandemic. Although the reduction in import has improved Nepal&rsquo;s trade deficit, it has also reduced revenue collection from customs duty significantly.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">In fiscal year 2018/19, the Department of Customs had collected revenue of Rs 354 billion. The department had set a target of collecting 30 percent more revenue in the last fiscal year. The department was expecting import to rise and thereby an increase in revenue collection. However, the government&rsquo;s restriction in import on top of coronavirus pandemic and the subsequent lockdown dented the customs department from achieving its target.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Revenue collection from customs duty, which was increasing every year, saw a decline&nbsp; during the last fiscal year. The revenue collection from customs duty last year was much lower than the previous year. According to the department, revenue collection during last fiscal year was less that the preceding year by Rs 56 billion. The department was able to collect revenue of Rs 298 billion in FY 2019/20.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Data provided by the department shows that the overall foreign trade of Nepal shrunk by Rs 222 billion last year. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Nepal imported goods worth Rs 1196 billion during the review period against Rs 1498 billion during FY 2018/19.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">According to the Department of Customs, Nepal&rsquo;s import reduced by 15.63 billion while export of goods was down by 0.98 percent during the last fiscal year.</span></span></span></span></p>
',
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	(int) 13 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12239',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Transfer of the Coordinator Delays Merger of Hetauda and Udayapur Cement Industries',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'July 28: The merger process of two state owned cement companies - Hetauda Cement Factory and Udayapur Cement Industry - has been delayed due to the transfer of the coordinator of the merger committee.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">July 28: The merger process of two state owned cement companies - Hetauda Cement Industry and Udayapur Cement Industry - has been delayed due to the transfer of the coordinator of the merger committee.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Shobha Kant Poudel, joint secretary at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, was appointed as the coordinator of the committee. However, he was later transferred from the ministry while the ministry has not been able to appoint a new coordinator to replace him.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Currently, a committee comprising representatives from the Ministry of Finance and the Company Registrar Office as well as mechanical engineers has been formed to study the financial and technical aspects of the two state-owned cement industries.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">The committee had to submit their report by May which now is expected to submit by August 2020.&nbsp; The study was delayed due to the transfer of joint secretaries from the ministry.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">According to the ministry, the committee will analyze the legislation of the merger as per the terms of reference (TOR), property liability and staff management of both the companies, institutional reform, production cost reduction and technological reform. Market study, competition and share structure are also&nbsp; other factors taken into consideration for the merger.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri">An official at the ministry informed that the ministry is studying these issues while legal study has been completed.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
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	(int) 14 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '12238',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Deadline for Filing Land Ceiling Application Extended till August 16.',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'July 27: The government has started implementing the ceiling on land ownership in accordance to the Land Related Act (eighth amendment).',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">July 27: The government has started implementing the ceiling on land ownership in accordance to the Land Related Act (eighth amendment). There has been an encouraging participation from the private sector to claim the facilities announced by the government while implementing the act.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The government had made an announcement last year that private industries, companies and corporations that have purchased land against the law will get valid certificates for one time.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation has made a special provision with the amendment which allows the institutions that have acquired more land that the ceiling set by the government to keep the additional land provided that they submit a written application within three months validating the reason for the need of additional land.&nbsp; </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">Before the lockdown, the government had sought applications within three months from those who wanted to bring the illegally possessed land within the legal ambit. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">According to the ministry, altogether 95 individuals have submitted applications for this purpose. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">The ministry informed that the time period to submit the application has been extended until August 16 considering the difficulty caused by the lockdown. </span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">If the ministry considers it relevant for the individual or companies to keep the additional land, then those individuals or institutions will have to pay Rs 150,000 per bigha of land in terai and Rs 50,000 per ropani land in Kathmandu valley to validate their certificates.</span></span></span></span></p>
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FOREX

Currency	Unit	Buy	Sell
U.S. Dollar	1	121.23	121.83
European Euro	1	131.65	132.31
UK Pound Sterling	1	142.47	143.18
Swiss Franc	1	124.29	124.90
Australian Dollar	1	71.69	72.05
Canadian Dollar	1	83.90	84.32
Japanese Yen	10	10.94	11.00
Chinese Yuan	1	17.17	17.26
Saudi Arabian Riyal	1	32.27	32.43
UAE Dirham	1	33.01	33.17
Malaysian Ringgit	1	27.36	27.50
South Korean Won	100	9.77	9.82

Update: 2020-03-25 | Source: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB)

Bullion

Fine Gold	1 tola	77000.00
Tejabi Gold	1 tola	76700.00
Silver	1 tola	720.00

Update : 2020-03-25

Source: Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers' Association

Petroleum

Petrol	1 Liter	106.00
Diesel	1 Liter	95.00
Kerosene	1 Liter	95.00
LP Gas	1 Cylinder	1375.00