April 26: A task force formed by the High Level Coordination Committee to Control and Prevent Coronavirus has recommended the committee to extend the lockdown by a…
April 26: A task force formed by the High Level Coordination Committee to Control and Prevent Coronavirus has recommended the committee to extend the lockdown by a…
April 26: The World Health Organisation (WHO) has removed Nepal from the high-risk zone of COVID-19 infection, the state-run national news agency RSS reported on Saturday (April 25).…
April 26: Covid-19 insurance is gradually gaining public attention.…
April 26: Even though the government has given permission to food industries to operate during lockdown, the operators of such industries have expressed concerns regarding lack of conducive environment for running their…
April 24: Nepal Bankers’ Association (NBA) has decided to wait for the report of Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) to study the impact of coronavirus on the economy before announcing any relief package.…
April 24: The government is preparing to increase revenue collection through the customs point to make up for the losses caused by the impact of…
April 24: The number of people infected with coronavirus has reached 47 in the country with confirmation of two new cases on Thursday (April…
April 24: The government hinted that it would take decision on lifting the lockdown after reviewing necessary concerns, including the steps taken by neighbouring India to control the spread of…
April 23: The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic induced economic crisis will cause remittances to Nepal decline by 14 percent in 2020 compared to USD 8.1 billion in 2019, according to a new World Bank report.…
April 23: The number of people facing acute food insecurity could nearly double this year to 265 million due to the economic fallout of COVID-19, the United Nations’ World Food Programme (WFP) said in a recent…
April 24: Hydropower companies no longer require separate licenses for survey and generation of electricity provided that the new law is endorsed by the…
April 23: Nepal Dairy Association (NDA) has said that milk vans have not been able to operate despite the government not preventing the operation of vehicles carrying essentials during the lockdown period.…
April 23: With three new confirmed cases of coronavirus in the country, the total number of people infected with COVID-19 has reached 45, Ministry of Health and Population said Wednesday (April…
April 23: CEO Insights, a renowned business magazine in India, has published the list of top 10 emerging startups in Nepal-2020.…
April 22: The World Bank has approved the work procedure prepared by the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security for the utilization of Rs 14 billion concessional loan announced by the World Bank under the Prime Minister Employment…
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After extension twice, the current lockdown is expiring on Monday (April 27). </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">A meeting of the task force headed by Chief Secretary Lok Darshan Regmi on Saturday recommended the full committee to extend the lockdown by another week.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Coordinator of the High Level Committee Ishwar Pokharel presented the recommendation of the task force to Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli the same day.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The task force has recommended extending the lockdown while relaxing the rules in some places with low risk of infection. A cabinet meeting scheduled later on Sunday (today) will take a formal decision regarding the lockdown.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The committee reviewed the lockdown from different angles, informed Narayan Prasad Bidari, secretary at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The government has been extending the lockdown after growing number of cases of coronavirus were reported in the country in recent days. Lockdown has proven to be effective to control the spread of coronavirus across the globe.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">As of Saturday, the confirmed cases of coronavirus has reached 49 in the country. Out of them, 12 patients have returned home after recovery, according to the Ministry of Health and Population.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-26', 'modified' => '2020-04-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11735', 'image' => '20200426113322_20191104092741_Clipboard01.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-26 11:32:43', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11982', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'WHO Removes Nepal from High-Risk Zone', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 26: The World Health Organisation (WHO) has removed Nepal from the high-risk zone of COVID-19 infection, the state-run national news agency RSS reported on Saturday (April 25). ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">April 26: The World Health Organisation (WHO) has removed Nepal from the high-risk zone of COVID-19 infection, the state-run national news agency RSS reported on Saturday (April 25). </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to RSS, the WHO has now placed it in the risk zone. The WHO’s latest assessment was based on efforts Nepal has taken in the prevention and containment of the deadly virus. </span></span><br /> <span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to joint spokesperson for the Ministry of Health and Population, Dr Samir Adhikari, Nepal was earlier assessed as highly vulnerable to COVID-19 due to the emergence of virus in China to the north and its open border with India to the south. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">However, Nepal was removed from the list based on measures it applied in the prevention, control and treatment of the virus, RSS further said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">It may be noted that Nepal has imposed a nationwide lockdown since March 24 and has also sealed its international borders including with India to stem the spread of virus. Nepal's decision to implement lockdown has proved to be a timely measure against the virus as it lessened the risk of imported cases, said Dr Adhikari. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-26', 'modified' => '2020-04-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11734', 'image' => '20200426111352_WHO.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-26 11:12:59', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11987', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Growing Attraction Towards Coronavirus Insurance', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 26: Covid-19 insurance is gradually gaining public attention. ', 'content' => '<h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">April 26: Covid-19 insurance is gradually gaining public attention. Insurance companies have started issuing insurance premium for Covid-19 coverage in Nepal from last Sunday, April 19. </span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Insurance Board of Nepal informed that the insurance companies have issued 9471 insurance premiums as of April 24 for covering coronavirus cases.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The insurance policies against coronavirus will cover family members and an individual. The companies have collected Rs 49.69 million insurance premium from the scheme, according to the Insurers Association.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The Insurance Board had issued this policy last week in collaboration with the Insurers Association due to the growing threat of corona virus in Nepal.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The insurance package is coordinated by Nepal Insurance Association and Shikhar Insurance is managing the insurance policy.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">According to statistics, Ajod Insurance has made the highest turnover for the Covid-19 insurance package. The company has sold 2667 insurance policies and collected Rs 997,000 insurance premium as of Friday. Likewise, Prudential Insurance has sold 2,158 premiums and collected Rs 914,000.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">IME Insurance has been able to insure 1,355 individuals. It has collected more than Rs 800,000 insurance premium. Shikhar Insurance has sold 1,073 insurance policies and collected Rs 625,000 premiums.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Other companies have sold less than 1,000 insurance policies. General Insurance, Oriental Insurance and Rastriya Bima have not been able to sell a single insurance premium for coronavirus so far.</span></span></h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""> </span></span></h1> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-26', 'modified' => '2020-04-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11733', 'image' => '20200426022909_1587852673.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-26 14:28:28', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11984', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Food Industries Urge Government to Create Conducive Environment for Running their Business ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 26: Even though the government has given permission to food industries to operate during lockdown, the operators of such industries have expressed concerns regarding lack of conducive environment for running their business.', 'content' => '<h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">April 26: Even though the government has given permission to food industries to operate during lockdown, the operators of such industries have expressed concerns regarding lack of conducive environment for running their business.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The stakeholders suggest that they may even have to shut down their industries if the government does not create a conducive environment for work.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Subodh Kumar Gupta, president of the Association of Nepalese Rice, Oil and Pulses Industries informed that the production capacity of the industries is declining day by day due to the inability to manage the daily essentials to run the industry.</span></span></h1> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">At present, none of the food industries in the country are capable to operate in their full capacity. Gupta informed that 40 percent of the existing industries are operating with 30 percent of their actual capacity.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The production has almost declined by half compared to normal days. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">“That’s why the government has to facilitate the industries, or else the industries would be closed,” Gupta said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">In most of the industries, about 60-70 per cent of the Nepali workers have returned home. Meanwhile, the workers from India who are unable to return home have stayed and are operating the industries. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Likewise, industrialists complained that they are running out of raw materials along with essential resources for production. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Avinash Bohara, a central member of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), said that the government has given permission for the operation of the food industry but operating the food industry alone is not enough. He suggested that other supporting industries like the ones that produce sacks, plastics and cartoons are also need to be run.</span></span></span></p> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""> </span></span></h1> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-26', 'modified' => '2020-04-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11732', 'image' => '20200426114633_Food-Processing-11-2-19.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-26 11:45:37', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11981', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Commercial Banks waiting for NRB Report on COVID-19 Impact', 'sub_title' => 'NBA Decides not to Implement CBFIN’s Decision', 'summary' => 'April 24: Nepal Bankers’ Association (NBA) has decided to wait for the report of Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) to study the impact of coronavirus on the economy before announcing any relief package. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">April 24: Nepal Bankers’ Association (NBA) has decided to wait for the report of Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) to study the impact of coronavirus on the economy before announcing any relief package. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">A video conference meeting of NBA, an umbrella body of commercial banks, on Thursday decided not to agree with the announcement of the </span>Confederation of Banks and Financial Institutions Nepal (CBFIN) to lower the interest rate. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">The meeting agreed to wait for the report prepared by a committee formed by the central bank to study the impact of COVID-19 before announcing any relief package, informed NBA President Bhuvan Dahal.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">“CBFIN should have given suggestion to the central bank instead of announcing relief package. We have already informed the confederation that we cannot implement its decision,” said Dahal.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">CBFIN, an umbrella organisation of commercial banks, development banks and financial institutions of the country, had on April 22 decided to charge one percent less interest on loans up to Rs 10 million from April 13 onward to small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs). </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">The confederation said that its members decided to lower the interest rate considering the impact of coronavirus on the economy and the borrowers.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">The confederation had also announced 10 percent discount on payment of interest within the month of Baishakh (mid-May). CBFIN said its members will also not slap any fine if the pending loans are cleared within mid-May. However, NBA has decided to wait for the decision of central bank before announcing any relief to their customers.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">However, NBA has already lowered the interest on deposit effective from April 13. <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The commercial banks had said a week ago that they would reduce the interests on loans only from mid-March after calculating the base rate.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"> </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-24', 'modified' => '2020-04-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11731', 'image' => '20200424115121_20200409123223_low-interest-rates.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-24 11:50:32', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11980', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Revenue Collection through Customs Points under Scrutiny', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 24: The government is preparing to increase revenue collection through the customs point to make up for the losses caused by the impact of COVID-19.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">April 24: The government is preparing to increase revenue collection through the customs point to make up for the losses caused by the impact of COVID-19.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The Ministry of Finance has issued an 18-point instruction to the Department of Customs to meet its target of revenue collection by preparing an alternative work plan.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Concluding that all the customs point have collected lower revenue than the set target, the ministry has instructed them to step up the revenue collection within the current fiscal year.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">After finding adequate stock of imported goods in the market, the government authorities are apprehensive that those goods might have been smuggled into the country. The ministry has instructed the department to collaborate with other government agencies and adopt a policy of interference in the market if the goods are getting access into the country through illegal channels. The ministry has demanded progress report in every seven days after monitoring the market for such goods.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The ministry believes that the goods imported in bulk through the customs points might have entered the country under the cover of something else. Government authorities suspect that the importers bring in expensive and branded goods declaring them to be of normal quality, thereby evading customs duty. The ministry has instructed the customs department to make sure such misappropriations do not take place.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Authorities expect an increase in revenue if they could ascertain the actual details of the goods declared by the importers. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The customs offices have been instructed to take action against the importers if the declaration made by them does not match with the specifications of the goods.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-24', 'modified' => '2020-04-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11730', 'image' => '20200424113254_20197_ICP-Birgunj-2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-24 11:32:19', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11978', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Number of COVID-19 Cases Reach 47 in Nepal', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 24: The number of people infected with coronavirus has reached 47 in the country with confirmation of two new cases on Thursday (April 23).', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">April 24: The number of people infected with coronavirus has reached 47 in the country with confirmation of two new cases on Thursday (April 23).</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">The Ministry of Health and Population confirmed the new cases during a regular press briefing.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">Spokesperson at the ministry Dr Bikash Devkota informed that a 55-year-old woman and 14-year-old boy have been diagnosed with the disease that has infected more than 2.6 million people worldwide.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"> Dr Devkota informed that swab samples of the woman from Udayapur tested and the boy from Janakpur positive at Kathmandu-based National Public Health Laboratory.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">Two coronavirus patients from Sun City Apartment who were undergoing treatment at Patan Hospital were discharged on Thursday. With this, the number of recovered cases has reached 9. The country still has 38 active cases, most of them in Udayapur.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">Dr Devkota informed that the health condition of all the infected patients is normal.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-24', 'modified' => '2020-04-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11729', 'image' => '20200424101132_49_13323_corona2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-24 10:10:58', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11977', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Likely to Extend Lockdown', 'sub_title' => 'Preparations Underway to Announce Next Year’s Budget ', 'summary' => 'April 24: The government hinted that it would take decision on lifting the lockdown after reviewing necessary concerns, including the steps taken by neighbouring India to control the spread of COVID-19.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">April 24: The government hinted that it would take decision on lifting the lockdown after reviewing necessary concerns, including the steps taken by neighbouring India to control the spread of COVID-19.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Government spokesperson Yuba Raj Khatiwada said that coronavirus is a pandemic and the Government of Nepal cannot take a unilateral decision in this matter of worldwide concern. The government had imposed the lockdown on March 24. The lockdown is expiring on April 27.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Speaking at a press conference organised on Thursday (April 23) to share the decisions taken by the cabinet, Finance Minister Khatiwada said that saving people’s lives was the government’s first priority.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to Khatiwada, the government is considering the measures taken by India to prevent the spread of coronavirus and Nepal’s preparedness to fight the pandemic by ensuring medical supplies, necessary infrastructures, people's awareness and social distancing before lifting the lockdown.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Minister Khatiwada made it clear that the lockdown could be extended if required.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">However, he said that the government would relax the restriction to some extent to allow industries providing basic needs to operate under certain criteria like maintaining physical distancing and proper hygiene.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Minister Khatiwada also added that the government is set to announce its policies and programmes as well as the annual budget of the next fiscal year in two phases.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">He said that the government will include short-term and mid-term programmes in the upcoming budget.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Meanwhile, the cabinet meeting also approved loan assistance of US$ 100 million fro the International Monetary Fund, informed Khatiwada.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-24', 'modified' => '2020-04-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11728', 'image' => '20200424100618_1587653428.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-24 10:04:53', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11976', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Sharp Decline in Remittance to Nepal in 2020: WB', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 23: The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic induced economic crisis will cause remittances to Nepal decline by 14 percent in 2020 compared to USD 8.1 billion in 2019, according to a new World Bank report. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:Arial">April 23: The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic induced economic crisis will cause remittances to Nepal decline by 14 percent in 2020 compared to USD 8.1 billion in 2019, according to a new World Bank report. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:Arial">In its ‘Migration and Development Brief 32: COVID-19 Crisis Through a Migration Lens’, the Washington DC-based multilateral agency projects that the South Asia region will see remittance inflow decreasing by 22.1 percent in 2020. The World Bank has said that this is the biggest slump of remittance to the region in the recent history. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:Arial">“In India, remittances are projected to fall by about 23 percent in 2020, to USD 64 billion – a striking contrast with the growth of 5.5 percent and receipts of USD 83 billion seen in 2019. In Pakistan, the projected decline is also about 23 percent, totaling about USD 17 billion, compared with a total of USD 22.5 billion in 2019, when remittances grew by 6.2 percent,” the report states. The report estimates that remittances to Bangladesh will dip by about 22 percent to USD 14 billion from USD 22 billion in 2019. Remittances to Sri Lanka are expected to decline by 19 percent this year. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:Arial">“The coronavirus</span><span style="font-family:"Cambria Math"">‐</span><span style="font-family:Arial">related global slowdown and travel restrictions will also affect migratory movements, and this is likely to keep remittances subdued even in 2021,” reads the report. According to the World Bank, the projected remittance growth of 5.8 percent in 2021 will keep total regional flows at about USD 115 billion. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">Globally, remittances will decline by about 20 percent this year. According to the report, remittances to low and middle-income countries (LMICs) are projected to fall by 19.7 percent to USD 445 billion, representing a loss of a crucial financing lifeline for many vulnerable households.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">The large decline in remittances flows in 2020 comes after remittances to LMICs reached a record USD 554 billion in 2019. The report highlights that even with the decline, remittance flows are expected to become even more important as a source of external financing for LMICs as the fall in foreign direct investment is expected to be larger (more than 35 percent). “In 2019, remittance flows to LMICs became larger than FDI, an important milestone for monitoring resource flows to developing countries,” says the report. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial"> “Remittances are a vital source of income for developing countries. The ongoing economic recession caused by COVID-19 is taking a severe toll on the ability to send money home and makes it all the more vital that we shorten the time to recovery for advanced economies,” a statement issued by the World Bank Group quoted the bank’s President David Malpass as saying. “Remittances help families afford food, healthcare, and basic needs. As the World Bank Group implements fast, broad action to support countries, we are working to keep remittance channels open and safeguard the poorest communities’ access to these most basic needs.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">According to the statement, the World Bank is assisting member states in monitoring the flow of remittances through various channels, the costs and convenience of sending money, and regulations to protect financial integrity that affect remittance flows. “It is working with the G20 countries and the global community to reduce remittance costs and improve financial inclusion for the poor,” says the bank. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">Remittance flows are expected to fall across all regions, most notably in Europe and Central Asia (27.5 percent), followed by Sub-Saharan Africa (23.1 percent), South Asia (22.1 percent), the Middle East and North Africa (19.6 percent), Latin America and the Caribbean (19.3 percent), and East Asia and the Pacific (13 percent).</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-23', 'modified' => '2020-04-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11727', 'image' => '20200423055719_pic(5).jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-23 17:56:30', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11975', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Global Hunger could Double due to COVID-19 Blow: UN', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 23: The number of people facing acute food insecurity could nearly double this year to 265 million due to the economic fallout of COVID-19, the United Nations’ World Food Programme (WFP) said in a recent statement.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">April 23: The number of people facing acute food insecurity could nearly double this year to 265 million due to the economic fallout of COVID-19, the United Nations’ World Food Programme (WFP) said in a recent statement.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">According to Reuters, the impact of lost tourism revenues, falling remittances and travel and other restrictions linked to the coronavirus pandemic are expected to leave some 130 million people acutely hungry this year, adding to around 135 million already in that category. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">“COVID-19 is potentially catastrophic for millions who are already hanging by a thread,” Reuters quoted Arif Husain, chief economist and director of research, assessment and monitoring at the World Food Programme (WFP), as saying. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">“We all need to come together to deal with this because if we don’t the cost will be too high - the global cost will be too high: many lost lives and many, many more lost livelihoods,” he told reporters at a virtual briefing in Geneva. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">According to the news agency, Husain said it was critical to act quickly in order to prevent people already living hand-to-mouth from selling their assets as it could take them years to become self-reliant again. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">In some cases, such as when farmers sell their ploughs or oxen, it could have knock-on effects for food production for years to come, he added. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">“These were the people we were concerned about,” he said, adding he was “really worried” about people living in countries with little or no government safety nets. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">“Acute food and livelihood crisis” is category three of five UN phases meaning a “critical lack of food access and above usual malnutrition”. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">Category 5 means mass starvation. UN officials did not give a geographical breakdown of the growing needs, but said that Africa was likely to be hardest hit, Reuters reported. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">WFP plans to pre-position food stocks over the coming months in anticipation of growing needs. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">Of those already deemed acutely hungry, many are in conflict zones such as Syria or in countries badly hit by the impact of climate change, according to a UN report. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><img alt="" src="/app/webroot/userfiles/images/s_Masciarelli_7082%202.jpg" style="height:533px; width:800px" /></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-23', 'modified' => '2020-04-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11726', 'image' => '20200423101517_wfp.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-23 10:14:10', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11979', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Cabinet Endorse Electricity Bill ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 24: Hydropower companies no longer require separate licenses for survey and generation of electricity provided that the new law is endorsed by the parliament.', 'content' => '<h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">April 24: Hydropower companies no longer require separate licenses for survey and generation of electricity provided that the new law is endorsed by the parliament.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The council of ministers has scrapped the provision of two separate licenses for the hydropower companies. A recent cabinet meeting took a decision to this effect by endorsing the Electricity Bill 2077. However, the bill is yet to be endorsed by the House of Representatives and the National Assembly. </span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">According to the proposed bill, hydropower companies can now acquire a single license for survey and electricity generation.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">In the bill also proposes issuing such license only on the basis of competition.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">According to the bill, all three levels of government will be eligible to grant the permits for generating electricity. The local government will be eligible to issue license for hydropower projects generating up to 3 MW of electricity and the state government will be allowed to permit license for projects generating up to 3-20 MW of electricity.</span></span></h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-24', 'modified' => '2020-04-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11725', 'image' => '20200424110929_20150811013038_ep3(5).jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-24 11:08:49', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11973', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Milk Consumption Down to 20 Percent', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 23: Nepal Dairy Association (NDA) has said that milk vans have not been able to operate despite the government not preventing the operation of vehicles carrying essentials during the lockdown period. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">April 23: Nepal Dairy Association (NDA) has said that milk vans have not been able to operate despite the government not preventing the operation of vehicles carrying essentials during the lockdown period. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">NDA general secretary Prahlad Dahal said except in Kathmandu, the milk vans have been prevented from operating in Chitwan, Butwal and Nepalgunj, among other cities. He said they are facing obstruction in the operation of milk tankers and even in selling milk to shops. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Dahal informed that vehicles carrying milk have been stopped and the helpers also beaten by police in some instances at New Road, Koteshwar and other places in Kathmandu. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">"We have not been provided with any permits. Every day, obstructions have been created to our friends and the milk delivery vans. A milk tanker coming to Kathmandu from Chitwan was stopped on the way and turned back. It is very difficult to run the dairy business with frequent hurdles in transporting milk and other dairy products," he complained. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to him, only 20 per cent of the total milk and milk products is being sold daily at present. Ghimire added that the dairy industry has incurred losses of Rs 2 billion due to the lockdown and products worth Rs 5 billion was in stock. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Meanwhile, the dairy industries have started distributing milk free of cost after a slump in its sale due to the lockdown. NDA said they started providing milk free of cost rather than dumping it. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">It is said milk is being distributed free at quarantine facilities and to the needy households, including the nursing mothers, in Budhanilkantha municipality of Kathmandu, at Damak of Jhapa and in Rupandehi. </span></span>-- RSS</span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-23', 'modified' => '2020-04-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11724', 'image' => '20200423093954_1542865405_16685959.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-23 09:39:07', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11972', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Health Ministry Confirms Three New Cases of Coronavirus', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 23: With three new confirmed cases of coronavirus in the country, the total number of people infected with COVID-19 has reached 45, Ministry of Health and Population said Wednesday (April 22).', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">April 23: With three new confirmed cases of coronavirus in the country, the total number of people infected with COVID-19 has reached 45, Ministry of Health and Population said Wednesday (April 22).</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">All three persons infected with coronavirus are male. The three persons tested positive for the disease during their swab test held at Dharan-based BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, said Dr Bikash Devkota, spokesperson at the Ministry of Health and Population. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to the ministry, a total of 40,431 suspects have been tested for COVID-19 across the country so far. This includes 9,011 through polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and 31420 through rapid diagnostic test (RDT) methods. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">A total of 8,595 people have been quarantined while 95 have been kept in isolation.</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-23', 'modified' => '2020-04-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11723', 'image' => '20200423093051_22_111.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-23 09:30:06', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11974', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'CEO Insights India publishes ‘Top 10 emerging startups in Nepal’ ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 23: CEO Insights, a renowned business magazine in India, has published the list of top 10 emerging startups in Nepal-2020. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">April 23: CEO Insights, a renowned business magazine in India, has published the list of top 10 emerging startups in Nepal-2020. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Startups from various sectors including trading, tourism, technology, recruitment and consulting have entered the list. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Asia Corporation, established in 2017, is the number one among the 10. The startup provides industrial paper, photocopy paper, animal feeds, mosquito nets, chemical fertilizer, overhaul and maintenance services for helicopters and AI-related products to public and private companies. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Similarly, other companies selected as top startups include Hamro Technology, a fintech firm; Himalayan Wonders, a travel startup; JATA digital, a digital marketing company; Mapleyak, a consulting firm; and Mero Network, a digital marketing startup. Similarly, My Career HR Solutions, a recruitment startup; Palm Mind, an application development-based startup; Sarvanam Software, a software development startup; and Vidinterest, an online video curation and discovery platform are others in the list of top 10 start-ups. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">“Asia Corporation is inclined towards core values and this is what helps us to operate efficiently and run smoothly,” said Sunil KC, founder of Asia Corporation in the April issue of CEO Insights magazine. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The magazine writes that the editorial board spoke to a large number of startups in Nepal and shortlisted them on the basis of innovative business ideas, cutting-edge offerings and unconditional customer support.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">“Investment is an area which needs huge attention. Apart from that incubation and other platforms from the government is the instant need of hour. With large markets in the neighboring countries, startups in Nepal can surely change the landscape of the country,” writes the editorial of the magazine.</span> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><img alt="" src="/app/webroot/userfiles/images/Nepal%20Startups%20PDF-5%281%29.jpg" style="height:768px; width:606px" /> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-23', 'modified' => '2020-04-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11722', 'image' => '20200423100348_098pgcover.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-23 10:02:30', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11971', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '‘World Bank Agrees to Release Concessional Loan for Youth Employment’', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 22: The World Bank has approved the work procedure prepared by the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security for the utilization of Rs 14 billion concessional loan announced by the World Bank under the Prime Minister Employment Programme', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Bangla MN"">April 22: The World Bank has approved the work procedure prepared by the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security for the utilization of Rs 14 billion concessional loan announced by the World Bank under the Prime Minister Employment Programme.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Bangla MN"">However, the amount will be mobilized only in the upcoming fiscal year. The government had signed an agreement with the World Bank for the concessional loan for a period of five years on November 24 last year. The agreement states that the government should have mobilized Rs 2 billion from the fund in the current fiscal year. However, the government was unable to spend the amount due to the lack of work procedure. But the government will be spending Rs 4 billion for youth employment in the upcoming fiscal year.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Bangla MN"">Joint Secretary at the PMEP Loknath Bhusal informed that the World Bank had set a condition that the fund could be utilized only after preparing the work procedure. He further said that the government was unable to prepare the work procedure due to which the World Bank refused to release Rs 2 billion allocated for the current fiscal year. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Bangla MN"">“However, we have reached an understanding with the World Bank to utilize that amount in the next fiscal year,” said Bhusal.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Bangla MN"">The work procedure aims to reduce the unemployment rate across the country by providing employment opportunities to jobless youths.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-22', 'modified' => '2020-04-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11721', 'image' => '20200422011836_ea579c.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-22 13:17:58', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = falseinclude - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 60 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
Warning (2): simplexml_load_file() [<a href='http://php.net/function.simplexml-load-file'>function.simplexml-load-file</a>]: I/O warning : failed to load external entity "" [APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 60]file not found!Code Context// $file = 'http://aabhiyan:QUVLg8Wzs2F7G9N7@nepalstock.com.np/api/indexdata.xml';if(!$xml = simplexml_load_file($file)){$viewFile = '/var/www/html/newbusinessage.com/app/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'articles' => array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ) ), 'current_user' => null, 'logged_in' => false ) $articles = array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11983', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Task Force Recommends Extending Lockdown by One Week', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 26: A task force formed by the High Level Coordination Committee to Control and Prevent Coronavirus has recommended the committee to extend the lockdown by a week.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">April 26: A task force formed by the High Level Coordination Committee to Control and Prevent Coronavirus has recommended the committee to extend the lockdown by a week. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The government had imposed the lockdown for the first time on March 24 to prevent the spread of coronavirus. After extension twice, the current lockdown is expiring on Monday (April 27). </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">A meeting of the task force headed by Chief Secretary Lok Darshan Regmi on Saturday recommended the full committee to extend the lockdown by another week.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Coordinator of the High Level Committee Ishwar Pokharel presented the recommendation of the task force to Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli the same day.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The task force has recommended extending the lockdown while relaxing the rules in some places with low risk of infection. A cabinet meeting scheduled later on Sunday (today) will take a formal decision regarding the lockdown.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The committee reviewed the lockdown from different angles, informed Narayan Prasad Bidari, secretary at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The government has been extending the lockdown after growing number of cases of coronavirus were reported in the country in recent days. Lockdown has proven to be effective to control the spread of coronavirus across the globe.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">As of Saturday, the confirmed cases of coronavirus has reached 49 in the country. Out of them, 12 patients have returned home after recovery, according to the Ministry of Health and Population.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-26', 'modified' => '2020-04-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11735', 'image' => '20200426113322_20191104092741_Clipboard01.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-26 11:32:43', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11982', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'WHO Removes Nepal from High-Risk Zone', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 26: The World Health Organisation (WHO) has removed Nepal from the high-risk zone of COVID-19 infection, the state-run national news agency RSS reported on Saturday (April 25). ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">April 26: The World Health Organisation (WHO) has removed Nepal from the high-risk zone of COVID-19 infection, the state-run national news agency RSS reported on Saturday (April 25). </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to RSS, the WHO has now placed it in the risk zone. The WHO’s latest assessment was based on efforts Nepal has taken in the prevention and containment of the deadly virus. </span></span><br /> <span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to joint spokesperson for the Ministry of Health and Population, Dr Samir Adhikari, Nepal was earlier assessed as highly vulnerable to COVID-19 due to the emergence of virus in China to the north and its open border with India to the south. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">However, Nepal was removed from the list based on measures it applied in the prevention, control and treatment of the virus, RSS further said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">It may be noted that Nepal has imposed a nationwide lockdown since March 24 and has also sealed its international borders including with India to stem the spread of virus. Nepal's decision to implement lockdown has proved to be a timely measure against the virus as it lessened the risk of imported cases, said Dr Adhikari. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-26', 'modified' => '2020-04-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11734', 'image' => '20200426111352_WHO.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-26 11:12:59', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11987', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Growing Attraction Towards Coronavirus Insurance', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 26: Covid-19 insurance is gradually gaining public attention. ', 'content' => '<h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">April 26: Covid-19 insurance is gradually gaining public attention. Insurance companies have started issuing insurance premium for Covid-19 coverage in Nepal from last Sunday, April 19. </span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Insurance Board of Nepal informed that the insurance companies have issued 9471 insurance premiums as of April 24 for covering coronavirus cases.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The insurance policies against coronavirus will cover family members and an individual. The companies have collected Rs 49.69 million insurance premium from the scheme, according to the Insurers Association.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The Insurance Board had issued this policy last week in collaboration with the Insurers Association due to the growing threat of corona virus in Nepal.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The insurance package is coordinated by Nepal Insurance Association and Shikhar Insurance is managing the insurance policy.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">According to statistics, Ajod Insurance has made the highest turnover for the Covid-19 insurance package. The company has sold 2667 insurance policies and collected Rs 997,000 insurance premium as of Friday. Likewise, Prudential Insurance has sold 2,158 premiums and collected Rs 914,000.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">IME Insurance has been able to insure 1,355 individuals. It has collected more than Rs 800,000 insurance premium. Shikhar Insurance has sold 1,073 insurance policies and collected Rs 625,000 premiums.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Other companies have sold less than 1,000 insurance policies. General Insurance, Oriental Insurance and Rastriya Bima have not been able to sell a single insurance premium for coronavirus so far.</span></span></h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""> </span></span></h1> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-26', 'modified' => '2020-04-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11733', 'image' => '20200426022909_1587852673.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-26 14:28:28', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11984', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Food Industries Urge Government to Create Conducive Environment for Running their Business ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 26: Even though the government has given permission to food industries to operate during lockdown, the operators of such industries have expressed concerns regarding lack of conducive environment for running their business.', 'content' => '<h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">April 26: Even though the government has given permission to food industries to operate during lockdown, the operators of such industries have expressed concerns regarding lack of conducive environment for running their business.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The stakeholders suggest that they may even have to shut down their industries if the government does not create a conducive environment for work.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Subodh Kumar Gupta, president of the Association of Nepalese Rice, Oil and Pulses Industries informed that the production capacity of the industries is declining day by day due to the inability to manage the daily essentials to run the industry.</span></span></h1> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">At present, none of the food industries in the country are capable to operate in their full capacity. Gupta informed that 40 percent of the existing industries are operating with 30 percent of their actual capacity.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The production has almost declined by half compared to normal days. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">“That’s why the government has to facilitate the industries, or else the industries would be closed,” Gupta said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">In most of the industries, about 60-70 per cent of the Nepali workers have returned home. Meanwhile, the workers from India who are unable to return home have stayed and are operating the industries. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Likewise, industrialists complained that they are running out of raw materials along with essential resources for production. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Avinash Bohara, a central member of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), said that the government has given permission for the operation of the food industry but operating the food industry alone is not enough. He suggested that other supporting industries like the ones that produce sacks, plastics and cartoons are also need to be run.</span></span></span></p> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""> </span></span></h1> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-26', 'modified' => '2020-04-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11732', 'image' => '20200426114633_Food-Processing-11-2-19.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-26 11:45:37', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11981', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Commercial Banks waiting for NRB Report on COVID-19 Impact', 'sub_title' => 'NBA Decides not to Implement CBFIN’s Decision', 'summary' => 'April 24: Nepal Bankers’ Association (NBA) has decided to wait for the report of Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) to study the impact of coronavirus on the economy before announcing any relief package. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">April 24: Nepal Bankers’ Association (NBA) has decided to wait for the report of Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) to study the impact of coronavirus on the economy before announcing any relief package. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">A video conference meeting of NBA, an umbrella body of commercial banks, on Thursday decided not to agree with the announcement of the </span>Confederation of Banks and Financial Institutions Nepal (CBFIN) to lower the interest rate. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">The meeting agreed to wait for the report prepared by a committee formed by the central bank to study the impact of COVID-19 before announcing any relief package, informed NBA President Bhuvan Dahal.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">“CBFIN should have given suggestion to the central bank instead of announcing relief package. We have already informed the confederation that we cannot implement its decision,” said Dahal.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">CBFIN, an umbrella organisation of commercial banks, development banks and financial institutions of the country, had on April 22 decided to charge one percent less interest on loans up to Rs 10 million from April 13 onward to small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs). </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">The confederation said that its members decided to lower the interest rate considering the impact of coronavirus on the economy and the borrowers.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">The confederation had also announced 10 percent discount on payment of interest within the month of Baishakh (mid-May). CBFIN said its members will also not slap any fine if the pending loans are cleared within mid-May. However, NBA has decided to wait for the decision of central bank before announcing any relief to their customers.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">However, NBA has already lowered the interest on deposit effective from April 13. <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The commercial banks had said a week ago that they would reduce the interests on loans only from mid-March after calculating the base rate.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"> </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-24', 'modified' => '2020-04-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11731', 'image' => '20200424115121_20200409123223_low-interest-rates.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-24 11:50:32', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11980', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Revenue Collection through Customs Points under Scrutiny', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 24: The government is preparing to increase revenue collection through the customs point to make up for the losses caused by the impact of COVID-19.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">April 24: The government is preparing to increase revenue collection through the customs point to make up for the losses caused by the impact of COVID-19.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The Ministry of Finance has issued an 18-point instruction to the Department of Customs to meet its target of revenue collection by preparing an alternative work plan.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Concluding that all the customs point have collected lower revenue than the set target, the ministry has instructed them to step up the revenue collection within the current fiscal year.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">After finding adequate stock of imported goods in the market, the government authorities are apprehensive that those goods might have been smuggled into the country. The ministry has instructed the department to collaborate with other government agencies and adopt a policy of interference in the market if the goods are getting access into the country through illegal channels. The ministry has demanded progress report in every seven days after monitoring the market for such goods.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The ministry believes that the goods imported in bulk through the customs points might have entered the country under the cover of something else. Government authorities suspect that the importers bring in expensive and branded goods declaring them to be of normal quality, thereby evading customs duty. The ministry has instructed the customs department to make sure such misappropriations do not take place.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Authorities expect an increase in revenue if they could ascertain the actual details of the goods declared by the importers. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The customs offices have been instructed to take action against the importers if the declaration made by them does not match with the specifications of the goods.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-24', 'modified' => '2020-04-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11730', 'image' => '20200424113254_20197_ICP-Birgunj-2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-24 11:32:19', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11978', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Number of COVID-19 Cases Reach 47 in Nepal', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 24: The number of people infected with coronavirus has reached 47 in the country with confirmation of two new cases on Thursday (April 23).', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">April 24: The number of people infected with coronavirus has reached 47 in the country with confirmation of two new cases on Thursday (April 23).</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">The Ministry of Health and Population confirmed the new cases during a regular press briefing.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">Spokesperson at the ministry Dr Bikash Devkota informed that a 55-year-old woman and 14-year-old boy have been diagnosed with the disease that has infected more than 2.6 million people worldwide.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"> Dr Devkota informed that swab samples of the woman from Udayapur tested and the boy from Janakpur positive at Kathmandu-based National Public Health Laboratory.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">Two coronavirus patients from Sun City Apartment who were undergoing treatment at Patan Hospital were discharged on Thursday. With this, the number of recovered cases has reached 9. The country still has 38 active cases, most of them in Udayapur.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">Dr Devkota informed that the health condition of all the infected patients is normal.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-24', 'modified' => '2020-04-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11729', 'image' => '20200424101132_49_13323_corona2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-24 10:10:58', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11977', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Likely to Extend Lockdown', 'sub_title' => 'Preparations Underway to Announce Next Year’s Budget ', 'summary' => 'April 24: The government hinted that it would take decision on lifting the lockdown after reviewing necessary concerns, including the steps taken by neighbouring India to control the spread of COVID-19.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">April 24: The government hinted that it would take decision on lifting the lockdown after reviewing necessary concerns, including the steps taken by neighbouring India to control the spread of COVID-19.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Government spokesperson Yuba Raj Khatiwada said that coronavirus is a pandemic and the Government of Nepal cannot take a unilateral decision in this matter of worldwide concern. The government had imposed the lockdown on March 24. The lockdown is expiring on April 27.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Speaking at a press conference organised on Thursday (April 23) to share the decisions taken by the cabinet, Finance Minister Khatiwada said that saving people’s lives was the government’s first priority.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to Khatiwada, the government is considering the measures taken by India to prevent the spread of coronavirus and Nepal’s preparedness to fight the pandemic by ensuring medical supplies, necessary infrastructures, people's awareness and social distancing before lifting the lockdown.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Minister Khatiwada made it clear that the lockdown could be extended if required.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">However, he said that the government would relax the restriction to some extent to allow industries providing basic needs to operate under certain criteria like maintaining physical distancing and proper hygiene.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Minister Khatiwada also added that the government is set to announce its policies and programmes as well as the annual budget of the next fiscal year in two phases.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">He said that the government will include short-term and mid-term programmes in the upcoming budget.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Meanwhile, the cabinet meeting also approved loan assistance of US$ 100 million fro the International Monetary Fund, informed Khatiwada.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-24', 'modified' => '2020-04-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11728', 'image' => '20200424100618_1587653428.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-24 10:04:53', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11976', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Sharp Decline in Remittance to Nepal in 2020: WB', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 23: The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic induced economic crisis will cause remittances to Nepal decline by 14 percent in 2020 compared to USD 8.1 billion in 2019, according to a new World Bank report. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:Arial">April 23: The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic induced economic crisis will cause remittances to Nepal decline by 14 percent in 2020 compared to USD 8.1 billion in 2019, according to a new World Bank report. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:Arial">In its ‘Migration and Development Brief 32: COVID-19 Crisis Through a Migration Lens’, the Washington DC-based multilateral agency projects that the South Asia region will see remittance inflow decreasing by 22.1 percent in 2020. The World Bank has said that this is the biggest slump of remittance to the region in the recent history. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:Arial">“In India, remittances are projected to fall by about 23 percent in 2020, to USD 64 billion – a striking contrast with the growth of 5.5 percent and receipts of USD 83 billion seen in 2019. In Pakistan, the projected decline is also about 23 percent, totaling about USD 17 billion, compared with a total of USD 22.5 billion in 2019, when remittances grew by 6.2 percent,” the report states. The report estimates that remittances to Bangladesh will dip by about 22 percent to USD 14 billion from USD 22 billion in 2019. Remittances to Sri Lanka are expected to decline by 19 percent this year. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:Arial">“The coronavirus</span><span style="font-family:"Cambria Math"">‐</span><span style="font-family:Arial">related global slowdown and travel restrictions will also affect migratory movements, and this is likely to keep remittances subdued even in 2021,” reads the report. According to the World Bank, the projected remittance growth of 5.8 percent in 2021 will keep total regional flows at about USD 115 billion. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">Globally, remittances will decline by about 20 percent this year. According to the report, remittances to low and middle-income countries (LMICs) are projected to fall by 19.7 percent to USD 445 billion, representing a loss of a crucial financing lifeline for many vulnerable households.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">The large decline in remittances flows in 2020 comes after remittances to LMICs reached a record USD 554 billion in 2019. The report highlights that even with the decline, remittance flows are expected to become even more important as a source of external financing for LMICs as the fall in foreign direct investment is expected to be larger (more than 35 percent). “In 2019, remittance flows to LMICs became larger than FDI, an important milestone for monitoring resource flows to developing countries,” says the report. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial"> “Remittances are a vital source of income for developing countries. The ongoing economic recession caused by COVID-19 is taking a severe toll on the ability to send money home and makes it all the more vital that we shorten the time to recovery for advanced economies,” a statement issued by the World Bank Group quoted the bank’s President David Malpass as saying. “Remittances help families afford food, healthcare, and basic needs. As the World Bank Group implements fast, broad action to support countries, we are working to keep remittance channels open and safeguard the poorest communities’ access to these most basic needs.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">According to the statement, the World Bank is assisting member states in monitoring the flow of remittances through various channels, the costs and convenience of sending money, and regulations to protect financial integrity that affect remittance flows. “It is working with the G20 countries and the global community to reduce remittance costs and improve financial inclusion for the poor,” says the bank. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">Remittance flows are expected to fall across all regions, most notably in Europe and Central Asia (27.5 percent), followed by Sub-Saharan Africa (23.1 percent), South Asia (22.1 percent), the Middle East and North Africa (19.6 percent), Latin America and the Caribbean (19.3 percent), and East Asia and the Pacific (13 percent).</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-23', 'modified' => '2020-04-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11727', 'image' => '20200423055719_pic(5).jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-23 17:56:30', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11975', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Global Hunger could Double due to COVID-19 Blow: UN', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 23: The number of people facing acute food insecurity could nearly double this year to 265 million due to the economic fallout of COVID-19, the United Nations’ World Food Programme (WFP) said in a recent statement.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">April 23: The number of people facing acute food insecurity could nearly double this year to 265 million due to the economic fallout of COVID-19, the United Nations’ World Food Programme (WFP) said in a recent statement.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">According to Reuters, the impact of lost tourism revenues, falling remittances and travel and other restrictions linked to the coronavirus pandemic are expected to leave some 130 million people acutely hungry this year, adding to around 135 million already in that category. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">“COVID-19 is potentially catastrophic for millions who are already hanging by a thread,” Reuters quoted Arif Husain, chief economist and director of research, assessment and monitoring at the World Food Programme (WFP), as saying. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">“We all need to come together to deal with this because if we don’t the cost will be too high - the global cost will be too high: many lost lives and many, many more lost livelihoods,” he told reporters at a virtual briefing in Geneva. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">According to the news agency, Husain said it was critical to act quickly in order to prevent people already living hand-to-mouth from selling their assets as it could take them years to become self-reliant again. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">In some cases, such as when farmers sell their ploughs or oxen, it could have knock-on effects for food production for years to come, he added. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">“These were the people we were concerned about,” he said, adding he was “really worried” about people living in countries with little or no government safety nets. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">“Acute food and livelihood crisis” is category three of five UN phases meaning a “critical lack of food access and above usual malnutrition”. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">Category 5 means mass starvation. UN officials did not give a geographical breakdown of the growing needs, but said that Africa was likely to be hardest hit, Reuters reported. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">WFP plans to pre-position food stocks over the coming months in anticipation of growing needs. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">Of those already deemed acutely hungry, many are in conflict zones such as Syria or in countries badly hit by the impact of climate change, according to a UN report. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><img alt="" src="/app/webroot/userfiles/images/s_Masciarelli_7082%202.jpg" style="height:533px; width:800px" /></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-23', 'modified' => '2020-04-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11726', 'image' => '20200423101517_wfp.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-23 10:14:10', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11979', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Cabinet Endorse Electricity Bill ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 24: Hydropower companies no longer require separate licenses for survey and generation of electricity provided that the new law is endorsed by the parliament.', 'content' => '<h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">April 24: Hydropower companies no longer require separate licenses for survey and generation of electricity provided that the new law is endorsed by the parliament.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The council of ministers has scrapped the provision of two separate licenses for the hydropower companies. A recent cabinet meeting took a decision to this effect by endorsing the Electricity Bill 2077. However, the bill is yet to be endorsed by the House of Representatives and the National Assembly. </span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">According to the proposed bill, hydropower companies can now acquire a single license for survey and electricity generation.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">In the bill also proposes issuing such license only on the basis of competition.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">According to the bill, all three levels of government will be eligible to grant the permits for generating electricity. The local government will be eligible to issue license for hydropower projects generating up to 3 MW of electricity and the state government will be allowed to permit license for projects generating up to 3-20 MW of electricity.</span></span></h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-24', 'modified' => '2020-04-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11725', 'image' => '20200424110929_20150811013038_ep3(5).jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-24 11:08:49', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11973', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Milk Consumption Down to 20 Percent', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 23: Nepal Dairy Association (NDA) has said that milk vans have not been able to operate despite the government not preventing the operation of vehicles carrying essentials during the lockdown period. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">April 23: Nepal Dairy Association (NDA) has said that milk vans have not been able to operate despite the government not preventing the operation of vehicles carrying essentials during the lockdown period. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">NDA general secretary Prahlad Dahal said except in Kathmandu, the milk vans have been prevented from operating in Chitwan, Butwal and Nepalgunj, among other cities. He said they are facing obstruction in the operation of milk tankers and even in selling milk to shops. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Dahal informed that vehicles carrying milk have been stopped and the helpers also beaten by police in some instances at New Road, Koteshwar and other places in Kathmandu. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">"We have not been provided with any permits. Every day, obstructions have been created to our friends and the milk delivery vans. A milk tanker coming to Kathmandu from Chitwan was stopped on the way and turned back. It is very difficult to run the dairy business with frequent hurdles in transporting milk and other dairy products," he complained. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to him, only 20 per cent of the total milk and milk products is being sold daily at present. Ghimire added that the dairy industry has incurred losses of Rs 2 billion due to the lockdown and products worth Rs 5 billion was in stock. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Meanwhile, the dairy industries have started distributing milk free of cost after a slump in its sale due to the lockdown. NDA said they started providing milk free of cost rather than dumping it. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">It is said milk is being distributed free at quarantine facilities and to the needy households, including the nursing mothers, in Budhanilkantha municipality of Kathmandu, at Damak of Jhapa and in Rupandehi. </span></span>-- RSS</span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-23', 'modified' => '2020-04-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11724', 'image' => '20200423093954_1542865405_16685959.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-23 09:39:07', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11972', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Health Ministry Confirms Three New Cases of Coronavirus', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 23: With three new confirmed cases of coronavirus in the country, the total number of people infected with COVID-19 has reached 45, Ministry of Health and Population said Wednesday (April 22).', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">April 23: With three new confirmed cases of coronavirus in the country, the total number of people infected with COVID-19 has reached 45, Ministry of Health and Population said Wednesday (April 22).</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">All three persons infected with coronavirus are male. The three persons tested positive for the disease during their swab test held at Dharan-based BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, said Dr Bikash Devkota, spokesperson at the Ministry of Health and Population. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to the ministry, a total of 40,431 suspects have been tested for COVID-19 across the country so far. This includes 9,011 through polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and 31420 through rapid diagnostic test (RDT) methods. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">A total of 8,595 people have been quarantined while 95 have been kept in isolation.</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-23', 'modified' => '2020-04-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11723', 'image' => '20200423093051_22_111.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-23 09:30:06', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11974', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'CEO Insights India publishes ‘Top 10 emerging startups in Nepal’ ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 23: CEO Insights, a renowned business magazine in India, has published the list of top 10 emerging startups in Nepal-2020. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">April 23: CEO Insights, a renowned business magazine in India, has published the list of top 10 emerging startups in Nepal-2020. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Startups from various sectors including trading, tourism, technology, recruitment and consulting have entered the list. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Asia Corporation, established in 2017, is the number one among the 10. The startup provides industrial paper, photocopy paper, animal feeds, mosquito nets, chemical fertilizer, overhaul and maintenance services for helicopters and AI-related products to public and private companies. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Similarly, other companies selected as top startups include Hamro Technology, a fintech firm; Himalayan Wonders, a travel startup; JATA digital, a digital marketing company; Mapleyak, a consulting firm; and Mero Network, a digital marketing startup. Similarly, My Career HR Solutions, a recruitment startup; Palm Mind, an application development-based startup; Sarvanam Software, a software development startup; and Vidinterest, an online video curation and discovery platform are others in the list of top 10 start-ups. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">“Asia Corporation is inclined towards core values and this is what helps us to operate efficiently and run smoothly,” said Sunil KC, founder of Asia Corporation in the April issue of CEO Insights magazine. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The magazine writes that the editorial board spoke to a large number of startups in Nepal and shortlisted them on the basis of innovative business ideas, cutting-edge offerings and unconditional customer support.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">“Investment is an area which needs huge attention. Apart from that incubation and other platforms from the government is the instant need of hour. With large markets in the neighboring countries, startups in Nepal can surely change the landscape of the country,” writes the editorial of the magazine.</span> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><img alt="" src="/app/webroot/userfiles/images/Nepal%20Startups%20PDF-5%281%29.jpg" style="height:768px; width:606px" /> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-23', 'modified' => '2020-04-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11722', 'image' => '20200423100348_098pgcover.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-23 10:02:30', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11971', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '‘World Bank Agrees to Release Concessional Loan for Youth Employment’', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 22: The World Bank has approved the work procedure prepared by the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security for the utilization of Rs 14 billion concessional loan announced by the World Bank under the Prime Minister Employment Programme', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Bangla MN"">April 22: The World Bank has approved the work procedure prepared by the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security for the utilization of Rs 14 billion concessional loan announced by the World Bank under the Prime Minister Employment Programme.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Bangla MN"">However, the amount will be mobilized only in the upcoming fiscal year. The government had signed an agreement with the World Bank for the concessional loan for a period of five years on November 24 last year. The agreement states that the government should have mobilized Rs 2 billion from the fund in the current fiscal year. However, the government was unable to spend the amount due to the lack of work procedure. But the government will be spending Rs 4 billion for youth employment in the upcoming fiscal year.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Bangla MN"">Joint Secretary at the PMEP Loknath Bhusal informed that the World Bank had set a condition that the fund could be utilized only after preparing the work procedure. He further said that the government was unable to prepare the work procedure due to which the World Bank refused to release Rs 2 billion allocated for the current fiscal year. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Bangla MN"">“However, we have reached an understanding with the World Bank to utilize that amount in the next fiscal year,” said Bhusal.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Bangla MN"">The work procedure aims to reduce the unemployment rate across the country by providing employment opportunities to jobless youths.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-22', 'modified' => '2020-04-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11721', 'image' => '20200422011836_ea579c.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-22 13:17:58', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = falsesimplexml_load_file - [internal], line ?? include - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 60 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
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After extension twice, the current lockdown is expiring on Monday (April 27). </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">A meeting of the task force headed by Chief Secretary Lok Darshan Regmi on Saturday recommended the full committee to extend the lockdown by another week.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Coordinator of the High Level Committee Ishwar Pokharel presented the recommendation of the task force to Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli the same day.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The task force has recommended extending the lockdown while relaxing the rules in some places with low risk of infection. A cabinet meeting scheduled later on Sunday (today) will take a formal decision regarding the lockdown.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The committee reviewed the lockdown from different angles, informed Narayan Prasad Bidari, secretary at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The government has been extending the lockdown after growing number of cases of coronavirus were reported in the country in recent days. Lockdown has proven to be effective to control the spread of coronavirus across the globe.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">As of Saturday, the confirmed cases of coronavirus has reached 49 in the country. Out of them, 12 patients have returned home after recovery, according to the Ministry of Health and Population.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-26', 'modified' => '2020-04-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11735', 'image' => '20200426113322_20191104092741_Clipboard01.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-26 11:32:43', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11982', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'WHO Removes Nepal from High-Risk Zone', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 26: The World Health Organisation (WHO) has removed Nepal from the high-risk zone of COVID-19 infection, the state-run national news agency RSS reported on Saturday (April 25). ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">April 26: The World Health Organisation (WHO) has removed Nepal from the high-risk zone of COVID-19 infection, the state-run national news agency RSS reported on Saturday (April 25). </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to RSS, the WHO has now placed it in the risk zone. The WHO’s latest assessment was based on efforts Nepal has taken in the prevention and containment of the deadly virus. </span></span><br /> <span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to joint spokesperson for the Ministry of Health and Population, Dr Samir Adhikari, Nepal was earlier assessed as highly vulnerable to COVID-19 due to the emergence of virus in China to the north and its open border with India to the south. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">However, Nepal was removed from the list based on measures it applied in the prevention, control and treatment of the virus, RSS further said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">It may be noted that Nepal has imposed a nationwide lockdown since March 24 and has also sealed its international borders including with India to stem the spread of virus. Nepal's decision to implement lockdown has proved to be a timely measure against the virus as it lessened the risk of imported cases, said Dr Adhikari. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-26', 'modified' => '2020-04-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11734', 'image' => '20200426111352_WHO.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-26 11:12:59', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11987', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Growing Attraction Towards Coronavirus Insurance', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 26: Covid-19 insurance is gradually gaining public attention. ', 'content' => '<h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">April 26: Covid-19 insurance is gradually gaining public attention. Insurance companies have started issuing insurance premium for Covid-19 coverage in Nepal from last Sunday, April 19. </span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Insurance Board of Nepal informed that the insurance companies have issued 9471 insurance premiums as of April 24 for covering coronavirus cases.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The insurance policies against coronavirus will cover family members and an individual. The companies have collected Rs 49.69 million insurance premium from the scheme, according to the Insurers Association.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The Insurance Board had issued this policy last week in collaboration with the Insurers Association due to the growing threat of corona virus in Nepal.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The insurance package is coordinated by Nepal Insurance Association and Shikhar Insurance is managing the insurance policy.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">According to statistics, Ajod Insurance has made the highest turnover for the Covid-19 insurance package. The company has sold 2667 insurance policies and collected Rs 997,000 insurance premium as of Friday. Likewise, Prudential Insurance has sold 2,158 premiums and collected Rs 914,000.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">IME Insurance has been able to insure 1,355 individuals. It has collected more than Rs 800,000 insurance premium. Shikhar Insurance has sold 1,073 insurance policies and collected Rs 625,000 premiums.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Other companies have sold less than 1,000 insurance policies. General Insurance, Oriental Insurance and Rastriya Bima have not been able to sell a single insurance premium for coronavirus so far.</span></span></h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""> </span></span></h1> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-26', 'modified' => '2020-04-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11733', 'image' => '20200426022909_1587852673.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-26 14:28:28', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11984', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Food Industries Urge Government to Create Conducive Environment for Running their Business ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 26: Even though the government has given permission to food industries to operate during lockdown, the operators of such industries have expressed concerns regarding lack of conducive environment for running their business.', 'content' => '<h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">April 26: Even though the government has given permission to food industries to operate during lockdown, the operators of such industries have expressed concerns regarding lack of conducive environment for running their business.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The stakeholders suggest that they may even have to shut down their industries if the government does not create a conducive environment for work.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Subodh Kumar Gupta, president of the Association of Nepalese Rice, Oil and Pulses Industries informed that the production capacity of the industries is declining day by day due to the inability to manage the daily essentials to run the industry.</span></span></h1> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">At present, none of the food industries in the country are capable to operate in their full capacity. Gupta informed that 40 percent of the existing industries are operating with 30 percent of their actual capacity.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The production has almost declined by half compared to normal days. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">“That’s why the government has to facilitate the industries, or else the industries would be closed,” Gupta said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">In most of the industries, about 60-70 per cent of the Nepali workers have returned home. Meanwhile, the workers from India who are unable to return home have stayed and are operating the industries. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Likewise, industrialists complained that they are running out of raw materials along with essential resources for production. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Avinash Bohara, a central member of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), said that the government has given permission for the operation of the food industry but operating the food industry alone is not enough. He suggested that other supporting industries like the ones that produce sacks, plastics and cartoons are also need to be run.</span></span></span></p> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""> </span></span></h1> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-26', 'modified' => '2020-04-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11732', 'image' => '20200426114633_Food-Processing-11-2-19.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-26 11:45:37', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11981', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Commercial Banks waiting for NRB Report on COVID-19 Impact', 'sub_title' => 'NBA Decides not to Implement CBFIN’s Decision', 'summary' => 'April 24: Nepal Bankers’ Association (NBA) has decided to wait for the report of Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) to study the impact of coronavirus on the economy before announcing any relief package. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">April 24: Nepal Bankers’ Association (NBA) has decided to wait for the report of Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) to study the impact of coronavirus on the economy before announcing any relief package. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">A video conference meeting of NBA, an umbrella body of commercial banks, on Thursday decided not to agree with the announcement of the </span>Confederation of Banks and Financial Institutions Nepal (CBFIN) to lower the interest rate. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">The meeting agreed to wait for the report prepared by a committee formed by the central bank to study the impact of COVID-19 before announcing any relief package, informed NBA President Bhuvan Dahal.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">“CBFIN should have given suggestion to the central bank instead of announcing relief package. We have already informed the confederation that we cannot implement its decision,” said Dahal.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">CBFIN, an umbrella organisation of commercial banks, development banks and financial institutions of the country, had on April 22 decided to charge one percent less interest on loans up to Rs 10 million from April 13 onward to small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs). </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">The confederation said that its members decided to lower the interest rate considering the impact of coronavirus on the economy and the borrowers.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">The confederation had also announced 10 percent discount on payment of interest within the month of Baishakh (mid-May). CBFIN said its members will also not slap any fine if the pending loans are cleared within mid-May. However, NBA has decided to wait for the decision of central bank before announcing any relief to their customers.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">However, NBA has already lowered the interest on deposit effective from April 13. <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The commercial banks had said a week ago that they would reduce the interests on loans only from mid-March after calculating the base rate.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"> </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-24', 'modified' => '2020-04-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11731', 'image' => '20200424115121_20200409123223_low-interest-rates.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-24 11:50:32', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11980', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Revenue Collection through Customs Points under Scrutiny', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 24: The government is preparing to increase revenue collection through the customs point to make up for the losses caused by the impact of COVID-19.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">April 24: The government is preparing to increase revenue collection through the customs point to make up for the losses caused by the impact of COVID-19.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The Ministry of Finance has issued an 18-point instruction to the Department of Customs to meet its target of revenue collection by preparing an alternative work plan.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Concluding that all the customs point have collected lower revenue than the set target, the ministry has instructed them to step up the revenue collection within the current fiscal year.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">After finding adequate stock of imported goods in the market, the government authorities are apprehensive that those goods might have been smuggled into the country. The ministry has instructed the department to collaborate with other government agencies and adopt a policy of interference in the market if the goods are getting access into the country through illegal channels. The ministry has demanded progress report in every seven days after monitoring the market for such goods.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The ministry believes that the goods imported in bulk through the customs points might have entered the country under the cover of something else. Government authorities suspect that the importers bring in expensive and branded goods declaring them to be of normal quality, thereby evading customs duty. The ministry has instructed the customs department to make sure such misappropriations do not take place.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Authorities expect an increase in revenue if they could ascertain the actual details of the goods declared by the importers. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The customs offices have been instructed to take action against the importers if the declaration made by them does not match with the specifications of the goods.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-24', 'modified' => '2020-04-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11730', 'image' => '20200424113254_20197_ICP-Birgunj-2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-24 11:32:19', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11978', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Number of COVID-19 Cases Reach 47 in Nepal', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 24: The number of people infected with coronavirus has reached 47 in the country with confirmation of two new cases on Thursday (April 23).', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">April 24: The number of people infected with coronavirus has reached 47 in the country with confirmation of two new cases on Thursday (April 23).</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">The Ministry of Health and Population confirmed the new cases during a regular press briefing.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">Spokesperson at the ministry Dr Bikash Devkota informed that a 55-year-old woman and 14-year-old boy have been diagnosed with the disease that has infected more than 2.6 million people worldwide.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"> Dr Devkota informed that swab samples of the woman from Udayapur tested and the boy from Janakpur positive at Kathmandu-based National Public Health Laboratory.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">Two coronavirus patients from Sun City Apartment who were undergoing treatment at Patan Hospital were discharged on Thursday. With this, the number of recovered cases has reached 9. The country still has 38 active cases, most of them in Udayapur.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">Dr Devkota informed that the health condition of all the infected patients is normal.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-24', 'modified' => '2020-04-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11729', 'image' => '20200424101132_49_13323_corona2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-24 10:10:58', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11977', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Likely to Extend Lockdown', 'sub_title' => 'Preparations Underway to Announce Next Year’s Budget ', 'summary' => 'April 24: The government hinted that it would take decision on lifting the lockdown after reviewing necessary concerns, including the steps taken by neighbouring India to control the spread of COVID-19.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">April 24: The government hinted that it would take decision on lifting the lockdown after reviewing necessary concerns, including the steps taken by neighbouring India to control the spread of COVID-19.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Government spokesperson Yuba Raj Khatiwada said that coronavirus is a pandemic and the Government of Nepal cannot take a unilateral decision in this matter of worldwide concern. The government had imposed the lockdown on March 24. The lockdown is expiring on April 27.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Speaking at a press conference organised on Thursday (April 23) to share the decisions taken by the cabinet, Finance Minister Khatiwada said that saving people’s lives was the government’s first priority.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to Khatiwada, the government is considering the measures taken by India to prevent the spread of coronavirus and Nepal’s preparedness to fight the pandemic by ensuring medical supplies, necessary infrastructures, people's awareness and social distancing before lifting the lockdown.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Minister Khatiwada made it clear that the lockdown could be extended if required.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">However, he said that the government would relax the restriction to some extent to allow industries providing basic needs to operate under certain criteria like maintaining physical distancing and proper hygiene.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Minister Khatiwada also added that the government is set to announce its policies and programmes as well as the annual budget of the next fiscal year in two phases.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">He said that the government will include short-term and mid-term programmes in the upcoming budget.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Meanwhile, the cabinet meeting also approved loan assistance of US$ 100 million fro the International Monetary Fund, informed Khatiwada.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-24', 'modified' => '2020-04-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11728', 'image' => '20200424100618_1587653428.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-24 10:04:53', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11976', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Sharp Decline in Remittance to Nepal in 2020: WB', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 23: The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic induced economic crisis will cause remittances to Nepal decline by 14 percent in 2020 compared to USD 8.1 billion in 2019, according to a new World Bank report. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:Arial">April 23: The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic induced economic crisis will cause remittances to Nepal decline by 14 percent in 2020 compared to USD 8.1 billion in 2019, according to a new World Bank report. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:Arial">In its ‘Migration and Development Brief 32: COVID-19 Crisis Through a Migration Lens’, the Washington DC-based multilateral agency projects that the South Asia region will see remittance inflow decreasing by 22.1 percent in 2020. The World Bank has said that this is the biggest slump of remittance to the region in the recent history. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:Arial">“In India, remittances are projected to fall by about 23 percent in 2020, to USD 64 billion – a striking contrast with the growth of 5.5 percent and receipts of USD 83 billion seen in 2019. In Pakistan, the projected decline is also about 23 percent, totaling about USD 17 billion, compared with a total of USD 22.5 billion in 2019, when remittances grew by 6.2 percent,” the report states. The report estimates that remittances to Bangladesh will dip by about 22 percent to USD 14 billion from USD 22 billion in 2019. Remittances to Sri Lanka are expected to decline by 19 percent this year. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:Arial">“The coronavirus</span><span style="font-family:"Cambria Math"">‐</span><span style="font-family:Arial">related global slowdown and travel restrictions will also affect migratory movements, and this is likely to keep remittances subdued even in 2021,” reads the report. According to the World Bank, the projected remittance growth of 5.8 percent in 2021 will keep total regional flows at about USD 115 billion. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">Globally, remittances will decline by about 20 percent this year. According to the report, remittances to low and middle-income countries (LMICs) are projected to fall by 19.7 percent to USD 445 billion, representing a loss of a crucial financing lifeline for many vulnerable households.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">The large decline in remittances flows in 2020 comes after remittances to LMICs reached a record USD 554 billion in 2019. The report highlights that even with the decline, remittance flows are expected to become even more important as a source of external financing for LMICs as the fall in foreign direct investment is expected to be larger (more than 35 percent). “In 2019, remittance flows to LMICs became larger than FDI, an important milestone for monitoring resource flows to developing countries,” says the report. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial"> “Remittances are a vital source of income for developing countries. The ongoing economic recession caused by COVID-19 is taking a severe toll on the ability to send money home and makes it all the more vital that we shorten the time to recovery for advanced economies,” a statement issued by the World Bank Group quoted the bank’s President David Malpass as saying. “Remittances help families afford food, healthcare, and basic needs. As the World Bank Group implements fast, broad action to support countries, we are working to keep remittance channels open and safeguard the poorest communities’ access to these most basic needs.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">According to the statement, the World Bank is assisting member states in monitoring the flow of remittances through various channels, the costs and convenience of sending money, and regulations to protect financial integrity that affect remittance flows. “It is working with the G20 countries and the global community to reduce remittance costs and improve financial inclusion for the poor,” says the bank. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">Remittance flows are expected to fall across all regions, most notably in Europe and Central Asia (27.5 percent), followed by Sub-Saharan Africa (23.1 percent), South Asia (22.1 percent), the Middle East and North Africa (19.6 percent), Latin America and the Caribbean (19.3 percent), and East Asia and the Pacific (13 percent).</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-23', 'modified' => '2020-04-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11727', 'image' => '20200423055719_pic(5).jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-23 17:56:30', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11975', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Global Hunger could Double due to COVID-19 Blow: UN', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 23: The number of people facing acute food insecurity could nearly double this year to 265 million due to the economic fallout of COVID-19, the United Nations’ World Food Programme (WFP) said in a recent statement.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">April 23: The number of people facing acute food insecurity could nearly double this year to 265 million due to the economic fallout of COVID-19, the United Nations’ World Food Programme (WFP) said in a recent statement.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">According to Reuters, the impact of lost tourism revenues, falling remittances and travel and other restrictions linked to the coronavirus pandemic are expected to leave some 130 million people acutely hungry this year, adding to around 135 million already in that category. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">“COVID-19 is potentially catastrophic for millions who are already hanging by a thread,” Reuters quoted Arif Husain, chief economist and director of research, assessment and monitoring at the World Food Programme (WFP), as saying. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">“We all need to come together to deal with this because if we don’t the cost will be too high - the global cost will be too high: many lost lives and many, many more lost livelihoods,” he told reporters at a virtual briefing in Geneva. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">According to the news agency, Husain said it was critical to act quickly in order to prevent people already living hand-to-mouth from selling their assets as it could take them years to become self-reliant again. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">In some cases, such as when farmers sell their ploughs or oxen, it could have knock-on effects for food production for years to come, he added. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">“These were the people we were concerned about,” he said, adding he was “really worried” about people living in countries with little or no government safety nets. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">“Acute food and livelihood crisis” is category three of five UN phases meaning a “critical lack of food access and above usual malnutrition”. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">Category 5 means mass starvation. UN officials did not give a geographical breakdown of the growing needs, but said that Africa was likely to be hardest hit, Reuters reported. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">WFP plans to pre-position food stocks over the coming months in anticipation of growing needs. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">Of those already deemed acutely hungry, many are in conflict zones such as Syria or in countries badly hit by the impact of climate change, according to a UN report. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><img alt="" src="/app/webroot/userfiles/images/s_Masciarelli_7082%202.jpg" style="height:533px; width:800px" /></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-23', 'modified' => '2020-04-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11726', 'image' => '20200423101517_wfp.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-23 10:14:10', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11979', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Cabinet Endorse Electricity Bill ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 24: Hydropower companies no longer require separate licenses for survey and generation of electricity provided that the new law is endorsed by the parliament.', 'content' => '<h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">April 24: Hydropower companies no longer require separate licenses for survey and generation of electricity provided that the new law is endorsed by the parliament.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The council of ministers has scrapped the provision of two separate licenses for the hydropower companies. A recent cabinet meeting took a decision to this effect by endorsing the Electricity Bill 2077. However, the bill is yet to be endorsed by the House of Representatives and the National Assembly. </span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">According to the proposed bill, hydropower companies can now acquire a single license for survey and electricity generation.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">In the bill also proposes issuing such license only on the basis of competition.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">According to the bill, all three levels of government will be eligible to grant the permits for generating electricity. The local government will be eligible to issue license for hydropower projects generating up to 3 MW of electricity and the state government will be allowed to permit license for projects generating up to 3-20 MW of electricity.</span></span></h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-24', 'modified' => '2020-04-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11725', 'image' => '20200424110929_20150811013038_ep3(5).jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-24 11:08:49', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11973', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Milk Consumption Down to 20 Percent', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 23: Nepal Dairy Association (NDA) has said that milk vans have not been able to operate despite the government not preventing the operation of vehicles carrying essentials during the lockdown period. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">April 23: Nepal Dairy Association (NDA) has said that milk vans have not been able to operate despite the government not preventing the operation of vehicles carrying essentials during the lockdown period. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">NDA general secretary Prahlad Dahal said except in Kathmandu, the milk vans have been prevented from operating in Chitwan, Butwal and Nepalgunj, among other cities. He said they are facing obstruction in the operation of milk tankers and even in selling milk to shops. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Dahal informed that vehicles carrying milk have been stopped and the helpers also beaten by police in some instances at New Road, Koteshwar and other places in Kathmandu. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">"We have not been provided with any permits. Every day, obstructions have been created to our friends and the milk delivery vans. A milk tanker coming to Kathmandu from Chitwan was stopped on the way and turned back. It is very difficult to run the dairy business with frequent hurdles in transporting milk and other dairy products," he complained. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to him, only 20 per cent of the total milk and milk products is being sold daily at present. Ghimire added that the dairy industry has incurred losses of Rs 2 billion due to the lockdown and products worth Rs 5 billion was in stock. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Meanwhile, the dairy industries have started distributing milk free of cost after a slump in its sale due to the lockdown. NDA said they started providing milk free of cost rather than dumping it. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">It is said milk is being distributed free at quarantine facilities and to the needy households, including the nursing mothers, in Budhanilkantha municipality of Kathmandu, at Damak of Jhapa and in Rupandehi. </span></span>-- RSS</span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-23', 'modified' => '2020-04-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11724', 'image' => '20200423093954_1542865405_16685959.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-23 09:39:07', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11972', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Health Ministry Confirms Three New Cases of Coronavirus', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 23: With three new confirmed cases of coronavirus in the country, the total number of people infected with COVID-19 has reached 45, Ministry of Health and Population said Wednesday (April 22).', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">April 23: With three new confirmed cases of coronavirus in the country, the total number of people infected with COVID-19 has reached 45, Ministry of Health and Population said Wednesday (April 22).</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">All three persons infected with coronavirus are male. The three persons tested positive for the disease during their swab test held at Dharan-based BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, said Dr Bikash Devkota, spokesperson at the Ministry of Health and Population. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to the ministry, a total of 40,431 suspects have been tested for COVID-19 across the country so far. This includes 9,011 through polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and 31420 through rapid diagnostic test (RDT) methods. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">A total of 8,595 people have been quarantined while 95 have been kept in isolation.</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-23', 'modified' => '2020-04-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11723', 'image' => '20200423093051_22_111.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-23 09:30:06', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11974', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'CEO Insights India publishes ‘Top 10 emerging startups in Nepal’ ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 23: CEO Insights, a renowned business magazine in India, has published the list of top 10 emerging startups in Nepal-2020. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">April 23: CEO Insights, a renowned business magazine in India, has published the list of top 10 emerging startups in Nepal-2020. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Startups from various sectors including trading, tourism, technology, recruitment and consulting have entered the list. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Asia Corporation, established in 2017, is the number one among the 10. The startup provides industrial paper, photocopy paper, animal feeds, mosquito nets, chemical fertilizer, overhaul and maintenance services for helicopters and AI-related products to public and private companies. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Similarly, other companies selected as top startups include Hamro Technology, a fintech firm; Himalayan Wonders, a travel startup; JATA digital, a digital marketing company; Mapleyak, a consulting firm; and Mero Network, a digital marketing startup. Similarly, My Career HR Solutions, a recruitment startup; Palm Mind, an application development-based startup; Sarvanam Software, a software development startup; and Vidinterest, an online video curation and discovery platform are others in the list of top 10 start-ups. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">“Asia Corporation is inclined towards core values and this is what helps us to operate efficiently and run smoothly,” said Sunil KC, founder of Asia Corporation in the April issue of CEO Insights magazine. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The magazine writes that the editorial board spoke to a large number of startups in Nepal and shortlisted them on the basis of innovative business ideas, cutting-edge offerings and unconditional customer support.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">“Investment is an area which needs huge attention. Apart from that incubation and other platforms from the government is the instant need of hour. With large markets in the neighboring countries, startups in Nepal can surely change the landscape of the country,” writes the editorial of the magazine.</span> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><img alt="" src="/app/webroot/userfiles/images/Nepal%20Startups%20PDF-5%281%29.jpg" style="height:768px; width:606px" /> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-23', 'modified' => '2020-04-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11722', 'image' => '20200423100348_098pgcover.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-23 10:02:30', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11971', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '‘World Bank Agrees to Release Concessional Loan for Youth Employment’', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 22: The World Bank has approved the work procedure prepared by the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security for the utilization of Rs 14 billion concessional loan announced by the World Bank under the Prime Minister Employment Programme', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Bangla MN"">April 22: The World Bank has approved the work procedure prepared by the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security for the utilization of Rs 14 billion concessional loan announced by the World Bank under the Prime Minister Employment Programme.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Bangla MN"">However, the amount will be mobilized only in the upcoming fiscal year. The government had signed an agreement with the World Bank for the concessional loan for a period of five years on November 24 last year. The agreement states that the government should have mobilized Rs 2 billion from the fund in the current fiscal year. However, the government was unable to spend the amount due to the lack of work procedure. But the government will be spending Rs 4 billion for youth employment in the upcoming fiscal year.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Bangla MN"">Joint Secretary at the PMEP Loknath Bhusal informed that the World Bank had set a condition that the fund could be utilized only after preparing the work procedure. He further said that the government was unable to prepare the work procedure due to which the World Bank refused to release Rs 2 billion allocated for the current fiscal year. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Bangla MN"">“However, we have reached an understanding with the World Bank to utilize that amount in the next fiscal year,” said Bhusal.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Bangla MN"">The work procedure aims to reduce the unemployment rate across the country by providing employment opportunities to jobless youths.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-22', 'modified' => '2020-04-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11721', 'image' => '20200422011836_ea579c.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-22 13:17:58', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = false $xml = falseinclude - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 133 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
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After extension twice, the current lockdown is expiring on Monday (April 27). </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">A meeting of the task force headed by Chief Secretary Lok Darshan Regmi on Saturday recommended the full committee to extend the lockdown by another week.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Coordinator of the High Level Committee Ishwar Pokharel presented the recommendation of the task force to Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli the same day.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The task force has recommended extending the lockdown while relaxing the rules in some places with low risk of infection. A cabinet meeting scheduled later on Sunday (today) will take a formal decision regarding the lockdown.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The committee reviewed the lockdown from different angles, informed Narayan Prasad Bidari, secretary at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The government has been extending the lockdown after growing number of cases of coronavirus were reported in the country in recent days. Lockdown has proven to be effective to control the spread of coronavirus across the globe.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">As of Saturday, the confirmed cases of coronavirus has reached 49 in the country. Out of them, 12 patients have returned home after recovery, according to the Ministry of Health and Population.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-26', 'modified' => '2020-04-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11735', 'image' => '20200426113322_20191104092741_Clipboard01.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-26 11:32:43', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11982', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'WHO Removes Nepal from High-Risk Zone', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 26: The World Health Organisation (WHO) has removed Nepal from the high-risk zone of COVID-19 infection, the state-run national news agency RSS reported on Saturday (April 25). ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">April 26: The World Health Organisation (WHO) has removed Nepal from the high-risk zone of COVID-19 infection, the state-run national news agency RSS reported on Saturday (April 25). </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to RSS, the WHO has now placed it in the risk zone. The WHO’s latest assessment was based on efforts Nepal has taken in the prevention and containment of the deadly virus. </span></span><br /> <span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to joint spokesperson for the Ministry of Health and Population, Dr Samir Adhikari, Nepal was earlier assessed as highly vulnerable to COVID-19 due to the emergence of virus in China to the north and its open border with India to the south. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">However, Nepal was removed from the list based on measures it applied in the prevention, control and treatment of the virus, RSS further said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">It may be noted that Nepal has imposed a nationwide lockdown since March 24 and has also sealed its international borders including with India to stem the spread of virus. Nepal's decision to implement lockdown has proved to be a timely measure against the virus as it lessened the risk of imported cases, said Dr Adhikari. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-26', 'modified' => '2020-04-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11734', 'image' => '20200426111352_WHO.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-26 11:12:59', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11987', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Growing Attraction Towards Coronavirus Insurance', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 26: Covid-19 insurance is gradually gaining public attention. ', 'content' => '<h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">April 26: Covid-19 insurance is gradually gaining public attention. Insurance companies have started issuing insurance premium for Covid-19 coverage in Nepal from last Sunday, April 19. </span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Insurance Board of Nepal informed that the insurance companies have issued 9471 insurance premiums as of April 24 for covering coronavirus cases.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The insurance policies against coronavirus will cover family members and an individual. The companies have collected Rs 49.69 million insurance premium from the scheme, according to the Insurers Association.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The Insurance Board had issued this policy last week in collaboration with the Insurers Association due to the growing threat of corona virus in Nepal.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The insurance package is coordinated by Nepal Insurance Association and Shikhar Insurance is managing the insurance policy.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">According to statistics, Ajod Insurance has made the highest turnover for the Covid-19 insurance package. The company has sold 2667 insurance policies and collected Rs 997,000 insurance premium as of Friday. Likewise, Prudential Insurance has sold 2,158 premiums and collected Rs 914,000.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">IME Insurance has been able to insure 1,355 individuals. It has collected more than Rs 800,000 insurance premium. Shikhar Insurance has sold 1,073 insurance policies and collected Rs 625,000 premiums.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Other companies have sold less than 1,000 insurance policies. General Insurance, Oriental Insurance and Rastriya Bima have not been able to sell a single insurance premium for coronavirus so far.</span></span></h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""> </span></span></h1> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-26', 'modified' => '2020-04-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11733', 'image' => '20200426022909_1587852673.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-26 14:28:28', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11984', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Food Industries Urge Government to Create Conducive Environment for Running their Business ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 26: Even though the government has given permission to food industries to operate during lockdown, the operators of such industries have expressed concerns regarding lack of conducive environment for running their business.', 'content' => '<h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">April 26: Even though the government has given permission to food industries to operate during lockdown, the operators of such industries have expressed concerns regarding lack of conducive environment for running their business.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The stakeholders suggest that they may even have to shut down their industries if the government does not create a conducive environment for work.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Subodh Kumar Gupta, president of the Association of Nepalese Rice, Oil and Pulses Industries informed that the production capacity of the industries is declining day by day due to the inability to manage the daily essentials to run the industry.</span></span></h1> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">At present, none of the food industries in the country are capable to operate in their full capacity. Gupta informed that 40 percent of the existing industries are operating with 30 percent of their actual capacity.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The production has almost declined by half compared to normal days. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">“That’s why the government has to facilitate the industries, or else the industries would be closed,” Gupta said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">In most of the industries, about 60-70 per cent of the Nepali workers have returned home. Meanwhile, the workers from India who are unable to return home have stayed and are operating the industries. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Likewise, industrialists complained that they are running out of raw materials along with essential resources for production. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Avinash Bohara, a central member of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), said that the government has given permission for the operation of the food industry but operating the food industry alone is not enough. He suggested that other supporting industries like the ones that produce sacks, plastics and cartoons are also need to be run.</span></span></span></p> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""> </span></span></h1> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-26', 'modified' => '2020-04-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11732', 'image' => '20200426114633_Food-Processing-11-2-19.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-26 11:45:37', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11981', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Commercial Banks waiting for NRB Report on COVID-19 Impact', 'sub_title' => 'NBA Decides not to Implement CBFIN’s Decision', 'summary' => 'April 24: Nepal Bankers’ Association (NBA) has decided to wait for the report of Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) to study the impact of coronavirus on the economy before announcing any relief package. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">April 24: Nepal Bankers’ Association (NBA) has decided to wait for the report of Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) to study the impact of coronavirus on the economy before announcing any relief package. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">A video conference meeting of NBA, an umbrella body of commercial banks, on Thursday decided not to agree with the announcement of the </span>Confederation of Banks and Financial Institutions Nepal (CBFIN) to lower the interest rate. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">The meeting agreed to wait for the report prepared by a committee formed by the central bank to study the impact of COVID-19 before announcing any relief package, informed NBA President Bhuvan Dahal.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">“CBFIN should have given suggestion to the central bank instead of announcing relief package. We have already informed the confederation that we cannot implement its decision,” said Dahal.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">CBFIN, an umbrella organisation of commercial banks, development banks and financial institutions of the country, had on April 22 decided to charge one percent less interest on loans up to Rs 10 million from April 13 onward to small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs). </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">The confederation said that its members decided to lower the interest rate considering the impact of coronavirus on the economy and the borrowers.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">The confederation had also announced 10 percent discount on payment of interest within the month of Baishakh (mid-May). CBFIN said its members will also not slap any fine if the pending loans are cleared within mid-May. However, NBA has decided to wait for the decision of central bank before announcing any relief to their customers.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">However, NBA has already lowered the interest on deposit effective from April 13. <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The commercial banks had said a week ago that they would reduce the interests on loans only from mid-March after calculating the base rate.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"> </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-24', 'modified' => '2020-04-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11731', 'image' => '20200424115121_20200409123223_low-interest-rates.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-24 11:50:32', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11980', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Revenue Collection through Customs Points under Scrutiny', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 24: The government is preparing to increase revenue collection through the customs point to make up for the losses caused by the impact of COVID-19.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">April 24: The government is preparing to increase revenue collection through the customs point to make up for the losses caused by the impact of COVID-19.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The Ministry of Finance has issued an 18-point instruction to the Department of Customs to meet its target of revenue collection by preparing an alternative work plan.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Concluding that all the customs point have collected lower revenue than the set target, the ministry has instructed them to step up the revenue collection within the current fiscal year.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">After finding adequate stock of imported goods in the market, the government authorities are apprehensive that those goods might have been smuggled into the country. The ministry has instructed the department to collaborate with other government agencies and adopt a policy of interference in the market if the goods are getting access into the country through illegal channels. The ministry has demanded progress report in every seven days after monitoring the market for such goods.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The ministry believes that the goods imported in bulk through the customs points might have entered the country under the cover of something else. Government authorities suspect that the importers bring in expensive and branded goods declaring them to be of normal quality, thereby evading customs duty. The ministry has instructed the customs department to make sure such misappropriations do not take place.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Authorities expect an increase in revenue if they could ascertain the actual details of the goods declared by the importers. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The customs offices have been instructed to take action against the importers if the declaration made by them does not match with the specifications of the goods.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-24', 'modified' => '2020-04-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11730', 'image' => '20200424113254_20197_ICP-Birgunj-2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-24 11:32:19', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11978', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Number of COVID-19 Cases Reach 47 in Nepal', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 24: The number of people infected with coronavirus has reached 47 in the country with confirmation of two new cases on Thursday (April 23).', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">April 24: The number of people infected with coronavirus has reached 47 in the country with confirmation of two new cases on Thursday (April 23).</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">The Ministry of Health and Population confirmed the new cases during a regular press briefing.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">Spokesperson at the ministry Dr Bikash Devkota informed that a 55-year-old woman and 14-year-old boy have been diagnosed with the disease that has infected more than 2.6 million people worldwide.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"> Dr Devkota informed that swab samples of the woman from Udayapur tested and the boy from Janakpur positive at Kathmandu-based National Public Health Laboratory.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">Two coronavirus patients from Sun City Apartment who were undergoing treatment at Patan Hospital were discharged on Thursday. With this, the number of recovered cases has reached 9. The country still has 38 active cases, most of them in Udayapur.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">Dr Devkota informed that the health condition of all the infected patients is normal.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-24', 'modified' => '2020-04-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11729', 'image' => '20200424101132_49_13323_corona2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-24 10:10:58', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11977', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Likely to Extend Lockdown', 'sub_title' => 'Preparations Underway to Announce Next Year’s Budget ', 'summary' => 'April 24: The government hinted that it would take decision on lifting the lockdown after reviewing necessary concerns, including the steps taken by neighbouring India to control the spread of COVID-19.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">April 24: The government hinted that it would take decision on lifting the lockdown after reviewing necessary concerns, including the steps taken by neighbouring India to control the spread of COVID-19.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Government spokesperson Yuba Raj Khatiwada said that coronavirus is a pandemic and the Government of Nepal cannot take a unilateral decision in this matter of worldwide concern. The government had imposed the lockdown on March 24. The lockdown is expiring on April 27.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Speaking at a press conference organised on Thursday (April 23) to share the decisions taken by the cabinet, Finance Minister Khatiwada said that saving people’s lives was the government’s first priority.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to Khatiwada, the government is considering the measures taken by India to prevent the spread of coronavirus and Nepal’s preparedness to fight the pandemic by ensuring medical supplies, necessary infrastructures, people's awareness and social distancing before lifting the lockdown.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Minister Khatiwada made it clear that the lockdown could be extended if required.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">However, he said that the government would relax the restriction to some extent to allow industries providing basic needs to operate under certain criteria like maintaining physical distancing and proper hygiene.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Minister Khatiwada also added that the government is set to announce its policies and programmes as well as the annual budget of the next fiscal year in two phases.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">He said that the government will include short-term and mid-term programmes in the upcoming budget.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Meanwhile, the cabinet meeting also approved loan assistance of US$ 100 million fro the International Monetary Fund, informed Khatiwada.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-24', 'modified' => '2020-04-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11728', 'image' => '20200424100618_1587653428.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-24 10:04:53', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11976', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Sharp Decline in Remittance to Nepal in 2020: WB', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 23: The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic induced economic crisis will cause remittances to Nepal decline by 14 percent in 2020 compared to USD 8.1 billion in 2019, according to a new World Bank report. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:Arial">April 23: The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic induced economic crisis will cause remittances to Nepal decline by 14 percent in 2020 compared to USD 8.1 billion in 2019, according to a new World Bank report. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:Arial">In its ‘Migration and Development Brief 32: COVID-19 Crisis Through a Migration Lens’, the Washington DC-based multilateral agency projects that the South Asia region will see remittance inflow decreasing by 22.1 percent in 2020. The World Bank has said that this is the biggest slump of remittance to the region in the recent history. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:Arial">“In India, remittances are projected to fall by about 23 percent in 2020, to USD 64 billion – a striking contrast with the growth of 5.5 percent and receipts of USD 83 billion seen in 2019. In Pakistan, the projected decline is also about 23 percent, totaling about USD 17 billion, compared with a total of USD 22.5 billion in 2019, when remittances grew by 6.2 percent,” the report states. The report estimates that remittances to Bangladesh will dip by about 22 percent to USD 14 billion from USD 22 billion in 2019. Remittances to Sri Lanka are expected to decline by 19 percent this year. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:Arial">“The coronavirus</span><span style="font-family:"Cambria Math"">‐</span><span style="font-family:Arial">related global slowdown and travel restrictions will also affect migratory movements, and this is likely to keep remittances subdued even in 2021,” reads the report. According to the World Bank, the projected remittance growth of 5.8 percent in 2021 will keep total regional flows at about USD 115 billion. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">Globally, remittances will decline by about 20 percent this year. According to the report, remittances to low and middle-income countries (LMICs) are projected to fall by 19.7 percent to USD 445 billion, representing a loss of a crucial financing lifeline for many vulnerable households.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">The large decline in remittances flows in 2020 comes after remittances to LMICs reached a record USD 554 billion in 2019. The report highlights that even with the decline, remittance flows are expected to become even more important as a source of external financing for LMICs as the fall in foreign direct investment is expected to be larger (more than 35 percent). “In 2019, remittance flows to LMICs became larger than FDI, an important milestone for monitoring resource flows to developing countries,” says the report. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial"> “Remittances are a vital source of income for developing countries. The ongoing economic recession caused by COVID-19 is taking a severe toll on the ability to send money home and makes it all the more vital that we shorten the time to recovery for advanced economies,” a statement issued by the World Bank Group quoted the bank’s President David Malpass as saying. “Remittances help families afford food, healthcare, and basic needs. As the World Bank Group implements fast, broad action to support countries, we are working to keep remittance channels open and safeguard the poorest communities’ access to these most basic needs.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">According to the statement, the World Bank is assisting member states in monitoring the flow of remittances through various channels, the costs and convenience of sending money, and regulations to protect financial integrity that affect remittance flows. “It is working with the G20 countries and the global community to reduce remittance costs and improve financial inclusion for the poor,” says the bank. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">Remittance flows are expected to fall across all regions, most notably in Europe and Central Asia (27.5 percent), followed by Sub-Saharan Africa (23.1 percent), South Asia (22.1 percent), the Middle East and North Africa (19.6 percent), Latin America and the Caribbean (19.3 percent), and East Asia and the Pacific (13 percent).</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-23', 'modified' => '2020-04-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11727', 'image' => '20200423055719_pic(5).jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-23 17:56:30', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11975', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Global Hunger could Double due to COVID-19 Blow: UN', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 23: The number of people facing acute food insecurity could nearly double this year to 265 million due to the economic fallout of COVID-19, the United Nations’ World Food Programme (WFP) said in a recent statement.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">April 23: The number of people facing acute food insecurity could nearly double this year to 265 million due to the economic fallout of COVID-19, the United Nations’ World Food Programme (WFP) said in a recent statement.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">According to Reuters, the impact of lost tourism revenues, falling remittances and travel and other restrictions linked to the coronavirus pandemic are expected to leave some 130 million people acutely hungry this year, adding to around 135 million already in that category. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">“COVID-19 is potentially catastrophic for millions who are already hanging by a thread,” Reuters quoted Arif Husain, chief economist and director of research, assessment and monitoring at the World Food Programme (WFP), as saying. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">“We all need to come together to deal with this because if we don’t the cost will be too high - the global cost will be too high: many lost lives and many, many more lost livelihoods,” he told reporters at a virtual briefing in Geneva. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">According to the news agency, Husain said it was critical to act quickly in order to prevent people already living hand-to-mouth from selling their assets as it could take them years to become self-reliant again. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">In some cases, such as when farmers sell their ploughs or oxen, it could have knock-on effects for food production for years to come, he added. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">“These were the people we were concerned about,” he said, adding he was “really worried” about people living in countries with little or no government safety nets. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">“Acute food and livelihood crisis” is category three of five UN phases meaning a “critical lack of food access and above usual malnutrition”. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">Category 5 means mass starvation. UN officials did not give a geographical breakdown of the growing needs, but said that Africa was likely to be hardest hit, Reuters reported. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">WFP plans to pre-position food stocks over the coming months in anticipation of growing needs. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">Of those already deemed acutely hungry, many are in conflict zones such as Syria or in countries badly hit by the impact of climate change, according to a UN report. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><img alt="" src="/app/webroot/userfiles/images/s_Masciarelli_7082%202.jpg" style="height:533px; width:800px" /></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-23', 'modified' => '2020-04-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11726', 'image' => '20200423101517_wfp.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-23 10:14:10', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11979', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Cabinet Endorse Electricity Bill ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 24: Hydropower companies no longer require separate licenses for survey and generation of electricity provided that the new law is endorsed by the parliament.', 'content' => '<h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">April 24: Hydropower companies no longer require separate licenses for survey and generation of electricity provided that the new law is endorsed by the parliament.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The council of ministers has scrapped the provision of two separate licenses for the hydropower companies. A recent cabinet meeting took a decision to this effect by endorsing the Electricity Bill 2077. However, the bill is yet to be endorsed by the House of Representatives and the National Assembly. </span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">According to the proposed bill, hydropower companies can now acquire a single license for survey and electricity generation.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">In the bill also proposes issuing such license only on the basis of competition.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">According to the bill, all three levels of government will be eligible to grant the permits for generating electricity. The local government will be eligible to issue license for hydropower projects generating up to 3 MW of electricity and the state government will be allowed to permit license for projects generating up to 3-20 MW of electricity.</span></span></h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-24', 'modified' => '2020-04-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11725', 'image' => '20200424110929_20150811013038_ep3(5).jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-24 11:08:49', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11973', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Milk Consumption Down to 20 Percent', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 23: Nepal Dairy Association (NDA) has said that milk vans have not been able to operate despite the government not preventing the operation of vehicles carrying essentials during the lockdown period. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">April 23: Nepal Dairy Association (NDA) has said that milk vans have not been able to operate despite the government not preventing the operation of vehicles carrying essentials during the lockdown period. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">NDA general secretary Prahlad Dahal said except in Kathmandu, the milk vans have been prevented from operating in Chitwan, Butwal and Nepalgunj, among other cities. He said they are facing obstruction in the operation of milk tankers and even in selling milk to shops. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Dahal informed that vehicles carrying milk have been stopped and the helpers also beaten by police in some instances at New Road, Koteshwar and other places in Kathmandu. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">"We have not been provided with any permits. Every day, obstructions have been created to our friends and the milk delivery vans. A milk tanker coming to Kathmandu from Chitwan was stopped on the way and turned back. It is very difficult to run the dairy business with frequent hurdles in transporting milk and other dairy products," he complained. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to him, only 20 per cent of the total milk and milk products is being sold daily at present. Ghimire added that the dairy industry has incurred losses of Rs 2 billion due to the lockdown and products worth Rs 5 billion was in stock. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Meanwhile, the dairy industries have started distributing milk free of cost after a slump in its sale due to the lockdown. NDA said they started providing milk free of cost rather than dumping it. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">It is said milk is being distributed free at quarantine facilities and to the needy households, including the nursing mothers, in Budhanilkantha municipality of Kathmandu, at Damak of Jhapa and in Rupandehi. </span></span>-- RSS</span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-23', 'modified' => '2020-04-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11724', 'image' => '20200423093954_1542865405_16685959.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-23 09:39:07', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11972', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Health Ministry Confirms Three New Cases of Coronavirus', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 23: With three new confirmed cases of coronavirus in the country, the total number of people infected with COVID-19 has reached 45, Ministry of Health and Population said Wednesday (April 22).', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">April 23: With three new confirmed cases of coronavirus in the country, the total number of people infected with COVID-19 has reached 45, Ministry of Health and Population said Wednesday (April 22).</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">All three persons infected with coronavirus are male. The three persons tested positive for the disease during their swab test held at Dharan-based BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, said Dr Bikash Devkota, spokesperson at the Ministry of Health and Population. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to the ministry, a total of 40,431 suspects have been tested for COVID-19 across the country so far. This includes 9,011 through polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and 31420 through rapid diagnostic test (RDT) methods. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">A total of 8,595 people have been quarantined while 95 have been kept in isolation.</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-23', 'modified' => '2020-04-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11723', 'image' => '20200423093051_22_111.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-23 09:30:06', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11974', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'CEO Insights India publishes ‘Top 10 emerging startups in Nepal’ ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 23: CEO Insights, a renowned business magazine in India, has published the list of top 10 emerging startups in Nepal-2020. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">April 23: CEO Insights, a renowned business magazine in India, has published the list of top 10 emerging startups in Nepal-2020. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Startups from various sectors including trading, tourism, technology, recruitment and consulting have entered the list. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Asia Corporation, established in 2017, is the number one among the 10. The startup provides industrial paper, photocopy paper, animal feeds, mosquito nets, chemical fertilizer, overhaul and maintenance services for helicopters and AI-related products to public and private companies. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Similarly, other companies selected as top startups include Hamro Technology, a fintech firm; Himalayan Wonders, a travel startup; JATA digital, a digital marketing company; Mapleyak, a consulting firm; and Mero Network, a digital marketing startup. Similarly, My Career HR Solutions, a recruitment startup; Palm Mind, an application development-based startup; Sarvanam Software, a software development startup; and Vidinterest, an online video curation and discovery platform are others in the list of top 10 start-ups. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">“Asia Corporation is inclined towards core values and this is what helps us to operate efficiently and run smoothly,” said Sunil KC, founder of Asia Corporation in the April issue of CEO Insights magazine. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The magazine writes that the editorial board spoke to a large number of startups in Nepal and shortlisted them on the basis of innovative business ideas, cutting-edge offerings and unconditional customer support.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">“Investment is an area which needs huge attention. Apart from that incubation and other platforms from the government is the instant need of hour. With large markets in the neighboring countries, startups in Nepal can surely change the landscape of the country,” writes the editorial of the magazine.</span> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><img alt="" src="/app/webroot/userfiles/images/Nepal%20Startups%20PDF-5%281%29.jpg" style="height:768px; width:606px" /> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-23', 'modified' => '2020-04-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11722', 'image' => '20200423100348_098pgcover.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-23 10:02:30', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11971', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '‘World Bank Agrees to Release Concessional Loan for Youth Employment’', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 22: The World Bank has approved the work procedure prepared by the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security for the utilization of Rs 14 billion concessional loan announced by the World Bank under the Prime Minister Employment Programme', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Bangla MN"">April 22: The World Bank has approved the work procedure prepared by the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security for the utilization of Rs 14 billion concessional loan announced by the World Bank under the Prime Minister Employment Programme.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Bangla MN"">However, the amount will be mobilized only in the upcoming fiscal year. The government had signed an agreement with the World Bank for the concessional loan for a period of five years on November 24 last year. The agreement states that the government should have mobilized Rs 2 billion from the fund in the current fiscal year. However, the government was unable to spend the amount due to the lack of work procedure. But the government will be spending Rs 4 billion for youth employment in the upcoming fiscal year.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Bangla MN"">Joint Secretary at the PMEP Loknath Bhusal informed that the World Bank had set a condition that the fund could be utilized only after preparing the work procedure. He further said that the government was unable to prepare the work procedure due to which the World Bank refused to release Rs 2 billion allocated for the current fiscal year. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Bangla MN"">“However, we have reached an understanding with the World Bank to utilize that amount in the next fiscal year,” said Bhusal.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Bangla MN"">The work procedure aims to reduce the unemployment rate across the country by providing employment opportunities to jobless youths.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-22', 'modified' => '2020-04-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11721', 'image' => '20200422011836_ea579c.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-22 13:17:58', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = false $xml = falsesimplexml_load_file - [internal], line ?? include - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 133 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
| Currency | Unit |
Buy | Sell |
| U.S. Dollar | 1 | 121.23 | 121.83 |
| European Euro | 1 | 131.65 | 132.31 |
| UK Pound Sterling | 1 | 142.47 | 143.18 |
| Swiss Franc | 1 | 124.29 | 124.90 |
| Australian Dollar | 1 | 71.69 | 72.05 |
| Canadian Dollar | 1 | 83.90 | 84.32 |
| Japanese Yen | 10 | 10.94 | 11.00 |
| Chinese Yuan | 1 | 17.17 | 17.26 |
| Saudi Arabian Riyal | 1 | 32.27 | 32.43 |
| UAE Dirham | 1 | 33.01 | 33.17 |
| Malaysian Ringgit | 1 | 27.36 | 27.50 |
| South Korean Won | 100 | 9.77 | 9.82 |
Update: 2020-03-25 | Source: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB)
| Fine Gold | 1 tola | 77000.00 |
| Tejabi Gold | 1 tola | 76700.00 |
| Silver | 1 tola | 720.00 |
Update : 2020-03-25
Source: Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers' Association
| Petrol | 1 Liter | 106.00 |
| Diesel | 1 Liter | 95.00 |
| Kerosene | 1 Liter | 95.00 |
| LP Gas | 1 Cylinder | 1375.00 |
Update : 2020-03-25
