April 10: The global coronavirus pandemic is causing an economic crisis unlike any in the past century and will require a massive response to ensure…
April 10: The global coronavirus pandemic is causing an economic crisis unlike any in the past century and will require a massive response to ensure…
April 10: Hackers have started becoming active in the country, taking advantage of the lockdown imposed by the government since March 24.…
April 10: Tatopani Customs Point has come into operation since Wednesday.…
April 10: With the extension of lockdown, retail shops are getting short of food supplies and daily essentials.…
April 9: Commercial banks have decided to lower the interest rates on deposits effective from…
April 9: The government has decided to bring a special package to address the impacts of coronavirus on the country’s economy.…
April 9: The entry of trucks and lorries carrying imported goods at the Birgunj Customs Point has reduced significantly due to the ongoing lockdown.…
April 9: Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), the country's sole operational international airport, has suspended flights for around a month due to the rapidly spreading coronavirus pandemic.…
April 9: Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has ordered the sale of full cylinders of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) from coming…
April 9: The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies has been working actively to make sure that there is smooth supply of essential goods including food items during the ongoing nationwide lockdown.…
April 8: Binod Chaudhary, who was constantly rising in the ranks of global billionaire since he first appeared in the Forbes billionaires list in 2013, has seen his fortune decreased by USD 300 million.…
April 8: The World Health Organization (WHO) has urged countries not to lift measures put in place to slow the spread of the coronavirus too early, Aljazeera…
Startups in Nepal have come out as one of the most vulnerable business entities affected by the Covid 19…
April 8: The government of Nepal is preparing to employ 600,000 people immediately after the lockdown ends.…
April 8: Police have arrested Sulav Agarwal, managing director of Shanker Group, on the charge of black-marketing of thermal guns.…
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But that was a different world.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Verdana">"The bleak outlook applies to advanced and developing economies alike. This crisis knows no boundaries. Everybody hurts," Georgieva said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Verdana">She noted that about $100 billion in investments already had fled emerging markets -- more than three times the capital exodus seen in the 2008 global financial crisis.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-10', 'modified' => '2020-04-10', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11659', 'image' => '20200410083838_Vectorstock0659666.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-10 08:37:49', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11907', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Hackers Becoming Active During Lockdown', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 10: Hackers have started becoming active in the country, taking advantage of the lockdown imposed by the government since March 24. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">April 10: Hackers have started becoming active in the country, taking advantage of the lockdown imposed by the government since March 24. A group of hackers have hacked the mobile application and software of Foodmandu while Vianet has also fallen victim to the hackers. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">Fearing that hackers could also target banks and financial institutions (BFIs), Nepal Rastra Bank has cautioned BFIs and their customers to adopt safety measures against hacking.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">The central bank has received numerous complaints from customers regarding hacking of their Viber, Whatsapp and Messenger accounts through which the hackers get access to eSewa wallet and request the customers to transfer amount as donations. Nepal Rastra Bank has warned the public not to fall into such traps an provide any details of their bank accounts and passwords even if someone requests such details posing as bank employees.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">The central bank has instructed BFIs to stay alert and inform their customers about the possible threats from hackers.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">Executive Director at the Payments System Department of NRB Rewati Prasad Nepal informed New Business Age that the central bank has been verbally appealing to BFIs and payment gateways to increase their security against cyber threats.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">“We have received numerous complaints of customers getting requests for financial assistance through eSewa and other digital payment gateways as well as customers being asked for their email, phone number and login details from unidentified sources,” said Nepal.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">“Hackers are becoming active at this time,” he added.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">Realizing the threats from hackers, Nepal Investment Bank Limited has cautioned its customers not to give their passwords or ATM and mobile banking pin numbers to anyone.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">Meanwhile, President of Nepal Bankers Association Bhuvan Kumar Dahal opined that BFIs must step up their security from cyber threats during lockdown.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-10', 'modified' => '2020-04-10', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11658', 'image' => '20200410100159_1586469916.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-10 10:01:23', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11909', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Tatopani Customs Point Resumes Operation ', 'sub_title' => 'China Allows Supply of only Essential Goods for the Time Being', 'summary' => 'April 10: Tatopani Customs Point has come into operation since Wednesday. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Bangla MN"">April 10: Tatopani Customs Point has come into operation since Wednesday. The customs point with China was closed since January 27 due to the outbreak of coronavirus in China. Trucks loaded with sanitizers and masks entered Nepal from the border point on Wednesday evening.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Bangla MN"">Tatopani is one of the two major customs point with China. The other one is Rasuwagadhi Customs Point which still remains closed. The government had last week announced to open both the vital border points. However, the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies informed that China is unwilling to open any other border point except Tatopani.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Bangla MN"">“China has agreed to supply essential goods for the time being. But it is not ready to open any other customs point,” said Baikuntha Aryal, secretary at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies. He added that Nepal is making diplomatic efforts to open other border points.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Arial">The Tatopani Customs Point was opened after setting up a health desk as per the requirement of the World Health Organisation’s standard, informed Chief District Officer (CDO) of Sindhupalchowk district Umesh Kumar Dhakal. He said that the border was opened only to import essential goods.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Arial">According to chief of the customs office Lal Bahadur Khatri, the Chinese police had transported the masks and sanitizers till the border. “A Nepalese vehicle went across the Friendship Bridge to pick up the goods. The consignment has already reached Kathmandu,” said Khatri.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Arial">Khatri informed that although the Chinese government has only allowed transport of essential goods in the first phase, both sides are making preparations to open the customs point for commercial shipments. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Arial">The border was closed in late January due to the massive spread of coronavirus in China. The customs point was bearing losses of Rs 10 million on an average per day due to the closure of the vital border point.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Arial">Meanwhile, Chinese authorities in Kerung across the Rasuwagadhi border, were positive about opening the border after making necessary preparations for health check up and quarantine facilities for drivers until a week ago. However, they made a u-turn recently stating that they have received orders from above not to open the border point.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Arial">Director General of the Department of Customs Suman Dahal said that although they had made preparations to open the border with high security, it was not possible as the Chinese government did not agree to open any other border point besides Tatopani. According to him, eight customs point along Nepal-China border are currently closed.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Arial">Nepal started importing goods from China through Rasuwagadhi customs point since the last four years after India imposed a blockade. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-10', 'modified' => '2020-04-10', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11657', 'image' => '20200410123831_1586468314.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-10 12:37:42', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11908', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Retailers Facing Shortage of Food Supplies', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 10: With the extension of lockdown, retail shops are getting short of food supplies and daily essentials. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">April 10: With the extension of lockdown, retail shops are getting short of food supplies and daily essentials. Though industries and wholesalers have enough supplies, retail shops are not getting access to those products due to transportation problem.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">“Retailers have started running out of supplies. But at this situation we are helpless. The government has to address this issue,” said Raj Kumar Shrestha, president of Nepal Retailers’ Association</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">According to supplier Durga Raj Shrestha, the market will see shortage of food stuffs like biscuits and noodles in 15-20 days. “However, items like sanitizer, soap, detergent powder are enough for now,” he said. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">Normally, trucks used to be loaded while coming to Kathmandu as well as while returning. However, now they don’t get the supplies while returning, so the drivers are facing problems. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">Shrestha said that the trucks are charging double charge for transporting the goods. “Due to this, we have to charge high to our consumers,” informed Shrestha. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">Likewise, Devendra Bhakta Shrestha, president of Food Grocery Trading Association, said that due to shortage of workers wholesalers are not able to supply the products to the retailers. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">The industries have food storage for up to 2-3 months but problems in delivering the goods is creating shortage in the market. According to Subodh Kumar Gupta, president of Nepalese Rice, Oil and Pulses Association, the challenge is because of the double charge demanded by the truck entrepreneurs. The government needs to ease the process of transportation, said Gupta.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">Besides, the drivers and other staff are also not getting proper food because many hotels are shut. It is reported that many drivers are not willing to work in this situation. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">Currently, only 40 percent of the food supply industries are in operation. And these industries are also only producing 25 percent of their capacity. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><strong><span style="font-family:Calibri">Government entities have enough food supplies </span></strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">“Salt Trading Cooperation has 7,000 tons of sugar and 115,000 tons of salt. Additional 45,000 tons of salt is on the way from India,” informed Kumar Raj Bhandary, deputy general manager of Salt Trading Corporation. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">Similarly, Food Management and Trade Company Ltd (FMTC) has stored 22,000 metric tons of rice. According to Netra Subedi, executive director of FMTC, rice mills in Janakpur and Bardiya will also come into operation within a few days. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-10', 'modified' => '2020-04-10', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11656', 'image' => '20200410113148_20170120021251_ss.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-10 11:30:56', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11904', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Commercial Banks to Lower Interest Rate', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 9: Commercial banks have decided to lower the interest rates on deposits effective from mid-April.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">April 9: Commercial banks have decided to lower the interest rates on deposits effective from mid-April. The commercial banks decided to slash the interest rate after Nepal Rastra Bank lowered the interest rate on loans provided to the commercial banks by 1 percent. The new rates of interest provided by the commercial banks will be less by around 1 percent. The banks have already started to make public the new interest rates. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">They have also decided to lower the interest rates for regular savings, fixed deposit and call deposit accounts by 1 to 1.5 percent. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The banks will also reduce the interests on loans from mid-March after calculating the base rate </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Meanwhile, the interest rates on personal savings accounts and institutional savings accounts will be respectively 1 percent and 1.5 percent lower than the current rates.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Currently, the banks have been giving interest up to 9.25 percent on personal savings account, which will be lowered to between 8 to 8.25 percent.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">All the 27 member banks of Nepal Bankers’ Association have agreed to lower the interest rate on deposits. In this regard, the commercial banks have already published the new rates of interest since Wednesday. However, the interest rate of fixed deposit accounts will be lowered only after the maturity period. Chairman of Nepal Bankers’ Association Bhuvan Dahal said that the interest rate of new fixed deposit accounts and those renewing their agreements will be lower than the current rate.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Out of the total deposits in banks, around 50 percent of the amounts are under fixed deposit accounts. Thirty percent of the accounts are savings accounts. Then remaining are current accounts, call deposit accounts and other types of accounts.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">“The economy is on the verge of collapse. We have to be careful about preventing such collapse.The central bank has reduced the interest rate on loan from 6 percent to 5 percent. Therefore, the banks are under pressure to reduce the interest rate,” said Dahal.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-09', 'modified' => '2020-04-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11655', 'image' => '20200409123223_low-interest-rates.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-09 12:31:43', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11903', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government to Bring Holistic Economic Relief Package ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 9: The government has decided to bring a special package to address the impacts of coronavirus on the country’s economy. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">April 9: The </span><span style="font-family:Arial">government has decided to bring a special package to address the impacts of coronavirus on the country’s economy. Preparations are underway to launch the package within two weeks, informed sources told New Business Age. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">According to officials at the Finance Ministry, the stimulus package will be holistic in nature and address the entire aspects of Nepal’s economy. Finance Minister Yuba Raj Khatiwada is evaluating the size of economic relief, said an official at the Ministry. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">“The economic impacts of Covid-19 lockdown will be evaluated. Provided the lockdown is extended, we will also analyze the anticipated losses,” said the official, adding, “We will prepare a rough estimate within a week.” </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">The government has formed a committee to study the economic impacts of coronavirus in Nepal under the leadership of Revenue Secretary Ram Sharan Pudasaini. The committee consists of officials of Nepal Rastra Bank as members. Similarly, a technical committee has been formed to evaluate the effects under the leadership of Pushpa Kandel, vice-chairman of the National Planning Commission. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">“The economic package will be prepared after consulting the reports of the committee,” said Moti Dugar, state minister for industry, commerce and supplies. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">According to him, the ministry is planning to request the Finance Ministry to cover issues including interests to be paid by businessmen, extending the payment of loan till six months, subsidy in customs duty for the exportable items, subsidized loan to the industries highly affected by coronavirus among others. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">“We have asked the private sector to submit proposal regarding their losses and support needed for recovery. We will try our best to address their concern,” said Dugar. </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 President of the Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FNCCI) Bhavani Rana, a committee under the leadership of Shekhar Golchha will prepare a report and submit it to the government. “The committee has already prepared the final draft. We will submit the report in two days,” said Rana. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">She said that the proposal demands that that interest for tourism industry be reduced by reduced by 50 percent. According to FNCCI many people have lost their jobs in the tourism sector and so the government must provide relief to the workers. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">“Now, we can see the effects only on tourism and industry. However, this will affect the overall economy. So, the proposal consists of concerns of all the industries,” said Rana. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">According to Dr Swarnim Wagle, former vice-chairman of the NPC, the government should bring an economic relief package of minimum Rs 150 billion. “The government should bring a relief package of Rs 100 billion in the initial stage. Later on, with further research, the government should add the relief,” said Wagle. According to him, the concerns of tourism sector, industries and labourers should be addressed first. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">“The workers working in affected sectors should be provided with welfare fund, special facilities from social security fund and their tax payment duration should be extended by at least six months,” said Wagle. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-09', 'modified' => '2020-04-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11654', 'image' => '20200409120151_1586383527.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-09 12:01:03', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11905', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Lockdown Reduces Import Significantly', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 9: The entry of trucks and lorries carrying imported goods at the Birgunj Customs Point has reduced significantly due to the ongoing lockdown. ', 'content' => '<h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">April 9: The entry of trucks and lorries carrying imported goods at the Birgunj Customs Point has reduced significantly due to the ongoing lockdown. </span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Previously, Birgunj Customs Point used to record entry of around 700 trucks and lorries each day on an average but the number of such vehicles entering the country has now reduced to 50 per day.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Lockdown both in Nepal and India has affected the flow of goods. Due to the growing fear of coronavirus infection, customs staff are not able to work freely in both the countries. </span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Ramesh Sukmani, senior officer of Birgunj Customs Office, informed New Business Age that the border point in Birgunj used to record entry of 700 trucks regularly in normal days but the number now has reduced to 50 trucks only. </span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The importers are not able to clear their goods arriving from the customs point. Customs officials informed that the agents of the importers refuse to come to the customs office to clear their goods due to the fear of coronavirus. </span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">At present, more than 300 trucks with imported goods and 800 new vehicles have been stranded at Inaruwa and Integrated Check Post in Birgunj, Sukmani informed.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The import of medicines also has been reduced by 50 percent. </span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Importers are facing difficulties bringing in necessary items including medicines, foodstuff and petroleum despite the government’s commitment to ensure smooth supply of these items.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">A total of 429,940 kgs of medicines and raw materials for making medicines have been imported through the Birgunj border point in the last 15 days of the lockdown. Out of them, 182,000 kgs are readymade medicines. The import is half the amount of medicines imported in normal days, Sukamani added. </span></span></h1> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-09', 'modified' => '2020-04-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11653', 'image' => '20200409124938_1586383315.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-09 12:48:56', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11901', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'TIA Records 19 Int’l Chartered Flights during Lockdown ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 9: Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), the country's sole operational international airport, has suspended flights for around a month due to the rapidly spreading coronavirus pandemic. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">April 9: Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), the country's sole operational international airport, has suspended flights for around a month due to the rapidly spreading coronavirus pandemic. However, the airport continues to see international flights during the nationwide lockdown against the disease for three weeks. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">As informed by the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), international aviation service providers made 19 flights from TIA till Wednesday since March 23, a day before the lockdown was imposed. They were chartered flights with some cargo flights. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">CAAN Spokesperson Raj Kumar Chhetri said over 3,000 foreigners returned home via those flights during lockdown. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Qatar Airways made the highest nine flights followed by four flights of Nepal Airlines Corporation -- the national flag carrier of Nepal -- and one flight each by Korean, Malaysian, Etihad, Czech Republican and Titan airways. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">They carried people from mainly European countries and from New Zealand, Malaysia, and the US back to their homes. The flights were managed by the embassies of the respective countries in Nepal while the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had facilitated towards that end. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-09', 'modified' => '2020-04-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11652', 'image' => '20200409094101_20180727021334_2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-09 09:40:15', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11900', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Full Cylinders of Cooking Gas to be Available from Sunday ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 9: Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has ordered the sale of full cylinders of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) from coming Sunday.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">April 9: Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has ordered the sale of full cylinders of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) from coming Sunday. A meeting of the Board of Directors of the NOC took a decision to this effect on Thursday (April 8). Once the half-filled cylinders get sold out, gas-bottling plants will be selling full cylinders weighing 14.2 kg each. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to the national news agency RSS (Rastriya Samachar Samiti), NOC spokesperson Binitmani Upadhyay shared that the LPG companies will be allowed to fill LPG cylinders to the full from Thursday. The companies had urged the corporation to allow the sale and distribution of full cylinder citing decline in the sale volume of half-filled cylinder in the recent days. </span></span><br /> <span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">RSS reported that the NOC reviewed its earlier decision acting on the demand of companies as well as the lack of storage space and allowed for the sale of full cylinders. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Considering the likelihood of scarcity, the NOC had instructed the gas bottling companies to sell half-filled cylinder weighing 7.1 kg since March 29. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Chairperson of Nepal LP Gas Industry Association Gokul Bhandari said gas bullets have been left unloaded as the cylinders of all the gas companies remain occupied. He said that 59 gas industries across the country have a total gas storage capacity of around 10,000 metric tons. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-09', 'modified' => '2020-04-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11651', 'image' => '20200409092009_gas_cilinder.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-09 09:18:52', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11902', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Industry Minister Inspects Food Stores', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 9: The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies has been working actively to make sure that there is smooth supply of essential goods including food items during the ongoing nationwide lockdown. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">April 9: The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies has been working actively to make sure that there is smooth supply of essential goods including food items during the ongoing nationwide lockdown. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Lekhraj Bhatta and his team have been visiting several food stores in the Kathmandu Valley to inspect the stores and have been instructing the concerned persons to make sure the general public get food items without hindrance. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Minister Bhatta told the National News Agency (RSS) that the ministry had been taking stock of the storage and supplies of daily consumable goods including food items regularly. “We have made sure that no inconvenience be caused to the general public to avail the food items.” </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">At the special initiative of the ministry, the Nepal Oil Corporation has been importing LPG gas more than the regular demand. Anyone can get full cylinders of LGP gas from the National Salt Trading’s office at Teku. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Secretary at the Ministry, Dr Baikuntha Aryal, shared that his team comprising Minister Bhatta made an on-site visit to some food stores at Kalimati and Kuleshwar area on Wednesday (April 8). </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Minister Bhatta urged the store keepers for their facilitation to ensure smooth supply of food items to the general public. He also asked them to contact the ministry or directly to him in case of problems. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Store proprietor Devendra Bhakta Shrestha informed the visiting delegation that they had rice, lentils and flour which could cater to the need to the Kathmandu Valley folks for a month. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">He urged the minister for his positive intervention in arranging vehicles and labourers for the supply of food items from their store to other outlets. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-09', 'modified' => '2020-04-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11650', 'image' => '20200409095948_20200308093535_aaa.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-09 09:59:08', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11899', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Forbes World’s Billionaires List 2020 ', 'sub_title' => 'Chaudhary Drops 164 Spots, Bezos Retains No 1 Position', 'summary' => 'April 8: Binod Chaudhary, who was constantly rising in the ranks of global billionaire since he first appeared in the Forbes billionaires list in 2013, has seen his fortune decreased by USD 300 million. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:Helvetica">April 8: Binod Chaudhary, who was constantly rising in the ranks of global billionaire since he first appeared in the Forbes billionaires list in 2013, has seen his fortune decreased by USD 300 million. The first and the only dollar-billionaire of Nepal ranked1,513<sup>th</sup> in the Forbes World’s Billionaires List 2020, down 164 spots from 1,349<sup>th</sup> in 2019. As of April 8, 2020, his net worth stood at USD 1.4 billion which was USD 1.7 billion in 2019. The 64-year old corporate czar, who manages his business interests worldwide through CG Corp Global, has a diverse investment portfolio ranging from production of noodles and beer, manufacturing/trading of consumer electronics to hotels and banking sector. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:Helvetica">Founder and CEO of the US e-commerce giant Amazon Jeff Bezos retained the no. 1 spot in the list with a net worth of USD 113 billion despite the divorce with his wife MacKenzie Bezos last year that cost him around USD 40 billion. It is for the third year in a row that the tech entrepreneur has hold the top spot in the rich list. According to Forbes, the 15 percent increase in the value of Amazon’s shares helped Bezos to partially offset the loss. In the meantime, Mackenzie debuted in the list at 22<sup>nd</sup> spot with a net worth of USD 36 billion. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:Helvetica">Similarly, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates also retained the second position in the list with net worth of USD 98 billion which was USD 96.5 billion in 2019. The French fashion and retail business mogul Bernard Arnault climbed one spot to rank 3<sup>rd</sup> with net worth of USD 76 billion which remained unchanged from 2019. The legendary American investor Warren Buffet slid one spot to land at 4<sup>th</sup> place with net worth of USD 67.5 billion which was USD 82.5 billion last year. Oracle Corporation co-founder Larry Elison jumped two places to rest at 5<sup>th</sup> spot with net worth of USD 59 billion despite a depletion of USD 3.5 billion in his fortune from USD 62.5 billion in 2019. Similarly, Spanish tycoon Amancio Ortega, who owns the luxury fashion brand Zara, remained unchanged at 6<sup>th</sup> position in the list with net worth of USD 55.1 billion which was USD 62.7 billion last year. Facebook co-founder also saw his fortune dwindled to USD 54.7 billion from USD 62.3 billion in 2019 despite climbing up one position to 7<sup>th</sup> spot in this year’s list. The heirs of the Walton family, which owns the world’s largest retail corporation Walmart, occupied the last three places of the top 10 list. Jim Walton made it to the 8<sup>th</sup> position with a net worth of USD 54.6 billion followed by his younger sister Alice Walton (USD 54.4 billion) and elder brother Rob Walton (USD 54.1 billion). Alice also became the world’s richest woman dethroning the French business magnet Françoise Bettencourt Meyers who is in the 15<sup>th</sup> spot in the list with net worth of USD 48.9 billion. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:Helvetica">Forbes in its 34<sup>th</sup> edition of billionaires list has highlighted the adverse impact of the coronavirus (COVID 19) pandemic on the fortunes of the rich people of the world. According to Forbes, 51 percent of the 2,095 billionaires in the list, have their net worth declined in the past few months. The total net worth of the world’s billionaires amounted to USD 8 trillion, a decline of USD 700 billion from 2019, with 267 individuals, losing their billionaire status who were in the last year’s list. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-08', 'modified' => '2020-04-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11649', 'image' => '20200408110130_pic(3).jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-08 23:00:26', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11896', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'WHO Warns Against Easing Coronavirus Measures 'Too Early'', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 8: The World Health Organization (WHO) has urged countries not to lift measures put in place to slow the spread of the coronavirus too early, Aljazeera reported.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">April 9: The World Health Organization (WHO) has urged countries not to lift measures put in place to slow the spread of the coronavirus too early, Aljazeera reported.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Arial">According to Reuters, the WHO has no blanket recommendation for countries and regions for easing measures to slow the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Arial">The news agency reported citing a WHO spokesperson on Tuesday that lifting the measures too early could have repercussions. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Arial">“One of the most important parts is not to let go of the measures too early in order not to have a fall back again,” the news agencies quoted WHO spokesman Christian Lindmeier as saying in a virtual briefing. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Arial">“It’s similar to being sick yourself if you get out of bed too early and get running too early you risk falling back and having complications.” </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Arial">As of Thursday morning (April 9), the coronavirus pandemic has infected more than 1.5 million people globally and claimed over 88,000 lives. The deadly disease that is believed to have originated in China’s Wuhan in late December last year has spread to 209 countries and territories and two international conveyances, according to Worldometer. The website reported that around 300,000 people have recovered so far.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-08', 'modified' => '2020-04-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11648', 'image' => '20200408113946_unnamed.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-08 11:38:28', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11897', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Startups Urge Government for Support to Stay Afloat', 'sub_title' => 'While many are pausing their operation due to Covid 19 lockdown, their fixed cost including rent, payroll, tax and bank loan interests are issues to worry. ', 'summary' => 'Startups in Nepal have come out as one of the most vulnerable business entities affected by the Covid 19 pandemic.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20px"><strong>By Nikeeta Gautam</strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20px"><strong>Kathmandu: </strong>Startups in Nepal have come out as one of the most vulnerable business entities affected by the Covid 19 pandemic.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20px">Startup communities have been regularly engaged in informal conversations to discuss finding ways to save themselves from the ongoing crisis and what the government can do to mitigate the impacts.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20px">A group of experts, investors and entrepreneurs have come to a conclusion that startups are in dire need of short-term and long-term support from the government. According to them, the government can provide its support by contributing in paying office rents, inventory costs and payrolls to support the survival of startup companies to some extent. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20px">Small businesses suffer quickly as they have little to no cash reserve and are unable to cope with the situation created by big disruptions in their cash flows. Also, startups keep reinvesting their profit, and a situation like a current one dries their income completely. “We don’t make profits immediately. Plus, we need to reinvest whatever is earned,” says Sixit Bhatta, co- founder Tootle, a ride-sharing company. Narottam Aryal, president, King’s College which runs business incubation centre says that main issues among startups now is the cashflow. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20px">“Now, when government is recognising the value of startups in the economy, supporting them in the time of crisis will be essential to keep them afloat,” says Prakash Tiwari, chief investment manager of Hathway Investment Nepal Limited. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20px">The economic crisis, which is unfolding due to the global health emergency, is holding back investors to invest in startup projects which they have pledged earlier. “Many companies might not get second round of funding which was earlier committed by the investors,” said Aryal. Experts say that arrangement short-term collateral free loans could help the startup to cope with the economic crisis afterwards. “The government should make an arrangement to enable startups to avail short-term collateral free loan,” said Tiwari. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20px">Capital investment is another major element for the growth of startups. “Startups are like small children who are not being able to stand by themselves right now. While short term stimulus package will help them stand, creating conducive investment environment will help them grow,” expresses Bhatta. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20px">Companies like Foodmandu have pivoted to keep working through innovation and change; the company which delivers food is now delivering groceries. Similarly, Health at Home has been providing consulting service through phone calls for the people who have doubts on Covid 19 infection. Likewise, the e-commerce platform Sastodeal started delivery of groceries and other daily essential items immediately after lockdown. Similarly, startups like NepXpress, a cargo and courier venture, has been providing technical support to departmental stores including Salesberry to delivery daily essential item to their customers. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20px">The severe interruption in supply chain is a challenge for a logistics company like NepXpress. According to its co-founder Sangam Singh, NepXpress is only able to deliver medicines, which is just 2 percent of its service, due to permit related problems. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20px">On the other hand, some startups are skeptical about their smooth operation for a significant time even after the crisis created by the Covid 19 pandemic subsides. Tootle, which has provided indirect employment to more than 35,000 riders has paused it operation. “Even after the end of the lockdown, movement of people will not be normal because of safety concerns,” says Bhatta. In contrast, there are chances more people will have to depend on ride-sharing platforms for their livelihood. It is because most people will not be able to go to other countries to work, at least for a couple of months,” says Bhatta. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20px">Rohit Tiwari, co-founder of Foodmario says that the service might not take off quickly after the lockdown is lifted. “I think there will be other local problems such as shortage of cooking gas and necessary items to affect our operation,” he predicts. </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-08', 'modified' => '2020-04-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11647', 'image' => '20200408080149_pic(2).jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-08 20:00:48', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11898', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Preparing to Employ 600,000 Individuals after Lockdown', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 8: The government of Nepal is preparing to employ 600,000 people immediately after the lockdown ends. ', 'content' => '<h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">April 8: The government of Nepal is preparing to employ 600,000 people immediately after the lockdown ends. Those getting employment opportunities include various unemployed individuals as well as migrant workers unable to go abroad for work due to the lockdown. </span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">According to the Ministry of Labor, Employment and Social Security, it is preparing to employ the individuals by listing them under the Prime Minister's Employment Program.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The enrolled individuals will be employed for 100 days.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Suman Ghimire, undersecretary at the Ministry of Labor, Employment and Social Security informed that the ministry will include individuals in the programme who are unable to go abroad for work despite receiving the approval. Also, migrant workers coming home in vacation and unemployed individuals will also be listed under the Prime Minister’s Employment Programme. </span></span></h1> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Ghimire further said that the individuals who were not able to go abroad for work will be provided with employment opportunity only by evaluating their economic condition. The local levels will be responsible for such making such evaluation.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">According to Prime Minister’s Employment Programme Office, so far 1.3 million individuals have been listed in the programme. Among them, the government is planning to employee 500,000 individuals this year alone. The government will also include 100,000 individuals unable to go abroad for work and migrant workers returning home in vacation in the programme this year.</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> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-08', 'modified' => '2020-04-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11646', 'image' => '20200408081151_axresdefault.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-08 20:11:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11895', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'MD of Shanker Group Arrested on Charge of Black-marketing', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 8: Police have arrested Sulav Agarwal, managing director of Shanker Group, on the charge of black-marketing of thermal guns. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">April 8: Police have arrested Sulav Agarwal, managing director of Shanker Group, on the charge of black-marketing of thermal guns. A special team from the Metropolitan Police Crime Division (MPCD) of Nepal Police arrested Agarwal from Baluwatar on Tuesday (April 7). </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">According to the police, Agarwal was found selling thermal guns at a price five times higher than the market price. A thermal gun which normally costs around Rs 3500 each was sold for Rs 15,000 by Agrawal, according to police. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">Police added that Agarwal has imported 20,000 units of thermal guns from China. However, police seized only 67 thermal guns from him while they are seeking for the remaining cache. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">The demand for thermal guns has increased due to the spread of Covid 19. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">Police said that Agarwal imported the guns on Saturday in a chartered plane. According to police, Agrawal was on a car with diplomatic number plate (209 HCC 1) when he was arrested. Agarwal is the honorary consul of Krygyzstan to Nepal. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">Police said further investigations are underway. The special squad of police was sent to buy thermal guns from Agarwal after they got information about blackmarketing. The undercover team reached a deal with Agarwal to buy a bulk of thermal guns at the rate of Rs 15,000 each. It has been reported that Agarwal was selling the gun for as much as Rs 20,000 per piece. Police arrested Agarwal when both parties met at the rendezvous as per the deal. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">However, Agarwal has refuted the allegaions, says Senior Superintendent of Police at the MPCD Sahakul Thapa.<br /> “We have been obtained information that he purchased the thermal guns from China. However, he says that he bought the thermal guns from the local market,” said SSP Thapa</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">Agarwal has been kept in custody at the Teku-based office of MPCD. </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-08', 'modified' => '2020-04-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11645', 'image' => '20200408111456_1586272608.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-08 11:13:50', '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' => '11906', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'World Faces 'Worst Economic Fallout since Great Depression': IMF Chief', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 10: The global coronavirus pandemic is causing an economic crisis unlike any in the past century and will require a massive response to ensure recovery.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Verdana">April 10: The global coronavirus pandemic is causing an economic crisis unlike any in the past century and will require a massive response to ensure recovery, AFP reported citing IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Verdana">According to the French news agency, Georgieva warned that "global growth will turn sharply negative in 2020," with 170 of the International Monetary Fund's 180 members experiencing a decline in per capita income.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Verdana">"In fact, we anticipate the worst economic fallout since the Great Depression," AFP quoted Georgieva as saying in a speech previewing next week's spring meetings of the IMF and World Bank, which will be held virtually due to the restrictions imposed due to the COVID-19.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Verdana">Even in the best-case scenario, the IMF expects only a "partial recovery" next year, assuming the virus fades later this year, allowing normal business to resume as the lockdowns imposed to contain its spread are lifted, she said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Verdana">But "it could get worse," and "there is tremendous uncertainty around the outlook" and the duration of the pandemic.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Verdana">Countries already have taken steps worth a combined $8 trillion, but Georgieva urged governments to do more to provide "lifelines" for businesses and households to "avoid a scarring of the economy that would make the recovery so much more difficult."</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Verdana">The IMF is all set to release its World Economic Outlook on Tuesday with grim forecasts for its members for this year and next. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Verdana">According to AFP, the IMF in January projected global growth of 3.3 percent this year and 3.4 percent in 2021. But that was a different world.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Verdana">"The bleak outlook applies to advanced and developing economies alike. This crisis knows no boundaries. Everybody hurts," Georgieva said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Verdana">She noted that about $100 billion in investments already had fled emerging markets -- more than three times the capital exodus seen in the 2008 global financial crisis.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-10', 'modified' => '2020-04-10', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11659', 'image' => '20200410083838_Vectorstock0659666.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-10 08:37:49', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11907', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Hackers Becoming Active During Lockdown', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 10: Hackers have started becoming active in the country, taking advantage of the lockdown imposed by the government since March 24. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">April 10: Hackers have started becoming active in the country, taking advantage of the lockdown imposed by the government since March 24. A group of hackers have hacked the mobile application and software of Foodmandu while Vianet has also fallen victim to the hackers. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">Fearing that hackers could also target banks and financial institutions (BFIs), Nepal Rastra Bank has cautioned BFIs and their customers to adopt safety measures against hacking.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">The central bank has received numerous complaints from customers regarding hacking of their Viber, Whatsapp and Messenger accounts through which the hackers get access to eSewa wallet and request the customers to transfer amount as donations. Nepal Rastra Bank has warned the public not to fall into such traps an provide any details of their bank accounts and passwords even if someone requests such details posing as bank employees.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">The central bank has instructed BFIs to stay alert and inform their customers about the possible threats from hackers.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">Executive Director at the Payments System Department of NRB Rewati Prasad Nepal informed New Business Age that the central bank has been verbally appealing to BFIs and payment gateways to increase their security against cyber threats.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">“We have received numerous complaints of customers getting requests for financial assistance through eSewa and other digital payment gateways as well as customers being asked for their email, phone number and login details from unidentified sources,” said Nepal.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">“Hackers are becoming active at this time,” he added.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">Realizing the threats from hackers, Nepal Investment Bank Limited has cautioned its customers not to give their passwords or ATM and mobile banking pin numbers to anyone.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">Meanwhile, President of Nepal Bankers Association Bhuvan Kumar Dahal opined that BFIs must step up their security from cyber threats during lockdown.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-10', 'modified' => '2020-04-10', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11658', 'image' => '20200410100159_1586469916.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-10 10:01:23', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11909', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Tatopani Customs Point Resumes Operation ', 'sub_title' => 'China Allows Supply of only Essential Goods for the Time Being', 'summary' => 'April 10: Tatopani Customs Point has come into operation since Wednesday. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Bangla MN"">April 10: Tatopani Customs Point has come into operation since Wednesday. The customs point with China was closed since January 27 due to the outbreak of coronavirus in China. Trucks loaded with sanitizers and masks entered Nepal from the border point on Wednesday evening.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Bangla MN"">Tatopani is one of the two major customs point with China. The other one is Rasuwagadhi Customs Point which still remains closed. The government had last week announced to open both the vital border points. However, the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies informed that China is unwilling to open any other border point except Tatopani.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Bangla MN"">“China has agreed to supply essential goods for the time being. But it is not ready to open any other customs point,” said Baikuntha Aryal, secretary at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies. He added that Nepal is making diplomatic efforts to open other border points.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Arial">The Tatopani Customs Point was opened after setting up a health desk as per the requirement of the World Health Organisation’s standard, informed Chief District Officer (CDO) of Sindhupalchowk district Umesh Kumar Dhakal. He said that the border was opened only to import essential goods.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Arial">According to chief of the customs office Lal Bahadur Khatri, the Chinese police had transported the masks and sanitizers till the border. “A Nepalese vehicle went across the Friendship Bridge to pick up the goods. The consignment has already reached Kathmandu,” said Khatri.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Arial">Khatri informed that although the Chinese government has only allowed transport of essential goods in the first phase, both sides are making preparations to open the customs point for commercial shipments. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Arial">The border was closed in late January due to the massive spread of coronavirus in China. The customs point was bearing losses of Rs 10 million on an average per day due to the closure of the vital border point.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Arial">Meanwhile, Chinese authorities in Kerung across the Rasuwagadhi border, were positive about opening the border after making necessary preparations for health check up and quarantine facilities for drivers until a week ago. However, they made a u-turn recently stating that they have received orders from above not to open the border point.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Arial">Director General of the Department of Customs Suman Dahal said that although they had made preparations to open the border with high security, it was not possible as the Chinese government did not agree to open any other border point besides Tatopani. According to him, eight customs point along Nepal-China border are currently closed.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Arial">Nepal started importing goods from China through Rasuwagadhi customs point since the last four years after India imposed a blockade. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-10', 'modified' => '2020-04-10', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11657', 'image' => '20200410123831_1586468314.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-10 12:37:42', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11908', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Retailers Facing Shortage of Food Supplies', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 10: With the extension of lockdown, retail shops are getting short of food supplies and daily essentials. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">April 10: With the extension of lockdown, retail shops are getting short of food supplies and daily essentials. Though industries and wholesalers have enough supplies, retail shops are not getting access to those products due to transportation problem.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">“Retailers have started running out of supplies. But at this situation we are helpless. The government has to address this issue,” said Raj Kumar Shrestha, president of Nepal Retailers’ Association</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">According to supplier Durga Raj Shrestha, the market will see shortage of food stuffs like biscuits and noodles in 15-20 days. “However, items like sanitizer, soap, detergent powder are enough for now,” he said. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">Normally, trucks used to be loaded while coming to Kathmandu as well as while returning. However, now they don’t get the supplies while returning, so the drivers are facing problems. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">Shrestha said that the trucks are charging double charge for transporting the goods. “Due to this, we have to charge high to our consumers,” informed Shrestha. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">Likewise, Devendra Bhakta Shrestha, president of Food Grocery Trading Association, said that due to shortage of workers wholesalers are not able to supply the products to the retailers. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">The industries have food storage for up to 2-3 months but problems in delivering the goods is creating shortage in the market. According to Subodh Kumar Gupta, president of Nepalese Rice, Oil and Pulses Association, the challenge is because of the double charge demanded by the truck entrepreneurs. The government needs to ease the process of transportation, said Gupta.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">Besides, the drivers and other staff are also not getting proper food because many hotels are shut. It is reported that many drivers are not willing to work in this situation. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">Currently, only 40 percent of the food supply industries are in operation. And these industries are also only producing 25 percent of their capacity. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><strong><span style="font-family:Calibri">Government entities have enough food supplies </span></strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">“Salt Trading Cooperation has 7,000 tons of sugar and 115,000 tons of salt. Additional 45,000 tons of salt is on the way from India,” informed Kumar Raj Bhandary, deputy general manager of Salt Trading Corporation. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">Similarly, Food Management and Trade Company Ltd (FMTC) has stored 22,000 metric tons of rice. According to Netra Subedi, executive director of FMTC, rice mills in Janakpur and Bardiya will also come into operation within a few days. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-10', 'modified' => '2020-04-10', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11656', 'image' => '20200410113148_20170120021251_ss.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-10 11:30:56', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11904', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Commercial Banks to Lower Interest Rate', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 9: Commercial banks have decided to lower the interest rates on deposits effective from mid-April.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">April 9: Commercial banks have decided to lower the interest rates on deposits effective from mid-April. The commercial banks decided to slash the interest rate after Nepal Rastra Bank lowered the interest rate on loans provided to the commercial banks by 1 percent. The new rates of interest provided by the commercial banks will be less by around 1 percent. The banks have already started to make public the new interest rates. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">They have also decided to lower the interest rates for regular savings, fixed deposit and call deposit accounts by 1 to 1.5 percent. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The banks will also reduce the interests on loans from mid-March after calculating the base rate </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Meanwhile, the interest rates on personal savings accounts and institutional savings accounts will be respectively 1 percent and 1.5 percent lower than the current rates.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Currently, the banks have been giving interest up to 9.25 percent on personal savings account, which will be lowered to between 8 to 8.25 percent.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">All the 27 member banks of Nepal Bankers’ Association have agreed to lower the interest rate on deposits. In this regard, the commercial banks have already published the new rates of interest since Wednesday. However, the interest rate of fixed deposit accounts will be lowered only after the maturity period. Chairman of Nepal Bankers’ Association Bhuvan Dahal said that the interest rate of new fixed deposit accounts and those renewing their agreements will be lower than the current rate.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Out of the total deposits in banks, around 50 percent of the amounts are under fixed deposit accounts. Thirty percent of the accounts are savings accounts. Then remaining are current accounts, call deposit accounts and other types of accounts.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">“The economy is on the verge of collapse. We have to be careful about preventing such collapse.The central bank has reduced the interest rate on loan from 6 percent to 5 percent. Therefore, the banks are under pressure to reduce the interest rate,” said Dahal.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-09', 'modified' => '2020-04-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11655', 'image' => '20200409123223_low-interest-rates.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-09 12:31:43', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11903', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government to Bring Holistic Economic Relief Package ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 9: The government has decided to bring a special package to address the impacts of coronavirus on the country’s economy. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">April 9: The </span><span style="font-family:Arial">government has decided to bring a special package to address the impacts of coronavirus on the country’s economy. Preparations are underway to launch the package within two weeks, informed sources told New Business Age. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">According to officials at the Finance Ministry, the stimulus package will be holistic in nature and address the entire aspects of Nepal’s economy. Finance Minister Yuba Raj Khatiwada is evaluating the size of economic relief, said an official at the Ministry. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">“The economic impacts of Covid-19 lockdown will be evaluated. Provided the lockdown is extended, we will also analyze the anticipated losses,” said the official, adding, “We will prepare a rough estimate within a week.” </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">The government has formed a committee to study the economic impacts of coronavirus in Nepal under the leadership of Revenue Secretary Ram Sharan Pudasaini. The committee consists of officials of Nepal Rastra Bank as members. Similarly, a technical committee has been formed to evaluate the effects under the leadership of Pushpa Kandel, vice-chairman of the National Planning Commission. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">“The economic package will be prepared after consulting the reports of the committee,” said Moti Dugar, state minister for industry, commerce and supplies. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">According to him, the ministry is planning to request the Finance Ministry to cover issues including interests to be paid by businessmen, extending the payment of loan till six months, subsidy in customs duty for the exportable items, subsidized loan to the industries highly affected by coronavirus among others. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">“We have asked the private sector to submit proposal regarding their losses and support needed for recovery. We will try our best to address their concern,” said Dugar. </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 President of the Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FNCCI) Bhavani Rana, a committee under the leadership of Shekhar Golchha will prepare a report and submit it to the government. “The committee has already prepared the final draft. We will submit the report in two days,” said Rana. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">She said that the proposal demands that that interest for tourism industry be reduced by reduced by 50 percent. According to FNCCI many people have lost their jobs in the tourism sector and so the government must provide relief to the workers. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">“Now, we can see the effects only on tourism and industry. However, this will affect the overall economy. So, the proposal consists of concerns of all the industries,” said Rana. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">According to Dr Swarnim Wagle, former vice-chairman of the NPC, the government should bring an economic relief package of minimum Rs 150 billion. “The government should bring a relief package of Rs 100 billion in the initial stage. Later on, with further research, the government should add the relief,” said Wagle. According to him, the concerns of tourism sector, industries and labourers should be addressed first. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">“The workers working in affected sectors should be provided with welfare fund, special facilities from social security fund and their tax payment duration should be extended by at least six months,” said Wagle. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-09', 'modified' => '2020-04-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11654', 'image' => '20200409120151_1586383527.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-09 12:01:03', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11905', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Lockdown Reduces Import Significantly', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 9: The entry of trucks and lorries carrying imported goods at the Birgunj Customs Point has reduced significantly due to the ongoing lockdown. ', 'content' => '<h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">April 9: The entry of trucks and lorries carrying imported goods at the Birgunj Customs Point has reduced significantly due to the ongoing lockdown. </span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Previously, Birgunj Customs Point used to record entry of around 700 trucks and lorries each day on an average but the number of such vehicles entering the country has now reduced to 50 per day.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Lockdown both in Nepal and India has affected the flow of goods. Due to the growing fear of coronavirus infection, customs staff are not able to work freely in both the countries. </span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Ramesh Sukmani, senior officer of Birgunj Customs Office, informed New Business Age that the border point in Birgunj used to record entry of 700 trucks regularly in normal days but the number now has reduced to 50 trucks only. </span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The importers are not able to clear their goods arriving from the customs point. Customs officials informed that the agents of the importers refuse to come to the customs office to clear their goods due to the fear of coronavirus. </span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">At present, more than 300 trucks with imported goods and 800 new vehicles have been stranded at Inaruwa and Integrated Check Post in Birgunj, Sukmani informed.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The import of medicines also has been reduced by 50 percent. </span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Importers are facing difficulties bringing in necessary items including medicines, foodstuff and petroleum despite the government’s commitment to ensure smooth supply of these items.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">A total of 429,940 kgs of medicines and raw materials for making medicines have been imported through the Birgunj border point in the last 15 days of the lockdown. Out of them, 182,000 kgs are readymade medicines. The import is half the amount of medicines imported in normal days, Sukamani added. </span></span></h1> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-09', 'modified' => '2020-04-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11653', 'image' => '20200409124938_1586383315.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-09 12:48:56', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11901', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'TIA Records 19 Int’l Chartered Flights during Lockdown ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 9: Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), the country's sole operational international airport, has suspended flights for around a month due to the rapidly spreading coronavirus pandemic. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">April 9: Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), the country's sole operational international airport, has suspended flights for around a month due to the rapidly spreading coronavirus pandemic. However, the airport continues to see international flights during the nationwide lockdown against the disease for three weeks. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">As informed by the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), international aviation service providers made 19 flights from TIA till Wednesday since March 23, a day before the lockdown was imposed. They were chartered flights with some cargo flights. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">CAAN Spokesperson Raj Kumar Chhetri said over 3,000 foreigners returned home via those flights during lockdown. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Qatar Airways made the highest nine flights followed by four flights of Nepal Airlines Corporation -- the national flag carrier of Nepal -- and one flight each by Korean, Malaysian, Etihad, Czech Republican and Titan airways. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">They carried people from mainly European countries and from New Zealand, Malaysia, and the US back to their homes. The flights were managed by the embassies of the respective countries in Nepal while the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had facilitated towards that end. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-09', 'modified' => '2020-04-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11652', 'image' => '20200409094101_20180727021334_2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-09 09:40:15', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11900', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Full Cylinders of Cooking Gas to be Available from Sunday ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 9: Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has ordered the sale of full cylinders of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) from coming Sunday.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">April 9: Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has ordered the sale of full cylinders of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) from coming Sunday. A meeting of the Board of Directors of the NOC took a decision to this effect on Thursday (April 8). Once the half-filled cylinders get sold out, gas-bottling plants will be selling full cylinders weighing 14.2 kg each. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to the national news agency RSS (Rastriya Samachar Samiti), NOC spokesperson Binitmani Upadhyay shared that the LPG companies will be allowed to fill LPG cylinders to the full from Thursday. The companies had urged the corporation to allow the sale and distribution of full cylinder citing decline in the sale volume of half-filled cylinder in the recent days. </span></span><br /> <span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">RSS reported that the NOC reviewed its earlier decision acting on the demand of companies as well as the lack of storage space and allowed for the sale of full cylinders. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Considering the likelihood of scarcity, the NOC had instructed the gas bottling companies to sell half-filled cylinder weighing 7.1 kg since March 29. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Chairperson of Nepal LP Gas Industry Association Gokul Bhandari said gas bullets have been left unloaded as the cylinders of all the gas companies remain occupied. He said that 59 gas industries across the country have a total gas storage capacity of around 10,000 metric tons. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-09', 'modified' => '2020-04-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11651', 'image' => '20200409092009_gas_cilinder.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-09 09:18:52', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11902', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Industry Minister Inspects Food Stores', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 9: The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies has been working actively to make sure that there is smooth supply of essential goods including food items during the ongoing nationwide lockdown. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">April 9: The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies has been working actively to make sure that there is smooth supply of essential goods including food items during the ongoing nationwide lockdown. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Lekhraj Bhatta and his team have been visiting several food stores in the Kathmandu Valley to inspect the stores and have been instructing the concerned persons to make sure the general public get food items without hindrance. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Minister Bhatta told the National News Agency (RSS) that the ministry had been taking stock of the storage and supplies of daily consumable goods including food items regularly. “We have made sure that no inconvenience be caused to the general public to avail the food items.” </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">At the special initiative of the ministry, the Nepal Oil Corporation has been importing LPG gas more than the regular demand. Anyone can get full cylinders of LGP gas from the National Salt Trading’s office at Teku. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Secretary at the Ministry, Dr Baikuntha Aryal, shared that his team comprising Minister Bhatta made an on-site visit to some food stores at Kalimati and Kuleshwar area on Wednesday (April 8). </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Minister Bhatta urged the store keepers for their facilitation to ensure smooth supply of food items to the general public. He also asked them to contact the ministry or directly to him in case of problems. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Store proprietor Devendra Bhakta Shrestha informed the visiting delegation that they had rice, lentils and flour which could cater to the need to the Kathmandu Valley folks for a month. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">He urged the minister for his positive intervention in arranging vehicles and labourers for the supply of food items from their store to other outlets. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-09', 'modified' => '2020-04-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11650', 'image' => '20200409095948_20200308093535_aaa.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-09 09:59:08', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11899', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Forbes World’s Billionaires List 2020 ', 'sub_title' => 'Chaudhary Drops 164 Spots, Bezos Retains No 1 Position', 'summary' => 'April 8: Binod Chaudhary, who was constantly rising in the ranks of global billionaire since he first appeared in the Forbes billionaires list in 2013, has seen his fortune decreased by USD 300 million. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:Helvetica">April 8: Binod Chaudhary, who was constantly rising in the ranks of global billionaire since he first appeared in the Forbes billionaires list in 2013, has seen his fortune decreased by USD 300 million. The first and the only dollar-billionaire of Nepal ranked1,513<sup>th</sup> in the Forbes World’s Billionaires List 2020, down 164 spots from 1,349<sup>th</sup> in 2019. As of April 8, 2020, his net worth stood at USD 1.4 billion which was USD 1.7 billion in 2019. The 64-year old corporate czar, who manages his business interests worldwide through CG Corp Global, has a diverse investment portfolio ranging from production of noodles and beer, manufacturing/trading of consumer electronics to hotels and banking sector. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:Helvetica">Founder and CEO of the US e-commerce giant Amazon Jeff Bezos retained the no. 1 spot in the list with a net worth of USD 113 billion despite the divorce with his wife MacKenzie Bezos last year that cost him around USD 40 billion. It is for the third year in a row that the tech entrepreneur has hold the top spot in the rich list. According to Forbes, the 15 percent increase in the value of Amazon’s shares helped Bezos to partially offset the loss. In the meantime, Mackenzie debuted in the list at 22<sup>nd</sup> spot with a net worth of USD 36 billion. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:Helvetica">Similarly, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates also retained the second position in the list with net worth of USD 98 billion which was USD 96.5 billion in 2019. The French fashion and retail business mogul Bernard Arnault climbed one spot to rank 3<sup>rd</sup> with net worth of USD 76 billion which remained unchanged from 2019. The legendary American investor Warren Buffet slid one spot to land at 4<sup>th</sup> place with net worth of USD 67.5 billion which was USD 82.5 billion last year. Oracle Corporation co-founder Larry Elison jumped two places to rest at 5<sup>th</sup> spot with net worth of USD 59 billion despite a depletion of USD 3.5 billion in his fortune from USD 62.5 billion in 2019. Similarly, Spanish tycoon Amancio Ortega, who owns the luxury fashion brand Zara, remained unchanged at 6<sup>th</sup> position in the list with net worth of USD 55.1 billion which was USD 62.7 billion last year. Facebook co-founder also saw his fortune dwindled to USD 54.7 billion from USD 62.3 billion in 2019 despite climbing up one position to 7<sup>th</sup> spot in this year’s list. The heirs of the Walton family, which owns the world’s largest retail corporation Walmart, occupied the last three places of the top 10 list. Jim Walton made it to the 8<sup>th</sup> position with a net worth of USD 54.6 billion followed by his younger sister Alice Walton (USD 54.4 billion) and elder brother Rob Walton (USD 54.1 billion). Alice also became the world’s richest woman dethroning the French business magnet Françoise Bettencourt Meyers who is in the 15<sup>th</sup> spot in the list with net worth of USD 48.9 billion. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:Helvetica">Forbes in its 34<sup>th</sup> edition of billionaires list has highlighted the adverse impact of the coronavirus (COVID 19) pandemic on the fortunes of the rich people of the world. According to Forbes, 51 percent of the 2,095 billionaires in the list, have their net worth declined in the past few months. The total net worth of the world’s billionaires amounted to USD 8 trillion, a decline of USD 700 billion from 2019, with 267 individuals, losing their billionaire status who were in the last year’s list. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-08', 'modified' => '2020-04-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11649', 'image' => '20200408110130_pic(3).jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-08 23:00:26', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11896', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'WHO Warns Against Easing Coronavirus Measures 'Too Early'', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 8: The World Health Organization (WHO) has urged countries not to lift measures put in place to slow the spread of the coronavirus too early, Aljazeera reported.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">April 9: The World Health Organization (WHO) has urged countries not to lift measures put in place to slow the spread of the coronavirus too early, Aljazeera reported.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Arial">According to Reuters, the WHO has no blanket recommendation for countries and regions for easing measures to slow the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Arial">The news agency reported citing a WHO spokesperson on Tuesday that lifting the measures too early could have repercussions. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Arial">“One of the most important parts is not to let go of the measures too early in order not to have a fall back again,” the news agencies quoted WHO spokesman Christian Lindmeier as saying in a virtual briefing. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Arial">“It’s similar to being sick yourself if you get out of bed too early and get running too early you risk falling back and having complications.” </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Arial">As of Thursday morning (April 9), the coronavirus pandemic has infected more than 1.5 million people globally and claimed over 88,000 lives. The deadly disease that is believed to have originated in China’s Wuhan in late December last year has spread to 209 countries and territories and two international conveyances, according to Worldometer. The website reported that around 300,000 people have recovered so far.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-08', 'modified' => '2020-04-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11648', 'image' => '20200408113946_unnamed.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-08 11:38:28', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11897', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Startups Urge Government for Support to Stay Afloat', 'sub_title' => 'While many are pausing their operation due to Covid 19 lockdown, their fixed cost including rent, payroll, tax and bank loan interests are issues to worry. ', 'summary' => 'Startups in Nepal have come out as one of the most vulnerable business entities affected by the Covid 19 pandemic.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20px"><strong>By Nikeeta Gautam</strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20px"><strong>Kathmandu: </strong>Startups in Nepal have come out as one of the most vulnerable business entities affected by the Covid 19 pandemic.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20px">Startup communities have been regularly engaged in informal conversations to discuss finding ways to save themselves from the ongoing crisis and what the government can do to mitigate the impacts.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20px">A group of experts, investors and entrepreneurs have come to a conclusion that startups are in dire need of short-term and long-term support from the government. According to them, the government can provide its support by contributing in paying office rents, inventory costs and payrolls to support the survival of startup companies to some extent. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20px">Small businesses suffer quickly as they have little to no cash reserve and are unable to cope with the situation created by big disruptions in their cash flows. Also, startups keep reinvesting their profit, and a situation like a current one dries their income completely. “We don’t make profits immediately. Plus, we need to reinvest whatever is earned,” says Sixit Bhatta, co- founder Tootle, a ride-sharing company. Narottam Aryal, president, King’s College which runs business incubation centre says that main issues among startups now is the cashflow. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20px">“Now, when government is recognising the value of startups in the economy, supporting them in the time of crisis will be essential to keep them afloat,” says Prakash Tiwari, chief investment manager of Hathway Investment Nepal Limited. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20px">The economic crisis, which is unfolding due to the global health emergency, is holding back investors to invest in startup projects which they have pledged earlier. “Many companies might not get second round of funding which was earlier committed by the investors,” said Aryal. Experts say that arrangement short-term collateral free loans could help the startup to cope with the economic crisis afterwards. “The government should make an arrangement to enable startups to avail short-term collateral free loan,” said Tiwari. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20px">Capital investment is another major element for the growth of startups. “Startups are like small children who are not being able to stand by themselves right now. While short term stimulus package will help them stand, creating conducive investment environment will help them grow,” expresses Bhatta. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20px">Companies like Foodmandu have pivoted to keep working through innovation and change; the company which delivers food is now delivering groceries. Similarly, Health at Home has been providing consulting service through phone calls for the people who have doubts on Covid 19 infection. Likewise, the e-commerce platform Sastodeal started delivery of groceries and other daily essential items immediately after lockdown. Similarly, startups like NepXpress, a cargo and courier venture, has been providing technical support to departmental stores including Salesberry to delivery daily essential item to their customers. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20px">The severe interruption in supply chain is a challenge for a logistics company like NepXpress. According to its co-founder Sangam Singh, NepXpress is only able to deliver medicines, which is just 2 percent of its service, due to permit related problems. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20px">On the other hand, some startups are skeptical about their smooth operation for a significant time even after the crisis created by the Covid 19 pandemic subsides. Tootle, which has provided indirect employment to more than 35,000 riders has paused it operation. “Even after the end of the lockdown, movement of people will not be normal because of safety concerns,” says Bhatta. In contrast, there are chances more people will have to depend on ride-sharing platforms for their livelihood. It is because most people will not be able to go to other countries to work, at least for a couple of months,” says Bhatta. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20px">Rohit Tiwari, co-founder of Foodmario says that the service might not take off quickly after the lockdown is lifted. “I think there will be other local problems such as shortage of cooking gas and necessary items to affect our operation,” he predicts. </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-08', 'modified' => '2020-04-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11647', 'image' => '20200408080149_pic(2).jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-08 20:00:48', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11898', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Preparing to Employ 600,000 Individuals after Lockdown', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 8: The government of Nepal is preparing to employ 600,000 people immediately after the lockdown ends. ', 'content' => '<h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">April 8: The government of Nepal is preparing to employ 600,000 people immediately after the lockdown ends. Those getting employment opportunities include various unemployed individuals as well as migrant workers unable to go abroad for work due to the lockdown. </span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">According to the Ministry of Labor, Employment and Social Security, it is preparing to employ the individuals by listing them under the Prime Minister's Employment Program.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The enrolled individuals will be employed for 100 days.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Suman Ghimire, undersecretary at the Ministry of Labor, Employment and Social Security informed that the ministry will include individuals in the programme who are unable to go abroad for work despite receiving the approval. Also, migrant workers coming home in vacation and unemployed individuals will also be listed under the Prime Minister’s Employment Programme. </span></span></h1> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Ghimire further said that the individuals who were not able to go abroad for work will be provided with employment opportunity only by evaluating their economic condition. The local levels will be responsible for such making such evaluation.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">According to Prime Minister’s Employment Programme Office, so far 1.3 million individuals have been listed in the programme. Among them, the government is planning to employee 500,000 individuals this year alone. The government will also include 100,000 individuals unable to go abroad for work and migrant workers returning home in vacation in the programme this year.</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> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-08', 'modified' => '2020-04-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11646', 'image' => '20200408081151_axresdefault.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-08 20:11:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11895', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'MD of Shanker Group Arrested on Charge of Black-marketing', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 8: Police have arrested Sulav Agarwal, managing director of Shanker Group, on the charge of black-marketing of thermal guns. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">April 8: Police have arrested Sulav Agarwal, managing director of Shanker Group, on the charge of black-marketing of thermal guns. A special team from the Metropolitan Police Crime Division (MPCD) of Nepal Police arrested Agarwal from Baluwatar on Tuesday (April 7). </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">According to the police, Agarwal was found selling thermal guns at a price five times higher than the market price. A thermal gun which normally costs around Rs 3500 each was sold for Rs 15,000 by Agrawal, according to police. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">Police added that Agarwal has imported 20,000 units of thermal guns from China. However, police seized only 67 thermal guns from him while they are seeking for the remaining cache. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">The demand for thermal guns has increased due to the spread of Covid 19. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">Police said that Agarwal imported the guns on Saturday in a chartered plane. According to police, Agrawal was on a car with diplomatic number plate (209 HCC 1) when he was arrested. Agarwal is the honorary consul of Krygyzstan to Nepal. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">Police said further investigations are underway. The special squad of police was sent to buy thermal guns from Agarwal after they got information about blackmarketing. The undercover team reached a deal with Agarwal to buy a bulk of thermal guns at the rate of Rs 15,000 each. It has been reported that Agarwal was selling the gun for as much as Rs 20,000 per piece. Police arrested Agarwal when both parties met at the rendezvous as per the deal. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">However, Agarwal has refuted the allegaions, says Senior Superintendent of Police at the MPCD Sahakul Thapa.<br /> “We have been obtained information that he purchased the thermal guns from China. However, he says that he bought the thermal guns from the local market,” said SSP Thapa</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">Agarwal has been kept in custody at the Teku-based office of MPCD. </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-08', 'modified' => '2020-04-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11645', 'image' => '20200408111456_1586272608.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-08 11:13:50', '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
Notice (8): Undefined variable: file [APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 133]Code Context// $file = 'http://aabhiyan:QUVLg8Wzs2F7G9N7@nepalstock.com.np/api/subindexdata.xml';if(!$xml = simplexml_load_file($file)){$viewFile = '/var/www/html/newbusinessage.com/app/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'articles' => array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ) ), 'current_user' => null, 'logged_in' => false ) $articles = array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11906', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'World Faces 'Worst Economic Fallout since Great Depression': IMF Chief', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 10: The global coronavirus pandemic is causing an economic crisis unlike any in the past century and will require a massive response to ensure recovery.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Verdana">April 10: The global coronavirus pandemic is causing an economic crisis unlike any in the past century and will require a massive response to ensure recovery, AFP reported citing IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Verdana">According to the French news agency, Georgieva warned that "global growth will turn sharply negative in 2020," with 170 of the International Monetary Fund's 180 members experiencing a decline in per capita income.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Verdana">"In fact, we anticipate the worst economic fallout since the Great Depression," AFP quoted Georgieva as saying in a speech previewing next week's spring meetings of the IMF and World Bank, which will be held virtually due to the restrictions imposed due to the COVID-19.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Verdana">Even in the best-case scenario, the IMF expects only a "partial recovery" next year, assuming the virus fades later this year, allowing normal business to resume as the lockdowns imposed to contain its spread are lifted, she said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Verdana">But "it could get worse," and "there is tremendous uncertainty around the outlook" and the duration of the pandemic.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Verdana">Countries already have taken steps worth a combined $8 trillion, but Georgieva urged governments to do more to provide "lifelines" for businesses and households to "avoid a scarring of the economy that would make the recovery so much more difficult."</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Verdana">The IMF is all set to release its World Economic Outlook on Tuesday with grim forecasts for its members for this year and next. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Verdana">According to AFP, the IMF in January projected global growth of 3.3 percent this year and 3.4 percent in 2021. But that was a different world.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Verdana">"The bleak outlook applies to advanced and developing economies alike. This crisis knows no boundaries. Everybody hurts," Georgieva said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Verdana">She noted that about $100 billion in investments already had fled emerging markets -- more than three times the capital exodus seen in the 2008 global financial crisis.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-10', 'modified' => '2020-04-10', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11659', 'image' => '20200410083838_Vectorstock0659666.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-10 08:37:49', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11907', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Hackers Becoming Active During Lockdown', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 10: Hackers have started becoming active in the country, taking advantage of the lockdown imposed by the government since March 24. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">April 10: Hackers have started becoming active in the country, taking advantage of the lockdown imposed by the government since March 24. A group of hackers have hacked the mobile application and software of Foodmandu while Vianet has also fallen victim to the hackers. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">Fearing that hackers could also target banks and financial institutions (BFIs), Nepal Rastra Bank has cautioned BFIs and their customers to adopt safety measures against hacking.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">The central bank has received numerous complaints from customers regarding hacking of their Viber, Whatsapp and Messenger accounts through which the hackers get access to eSewa wallet and request the customers to transfer amount as donations. Nepal Rastra Bank has warned the public not to fall into such traps an provide any details of their bank accounts and passwords even if someone requests such details posing as bank employees.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">The central bank has instructed BFIs to stay alert and inform their customers about the possible threats from hackers.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">Executive Director at the Payments System Department of NRB Rewati Prasad Nepal informed New Business Age that the central bank has been verbally appealing to BFIs and payment gateways to increase their security against cyber threats.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">“We have received numerous complaints of customers getting requests for financial assistance through eSewa and other digital payment gateways as well as customers being asked for their email, phone number and login details from unidentified sources,” said Nepal.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">“Hackers are becoming active at this time,” he added.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">Realizing the threats from hackers, Nepal Investment Bank Limited has cautioned its customers not to give their passwords or ATM and mobile banking pin numbers to anyone.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">Meanwhile, President of Nepal Bankers Association Bhuvan Kumar Dahal opined that BFIs must step up their security from cyber threats during lockdown.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-10', 'modified' => '2020-04-10', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11658', 'image' => '20200410100159_1586469916.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-10 10:01:23', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11909', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Tatopani Customs Point Resumes Operation ', 'sub_title' => 'China Allows Supply of only Essential Goods for the Time Being', 'summary' => 'April 10: Tatopani Customs Point has come into operation since Wednesday. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Bangla MN"">April 10: Tatopani Customs Point has come into operation since Wednesday. The customs point with China was closed since January 27 due to the outbreak of coronavirus in China. Trucks loaded with sanitizers and masks entered Nepal from the border point on Wednesday evening.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Bangla MN"">Tatopani is one of the two major customs point with China. The other one is Rasuwagadhi Customs Point which still remains closed. The government had last week announced to open both the vital border points. However, the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies informed that China is unwilling to open any other border point except Tatopani.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Bangla MN"">“China has agreed to supply essential goods for the time being. But it is not ready to open any other customs point,” said Baikuntha Aryal, secretary at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies. He added that Nepal is making diplomatic efforts to open other border points.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Arial">The Tatopani Customs Point was opened after setting up a health desk as per the requirement of the World Health Organisation’s standard, informed Chief District Officer (CDO) of Sindhupalchowk district Umesh Kumar Dhakal. He said that the border was opened only to import essential goods.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Arial">According to chief of the customs office Lal Bahadur Khatri, the Chinese police had transported the masks and sanitizers till the border. “A Nepalese vehicle went across the Friendship Bridge to pick up the goods. The consignment has already reached Kathmandu,” said Khatri.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Arial">Khatri informed that although the Chinese government has only allowed transport of essential goods in the first phase, both sides are making preparations to open the customs point for commercial shipments. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Arial">The border was closed in late January due to the massive spread of coronavirus in China. The customs point was bearing losses of Rs 10 million on an average per day due to the closure of the vital border point.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Arial">Meanwhile, Chinese authorities in Kerung across the Rasuwagadhi border, were positive about opening the border after making necessary preparations for health check up and quarantine facilities for drivers until a week ago. However, they made a u-turn recently stating that they have received orders from above not to open the border point.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Arial">Director General of the Department of Customs Suman Dahal said that although they had made preparations to open the border with high security, it was not possible as the Chinese government did not agree to open any other border point besides Tatopani. According to him, eight customs point along Nepal-China border are currently closed.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Arial">Nepal started importing goods from China through Rasuwagadhi customs point since the last four years after India imposed a blockade. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-10', 'modified' => '2020-04-10', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11657', 'image' => '20200410123831_1586468314.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-10 12:37:42', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11908', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Retailers Facing Shortage of Food Supplies', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 10: With the extension of lockdown, retail shops are getting short of food supplies and daily essentials. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">April 10: With the extension of lockdown, retail shops are getting short of food supplies and daily essentials. Though industries and wholesalers have enough supplies, retail shops are not getting access to those products due to transportation problem.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">“Retailers have started running out of supplies. But at this situation we are helpless. The government has to address this issue,” said Raj Kumar Shrestha, president of Nepal Retailers’ Association</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">According to supplier Durga Raj Shrestha, the market will see shortage of food stuffs like biscuits and noodles in 15-20 days. “However, items like sanitizer, soap, detergent powder are enough for now,” he said. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">Normally, trucks used to be loaded while coming to Kathmandu as well as while returning. However, now they don’t get the supplies while returning, so the drivers are facing problems. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">Shrestha said that the trucks are charging double charge for transporting the goods. “Due to this, we have to charge high to our consumers,” informed Shrestha. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">Likewise, Devendra Bhakta Shrestha, president of Food Grocery Trading Association, said that due to shortage of workers wholesalers are not able to supply the products to the retailers. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">The industries have food storage for up to 2-3 months but problems in delivering the goods is creating shortage in the market. According to Subodh Kumar Gupta, president of Nepalese Rice, Oil and Pulses Association, the challenge is because of the double charge demanded by the truck entrepreneurs. The government needs to ease the process of transportation, said Gupta.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">Besides, the drivers and other staff are also not getting proper food because many hotels are shut. It is reported that many drivers are not willing to work in this situation. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">Currently, only 40 percent of the food supply industries are in operation. And these industries are also only producing 25 percent of their capacity. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><strong><span style="font-family:Calibri">Government entities have enough food supplies </span></strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">“Salt Trading Cooperation has 7,000 tons of sugar and 115,000 tons of salt. Additional 45,000 tons of salt is on the way from India,” informed Kumar Raj Bhandary, deputy general manager of Salt Trading Corporation. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">Similarly, Food Management and Trade Company Ltd (FMTC) has stored 22,000 metric tons of rice. According to Netra Subedi, executive director of FMTC, rice mills in Janakpur and Bardiya will also come into operation within a few days. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-10', 'modified' => '2020-04-10', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11656', 'image' => '20200410113148_20170120021251_ss.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-10 11:30:56', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11904', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Commercial Banks to Lower Interest Rate', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 9: Commercial banks have decided to lower the interest rates on deposits effective from mid-April.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">April 9: Commercial banks have decided to lower the interest rates on deposits effective from mid-April. The commercial banks decided to slash the interest rate after Nepal Rastra Bank lowered the interest rate on loans provided to the commercial banks by 1 percent. The new rates of interest provided by the commercial banks will be less by around 1 percent. The banks have already started to make public the new interest rates. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">They have also decided to lower the interest rates for regular savings, fixed deposit and call deposit accounts by 1 to 1.5 percent. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The banks will also reduce the interests on loans from mid-March after calculating the base rate </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Meanwhile, the interest rates on personal savings accounts and institutional savings accounts will be respectively 1 percent and 1.5 percent lower than the current rates.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Currently, the banks have been giving interest up to 9.25 percent on personal savings account, which will be lowered to between 8 to 8.25 percent.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">All the 27 member banks of Nepal Bankers’ Association have agreed to lower the interest rate on deposits. In this regard, the commercial banks have already published the new rates of interest since Wednesday. However, the interest rate of fixed deposit accounts will be lowered only after the maturity period. Chairman of Nepal Bankers’ Association Bhuvan Dahal said that the interest rate of new fixed deposit accounts and those renewing their agreements will be lower than the current rate.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Out of the total deposits in banks, around 50 percent of the amounts are under fixed deposit accounts. Thirty percent of the accounts are savings accounts. Then remaining are current accounts, call deposit accounts and other types of accounts.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">“The economy is on the verge of collapse. We have to be careful about preventing such collapse.The central bank has reduced the interest rate on loan from 6 percent to 5 percent. Therefore, the banks are under pressure to reduce the interest rate,” said Dahal.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-09', 'modified' => '2020-04-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11655', 'image' => '20200409123223_low-interest-rates.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-09 12:31:43', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11903', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government to Bring Holistic Economic Relief Package ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 9: The government has decided to bring a special package to address the impacts of coronavirus on the country’s economy. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">April 9: The </span><span style="font-family:Arial">government has decided to bring a special package to address the impacts of coronavirus on the country’s economy. Preparations are underway to launch the package within two weeks, informed sources told New Business Age. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">According to officials at the Finance Ministry, the stimulus package will be holistic in nature and address the entire aspects of Nepal’s economy. Finance Minister Yuba Raj Khatiwada is evaluating the size of economic relief, said an official at the Ministry. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">“The economic impacts of Covid-19 lockdown will be evaluated. Provided the lockdown is extended, we will also analyze the anticipated losses,” said the official, adding, “We will prepare a rough estimate within a week.” </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">The government has formed a committee to study the economic impacts of coronavirus in Nepal under the leadership of Revenue Secretary Ram Sharan Pudasaini. The committee consists of officials of Nepal Rastra Bank as members. Similarly, a technical committee has been formed to evaluate the effects under the leadership of Pushpa Kandel, vice-chairman of the National Planning Commission. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">“The economic package will be prepared after consulting the reports of the committee,” said Moti Dugar, state minister for industry, commerce and supplies. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">According to him, the ministry is planning to request the Finance Ministry to cover issues including interests to be paid by businessmen, extending the payment of loan till six months, subsidy in customs duty for the exportable items, subsidized loan to the industries highly affected by coronavirus among others. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">“We have asked the private sector to submit proposal regarding their losses and support needed for recovery. We will try our best to address their concern,” said Dugar. </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 President of the Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FNCCI) Bhavani Rana, a committee under the leadership of Shekhar Golchha will prepare a report and submit it to the government. “The committee has already prepared the final draft. We will submit the report in two days,” said Rana. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">She said that the proposal demands that that interest for tourism industry be reduced by reduced by 50 percent. According to FNCCI many people have lost their jobs in the tourism sector and so the government must provide relief to the workers. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">“Now, we can see the effects only on tourism and industry. However, this will affect the overall economy. So, the proposal consists of concerns of all the industries,” said Rana. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">According to Dr Swarnim Wagle, former vice-chairman of the NPC, the government should bring an economic relief package of minimum Rs 150 billion. “The government should bring a relief package of Rs 100 billion in the initial stage. Later on, with further research, the government should add the relief,” said Wagle. According to him, the concerns of tourism sector, industries and labourers should be addressed first. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">“The workers working in affected sectors should be provided with welfare fund, special facilities from social security fund and their tax payment duration should be extended by at least six months,” said Wagle. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-09', 'modified' => '2020-04-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11654', 'image' => '20200409120151_1586383527.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-09 12:01:03', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11905', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Lockdown Reduces Import Significantly', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 9: The entry of trucks and lorries carrying imported goods at the Birgunj Customs Point has reduced significantly due to the ongoing lockdown. ', 'content' => '<h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">April 9: The entry of trucks and lorries carrying imported goods at the Birgunj Customs Point has reduced significantly due to the ongoing lockdown. </span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Previously, Birgunj Customs Point used to record entry of around 700 trucks and lorries each day on an average but the number of such vehicles entering the country has now reduced to 50 per day.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Lockdown both in Nepal and India has affected the flow of goods. Due to the growing fear of coronavirus infection, customs staff are not able to work freely in both the countries. </span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Ramesh Sukmani, senior officer of Birgunj Customs Office, informed New Business Age that the border point in Birgunj used to record entry of 700 trucks regularly in normal days but the number now has reduced to 50 trucks only. </span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The importers are not able to clear their goods arriving from the customs point. Customs officials informed that the agents of the importers refuse to come to the customs office to clear their goods due to the fear of coronavirus. </span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">At present, more than 300 trucks with imported goods and 800 new vehicles have been stranded at Inaruwa and Integrated Check Post in Birgunj, Sukmani informed.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The import of medicines also has been reduced by 50 percent. </span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Importers are facing difficulties bringing in necessary items including medicines, foodstuff and petroleum despite the government’s commitment to ensure smooth supply of these items.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">A total of 429,940 kgs of medicines and raw materials for making medicines have been imported through the Birgunj border point in the last 15 days of the lockdown. Out of them, 182,000 kgs are readymade medicines. The import is half the amount of medicines imported in normal days, Sukamani added. </span></span></h1> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-09', 'modified' => '2020-04-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11653', 'image' => '20200409124938_1586383315.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-09 12:48:56', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11901', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'TIA Records 19 Int’l Chartered Flights during Lockdown ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 9: Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), the country's sole operational international airport, has suspended flights for around a month due to the rapidly spreading coronavirus pandemic. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">April 9: Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), the country's sole operational international airport, has suspended flights for around a month due to the rapidly spreading coronavirus pandemic. However, the airport continues to see international flights during the nationwide lockdown against the disease for three weeks. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">As informed by the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), international aviation service providers made 19 flights from TIA till Wednesday since March 23, a day before the lockdown was imposed. They were chartered flights with some cargo flights. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">CAAN Spokesperson Raj Kumar Chhetri said over 3,000 foreigners returned home via those flights during lockdown. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Qatar Airways made the highest nine flights followed by four flights of Nepal Airlines Corporation -- the national flag carrier of Nepal -- and one flight each by Korean, Malaysian, Etihad, Czech Republican and Titan airways. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">They carried people from mainly European countries and from New Zealand, Malaysia, and the US back to their homes. The flights were managed by the embassies of the respective countries in Nepal while the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had facilitated towards that end. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-09', 'modified' => '2020-04-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11652', 'image' => '20200409094101_20180727021334_2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-09 09:40:15', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11900', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Full Cylinders of Cooking Gas to be Available from Sunday ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 9: Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has ordered the sale of full cylinders of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) from coming Sunday.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">April 9: Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has ordered the sale of full cylinders of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) from coming Sunday. A meeting of the Board of Directors of the NOC took a decision to this effect on Thursday (April 8). Once the half-filled cylinders get sold out, gas-bottling plants will be selling full cylinders weighing 14.2 kg each. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to the national news agency RSS (Rastriya Samachar Samiti), NOC spokesperson Binitmani Upadhyay shared that the LPG companies will be allowed to fill LPG cylinders to the full from Thursday. The companies had urged the corporation to allow the sale and distribution of full cylinder citing decline in the sale volume of half-filled cylinder in the recent days. </span></span><br /> <span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">RSS reported that the NOC reviewed its earlier decision acting on the demand of companies as well as the lack of storage space and allowed for the sale of full cylinders. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Considering the likelihood of scarcity, the NOC had instructed the gas bottling companies to sell half-filled cylinder weighing 7.1 kg since March 29. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Chairperson of Nepal LP Gas Industry Association Gokul Bhandari said gas bullets have been left unloaded as the cylinders of all the gas companies remain occupied. He said that 59 gas industries across the country have a total gas storage capacity of around 10,000 metric tons. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-09', 'modified' => '2020-04-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11651', 'image' => '20200409092009_gas_cilinder.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-09 09:18:52', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11902', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Industry Minister Inspects Food Stores', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 9: The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies has been working actively to make sure that there is smooth supply of essential goods including food items during the ongoing nationwide lockdown. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">April 9: The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies has been working actively to make sure that there is smooth supply of essential goods including food items during the ongoing nationwide lockdown. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Lekhraj Bhatta and his team have been visiting several food stores in the Kathmandu Valley to inspect the stores and have been instructing the concerned persons to make sure the general public get food items without hindrance. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Minister Bhatta told the National News Agency (RSS) that the ministry had been taking stock of the storage and supplies of daily consumable goods including food items regularly. “We have made sure that no inconvenience be caused to the general public to avail the food items.” </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">At the special initiative of the ministry, the Nepal Oil Corporation has been importing LPG gas more than the regular demand. Anyone can get full cylinders of LGP gas from the National Salt Trading’s office at Teku. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Secretary at the Ministry, Dr Baikuntha Aryal, shared that his team comprising Minister Bhatta made an on-site visit to some food stores at Kalimati and Kuleshwar area on Wednesday (April 8). </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Minister Bhatta urged the store keepers for their facilitation to ensure smooth supply of food items to the general public. He also asked them to contact the ministry or directly to him in case of problems. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Store proprietor Devendra Bhakta Shrestha informed the visiting delegation that they had rice, lentils and flour which could cater to the need to the Kathmandu Valley folks for a month. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">He urged the minister for his positive intervention in arranging vehicles and labourers for the supply of food items from their store to other outlets. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-09', 'modified' => '2020-04-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11650', 'image' => '20200409095948_20200308093535_aaa.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-09 09:59:08', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11899', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Forbes World’s Billionaires List 2020 ', 'sub_title' => 'Chaudhary Drops 164 Spots, Bezos Retains No 1 Position', 'summary' => 'April 8: Binod Chaudhary, who was constantly rising in the ranks of global billionaire since he first appeared in the Forbes billionaires list in 2013, has seen his fortune decreased by USD 300 million. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:Helvetica">April 8: Binod Chaudhary, who was constantly rising in the ranks of global billionaire since he first appeared in the Forbes billionaires list in 2013, has seen his fortune decreased by USD 300 million. The first and the only dollar-billionaire of Nepal ranked1,513<sup>th</sup> in the Forbes World’s Billionaires List 2020, down 164 spots from 1,349<sup>th</sup> in 2019. As of April 8, 2020, his net worth stood at USD 1.4 billion which was USD 1.7 billion in 2019. The 64-year old corporate czar, who manages his business interests worldwide through CG Corp Global, has a diverse investment portfolio ranging from production of noodles and beer, manufacturing/trading of consumer electronics to hotels and banking sector. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:Helvetica">Founder and CEO of the US e-commerce giant Amazon Jeff Bezos retained the no. 1 spot in the list with a net worth of USD 113 billion despite the divorce with his wife MacKenzie Bezos last year that cost him around USD 40 billion. It is for the third year in a row that the tech entrepreneur has hold the top spot in the rich list. According to Forbes, the 15 percent increase in the value of Amazon’s shares helped Bezos to partially offset the loss. In the meantime, Mackenzie debuted in the list at 22<sup>nd</sup> spot with a net worth of USD 36 billion. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:Helvetica">Similarly, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates also retained the second position in the list with net worth of USD 98 billion which was USD 96.5 billion in 2019. The French fashion and retail business mogul Bernard Arnault climbed one spot to rank 3<sup>rd</sup> with net worth of USD 76 billion which remained unchanged from 2019. The legendary American investor Warren Buffet slid one spot to land at 4<sup>th</sup> place with net worth of USD 67.5 billion which was USD 82.5 billion last year. Oracle Corporation co-founder Larry Elison jumped two places to rest at 5<sup>th</sup> spot with net worth of USD 59 billion despite a depletion of USD 3.5 billion in his fortune from USD 62.5 billion in 2019. Similarly, Spanish tycoon Amancio Ortega, who owns the luxury fashion brand Zara, remained unchanged at 6<sup>th</sup> position in the list with net worth of USD 55.1 billion which was USD 62.7 billion last year. Facebook co-founder also saw his fortune dwindled to USD 54.7 billion from USD 62.3 billion in 2019 despite climbing up one position to 7<sup>th</sup> spot in this year’s list. The heirs of the Walton family, which owns the world’s largest retail corporation Walmart, occupied the last three places of the top 10 list. Jim Walton made it to the 8<sup>th</sup> position with a net worth of USD 54.6 billion followed by his younger sister Alice Walton (USD 54.4 billion) and elder brother Rob Walton (USD 54.1 billion). Alice also became the world’s richest woman dethroning the French business magnet Françoise Bettencourt Meyers who is in the 15<sup>th</sup> spot in the list with net worth of USD 48.9 billion. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:Helvetica">Forbes in its 34<sup>th</sup> edition of billionaires list has highlighted the adverse impact of the coronavirus (COVID 19) pandemic on the fortunes of the rich people of the world. According to Forbes, 51 percent of the 2,095 billionaires in the list, have their net worth declined in the past few months. The total net worth of the world’s billionaires amounted to USD 8 trillion, a decline of USD 700 billion from 2019, with 267 individuals, losing their billionaire status who were in the last year’s list. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-08', 'modified' => '2020-04-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11649', 'image' => '20200408110130_pic(3).jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-08 23:00:26', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11896', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'WHO Warns Against Easing Coronavirus Measures 'Too Early'', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 8: The World Health Organization (WHO) has urged countries not to lift measures put in place to slow the spread of the coronavirus too early, Aljazeera reported.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">April 9: The World Health Organization (WHO) has urged countries not to lift measures put in place to slow the spread of the coronavirus too early, Aljazeera reported.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Arial">According to Reuters, the WHO has no blanket recommendation for countries and regions for easing measures to slow the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Arial">The news agency reported citing a WHO spokesperson on Tuesday that lifting the measures too early could have repercussions. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Arial">“One of the most important parts is not to let go of the measures too early in order not to have a fall back again,” the news agencies quoted WHO spokesman Christian Lindmeier as saying in a virtual briefing. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Arial">“It’s similar to being sick yourself if you get out of bed too early and get running too early you risk falling back and having complications.” </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Arial">As of Thursday morning (April 9), the coronavirus pandemic has infected more than 1.5 million people globally and claimed over 88,000 lives. The deadly disease that is believed to have originated in China’s Wuhan in late December last year has spread to 209 countries and territories and two international conveyances, according to Worldometer. The website reported that around 300,000 people have recovered so far.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-08', 'modified' => '2020-04-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11648', 'image' => '20200408113946_unnamed.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-08 11:38:28', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11897', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Startups Urge Government for Support to Stay Afloat', 'sub_title' => 'While many are pausing their operation due to Covid 19 lockdown, their fixed cost including rent, payroll, tax and bank loan interests are issues to worry. ', 'summary' => 'Startups in Nepal have come out as one of the most vulnerable business entities affected by the Covid 19 pandemic.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20px"><strong>By Nikeeta Gautam</strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20px"><strong>Kathmandu: </strong>Startups in Nepal have come out as one of the most vulnerable business entities affected by the Covid 19 pandemic.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20px">Startup communities have been regularly engaged in informal conversations to discuss finding ways to save themselves from the ongoing crisis and what the government can do to mitigate the impacts.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20px">A group of experts, investors and entrepreneurs have come to a conclusion that startups are in dire need of short-term and long-term support from the government. According to them, the government can provide its support by contributing in paying office rents, inventory costs and payrolls to support the survival of startup companies to some extent. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20px">Small businesses suffer quickly as they have little to no cash reserve and are unable to cope with the situation created by big disruptions in their cash flows. Also, startups keep reinvesting their profit, and a situation like a current one dries their income completely. “We don’t make profits immediately. Plus, we need to reinvest whatever is earned,” says Sixit Bhatta, co- founder Tootle, a ride-sharing company. Narottam Aryal, president, King’s College which runs business incubation centre says that main issues among startups now is the cashflow. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20px">“Now, when government is recognising the value of startups in the economy, supporting them in the time of crisis will be essential to keep them afloat,” says Prakash Tiwari, chief investment manager of Hathway Investment Nepal Limited. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20px">The economic crisis, which is unfolding due to the global health emergency, is holding back investors to invest in startup projects which they have pledged earlier. “Many companies might not get second round of funding which was earlier committed by the investors,” said Aryal. Experts say that arrangement short-term collateral free loans could help the startup to cope with the economic crisis afterwards. “The government should make an arrangement to enable startups to avail short-term collateral free loan,” said Tiwari. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20px">Capital investment is another major element for the growth of startups. “Startups are like small children who are not being able to stand by themselves right now. While short term stimulus package will help them stand, creating conducive investment environment will help them grow,” expresses Bhatta. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20px">Companies like Foodmandu have pivoted to keep working through innovation and change; the company which delivers food is now delivering groceries. Similarly, Health at Home has been providing consulting service through phone calls for the people who have doubts on Covid 19 infection. Likewise, the e-commerce platform Sastodeal started delivery of groceries and other daily essential items immediately after lockdown. Similarly, startups like NepXpress, a cargo and courier venture, has been providing technical support to departmental stores including Salesberry to delivery daily essential item to their customers. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20px">The severe interruption in supply chain is a challenge for a logistics company like NepXpress. According to its co-founder Sangam Singh, NepXpress is only able to deliver medicines, which is just 2 percent of its service, due to permit related problems. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20px">On the other hand, some startups are skeptical about their smooth operation for a significant time even after the crisis created by the Covid 19 pandemic subsides. Tootle, which has provided indirect employment to more than 35,000 riders has paused it operation. “Even after the end of the lockdown, movement of people will not be normal because of safety concerns,” says Bhatta. In contrast, there are chances more people will have to depend on ride-sharing platforms for their livelihood. It is because most people will not be able to go to other countries to work, at least for a couple of months,” says Bhatta. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20px">Rohit Tiwari, co-founder of Foodmario says that the service might not take off quickly after the lockdown is lifted. “I think there will be other local problems such as shortage of cooking gas and necessary items to affect our operation,” he predicts. </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-08', 'modified' => '2020-04-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11647', 'image' => '20200408080149_pic(2).jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-08 20:00:48', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11898', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Preparing to Employ 600,000 Individuals after Lockdown', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 8: The government of Nepal is preparing to employ 600,000 people immediately after the lockdown ends. ', 'content' => '<h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">April 8: The government of Nepal is preparing to employ 600,000 people immediately after the lockdown ends. Those getting employment opportunities include various unemployed individuals as well as migrant workers unable to go abroad for work due to the lockdown. </span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">According to the Ministry of Labor, Employment and Social Security, it is preparing to employ the individuals by listing them under the Prime Minister's Employment Program.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The enrolled individuals will be employed for 100 days.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Suman Ghimire, undersecretary at the Ministry of Labor, Employment and Social Security informed that the ministry will include individuals in the programme who are unable to go abroad for work despite receiving the approval. Also, migrant workers coming home in vacation and unemployed individuals will also be listed under the Prime Minister’s Employment Programme. </span></span></h1> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Ghimire further said that the individuals who were not able to go abroad for work will be provided with employment opportunity only by evaluating their economic condition. The local levels will be responsible for such making such evaluation.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">According to Prime Minister’s Employment Programme Office, so far 1.3 million individuals have been listed in the programme. Among them, the government is planning to employee 500,000 individuals this year alone. The government will also include 100,000 individuals unable to go abroad for work and migrant workers returning home in vacation in the programme this year.</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> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-08', 'modified' => '2020-04-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11646', 'image' => '20200408081151_axresdefault.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-08 20:11:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11895', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'MD of Shanker Group Arrested on Charge of Black-marketing', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 8: Police have arrested Sulav Agarwal, managing director of Shanker Group, on the charge of black-marketing of thermal guns. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">April 8: Police have arrested Sulav Agarwal, managing director of Shanker Group, on the charge of black-marketing of thermal guns. A special team from the Metropolitan Police Crime Division (MPCD) of Nepal Police arrested Agarwal from Baluwatar on Tuesday (April 7). </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">According to the police, Agarwal was found selling thermal guns at a price five times higher than the market price. A thermal gun which normally costs around Rs 3500 each was sold for Rs 15,000 by Agrawal, according to police. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">Police added that Agarwal has imported 20,000 units of thermal guns from China. However, police seized only 67 thermal guns from him while they are seeking for the remaining cache. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">The demand for thermal guns has increased due to the spread of Covid 19. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">Police said that Agarwal imported the guns on Saturday in a chartered plane. According to police, Agrawal was on a car with diplomatic number plate (209 HCC 1) when he was arrested. Agarwal is the honorary consul of Krygyzstan to Nepal. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">Police said further investigations are underway. The special squad of police was sent to buy thermal guns from Agarwal after they got information about blackmarketing. The undercover team reached a deal with Agarwal to buy a bulk of thermal guns at the rate of Rs 15,000 each. It has been reported that Agarwal was selling the gun for as much as Rs 20,000 per piece. Police arrested Agarwal when both parties met at the rendezvous as per the deal. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">However, Agarwal has refuted the allegaions, says Senior Superintendent of Police at the MPCD Sahakul Thapa.<br /> “We have been obtained information that he purchased the thermal guns from China. However, he says that he bought the thermal guns from the local market,” said SSP Thapa</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">Agarwal has been kept in custody at the Teku-based office of MPCD. </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-08', 'modified' => '2020-04-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11645', 'image' => '20200408111456_1586272608.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-08 11:13:50', '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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But that was a different world.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Verdana">"The bleak outlook applies to advanced and developing economies alike. This crisis knows no boundaries. Everybody hurts," Georgieva said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Verdana">She noted that about $100 billion in investments already had fled emerging markets -- more than three times the capital exodus seen in the 2008 global financial crisis.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-10', 'modified' => '2020-04-10', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11659', 'image' => '20200410083838_Vectorstock0659666.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-10 08:37:49', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11907', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Hackers Becoming Active During Lockdown', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 10: Hackers have started becoming active in the country, taking advantage of the lockdown imposed by the government since March 24. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">April 10: Hackers have started becoming active in the country, taking advantage of the lockdown imposed by the government since March 24. A group of hackers have hacked the mobile application and software of Foodmandu while Vianet has also fallen victim to the hackers. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">Fearing that hackers could also target banks and financial institutions (BFIs), Nepal Rastra Bank has cautioned BFIs and their customers to adopt safety measures against hacking.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">The central bank has received numerous complaints from customers regarding hacking of their Viber, Whatsapp and Messenger accounts through which the hackers get access to eSewa wallet and request the customers to transfer amount as donations. Nepal Rastra Bank has warned the public not to fall into such traps an provide any details of their bank accounts and passwords even if someone requests such details posing as bank employees.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">The central bank has instructed BFIs to stay alert and inform their customers about the possible threats from hackers.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">Executive Director at the Payments System Department of NRB Rewati Prasad Nepal informed New Business Age that the central bank has been verbally appealing to BFIs and payment gateways to increase their security against cyber threats.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">“We have received numerous complaints of customers getting requests for financial assistance through eSewa and other digital payment gateways as well as customers being asked for their email, phone number and login details from unidentified sources,” said Nepal.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">“Hackers are becoming active at this time,” he added.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">Realizing the threats from hackers, Nepal Investment Bank Limited has cautioned its customers not to give their passwords or ATM and mobile banking pin numbers to anyone.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times">Meanwhile, President of Nepal Bankers Association Bhuvan Kumar Dahal opined that BFIs must step up their security from cyber threats during lockdown.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-10', 'modified' => '2020-04-10', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11658', 'image' => '20200410100159_1586469916.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-10 10:01:23', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11909', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Tatopani Customs Point Resumes Operation ', 'sub_title' => 'China Allows Supply of only Essential Goods for the Time Being', 'summary' => 'April 10: Tatopani Customs Point has come into operation since Wednesday. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Bangla MN"">April 10: Tatopani Customs Point has come into operation since Wednesday. The customs point with China was closed since January 27 due to the outbreak of coronavirus in China. Trucks loaded with sanitizers and masks entered Nepal from the border point on Wednesday evening.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Bangla MN"">Tatopani is one of the two major customs point with China. The other one is Rasuwagadhi Customs Point which still remains closed. The government had last week announced to open both the vital border points. However, the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies informed that China is unwilling to open any other border point except Tatopani.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Bangla MN"">“China has agreed to supply essential goods for the time being. But it is not ready to open any other customs point,” said Baikuntha Aryal, secretary at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies. He added that Nepal is making diplomatic efforts to open other border points.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Arial">The Tatopani Customs Point was opened after setting up a health desk as per the requirement of the World Health Organisation’s standard, informed Chief District Officer (CDO) of Sindhupalchowk district Umesh Kumar Dhakal. He said that the border was opened only to import essential goods.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Arial">According to chief of the customs office Lal Bahadur Khatri, the Chinese police had transported the masks and sanitizers till the border. “A Nepalese vehicle went across the Friendship Bridge to pick up the goods. The consignment has already reached Kathmandu,” said Khatri.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Arial">Khatri informed that although the Chinese government has only allowed transport of essential goods in the first phase, both sides are making preparations to open the customs point for commercial shipments. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Arial">The border was closed in late January due to the massive spread of coronavirus in China. The customs point was bearing losses of Rs 10 million on an average per day due to the closure of the vital border point.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Arial">Meanwhile, Chinese authorities in Kerung across the Rasuwagadhi border, were positive about opening the border after making necessary preparations for health check up and quarantine facilities for drivers until a week ago. However, they made a u-turn recently stating that they have received orders from above not to open the border point.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Arial">Director General of the Department of Customs Suman Dahal said that although they had made preparations to open the border with high security, it was not possible as the Chinese government did not agree to open any other border point besides Tatopani. According to him, eight customs point along Nepal-China border are currently closed.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Arial">Nepal started importing goods from China through Rasuwagadhi customs point since the last four years after India imposed a blockade. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-10', 'modified' => '2020-04-10', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11657', 'image' => '20200410123831_1586468314.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-10 12:37:42', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11908', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Retailers Facing Shortage of Food Supplies', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 10: With the extension of lockdown, retail shops are getting short of food supplies and daily essentials. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">April 10: With the extension of lockdown, retail shops are getting short of food supplies and daily essentials. Though industries and wholesalers have enough supplies, retail shops are not getting access to those products due to transportation problem.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">“Retailers have started running out of supplies. But at this situation we are helpless. The government has to address this issue,” said Raj Kumar Shrestha, president of Nepal Retailers’ Association</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">According to supplier Durga Raj Shrestha, the market will see shortage of food stuffs like biscuits and noodles in 15-20 days. “However, items like sanitizer, soap, detergent powder are enough for now,” he said. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">Normally, trucks used to be loaded while coming to Kathmandu as well as while returning. However, now they don’t get the supplies while returning, so the drivers are facing problems. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">Shrestha said that the trucks are charging double charge for transporting the goods. “Due to this, we have to charge high to our consumers,” informed Shrestha. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">Likewise, Devendra Bhakta Shrestha, president of Food Grocery Trading Association, said that due to shortage of workers wholesalers are not able to supply the products to the retailers. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">The industries have food storage for up to 2-3 months but problems in delivering the goods is creating shortage in the market. According to Subodh Kumar Gupta, president of Nepalese Rice, Oil and Pulses Association, the challenge is because of the double charge demanded by the truck entrepreneurs. The government needs to ease the process of transportation, said Gupta.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">Besides, the drivers and other staff are also not getting proper food because many hotels are shut. It is reported that many drivers are not willing to work in this situation. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">Currently, only 40 percent of the food supply industries are in operation. And these industries are also only producing 25 percent of their capacity. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><strong><span style="font-family:Calibri">Government entities have enough food supplies </span></strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">“Salt Trading Cooperation has 7,000 tons of sugar and 115,000 tons of salt. Additional 45,000 tons of salt is on the way from India,” informed Kumar Raj Bhandary, deputy general manager of Salt Trading Corporation. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">Similarly, Food Management and Trade Company Ltd (FMTC) has stored 22,000 metric tons of rice. According to Netra Subedi, executive director of FMTC, rice mills in Janakpur and Bardiya will also come into operation within a few days. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-10', 'modified' => '2020-04-10', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11656', 'image' => '20200410113148_20170120021251_ss.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-10 11:30:56', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11904', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Commercial Banks to Lower Interest Rate', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 9: Commercial banks have decided to lower the interest rates on deposits effective from mid-April.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">April 9: Commercial banks have decided to lower the interest rates on deposits effective from mid-April. The commercial banks decided to slash the interest rate after Nepal Rastra Bank lowered the interest rate on loans provided to the commercial banks by 1 percent. The new rates of interest provided by the commercial banks will be less by around 1 percent. The banks have already started to make public the new interest rates. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">They have also decided to lower the interest rates for regular savings, fixed deposit and call deposit accounts by 1 to 1.5 percent. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The banks will also reduce the interests on loans from mid-March after calculating the base rate </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Meanwhile, the interest rates on personal savings accounts and institutional savings accounts will be respectively 1 percent and 1.5 percent lower than the current rates.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Currently, the banks have been giving interest up to 9.25 percent on personal savings account, which will be lowered to between 8 to 8.25 percent.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">All the 27 member banks of Nepal Bankers’ Association have agreed to lower the interest rate on deposits. In this regard, the commercial banks have already published the new rates of interest since Wednesday. However, the interest rate of fixed deposit accounts will be lowered only after the maturity period. Chairman of Nepal Bankers’ Association Bhuvan Dahal said that the interest rate of new fixed deposit accounts and those renewing their agreements will be lower than the current rate.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Out of the total deposits in banks, around 50 percent of the amounts are under fixed deposit accounts. Thirty percent of the accounts are savings accounts. Then remaining are current accounts, call deposit accounts and other types of accounts.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">“The economy is on the verge of collapse. We have to be careful about preventing such collapse.The central bank has reduced the interest rate on loan from 6 percent to 5 percent. Therefore, the banks are under pressure to reduce the interest rate,” said Dahal.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-09', 'modified' => '2020-04-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11655', 'image' => '20200409123223_low-interest-rates.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-09 12:31:43', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11903', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government to Bring Holistic Economic Relief Package ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 9: The government has decided to bring a special package to address the impacts of coronavirus on the country’s economy. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">April 9: The </span><span style="font-family:Arial">government has decided to bring a special package to address the impacts of coronavirus on the country’s economy. Preparations are underway to launch the package within two weeks, informed sources told New Business Age. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">According to officials at the Finance Ministry, the stimulus package will be holistic in nature and address the entire aspects of Nepal’s economy. Finance Minister Yuba Raj Khatiwada is evaluating the size of economic relief, said an official at the Ministry. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">“The economic impacts of Covid-19 lockdown will be evaluated. Provided the lockdown is extended, we will also analyze the anticipated losses,” said the official, adding, “We will prepare a rough estimate within a week.” </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">The government has formed a committee to study the economic impacts of coronavirus in Nepal under the leadership of Revenue Secretary Ram Sharan Pudasaini. The committee consists of officials of Nepal Rastra Bank as members. Similarly, a technical committee has been formed to evaluate the effects under the leadership of Pushpa Kandel, vice-chairman of the National Planning Commission. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">“The economic package will be prepared after consulting the reports of the committee,” said Moti Dugar, state minister for industry, commerce and supplies. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">According to him, the ministry is planning to request the Finance Ministry to cover issues including interests to be paid by businessmen, extending the payment of loan till six months, subsidy in customs duty for the exportable items, subsidized loan to the industries highly affected by coronavirus among others. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">“We have asked the private sector to submit proposal regarding their losses and support needed for recovery. We will try our best to address their concern,” said Dugar. </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 President of the Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FNCCI) Bhavani Rana, a committee under the leadership of Shekhar Golchha will prepare a report and submit it to the government. “The committee has already prepared the final draft. We will submit the report in two days,” said Rana. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">She said that the proposal demands that that interest for tourism industry be reduced by reduced by 50 percent. According to FNCCI many people have lost their jobs in the tourism sector and so the government must provide relief to the workers. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">“Now, we can see the effects only on tourism and industry. However, this will affect the overall economy. So, the proposal consists of concerns of all the industries,” said Rana. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">According to Dr Swarnim Wagle, former vice-chairman of the NPC, the government should bring an economic relief package of minimum Rs 150 billion. “The government should bring a relief package of Rs 100 billion in the initial stage. Later on, with further research, the government should add the relief,” said Wagle. According to him, the concerns of tourism sector, industries and labourers should be addressed first. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">“The workers working in affected sectors should be provided with welfare fund, special facilities from social security fund and their tax payment duration should be extended by at least six months,” said Wagle. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-09', 'modified' => '2020-04-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11654', 'image' => '20200409120151_1586383527.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-09 12:01:03', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11905', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Lockdown Reduces Import Significantly', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 9: The entry of trucks and lorries carrying imported goods at the Birgunj Customs Point has reduced significantly due to the ongoing lockdown. ', 'content' => '<h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">April 9: The entry of trucks and lorries carrying imported goods at the Birgunj Customs Point has reduced significantly due to the ongoing lockdown. </span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Previously, Birgunj Customs Point used to record entry of around 700 trucks and lorries each day on an average but the number of such vehicles entering the country has now reduced to 50 per day.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Lockdown both in Nepal and India has affected the flow of goods. Due to the growing fear of coronavirus infection, customs staff are not able to work freely in both the countries. </span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Ramesh Sukmani, senior officer of Birgunj Customs Office, informed New Business Age that the border point in Birgunj used to record entry of 700 trucks regularly in normal days but the number now has reduced to 50 trucks only. </span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The importers are not able to clear their goods arriving from the customs point. Customs officials informed that the agents of the importers refuse to come to the customs office to clear their goods due to the fear of coronavirus. </span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">At present, more than 300 trucks with imported goods and 800 new vehicles have been stranded at Inaruwa and Integrated Check Post in Birgunj, Sukmani informed.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The import of medicines also has been reduced by 50 percent. </span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Importers are facing difficulties bringing in necessary items including medicines, foodstuff and petroleum despite the government’s commitment to ensure smooth supply of these items.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">A total of 429,940 kgs of medicines and raw materials for making medicines have been imported through the Birgunj border point in the last 15 days of the lockdown. Out of them, 182,000 kgs are readymade medicines. The import is half the amount of medicines imported in normal days, Sukamani added. </span></span></h1> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-09', 'modified' => '2020-04-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11653', 'image' => '20200409124938_1586383315.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-09 12:48:56', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11901', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'TIA Records 19 Int’l Chartered Flights during Lockdown ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 9: Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), the country's sole operational international airport, has suspended flights for around a month due to the rapidly spreading coronavirus pandemic. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">April 9: Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), the country's sole operational international airport, has suspended flights for around a month due to the rapidly spreading coronavirus pandemic. However, the airport continues to see international flights during the nationwide lockdown against the disease for three weeks. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">As informed by the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), international aviation service providers made 19 flights from TIA till Wednesday since March 23, a day before the lockdown was imposed. They were chartered flights with some cargo flights. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">CAAN Spokesperson Raj Kumar Chhetri said over 3,000 foreigners returned home via those flights during lockdown. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Qatar Airways made the highest nine flights followed by four flights of Nepal Airlines Corporation -- the national flag carrier of Nepal -- and one flight each by Korean, Malaysian, Etihad, Czech Republican and Titan airways. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">They carried people from mainly European countries and from New Zealand, Malaysia, and the US back to their homes. The flights were managed by the embassies of the respective countries in Nepal while the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had facilitated towards that end. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-09', 'modified' => '2020-04-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11652', 'image' => '20200409094101_20180727021334_2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-09 09:40:15', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11900', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Full Cylinders of Cooking Gas to be Available from Sunday ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 9: Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has ordered the sale of full cylinders of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) from coming Sunday.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">April 9: Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has ordered the sale of full cylinders of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) from coming Sunday. A meeting of the Board of Directors of the NOC took a decision to this effect on Thursday (April 8). Once the half-filled cylinders get sold out, gas-bottling plants will be selling full cylinders weighing 14.2 kg each. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to the national news agency RSS (Rastriya Samachar Samiti), NOC spokesperson Binitmani Upadhyay shared that the LPG companies will be allowed to fill LPG cylinders to the full from Thursday. The companies had urged the corporation to allow the sale and distribution of full cylinder citing decline in the sale volume of half-filled cylinder in the recent days. </span></span><br /> <span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">RSS reported that the NOC reviewed its earlier decision acting on the demand of companies as well as the lack of storage space and allowed for the sale of full cylinders. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Considering the likelihood of scarcity, the NOC had instructed the gas bottling companies to sell half-filled cylinder weighing 7.1 kg since March 29. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Chairperson of Nepal LP Gas Industry Association Gokul Bhandari said gas bullets have been left unloaded as the cylinders of all the gas companies remain occupied. He said that 59 gas industries across the country have a total gas storage capacity of around 10,000 metric tons. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-09', 'modified' => '2020-04-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11651', 'image' => '20200409092009_gas_cilinder.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-09 09:18:52', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11902', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Industry Minister Inspects Food Stores', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 9: The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies has been working actively to make sure that there is smooth supply of essential goods including food items during the ongoing nationwide lockdown. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">April 9: The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies has been working actively to make sure that there is smooth supply of essential goods including food items during the ongoing nationwide lockdown. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Lekhraj Bhatta and his team have been visiting several food stores in the Kathmandu Valley to inspect the stores and have been instructing the concerned persons to make sure the general public get food items without hindrance. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Minister Bhatta told the National News Agency (RSS) that the ministry had been taking stock of the storage and supplies of daily consumable goods including food items regularly. “We have made sure that no inconvenience be caused to the general public to avail the food items.” </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">At the special initiative of the ministry, the Nepal Oil Corporation has been importing LPG gas more than the regular demand. Anyone can get full cylinders of LGP gas from the National Salt Trading’s office at Teku. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Secretary at the Ministry, Dr Baikuntha Aryal, shared that his team comprising Minister Bhatta made an on-site visit to some food stores at Kalimati and Kuleshwar area on Wednesday (April 8). </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Minister Bhatta urged the store keepers for their facilitation to ensure smooth supply of food items to the general public. He also asked them to contact the ministry or directly to him in case of problems. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Store proprietor Devendra Bhakta Shrestha informed the visiting delegation that they had rice, lentils and flour which could cater to the need to the Kathmandu Valley folks for a month. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">He urged the minister for his positive intervention in arranging vehicles and labourers for the supply of food items from their store to other outlets. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-09', 'modified' => '2020-04-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11650', 'image' => '20200409095948_20200308093535_aaa.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-09 09:59:08', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11899', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Forbes World’s Billionaires List 2020 ', 'sub_title' => 'Chaudhary Drops 164 Spots, Bezos Retains No 1 Position', 'summary' => 'April 8: Binod Chaudhary, who was constantly rising in the ranks of global billionaire since he first appeared in the Forbes billionaires list in 2013, has seen his fortune decreased by USD 300 million. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:Helvetica">April 8: Binod Chaudhary, who was constantly rising in the ranks of global billionaire since he first appeared in the Forbes billionaires list in 2013, has seen his fortune decreased by USD 300 million. The first and the only dollar-billionaire of Nepal ranked1,513<sup>th</sup> in the Forbes World’s Billionaires List 2020, down 164 spots from 1,349<sup>th</sup> in 2019. As of April 8, 2020, his net worth stood at USD 1.4 billion which was USD 1.7 billion in 2019. The 64-year old corporate czar, who manages his business interests worldwide through CG Corp Global, has a diverse investment portfolio ranging from production of noodles and beer, manufacturing/trading of consumer electronics to hotels and banking sector. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:Helvetica">Founder and CEO of the US e-commerce giant Amazon Jeff Bezos retained the no. 1 spot in the list with a net worth of USD 113 billion despite the divorce with his wife MacKenzie Bezos last year that cost him around USD 40 billion. It is for the third year in a row that the tech entrepreneur has hold the top spot in the rich list. According to Forbes, the 15 percent increase in the value of Amazon’s shares helped Bezos to partially offset the loss. In the meantime, Mackenzie debuted in the list at 22<sup>nd</sup> spot with a net worth of USD 36 billion. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:Helvetica">Similarly, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates also retained the second position in the list with net worth of USD 98 billion which was USD 96.5 billion in 2019. The French fashion and retail business mogul Bernard Arnault climbed one spot to rank 3<sup>rd</sup> with net worth of USD 76 billion which remained unchanged from 2019. The legendary American investor Warren Buffet slid one spot to land at 4<sup>th</sup> place with net worth of USD 67.5 billion which was USD 82.5 billion last year. Oracle Corporation co-founder Larry Elison jumped two places to rest at 5<sup>th</sup> spot with net worth of USD 59 billion despite a depletion of USD 3.5 billion in his fortune from USD 62.5 billion in 2019. Similarly, Spanish tycoon Amancio Ortega, who owns the luxury fashion brand Zara, remained unchanged at 6<sup>th</sup> position in the list with net worth of USD 55.1 billion which was USD 62.7 billion last year. Facebook co-founder also saw his fortune dwindled to USD 54.7 billion from USD 62.3 billion in 2019 despite climbing up one position to 7<sup>th</sup> spot in this year’s list. The heirs of the Walton family, which owns the world’s largest retail corporation Walmart, occupied the last three places of the top 10 list. Jim Walton made it to the 8<sup>th</sup> position with a net worth of USD 54.6 billion followed by his younger sister Alice Walton (USD 54.4 billion) and elder brother Rob Walton (USD 54.1 billion). Alice also became the world’s richest woman dethroning the French business magnet Françoise Bettencourt Meyers who is in the 15<sup>th</sup> spot in the list with net worth of USD 48.9 billion. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:Helvetica">Forbes in its 34<sup>th</sup> edition of billionaires list has highlighted the adverse impact of the coronavirus (COVID 19) pandemic on the fortunes of the rich people of the world. According to Forbes, 51 percent of the 2,095 billionaires in the list, have their net worth declined in the past few months. The total net worth of the world’s billionaires amounted to USD 8 trillion, a decline of USD 700 billion from 2019, with 267 individuals, losing their billionaire status who were in the last year’s list. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-08', 'modified' => '2020-04-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11649', 'image' => '20200408110130_pic(3).jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-08 23:00:26', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11896', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'WHO Warns Against Easing Coronavirus Measures 'Too Early'', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 8: The World Health Organization (WHO) has urged countries not to lift measures put in place to slow the spread of the coronavirus too early, Aljazeera reported.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">April 9: The World Health Organization (WHO) has urged countries not to lift measures put in place to slow the spread of the coronavirus too early, Aljazeera reported.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Arial">According to Reuters, the WHO has no blanket recommendation for countries and regions for easing measures to slow the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Arial">The news agency reported citing a WHO spokesperson on Tuesday that lifting the measures too early could have repercussions. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Arial">“One of the most important parts is not to let go of the measures too early in order not to have a fall back again,” the news agencies quoted WHO spokesman Christian Lindmeier as saying in a virtual briefing. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Arial">“It’s similar to being sick yourself if you get out of bed too early and get running too early you risk falling back and having complications.” </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Arial">As of Thursday morning (April 9), the coronavirus pandemic has infected more than 1.5 million people globally and claimed over 88,000 lives. The deadly disease that is believed to have originated in China’s Wuhan in late December last year has spread to 209 countries and territories and two international conveyances, according to Worldometer. The website reported that around 300,000 people have recovered so far.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-08', 'modified' => '2020-04-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11648', 'image' => '20200408113946_unnamed.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-08 11:38:28', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11897', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Startups Urge Government for Support to Stay Afloat', 'sub_title' => 'While many are pausing their operation due to Covid 19 lockdown, their fixed cost including rent, payroll, tax and bank loan interests are issues to worry. ', 'summary' => 'Startups in Nepal have come out as one of the most vulnerable business entities affected by the Covid 19 pandemic.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20px"><strong>By Nikeeta Gautam</strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20px"><strong>Kathmandu: </strong>Startups in Nepal have come out as one of the most vulnerable business entities affected by the Covid 19 pandemic.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20px">Startup communities have been regularly engaged in informal conversations to discuss finding ways to save themselves from the ongoing crisis and what the government can do to mitigate the impacts.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20px">A group of experts, investors and entrepreneurs have come to a conclusion that startups are in dire need of short-term and long-term support from the government. According to them, the government can provide its support by contributing in paying office rents, inventory costs and payrolls to support the survival of startup companies to some extent. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20px">Small businesses suffer quickly as they have little to no cash reserve and are unable to cope with the situation created by big disruptions in their cash flows. Also, startups keep reinvesting their profit, and a situation like a current one dries their income completely. “We don’t make profits immediately. Plus, we need to reinvest whatever is earned,” says Sixit Bhatta, co- founder Tootle, a ride-sharing company. Narottam Aryal, president, King’s College which runs business incubation centre says that main issues among startups now is the cashflow. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20px">“Now, when government is recognising the value of startups in the economy, supporting them in the time of crisis will be essential to keep them afloat,” says Prakash Tiwari, chief investment manager of Hathway Investment Nepal Limited. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20px">The economic crisis, which is unfolding due to the global health emergency, is holding back investors to invest in startup projects which they have pledged earlier. “Many companies might not get second round of funding which was earlier committed by the investors,” said Aryal. Experts say that arrangement short-term collateral free loans could help the startup to cope with the economic crisis afterwards. “The government should make an arrangement to enable startups to avail short-term collateral free loan,” said Tiwari. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20px">Capital investment is another major element for the growth of startups. “Startups are like small children who are not being able to stand by themselves right now. While short term stimulus package will help them stand, creating conducive investment environment will help them grow,” expresses Bhatta. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20px">Companies like Foodmandu have pivoted to keep working through innovation and change; the company which delivers food is now delivering groceries. Similarly, Health at Home has been providing consulting service through phone calls for the people who have doubts on Covid 19 infection. Likewise, the e-commerce platform Sastodeal started delivery of groceries and other daily essential items immediately after lockdown. Similarly, startups like NepXpress, a cargo and courier venture, has been providing technical support to departmental stores including Salesberry to delivery daily essential item to their customers. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20px">The severe interruption in supply chain is a challenge for a logistics company like NepXpress. According to its co-founder Sangam Singh, NepXpress is only able to deliver medicines, which is just 2 percent of its service, due to permit related problems. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20px">On the other hand, some startups are skeptical about their smooth operation for a significant time even after the crisis created by the Covid 19 pandemic subsides. Tootle, which has provided indirect employment to more than 35,000 riders has paused it operation. “Even after the end of the lockdown, movement of people will not be normal because of safety concerns,” says Bhatta. In contrast, there are chances more people will have to depend on ride-sharing platforms for their livelihood. It is because most people will not be able to go to other countries to work, at least for a couple of months,” says Bhatta. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20px">Rohit Tiwari, co-founder of Foodmario says that the service might not take off quickly after the lockdown is lifted. “I think there will be other local problems such as shortage of cooking gas and necessary items to affect our operation,” he predicts. </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-08', 'modified' => '2020-04-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11647', 'image' => '20200408080149_pic(2).jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-08 20:00:48', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11898', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Preparing to Employ 600,000 Individuals after Lockdown', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 8: The government of Nepal is preparing to employ 600,000 people immediately after the lockdown ends. ', 'content' => '<h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">April 8: The government of Nepal is preparing to employ 600,000 people immediately after the lockdown ends. Those getting employment opportunities include various unemployed individuals as well as migrant workers unable to go abroad for work due to the lockdown. </span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">According to the Ministry of Labor, Employment and Social Security, it is preparing to employ the individuals by listing them under the Prime Minister's Employment Program.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The enrolled individuals will be employed for 100 days.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Suman Ghimire, undersecretary at the Ministry of Labor, Employment and Social Security informed that the ministry will include individuals in the programme who are unable to go abroad for work despite receiving the approval. Also, migrant workers coming home in vacation and unemployed individuals will also be listed under the Prime Minister’s Employment Programme. </span></span></h1> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Ghimire further said that the individuals who were not able to go abroad for work will be provided with employment opportunity only by evaluating their economic condition. The local levels will be responsible for such making such evaluation.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">According to Prime Minister’s Employment Programme Office, so far 1.3 million individuals have been listed in the programme. Among them, the government is planning to employee 500,000 individuals this year alone. The government will also include 100,000 individuals unable to go abroad for work and migrant workers returning home in vacation in the programme this year.</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> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-08', 'modified' => '2020-04-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11646', 'image' => '20200408081151_axresdefault.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-08 20:11:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11895', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'MD of Shanker Group Arrested on Charge of Black-marketing', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 8: Police have arrested Sulav Agarwal, managing director of Shanker Group, on the charge of black-marketing of thermal guns. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">April 8: Police have arrested Sulav Agarwal, managing director of Shanker Group, on the charge of black-marketing of thermal guns. A special team from the Metropolitan Police Crime Division (MPCD) of Nepal Police arrested Agarwal from Baluwatar on Tuesday (April 7). </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">According to the police, Agarwal was found selling thermal guns at a price five times higher than the market price. A thermal gun which normally costs around Rs 3500 each was sold for Rs 15,000 by Agrawal, according to police. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">Police added that Agarwal has imported 20,000 units of thermal guns from China. However, police seized only 67 thermal guns from him while they are seeking for the remaining cache. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">The demand for thermal guns has increased due to the spread of Covid 19. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">Police said that Agarwal imported the guns on Saturday in a chartered plane. According to police, Agrawal was on a car with diplomatic number plate (209 HCC 1) when he was arrested. Agarwal is the honorary consul of Krygyzstan to Nepal. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">Police said further investigations are underway. The special squad of police was sent to buy thermal guns from Agarwal after they got information about blackmarketing. The undercover team reached a deal with Agarwal to buy a bulk of thermal guns at the rate of Rs 15,000 each. It has been reported that Agarwal was selling the gun for as much as Rs 20,000 per piece. Police arrested Agarwal when both parties met at the rendezvous as per the deal. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">However, Agarwal has refuted the allegaions, says Senior Superintendent of Police at the MPCD Sahakul Thapa.<br /> “We have been obtained information that he purchased the thermal guns from China. However, he says that he bought the thermal guns from the local market,” said SSP Thapa</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">Agarwal has been kept in custody at the Teku-based office of MPCD. </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-08', 'modified' => '2020-04-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11645', 'image' => '20200408111456_1586272608.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-08 11:13:50', '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
