April 8: The government has decided to extend the suspension of international flights to and from Tribhuvan International Airport till April…
April 8: The government has decided to extend the suspension of international flights to and from Tribhuvan International Airport till April…
April 8: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has urged one and all to stay safe wherever they are during the current crisis caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, expressing his hope that the crisis recovery was sure to come.…
April 7: The World Bank has approved a fast-track USD 29 million COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health Systems Preparedness Project to help Nepal prevent, detect, and respond to the COVID-19…
April 7: The government has initiated homework to seek financial support of Rs 41 billion from donor agencies to check the spread of coronavirus in the country.…
April 7: Kolkata and Haldiya ports of India have decided to waive the fines on containers and bulk cargoes as a relief to the business hit hard by the coronavirus…
April 7: The government has extended the nationwide lockdown for the third…
April 7: The Supreme Court has issued an order to the government to distribute relief focusing people eking out a living through labour and those whose earning has been interrupted, by maintaining transparency in relief distribution.…
April 7: Maha Prasad Adhikari has been appointed as the Governor of Nepal Rastra Bank…
April 7: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has decided to allow families of students studying abroad to make foreign exchange equivalent to USD 500 without ‘No Objection Certificate’…
April 6: India has restricted the export of medicines and equipment used for the treatment of coronavirus as the country grapples with surging cases of the deadly virus.…
April 6: The Ministry of Health and Population has requested anyone who has come into contact with foreign returnees to stay in quarantine for at least 15…
April 6: Following widespread criticism in procurement of essential supplies and medical kits through a private company, the government has decided to adopt G2G and B2G models to purchase the supplies to fight…
April 6: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has urged the government to ensure health-related rights of every citizen by making arrangements for treatments of patients suffering from all types of serious diseases including coronavirus.…
April 6: Goods produced in Nepal can be exported to India without Certificate of Origin during the lockdown…
April 5: The government has prepared guidelines to allow infrastructure projects and essential food industries to resume their operations.…
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According to Khatiwada, a decision regarding domestic flights will be taken within a few days.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">The meeting also decided to conduct rapid diagnostic tests in the districts identified as highly vulnerable to the disease, especially the ones where new cases were detected on Saturday.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">Khatiwada, who holds the portfolio of finance and communication minister, said that the government has so far distributed relief to 114,316 families. He added that altogether 30,506 people are currently kept in quarantine facilities across the country.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">Likewise, he said that police have taken action against around 2600 people for defying the lockdown order. All of them have been released after proper counseling, said the minister. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">Meanwhile, 2235 vehicles have been impounded for operating without pass or for other purposes emergency. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">“Those vehicles which were misusing their passes or operating for other purpose than the intended ones were also punished,” said Khatiwada in a video post shared on Facebook. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">He said that around 1949 ambulances have been kept on standby in case of emergency.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial"> Likewise, the National Planning Commission is studying the impact of coronavirus on the country’s economy, according to the minister. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"> </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-08', 'modified' => '2020-04-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11644', 'image' => '20200408101555_Himalaya Airlines.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-08 10:15:01', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11894', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Stay Safe Wherever You Are: PM Oli ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 8: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has urged one and all to stay safe wherever they are during the current crisis caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, expressing his hope that the crisis recovery was sure to come. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">April 8: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has urged one and all to stay safe wherever they are during the current crisis caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, expressing his hope that the crisis recovery was sure to come. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">In his address to the nation on Tuesday, the Prime Minister said the country had waged a war against COVID-19 and the higher risks of the contagion were still pervading through the number of confirmed cases has been limited to just nine since the detection of the first case. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">''It is obvious that we are finding so hard to fight against the pandemic when the developed, resource-rich and wealthy nations with robust health care systems are facing the same," he said adding the biggest challenge of the hour was to ensure the supplies of medical equipment. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">''No matter is important than saving the lives of citizens. The regular procedures meant for normal times are not sufficient to tackle the prevailing abnormal situation. Bearing this in mind, special provisions have been made for the smooth supply of medical equipment," he said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">He went on to say that the protection of the entire human beings and human civilization was the foremost priority of the world and the fight against COVID-19 is our collective battle. "It should be therefore realized that every member in the society was a combatant in this battle to defeat the virus." </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Saying that COVID-19 has entered into the second state in the country, the PM urged one and all to remain more aware and cautious. Asking all foreign returnees to stay under quarantines, PM Oli said that worrying situation has been created as some of them have paid no heed to the request and arrangements for staying in quarantine. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">In the context of curbing corruption, the PM reaffirmed the government’s commitment and added that misinformation could not weaken the government’s firm commitment. The incumbent government will not hesitate to take actions if any cases of irregularities and corruption come up. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">“My sufficient attention has been drawn to the media reports and criticisms, comments and recommendations coming in the social networking sites. The publicity materials portray the government failure instead of getting united at a time of national and global crisis which is tantamount to unseasoned celebration and such trends can never be entertained,” the PM said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Likewise, PM Oli said that robust national unity between the government and people, political parties, state and all apparatus of the societies was the precondition to get victory over the pandemic. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The PM said that he has taken a common resolution motion of the parliament, all-party consensus and statements of commitment from different political parties including that of main opposition as the national strength. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">PM Oli has also expressed his assurance for the continued cooperation and unity from all in the days to come. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-08', 'modified' => '2020-04-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11643', 'image' => '20200408103322_1586298786.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-08 10:32:24', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11892', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Signs Financing Agreement with World Bank for COVID-19 Response', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 7: The World Bank has approved a fast-track USD 29 million COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health Systems Preparedness Project to help Nepal prevent, detect, and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:Arial">April 7: The World Bank has approved a fast-track USD 29 million COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health Systems Preparedness Project to help Nepal prevent, detect, and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and strengthen its public health preparedness. The agreement to this effect was signed on Tuesday (April 7) by Finance Secretary Sishir Kumar Dhungana and Faris Hadad-Zervos, World Bank’s country manager for Nepal. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"> <span style="font-family:Arial">A joint press statement issued after the signing of the financing agreement reads that the project is financed from the International Development Association (IDA), the World Bank’s concessional credit window for developing countries, through the World Bank Group’s COVID-19 Fast-Track Facility and will be effective immediately after the signing. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:Arial">“The project provides emergency support to enhance Nepal’s capacity to detect cases and ensure prompt contact tracing consistent with World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines and Ministry of Health and Population protocols. It will also help set up new intensive care units, beds, and isolation facilities across the country,” says the statement. The project will be implemented by Ministry of Health and Population.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"> <span style="font-family:Arial">“We are thankful to the World Bank for the response in a record short period of time, which will help Nepal respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and strengthen our capacities to deal with future public health risks,” the statement quoted Finance Secretary Dhungana as saying. He added, “Immediately after the outbreak of COVID-19 in the country, the Government of Nepal has made several arrangements to prevent and address the possible crisis. Due to these measures, the socio-economic activities are going to be affected. Further support is being anticipated from the World Bank to cope with the emerging pandemic situation.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"> <span style="font-family:Arial">According to the statement, the project will also equip designated health facilities with personal protective equipment and hygienic materials and increase the diagnostic capacity of laboratories for responding to public health emergencies. It will enhance the National Public Health Laboratory to handle harmful infectious diseases and strengthen public institutions to coordinate and better manage response activities in all three levels of government.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"> <span style="font-family:Arial">“Given the unprecedented nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, the government’s rapid response will help save lives across Nepal,” the statement quoted Hadad-Zervos of the World Bank, as saying. “The World Bank and its development partners are committed to helping Nepal beef up its health infrastructure and access the resources it needs to fight the spread of COVID-19 and protect the livelihoods of its people,” he said. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"> </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-07', 'modified' => '2020-04-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11642', 'image' => '20200407052329_image001.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-07 17:22:18', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11891', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Initiates Homework to Seek Rs 41 Billion from Donor Agencies', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 7: The government has initiated homework to seek financial support of Rs 41 billion from donor agencies to check the spread of coronavirus in the country. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">April 7: The government has initiated homework to seek financial support of Rs 41 billion from donor agencies to check the spread of coronavirus in the country. The Ministry of Finance has started discussions with development partners like the World Bank (WB), the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for the support.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The government intends to seek the maximum support of Rs 24.22 billion from the World Bank followed by IMF (Rs 13.9 billion) and ADB (Rs 7.26 billion).</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">A highly-placed source at the finance ministry informed New Business Age that the government has so far initiated the process to avail financial support of Rs 41 billion. He further said that the donor agencies are positive to the government’s demand.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The government is all set to sign a deal for concessional loan of Rs 3.43 billion with the World Bank on Tuesday (today). This amount is being taken under the World Bank’s assistance during emergency and pandemic. The bank has already provided loan of Rs 6 billion under the natural disaster and health crisis mitigation head. The government will be utilizing this fund to upgrade its capacity to fight against the coronavirus pandemic.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The source further said that the government is in talks with the ADB to avail Rs 7.26 billion at the moment. The government is also discussing mobilizing the fund allocated by the ADB for other projects in the current fiscal year in its fight against the coronavirus pandemic.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The ADB had recently projected the economic growth of Nepal to slump as a result of lockdown, which has brought production and economic activities to a halt and also adversely affected the inflow of remittance.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Helvetica">The ADB in its recent report had said that growth will also be slower as a result of lower rice production, as well as lack of optimal production by cement, iron and brick industries among others.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Helvetica">Meanwhile, the government is preparing to take loan of Rs 13.9 billion from the IMF under its rapid credit facility at this hour of crisis.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Helvetica">The government is preparing to make the funds available within the next two months to tackle the rising threat of coronavirus in the country.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Helvetica">A meeting of the Council of Ministers on last Sunday (April 29) had decided to expedite talks with donor agencies to seek funds to prevent the spread of coronavirus and to tackle the problems created by the pandemic.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Helvetica">However, the government is yet to assess the impacts of coronavirus on the overall economy. Under secretary at the ministry Uttar Kumar Khatri informed New Business Age that the government is still studying the impacts.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-07', 'modified' => '2020-04-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11641', 'image' => '20200407120037_world-bank-1.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-07 11:59:57', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11890', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Kolkata and Haldiya ports Waive Fines on Containers Stuck due to Lockdown ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 7: Kolkata and Haldiya ports of India have decided to waive the fines on containers and bulk cargoes as a relief to the business hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">April 7: </span><span style="font-family:Calibri">Kolkata and Haldiya ports of India have decided to waive the fines on containers and bulk cargoes as a relief to the business hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">Kolkata Port, which is the preferred destination of Nepali businessmen for third-country trade, issued a notice stating that the facility will be provided to containers unloaded between March 22 to April 14. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">“We have given this facility because of the difficulty created by Covid 19. This facility will be applied in Haldiya port as well,” said Binit Kumar, chairman of the Kolkata Port Trust. Haldiya Port is also operated by Kolkata Port Trust. Kumar said that 50 percent relief has been provided in terminal operation fee. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri"> During the normal times, the charge per containers is Rs 1,000 to 1,500. Almost 60 percent of Nepal-bound containers through India come from Kolkata. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">Indian Railways has also deducted fines for demurrage and wharfage. Indian Railways Ministry has already sent notice to all the regional offices regarding the relief. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><strong><span style="font-family:Calibri">Fear created due to corona infection case in Haldiya</span></strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">The staff in Haldiya Port are gripped by fear of corona infection among one of their colleagues. The staff tested positive on Saturday. Due to this, all other workers are kept in quarantine said the port management. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">According to Binit Kumar, the port is regularly spreading insecticides and sanitizers to maintain safety. He said that the port has facility of doctors for 24 hours a day. Amidst the fear, the importers have not been able to go to the port. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri"><strong>Stockpile of container at Birgunj Dry Port</strong></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">Almost all the containers coming from India and third countries are stuck at the customs office of Birgunj Dry Port due to lockdown. According to Animesh Kumar, senior officer of Himalayan Terminal that looks after the port administration, only 13 containers departed from the Birgunj Dry Port to their respective destinations. The dry port with capacity of 1542 containers now has to stockpile 2,645 containers. According to the dry port, 26 cargo trains carrying 2340 containers are due to arrive at the port. The Birgunj Dry Port is concerned about the management of the containers. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-07', 'modified' => '2020-04-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11640', 'image' => '20200407112945_1586230909.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-07 11:28:36', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11888', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Extends Lockdown until April 15', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 7: The government has extended the nationwide lockdown for the third time.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Georgia">April 7: The government has extended the nationwide lockdown for the third time. A meeting of the Council of Ministers on Monday decided to extend the lockdown until April 15. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Georgia">The lockdown, which was first imposed on March 24 for a week, was expiring on Tuesday midnight. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Georgia">The cabinet meeting headed by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli decided to extend the lockdown upon the recommendation of the high-level committee to prevent the spread of Covid-19, informed government spokesperson Yuba Raj Khatiwada.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Georgia">The latest decision was taken after new cases of coronavirus were reported in Sudur Paschim Province, including a locally-transmitted case which has worried the health workers.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Georgia">Experts believe that Nepal is now in the second phase of transmission of the deadly disease, which has infected more than 1.3 million people worldwide and claimed more than 74,000 lives. The virus which is believed to have originated in China’s Wuhan has spread to 209 countries so far.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Georgia">All services in Nepal except for essential and emergency ones remain suspended and people have been confined inside their homes due to the extended lockdown, which will enter the third week from Wednesday.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Georgia"> Meanwhile, all domestic and international flights remain suspended across the country.</span></span><br /> <span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Georgia">Nepal has reported a total of nine cases, out of which one person has already been cured while others are receiving treatment in isolation wards. All the cases were imported except one which was transmitted to a local woman of Kanchanpur, who did not have any recent travel history to affected countries, from a relative who returned home from the UAE.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-07', 'modified' => '2020-04-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11639', 'image' => '20200407105705_8424704_n.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-07 10:56:22', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11887', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Supreme Court Orders Government to Ensure Nobody Dies of Hunger ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 7: The Supreme Court has issued an order to the government to distribute relief focusing people eking out a living through labour and those whose earning has been interrupted, by maintaining transparency in relief distribution. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">April 7: The Supreme Court has issued an order to the government to distribute relief focusing people eking out a living through labour and those whose earning has been interrupted, by maintaining transparency in relief distribution. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">A joint bench of Justices Hari Krishna Karki and Dr Ananda Mohan Bhattarai, on Monday, gave a ruling to provide relief in a transparent manner without misusing it and focusing on people whose income has been disrupted due to the lockdown. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">"Pay attention so that there is no any lapse in correctly identifying the targeted people and families in order to implement, in practice, the policy of 'Nobody Faces and Dies of Hunger in Nepal' announced by the government," the apex court order reads. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The bench ordered for making provisions for protection and relief to the farmers as agricultural work is a continuous business that is never stopped. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The Supreme Court bench also called for making arrangements for monitoring whether or not the 27,818 beds managed for quarantine throughout the country meet the WHO standard. It ordered all people who entered Nepal via air route and surface route in quarantine. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Moreover, the apex court has called for expanding the coronavirus testing facilities in other urban centres also outside the Kathmandu Valley and in all districts, as the present number of such facilities is very inadequate. It has also ordered promptly airlifting, by helicopter, any suspected coronavirus cases in the rural outback to the treatment centre at hospital for testing, isolation and treatment, coordinating with the local level and the administration as well. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Likewise, the Supreme Court has ordered the government to make arrangements so that emergency health services as well as other necessary health care and treatment to be done immediately in other cases, except coronavirus, are not affected. It also ordered operation of health services by the private hospitals and health facilities. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The government has also been ordered to arrange for the supply of test kits, medical equipment and supplies, and personal protection equipment to all the health facilities, including the private ones, across the country. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-07', 'modified' => '2020-04-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11638', 'image' => '20200407102156_1586188475.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-07 10:21:03', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11886', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Adhikari to Lead NRB Amid Heap of Challenges', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 7: Maha Prasad Adhikari has been appointed as the Governor of Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB).', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">April 7: Maha Prasad Adhikari has been appointed as the Governor of Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB). A meeting of council of ministers on Monday appointed Adhikari, who was working as CEO of Investment Board Nepal (IBN), to the post. A meeting of recommendation committee on the same day prior to the cabinet meeting, had recommended the names of Adhikari, Deputy NRB Governor Chintamani Shiwakoti and former finance secretary Rajan Khanal for the post.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> With the appointment, Adhikari has returned to NRB after four years. He was deputy governor of the central bank before joining IBN as CEO in June 2016. He actively participated in the financial sector reform measures initiated during the governorship of the current finance minister Dr Yuba Raj Khatiwada. Chartered Accountant Adhikari led some key reform initiatives including supervision of financial sector, strict controlling of troubled banks and financial institutions and separating bankers and businesspersons. Similarly, he also played an active role in formulating and getting parliamentary endorsement of policy arrangements related to anti-money laundering in a bid to avoid blacklisting of Nepal by the Financial Action Task Force. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Adhikari, who joined NRB as deputy director in 1994, is returning to central bank at a time when the country’s economy has been surrounded by several headwinds. He will take over the reins of the country’s monetary authority amid the coronavirus pandemic which has created huge challenges to the Nepali economy and the financial sector. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Former NRB governor Deependra Bahadur Kshetry expects that the good level of harmonization between Dr Khatiwada and Adhikari can yield positive results. “There was good level of harmonization between the two from the beginning. There were several problems in the financial sector when Adhikari became deputy governor and he put his efforts in the reform initiatives,” said Kshetry. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Experts say that maintaining financial stability, attaining higher economic growth, taming inflation and managing forex reserve at good level are the major challenges for the newly appointed NRB governor. “The loan repayment has been deferred by a month on the request of industrialists and business persons. The central bank could be pressurized for cancellation of debts if the situation worsens in the coming days. Similarly, inflation can rise if the government increases its spending to become popular and the central bank has to shoulder the responsibility to tame the inflation,” said Khsetry, adding, “The biggest challenge right now is to safeguard the country’s economy from pandemic-induced crisis. The success of the newly appointed governor will depend on the environment he works to avert the looming crisis.” </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Kshetry mentioned that the central bank will have to face challenges in implementing monetary policy if the government comes up with an expansionary budget. “Besides, it is also important to preserve the autonomy of the central bank,” he points out.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Former banker Analraj Bhattarai says that the governor needs to have multidimensional viewpoint at a time when the slowdown has hit the country’s economy. “There are several challenges in front of the new governor. He has been shouldered with the responsibility of efficient management of the problems,” opined Bhattarai.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Bhuvan Kumar Dahal, president of Nepal Bankers’ Association sees appointment of an NRB cadre who is well-versed in the overall financial sector as the central bank’s governor as positive. “Managing the challenges created by the coronavirus pandemic, he should work on making the payment system fully digitalised,” he commented.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Parshuram Kunwar Chhetri, CEO of Global IME Bank Limited notes that management of economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic is the foremost challenge for Adhikari. “The newly appointed governor should focus his efforts in areas including interest rate stability and liquidity management. As the governor is also the economic advisor to the finance minister, he has an important role to play in the managing the overall economy of the country,” he said. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-07', 'modified' => '2020-04-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11637', 'image' => '20200407080848_IMG_4955 - Copy.JPG', 'article_date' => '2020-04-07 08:08:05', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11889', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Families of Nepali Students Studying Abroad Allowed to Send USD 500 without NOC', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 7: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has decided to allow families of students studying abroad to make foreign exchange equivalent to USD 500 without ‘No Objection Certificate’ (NOC).', 'content' => '<h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">April 7: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has decided to allow families of students studying abroad to make foreign exchange equivalent to USD 500 without ‘No Objection Certificate’ (NOC).</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The government has directed the central bank to provide the exchange facility without NOC to the families of students enrolled in foreign university abroad.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The government took such initiative to help the families to support the expenses of their children studying abroad.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Previously, family members and relatives of students enrolled abroad had to submit the NOC mandatorily to the banks for the foreign exchange. </span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The central bank has directed banks and financial institutions to avail foreign exchange facility to the families in need without any NOC.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">With the new provision, parents can now send the student a maximum of USD 500 or equivalent worth of foreign currency at a time without any hassles.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Currently, students enrolled abroad are facing financial problems due to the lockdown to contain the coronavirus pandemic. </span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">A meeting of the Council of Ministers took such decision to ease the financial burden of Nepali students studying abroad. </span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">NRB had earlier made arrangement for the exchange of foreign currency to pay tuition fees and for subsistence in favor of students studying in countries other than India.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">However, NOC is now not required but the parents will need to submit all the other required documents for making the foreign exchange. </span></span></h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-07', 'modified' => '2020-04-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11636', 'image' => '20200407110724_20160909042218_nrb.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-07 11:06:35', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11884', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'India Bans Export of Drugs used for Treatment of Coronavirus Patients', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 6: India has restricted the export of medicines and equipment used for the treatment of coronavirus as the country grapples with surging cases of the deadly virus. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Arial">April 6: India has restricted the export of medicines and equipment used for the treatment of coronavirus as the country grapples with surging cases of the deadly virus. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Arial">India’s Directorate of Foreign Trade has banned the export of coronavirus testing kits and Hydroxychloroquine, which is used to treat malaria, effective from Saturday (April 4).</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Arial">A notice posted on the website of the directorate states that the decision has been implemented with immediate effect.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Arial">Despite the ban, drug manufactures in Nepal say that the country will not face shortage of the drugs immediately. They claim that the they have purchased enough stock of raw materials to produce the medicine for at least six months.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Arial">Prithvi Raj Rajbhandari, owner of a pharmaceutical company in Nepal, says that most of the factories in Nepal are producing drugs with the stock of raw materials they had purchased before.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Arial">“Drug manufacturers in Nepal had imported raw materials long ago,” said Rajbhandari.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Arial">India started restricting the export of drugs since one month. The directorate has been time and again publishing new list of drugs that are being banned for export due to the domestic requirement. Initially, India banned the export of 26 types of drugs including cetamol. A few days ago, India added masks, sanitizers and other medicines used for the treatment of coronavirus in the list.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Arial">Drug manufacturers in Nepal say they are chiefly dependent on India for raw materials of medicines. According to operator of Asian Pharmaceuticals, Shankar Ghimire, the raw materials that Nepal imports from India actually come from China.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Arial">“Therefore, there is no need to worry if India bans the export of raw materials as we can import them directly from China,” he said.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-06', 'modified' => '2020-04-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11635', 'image' => '20200406013653_maxresdefault.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-06 13:35:57', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11885', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'In contact with foreign returnees? Stay in quarantine ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 6: The Ministry of Health and Population has requested anyone who has come into contact with foreign returnees to stay in quarantine for at least 15 days.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">April 6: The Ministry of Health and Population has requested anyone who has come into contact with foreign returnees to stay in quarantine for at least 15 days.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">The Public Health Emergency Operation Centre under the ministry requested those people to stay in quarantine by issuing a public notice. After confirmation of a locally-transmitted case of coronavirus in Kailali recently, the center has requested one and all to be more alert and adopt adequate safety measures. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">In the notice, Dr Guna Raj Lohani, coordinator of the centre, has requested the ones who are in contact with foreign returnees to stay in home for two weeks and maintain a distance of one meter with others.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">Similarly, the centre has requested to go to health post if they have fever, cough or breathing problem. The ministry has started rapid coronavirus tests in districts including Kailali, Kanchanpur and Baglung from Sunday. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">A meeting of the Council of Ministers had decided on rapid tests for coronavirus in these districts after emergence of new cases. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-06', 'modified' => '2020-04-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11634', 'image' => '20200406014610_emegency notice_health department.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-06 13:45:30', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11882', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government to Procure Essential Medical Supplies Through G2G model ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 6: Following widespread criticism in procurement of essential supplies and medical kits through a private company, the government has decided to adopt G2G and B2G models to purchase the supplies to fight coronavirus.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">April 6:</span><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif""> Following widespread criticism in procurement of essential supplies and medical kits through a private company, the government has decided to adopt G2G and B2G models to purchase the supplies to fight coronavirus.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">The high-level coordination committee for prevention and control of Covid 19 took a decision to this effect on Sunday. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">The committee said that the government can choose any of the two methods to buy essential medicines during time of crisis, as per the Public Procurement Act.</span></span></span></p> <p><br /> <span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif""> “The provision in the act says that government can buy supplies from foreign government. Similarly according to the rules and regulations, the supplies can be bought through competition among the private parties,” said Narayan Prasad Bidari, spokesperson of the high level committee.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">Recently, the Department of Health Services under the Ministry of Health and Population had reached an agreement of Rs 1.24 billion with the Omni Group for the supply of medicines from China. According to the agreement, Omni Group had brought 10 items worth Rs 290 million. However, as after allegations that the materials supplied by the company were of poor quality, the procurement deal was scrapped. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">The company had brought those supplies from Guangzhou in a chartered flight of NAC recently. After cancellation of the agreement with Omni, the government has handed the responsibility of procurement to the Nepalese Army. The decision says that Ministry of Defense will procure the medicines and essential supplies through the Nepalese Army using G2G method. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">A section of society had raised concerns regarding the use of army in supply of the medicines stating that the army does not fall under the jurisdiction of the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority and therefore the deal might be subject to corruption.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">However, the Nepalese Army on Sunday organised a press conferencing ensuring that the procurement process will be transparent. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">In the conference, the Army said that separate mechanism has been formed to make the process transparent. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">Similarly, the ones who are staying in 14 days quarantine will be allowed to go home only after their swab tests, said the government. In case of any symptoms, they will be treated in isolation ward. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">Bidari further said that the ones who are kept in quarantine will be strictly monitored, and will be sent home only after they are assured that the suspects are fully cured.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"> </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-06', 'modified' => '2020-04-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11633', 'image' => '20200406121132_EUOiH2GUYAIKiK5.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-06 12:09:37', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11883', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NHRC asks Government to Ensure Citizen’s Right to Health ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 6: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has urged the government to ensure health-related rights of every citizen by making arrangements for treatments of patients suffering from all types of serious diseases including coronavirus. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">April 6: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has urged the government to ensure health-related rights of every citizen by making arrangements for treatments of patients suffering from all types of serious diseases including coronavirus. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Issuing a press release on Sunday, NHRC Spokesperson Bed Prasad Bhattarai asked the government, health workers and health institutions to guarantee the citizens’ right to get all types of health care services including emergency ones. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The NHRC wants to be assured over the issues including guarantee of health security of all health workers, supply of personal safety measures to ambulance drivers and security personnel and continuity in their services, according to the statement. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Likewise, NHRC said its serious attention was drawn towards the news about a woman’s death at Biratnagar-based Neuro Hospital, Birat Nursing Home and Nobel Hospital for lack of treatment and sending the patients by hospitals after closing their OPD services. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">As per the complaints received by the NHRC and its monitoring, the NHRC found that patients suffering from kidney related disease, cancer, tuberculosis, AIDS, diabetes, hypertension and mental disease were facing problems in their treatment as well as insufficient amount of medicines. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-06', 'modified' => '2020-04-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11632', 'image' => '20200406010720_index.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-06 13:06:26', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11881', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal, India Allow Flow of Goods without Certificate of Origin during Lockdown', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 6: Goods produced in Nepal can be exported to India without Certificate of Origin during the lockdown period.', 'content' => '<h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">April 6: Goods produced in Nepal can be exported to India without Certificate of Origin during the lockdown period.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The governments of the two countries have made such arrangement after consulting with each other. The countries have not been able to issue certificate of origin to goods produced within their respective territories due to the lockdown. However, both the countries will have to submit the Certificate of Origin to each other for the goods produced once the lockdown is over.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Meanwhile, the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies has confirmed that the Certificate of Origin is not mandatory for import and export of goods from India for the time being. </span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FNCCI) has been certifying the goods produced in Nepal before being exported to India. </span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">However, the Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) and Nepal Chamber of Commerce (NCC) have been issuing Certificate of Origin to goods exported to third countries. </span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Nawaraj Dhakal, undersecretary at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies informed New Business Age that both Nepal and India have made an arrangement for export of goods without Certificate of Origin after analyzing the impact of lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic. </span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">“We have not made the certificate mandatory for goods imported from India while Nepali entrepreneurs can also export their goods to India without the certificate,” he informed. </span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">However, the entrepreneurs will need submit the Certificate of Origin of their products once the lockdown is over, he added. Dhakal added that the certificate along with other documents are mandatory for goods imported from third countries. </span></span></h1> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-06', 'modified' => '2020-04-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11631', 'image' => '20200406113155_1586125463.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-06 11:30:53', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11880', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Govt Readies Guidelines for Industries and Infrastructure Projects', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 5: The government has prepared guidelines to allow infrastructure projects and essential food industries to resume their operations. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">April 5: The government has prepared guidelines to allow infrastructure projects and essential food industries to resume their operations. The guidelines were formulated jointly by the </span><span style="font-family:Calibri">Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport, Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation and Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies</span><span style="font-family:Calibri">. “After the government issues the guidelines, national-level development projects industries producing essential goods including food items and construction materials can resume their operations,” said Narayan Prashad Bidari, member secretary of the committee. A meeting of the High-level Coordination Committee for the Prevention and Control of Covid-19 held on April 2 (Thursday), had decided to allow certain industries and development projects to continue operations. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">As per the guidelines, industries are required to deploy protective measures for the workers, maintain distance among people at the workplaces, use sanitisers and monitor the body temperature of staffs on a regular basis. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">The guidelines have strictly barred movement of workers and staffers to and from the factories and project sites, said Bidari. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">The government has asked the project chiefs to submit it with proposals on how the projects can be continued. Construction of most of the large projects have come to a standstill after the government announced nation-wide lockdown on March 24 to stop the possible spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">Shyam Prashad Kharel, chief of Nagdhunga-Naubise tunnel road, first tunnel road of Nepal said that he will ask the engineers and consultants to prepare a proposal regarding the continuity of the construction of the project. According to him, the preparation has been done for smooth supply of construction materials including sand, gravel and cement and protection measures during the work. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">Likewise, Tiresh Prashad Khatri, executive director of Melamchi Drinking Water Supply Project said that they have not been able to work actively after the start of the lockdown. “Around 300 workers were mobilised earlier. But now only 50-60 workers are working,” Khatri informed. “We also can’t bring other workers immediately.” The government’s latest decision has also eased transportation and supply of construction materials. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">Similarly, chief of Pokhara Regional and International Airport Binesh Munankarmi said that 270 Chinese and 100 Nepali workers are currently handling the construction work of the project. However, there are some hindrances due to lack of construction materials. “We are not able to bring construction materials from India and China,” Munankarmi mentioned. “The shipment of cement from India has been stucked and containers with construction materials are stuck at Kerung.” Nevertheless, 56 percent of construction work has already been completed, he said. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">Though there are 1,100 workers working at the site of the Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower Project, many workers are not psychologically prepared to work. “The situation is very critical. So, we have been working to make the environment friendly and protective for the workers. We are preparing to implement health and safety measures at the project site,” informed Bigyan Prasad Shrestha, CEO of Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower Limited. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-05', 'modified' => '2020-04-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11630', 'image' => '20200405125829_pic(1).jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-05 12:57:48', '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' => '11893', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'All International Flights Suspended till April 30', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 8: The government has decided to extend the suspension of international flights to and from Tribhuvan International Airport till April 30.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">April 8: The government has decided to extend the suspension of international flights to and from Tribhuvan International Airport till April 30.<strong> </strong></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">The government had earlier announced suspension of all flights – international and domestic – till April 15 considering the threat of posed by the coronavirus pandemic.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">The government took such decision on Tuesday (April 7) upon the recommendation of the high-level committee to prevent the spread of coronavirus in the country, informed government spokesperson Yuba Raj Khatiwada.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">Khatiwada said after a meeting of the high-level committee that the flight suspension has been extended as the risks of imported cases of coronavirus have not subsided yet. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">He further said that the committee is yet to take any decision on whether to continue suspension of domestic flights or not. According to Khatiwada, a decision regarding domestic flights will be taken within a few days.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">The meeting also decided to conduct rapid diagnostic tests in the districts identified as highly vulnerable to the disease, especially the ones where new cases were detected on Saturday.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">Khatiwada, who holds the portfolio of finance and communication minister, said that the government has so far distributed relief to 114,316 families. He added that altogether 30,506 people are currently kept in quarantine facilities across the country.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">Likewise, he said that police have taken action against around 2600 people for defying the lockdown order. All of them have been released after proper counseling, said the minister. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">Meanwhile, 2235 vehicles have been impounded for operating without pass or for other purposes emergency. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">“Those vehicles which were misusing their passes or operating for other purpose than the intended ones were also punished,” said Khatiwada in a video post shared on Facebook. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">He said that around 1949 ambulances have been kept on standby in case of emergency.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial"> Likewise, the National Planning Commission is studying the impact of coronavirus on the country’s economy, according to the minister. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"> </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-08', 'modified' => '2020-04-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11644', 'image' => '20200408101555_Himalaya Airlines.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-08 10:15:01', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11894', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Stay Safe Wherever You Are: PM Oli ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 8: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has urged one and all to stay safe wherever they are during the current crisis caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, expressing his hope that the crisis recovery was sure to come. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">April 8: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has urged one and all to stay safe wherever they are during the current crisis caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, expressing his hope that the crisis recovery was sure to come. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">In his address to the nation on Tuesday, the Prime Minister said the country had waged a war against COVID-19 and the higher risks of the contagion were still pervading through the number of confirmed cases has been limited to just nine since the detection of the first case. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">''It is obvious that we are finding so hard to fight against the pandemic when the developed, resource-rich and wealthy nations with robust health care systems are facing the same," he said adding the biggest challenge of the hour was to ensure the supplies of medical equipment. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">''No matter is important than saving the lives of citizens. The regular procedures meant for normal times are not sufficient to tackle the prevailing abnormal situation. Bearing this in mind, special provisions have been made for the smooth supply of medical equipment," he said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">He went on to say that the protection of the entire human beings and human civilization was the foremost priority of the world and the fight against COVID-19 is our collective battle. "It should be therefore realized that every member in the society was a combatant in this battle to defeat the virus." </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Saying that COVID-19 has entered into the second state in the country, the PM urged one and all to remain more aware and cautious. Asking all foreign returnees to stay under quarantines, PM Oli said that worrying situation has been created as some of them have paid no heed to the request and arrangements for staying in quarantine. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">In the context of curbing corruption, the PM reaffirmed the government’s commitment and added that misinformation could not weaken the government’s firm commitment. The incumbent government will not hesitate to take actions if any cases of irregularities and corruption come up. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">“My sufficient attention has been drawn to the media reports and criticisms, comments and recommendations coming in the social networking sites. The publicity materials portray the government failure instead of getting united at a time of national and global crisis which is tantamount to unseasoned celebration and such trends can never be entertained,” the PM said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Likewise, PM Oli said that robust national unity between the government and people, political parties, state and all apparatus of the societies was the precondition to get victory over the pandemic. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The PM said that he has taken a common resolution motion of the parliament, all-party consensus and statements of commitment from different political parties including that of main opposition as the national strength. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">PM Oli has also expressed his assurance for the continued cooperation and unity from all in the days to come. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-08', 'modified' => '2020-04-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11643', 'image' => '20200408103322_1586298786.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-08 10:32:24', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11892', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Signs Financing Agreement with World Bank for COVID-19 Response', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 7: The World Bank has approved a fast-track USD 29 million COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health Systems Preparedness Project to help Nepal prevent, detect, and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:Arial">April 7: The World Bank has approved a fast-track USD 29 million COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health Systems Preparedness Project to help Nepal prevent, detect, and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and strengthen its public health preparedness. The agreement to this effect was signed on Tuesday (April 7) by Finance Secretary Sishir Kumar Dhungana and Faris Hadad-Zervos, World Bank’s country manager for Nepal. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"> <span style="font-family:Arial">A joint press statement issued after the signing of the financing agreement reads that the project is financed from the International Development Association (IDA), the World Bank’s concessional credit window for developing countries, through the World Bank Group’s COVID-19 Fast-Track Facility and will be effective immediately after the signing. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:Arial">“The project provides emergency support to enhance Nepal’s capacity to detect cases and ensure prompt contact tracing consistent with World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines and Ministry of Health and Population protocols. It will also help set up new intensive care units, beds, and isolation facilities across the country,” says the statement. The project will be implemented by Ministry of Health and Population.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"> <span style="font-family:Arial">“We are thankful to the World Bank for the response in a record short period of time, which will help Nepal respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and strengthen our capacities to deal with future public health risks,” the statement quoted Finance Secretary Dhungana as saying. He added, “Immediately after the outbreak of COVID-19 in the country, the Government of Nepal has made several arrangements to prevent and address the possible crisis. Due to these measures, the socio-economic activities are going to be affected. Further support is being anticipated from the World Bank to cope with the emerging pandemic situation.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"> <span style="font-family:Arial">According to the statement, the project will also equip designated health facilities with personal protective equipment and hygienic materials and increase the diagnostic capacity of laboratories for responding to public health emergencies. It will enhance the National Public Health Laboratory to handle harmful infectious diseases and strengthen public institutions to coordinate and better manage response activities in all three levels of government.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"> <span style="font-family:Arial">“Given the unprecedented nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, the government’s rapid response will help save lives across Nepal,” the statement quoted Hadad-Zervos of the World Bank, as saying. “The World Bank and its development partners are committed to helping Nepal beef up its health infrastructure and access the resources it needs to fight the spread of COVID-19 and protect the livelihoods of its people,” he said. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"> </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-07', 'modified' => '2020-04-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11642', 'image' => '20200407052329_image001.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-07 17:22:18', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11891', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Initiates Homework to Seek Rs 41 Billion from Donor Agencies', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 7: The government has initiated homework to seek financial support of Rs 41 billion from donor agencies to check the spread of coronavirus in the country. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">April 7: The government has initiated homework to seek financial support of Rs 41 billion from donor agencies to check the spread of coronavirus in the country. The Ministry of Finance has started discussions with development partners like the World Bank (WB), the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for the support.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The government intends to seek the maximum support of Rs 24.22 billion from the World Bank followed by IMF (Rs 13.9 billion) and ADB (Rs 7.26 billion).</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">A highly-placed source at the finance ministry informed New Business Age that the government has so far initiated the process to avail financial support of Rs 41 billion. He further said that the donor agencies are positive to the government’s demand.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The government is all set to sign a deal for concessional loan of Rs 3.43 billion with the World Bank on Tuesday (today). This amount is being taken under the World Bank’s assistance during emergency and pandemic. The bank has already provided loan of Rs 6 billion under the natural disaster and health crisis mitigation head. The government will be utilizing this fund to upgrade its capacity to fight against the coronavirus pandemic.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The source further said that the government is in talks with the ADB to avail Rs 7.26 billion at the moment. The government is also discussing mobilizing the fund allocated by the ADB for other projects in the current fiscal year in its fight against the coronavirus pandemic.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The ADB had recently projected the economic growth of Nepal to slump as a result of lockdown, which has brought production and economic activities to a halt and also adversely affected the inflow of remittance.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Helvetica">The ADB in its recent report had said that growth will also be slower as a result of lower rice production, as well as lack of optimal production by cement, iron and brick industries among others.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Helvetica">Meanwhile, the government is preparing to take loan of Rs 13.9 billion from the IMF under its rapid credit facility at this hour of crisis.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Helvetica">The government is preparing to make the funds available within the next two months to tackle the rising threat of coronavirus in the country.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Helvetica">A meeting of the Council of Ministers on last Sunday (April 29) had decided to expedite talks with donor agencies to seek funds to prevent the spread of coronavirus and to tackle the problems created by the pandemic.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Helvetica">However, the government is yet to assess the impacts of coronavirus on the overall economy. Under secretary at the ministry Uttar Kumar Khatri informed New Business Age that the government is still studying the impacts.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-07', 'modified' => '2020-04-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11641', 'image' => '20200407120037_world-bank-1.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-07 11:59:57', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11890', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Kolkata and Haldiya ports Waive Fines on Containers Stuck due to Lockdown ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 7: Kolkata and Haldiya ports of India have decided to waive the fines on containers and bulk cargoes as a relief to the business hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">April 7: </span><span style="font-family:Calibri">Kolkata and Haldiya ports of India have decided to waive the fines on containers and bulk cargoes as a relief to the business hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">Kolkata Port, which is the preferred destination of Nepali businessmen for third-country trade, issued a notice stating that the facility will be provided to containers unloaded between March 22 to April 14. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">“We have given this facility because of the difficulty created by Covid 19. This facility will be applied in Haldiya port as well,” said Binit Kumar, chairman of the Kolkata Port Trust. Haldiya Port is also operated by Kolkata Port Trust. Kumar said that 50 percent relief has been provided in terminal operation fee. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri"> During the normal times, the charge per containers is Rs 1,000 to 1,500. Almost 60 percent of Nepal-bound containers through India come from Kolkata. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">Indian Railways has also deducted fines for demurrage and wharfage. Indian Railways Ministry has already sent notice to all the regional offices regarding the relief. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><strong><span style="font-family:Calibri">Fear created due to corona infection case in Haldiya</span></strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">The staff in Haldiya Port are gripped by fear of corona infection among one of their colleagues. The staff tested positive on Saturday. Due to this, all other workers are kept in quarantine said the port management. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">According to Binit Kumar, the port is regularly spreading insecticides and sanitizers to maintain safety. He said that the port has facility of doctors for 24 hours a day. Amidst the fear, the importers have not been able to go to the port. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri"><strong>Stockpile of container at Birgunj Dry Port</strong></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">Almost all the containers coming from India and third countries are stuck at the customs office of Birgunj Dry Port due to lockdown. According to Animesh Kumar, senior officer of Himalayan Terminal that looks after the port administration, only 13 containers departed from the Birgunj Dry Port to their respective destinations. The dry port with capacity of 1542 containers now has to stockpile 2,645 containers. According to the dry port, 26 cargo trains carrying 2340 containers are due to arrive at the port. The Birgunj Dry Port is concerned about the management of the containers. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-07', 'modified' => '2020-04-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11640', 'image' => '20200407112945_1586230909.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-07 11:28:36', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11888', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Extends Lockdown until April 15', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 7: The government has extended the nationwide lockdown for the third time.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Georgia">April 7: The government has extended the nationwide lockdown for the third time. A meeting of the Council of Ministers on Monday decided to extend the lockdown until April 15. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Georgia">The lockdown, which was first imposed on March 24 for a week, was expiring on Tuesday midnight. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Georgia">The cabinet meeting headed by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli decided to extend the lockdown upon the recommendation of the high-level committee to prevent the spread of Covid-19, informed government spokesperson Yuba Raj Khatiwada.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Georgia">The latest decision was taken after new cases of coronavirus were reported in Sudur Paschim Province, including a locally-transmitted case which has worried the health workers.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Georgia">Experts believe that Nepal is now in the second phase of transmission of the deadly disease, which has infected more than 1.3 million people worldwide and claimed more than 74,000 lives. The virus which is believed to have originated in China’s Wuhan has spread to 209 countries so far.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Georgia">All services in Nepal except for essential and emergency ones remain suspended and people have been confined inside their homes due to the extended lockdown, which will enter the third week from Wednesday.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Georgia"> Meanwhile, all domestic and international flights remain suspended across the country.</span></span><br /> <span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Georgia">Nepal has reported a total of nine cases, out of which one person has already been cured while others are receiving treatment in isolation wards. All the cases were imported except one which was transmitted to a local woman of Kanchanpur, who did not have any recent travel history to affected countries, from a relative who returned home from the UAE.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-07', 'modified' => '2020-04-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11639', 'image' => '20200407105705_8424704_n.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-07 10:56:22', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11887', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Supreme Court Orders Government to Ensure Nobody Dies of Hunger ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 7: The Supreme Court has issued an order to the government to distribute relief focusing people eking out a living through labour and those whose earning has been interrupted, by maintaining transparency in relief distribution. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">April 7: The Supreme Court has issued an order to the government to distribute relief focusing people eking out a living through labour and those whose earning has been interrupted, by maintaining transparency in relief distribution. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">A joint bench of Justices Hari Krishna Karki and Dr Ananda Mohan Bhattarai, on Monday, gave a ruling to provide relief in a transparent manner without misusing it and focusing on people whose income has been disrupted due to the lockdown. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">"Pay attention so that there is no any lapse in correctly identifying the targeted people and families in order to implement, in practice, the policy of 'Nobody Faces and Dies of Hunger in Nepal' announced by the government," the apex court order reads. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The bench ordered for making provisions for protection and relief to the farmers as agricultural work is a continuous business that is never stopped. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The Supreme Court bench also called for making arrangements for monitoring whether or not the 27,818 beds managed for quarantine throughout the country meet the WHO standard. It ordered all people who entered Nepal via air route and surface route in quarantine. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Moreover, the apex court has called for expanding the coronavirus testing facilities in other urban centres also outside the Kathmandu Valley and in all districts, as the present number of such facilities is very inadequate. It has also ordered promptly airlifting, by helicopter, any suspected coronavirus cases in the rural outback to the treatment centre at hospital for testing, isolation and treatment, coordinating with the local level and the administration as well. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Likewise, the Supreme Court has ordered the government to make arrangements so that emergency health services as well as other necessary health care and treatment to be done immediately in other cases, except coronavirus, are not affected. It also ordered operation of health services by the private hospitals and health facilities. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The government has also been ordered to arrange for the supply of test kits, medical equipment and supplies, and personal protection equipment to all the health facilities, including the private ones, across the country. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-07', 'modified' => '2020-04-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11638', 'image' => '20200407102156_1586188475.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-07 10:21:03', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11886', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Adhikari to Lead NRB Amid Heap of Challenges', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 7: Maha Prasad Adhikari has been appointed as the Governor of Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB).', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">April 7: Maha Prasad Adhikari has been appointed as the Governor of Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB). A meeting of council of ministers on Monday appointed Adhikari, who was working as CEO of Investment Board Nepal (IBN), to the post. A meeting of recommendation committee on the same day prior to the cabinet meeting, had recommended the names of Adhikari, Deputy NRB Governor Chintamani Shiwakoti and former finance secretary Rajan Khanal for the post.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> With the appointment, Adhikari has returned to NRB after four years. He was deputy governor of the central bank before joining IBN as CEO in June 2016. He actively participated in the financial sector reform measures initiated during the governorship of the current finance minister Dr Yuba Raj Khatiwada. Chartered Accountant Adhikari led some key reform initiatives including supervision of financial sector, strict controlling of troubled banks and financial institutions and separating bankers and businesspersons. Similarly, he also played an active role in formulating and getting parliamentary endorsement of policy arrangements related to anti-money laundering in a bid to avoid blacklisting of Nepal by the Financial Action Task Force. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Adhikari, who joined NRB as deputy director in 1994, is returning to central bank at a time when the country’s economy has been surrounded by several headwinds. He will take over the reins of the country’s monetary authority amid the coronavirus pandemic which has created huge challenges to the Nepali economy and the financial sector. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Former NRB governor Deependra Bahadur Kshetry expects that the good level of harmonization between Dr Khatiwada and Adhikari can yield positive results. “There was good level of harmonization between the two from the beginning. There were several problems in the financial sector when Adhikari became deputy governor and he put his efforts in the reform initiatives,” said Kshetry. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Experts say that maintaining financial stability, attaining higher economic growth, taming inflation and managing forex reserve at good level are the major challenges for the newly appointed NRB governor. “The loan repayment has been deferred by a month on the request of industrialists and business persons. The central bank could be pressurized for cancellation of debts if the situation worsens in the coming days. Similarly, inflation can rise if the government increases its spending to become popular and the central bank has to shoulder the responsibility to tame the inflation,” said Khsetry, adding, “The biggest challenge right now is to safeguard the country’s economy from pandemic-induced crisis. The success of the newly appointed governor will depend on the environment he works to avert the looming crisis.” </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Kshetry mentioned that the central bank will have to face challenges in implementing monetary policy if the government comes up with an expansionary budget. “Besides, it is also important to preserve the autonomy of the central bank,” he points out.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Former banker Analraj Bhattarai says that the governor needs to have multidimensional viewpoint at a time when the slowdown has hit the country’s economy. “There are several challenges in front of the new governor. He has been shouldered with the responsibility of efficient management of the problems,” opined Bhattarai.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Bhuvan Kumar Dahal, president of Nepal Bankers’ Association sees appointment of an NRB cadre who is well-versed in the overall financial sector as the central bank’s governor as positive. “Managing the challenges created by the coronavirus pandemic, he should work on making the payment system fully digitalised,” he commented.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Parshuram Kunwar Chhetri, CEO of Global IME Bank Limited notes that management of economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic is the foremost challenge for Adhikari. “The newly appointed governor should focus his efforts in areas including interest rate stability and liquidity management. As the governor is also the economic advisor to the finance minister, he has an important role to play in the managing the overall economy of the country,” he said. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-07', 'modified' => '2020-04-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11637', 'image' => '20200407080848_IMG_4955 - Copy.JPG', 'article_date' => '2020-04-07 08:08:05', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11889', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Families of Nepali Students Studying Abroad Allowed to Send USD 500 without NOC', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 7: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has decided to allow families of students studying abroad to make foreign exchange equivalent to USD 500 without ‘No Objection Certificate’ (NOC).', 'content' => '<h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">April 7: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has decided to allow families of students studying abroad to make foreign exchange equivalent to USD 500 without ‘No Objection Certificate’ (NOC).</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The government has directed the central bank to provide the exchange facility without NOC to the families of students enrolled in foreign university abroad.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The government took such initiative to help the families to support the expenses of their children studying abroad.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Previously, family members and relatives of students enrolled abroad had to submit the NOC mandatorily to the banks for the foreign exchange. </span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The central bank has directed banks and financial institutions to avail foreign exchange facility to the families in need without any NOC.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">With the new provision, parents can now send the student a maximum of USD 500 or equivalent worth of foreign currency at a time without any hassles.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Currently, students enrolled abroad are facing financial problems due to the lockdown to contain the coronavirus pandemic. </span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">A meeting of the Council of Ministers took such decision to ease the financial burden of Nepali students studying abroad. </span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">NRB had earlier made arrangement for the exchange of foreign currency to pay tuition fees and for subsistence in favor of students studying in countries other than India.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">However, NOC is now not required but the parents will need to submit all the other required documents for making the foreign exchange. </span></span></h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-07', 'modified' => '2020-04-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11636', 'image' => '20200407110724_20160909042218_nrb.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-07 11:06:35', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11884', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'India Bans Export of Drugs used for Treatment of Coronavirus Patients', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 6: India has restricted the export of medicines and equipment used for the treatment of coronavirus as the country grapples with surging cases of the deadly virus. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Arial">April 6: India has restricted the export of medicines and equipment used for the treatment of coronavirus as the country grapples with surging cases of the deadly virus. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Arial">India’s Directorate of Foreign Trade has banned the export of coronavirus testing kits and Hydroxychloroquine, which is used to treat malaria, effective from Saturday (April 4).</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Arial">A notice posted on the website of the directorate states that the decision has been implemented with immediate effect.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Arial">Despite the ban, drug manufactures in Nepal say that the country will not face shortage of the drugs immediately. They claim that the they have purchased enough stock of raw materials to produce the medicine for at least six months.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Arial">Prithvi Raj Rajbhandari, owner of a pharmaceutical company in Nepal, says that most of the factories in Nepal are producing drugs with the stock of raw materials they had purchased before.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Arial">“Drug manufacturers in Nepal had imported raw materials long ago,” said Rajbhandari.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Arial">India started restricting the export of drugs since one month. The directorate has been time and again publishing new list of drugs that are being banned for export due to the domestic requirement. Initially, India banned the export of 26 types of drugs including cetamol. A few days ago, India added masks, sanitizers and other medicines used for the treatment of coronavirus in the list.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Arial">Drug manufacturers in Nepal say they are chiefly dependent on India for raw materials of medicines. According to operator of Asian Pharmaceuticals, Shankar Ghimire, the raw materials that Nepal imports from India actually come from China.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Arial">“Therefore, there is no need to worry if India bans the export of raw materials as we can import them directly from China,” he said.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-06', 'modified' => '2020-04-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11635', 'image' => '20200406013653_maxresdefault.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-06 13:35:57', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11885', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'In contact with foreign returnees? Stay in quarantine ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 6: The Ministry of Health and Population has requested anyone who has come into contact with foreign returnees to stay in quarantine for at least 15 days.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">April 6: The Ministry of Health and Population has requested anyone who has come into contact with foreign returnees to stay in quarantine for at least 15 days.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">The Public Health Emergency Operation Centre under the ministry requested those people to stay in quarantine by issuing a public notice. After confirmation of a locally-transmitted case of coronavirus in Kailali recently, the center has requested one and all to be more alert and adopt adequate safety measures. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">In the notice, Dr Guna Raj Lohani, coordinator of the centre, has requested the ones who are in contact with foreign returnees to stay in home for two weeks and maintain a distance of one meter with others.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">Similarly, the centre has requested to go to health post if they have fever, cough or breathing problem. The ministry has started rapid coronavirus tests in districts including Kailali, Kanchanpur and Baglung from Sunday. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">A meeting of the Council of Ministers had decided on rapid tests for coronavirus in these districts after emergence of new cases. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-06', 'modified' => '2020-04-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11634', 'image' => '20200406014610_emegency notice_health department.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-06 13:45:30', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11882', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government to Procure Essential Medical Supplies Through G2G model ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 6: Following widespread criticism in procurement of essential supplies and medical kits through a private company, the government has decided to adopt G2G and B2G models to purchase the supplies to fight coronavirus.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">April 6:</span><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif""> Following widespread criticism in procurement of essential supplies and medical kits through a private company, the government has decided to adopt G2G and B2G models to purchase the supplies to fight coronavirus.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">The high-level coordination committee for prevention and control of Covid 19 took a decision to this effect on Sunday. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">The committee said that the government can choose any of the two methods to buy essential medicines during time of crisis, as per the Public Procurement Act.</span></span></span></p> <p><br /> <span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif""> “The provision in the act says that government can buy supplies from foreign government. Similarly according to the rules and regulations, the supplies can be bought through competition among the private parties,” said Narayan Prasad Bidari, spokesperson of the high level committee.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">Recently, the Department of Health Services under the Ministry of Health and Population had reached an agreement of Rs 1.24 billion with the Omni Group for the supply of medicines from China. According to the agreement, Omni Group had brought 10 items worth Rs 290 million. However, as after allegations that the materials supplied by the company were of poor quality, the procurement deal was scrapped. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">The company had brought those supplies from Guangzhou in a chartered flight of NAC recently. After cancellation of the agreement with Omni, the government has handed the responsibility of procurement to the Nepalese Army. The decision says that Ministry of Defense will procure the medicines and essential supplies through the Nepalese Army using G2G method. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">A section of society had raised concerns regarding the use of army in supply of the medicines stating that the army does not fall under the jurisdiction of the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority and therefore the deal might be subject to corruption.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">However, the Nepalese Army on Sunday organised a press conferencing ensuring that the procurement process will be transparent. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">In the conference, the Army said that separate mechanism has been formed to make the process transparent. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">Similarly, the ones who are staying in 14 days quarantine will be allowed to go home only after their swab tests, said the government. In case of any symptoms, they will be treated in isolation ward. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">Bidari further said that the ones who are kept in quarantine will be strictly monitored, and will be sent home only after they are assured that the suspects are fully cured.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"> </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-06', 'modified' => '2020-04-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11633', 'image' => '20200406121132_EUOiH2GUYAIKiK5.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-06 12:09:37', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11883', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NHRC asks Government to Ensure Citizen’s Right to Health ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 6: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has urged the government to ensure health-related rights of every citizen by making arrangements for treatments of patients suffering from all types of serious diseases including coronavirus. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">April 6: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has urged the government to ensure health-related rights of every citizen by making arrangements for treatments of patients suffering from all types of serious diseases including coronavirus. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Issuing a press release on Sunday, NHRC Spokesperson Bed Prasad Bhattarai asked the government, health workers and health institutions to guarantee the citizens’ right to get all types of health care services including emergency ones. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The NHRC wants to be assured over the issues including guarantee of health security of all health workers, supply of personal safety measures to ambulance drivers and security personnel and continuity in their services, according to the statement. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Likewise, NHRC said its serious attention was drawn towards the news about a woman’s death at Biratnagar-based Neuro Hospital, Birat Nursing Home and Nobel Hospital for lack of treatment and sending the patients by hospitals after closing their OPD services. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">As per the complaints received by the NHRC and its monitoring, the NHRC found that patients suffering from kidney related disease, cancer, tuberculosis, AIDS, diabetes, hypertension and mental disease were facing problems in their treatment as well as insufficient amount of medicines. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-06', 'modified' => '2020-04-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11632', 'image' => '20200406010720_index.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-06 13:06:26', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11881', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal, India Allow Flow of Goods without Certificate of Origin during Lockdown', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 6: Goods produced in Nepal can be exported to India without Certificate of Origin during the lockdown period.', 'content' => '<h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">April 6: Goods produced in Nepal can be exported to India without Certificate of Origin during the lockdown period.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The governments of the two countries have made such arrangement after consulting with each other. The countries have not been able to issue certificate of origin to goods produced within their respective territories due to the lockdown. However, both the countries will have to submit the Certificate of Origin to each other for the goods produced once the lockdown is over.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Meanwhile, the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies has confirmed that the Certificate of Origin is not mandatory for import and export of goods from India for the time being. </span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FNCCI) has been certifying the goods produced in Nepal before being exported to India. </span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">However, the Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) and Nepal Chamber of Commerce (NCC) have been issuing Certificate of Origin to goods exported to third countries. </span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Nawaraj Dhakal, undersecretary at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies informed New Business Age that both Nepal and India have made an arrangement for export of goods without Certificate of Origin after analyzing the impact of lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic. </span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">“We have not made the certificate mandatory for goods imported from India while Nepali entrepreneurs can also export their goods to India without the certificate,” he informed. </span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">However, the entrepreneurs will need submit the Certificate of Origin of their products once the lockdown is over, he added. Dhakal added that the certificate along with other documents are mandatory for goods imported from third countries. </span></span></h1> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-06', 'modified' => '2020-04-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11631', 'image' => '20200406113155_1586125463.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-06 11:30:53', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11880', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Govt Readies Guidelines for Industries and Infrastructure Projects', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 5: The government has prepared guidelines to allow infrastructure projects and essential food industries to resume their operations. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">April 5: The government has prepared guidelines to allow infrastructure projects and essential food industries to resume their operations. The guidelines were formulated jointly by the </span><span style="font-family:Calibri">Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport, Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation and Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies</span><span style="font-family:Calibri">. “After the government issues the guidelines, national-level development projects industries producing essential goods including food items and construction materials can resume their operations,” said Narayan Prashad Bidari, member secretary of the committee. A meeting of the High-level Coordination Committee for the Prevention and Control of Covid-19 held on April 2 (Thursday), had decided to allow certain industries and development projects to continue operations. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">As per the guidelines, industries are required to deploy protective measures for the workers, maintain distance among people at the workplaces, use sanitisers and monitor the body temperature of staffs on a regular basis. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">The guidelines have strictly barred movement of workers and staffers to and from the factories and project sites, said Bidari. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">The government has asked the project chiefs to submit it with proposals on how the projects can be continued. Construction of most of the large projects have come to a standstill after the government announced nation-wide lockdown on March 24 to stop the possible spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">Shyam Prashad Kharel, chief of Nagdhunga-Naubise tunnel road, first tunnel road of Nepal said that he will ask the engineers and consultants to prepare a proposal regarding the continuity of the construction of the project. According to him, the preparation has been done for smooth supply of construction materials including sand, gravel and cement and protection measures during the work. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">Likewise, Tiresh Prashad Khatri, executive director of Melamchi Drinking Water Supply Project said that they have not been able to work actively after the start of the lockdown. “Around 300 workers were mobilised earlier. But now only 50-60 workers are working,” Khatri informed. “We also can’t bring other workers immediately.” The government’s latest decision has also eased transportation and supply of construction materials. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">Similarly, chief of Pokhara Regional and International Airport Binesh Munankarmi said that 270 Chinese and 100 Nepali workers are currently handling the construction work of the project. However, there are some hindrances due to lack of construction materials. “We are not able to bring construction materials from India and China,” Munankarmi mentioned. “The shipment of cement from India has been stucked and containers with construction materials are stuck at Kerung.” Nevertheless, 56 percent of construction work has already been completed, he said. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">Though there are 1,100 workers working at the site of the Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower Project, many workers are not psychologically prepared to work. “The situation is very critical. So, we have been working to make the environment friendly and protective for the workers. We are preparing to implement health and safety measures at the project site,” informed Bigyan Prasad Shrestha, CEO of Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower Limited. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-05', 'modified' => '2020-04-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11630', 'image' => '20200405125829_pic(1).jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-05 12:57:48', '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' => '11893', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'All International Flights Suspended till April 30', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 8: The government has decided to extend the suspension of international flights to and from Tribhuvan International Airport till April 30.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">April 8: The government has decided to extend the suspension of international flights to and from Tribhuvan International Airport till April 30.<strong> </strong></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">The government had earlier announced suspension of all flights – international and domestic – till April 15 considering the threat of posed by the coronavirus pandemic.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">The government took such decision on Tuesday (April 7) upon the recommendation of the high-level committee to prevent the spread of coronavirus in the country, informed government spokesperson Yuba Raj Khatiwada.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">Khatiwada said after a meeting of the high-level committee that the flight suspension has been extended as the risks of imported cases of coronavirus have not subsided yet. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">He further said that the committee is yet to take any decision on whether to continue suspension of domestic flights or not. According to Khatiwada, a decision regarding domestic flights will be taken within a few days.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">The meeting also decided to conduct rapid diagnostic tests in the districts identified as highly vulnerable to the disease, especially the ones where new cases were detected on Saturday.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">Khatiwada, who holds the portfolio of finance and communication minister, said that the government has so far distributed relief to 114,316 families. He added that altogether 30,506 people are currently kept in quarantine facilities across the country.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">Likewise, he said that police have taken action against around 2600 people for defying the lockdown order. All of them have been released after proper counseling, said the minister. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">Meanwhile, 2235 vehicles have been impounded for operating without pass or for other purposes emergency. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">“Those vehicles which were misusing their passes or operating for other purpose than the intended ones were also punished,” said Khatiwada in a video post shared on Facebook. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">He said that around 1949 ambulances have been kept on standby in case of emergency.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial"> Likewise, the National Planning Commission is studying the impact of coronavirus on the country’s economy, according to the minister. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"> </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-08', 'modified' => '2020-04-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11644', 'image' => '20200408101555_Himalaya Airlines.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-08 10:15:01', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11894', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Stay Safe Wherever You Are: PM Oli ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 8: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has urged one and all to stay safe wherever they are during the current crisis caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, expressing his hope that the crisis recovery was sure to come. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">April 8: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has urged one and all to stay safe wherever they are during the current crisis caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, expressing his hope that the crisis recovery was sure to come. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">In his address to the nation on Tuesday, the Prime Minister said the country had waged a war against COVID-19 and the higher risks of the contagion were still pervading through the number of confirmed cases has been limited to just nine since the detection of the first case. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">''It is obvious that we are finding so hard to fight against the pandemic when the developed, resource-rich and wealthy nations with robust health care systems are facing the same," he said adding the biggest challenge of the hour was to ensure the supplies of medical equipment. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">''No matter is important than saving the lives of citizens. The regular procedures meant for normal times are not sufficient to tackle the prevailing abnormal situation. Bearing this in mind, special provisions have been made for the smooth supply of medical equipment," he said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">He went on to say that the protection of the entire human beings and human civilization was the foremost priority of the world and the fight against COVID-19 is our collective battle. "It should be therefore realized that every member in the society was a combatant in this battle to defeat the virus." </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Saying that COVID-19 has entered into the second state in the country, the PM urged one and all to remain more aware and cautious. Asking all foreign returnees to stay under quarantines, PM Oli said that worrying situation has been created as some of them have paid no heed to the request and arrangements for staying in quarantine. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">In the context of curbing corruption, the PM reaffirmed the government’s commitment and added that misinformation could not weaken the government’s firm commitment. The incumbent government will not hesitate to take actions if any cases of irregularities and corruption come up. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">“My sufficient attention has been drawn to the media reports and criticisms, comments and recommendations coming in the social networking sites. The publicity materials portray the government failure instead of getting united at a time of national and global crisis which is tantamount to unseasoned celebration and such trends can never be entertained,” the PM said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Likewise, PM Oli said that robust national unity between the government and people, political parties, state and all apparatus of the societies was the precondition to get victory over the pandemic. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The PM said that he has taken a common resolution motion of the parliament, all-party consensus and statements of commitment from different political parties including that of main opposition as the national strength. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">PM Oli has also expressed his assurance for the continued cooperation and unity from all in the days to come. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-08', 'modified' => '2020-04-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11643', 'image' => '20200408103322_1586298786.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-08 10:32:24', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11892', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Signs Financing Agreement with World Bank for COVID-19 Response', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 7: The World Bank has approved a fast-track USD 29 million COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health Systems Preparedness Project to help Nepal prevent, detect, and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:Arial">April 7: The World Bank has approved a fast-track USD 29 million COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health Systems Preparedness Project to help Nepal prevent, detect, and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and strengthen its public health preparedness. The agreement to this effect was signed on Tuesday (April 7) by Finance Secretary Sishir Kumar Dhungana and Faris Hadad-Zervos, World Bank’s country manager for Nepal. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"> <span style="font-family:Arial">A joint press statement issued after the signing of the financing agreement reads that the project is financed from the International Development Association (IDA), the World Bank’s concessional credit window for developing countries, through the World Bank Group’s COVID-19 Fast-Track Facility and will be effective immediately after the signing. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:Arial">“The project provides emergency support to enhance Nepal’s capacity to detect cases and ensure prompt contact tracing consistent with World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines and Ministry of Health and Population protocols. It will also help set up new intensive care units, beds, and isolation facilities across the country,” says the statement. The project will be implemented by Ministry of Health and Population.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"> <span style="font-family:Arial">“We are thankful to the World Bank for the response in a record short period of time, which will help Nepal respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and strengthen our capacities to deal with future public health risks,” the statement quoted Finance Secretary Dhungana as saying. He added, “Immediately after the outbreak of COVID-19 in the country, the Government of Nepal has made several arrangements to prevent and address the possible crisis. Due to these measures, the socio-economic activities are going to be affected. Further support is being anticipated from the World Bank to cope with the emerging pandemic situation.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"> <span style="font-family:Arial">According to the statement, the project will also equip designated health facilities with personal protective equipment and hygienic materials and increase the diagnostic capacity of laboratories for responding to public health emergencies. It will enhance the National Public Health Laboratory to handle harmful infectious diseases and strengthen public institutions to coordinate and better manage response activities in all three levels of government.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"> <span style="font-family:Arial">“Given the unprecedented nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, the government’s rapid response will help save lives across Nepal,” the statement quoted Hadad-Zervos of the World Bank, as saying. “The World Bank and its development partners are committed to helping Nepal beef up its health infrastructure and access the resources it needs to fight the spread of COVID-19 and protect the livelihoods of its people,” he said. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"> </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-07', 'modified' => '2020-04-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11642', 'image' => '20200407052329_image001.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-07 17:22:18', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11891', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Initiates Homework to Seek Rs 41 Billion from Donor Agencies', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 7: The government has initiated homework to seek financial support of Rs 41 billion from donor agencies to check the spread of coronavirus in the country. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">April 7: The government has initiated homework to seek financial support of Rs 41 billion from donor agencies to check the spread of coronavirus in the country. The Ministry of Finance has started discussions with development partners like the World Bank (WB), the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for the support.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The government intends to seek the maximum support of Rs 24.22 billion from the World Bank followed by IMF (Rs 13.9 billion) and ADB (Rs 7.26 billion).</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">A highly-placed source at the finance ministry informed New Business Age that the government has so far initiated the process to avail financial support of Rs 41 billion. He further said that the donor agencies are positive to the government’s demand.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The government is all set to sign a deal for concessional loan of Rs 3.43 billion with the World Bank on Tuesday (today). This amount is being taken under the World Bank’s assistance during emergency and pandemic. The bank has already provided loan of Rs 6 billion under the natural disaster and health crisis mitigation head. The government will be utilizing this fund to upgrade its capacity to fight against the coronavirus pandemic.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The source further said that the government is in talks with the ADB to avail Rs 7.26 billion at the moment. The government is also discussing mobilizing the fund allocated by the ADB for other projects in the current fiscal year in its fight against the coronavirus pandemic.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The ADB had recently projected the economic growth of Nepal to slump as a result of lockdown, which has brought production and economic activities to a halt and also adversely affected the inflow of remittance.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Helvetica">The ADB in its recent report had said that growth will also be slower as a result of lower rice production, as well as lack of optimal production by cement, iron and brick industries among others.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Helvetica">Meanwhile, the government is preparing to take loan of Rs 13.9 billion from the IMF under its rapid credit facility at this hour of crisis.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Helvetica">The government is preparing to make the funds available within the next two months to tackle the rising threat of coronavirus in the country.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Helvetica">A meeting of the Council of Ministers on last Sunday (April 29) had decided to expedite talks with donor agencies to seek funds to prevent the spread of coronavirus and to tackle the problems created by the pandemic.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Helvetica">However, the government is yet to assess the impacts of coronavirus on the overall economy. Under secretary at the ministry Uttar Kumar Khatri informed New Business Age that the government is still studying the impacts.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-07', 'modified' => '2020-04-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11641', 'image' => '20200407120037_world-bank-1.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-07 11:59:57', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11890', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Kolkata and Haldiya ports Waive Fines on Containers Stuck due to Lockdown ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 7: Kolkata and Haldiya ports of India have decided to waive the fines on containers and bulk cargoes as a relief to the business hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">April 7: </span><span style="font-family:Calibri">Kolkata and Haldiya ports of India have decided to waive the fines on containers and bulk cargoes as a relief to the business hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">Kolkata Port, which is the preferred destination of Nepali businessmen for third-country trade, issued a notice stating that the facility will be provided to containers unloaded between March 22 to April 14. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">“We have given this facility because of the difficulty created by Covid 19. This facility will be applied in Haldiya port as well,” said Binit Kumar, chairman of the Kolkata Port Trust. Haldiya Port is also operated by Kolkata Port Trust. Kumar said that 50 percent relief has been provided in terminal operation fee. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri"> During the normal times, the charge per containers is Rs 1,000 to 1,500. Almost 60 percent of Nepal-bound containers through India come from Kolkata. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">Indian Railways has also deducted fines for demurrage and wharfage. Indian Railways Ministry has already sent notice to all the regional offices regarding the relief. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><strong><span style="font-family:Calibri">Fear created due to corona infection case in Haldiya</span></strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">The staff in Haldiya Port are gripped by fear of corona infection among one of their colleagues. The staff tested positive on Saturday. Due to this, all other workers are kept in quarantine said the port management. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">According to Binit Kumar, the port is regularly spreading insecticides and sanitizers to maintain safety. He said that the port has facility of doctors for 24 hours a day. Amidst the fear, the importers have not been able to go to the port. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri"><strong>Stockpile of container at Birgunj Dry Port</strong></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">Almost all the containers coming from India and third countries are stuck at the customs office of Birgunj Dry Port due to lockdown. According to Animesh Kumar, senior officer of Himalayan Terminal that looks after the port administration, only 13 containers departed from the Birgunj Dry Port to their respective destinations. The dry port with capacity of 1542 containers now has to stockpile 2,645 containers. According to the dry port, 26 cargo trains carrying 2340 containers are due to arrive at the port. The Birgunj Dry Port is concerned about the management of the containers. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-07', 'modified' => '2020-04-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11640', 'image' => '20200407112945_1586230909.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-07 11:28:36', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11888', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Extends Lockdown until April 15', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 7: The government has extended the nationwide lockdown for the third time.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Georgia">April 7: The government has extended the nationwide lockdown for the third time. A meeting of the Council of Ministers on Monday decided to extend the lockdown until April 15. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Georgia">The lockdown, which was first imposed on March 24 for a week, was expiring on Tuesday midnight. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Georgia">The cabinet meeting headed by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli decided to extend the lockdown upon the recommendation of the high-level committee to prevent the spread of Covid-19, informed government spokesperson Yuba Raj Khatiwada.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Georgia">The latest decision was taken after new cases of coronavirus were reported in Sudur Paschim Province, including a locally-transmitted case which has worried the health workers.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Georgia">Experts believe that Nepal is now in the second phase of transmission of the deadly disease, which has infected more than 1.3 million people worldwide and claimed more than 74,000 lives. The virus which is believed to have originated in China’s Wuhan has spread to 209 countries so far.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Georgia">All services in Nepal except for essential and emergency ones remain suspended and people have been confined inside their homes due to the extended lockdown, which will enter the third week from Wednesday.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Georgia"> Meanwhile, all domestic and international flights remain suspended across the country.</span></span><br /> <span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Georgia">Nepal has reported a total of nine cases, out of which one person has already been cured while others are receiving treatment in isolation wards. All the cases were imported except one which was transmitted to a local woman of Kanchanpur, who did not have any recent travel history to affected countries, from a relative who returned home from the UAE.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-07', 'modified' => '2020-04-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11639', 'image' => '20200407105705_8424704_n.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-07 10:56:22', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11887', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Supreme Court Orders Government to Ensure Nobody Dies of Hunger ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 7: The Supreme Court has issued an order to the government to distribute relief focusing people eking out a living through labour and those whose earning has been interrupted, by maintaining transparency in relief distribution. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">April 7: The Supreme Court has issued an order to the government to distribute relief focusing people eking out a living through labour and those whose earning has been interrupted, by maintaining transparency in relief distribution. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">A joint bench of Justices Hari Krishna Karki and Dr Ananda Mohan Bhattarai, on Monday, gave a ruling to provide relief in a transparent manner without misusing it and focusing on people whose income has been disrupted due to the lockdown. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">"Pay attention so that there is no any lapse in correctly identifying the targeted people and families in order to implement, in practice, the policy of 'Nobody Faces and Dies of Hunger in Nepal' announced by the government," the apex court order reads. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The bench ordered for making provisions for protection and relief to the farmers as agricultural work is a continuous business that is never stopped. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The Supreme Court bench also called for making arrangements for monitoring whether or not the 27,818 beds managed for quarantine throughout the country meet the WHO standard. It ordered all people who entered Nepal via air route and surface route in quarantine. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Moreover, the apex court has called for expanding the coronavirus testing facilities in other urban centres also outside the Kathmandu Valley and in all districts, as the present number of such facilities is very inadequate. It has also ordered promptly airlifting, by helicopter, any suspected coronavirus cases in the rural outback to the treatment centre at hospital for testing, isolation and treatment, coordinating with the local level and the administration as well. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Likewise, the Supreme Court has ordered the government to make arrangements so that emergency health services as well as other necessary health care and treatment to be done immediately in other cases, except coronavirus, are not affected. It also ordered operation of health services by the private hospitals and health facilities. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The government has also been ordered to arrange for the supply of test kits, medical equipment and supplies, and personal protection equipment to all the health facilities, including the private ones, across the country. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-07', 'modified' => '2020-04-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11638', 'image' => '20200407102156_1586188475.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-07 10:21:03', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11886', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Adhikari to Lead NRB Amid Heap of Challenges', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 7: Maha Prasad Adhikari has been appointed as the Governor of Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB).', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">April 7: Maha Prasad Adhikari has been appointed as the Governor of Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB). A meeting of council of ministers on Monday appointed Adhikari, who was working as CEO of Investment Board Nepal (IBN), to the post. A meeting of recommendation committee on the same day prior to the cabinet meeting, had recommended the names of Adhikari, Deputy NRB Governor Chintamani Shiwakoti and former finance secretary Rajan Khanal for the post.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> With the appointment, Adhikari has returned to NRB after four years. He was deputy governor of the central bank before joining IBN as CEO in June 2016. He actively participated in the financial sector reform measures initiated during the governorship of the current finance minister Dr Yuba Raj Khatiwada. Chartered Accountant Adhikari led some key reform initiatives including supervision of financial sector, strict controlling of troubled banks and financial institutions and separating bankers and businesspersons. Similarly, he also played an active role in formulating and getting parliamentary endorsement of policy arrangements related to anti-money laundering in a bid to avoid blacklisting of Nepal by the Financial Action Task Force. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Adhikari, who joined NRB as deputy director in 1994, is returning to central bank at a time when the country’s economy has been surrounded by several headwinds. He will take over the reins of the country’s monetary authority amid the coronavirus pandemic which has created huge challenges to the Nepali economy and the financial sector. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Former NRB governor Deependra Bahadur Kshetry expects that the good level of harmonization between Dr Khatiwada and Adhikari can yield positive results. “There was good level of harmonization between the two from the beginning. There were several problems in the financial sector when Adhikari became deputy governor and he put his efforts in the reform initiatives,” said Kshetry. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Experts say that maintaining financial stability, attaining higher economic growth, taming inflation and managing forex reserve at good level are the major challenges for the newly appointed NRB governor. “The loan repayment has been deferred by a month on the request of industrialists and business persons. The central bank could be pressurized for cancellation of debts if the situation worsens in the coming days. Similarly, inflation can rise if the government increases its spending to become popular and the central bank has to shoulder the responsibility to tame the inflation,” said Khsetry, adding, “The biggest challenge right now is to safeguard the country’s economy from pandemic-induced crisis. The success of the newly appointed governor will depend on the environment he works to avert the looming crisis.” </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Kshetry mentioned that the central bank will have to face challenges in implementing monetary policy if the government comes up with an expansionary budget. “Besides, it is also important to preserve the autonomy of the central bank,” he points out.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Former banker Analraj Bhattarai says that the governor needs to have multidimensional viewpoint at a time when the slowdown has hit the country’s economy. “There are several challenges in front of the new governor. He has been shouldered with the responsibility of efficient management of the problems,” opined Bhattarai.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Bhuvan Kumar Dahal, president of Nepal Bankers’ Association sees appointment of an NRB cadre who is well-versed in the overall financial sector as the central bank’s governor as positive. “Managing the challenges created by the coronavirus pandemic, he should work on making the payment system fully digitalised,” he commented.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Parshuram Kunwar Chhetri, CEO of Global IME Bank Limited notes that management of economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic is the foremost challenge for Adhikari. “The newly appointed governor should focus his efforts in areas including interest rate stability and liquidity management. As the governor is also the economic advisor to the finance minister, he has an important role to play in the managing the overall economy of the country,” he said. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-07', 'modified' => '2020-04-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11637', 'image' => '20200407080848_IMG_4955 - Copy.JPG', 'article_date' => '2020-04-07 08:08:05', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11889', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Families of Nepali Students Studying Abroad Allowed to Send USD 500 without NOC', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 7: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has decided to allow families of students studying abroad to make foreign exchange equivalent to USD 500 without ‘No Objection Certificate’ (NOC).', 'content' => '<h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">April 7: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has decided to allow families of students studying abroad to make foreign exchange equivalent to USD 500 without ‘No Objection Certificate’ (NOC).</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The government has directed the central bank to provide the exchange facility without NOC to the families of students enrolled in foreign university abroad.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The government took such initiative to help the families to support the expenses of their children studying abroad.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Previously, family members and relatives of students enrolled abroad had to submit the NOC mandatorily to the banks for the foreign exchange. </span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The central bank has directed banks and financial institutions to avail foreign exchange facility to the families in need without any NOC.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">With the new provision, parents can now send the student a maximum of USD 500 or equivalent worth of foreign currency at a time without any hassles.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Currently, students enrolled abroad are facing financial problems due to the lockdown to contain the coronavirus pandemic. </span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">A meeting of the Council of Ministers took such decision to ease the financial burden of Nepali students studying abroad. </span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">NRB had earlier made arrangement for the exchange of foreign currency to pay tuition fees and for subsistence in favor of students studying in countries other than India.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">However, NOC is now not required but the parents will need to submit all the other required documents for making the foreign exchange. </span></span></h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-07', 'modified' => '2020-04-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11636', 'image' => '20200407110724_20160909042218_nrb.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-07 11:06:35', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11884', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'India Bans Export of Drugs used for Treatment of Coronavirus Patients', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 6: India has restricted the export of medicines and equipment used for the treatment of coronavirus as the country grapples with surging cases of the deadly virus. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Arial">April 6: India has restricted the export of medicines and equipment used for the treatment of coronavirus as the country grapples with surging cases of the deadly virus. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Arial">India’s Directorate of Foreign Trade has banned the export of coronavirus testing kits and Hydroxychloroquine, which is used to treat malaria, effective from Saturday (April 4).</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Arial">A notice posted on the website of the directorate states that the decision has been implemented with immediate effect.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Arial">Despite the ban, drug manufactures in Nepal say that the country will not face shortage of the drugs immediately. They claim that the they have purchased enough stock of raw materials to produce the medicine for at least six months.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Arial">Prithvi Raj Rajbhandari, owner of a pharmaceutical company in Nepal, says that most of the factories in Nepal are producing drugs with the stock of raw materials they had purchased before.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Arial">“Drug manufacturers in Nepal had imported raw materials long ago,” said Rajbhandari.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Arial">India started restricting the export of drugs since one month. The directorate has been time and again publishing new list of drugs that are being banned for export due to the domestic requirement. Initially, India banned the export of 26 types of drugs including cetamol. A few days ago, India added masks, sanitizers and other medicines used for the treatment of coronavirus in the list.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Arial">Drug manufacturers in Nepal say they are chiefly dependent on India for raw materials of medicines. According to operator of Asian Pharmaceuticals, Shankar Ghimire, the raw materials that Nepal imports from India actually come from China.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Arial">“Therefore, there is no need to worry if India bans the export of raw materials as we can import them directly from China,” he said.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-06', 'modified' => '2020-04-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11635', 'image' => '20200406013653_maxresdefault.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-06 13:35:57', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11885', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'In contact with foreign returnees? Stay in quarantine ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 6: The Ministry of Health and Population has requested anyone who has come into contact with foreign returnees to stay in quarantine for at least 15 days.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">April 6: The Ministry of Health and Population has requested anyone who has come into contact with foreign returnees to stay in quarantine for at least 15 days.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">The Public Health Emergency Operation Centre under the ministry requested those people to stay in quarantine by issuing a public notice. After confirmation of a locally-transmitted case of coronavirus in Kailali recently, the center has requested one and all to be more alert and adopt adequate safety measures. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">In the notice, Dr Guna Raj Lohani, coordinator of the centre, has requested the ones who are in contact with foreign returnees to stay in home for two weeks and maintain a distance of one meter with others.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">Similarly, the centre has requested to go to health post if they have fever, cough or breathing problem. The ministry has started rapid coronavirus tests in districts including Kailali, Kanchanpur and Baglung from Sunday. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">A meeting of the Council of Ministers had decided on rapid tests for coronavirus in these districts after emergence of new cases. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-06', 'modified' => '2020-04-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11634', 'image' => '20200406014610_emegency notice_health department.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-06 13:45:30', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11882', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government to Procure Essential Medical Supplies Through G2G model ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 6: Following widespread criticism in procurement of essential supplies and medical kits through a private company, the government has decided to adopt G2G and B2G models to purchase the supplies to fight coronavirus.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">April 6:</span><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif""> Following widespread criticism in procurement of essential supplies and medical kits through a private company, the government has decided to adopt G2G and B2G models to purchase the supplies to fight coronavirus.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">The high-level coordination committee for prevention and control of Covid 19 took a decision to this effect on Sunday. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">The committee said that the government can choose any of the two methods to buy essential medicines during time of crisis, as per the Public Procurement Act.</span></span></span></p> <p><br /> <span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif""> “The provision in the act says that government can buy supplies from foreign government. Similarly according to the rules and regulations, the supplies can be bought through competition among the private parties,” said Narayan Prasad Bidari, spokesperson of the high level committee.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">Recently, the Department of Health Services under the Ministry of Health and Population had reached an agreement of Rs 1.24 billion with the Omni Group for the supply of medicines from China. According to the agreement, Omni Group had brought 10 items worth Rs 290 million. However, as after allegations that the materials supplied by the company were of poor quality, the procurement deal was scrapped. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">The company had brought those supplies from Guangzhou in a chartered flight of NAC recently. After cancellation of the agreement with Omni, the government has handed the responsibility of procurement to the Nepalese Army. The decision says that Ministry of Defense will procure the medicines and essential supplies through the Nepalese Army using G2G method. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">A section of society had raised concerns regarding the use of army in supply of the medicines stating that the army does not fall under the jurisdiction of the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority and therefore the deal might be subject to corruption.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">However, the Nepalese Army on Sunday organised a press conferencing ensuring that the procurement process will be transparent. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">In the conference, the Army said that separate mechanism has been formed to make the process transparent. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">Similarly, the ones who are staying in 14 days quarantine will be allowed to go home only after their swab tests, said the government. In case of any symptoms, they will be treated in isolation ward. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">Bidari further said that the ones who are kept in quarantine will be strictly monitored, and will be sent home only after they are assured that the suspects are fully cured.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"> </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-06', 'modified' => '2020-04-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11633', 'image' => '20200406121132_EUOiH2GUYAIKiK5.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-06 12:09:37', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11883', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NHRC asks Government to Ensure Citizen’s Right to Health ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 6: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has urged the government to ensure health-related rights of every citizen by making arrangements for treatments of patients suffering from all types of serious diseases including coronavirus. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">April 6: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has urged the government to ensure health-related rights of every citizen by making arrangements for treatments of patients suffering from all types of serious diseases including coronavirus. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Issuing a press release on Sunday, NHRC Spokesperson Bed Prasad Bhattarai asked the government, health workers and health institutions to guarantee the citizens’ right to get all types of health care services including emergency ones. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The NHRC wants to be assured over the issues including guarantee of health security of all health workers, supply of personal safety measures to ambulance drivers and security personnel and continuity in their services, according to the statement. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Likewise, NHRC said its serious attention was drawn towards the news about a woman’s death at Biratnagar-based Neuro Hospital, Birat Nursing Home and Nobel Hospital for lack of treatment and sending the patients by hospitals after closing their OPD services. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">As per the complaints received by the NHRC and its monitoring, the NHRC found that patients suffering from kidney related disease, cancer, tuberculosis, AIDS, diabetes, hypertension and mental disease were facing problems in their treatment as well as insufficient amount of medicines. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-06', 'modified' => '2020-04-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11632', 'image' => '20200406010720_index.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-06 13:06:26', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11881', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal, India Allow Flow of Goods without Certificate of Origin during Lockdown', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 6: Goods produced in Nepal can be exported to India without Certificate of Origin during the lockdown period.', 'content' => '<h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">April 6: Goods produced in Nepal can be exported to India without Certificate of Origin during the lockdown period.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The governments of the two countries have made such arrangement after consulting with each other. The countries have not been able to issue certificate of origin to goods produced within their respective territories due to the lockdown. However, both the countries will have to submit the Certificate of Origin to each other for the goods produced once the lockdown is over.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Meanwhile, the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies has confirmed that the Certificate of Origin is not mandatory for import and export of goods from India for the time being. </span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FNCCI) has been certifying the goods produced in Nepal before being exported to India. </span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">However, the Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) and Nepal Chamber of Commerce (NCC) have been issuing Certificate of Origin to goods exported to third countries. </span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Nawaraj Dhakal, undersecretary at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies informed New Business Age that both Nepal and India have made an arrangement for export of goods without Certificate of Origin after analyzing the impact of lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic. </span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">“We have not made the certificate mandatory for goods imported from India while Nepali entrepreneurs can also export their goods to India without the certificate,” he informed. </span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">However, the entrepreneurs will need submit the Certificate of Origin of their products once the lockdown is over, he added. Dhakal added that the certificate along with other documents are mandatory for goods imported from third countries. </span></span></h1> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-06', 'modified' => '2020-04-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11631', 'image' => '20200406113155_1586125463.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-06 11:30:53', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11880', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Govt Readies Guidelines for Industries and Infrastructure Projects', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 5: The government has prepared guidelines to allow infrastructure projects and essential food industries to resume their operations. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">April 5: The government has prepared guidelines to allow infrastructure projects and essential food industries to resume their operations. The guidelines were formulated jointly by the </span><span style="font-family:Calibri">Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport, Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation and Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies</span><span style="font-family:Calibri">. “After the government issues the guidelines, national-level development projects industries producing essential goods including food items and construction materials can resume their operations,” said Narayan Prashad Bidari, member secretary of the committee. A meeting of the High-level Coordination Committee for the Prevention and Control of Covid-19 held on April 2 (Thursday), had decided to allow certain industries and development projects to continue operations. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">As per the guidelines, industries are required to deploy protective measures for the workers, maintain distance among people at the workplaces, use sanitisers and monitor the body temperature of staffs on a regular basis. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">The guidelines have strictly barred movement of workers and staffers to and from the factories and project sites, said Bidari. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">The government has asked the project chiefs to submit it with proposals on how the projects can be continued. Construction of most of the large projects have come to a standstill after the government announced nation-wide lockdown on March 24 to stop the possible spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">Shyam Prashad Kharel, chief of Nagdhunga-Naubise tunnel road, first tunnel road of Nepal said that he will ask the engineers and consultants to prepare a proposal regarding the continuity of the construction of the project. According to him, the preparation has been done for smooth supply of construction materials including sand, gravel and cement and protection measures during the work. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">Likewise, Tiresh Prashad Khatri, executive director of Melamchi Drinking Water Supply Project said that they have not been able to work actively after the start of the lockdown. “Around 300 workers were mobilised earlier. But now only 50-60 workers are working,” Khatri informed. “We also can’t bring other workers immediately.” The government’s latest decision has also eased transportation and supply of construction materials. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">Similarly, chief of Pokhara Regional and International Airport Binesh Munankarmi said that 270 Chinese and 100 Nepali workers are currently handling the construction work of the project. However, there are some hindrances due to lack of construction materials. “We are not able to bring construction materials from India and China,” Munankarmi mentioned. “The shipment of cement from India has been stucked and containers with construction materials are stuck at Kerung.” Nevertheless, 56 percent of construction work has already been completed, he said. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">Though there are 1,100 workers working at the site of the Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower Project, many workers are not psychologically prepared to work. “The situation is very critical. So, we have been working to make the environment friendly and protective for the workers. We are preparing to implement health and safety measures at the project site,” informed Bigyan Prasad Shrestha, CEO of Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower Limited. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-05', 'modified' => '2020-04-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11630', 'image' => '20200405125829_pic(1).jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-05 12:57:48', '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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According to Khatiwada, a decision regarding domestic flights will be taken within a few days.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">The meeting also decided to conduct rapid diagnostic tests in the districts identified as highly vulnerable to the disease, especially the ones where new cases were detected on Saturday.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">Khatiwada, who holds the portfolio of finance and communication minister, said that the government has so far distributed relief to 114,316 families. He added that altogether 30,506 people are currently kept in quarantine facilities across the country.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">Likewise, he said that police have taken action against around 2600 people for defying the lockdown order. All of them have been released after proper counseling, said the minister. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">Meanwhile, 2235 vehicles have been impounded for operating without pass or for other purposes emergency. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">“Those vehicles which were misusing their passes or operating for other purpose than the intended ones were also punished,” said Khatiwada in a video post shared on Facebook. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">He said that around 1949 ambulances have been kept on standby in case of emergency.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial"> Likewise, the National Planning Commission is studying the impact of coronavirus on the country’s economy, according to the minister. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"> </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-08', 'modified' => '2020-04-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11644', 'image' => '20200408101555_Himalaya Airlines.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-08 10:15:01', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11894', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Stay Safe Wherever You Are: PM Oli ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 8: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has urged one and all to stay safe wherever they are during the current crisis caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, expressing his hope that the crisis recovery was sure to come. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">April 8: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has urged one and all to stay safe wherever they are during the current crisis caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, expressing his hope that the crisis recovery was sure to come. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">In his address to the nation on Tuesday, the Prime Minister said the country had waged a war against COVID-19 and the higher risks of the contagion were still pervading through the number of confirmed cases has been limited to just nine since the detection of the first case. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">''It is obvious that we are finding so hard to fight against the pandemic when the developed, resource-rich and wealthy nations with robust health care systems are facing the same," he said adding the biggest challenge of the hour was to ensure the supplies of medical equipment. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">''No matter is important than saving the lives of citizens. The regular procedures meant for normal times are not sufficient to tackle the prevailing abnormal situation. Bearing this in mind, special provisions have been made for the smooth supply of medical equipment," he said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">He went on to say that the protection of the entire human beings and human civilization was the foremost priority of the world and the fight against COVID-19 is our collective battle. "It should be therefore realized that every member in the society was a combatant in this battle to defeat the virus." </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Saying that COVID-19 has entered into the second state in the country, the PM urged one and all to remain more aware and cautious. Asking all foreign returnees to stay under quarantines, PM Oli said that worrying situation has been created as some of them have paid no heed to the request and arrangements for staying in quarantine. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">In the context of curbing corruption, the PM reaffirmed the government’s commitment and added that misinformation could not weaken the government’s firm commitment. The incumbent government will not hesitate to take actions if any cases of irregularities and corruption come up. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">“My sufficient attention has been drawn to the media reports and criticisms, comments and recommendations coming in the social networking sites. The publicity materials portray the government failure instead of getting united at a time of national and global crisis which is tantamount to unseasoned celebration and such trends can never be entertained,” the PM said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Likewise, PM Oli said that robust national unity between the government and people, political parties, state and all apparatus of the societies was the precondition to get victory over the pandemic. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The PM said that he has taken a common resolution motion of the parliament, all-party consensus and statements of commitment from different political parties including that of main opposition as the national strength. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">PM Oli has also expressed his assurance for the continued cooperation and unity from all in the days to come. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-08', 'modified' => '2020-04-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11643', 'image' => '20200408103322_1586298786.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-08 10:32:24', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11892', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Signs Financing Agreement with World Bank for COVID-19 Response', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 7: The World Bank has approved a fast-track USD 29 million COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health Systems Preparedness Project to help Nepal prevent, detect, and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:Arial">April 7: The World Bank has approved a fast-track USD 29 million COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health Systems Preparedness Project to help Nepal prevent, detect, and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and strengthen its public health preparedness. The agreement to this effect was signed on Tuesday (April 7) by Finance Secretary Sishir Kumar Dhungana and Faris Hadad-Zervos, World Bank’s country manager for Nepal. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"> <span style="font-family:Arial">A joint press statement issued after the signing of the financing agreement reads that the project is financed from the International Development Association (IDA), the World Bank’s concessional credit window for developing countries, through the World Bank Group’s COVID-19 Fast-Track Facility and will be effective immediately after the signing. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:Arial">“The project provides emergency support to enhance Nepal’s capacity to detect cases and ensure prompt contact tracing consistent with World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines and Ministry of Health and Population protocols. It will also help set up new intensive care units, beds, and isolation facilities across the country,” says the statement. The project will be implemented by Ministry of Health and Population.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"> <span style="font-family:Arial">“We are thankful to the World Bank for the response in a record short period of time, which will help Nepal respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and strengthen our capacities to deal with future public health risks,” the statement quoted Finance Secretary Dhungana as saying. He added, “Immediately after the outbreak of COVID-19 in the country, the Government of Nepal has made several arrangements to prevent and address the possible crisis. Due to these measures, the socio-economic activities are going to be affected. Further support is being anticipated from the World Bank to cope with the emerging pandemic situation.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"> <span style="font-family:Arial">According to the statement, the project will also equip designated health facilities with personal protective equipment and hygienic materials and increase the diagnostic capacity of laboratories for responding to public health emergencies. It will enhance the National Public Health Laboratory to handle harmful infectious diseases and strengthen public institutions to coordinate and better manage response activities in all three levels of government.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"> <span style="font-family:Arial">“Given the unprecedented nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, the government’s rapid response will help save lives across Nepal,” the statement quoted Hadad-Zervos of the World Bank, as saying. “The World Bank and its development partners are committed to helping Nepal beef up its health infrastructure and access the resources it needs to fight the spread of COVID-19 and protect the livelihoods of its people,” he said. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"> </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-07', 'modified' => '2020-04-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11642', 'image' => '20200407052329_image001.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-07 17:22:18', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11891', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Initiates Homework to Seek Rs 41 Billion from Donor Agencies', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 7: The government has initiated homework to seek financial support of Rs 41 billion from donor agencies to check the spread of coronavirus in the country. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">April 7: The government has initiated homework to seek financial support of Rs 41 billion from donor agencies to check the spread of coronavirus in the country. The Ministry of Finance has started discussions with development partners like the World Bank (WB), the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for the support.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The government intends to seek the maximum support of Rs 24.22 billion from the World Bank followed by IMF (Rs 13.9 billion) and ADB (Rs 7.26 billion).</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">A highly-placed source at the finance ministry informed New Business Age that the government has so far initiated the process to avail financial support of Rs 41 billion. He further said that the donor agencies are positive to the government’s demand.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The government is all set to sign a deal for concessional loan of Rs 3.43 billion with the World Bank on Tuesday (today). This amount is being taken under the World Bank’s assistance during emergency and pandemic. The bank has already provided loan of Rs 6 billion under the natural disaster and health crisis mitigation head. The government will be utilizing this fund to upgrade its capacity to fight against the coronavirus pandemic.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The source further said that the government is in talks with the ADB to avail Rs 7.26 billion at the moment. The government is also discussing mobilizing the fund allocated by the ADB for other projects in the current fiscal year in its fight against the coronavirus pandemic.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The ADB had recently projected the economic growth of Nepal to slump as a result of lockdown, which has brought production and economic activities to a halt and also adversely affected the inflow of remittance.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Helvetica">The ADB in its recent report had said that growth will also be slower as a result of lower rice production, as well as lack of optimal production by cement, iron and brick industries among others.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Helvetica">Meanwhile, the government is preparing to take loan of Rs 13.9 billion from the IMF under its rapid credit facility at this hour of crisis.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Helvetica">The government is preparing to make the funds available within the next two months to tackle the rising threat of coronavirus in the country.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Helvetica">A meeting of the Council of Ministers on last Sunday (April 29) had decided to expedite talks with donor agencies to seek funds to prevent the spread of coronavirus and to tackle the problems created by the pandemic.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Helvetica">However, the government is yet to assess the impacts of coronavirus on the overall economy. Under secretary at the ministry Uttar Kumar Khatri informed New Business Age that the government is still studying the impacts.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-07', 'modified' => '2020-04-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11641', 'image' => '20200407120037_world-bank-1.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-07 11:59:57', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11890', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Kolkata and Haldiya ports Waive Fines on Containers Stuck due to Lockdown ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 7: Kolkata and Haldiya ports of India have decided to waive the fines on containers and bulk cargoes as a relief to the business hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">April 7: </span><span style="font-family:Calibri">Kolkata and Haldiya ports of India have decided to waive the fines on containers and bulk cargoes as a relief to the business hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">Kolkata Port, which is the preferred destination of Nepali businessmen for third-country trade, issued a notice stating that the facility will be provided to containers unloaded between March 22 to April 14. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">“We have given this facility because of the difficulty created by Covid 19. This facility will be applied in Haldiya port as well,” said Binit Kumar, chairman of the Kolkata Port Trust. Haldiya Port is also operated by Kolkata Port Trust. Kumar said that 50 percent relief has been provided in terminal operation fee. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri"> During the normal times, the charge per containers is Rs 1,000 to 1,500. Almost 60 percent of Nepal-bound containers through India come from Kolkata. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">Indian Railways has also deducted fines for demurrage and wharfage. Indian Railways Ministry has already sent notice to all the regional offices regarding the relief. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><strong><span style="font-family:Calibri">Fear created due to corona infection case in Haldiya</span></strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">The staff in Haldiya Port are gripped by fear of corona infection among one of their colleagues. The staff tested positive on Saturday. Due to this, all other workers are kept in quarantine said the port management. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">According to Binit Kumar, the port is regularly spreading insecticides and sanitizers to maintain safety. He said that the port has facility of doctors for 24 hours a day. Amidst the fear, the importers have not been able to go to the port. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri"><strong>Stockpile of container at Birgunj Dry Port</strong></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">Almost all the containers coming from India and third countries are stuck at the customs office of Birgunj Dry Port due to lockdown. According to Animesh Kumar, senior officer of Himalayan Terminal that looks after the port administration, only 13 containers departed from the Birgunj Dry Port to their respective destinations. The dry port with capacity of 1542 containers now has to stockpile 2,645 containers. According to the dry port, 26 cargo trains carrying 2340 containers are due to arrive at the port. The Birgunj Dry Port is concerned about the management of the containers. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-07', 'modified' => '2020-04-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11640', 'image' => '20200407112945_1586230909.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-07 11:28:36', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11888', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Extends Lockdown until April 15', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 7: The government has extended the nationwide lockdown for the third time.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Georgia">April 7: The government has extended the nationwide lockdown for the third time. A meeting of the Council of Ministers on Monday decided to extend the lockdown until April 15. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Georgia">The lockdown, which was first imposed on March 24 for a week, was expiring on Tuesday midnight. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Georgia">The cabinet meeting headed by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli decided to extend the lockdown upon the recommendation of the high-level committee to prevent the spread of Covid-19, informed government spokesperson Yuba Raj Khatiwada.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Georgia">The latest decision was taken after new cases of coronavirus were reported in Sudur Paschim Province, including a locally-transmitted case which has worried the health workers.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Georgia">Experts believe that Nepal is now in the second phase of transmission of the deadly disease, which has infected more than 1.3 million people worldwide and claimed more than 74,000 lives. The virus which is believed to have originated in China’s Wuhan has spread to 209 countries so far.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Georgia">All services in Nepal except for essential and emergency ones remain suspended and people have been confined inside their homes due to the extended lockdown, which will enter the third week from Wednesday.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Georgia"> Meanwhile, all domestic and international flights remain suspended across the country.</span></span><br /> <span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Georgia">Nepal has reported a total of nine cases, out of which one person has already been cured while others are receiving treatment in isolation wards. All the cases were imported except one which was transmitted to a local woman of Kanchanpur, who did not have any recent travel history to affected countries, from a relative who returned home from the UAE.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-07', 'modified' => '2020-04-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11639', 'image' => '20200407105705_8424704_n.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-07 10:56:22', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11887', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Supreme Court Orders Government to Ensure Nobody Dies of Hunger ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 7: The Supreme Court has issued an order to the government to distribute relief focusing people eking out a living through labour and those whose earning has been interrupted, by maintaining transparency in relief distribution. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">April 7: The Supreme Court has issued an order to the government to distribute relief focusing people eking out a living through labour and those whose earning has been interrupted, by maintaining transparency in relief distribution. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">A joint bench of Justices Hari Krishna Karki and Dr Ananda Mohan Bhattarai, on Monday, gave a ruling to provide relief in a transparent manner without misusing it and focusing on people whose income has been disrupted due to the lockdown. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">"Pay attention so that there is no any lapse in correctly identifying the targeted people and families in order to implement, in practice, the policy of 'Nobody Faces and Dies of Hunger in Nepal' announced by the government," the apex court order reads. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The bench ordered for making provisions for protection and relief to the farmers as agricultural work is a continuous business that is never stopped. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The Supreme Court bench also called for making arrangements for monitoring whether or not the 27,818 beds managed for quarantine throughout the country meet the WHO standard. It ordered all people who entered Nepal via air route and surface route in quarantine. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Moreover, the apex court has called for expanding the coronavirus testing facilities in other urban centres also outside the Kathmandu Valley and in all districts, as the present number of such facilities is very inadequate. It has also ordered promptly airlifting, by helicopter, any suspected coronavirus cases in the rural outback to the treatment centre at hospital for testing, isolation and treatment, coordinating with the local level and the administration as well. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Likewise, the Supreme Court has ordered the government to make arrangements so that emergency health services as well as other necessary health care and treatment to be done immediately in other cases, except coronavirus, are not affected. It also ordered operation of health services by the private hospitals and health facilities. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The government has also been ordered to arrange for the supply of test kits, medical equipment and supplies, and personal protection equipment to all the health facilities, including the private ones, across the country. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-07', 'modified' => '2020-04-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11638', 'image' => '20200407102156_1586188475.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-07 10:21:03', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11886', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Adhikari to Lead NRB Amid Heap of Challenges', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 7: Maha Prasad Adhikari has been appointed as the Governor of Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB).', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">April 7: Maha Prasad Adhikari has been appointed as the Governor of Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB). A meeting of council of ministers on Monday appointed Adhikari, who was working as CEO of Investment Board Nepal (IBN), to the post. A meeting of recommendation committee on the same day prior to the cabinet meeting, had recommended the names of Adhikari, Deputy NRB Governor Chintamani Shiwakoti and former finance secretary Rajan Khanal for the post.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> With the appointment, Adhikari has returned to NRB after four years. He was deputy governor of the central bank before joining IBN as CEO in June 2016. He actively participated in the financial sector reform measures initiated during the governorship of the current finance minister Dr Yuba Raj Khatiwada. Chartered Accountant Adhikari led some key reform initiatives including supervision of financial sector, strict controlling of troubled banks and financial institutions and separating bankers and businesspersons. Similarly, he also played an active role in formulating and getting parliamentary endorsement of policy arrangements related to anti-money laundering in a bid to avoid blacklisting of Nepal by the Financial Action Task Force. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Adhikari, who joined NRB as deputy director in 1994, is returning to central bank at a time when the country’s economy has been surrounded by several headwinds. He will take over the reins of the country’s monetary authority amid the coronavirus pandemic which has created huge challenges to the Nepali economy and the financial sector. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Former NRB governor Deependra Bahadur Kshetry expects that the good level of harmonization between Dr Khatiwada and Adhikari can yield positive results. “There was good level of harmonization between the two from the beginning. There were several problems in the financial sector when Adhikari became deputy governor and he put his efforts in the reform initiatives,” said Kshetry. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Experts say that maintaining financial stability, attaining higher economic growth, taming inflation and managing forex reserve at good level are the major challenges for the newly appointed NRB governor. “The loan repayment has been deferred by a month on the request of industrialists and business persons. The central bank could be pressurized for cancellation of debts if the situation worsens in the coming days. Similarly, inflation can rise if the government increases its spending to become popular and the central bank has to shoulder the responsibility to tame the inflation,” said Khsetry, adding, “The biggest challenge right now is to safeguard the country’s economy from pandemic-induced crisis. The success of the newly appointed governor will depend on the environment he works to avert the looming crisis.” </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Kshetry mentioned that the central bank will have to face challenges in implementing monetary policy if the government comes up with an expansionary budget. “Besides, it is also important to preserve the autonomy of the central bank,” he points out.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Former banker Analraj Bhattarai says that the governor needs to have multidimensional viewpoint at a time when the slowdown has hit the country’s economy. “There are several challenges in front of the new governor. He has been shouldered with the responsibility of efficient management of the problems,” opined Bhattarai.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Bhuvan Kumar Dahal, president of Nepal Bankers’ Association sees appointment of an NRB cadre who is well-versed in the overall financial sector as the central bank’s governor as positive. “Managing the challenges created by the coronavirus pandemic, he should work on making the payment system fully digitalised,” he commented.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Parshuram Kunwar Chhetri, CEO of Global IME Bank Limited notes that management of economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic is the foremost challenge for Adhikari. “The newly appointed governor should focus his efforts in areas including interest rate stability and liquidity management. As the governor is also the economic advisor to the finance minister, he has an important role to play in the managing the overall economy of the country,” he said. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-07', 'modified' => '2020-04-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11637', 'image' => '20200407080848_IMG_4955 - Copy.JPG', 'article_date' => '2020-04-07 08:08:05', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11889', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Families of Nepali Students Studying Abroad Allowed to Send USD 500 without NOC', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 7: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has decided to allow families of students studying abroad to make foreign exchange equivalent to USD 500 without ‘No Objection Certificate’ (NOC).', 'content' => '<h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">April 7: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has decided to allow families of students studying abroad to make foreign exchange equivalent to USD 500 without ‘No Objection Certificate’ (NOC).</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The government has directed the central bank to provide the exchange facility without NOC to the families of students enrolled in foreign university abroad.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The government took such initiative to help the families to support the expenses of their children studying abroad.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Previously, family members and relatives of students enrolled abroad had to submit the NOC mandatorily to the banks for the foreign exchange. </span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The central bank has directed banks and financial institutions to avail foreign exchange facility to the families in need without any NOC.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">With the new provision, parents can now send the student a maximum of USD 500 or equivalent worth of foreign currency at a time without any hassles.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Currently, students enrolled abroad are facing financial problems due to the lockdown to contain the coronavirus pandemic. </span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">A meeting of the Council of Ministers took such decision to ease the financial burden of Nepali students studying abroad. </span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">NRB had earlier made arrangement for the exchange of foreign currency to pay tuition fees and for subsistence in favor of students studying in countries other than India.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">However, NOC is now not required but the parents will need to submit all the other required documents for making the foreign exchange. </span></span></h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-07', 'modified' => '2020-04-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11636', 'image' => '20200407110724_20160909042218_nrb.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-07 11:06:35', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11884', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'India Bans Export of Drugs used for Treatment of Coronavirus Patients', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 6: India has restricted the export of medicines and equipment used for the treatment of coronavirus as the country grapples with surging cases of the deadly virus. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Arial">April 6: India has restricted the export of medicines and equipment used for the treatment of coronavirus as the country grapples with surging cases of the deadly virus. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Arial">India’s Directorate of Foreign Trade has banned the export of coronavirus testing kits and Hydroxychloroquine, which is used to treat malaria, effective from Saturday (April 4).</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Arial">A notice posted on the website of the directorate states that the decision has been implemented with immediate effect.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Arial">Despite the ban, drug manufactures in Nepal say that the country will not face shortage of the drugs immediately. They claim that the they have purchased enough stock of raw materials to produce the medicine for at least six months.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Arial">Prithvi Raj Rajbhandari, owner of a pharmaceutical company in Nepal, says that most of the factories in Nepal are producing drugs with the stock of raw materials they had purchased before.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Arial">“Drug manufacturers in Nepal had imported raw materials long ago,” said Rajbhandari.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Arial">India started restricting the export of drugs since one month. The directorate has been time and again publishing new list of drugs that are being banned for export due to the domestic requirement. Initially, India banned the export of 26 types of drugs including cetamol. A few days ago, India added masks, sanitizers and other medicines used for the treatment of coronavirus in the list.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Arial">Drug manufacturers in Nepal say they are chiefly dependent on India for raw materials of medicines. According to operator of Asian Pharmaceuticals, Shankar Ghimire, the raw materials that Nepal imports from India actually come from China.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Arial">“Therefore, there is no need to worry if India bans the export of raw materials as we can import them directly from China,” he said.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-06', 'modified' => '2020-04-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11635', 'image' => '20200406013653_maxresdefault.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-06 13:35:57', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11885', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'In contact with foreign returnees? Stay in quarantine ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 6: The Ministry of Health and Population has requested anyone who has come into contact with foreign returnees to stay in quarantine for at least 15 days.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">April 6: The Ministry of Health and Population has requested anyone who has come into contact with foreign returnees to stay in quarantine for at least 15 days.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">The Public Health Emergency Operation Centre under the ministry requested those people to stay in quarantine by issuing a public notice. After confirmation of a locally-transmitted case of coronavirus in Kailali recently, the center has requested one and all to be more alert and adopt adequate safety measures. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">In the notice, Dr Guna Raj Lohani, coordinator of the centre, has requested the ones who are in contact with foreign returnees to stay in home for two weeks and maintain a distance of one meter with others.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">Similarly, the centre has requested to go to health post if they have fever, cough or breathing problem. The ministry has started rapid coronavirus tests in districts including Kailali, Kanchanpur and Baglung from Sunday. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">A meeting of the Council of Ministers had decided on rapid tests for coronavirus in these districts after emergence of new cases. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-06', 'modified' => '2020-04-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11634', 'image' => '20200406014610_emegency notice_health department.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-06 13:45:30', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11882', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government to Procure Essential Medical Supplies Through G2G model ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 6: Following widespread criticism in procurement of essential supplies and medical kits through a private company, the government has decided to adopt G2G and B2G models to purchase the supplies to fight coronavirus.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">April 6:</span><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif""> Following widespread criticism in procurement of essential supplies and medical kits through a private company, the government has decided to adopt G2G and B2G models to purchase the supplies to fight coronavirus.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">The high-level coordination committee for prevention and control of Covid 19 took a decision to this effect on Sunday. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">The committee said that the government can choose any of the two methods to buy essential medicines during time of crisis, as per the Public Procurement Act.</span></span></span></p> <p><br /> <span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif""> “The provision in the act says that government can buy supplies from foreign government. Similarly according to the rules and regulations, the supplies can be bought through competition among the private parties,” said Narayan Prasad Bidari, spokesperson of the high level committee.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">Recently, the Department of Health Services under the Ministry of Health and Population had reached an agreement of Rs 1.24 billion with the Omni Group for the supply of medicines from China. According to the agreement, Omni Group had brought 10 items worth Rs 290 million. However, as after allegations that the materials supplied by the company were of poor quality, the procurement deal was scrapped. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">The company had brought those supplies from Guangzhou in a chartered flight of NAC recently. After cancellation of the agreement with Omni, the government has handed the responsibility of procurement to the Nepalese Army. The decision says that Ministry of Defense will procure the medicines and essential supplies through the Nepalese Army using G2G method. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">A section of society had raised concerns regarding the use of army in supply of the medicines stating that the army does not fall under the jurisdiction of the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority and therefore the deal might be subject to corruption.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">However, the Nepalese Army on Sunday organised a press conferencing ensuring that the procurement process will be transparent. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">In the conference, the Army said that separate mechanism has been formed to make the process transparent. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">Similarly, the ones who are staying in 14 days quarantine will be allowed to go home only after their swab tests, said the government. In case of any symptoms, they will be treated in isolation ward. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">Bidari further said that the ones who are kept in quarantine will be strictly monitored, and will be sent home only after they are assured that the suspects are fully cured.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"> </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-06', 'modified' => '2020-04-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11633', 'image' => '20200406121132_EUOiH2GUYAIKiK5.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-06 12:09:37', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11883', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NHRC asks Government to Ensure Citizen’s Right to Health ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 6: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has urged the government to ensure health-related rights of every citizen by making arrangements for treatments of patients suffering from all types of serious diseases including coronavirus. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">April 6: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has urged the government to ensure health-related rights of every citizen by making arrangements for treatments of patients suffering from all types of serious diseases including coronavirus. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Issuing a press release on Sunday, NHRC Spokesperson Bed Prasad Bhattarai asked the government, health workers and health institutions to guarantee the citizens’ right to get all types of health care services including emergency ones. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The NHRC wants to be assured over the issues including guarantee of health security of all health workers, supply of personal safety measures to ambulance drivers and security personnel and continuity in their services, according to the statement. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Likewise, NHRC said its serious attention was drawn towards the news about a woman’s death at Biratnagar-based Neuro Hospital, Birat Nursing Home and Nobel Hospital for lack of treatment and sending the patients by hospitals after closing their OPD services. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">As per the complaints received by the NHRC and its monitoring, the NHRC found that patients suffering from kidney related disease, cancer, tuberculosis, AIDS, diabetes, hypertension and mental disease were facing problems in their treatment as well as insufficient amount of medicines. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-06', 'modified' => '2020-04-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11632', 'image' => '20200406010720_index.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-06 13:06:26', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11881', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal, India Allow Flow of Goods without Certificate of Origin during Lockdown', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 6: Goods produced in Nepal can be exported to India without Certificate of Origin during the lockdown period.', 'content' => '<h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">April 6: Goods produced in Nepal can be exported to India without Certificate of Origin during the lockdown period.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The governments of the two countries have made such arrangement after consulting with each other. The countries have not been able to issue certificate of origin to goods produced within their respective territories due to the lockdown. However, both the countries will have to submit the Certificate of Origin to each other for the goods produced once the lockdown is over.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Meanwhile, the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies has confirmed that the Certificate of Origin is not mandatory for import and export of goods from India for the time being. </span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FNCCI) has been certifying the goods produced in Nepal before being exported to India. </span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">However, the Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) and Nepal Chamber of Commerce (NCC) have been issuing Certificate of Origin to goods exported to third countries. </span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Nawaraj Dhakal, undersecretary at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies informed New Business Age that both Nepal and India have made an arrangement for export of goods without Certificate of Origin after analyzing the impact of lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic. </span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">“We have not made the certificate mandatory for goods imported from India while Nepali entrepreneurs can also export their goods to India without the certificate,” he informed. </span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">However, the entrepreneurs will need submit the Certificate of Origin of their products once the lockdown is over, he added. Dhakal added that the certificate along with other documents are mandatory for goods imported from third countries. </span></span></h1> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-06', 'modified' => '2020-04-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11631', 'image' => '20200406113155_1586125463.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-06 11:30:53', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11880', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Govt Readies Guidelines for Industries and Infrastructure Projects', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 5: The government has prepared guidelines to allow infrastructure projects and essential food industries to resume their operations. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">April 5: The government has prepared guidelines to allow infrastructure projects and essential food industries to resume their operations. The guidelines were formulated jointly by the </span><span style="font-family:Calibri">Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport, Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation and Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies</span><span style="font-family:Calibri">. “After the government issues the guidelines, national-level development projects industries producing essential goods including food items and construction materials can resume their operations,” said Narayan Prashad Bidari, member secretary of the committee. A meeting of the High-level Coordination Committee for the Prevention and Control of Covid-19 held on April 2 (Thursday), had decided to allow certain industries and development projects to continue operations. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">As per the guidelines, industries are required to deploy protective measures for the workers, maintain distance among people at the workplaces, use sanitisers and monitor the body temperature of staffs on a regular basis. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">The guidelines have strictly barred movement of workers and staffers to and from the factories and project sites, said Bidari. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">The government has asked the project chiefs to submit it with proposals on how the projects can be continued. Construction of most of the large projects have come to a standstill after the government announced nation-wide lockdown on March 24 to stop the possible spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">Shyam Prashad Kharel, chief of Nagdhunga-Naubise tunnel road, first tunnel road of Nepal said that he will ask the engineers and consultants to prepare a proposal regarding the continuity of the construction of the project. According to him, the preparation has been done for smooth supply of construction materials including sand, gravel and cement and protection measures during the work. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">Likewise, Tiresh Prashad Khatri, executive director of Melamchi Drinking Water Supply Project said that they have not been able to work actively after the start of the lockdown. “Around 300 workers were mobilised earlier. But now only 50-60 workers are working,” Khatri informed. “We also can’t bring other workers immediately.” The government’s latest decision has also eased transportation and supply of construction materials. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">Similarly, chief of Pokhara Regional and International Airport Binesh Munankarmi said that 270 Chinese and 100 Nepali workers are currently handling the construction work of the project. However, there are some hindrances due to lack of construction materials. “We are not able to bring construction materials from India and China,” Munankarmi mentioned. “The shipment of cement from India has been stucked and containers with construction materials are stuck at Kerung.” Nevertheless, 56 percent of construction work has already been completed, he said. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">Though there are 1,100 workers working at the site of the Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower Project, many workers are not psychologically prepared to work. “The situation is very critical. So, we have been working to make the environment friendly and protective for the workers. We are preparing to implement health and safety measures at the project site,” informed Bigyan Prasad Shrestha, CEO of Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower Limited. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-05', 'modified' => '2020-04-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11630', 'image' => '20200405125829_pic(1).jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-05 12:57:48', '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
