India Increases Annual Grants for Nepal

Feb 02, 2024 0 7 minutes 17 seconds to read

February 2: India has increased its grants to Nepal by INR 50…

Snowfall Obstructs Mid-Hill Highway, Flight Disrupted in Upper Karnali

Feb 02, 2024 0 2 minutes 49 seconds to read

February 2: The Mid-Hill Highway in Rukum East has been blocked due to…

Private Sector Protests Chaudhary's Arrest

Feb 02, 2024 0 3 minutes 47 seconds to read

February 2: The umbrella organisations of the private sector have strongly criticized the arrest of businessman Arun Chaudhary in connection with his alleged role in unlawfully acquiring 10 ropanis of government land of Bansbari Leather and Shoe…

Arrival of Tourists up by 30.37 Percent in January

Feb 02, 2024 0 1 minutes 12 seconds to read

February 2: A total of 79,100 foreign tourists arrived in Nepal in January, the first month of 2024.…

Govt Forms Committee to Study the Prospect of Operating Int'l Airports in PPP Model

Feb 02, 2024 0 2 minutes 2 seconds to read

February 2: The government has formed a committee to study the prospects of operating international airports of the country in public private partnership (PPP)…

Man Held for Duping Over 600 Foreign Job Aspirants

Feb 02, 2024 0 1 minutes 55 seconds to read

The Valley Crime Investigation Office, Kathmandu has arrested a person for duping more than 600 foreign job aspirants. The 32-year-old fraudster was made public by the police on…

Businessman Arun Chaudhary, Ex CEO Thapa Nabbed

Feb 01, 2024 0 53 seconds to read

The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of the Nepal Police has nabbed businessman Arun Chaudhary and Ajit Narayan Thapa, the former CEO of Bansbari Leather and Shoe Factory, on allegations of unlawfully seizing the factory's…

NEPSE Dips by 30.92 Points, Closing at 2067.01

Feb 01, 2024 0 1 minutes 16 seconds to read

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) Index experienced a significant loss of 30.92 points or 1.47%, closing at 2067.01 on the last trading day of the week on…

Number of Tourists up in Bardiya National Park

Feb 01, 2024 0 1 minutes 58 seconds to read

February 1: The arrival of domestic and foreign tourists in Bardiya National Park has started to increase of…

China Overtakes Japan as World's Top Vehicle Exporter

Feb 01, 2024 0 1 minutes 56 seconds to read

February 1: China overtook Japan as the world's biggest vehicle exporter last year, data from the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA) showed…

Nepal Insurance Authority Instructs Reinsurance Companies to Increase Capital Base to Rs 20 Billion

Feb 01, 2024 0 2 minutes 6 seconds to read

February 1: Nepal Insurance Authority (NIA) has instructed reinsurance companies to raise their paid-up capital to Rs 20 billion under the regulatory body’s campaign to increase the capital base of insurance…

Jomsom-Based Shinta Mani Resort Listed in Nat Geo’s Best Hotels in the World

Feb 01, 2024 0 1 minutes 49 seconds to read

February 1: Shinta Mani Resort of Jomsom, Mustang, has been listed among the world's best and favorite hotels for…

Government Begins Discussions about Upcoming FY Budget

Feb 01, 2024 0 3 minutes 38 seconds to read

February 1: The government has initiated discussions with the relevant ministries about the budget for the upcoming fiscal year.…

NOC Hikes Fuel Prices

Feb 01, 2024 0 53 seconds to read

January 31: Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has increased the price of petroleum products. The new market price of petrol, diesel and cooking gas (LPG) will come into effect from 1:00 am…

Army’s Feasibility Study Outlines Plan for Revival of Hetauda Textile Industry

Jan 31, 2024 0 3 minutes 52 seconds to read

January 31: A feasibility study report prepared by the Nepalese Army has pointed out the prospects of reviving the now-defunct Hetauda Textile Industry on condition that the government provides policy and legal…

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			'id' => '20149',
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			'title' => 'India Increases Annual Grants for Nepal',
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			'summary' => 'February 2: India has increased its grants to Nepal by INR 50 crores.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">February 2: India has increased its grants to Nepal by INR <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">50</span> crores. India&rsquo;s interim budget submitted by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to the Indian Parliament on Thursday mentions that the grants for Nepal have been increased.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">India has announced that it will grant Nepal INR <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">700</span> crores (Rs<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"> 11</span>.<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">2</span> billion) in the fiscal year <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">2024/25.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">For the Fiscal Year <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">2023/24</span>, India had announced a grant of INR <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">550</span> million (Rs <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">8</span>.<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">80</span> billion) for Nepal. However, India increased the grant to Nepal to INR <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">650</span> crores (Rs <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">10.4</span> billion) in Fiscal Year <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">2023/24</span>.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">In the Fiscal Year <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">2024/25</span>, India has announced to provide the highest financial assistance to Bhutan among the South Asian countries. In the Fiscal Year <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">2024/25</span>, India will provide Bhutan INR <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">2,068.56</span> crores including INR <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">989.70</span> as loans and the remaining amount as grants. </span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Recently, due to the strained relations with the Maldives, India has reduced the aid to the island nation. In the Fiscal Year <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">2024/25</span>, India will grant INR <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">600</span> crores to the Maldives, down from INR <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">770</span> crores provided by New Delhi to Male in the Fiscal Year <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">2023</span>.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">India has also increased its grants to Sri Lanka for next year. This year Sri Lanka has been given INR <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">60</span> crores as grants, while it will receive INR <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">75</span> crores in grants next year. The grant to Afghanistan next year has been reduced by INR <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">20</span> crores to INR <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">200</span> crores compared to the current year. India has also cut INR<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">10</span> crores in grants to Bangladesh, another neighbor. India provided INR <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">130</span> crores as grants to Bangladesh this year, but pledged only INR <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">120</span> crores next year.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><strong>What else is in the interim budget?</strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The Government of India has brought the interim budget this year targeting the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Finance Minister Sitharaman says that the budget has specifically targeted the farmers, youth, women and low income earners.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Metro and Namo Bharat trains have been planned in the interim budget of India. According to the new budget, new cities and new areas will be connected by metro rail. Apart from this, the Namo Bharat train will be extended. Similarly, the budget has also emphasized on middle-class travel.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The program to establish more medical colleges has been kept in the budget. The programme of &#39;Roof Top Solarization&#39; has been included in the budget. Under this programme, <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">1</span> crore families will be able to get <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">300</span> units of electricity for free.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Presenting the interim budget, Finance Minister Sitharaman said, &quot;The Indian economy has seen profound positive changes in the last <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">10</span> years.&quot; Citizens of India are looking towards the future with hope. When the leadership of Narendra Modi assumed power in <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">2014</span>, the country was facing difficult challenges and the government has properly controlled all those challenges.&rdquo;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">In the interim budget <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">2024/25</span>, the Modi government has mentioned that three major economic railway corridors will be implemented. The Indian government will implement energy, mineral and cement corridors, port connectivity corridors and high traffic density corridors. The budget also mentions that the number of airports in India has doubled to <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">149</span> in the last <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">10</span> years. </span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">She also said that the Modi government has lifted <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">250</span> million Indians out of the poverty line. She said that the government has worked with priority for the poor, women and common people of India.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The Government of India has reduced the rate of corporate tax from <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">30</span> to <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">22</span> percent. Similarly, the tax rate for new manufacturing companies has been increased to <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">15</span> percent. There has been no change in the income tax slab. The time of tax exemption for startups has been extended by <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">1</span> year. </span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The Modi government has reduced the rate of personal income tax. As mentioned in the budget, no tax is levied on income up to INR <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">700</span>,<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">000</span>. In the year <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">2013/14</span>, this amount was INR <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">200</span>,<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">000</span> under the income tax limit.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Finance Minister Sitharaman said that the Modi government has increased the limit of income tax relief for retail businesses from INR <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">2 </span>crore to INR <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">4 </span>crore. She said that the number of taxpayers has been increasing significantly in the past few years.</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '20148',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Snowfall Obstructs Mid-Hill Highway, Flight Disrupted in Upper Karnali',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'February 2: The Mid-Hill Highway in Rukum East has been blocked due to snowfall.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">February 2: The Mid-Hill Highway in Rukum East has been blocked due to snowfall. Vehicles are stranded at the Lukum-Patihalna road section of the Mi-Hill Highway in Rukum East due to the snowfall that started on Wednesday night and lasted throughout Thursday.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">About 19 kilometers of the road in the Lukum-Patihalna area of the the Mid-Hil highway is covered with thick snow. The road could not be opened as snowfall occurred all day on Thursday. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Madhav Prasad Sharma, Chief District Officer of Rukum East, informed RSS that preparations are being made to remove the frozen snow on the roads since today morning (Friday). After the road was blocked, vehicles coming from Kathmandu have been stranded at Patihalna since Thursday. The stranded passengers were rescued and brought to Rukumkot by the police and the district administration on government vehicles.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Another road section from Rikalek to Hukam on the border of Bhume Rural Municipality and Putha Uttarganga Rural Municipality has also been blocked. The snowfall has affected normal life of Putha Uttarganga Rural Municipality. Phone service is also suspended in this area.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Meanwhile, farmers of Jumla have expressed happiness after late snowfall this year.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Snowfall took place late this year compared to the previous years. About half a foot of snow has accumulated across the district, including the headquarters Khalanga. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">It is the first snowfall of this year&#39;s winter season. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Parvati Budha, a local resident of Tila Rural Municipality-1 in the district, shared that the farmers who planted winter crops were happy after the snowfall. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">According to the Agricultural Development Office, the farmers who planted barley and wheat crops have been greatly relieved by the snowfall.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Meanwhile, the snowfall in Jumla and Upper Karnali has disrupted air services in the region. -- RSS &nbsp;</span></span></span></p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '20147',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Private Sector Protests Chaudhary's Arrest',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'February 2: The umbrella organisations of the private sector have strongly criticized the arrest of businessman Arun Chaudhary in connection with his alleged role in unlawfully acquiring 10 ropanis of government land of Bansbari Leather and Shoe Factory.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">February 2: The umbrella organisations of the private sector have strongly criticized the arrest of businessman Arun Chaudhary in connection with his alleged role in unlawfully acquiring </span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">10</span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"> ropanis of government land of Bansbari Leather and Shoe Factory.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The business community organized a press conference expressing their concern after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) of Nepal Police arrested Chaudhary, the chairman and managing director of CG Holdings on Thursday, for an investigation into the land-grab case. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) issued a press statement expressing its displeasure towards the arrest of Chaudhary. Another umbrella organization, Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI), held a press conference on Thursday evening to protest the move. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The FNCCI said that its serious attention has been drawn to the arrest of entrepreneurs and businessmen when the country is facing economic crisis. Expressing its views on the arrest of Chaudhary, the FNCCI said, &quot;The federation has repeatedly requested the government not to arrest businessmen until a thorough investigation of the related matter is done.&quot; The FNCCI has requested the government to find out the truth first and take legal action if necessary.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The FNCCI also mentioned that the arrest will send a negative message to domestic and foreign investors ahead of the upcoming investment conference. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Meanwhile, CNI President Rajesh Kumar Agrawal expressed serious concern over the arrest during the press conference.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">&quot;All the industrialists have been humiliated by this,&quot; he said, adding, &quot;Arresting someone without proper evidence and sufficient reasons does not seem fair.&quot;</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The CBI arrested Chaudhary and the then executive director of the factory, Ajit Narayan Singh Thapa, on Thursday to investigate the unlawful transfer of ownership of the land of the government-owned factory. The government had established the Bansbari Leather and Shoe Factory in </span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">2022</span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"> BS</span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">. </span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The government had privatized the factory after </span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">2048</span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"> BS</span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Four Days in Custody</span></strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Meanwhile, the Kathmandu District Court has allowed Nepal Police to remand Chaudhary and Thapa in custody for four days. The state-owned RSS, quoting the information officer of the court, Chandra Prasad Panthi, reported that the bench of District Court Judge Madhav Prasad Ghimire allowed Chaudhary and Thapa to be detained for the necessary investigation.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The CIB team arrested Chaudhary from Lainchaur in Kathmandu and Thapa from Battisputli on Thursday. According to the bureau, they were arrested in the case of </span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">10 </span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt">ropani land scam of Bansbari Leather and Shoe Factory.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2024-02-02',
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			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '19874',
			'image' => '20240202121131_Arun_Chaudhary_By.jpg',
			'article_date' => '2024-02-02 12:10:45',
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	(int) 3 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '20145',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Arrival of Tourists up by 30.37 Percent in January',
			'sub_title' => 'More than 79,000 Foreign Tourists Visit Nepal in January   ',
			'summary' => 'February 2: A total of 79,100 foreign tourists arrived in Nepal in January, the first month of 2024. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">February 2: A total of 79,100 foreign tourists arrived in Nepal in January, the first month of 2024. The number was up by 24,026 as compared to last January. A total of 55,074 foreign tourists had visited Nepal in January, 2023. It means that the arrival of tourists increased by 30.37 percent in this January compared to the same period of last year.</span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">According to the Nepal Tourism Board, 81,897 people went out of the country in January. The highest number of tourists who visited Nepal in the review month were Indian tourists.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">According to the board, a total of 24,139 Indian tourists visited Nepal last month against 16,436 in January, 2023.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Similarly, 7,267 tourists from China, 7,047 from America, 4,619 from Thailand, 3,812 from South Korea, 3,629 from Bangladesh and 3421 from Australia entered Nepal in January.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Likewise, 3,276 tourists from the UK, 2,229 from Bhutan and 1,568 from Japan visited Nepal in the review month. -- RSS</span></span></span></p>
',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2024-02-02',
			'modified' => '2024-02-02',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '19872',
			'image' => '20240202111939_Tourist.jpg',
			'article_date' => '2024-02-02 11:18:38',
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	(int) 4 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '20144',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Govt Forms Committee to Study the Prospect of Operating Int'l Airports in PPP Model   ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'February 2: The government has formed a committee to study the prospects of operating international airports of the country in public private partnership (PPP) model.    ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">February 2: The government has formed a committee to study the prospects of operating international airports of the country in public private partnership (PPP) model.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">A cabinet meeting held on Thursday approved the proposal for forming a study committee, submitted by the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Former Secretary Shankar Prasad Adhikari is the coordinator of the five-member committee which also includes investment expert Ghanshyam Ojha, chief of Aviation Division of the ministry, Buddhi Sagar Lamichhane, Joint-Secretary of the Investment Board of Nepal and Deputy-Director of Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, Dipendra Shrestha.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The committee was formed to study the issue of operating Kathmandu-based Tribhuvan International Airport, Bhairahawa-based Gautam Buddha International Airport and Pokhara-based Pokhara Regional International Airport in full capacity and under the PPP model.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">According to the ministry, a separate five-member committee has also been formed to manage contract-based employees of Nepal Airlines Corporation.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The committee has been formed under the coordination of former vice-chairperson of the National Planning Commission, Dipendra Bahadur Chhetri, where management expert Tikaram Rai, director general of the Department of Tourism, representatives of the Finance Ministry and Finance Department of Nepal Airlines Corporation would be the members. This committee has been given 45 days deadline.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The cabinet also instructed the Nepalese Army to immediately provide land for the expansion of Chitwan-based Bharatpur airport and Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal to construct the damaged infrastructures.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Similarly, the government also decided to provide land to the Nepalese Army at Shaktikhor for horse breeding centre and to bear all possible expenses for the same. -- RSS</span></span></span></p>
',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2024-02-02',
			'modified' => '2024-02-02',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '19871',
			'image' => '20240202103854_20230101114857_Gautam Buddha.jpg',
			'article_date' => '2024-02-02 10:38:08',
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	(int) 5 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '20143',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Man Held for Duping Over 600 Foreign Job Aspirants',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'The Valley Crime Investigation Office, Kathmandu has arrested a person for duping more than 600 foreign job aspirants. The 32-year-old fraudster was made public by the police on Thursday.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">February 2: The Valley Crime Investigation Office, Kathmandu has arrested a person for duping more than 600 foreign job aspirants. The 32-year-old fraudster was made public by the police on Thursday.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Bikash Tamang (Waiba), 32, from Kanjosom rural municipality-4 of Lalitpur was arrested from Lele, Lalitpur. He had duped hundreds of people by&nbsp; luring them to send to foreign countries and provide jobs.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Senior Superintendent of Police at the Investigation Office, Somendra Singh Rathaur, informed that Tamang was found involved in defrauding millions of rupees from over 600 people.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">&nbsp;They were falsely assured of jobs in various European countries such as Malta, Poland and Croatia, and Canada. Tamang had pledged the victims that he would send them to those countries, Rathaur added.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Earlier, Tamang had worked as an agent for different human resource recruitment offices including Ayus Manpower since 2073BS and facilitated sending people to Dubai, Qatar and Malaysia.&nbsp;</span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">But since 2077BS, he was absconding and hiding in the country and India after a case filed on fraud and criminal gain. </span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Moreover, he was even running an educational consultancy at Balaju bearing a fake identity card, the police investigation stated.&nbsp;</span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Even some government employees were conned by him. Some of the employees had quit the jobs with false promise of landing jobs &nbsp;in Europe. </span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Police investigation revealed that he took Rs 1.8 million from a person for sending to him/her to Canada, while Rs 800 thousand for Malta, Rs 700 thousand for Poland, Rs 650 thousand for Croatia. (RSS) </span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
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			'created' => '2024-02-02',
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			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '19870',
			'image' => '20240202062154_collage (20).jpg',
			'article_date' => '2024-02-02 06:20:16',
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	(int) 6 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '20140',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Businessman Arun Chaudhary, Ex CEO Thapa Nabbed',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of the Nepal Police has nabbed businessman Arun Chaudhary and Ajit Narayan Thapa, the former CEO of Bansbari Leather and Shoe Factory, on allegations of unlawfully seizing the factory's land.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif">February 1: The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of the Nepal Police has nabbed businessman Arun Chaudhary and Ajit Narayan Thapa, the former CEO of Bansbari Leather and Shoe Factory, on allegations of unlawfully seizing the factory&#39;s land.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">&nbsp;<span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif">Thapa served as the interim executive Chief at the time of the incident, while Chaudhary is the brother of Dollar billionaire businessman and federal parliament member Binod Chaudhary.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif">They are charged with fraudulent acquisition of 10 ropanis of public land belonging to the factory and have been arrested for further investigation into the case, police said. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">&nbsp;</span></span></p>
',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2024-02-01',
			'modified' => '2024-02-01',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '19867',
			'image' => '20240201042245_collage (3).jpg',
			'article_date' => '2024-02-01 16:21:22',
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	(int) 7 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '20139',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'NEPSE Dips by 30.92 Points, Closing at 2067.01',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) Index experienced a significant loss of 30.92 points or 1.47%, closing at 2067.01 on the last trading day of the week on Thursday.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">February 1: The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) Index experienced a significant loss of 30.92 points or 1.47%, closing at 2067.01 on the last trading day of the week on Thursday. </span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">During today&rsquo;s trading session, 309 scrips were traded on the NEPSE through 80,029 transactions. A total of 11,514,571 shares changed hands, resulting in a turnover of Rs 4.18 billion.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Himalayan Reinsurance Limited (HRL) led the transactions with a total turnover of Rs 54 crores, closing at a market price of Rs 695.10 per share. Samaj Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited (SAMAJ) experienced the highest gain of 6.10%, closing at a market price of Rs 582.90 per share.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">On the contrary, Samling Power Company Limited (SPC) incurred the highest loss at 9.42%, closing at a market price of Rs 625 per share.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In terms of sector indices, all sectors closed in the red zone except for the Finance Index. The Hydropower Index suffered the most significant loss at 2.35%, while the Trading Index experienced the smallest drop at 0.01%.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Sensitive Index slumped by 1.47%, while the Float Index and Sensitive Float Index witnessed losses of 1.45% and 1.27%, respectively.</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2024-02-01',
			'modified' => '2024-02-01',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '19866',
			'image' => '20240201034745_collage (1).jpg',
			'article_date' => '2024-02-01 15:46:05',
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	(int) 8 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '20138',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Number of Tourists up in Bardiya National Park',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'February 1: The arrival of domestic and foreign tourists in Bardiya National Park has started to increase of late.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">February 1: The arrival of domestic and foreign tourists in Bardiya National Park has started to increase of late. According to the park officials, tourists come here to see wild animals such as tigers, leopards, elephants, rhinoceros, swamp deer among other wild animals.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Chief Conservation Officer of the national park, Ashok Kumar Ram, said that the number of domestic and foreign tourists increased after the number of tigers in the park rose to 125. According to Ram, around 2,000 foreign tourists had visited the national park as of mid-January of last fiscal year while the number of foreign visitors has increased to around 4,000 by mid-January of the current fiscal year. He added that about 90 percent of tourists have reported sighting tigers at the national park.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Meanwhile, around 6,000 domestic tourists visited the park as of mid-January of the previous year, while the number has reached 10,000 in the corresponding period this year. Similarly, 500 tourists from SAARC countries had visited the park as of mid-January last year, and the number has increased to around 800 this year.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Chief Conservation Officer Ram said that around 20,000 tourists are expected to visit the park this year, the main reason for this being the increase in number of tigers.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">According to him, most of the foreign tourists are from USA, Germany, France, New Zealand, China, and India. -- RSS</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2024-02-01',
			'modified' => '2024-02-01',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '19865',
			'image' => '20240201114954_Bengal_Tiger_Bardia_National_Park1.jpg',
			'article_date' => '2024-02-01 11:49:23',
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	(int) 9 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '20137',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'China Overtakes Japan as World's Top Vehicle Exporter',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'February 1: China overtook Japan as the world's biggest vehicle exporter last year, data from the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA) showed Wednesday.    ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">February 1: China overtook Japan as the world&#39;s biggest vehicle exporter last year, data from the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA) showed Wednesday.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Figures showed Japan shipped 4.42 million vehicles in 2023 compared to 4.91 million exported by China, as reported by the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) this month.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">China&#39;s customs bureau put the number even higher at 5.22 million, a huge year-on-year rise of 57 percent. China had already been exporting more vehicles than Japan on a monthly basis, but Wednesday&#39;s data confirmed that it was also number one for a whole year.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Unlike their Chinese counterparts, Japanese automakers including Toyota -- re-confirmed on Tuesday as the world&#39;s largest company by unit sales -- also make huge volumes of vehicles in other countries.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">China&#39;s auto sector has boomed in recent years in large part because of massive investments in electric cars, an area where Japanese firms have been more cautious.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Japanese manufacturers have long bet instead on hybrids that combine battery power and internal combustion engines, an area they pioneered with the likes of the Toyota Prius.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Chinese company BYD this month snatched Tesla&#39;s crown for most sales of all-electric vehicles, having capitalised on Beijing&#39;s strong government support for the burgeoning sector.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">BYD began life in 1995 as a battery manufacturer, and later turned its attention to producing plug-in hybrid and all-electric vehicles. The Shenzhen-based company competes against Tesla on price inside China and in Europe. &ndash; AFP/RSS</span></span></span></p>
',
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			'created' => '2024-02-01',
			'modified' => '2024-02-01',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '19864',
			'image' => '20240201114855_china.jpeg',
			'article_date' => '2024-02-01 11:48:19',
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	(int) 10 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '20135',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Nepal Insurance Authority Instructs Reinsurance Companies to Increase Capital Base to Rs 20 Billion',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'February 1: Nepal Insurance Authority (NIA) has instructed reinsurance companies to raise their paid-up capital to Rs 20 billion under the regulatory body’s campaign to increase the capital base of insurance companies.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">February 1: Nepal Insurance Authority (NIA) has instructed reinsurance companies to raise their paid-up capital to Rs 20 billion under the regulatory body&rsquo;s campaign&nbsp;to increase the capital base of insurance companies. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Executive Director of the NIA Raju Raman Poudel informed that the board meeting of the authority on Wednesday decided to raise the minimum paid-up capital of reinsurance companies. As per the decision, the two reinsurance companies operating in Nepal will have to double their paid-up capital from the existing capital base within one year. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Poudel said that the NIA decided to increase the paid-up capital of reinsurance companies for the effective management of the insurance sector.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">According to Poudel, the reinsurance companies have to comply with the new provision by mid-February 2025.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">At present, the reinsurance companies need to maintain a minimum paid-up capital of Rs 10 billion.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">There are currenty two reinsurance companies&mdash;Nepal Reinsurance Company and Himalayan Reinsurance Limited&mdash;operating in Nepal.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">The Government of Nepal had established the Nepal Reinsurance Company in 2014 to stem the massive capital outflow for insurance purposes. The company&rsquo;s paid-up capital stands at Rs 12.81 billion at present.&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Likewise, the Himalayan Reinsurance Company -- the second reinsurer of the country &ndash; was set up in 2021. The company has paid-up capital of Rs 10 billion.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">The NIA has issued a 15-day deadline for the reinsurance companies to come-up with their plans to raise their capital bases. </span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
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			'created' => '2024-02-01',
			'modified' => '2024-02-01',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '19863',
			'image' => '20240201114545_electricity.jpg',
			'article_date' => '2024-02-01 11:45:03',
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '20136',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Jomsom-Based Shinta Mani Resort Listed in Nat Geo’s Best Hotels in the World',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'February 1: Shinta Mani Resort of Jomsom, Mustang, has been listed among the world's best and favorite hotels for 2024.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">February 1: Shinta Mani Resort of Jomsom, Mustang, has been listed among the world&#39;s best and favorite hotels for 2024.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The hotel of Nepal has been included in the list of the best hotels in the world prepared by National Geographic. The list includes hotels in the Himalayas of Nepal to luxury crash pads in London.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">&quot;Our favorite places to stay this year range from hotels in the Himalayas of Nepal to luxury crash pads in London,&quot; National Geographic&#39;s online site says.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The list includes three hotels from the Asian continent including Shinta Mani Resort. Others from Asia are Sri Lanka&#39;s Kurulu Bay and Bhutan&#39;s AndBeyond Punakha River Lodge.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Shinta Mani resort is built in traditional style using local stone. Visitors can enjoy dishes such as Himalayan yak momos (dumplings) and Tibetan thukpa (meat and noodle soup).</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">&nbsp;&ldquo;Guests at Shinta Mani&rsquo;s all-inclusive lodge are paired with guides who take them adventuring amid the dramatic mountain and desert landscapes of Nepal&rsquo;s Lower Mustang region,&rdquo; wrote National Geographic on its website.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Visitors can experience biking to centuries-old Buddhist monasteries and trekking to high-altitude Dumba Lake from the resort, added National Geographic. </span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '20131',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Government Begins Discussions about Upcoming FY Budget',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'February 1: The government has initiated discussions with the relevant ministries about the budget for the upcoming fiscal year. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">February 1: The government has initiated discussions with the relevant ministries about the budget for the upcoming fiscal year. Accordingly, the National Planning Commission held a discussion with various ministries and agencies. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">&quot;Before setting the budget ceiling for the upcoming year, discussions have started with various ministries on what kind of plans and programmes are needed and how much budget is required,&quot; said Yamlal Bhusal, the NPC spokesperson.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">It may be noted that the Resource Estimation Committee is chaired by the vice chair of the National Planning Commission. However, in the previous years, the committee used to set the budget limits without the participation and discussion with the relevant ministries. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">This led to discrepancy in budget allocation as per the priority plans and programmes.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Spokesperson Bhusal said that the budget ceiling will now be determined based on the discussions beforehand. The estimates of next year&#39;s budget and the limit of expenditure will be determined after analyzing the status of expenditure up to mid-January of the current fiscal year.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The NPC held discussion on the budget priorities and ceiling with the Ministry of Labour, Ministry of Urban Development, Ministry of Forests and Environment, Ministry of Health and Population, Ministry of Energy and Water Resources and Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The NPC has already discussed the matters related to budget with the Office of the President and the Office of the Vice President, the Supreme Court and other agencies. Discussions with other ministries and agencies will continue on Thursday and Friday. Unilateral discussion will also be held with every ministry and agency.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Budget calendar amended&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Moreover, the annual budget calendar has been amended by the government. President Ram Chandra Paudel issued the Ordinance on Fiscal Procedures and Financial Accountability (first amendment), 2080, which warrants submission of budget principles and priorities three months before the budget is presented in the parliament.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Similarly, the time to ascertain budget ceiling by the resource determination committee has also been revised.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The change mandates government to present principles and priorities of appropriation bill before Falgun 15 (February end). As per the new provision, the parliament shall hold deliberation on principles and priorities of the budget for a month to forward suggestions to the government.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The resource estimate committee will prepare budget ceiling by the end of the month of Magh (mid-February) and provide it to all ministries before first week of Falgun (third week of February).&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Even the mid-term expenditure report has to be sent to all ministries before first week of Falgun as per the revised budget calendar.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Meanwhile, the NPC has already sought proposals for projects and programmes from the provinces and local levels. They have been asked to submit proposals before end of the month of Magh (mid-February). -- RSS</span></span></span></p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '20128',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'NOC Hikes Fuel Prices',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'January 31: Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has increased the price of petroleum products. The new market price of petrol, diesel and cooking gas (LPG) will come into effect from 1:00 am Thursday.    ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">January 31: Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has increased the price of petroleum products. The new market price of petrol, diesel and cooking gas (LPG) will come into effect from 1:00 am Thursday.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Accordingly, the price of petrol has been increased by Rs 4 per litre, that of diesel and kerosene by Rs 2 per litre and LPG by Rs 15 per cylinder. The price has been revised as per the new rate received from the Indian Oil Corporation on Wednesday, NOC said in a statement.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">As per the revised list, petrol will now cost Rs 170 per litre and diesel-kerosene each Rs 158 per litre in Kathmandu, while LPG will cost 1,910 per cylinder. -- RSS&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'id' => '20127',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Army’s Feasibility Study Outlines Plan for Revival of Hetauda Textile Industry',
			'sub_title' => 'The industry will have no problem for market if revived as the army will be one of the major potential consumers',
			'summary' => 'January 31: A feasibility study report prepared by the Nepalese Army has pointed out the prospects of reviving the now-defunct Hetauda Textile Industry on condition that the government provides policy and legal support.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">January 31: A feasibility study report prepared by the Nepalese Army has pointed out the prospects of reviving the now-defunct Hetauda Textile Industry on condition that the government provides policy and legal support.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">During a high-level meeting held at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers on Wednesday, the NA briefed the prime minister about the feasibility study regarding the resumption of the factory.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The feasibility study was prepared following the government&rsquo;s announcement to explore possibilities for reviving the closed industries in the current fiscal year&rsquo;s policies and programmes.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The textile factory that was established in 2032 BS with financial and technical assistance from the Chinese government and with the investment of the Government of Nepal halted its production in 2056 BS. The then royal government in 2059 BS decided to close it.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The study report highlighted the lack of market management, lack of technology advancement as per the need of time, the power outage issue, overstaffing and the lack of managerial efficiency among the factors leading to the closure of the factory.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The report states about the possibility to reuse some factory structures and machinery after maintenance. It is stated that NA Welfare Fund has sufficient budget to operate the industry, adding that most of raw materials needed for the factory are available within the country. According to the report, the factory will have no problem for market if revived as the NA will be one of the major potential consumers with NA personnel being likely users of garments to be produced by the industry.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The factory has 166 ropanis of land under its ownership.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The report states that the revival of the industry is needed to contribute to the national industrial development and to contribute to gross domestic product, to send a positive message to the world market, to boost up self-sufficiency of the nation, and for import substitution and creation of employment opportunities.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The study taskforce has also proposed the outline for re-operation of the industry. The proposed plan along with a three-year work plan has set the target of manufacturing approximately 2.6 million metres of cloth. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">A policy decision regarding this would be made in the current fiscal year and the industry would be handed over to the Nepalese Army, which will prepare the DPR, and select and purchase new machinery.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Similarly, it is stated in the proposed outline that test production would be started in the coming fiscal year by completing the construction of the infrastructure and purchase of machine and equipment. It is stated that the machines would be added, the industry&#39;s capacity expanded and regular production started by conducting the feasibility study for the operation of Butwal Spinning Mills and managing the raw materials.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The preliminary cost estimate for re-operating the industry is Rs 1.93 billion and the annual operation cost is expected to be around Rs 780 million. The taskforce has concluded that the industry will be in a position to make profit, replacing the investment cost, after nine years of its re-operation.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The taskforce has also proposed for policy and legal support from the government for the re-operation of the industry. -- RSS</span></span></span></p>
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			'id' => '20149',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'India Increases Annual Grants for Nepal',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'February 2: India has increased its grants to Nepal by INR 50 crores.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">February 2: India has increased its grants to Nepal by INR <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">50</span> crores. India&rsquo;s interim budget submitted by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to the Indian Parliament on Thursday mentions that the grants for Nepal have been increased.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">India has announced that it will grant Nepal INR <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">700</span> crores (Rs<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"> 11</span>.<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">2</span> billion) in the fiscal year <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">2024/25.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">For the Fiscal Year <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">2023/24</span>, India had announced a grant of INR <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">550</span> million (Rs <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">8</span>.<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">80</span> billion) for Nepal. However, India increased the grant to Nepal to INR <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">650</span> crores (Rs <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">10.4</span> billion) in Fiscal Year <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">2023/24</span>.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">In the Fiscal Year <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">2024/25</span>, India has announced to provide the highest financial assistance to Bhutan among the South Asian countries. In the Fiscal Year <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">2024/25</span>, India will provide Bhutan INR <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">2,068.56</span> crores including INR <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">989.70</span> as loans and the remaining amount as grants. </span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Recently, due to the strained relations with the Maldives, India has reduced the aid to the island nation. In the Fiscal Year <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">2024/25</span>, India will grant INR <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">600</span> crores to the Maldives, down from INR <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">770</span> crores provided by New Delhi to Male in the Fiscal Year <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">2023</span>.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">India has also increased its grants to Sri Lanka for next year. This year Sri Lanka has been given INR <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">60</span> crores as grants, while it will receive INR <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">75</span> crores in grants next year. The grant to Afghanistan next year has been reduced by INR <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">20</span> crores to INR <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">200</span> crores compared to the current year. India has also cut INR<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">10</span> crores in grants to Bangladesh, another neighbor. India provided INR <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">130</span> crores as grants to Bangladesh this year, but pledged only INR <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">120</span> crores next year.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><strong>What else is in the interim budget?</strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The Government of India has brought the interim budget this year targeting the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Finance Minister Sitharaman says that the budget has specifically targeted the farmers, youth, women and low income earners.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Metro and Namo Bharat trains have been planned in the interim budget of India. According to the new budget, new cities and new areas will be connected by metro rail. Apart from this, the Namo Bharat train will be extended. Similarly, the budget has also emphasized on middle-class travel.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The program to establish more medical colleges has been kept in the budget. The programme of &#39;Roof Top Solarization&#39; has been included in the budget. Under this programme, <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">1</span> crore families will be able to get <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">300</span> units of electricity for free.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Presenting the interim budget, Finance Minister Sitharaman said, &quot;The Indian economy has seen profound positive changes in the last <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">10</span> years.&quot; Citizens of India are looking towards the future with hope. When the leadership of Narendra Modi assumed power in <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">2014</span>, the country was facing difficult challenges and the government has properly controlled all those challenges.&rdquo;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">In the interim budget <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">2024/25</span>, the Modi government has mentioned that three major economic railway corridors will be implemented. The Indian government will implement energy, mineral and cement corridors, port connectivity corridors and high traffic density corridors. The budget also mentions that the number of airports in India has doubled to <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">149</span> in the last <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">10</span> years. </span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">She also said that the Modi government has lifted <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">250</span> million Indians out of the poverty line. She said that the government has worked with priority for the poor, women and common people of India.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The Government of India has reduced the rate of corporate tax from <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">30</span> to <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">22</span> percent. Similarly, the tax rate for new manufacturing companies has been increased to <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">15</span> percent. There has been no change in the income tax slab. The time of tax exemption for startups has been extended by <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">1</span> year. </span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The Modi government has reduced the rate of personal income tax. As mentioned in the budget, no tax is levied on income up to INR <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">700</span>,<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">000</span>. In the year <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">2013/14</span>, this amount was INR <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">200</span>,<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">000</span> under the income tax limit.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Finance Minister Sitharaman said that the Modi government has increased the limit of income tax relief for retail businesses from INR <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">2 </span>crore to INR <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">4 </span>crore. She said that the number of taxpayers has been increasing significantly in the past few years.</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 1 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '20148',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Snowfall Obstructs Mid-Hill Highway, Flight Disrupted in Upper Karnali',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'February 2: The Mid-Hill Highway in Rukum East has been blocked due to snowfall.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">February 2: The Mid-Hill Highway in Rukum East has been blocked due to snowfall. Vehicles are stranded at the Lukum-Patihalna road section of the Mi-Hill Highway in Rukum East due to the snowfall that started on Wednesday night and lasted throughout Thursday.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">About 19 kilometers of the road in the Lukum-Patihalna area of the the Mid-Hil highway is covered with thick snow. The road could not be opened as snowfall occurred all day on Thursday. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Madhav Prasad Sharma, Chief District Officer of Rukum East, informed RSS that preparations are being made to remove the frozen snow on the roads since today morning (Friday). After the road was blocked, vehicles coming from Kathmandu have been stranded at Patihalna since Thursday. The stranded passengers were rescued and brought to Rukumkot by the police and the district administration on government vehicles.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Another road section from Rikalek to Hukam on the border of Bhume Rural Municipality and Putha Uttarganga Rural Municipality has also been blocked. The snowfall has affected normal life of Putha Uttarganga Rural Municipality. Phone service is also suspended in this area.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Meanwhile, farmers of Jumla have expressed happiness after late snowfall this year.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Snowfall took place late this year compared to the previous years. About half a foot of snow has accumulated across the district, including the headquarters Khalanga. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">It is the first snowfall of this year&#39;s winter season. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Parvati Budha, a local resident of Tila Rural Municipality-1 in the district, shared that the farmers who planted winter crops were happy after the snowfall. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">According to the Agricultural Development Office, the farmers who planted barley and wheat crops have been greatly relieved by the snowfall.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Meanwhile, the snowfall in Jumla and Upper Karnali has disrupted air services in the region. -- RSS &nbsp;</span></span></span></p>
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	(int) 2 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '20147',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Private Sector Protests Chaudhary's Arrest',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'February 2: The umbrella organisations of the private sector have strongly criticized the arrest of businessman Arun Chaudhary in connection with his alleged role in unlawfully acquiring 10 ropanis of government land of Bansbari Leather and Shoe Factory.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">February 2: The umbrella organisations of the private sector have strongly criticized the arrest of businessman Arun Chaudhary in connection with his alleged role in unlawfully acquiring </span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">10</span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"> ropanis of government land of Bansbari Leather and Shoe Factory.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The business community organized a press conference expressing their concern after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) of Nepal Police arrested Chaudhary, the chairman and managing director of CG Holdings on Thursday, for an investigation into the land-grab case. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) issued a press statement expressing its displeasure towards the arrest of Chaudhary. Another umbrella organization, Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI), held a press conference on Thursday evening to protest the move. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The FNCCI said that its serious attention has been drawn to the arrest of entrepreneurs and businessmen when the country is facing economic crisis. Expressing its views on the arrest of Chaudhary, the FNCCI said, &quot;The federation has repeatedly requested the government not to arrest businessmen until a thorough investigation of the related matter is done.&quot; The FNCCI has requested the government to find out the truth first and take legal action if necessary.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The FNCCI also mentioned that the arrest will send a negative message to domestic and foreign investors ahead of the upcoming investment conference. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Meanwhile, CNI President Rajesh Kumar Agrawal expressed serious concern over the arrest during the press conference.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">&quot;All the industrialists have been humiliated by this,&quot; he said, adding, &quot;Arresting someone without proper evidence and sufficient reasons does not seem fair.&quot;</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The CBI arrested Chaudhary and the then executive director of the factory, Ajit Narayan Singh Thapa, on Thursday to investigate the unlawful transfer of ownership of the land of the government-owned factory. The government had established the Bansbari Leather and Shoe Factory in </span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">2022</span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"> BS</span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">. </span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The government had privatized the factory after </span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">2048</span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"> BS</span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Four Days in Custody</span></strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Meanwhile, the Kathmandu District Court has allowed Nepal Police to remand Chaudhary and Thapa in custody for four days. The state-owned RSS, quoting the information officer of the court, Chandra Prasad Panthi, reported that the bench of District Court Judge Madhav Prasad Ghimire allowed Chaudhary and Thapa to be detained for the necessary investigation.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The CIB team arrested Chaudhary from Lainchaur in Kathmandu and Thapa from Battisputli on Thursday. According to the bureau, they were arrested in the case of </span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">10 </span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt">ropani land scam of Bansbari Leather and Shoe Factory.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
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	(int) 3 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '20145',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Arrival of Tourists up by 30.37 Percent in January',
			'sub_title' => 'More than 79,000 Foreign Tourists Visit Nepal in January   ',
			'summary' => 'February 2: A total of 79,100 foreign tourists arrived in Nepal in January, the first month of 2024. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">February 2: A total of 79,100 foreign tourists arrived in Nepal in January, the first month of 2024. The number was up by 24,026 as compared to last January. A total of 55,074 foreign tourists had visited Nepal in January, 2023. It means that the arrival of tourists increased by 30.37 percent in this January compared to the same period of last year.</span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">According to the Nepal Tourism Board, 81,897 people went out of the country in January. The highest number of tourists who visited Nepal in the review month were Indian tourists.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">According to the board, a total of 24,139 Indian tourists visited Nepal last month against 16,436 in January, 2023.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Similarly, 7,267 tourists from China, 7,047 from America, 4,619 from Thailand, 3,812 from South Korea, 3,629 from Bangladesh and 3421 from Australia entered Nepal in January.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Likewise, 3,276 tourists from the UK, 2,229 from Bhutan and 1,568 from Japan visited Nepal in the review month. -- RSS</span></span></span></p>
',
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			'image' => '20240202111939_Tourist.jpg',
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	(int) 4 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '20144',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Govt Forms Committee to Study the Prospect of Operating Int'l Airports in PPP Model   ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'February 2: The government has formed a committee to study the prospects of operating international airports of the country in public private partnership (PPP) model.    ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">February 2: The government has formed a committee to study the prospects of operating international airports of the country in public private partnership (PPP) model.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">A cabinet meeting held on Thursday approved the proposal for forming a study committee, submitted by the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Former Secretary Shankar Prasad Adhikari is the coordinator of the five-member committee which also includes investment expert Ghanshyam Ojha, chief of Aviation Division of the ministry, Buddhi Sagar Lamichhane, Joint-Secretary of the Investment Board of Nepal and Deputy-Director of Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, Dipendra Shrestha.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The committee was formed to study the issue of operating Kathmandu-based Tribhuvan International Airport, Bhairahawa-based Gautam Buddha International Airport and Pokhara-based Pokhara Regional International Airport in full capacity and under the PPP model.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">According to the ministry, a separate five-member committee has also been formed to manage contract-based employees of Nepal Airlines Corporation.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The committee has been formed under the coordination of former vice-chairperson of the National Planning Commission, Dipendra Bahadur Chhetri, where management expert Tikaram Rai, director general of the Department of Tourism, representatives of the Finance Ministry and Finance Department of Nepal Airlines Corporation would be the members. This committee has been given 45 days deadline.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The cabinet also instructed the Nepalese Army to immediately provide land for the expansion of Chitwan-based Bharatpur airport and Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal to construct the damaged infrastructures.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Similarly, the government also decided to provide land to the Nepalese Army at Shaktikhor for horse breeding centre and to bear all possible expenses for the same. -- RSS</span></span></span></p>
',
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	(int) 5 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '20143',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Man Held for Duping Over 600 Foreign Job Aspirants',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'The Valley Crime Investigation Office, Kathmandu has arrested a person for duping more than 600 foreign job aspirants. The 32-year-old fraudster was made public by the police on Thursday.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">February 2: The Valley Crime Investigation Office, Kathmandu has arrested a person for duping more than 600 foreign job aspirants. The 32-year-old fraudster was made public by the police on Thursday.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Bikash Tamang (Waiba), 32, from Kanjosom rural municipality-4 of Lalitpur was arrested from Lele, Lalitpur. He had duped hundreds of people by&nbsp; luring them to send to foreign countries and provide jobs.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Senior Superintendent of Police at the Investigation Office, Somendra Singh Rathaur, informed that Tamang was found involved in defrauding millions of rupees from over 600 people.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">&nbsp;They were falsely assured of jobs in various European countries such as Malta, Poland and Croatia, and Canada. Tamang had pledged the victims that he would send them to those countries, Rathaur added.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Earlier, Tamang had worked as an agent for different human resource recruitment offices including Ayus Manpower since 2073BS and facilitated sending people to Dubai, Qatar and Malaysia.&nbsp;</span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">But since 2077BS, he was absconding and hiding in the country and India after a case filed on fraud and criminal gain. </span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Moreover, he was even running an educational consultancy at Balaju bearing a fake identity card, the police investigation stated.&nbsp;</span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Even some government employees were conned by him. Some of the employees had quit the jobs with false promise of landing jobs &nbsp;in Europe. </span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Police investigation revealed that he took Rs 1.8 million from a person for sending to him/her to Canada, while Rs 800 thousand for Malta, Rs 700 thousand for Poland, Rs 650 thousand for Croatia. (RSS) </span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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	(int) 6 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '20140',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Businessman Arun Chaudhary, Ex CEO Thapa Nabbed',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of the Nepal Police has nabbed businessman Arun Chaudhary and Ajit Narayan Thapa, the former CEO of Bansbari Leather and Shoe Factory, on allegations of unlawfully seizing the factory's land.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif">February 1: The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of the Nepal Police has nabbed businessman Arun Chaudhary and Ajit Narayan Thapa, the former CEO of Bansbari Leather and Shoe Factory, on allegations of unlawfully seizing the factory&#39;s land.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">&nbsp;<span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif">Thapa served as the interim executive Chief at the time of the incident, while Chaudhary is the brother of Dollar billionaire businessman and federal parliament member Binod Chaudhary.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif">They are charged with fraudulent acquisition of 10 ropanis of public land belonging to the factory and have been arrested for further investigation into the case, police said. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">&nbsp;</span></span></p>
',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2024-02-01',
			'modified' => '2024-02-01',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '19867',
			'image' => '20240201042245_collage (3).jpg',
			'article_date' => '2024-02-01 16:21:22',
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	(int) 7 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '20139',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'NEPSE Dips by 30.92 Points, Closing at 2067.01',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) Index experienced a significant loss of 30.92 points or 1.47%, closing at 2067.01 on the last trading day of the week on Thursday.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">February 1: The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) Index experienced a significant loss of 30.92 points or 1.47%, closing at 2067.01 on the last trading day of the week on Thursday. </span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">During today&rsquo;s trading session, 309 scrips were traded on the NEPSE through 80,029 transactions. A total of 11,514,571 shares changed hands, resulting in a turnover of Rs 4.18 billion.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Himalayan Reinsurance Limited (HRL) led the transactions with a total turnover of Rs 54 crores, closing at a market price of Rs 695.10 per share. Samaj Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited (SAMAJ) experienced the highest gain of 6.10%, closing at a market price of Rs 582.90 per share.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">On the contrary, Samling Power Company Limited (SPC) incurred the highest loss at 9.42%, closing at a market price of Rs 625 per share.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In terms of sector indices, all sectors closed in the red zone except for the Finance Index. The Hydropower Index suffered the most significant loss at 2.35%, while the Trading Index experienced the smallest drop at 0.01%.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Sensitive Index slumped by 1.47%, while the Float Index and Sensitive Float Index witnessed losses of 1.45% and 1.27%, respectively.</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2024-02-01',
			'modified' => '2024-02-01',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '19866',
			'image' => '20240201034745_collage (1).jpg',
			'article_date' => '2024-02-01 15:46:05',
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	(int) 8 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '20138',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Number of Tourists up in Bardiya National Park',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'February 1: The arrival of domestic and foreign tourists in Bardiya National Park has started to increase of late.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">February 1: The arrival of domestic and foreign tourists in Bardiya National Park has started to increase of late. According to the park officials, tourists come here to see wild animals such as tigers, leopards, elephants, rhinoceros, swamp deer among other wild animals.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Chief Conservation Officer of the national park, Ashok Kumar Ram, said that the number of domestic and foreign tourists increased after the number of tigers in the park rose to 125. According to Ram, around 2,000 foreign tourists had visited the national park as of mid-January of last fiscal year while the number of foreign visitors has increased to around 4,000 by mid-January of the current fiscal year. He added that about 90 percent of tourists have reported sighting tigers at the national park.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Meanwhile, around 6,000 domestic tourists visited the park as of mid-January of the previous year, while the number has reached 10,000 in the corresponding period this year. Similarly, 500 tourists from SAARC countries had visited the park as of mid-January last year, and the number has increased to around 800 this year.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Chief Conservation Officer Ram said that around 20,000 tourists are expected to visit the park this year, the main reason for this being the increase in number of tigers.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">According to him, most of the foreign tourists are from USA, Germany, France, New Zealand, China, and India. -- RSS</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2024-02-01',
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			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '19865',
			'image' => '20240201114954_Bengal_Tiger_Bardia_National_Park1.jpg',
			'article_date' => '2024-02-01 11:49:23',
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	(int) 9 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '20137',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'China Overtakes Japan as World's Top Vehicle Exporter',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'February 1: China overtook Japan as the world's biggest vehicle exporter last year, data from the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA) showed Wednesday.    ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">February 1: China overtook Japan as the world&#39;s biggest vehicle exporter last year, data from the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA) showed Wednesday.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Figures showed Japan shipped 4.42 million vehicles in 2023 compared to 4.91 million exported by China, as reported by the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) this month.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">China&#39;s customs bureau put the number even higher at 5.22 million, a huge year-on-year rise of 57 percent. China had already been exporting more vehicles than Japan on a monthly basis, but Wednesday&#39;s data confirmed that it was also number one for a whole year.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Unlike their Chinese counterparts, Japanese automakers including Toyota -- re-confirmed on Tuesday as the world&#39;s largest company by unit sales -- also make huge volumes of vehicles in other countries.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">China&#39;s auto sector has boomed in recent years in large part because of massive investments in electric cars, an area where Japanese firms have been more cautious.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Japanese manufacturers have long bet instead on hybrids that combine battery power and internal combustion engines, an area they pioneered with the likes of the Toyota Prius.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Chinese company BYD this month snatched Tesla&#39;s crown for most sales of all-electric vehicles, having capitalised on Beijing&#39;s strong government support for the burgeoning sector.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">BYD began life in 1995 as a battery manufacturer, and later turned its attention to producing plug-in hybrid and all-electric vehicles. The Shenzhen-based company competes against Tesla on price inside China and in Europe. &ndash; AFP/RSS</span></span></span></p>
',
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			'created' => '2024-02-01',
			'modified' => '2024-02-01',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '19864',
			'image' => '20240201114855_china.jpeg',
			'article_date' => '2024-02-01 11:48:19',
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	(int) 10 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '20135',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Nepal Insurance Authority Instructs Reinsurance Companies to Increase Capital Base to Rs 20 Billion',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'February 1: Nepal Insurance Authority (NIA) has instructed reinsurance companies to raise their paid-up capital to Rs 20 billion under the regulatory body’s campaign to increase the capital base of insurance companies.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">February 1: Nepal Insurance Authority (NIA) has instructed reinsurance companies to raise their paid-up capital to Rs 20 billion under the regulatory body&rsquo;s campaign&nbsp;to increase the capital base of insurance companies. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Executive Director of the NIA Raju Raman Poudel informed that the board meeting of the authority on Wednesday decided to raise the minimum paid-up capital of reinsurance companies. As per the decision, the two reinsurance companies operating in Nepal will have to double their paid-up capital from the existing capital base within one year. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Poudel said that the NIA decided to increase the paid-up capital of reinsurance companies for the effective management of the insurance sector.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">According to Poudel, the reinsurance companies have to comply with the new provision by mid-February 2025.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">At present, the reinsurance companies need to maintain a minimum paid-up capital of Rs 10 billion.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">There are currenty two reinsurance companies&mdash;Nepal Reinsurance Company and Himalayan Reinsurance Limited&mdash;operating in Nepal.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">The Government of Nepal had established the Nepal Reinsurance Company in 2014 to stem the massive capital outflow for insurance purposes. The company&rsquo;s paid-up capital stands at Rs 12.81 billion at present.&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Likewise, the Himalayan Reinsurance Company -- the second reinsurer of the country &ndash; was set up in 2021. The company has paid-up capital of Rs 10 billion.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">The NIA has issued a 15-day deadline for the reinsurance companies to come-up with their plans to raise their capital bases. </span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
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			'created' => '2024-02-01',
			'modified' => '2024-02-01',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '19863',
			'image' => '20240201114545_electricity.jpg',
			'article_date' => '2024-02-01 11:45:03',
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	(int) 11 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '20136',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Jomsom-Based Shinta Mani Resort Listed in Nat Geo’s Best Hotels in the World',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'February 1: Shinta Mani Resort of Jomsom, Mustang, has been listed among the world's best and favorite hotels for 2024.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">February 1: Shinta Mani Resort of Jomsom, Mustang, has been listed among the world&#39;s best and favorite hotels for 2024.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The hotel of Nepal has been included in the list of the best hotels in the world prepared by National Geographic. The list includes hotels in the Himalayas of Nepal to luxury crash pads in London.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">&quot;Our favorite places to stay this year range from hotels in the Himalayas of Nepal to luxury crash pads in London,&quot; National Geographic&#39;s online site says.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The list includes three hotels from the Asian continent including Shinta Mani Resort. Others from Asia are Sri Lanka&#39;s Kurulu Bay and Bhutan&#39;s AndBeyond Punakha River Lodge.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Shinta Mani resort is built in traditional style using local stone. Visitors can enjoy dishes such as Himalayan yak momos (dumplings) and Tibetan thukpa (meat and noodle soup).</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">&nbsp;&ldquo;Guests at Shinta Mani&rsquo;s all-inclusive lodge are paired with guides who take them adventuring amid the dramatic mountain and desert landscapes of Nepal&rsquo;s Lower Mustang region,&rdquo; wrote National Geographic on its website.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Visitors can experience biking to centuries-old Buddhist monasteries and trekking to high-altitude Dumba Lake from the resort, added National Geographic. </span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'image' => '20240201114646_edshintamani new.jpg',
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	(int) 12 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '20131',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Government Begins Discussions about Upcoming FY Budget',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'February 1: The government has initiated discussions with the relevant ministries about the budget for the upcoming fiscal year. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">February 1: The government has initiated discussions with the relevant ministries about the budget for the upcoming fiscal year. Accordingly, the National Planning Commission held a discussion with various ministries and agencies. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">&quot;Before setting the budget ceiling for the upcoming year, discussions have started with various ministries on what kind of plans and programmes are needed and how much budget is required,&quot; said Yamlal Bhusal, the NPC spokesperson.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">It may be noted that the Resource Estimation Committee is chaired by the vice chair of the National Planning Commission. However, in the previous years, the committee used to set the budget limits without the participation and discussion with the relevant ministries. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">This led to discrepancy in budget allocation as per the priority plans and programmes.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Spokesperson Bhusal said that the budget ceiling will now be determined based on the discussions beforehand. The estimates of next year&#39;s budget and the limit of expenditure will be determined after analyzing the status of expenditure up to mid-January of the current fiscal year.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The NPC held discussion on the budget priorities and ceiling with the Ministry of Labour, Ministry of Urban Development, Ministry of Forests and Environment, Ministry of Health and Population, Ministry of Energy and Water Resources and Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The NPC has already discussed the matters related to budget with the Office of the President and the Office of the Vice President, the Supreme Court and other agencies. Discussions with other ministries and agencies will continue on Thursday and Friday. Unilateral discussion will also be held with every ministry and agency.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Budget calendar amended&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Moreover, the annual budget calendar has been amended by the government. President Ram Chandra Paudel issued the Ordinance on Fiscal Procedures and Financial Accountability (first amendment), 2080, which warrants submission of budget principles and priorities three months before the budget is presented in the parliament.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Similarly, the time to ascertain budget ceiling by the resource determination committee has also been revised.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The change mandates government to present principles and priorities of appropriation bill before Falgun 15 (February end). As per the new provision, the parliament shall hold deliberation on principles and priorities of the budget for a month to forward suggestions to the government.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The resource estimate committee will prepare budget ceiling by the end of the month of Magh (mid-February) and provide it to all ministries before first week of Falgun (third week of February).&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Even the mid-term expenditure report has to be sent to all ministries before first week of Falgun as per the revised budget calendar.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Meanwhile, the NPC has already sought proposals for projects and programmes from the provinces and local levels. They have been asked to submit proposals before end of the month of Magh (mid-February). -- RSS</span></span></span></p>
',
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			'sortorder' => '19858',
			'image' => '20240201104845_budget.jpg',
			'article_date' => '2024-02-01 10:48:00',
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	(int) 13 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '20128',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'NOC Hikes Fuel Prices',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'January 31: Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has increased the price of petroleum products. The new market price of petrol, diesel and cooking gas (LPG) will come into effect from 1:00 am Thursday.    ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">January 31: Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has increased the price of petroleum products. The new market price of petrol, diesel and cooking gas (LPG) will come into effect from 1:00 am Thursday.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Accordingly, the price of petrol has been increased by Rs 4 per litre, that of diesel and kerosene by Rs 2 per litre and LPG by Rs 15 per cylinder. The price has been revised as per the new rate received from the Indian Oil Corporation on Wednesday, NOC said in a statement.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">As per the revised list, petrol will now cost Rs 170 per litre and diesel-kerosene each Rs 158 per litre in Kathmandu, while LPG will cost 1,910 per cylinder. -- RSS&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
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			'created' => '2024-02-01',
			'modified' => '2024-02-01',
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			'sortorder' => '19855',
			'image' => '20240201085850_20220104033329_20210707102647_20190503125003_Petrol-Price-Increase.jpg',
			'article_date' => '2024-02-01 08:58:07',
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	(int) 14 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '20127',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Army’s Feasibility Study Outlines Plan for Revival of Hetauda Textile Industry',
			'sub_title' => 'The industry will have no problem for market if revived as the army will be one of the major potential consumers',
			'summary' => 'January 31: A feasibility study report prepared by the Nepalese Army has pointed out the prospects of reviving the now-defunct Hetauda Textile Industry on condition that the government provides policy and legal support.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">January 31: A feasibility study report prepared by the Nepalese Army has pointed out the prospects of reviving the now-defunct Hetauda Textile Industry on condition that the government provides policy and legal support.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">During a high-level meeting held at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers on Wednesday, the NA briefed the prime minister about the feasibility study regarding the resumption of the factory.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The feasibility study was prepared following the government&rsquo;s announcement to explore possibilities for reviving the closed industries in the current fiscal year&rsquo;s policies and programmes.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The textile factory that was established in 2032 BS with financial and technical assistance from the Chinese government and with the investment of the Government of Nepal halted its production in 2056 BS. The then royal government in 2059 BS decided to close it.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The study report highlighted the lack of market management, lack of technology advancement as per the need of time, the power outage issue, overstaffing and the lack of managerial efficiency among the factors leading to the closure of the factory.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The report states about the possibility to reuse some factory structures and machinery after maintenance. It is stated that NA Welfare Fund has sufficient budget to operate the industry, adding that most of raw materials needed for the factory are available within the country. According to the report, the factory will have no problem for market if revived as the NA will be one of the major potential consumers with NA personnel being likely users of garments to be produced by the industry.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The factory has 166 ropanis of land under its ownership.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The report states that the revival of the industry is needed to contribute to the national industrial development and to contribute to gross domestic product, to send a positive message to the world market, to boost up self-sufficiency of the nation, and for import substitution and creation of employment opportunities.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The study taskforce has also proposed the outline for re-operation of the industry. The proposed plan along with a three-year work plan has set the target of manufacturing approximately 2.6 million metres of cloth. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">A policy decision regarding this would be made in the current fiscal year and the industry would be handed over to the Nepalese Army, which will prepare the DPR, and select and purchase new machinery.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Similarly, it is stated in the proposed outline that test production would be started in the coming fiscal year by completing the construction of the infrastructure and purchase of machine and equipment. It is stated that the machines would be added, the industry&#39;s capacity expanded and regular production started by conducting the feasibility study for the operation of Butwal Spinning Mills and managing the raw materials.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The preliminary cost estimate for re-operating the industry is Rs 1.93 billion and the annual operation cost is expected to be around Rs 780 million. The taskforce has concluded that the industry will be in a position to make profit, replacing the investment cost, after nine years of its re-operation.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The taskforce has also proposed for policy and legal support from the government for the re-operation of the industry. -- RSS</span></span></span></p>
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			'id' => '20149',
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			'title' => 'India Increases Annual Grants for Nepal',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'February 2: India has increased its grants to Nepal by INR 50 crores.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">February 2: India has increased its grants to Nepal by INR <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">50</span> crores. India&rsquo;s interim budget submitted by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to the Indian Parliament on Thursday mentions that the grants for Nepal have been increased.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">India has announced that it will grant Nepal INR <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">700</span> crores (Rs<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"> 11</span>.<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">2</span> billion) in the fiscal year <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">2024/25.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">For the Fiscal Year <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">2023/24</span>, India had announced a grant of INR <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">550</span> million (Rs <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">8</span>.<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">80</span> billion) for Nepal. However, India increased the grant to Nepal to INR <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">650</span> crores (Rs <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">10.4</span> billion) in Fiscal Year <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">2023/24</span>.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">In the Fiscal Year <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">2024/25</span>, India has announced to provide the highest financial assistance to Bhutan among the South Asian countries. In the Fiscal Year <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">2024/25</span>, India will provide Bhutan INR <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">2,068.56</span> crores including INR <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">989.70</span> as loans and the remaining amount as grants. </span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Recently, due to the strained relations with the Maldives, India has reduced the aid to the island nation. In the Fiscal Year <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">2024/25</span>, India will grant INR <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">600</span> crores to the Maldives, down from INR <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">770</span> crores provided by New Delhi to Male in the Fiscal Year <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">2023</span>.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">India has also increased its grants to Sri Lanka for next year. This year Sri Lanka has been given INR <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">60</span> crores as grants, while it will receive INR <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">75</span> crores in grants next year. The grant to Afghanistan next year has been reduced by INR <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">20</span> crores to INR <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">200</span> crores compared to the current year. India has also cut INR<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">10</span> crores in grants to Bangladesh, another neighbor. India provided INR <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">130</span> crores as grants to Bangladesh this year, but pledged only INR <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">120</span> crores next year.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><strong>What else is in the interim budget?</strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The Government of India has brought the interim budget this year targeting the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Finance Minister Sitharaman says that the budget has specifically targeted the farmers, youth, women and low income earners.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Metro and Namo Bharat trains have been planned in the interim budget of India. According to the new budget, new cities and new areas will be connected by metro rail. Apart from this, the Namo Bharat train will be extended. Similarly, the budget has also emphasized on middle-class travel.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The program to establish more medical colleges has been kept in the budget. The programme of &#39;Roof Top Solarization&#39; has been included in the budget. Under this programme, <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">1</span> crore families will be able to get <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">300</span> units of electricity for free.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Presenting the interim budget, Finance Minister Sitharaman said, &quot;The Indian economy has seen profound positive changes in the last <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">10</span> years.&quot; Citizens of India are looking towards the future with hope. When the leadership of Narendra Modi assumed power in <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">2014</span>, the country was facing difficult challenges and the government has properly controlled all those challenges.&rdquo;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">In the interim budget <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">2024/25</span>, the Modi government has mentioned that three major economic railway corridors will be implemented. The Indian government will implement energy, mineral and cement corridors, port connectivity corridors and high traffic density corridors. The budget also mentions that the number of airports in India has doubled to <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">149</span> in the last <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">10</span> years. </span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">She also said that the Modi government has lifted <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">250</span> million Indians out of the poverty line. She said that the government has worked with priority for the poor, women and common people of India.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The Government of India has reduced the rate of corporate tax from <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">30</span> to <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">22</span> percent. Similarly, the tax rate for new manufacturing companies has been increased to <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">15</span> percent. There has been no change in the income tax slab. The time of tax exemption for startups has been extended by <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">1</span> year. </span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The Modi government has reduced the rate of personal income tax. As mentioned in the budget, no tax is levied on income up to INR <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">700</span>,<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">000</span>. In the year <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">2013/14</span>, this amount was INR <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">200</span>,<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">000</span> under the income tax limit.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Finance Minister Sitharaman said that the Modi government has increased the limit of income tax relief for retail businesses from INR <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">2 </span>crore to INR <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">4 </span>crore. She said that the number of taxpayers has been increasing significantly in the past few years.</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'id' => '20148',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Snowfall Obstructs Mid-Hill Highway, Flight Disrupted in Upper Karnali',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'February 2: The Mid-Hill Highway in Rukum East has been blocked due to snowfall.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">February 2: The Mid-Hill Highway in Rukum East has been blocked due to snowfall. Vehicles are stranded at the Lukum-Patihalna road section of the Mi-Hill Highway in Rukum East due to the snowfall that started on Wednesday night and lasted throughout Thursday.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">About 19 kilometers of the road in the Lukum-Patihalna area of the the Mid-Hil highway is covered with thick snow. The road could not be opened as snowfall occurred all day on Thursday. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Madhav Prasad Sharma, Chief District Officer of Rukum East, informed RSS that preparations are being made to remove the frozen snow on the roads since today morning (Friday). After the road was blocked, vehicles coming from Kathmandu have been stranded at Patihalna since Thursday. The stranded passengers were rescued and brought to Rukumkot by the police and the district administration on government vehicles.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Another road section from Rikalek to Hukam on the border of Bhume Rural Municipality and Putha Uttarganga Rural Municipality has also been blocked. The snowfall has affected normal life of Putha Uttarganga Rural Municipality. Phone service is also suspended in this area.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Meanwhile, farmers of Jumla have expressed happiness after late snowfall this year.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Snowfall took place late this year compared to the previous years. About half a foot of snow has accumulated across the district, including the headquarters Khalanga. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">It is the first snowfall of this year&#39;s winter season. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Parvati Budha, a local resident of Tila Rural Municipality-1 in the district, shared that the farmers who planted winter crops were happy after the snowfall. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">According to the Agricultural Development Office, the farmers who planted barley and wheat crops have been greatly relieved by the snowfall.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Meanwhile, the snowfall in Jumla and Upper Karnali has disrupted air services in the region. -- RSS &nbsp;</span></span></span></p>
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			'id' => '20147',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Private Sector Protests Chaudhary's Arrest',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'February 2: The umbrella organisations of the private sector have strongly criticized the arrest of businessman Arun Chaudhary in connection with his alleged role in unlawfully acquiring 10 ropanis of government land of Bansbari Leather and Shoe Factory.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">February 2: The umbrella organisations of the private sector have strongly criticized the arrest of businessman Arun Chaudhary in connection with his alleged role in unlawfully acquiring </span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">10</span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"> ropanis of government land of Bansbari Leather and Shoe Factory.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The business community organized a press conference expressing their concern after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) of Nepal Police arrested Chaudhary, the chairman and managing director of CG Holdings on Thursday, for an investigation into the land-grab case. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) issued a press statement expressing its displeasure towards the arrest of Chaudhary. Another umbrella organization, Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI), held a press conference on Thursday evening to protest the move. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The FNCCI said that its serious attention has been drawn to the arrest of entrepreneurs and businessmen when the country is facing economic crisis. Expressing its views on the arrest of Chaudhary, the FNCCI said, &quot;The federation has repeatedly requested the government not to arrest businessmen until a thorough investigation of the related matter is done.&quot; The FNCCI has requested the government to find out the truth first and take legal action if necessary.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The FNCCI also mentioned that the arrest will send a negative message to domestic and foreign investors ahead of the upcoming investment conference. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Meanwhile, CNI President Rajesh Kumar Agrawal expressed serious concern over the arrest during the press conference.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">&quot;All the industrialists have been humiliated by this,&quot; he said, adding, &quot;Arresting someone without proper evidence and sufficient reasons does not seem fair.&quot;</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The CBI arrested Chaudhary and the then executive director of the factory, Ajit Narayan Singh Thapa, on Thursday to investigate the unlawful transfer of ownership of the land of the government-owned factory. The government had established the Bansbari Leather and Shoe Factory in </span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">2022</span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"> BS</span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">. </span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The government had privatized the factory after </span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">2048</span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"> BS</span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Four Days in Custody</span></strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Meanwhile, the Kathmandu District Court has allowed Nepal Police to remand Chaudhary and Thapa in custody for four days. The state-owned RSS, quoting the information officer of the court, Chandra Prasad Panthi, reported that the bench of District Court Judge Madhav Prasad Ghimire allowed Chaudhary and Thapa to be detained for the necessary investigation.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The CIB team arrested Chaudhary from Lainchaur in Kathmandu and Thapa from Battisputli on Thursday. According to the bureau, they were arrested in the case of </span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">10 </span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt">ropani land scam of Bansbari Leather and Shoe Factory.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '20145',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Arrival of Tourists up by 30.37 Percent in January',
			'sub_title' => 'More than 79,000 Foreign Tourists Visit Nepal in January   ',
			'summary' => 'February 2: A total of 79,100 foreign tourists arrived in Nepal in January, the first month of 2024. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">February 2: A total of 79,100 foreign tourists arrived in Nepal in January, the first month of 2024. The number was up by 24,026 as compared to last January. A total of 55,074 foreign tourists had visited Nepal in January, 2023. It means that the arrival of tourists increased by 30.37 percent in this January compared to the same period of last year.</span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">According to the Nepal Tourism Board, 81,897 people went out of the country in January. The highest number of tourists who visited Nepal in the review month were Indian tourists.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">According to the board, a total of 24,139 Indian tourists visited Nepal last month against 16,436 in January, 2023.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Similarly, 7,267 tourists from China, 7,047 from America, 4,619 from Thailand, 3,812 from South Korea, 3,629 from Bangladesh and 3421 from Australia entered Nepal in January.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Likewise, 3,276 tourists from the UK, 2,229 from Bhutan and 1,568 from Japan visited Nepal in the review month. -- RSS</span></span></span></p>
',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2024-02-02',
			'modified' => '2024-02-02',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '19872',
			'image' => '20240202111939_Tourist.jpg',
			'article_date' => '2024-02-02 11:18:38',
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	(int) 4 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '20144',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Govt Forms Committee to Study the Prospect of Operating Int'l Airports in PPP Model   ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'February 2: The government has formed a committee to study the prospects of operating international airports of the country in public private partnership (PPP) model.    ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">February 2: The government has formed a committee to study the prospects of operating international airports of the country in public private partnership (PPP) model.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">A cabinet meeting held on Thursday approved the proposal for forming a study committee, submitted by the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Former Secretary Shankar Prasad Adhikari is the coordinator of the five-member committee which also includes investment expert Ghanshyam Ojha, chief of Aviation Division of the ministry, Buddhi Sagar Lamichhane, Joint-Secretary of the Investment Board of Nepal and Deputy-Director of Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, Dipendra Shrestha.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The committee was formed to study the issue of operating Kathmandu-based Tribhuvan International Airport, Bhairahawa-based Gautam Buddha International Airport and Pokhara-based Pokhara Regional International Airport in full capacity and under the PPP model.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">According to the ministry, a separate five-member committee has also been formed to manage contract-based employees of Nepal Airlines Corporation.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The committee has been formed under the coordination of former vice-chairperson of the National Planning Commission, Dipendra Bahadur Chhetri, where management expert Tikaram Rai, director general of the Department of Tourism, representatives of the Finance Ministry and Finance Department of Nepal Airlines Corporation would be the members. This committee has been given 45 days deadline.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The cabinet also instructed the Nepalese Army to immediately provide land for the expansion of Chitwan-based Bharatpur airport and Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal to construct the damaged infrastructures.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Similarly, the government also decided to provide land to the Nepalese Army at Shaktikhor for horse breeding centre and to bear all possible expenses for the same. -- RSS</span></span></span></p>
',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2024-02-02',
			'modified' => '2024-02-02',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '19871',
			'image' => '20240202103854_20230101114857_Gautam Buddha.jpg',
			'article_date' => '2024-02-02 10:38:08',
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	(int) 5 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '20143',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Man Held for Duping Over 600 Foreign Job Aspirants',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'The Valley Crime Investigation Office, Kathmandu has arrested a person for duping more than 600 foreign job aspirants. The 32-year-old fraudster was made public by the police on Thursday.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">February 2: The Valley Crime Investigation Office, Kathmandu has arrested a person for duping more than 600 foreign job aspirants. The 32-year-old fraudster was made public by the police on Thursday.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Bikash Tamang (Waiba), 32, from Kanjosom rural municipality-4 of Lalitpur was arrested from Lele, Lalitpur. He had duped hundreds of people by&nbsp; luring them to send to foreign countries and provide jobs.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Senior Superintendent of Police at the Investigation Office, Somendra Singh Rathaur, informed that Tamang was found involved in defrauding millions of rupees from over 600 people.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">&nbsp;They were falsely assured of jobs in various European countries such as Malta, Poland and Croatia, and Canada. Tamang had pledged the victims that he would send them to those countries, Rathaur added.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Earlier, Tamang had worked as an agent for different human resource recruitment offices including Ayus Manpower since 2073BS and facilitated sending people to Dubai, Qatar and Malaysia.&nbsp;</span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">But since 2077BS, he was absconding and hiding in the country and India after a case filed on fraud and criminal gain. </span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Moreover, he was even running an educational consultancy at Balaju bearing a fake identity card, the police investigation stated.&nbsp;</span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Even some government employees were conned by him. Some of the employees had quit the jobs with false promise of landing jobs &nbsp;in Europe. </span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Police investigation revealed that he took Rs 1.8 million from a person for sending to him/her to Canada, while Rs 800 thousand for Malta, Rs 700 thousand for Poland, Rs 650 thousand for Croatia. (RSS) </span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
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	(int) 6 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '20140',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Businessman Arun Chaudhary, Ex CEO Thapa Nabbed',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of the Nepal Police has nabbed businessman Arun Chaudhary and Ajit Narayan Thapa, the former CEO of Bansbari Leather and Shoe Factory, on allegations of unlawfully seizing the factory's land.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif">February 1: The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of the Nepal Police has nabbed businessman Arun Chaudhary and Ajit Narayan Thapa, the former CEO of Bansbari Leather and Shoe Factory, on allegations of unlawfully seizing the factory&#39;s land.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">&nbsp;<span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif">Thapa served as the interim executive Chief at the time of the incident, while Chaudhary is the brother of Dollar billionaire businessman and federal parliament member Binod Chaudhary.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif">They are charged with fraudulent acquisition of 10 ropanis of public land belonging to the factory and have been arrested for further investigation into the case, police said. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">&nbsp;</span></span></p>
',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2024-02-01',
			'modified' => '2024-02-01',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '19867',
			'image' => '20240201042245_collage (3).jpg',
			'article_date' => '2024-02-01 16:21:22',
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	(int) 7 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '20139',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'NEPSE Dips by 30.92 Points, Closing at 2067.01',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) Index experienced a significant loss of 30.92 points or 1.47%, closing at 2067.01 on the last trading day of the week on Thursday.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">February 1: The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) Index experienced a significant loss of 30.92 points or 1.47%, closing at 2067.01 on the last trading day of the week on Thursday. </span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">During today&rsquo;s trading session, 309 scrips were traded on the NEPSE through 80,029 transactions. A total of 11,514,571 shares changed hands, resulting in a turnover of Rs 4.18 billion.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Himalayan Reinsurance Limited (HRL) led the transactions with a total turnover of Rs 54 crores, closing at a market price of Rs 695.10 per share. Samaj Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited (SAMAJ) experienced the highest gain of 6.10%, closing at a market price of Rs 582.90 per share.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">On the contrary, Samling Power Company Limited (SPC) incurred the highest loss at 9.42%, closing at a market price of Rs 625 per share.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In terms of sector indices, all sectors closed in the red zone except for the Finance Index. The Hydropower Index suffered the most significant loss at 2.35%, while the Trading Index experienced the smallest drop at 0.01%.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Sensitive Index slumped by 1.47%, while the Float Index and Sensitive Float Index witnessed losses of 1.45% and 1.27%, respectively.</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2024-02-01',
			'modified' => '2024-02-01',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '19866',
			'image' => '20240201034745_collage (1).jpg',
			'article_date' => '2024-02-01 15:46:05',
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	(int) 8 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '20138',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Number of Tourists up in Bardiya National Park',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'February 1: The arrival of domestic and foreign tourists in Bardiya National Park has started to increase of late.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">February 1: The arrival of domestic and foreign tourists in Bardiya National Park has started to increase of late. According to the park officials, tourists come here to see wild animals such as tigers, leopards, elephants, rhinoceros, swamp deer among other wild animals.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Chief Conservation Officer of the national park, Ashok Kumar Ram, said that the number of domestic and foreign tourists increased after the number of tigers in the park rose to 125. According to Ram, around 2,000 foreign tourists had visited the national park as of mid-January of last fiscal year while the number of foreign visitors has increased to around 4,000 by mid-January of the current fiscal year. He added that about 90 percent of tourists have reported sighting tigers at the national park.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Meanwhile, around 6,000 domestic tourists visited the park as of mid-January of the previous year, while the number has reached 10,000 in the corresponding period this year. Similarly, 500 tourists from SAARC countries had visited the park as of mid-January last year, and the number has increased to around 800 this year.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Chief Conservation Officer Ram said that around 20,000 tourists are expected to visit the park this year, the main reason for this being the increase in number of tigers.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">According to him, most of the foreign tourists are from USA, Germany, France, New Zealand, China, and India. -- RSS</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
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			'created' => '2024-02-01',
			'modified' => '2024-02-01',
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			'sortorder' => '19865',
			'image' => '20240201114954_Bengal_Tiger_Bardia_National_Park1.jpg',
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	(int) 9 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '20137',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'China Overtakes Japan as World's Top Vehicle Exporter',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'February 1: China overtook Japan as the world's biggest vehicle exporter last year, data from the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA) showed Wednesday.    ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">February 1: China overtook Japan as the world&#39;s biggest vehicle exporter last year, data from the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA) showed Wednesday.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Figures showed Japan shipped 4.42 million vehicles in 2023 compared to 4.91 million exported by China, as reported by the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) this month.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">China&#39;s customs bureau put the number even higher at 5.22 million, a huge year-on-year rise of 57 percent. China had already been exporting more vehicles than Japan on a monthly basis, but Wednesday&#39;s data confirmed that it was also number one for a whole year.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Unlike their Chinese counterparts, Japanese automakers including Toyota -- re-confirmed on Tuesday as the world&#39;s largest company by unit sales -- also make huge volumes of vehicles in other countries.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">China&#39;s auto sector has boomed in recent years in large part because of massive investments in electric cars, an area where Japanese firms have been more cautious.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Japanese manufacturers have long bet instead on hybrids that combine battery power and internal combustion engines, an area they pioneered with the likes of the Toyota Prius.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Chinese company BYD this month snatched Tesla&#39;s crown for most sales of all-electric vehicles, having capitalised on Beijing&#39;s strong government support for the burgeoning sector.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">BYD began life in 1995 as a battery manufacturer, and later turned its attention to producing plug-in hybrid and all-electric vehicles. The Shenzhen-based company competes against Tesla on price inside China and in Europe. &ndash; AFP/RSS</span></span></span></p>
',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2024-02-01',
			'modified' => '2024-02-01',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '19864',
			'image' => '20240201114855_china.jpeg',
			'article_date' => '2024-02-01 11:48:19',
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	(int) 10 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '20135',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Nepal Insurance Authority Instructs Reinsurance Companies to Increase Capital Base to Rs 20 Billion',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'February 1: Nepal Insurance Authority (NIA) has instructed reinsurance companies to raise their paid-up capital to Rs 20 billion under the regulatory body’s campaign to increase the capital base of insurance companies.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">February 1: Nepal Insurance Authority (NIA) has instructed reinsurance companies to raise their paid-up capital to Rs 20 billion under the regulatory body&rsquo;s campaign&nbsp;to increase the capital base of insurance companies. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Executive Director of the NIA Raju Raman Poudel informed that the board meeting of the authority on Wednesday decided to raise the minimum paid-up capital of reinsurance companies. As per the decision, the two reinsurance companies operating in Nepal will have to double their paid-up capital from the existing capital base within one year. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Poudel said that the NIA decided to increase the paid-up capital of reinsurance companies for the effective management of the insurance sector.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">According to Poudel, the reinsurance companies have to comply with the new provision by mid-February 2025.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">At present, the reinsurance companies need to maintain a minimum paid-up capital of Rs 10 billion.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">There are currenty two reinsurance companies&mdash;Nepal Reinsurance Company and Himalayan Reinsurance Limited&mdash;operating in Nepal.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">The Government of Nepal had established the Nepal Reinsurance Company in 2014 to stem the massive capital outflow for insurance purposes. The company&rsquo;s paid-up capital stands at Rs 12.81 billion at present.&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Likewise, the Himalayan Reinsurance Company -- the second reinsurer of the country &ndash; was set up in 2021. The company has paid-up capital of Rs 10 billion.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">The NIA has issued a 15-day deadline for the reinsurance companies to come-up with their plans to raise their capital bases. </span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '20136',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Jomsom-Based Shinta Mani Resort Listed in Nat Geo’s Best Hotels in the World',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'February 1: Shinta Mani Resort of Jomsom, Mustang, has been listed among the world's best and favorite hotels for 2024.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">February 1: Shinta Mani Resort of Jomsom, Mustang, has been listed among the world&#39;s best and favorite hotels for 2024.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The hotel of Nepal has been included in the list of the best hotels in the world prepared by National Geographic. The list includes hotels in the Himalayas of Nepal to luxury crash pads in London.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">&quot;Our favorite places to stay this year range from hotels in the Himalayas of Nepal to luxury crash pads in London,&quot; National Geographic&#39;s online site says.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The list includes three hotels from the Asian continent including Shinta Mani Resort. Others from Asia are Sri Lanka&#39;s Kurulu Bay and Bhutan&#39;s AndBeyond Punakha River Lodge.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Shinta Mani resort is built in traditional style using local stone. Visitors can enjoy dishes such as Himalayan yak momos (dumplings) and Tibetan thukpa (meat and noodle soup).</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">&nbsp;&ldquo;Guests at Shinta Mani&rsquo;s all-inclusive lodge are paired with guides who take them adventuring amid the dramatic mountain and desert landscapes of Nepal&rsquo;s Lower Mustang region,&rdquo; wrote National Geographic on its website.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Visitors can experience biking to centuries-old Buddhist monasteries and trekking to high-altitude Dumba Lake from the resort, added National Geographic. </span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'id' => '20131',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Government Begins Discussions about Upcoming FY Budget',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'February 1: The government has initiated discussions with the relevant ministries about the budget for the upcoming fiscal year. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">February 1: The government has initiated discussions with the relevant ministries about the budget for the upcoming fiscal year. Accordingly, the National Planning Commission held a discussion with various ministries and agencies. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">&quot;Before setting the budget ceiling for the upcoming year, discussions have started with various ministries on what kind of plans and programmes are needed and how much budget is required,&quot; said Yamlal Bhusal, the NPC spokesperson.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">It may be noted that the Resource Estimation Committee is chaired by the vice chair of the National Planning Commission. However, in the previous years, the committee used to set the budget limits without the participation and discussion with the relevant ministries. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">This led to discrepancy in budget allocation as per the priority plans and programmes.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Spokesperson Bhusal said that the budget ceiling will now be determined based on the discussions beforehand. The estimates of next year&#39;s budget and the limit of expenditure will be determined after analyzing the status of expenditure up to mid-January of the current fiscal year.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The NPC held discussion on the budget priorities and ceiling with the Ministry of Labour, Ministry of Urban Development, Ministry of Forests and Environment, Ministry of Health and Population, Ministry of Energy and Water Resources and Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The NPC has already discussed the matters related to budget with the Office of the President and the Office of the Vice President, the Supreme Court and other agencies. Discussions with other ministries and agencies will continue on Thursday and Friday. Unilateral discussion will also be held with every ministry and agency.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Budget calendar amended&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Moreover, the annual budget calendar has been amended by the government. President Ram Chandra Paudel issued the Ordinance on Fiscal Procedures and Financial Accountability (first amendment), 2080, which warrants submission of budget principles and priorities three months before the budget is presented in the parliament.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Similarly, the time to ascertain budget ceiling by the resource determination committee has also been revised.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The change mandates government to present principles and priorities of appropriation bill before Falgun 15 (February end). As per the new provision, the parliament shall hold deliberation on principles and priorities of the budget for a month to forward suggestions to the government.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The resource estimate committee will prepare budget ceiling by the end of the month of Magh (mid-February) and provide it to all ministries before first week of Falgun (third week of February).&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Even the mid-term expenditure report has to be sent to all ministries before first week of Falgun as per the revised budget calendar.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Meanwhile, the NPC has already sought proposals for projects and programmes from the provinces and local levels. They have been asked to submit proposals before end of the month of Magh (mid-February). -- RSS</span></span></span></p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '20128',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'NOC Hikes Fuel Prices',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'January 31: Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has increased the price of petroleum products. The new market price of petrol, diesel and cooking gas (LPG) will come into effect from 1:00 am Thursday.    ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">January 31: Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has increased the price of petroleum products. The new market price of petrol, diesel and cooking gas (LPG) will come into effect from 1:00 am Thursday.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Accordingly, the price of petrol has been increased by Rs 4 per litre, that of diesel and kerosene by Rs 2 per litre and LPG by Rs 15 per cylinder. The price has been revised as per the new rate received from the Indian Oil Corporation on Wednesday, NOC said in a statement.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">As per the revised list, petrol will now cost Rs 170 per litre and diesel-kerosene each Rs 158 per litre in Kathmandu, while LPG will cost 1,910 per cylinder. -- RSS&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'article_date' => '2024-02-01 08:58:07',
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '20127',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Army’s Feasibility Study Outlines Plan for Revival of Hetauda Textile Industry',
			'sub_title' => 'The industry will have no problem for market if revived as the army will be one of the major potential consumers',
			'summary' => 'January 31: A feasibility study report prepared by the Nepalese Army has pointed out the prospects of reviving the now-defunct Hetauda Textile Industry on condition that the government provides policy and legal support.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">January 31: A feasibility study report prepared by the Nepalese Army has pointed out the prospects of reviving the now-defunct Hetauda Textile Industry on condition that the government provides policy and legal support.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">During a high-level meeting held at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers on Wednesday, the NA briefed the prime minister about the feasibility study regarding the resumption of the factory.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The feasibility study was prepared following the government&rsquo;s announcement to explore possibilities for reviving the closed industries in the current fiscal year&rsquo;s policies and programmes.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The textile factory that was established in 2032 BS with financial and technical assistance from the Chinese government and with the investment of the Government of Nepal halted its production in 2056 BS. The then royal government in 2059 BS decided to close it.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The study report highlighted the lack of market management, lack of technology advancement as per the need of time, the power outage issue, overstaffing and the lack of managerial efficiency among the factors leading to the closure of the factory.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The report states about the possibility to reuse some factory structures and machinery after maintenance. It is stated that NA Welfare Fund has sufficient budget to operate the industry, adding that most of raw materials needed for the factory are available within the country. According to the report, the factory will have no problem for market if revived as the NA will be one of the major potential consumers with NA personnel being likely users of garments to be produced by the industry.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The factory has 166 ropanis of land under its ownership.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The report states that the revival of the industry is needed to contribute to the national industrial development and to contribute to gross domestic product, to send a positive message to the world market, to boost up self-sufficiency of the nation, and for import substitution and creation of employment opportunities.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The study taskforce has also proposed the outline for re-operation of the industry. The proposed plan along with a three-year work plan has set the target of manufacturing approximately 2.6 million metres of cloth. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">A policy decision regarding this would be made in the current fiscal year and the industry would be handed over to the Nepalese Army, which will prepare the DPR, and select and purchase new machinery.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Similarly, it is stated in the proposed outline that test production would be started in the coming fiscal year by completing the construction of the infrastructure and purchase of machine and equipment. It is stated that the machines would be added, the industry&#39;s capacity expanded and regular production started by conducting the feasibility study for the operation of Butwal Spinning Mills and managing the raw materials.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The preliminary cost estimate for re-operating the industry is Rs 1.93 billion and the annual operation cost is expected to be around Rs 780 million. The taskforce has concluded that the industry will be in a position to make profit, replacing the investment cost, after nine years of its re-operation.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The taskforce has also proposed for policy and legal support from the government for the re-operation of the industry. -- RSS</span></span></span></p>
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			'id' => '20149',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'India Increases Annual Grants for Nepal',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'February 2: India has increased its grants to Nepal by INR 50 crores.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">February 2: India has increased its grants to Nepal by INR <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">50</span> crores. India&rsquo;s interim budget submitted by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to the Indian Parliament on Thursday mentions that the grants for Nepal have been increased.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">India has announced that it will grant Nepal INR <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">700</span> crores (Rs<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"> 11</span>.<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">2</span> billion) in the fiscal year <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">2024/25.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">For the Fiscal Year <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">2023/24</span>, India had announced a grant of INR <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">550</span> million (Rs <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">8</span>.<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">80</span> billion) for Nepal. However, India increased the grant to Nepal to INR <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">650</span> crores (Rs <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">10.4</span> billion) in Fiscal Year <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">2023/24</span>.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">In the Fiscal Year <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">2024/25</span>, India has announced to provide the highest financial assistance to Bhutan among the South Asian countries. In the Fiscal Year <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">2024/25</span>, India will provide Bhutan INR <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">2,068.56</span> crores including INR <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">989.70</span> as loans and the remaining amount as grants. </span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Recently, due to the strained relations with the Maldives, India has reduced the aid to the island nation. In the Fiscal Year <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">2024/25</span>, India will grant INR <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">600</span> crores to the Maldives, down from INR <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">770</span> crores provided by New Delhi to Male in the Fiscal Year <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">2023</span>.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">India has also increased its grants to Sri Lanka for next year. This year Sri Lanka has been given INR <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">60</span> crores as grants, while it will receive INR <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">75</span> crores in grants next year. The grant to Afghanistan next year has been reduced by INR <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">20</span> crores to INR <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">200</span> crores compared to the current year. India has also cut INR<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">10</span> crores in grants to Bangladesh, another neighbor. India provided INR <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">130</span> crores as grants to Bangladesh this year, but pledged only INR <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">120</span> crores next year.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><strong>What else is in the interim budget?</strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The Government of India has brought the interim budget this year targeting the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Finance Minister Sitharaman says that the budget has specifically targeted the farmers, youth, women and low income earners.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Metro and Namo Bharat trains have been planned in the interim budget of India. According to the new budget, new cities and new areas will be connected by metro rail. Apart from this, the Namo Bharat train will be extended. Similarly, the budget has also emphasized on middle-class travel.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The program to establish more medical colleges has been kept in the budget. The programme of &#39;Roof Top Solarization&#39; has been included in the budget. Under this programme, <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">1</span> crore families will be able to get <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">300</span> units of electricity for free.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Presenting the interim budget, Finance Minister Sitharaman said, &quot;The Indian economy has seen profound positive changes in the last <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">10</span> years.&quot; Citizens of India are looking towards the future with hope. When the leadership of Narendra Modi assumed power in <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">2014</span>, the country was facing difficult challenges and the government has properly controlled all those challenges.&rdquo;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">In the interim budget <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">2024/25</span>, the Modi government has mentioned that three major economic railway corridors will be implemented. The Indian government will implement energy, mineral and cement corridors, port connectivity corridors and high traffic density corridors. The budget also mentions that the number of airports in India has doubled to <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">149</span> in the last <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">10</span> years. </span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">She also said that the Modi government has lifted <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">250</span> million Indians out of the poverty line. She said that the government has worked with priority for the poor, women and common people of India.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The Government of India has reduced the rate of corporate tax from <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">30</span> to <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">22</span> percent. Similarly, the tax rate for new manufacturing companies has been increased to <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">15</span> percent. There has been no change in the income tax slab. The time of tax exemption for startups has been extended by <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">1</span> year. </span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The Modi government has reduced the rate of personal income tax. As mentioned in the budget, no tax is levied on income up to INR <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">700</span>,<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">000</span>. In the year <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">2013/14</span>, this amount was INR <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">200</span>,<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">000</span> under the income tax limit.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Finance Minister Sitharaman said that the Modi government has increased the limit of income tax relief for retail businesses from INR <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">2 </span>crore to INR <span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">4 </span>crore. She said that the number of taxpayers has been increasing significantly in the past few years.</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '20148',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Snowfall Obstructs Mid-Hill Highway, Flight Disrupted in Upper Karnali',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'February 2: The Mid-Hill Highway in Rukum East has been blocked due to snowfall.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">February 2: The Mid-Hill Highway in Rukum East has been blocked due to snowfall. Vehicles are stranded at the Lukum-Patihalna road section of the Mi-Hill Highway in Rukum East due to the snowfall that started on Wednesday night and lasted throughout Thursday.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">About 19 kilometers of the road in the Lukum-Patihalna area of the the Mid-Hil highway is covered with thick snow. The road could not be opened as snowfall occurred all day on Thursday. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Madhav Prasad Sharma, Chief District Officer of Rukum East, informed RSS that preparations are being made to remove the frozen snow on the roads since today morning (Friday). After the road was blocked, vehicles coming from Kathmandu have been stranded at Patihalna since Thursday. The stranded passengers were rescued and brought to Rukumkot by the police and the district administration on government vehicles.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Another road section from Rikalek to Hukam on the border of Bhume Rural Municipality and Putha Uttarganga Rural Municipality has also been blocked. The snowfall has affected normal life of Putha Uttarganga Rural Municipality. Phone service is also suspended in this area.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Meanwhile, farmers of Jumla have expressed happiness after late snowfall this year.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Snowfall took place late this year compared to the previous years. About half a foot of snow has accumulated across the district, including the headquarters Khalanga. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">It is the first snowfall of this year&#39;s winter season. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Parvati Budha, a local resident of Tila Rural Municipality-1 in the district, shared that the farmers who planted winter crops were happy after the snowfall. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">According to the Agricultural Development Office, the farmers who planted barley and wheat crops have been greatly relieved by the snowfall.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Meanwhile, the snowfall in Jumla and Upper Karnali has disrupted air services in the region. -- RSS &nbsp;</span></span></span></p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '20147',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Private Sector Protests Chaudhary's Arrest',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'February 2: The umbrella organisations of the private sector have strongly criticized the arrest of businessman Arun Chaudhary in connection with his alleged role in unlawfully acquiring 10 ropanis of government land of Bansbari Leather and Shoe Factory.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">February 2: The umbrella organisations of the private sector have strongly criticized the arrest of businessman Arun Chaudhary in connection with his alleged role in unlawfully acquiring </span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">10</span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"> ropanis of government land of Bansbari Leather and Shoe Factory.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The business community organized a press conference expressing their concern after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) of Nepal Police arrested Chaudhary, the chairman and managing director of CG Holdings on Thursday, for an investigation into the land-grab case. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) issued a press statement expressing its displeasure towards the arrest of Chaudhary. Another umbrella organization, Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI), held a press conference on Thursday evening to protest the move. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The FNCCI said that its serious attention has been drawn to the arrest of entrepreneurs and businessmen when the country is facing economic crisis. Expressing its views on the arrest of Chaudhary, the FNCCI said, &quot;The federation has repeatedly requested the government not to arrest businessmen until a thorough investigation of the related matter is done.&quot; The FNCCI has requested the government to find out the truth first and take legal action if necessary.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The FNCCI also mentioned that the arrest will send a negative message to domestic and foreign investors ahead of the upcoming investment conference. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Meanwhile, CNI President Rajesh Kumar Agrawal expressed serious concern over the arrest during the press conference.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">&quot;All the industrialists have been humiliated by this,&quot; he said, adding, &quot;Arresting someone without proper evidence and sufficient reasons does not seem fair.&quot;</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The CBI arrested Chaudhary and the then executive director of the factory, Ajit Narayan Singh Thapa, on Thursday to investigate the unlawful transfer of ownership of the land of the government-owned factory. The government had established the Bansbari Leather and Shoe Factory in </span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">2022</span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"> BS</span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">. </span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The government had privatized the factory after </span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">2048</span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"> BS</span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Four Days in Custody</span></strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Meanwhile, the Kathmandu District Court has allowed Nepal Police to remand Chaudhary and Thapa in custody for four days. The state-owned RSS, quoting the information officer of the court, Chandra Prasad Panthi, reported that the bench of District Court Judge Madhav Prasad Ghimire allowed Chaudhary and Thapa to be detained for the necessary investigation.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The CIB team arrested Chaudhary from Lainchaur in Kathmandu and Thapa from Battisputli on Thursday. According to the bureau, they were arrested in the case of </span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">10 </span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt">ropani land scam of Bansbari Leather and Shoe Factory.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '20145',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Arrival of Tourists up by 30.37 Percent in January',
			'sub_title' => 'More than 79,000 Foreign Tourists Visit Nepal in January   ',
			'summary' => 'February 2: A total of 79,100 foreign tourists arrived in Nepal in January, the first month of 2024. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">February 2: A total of 79,100 foreign tourists arrived in Nepal in January, the first month of 2024. The number was up by 24,026 as compared to last January. A total of 55,074 foreign tourists had visited Nepal in January, 2023. It means that the arrival of tourists increased by 30.37 percent in this January compared to the same period of last year.</span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">According to the Nepal Tourism Board, 81,897 people went out of the country in January. The highest number of tourists who visited Nepal in the review month were Indian tourists.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">According to the board, a total of 24,139 Indian tourists visited Nepal last month against 16,436 in January, 2023.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Similarly, 7,267 tourists from China, 7,047 from America, 4,619 from Thailand, 3,812 from South Korea, 3,629 from Bangladesh and 3421 from Australia entered Nepal in January.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Likewise, 3,276 tourists from the UK, 2,229 from Bhutan and 1,568 from Japan visited Nepal in the review month. -- RSS</span></span></span></p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '20144',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Govt Forms Committee to Study the Prospect of Operating Int'l Airports in PPP Model   ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'February 2: The government has formed a committee to study the prospects of operating international airports of the country in public private partnership (PPP) model.    ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">February 2: The government has formed a committee to study the prospects of operating international airports of the country in public private partnership (PPP) model.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">A cabinet meeting held on Thursday approved the proposal for forming a study committee, submitted by the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Former Secretary Shankar Prasad Adhikari is the coordinator of the five-member committee which also includes investment expert Ghanshyam Ojha, chief of Aviation Division of the ministry, Buddhi Sagar Lamichhane, Joint-Secretary of the Investment Board of Nepal and Deputy-Director of Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, Dipendra Shrestha.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The committee was formed to study the issue of operating Kathmandu-based Tribhuvan International Airport, Bhairahawa-based Gautam Buddha International Airport and Pokhara-based Pokhara Regional International Airport in full capacity and under the PPP model.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">According to the ministry, a separate five-member committee has also been formed to manage contract-based employees of Nepal Airlines Corporation.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The committee has been formed under the coordination of former vice-chairperson of the National Planning Commission, Dipendra Bahadur Chhetri, where management expert Tikaram Rai, director general of the Department of Tourism, representatives of the Finance Ministry and Finance Department of Nepal Airlines Corporation would be the members. This committee has been given 45 days deadline.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The cabinet also instructed the Nepalese Army to immediately provide land for the expansion of Chitwan-based Bharatpur airport and Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal to construct the damaged infrastructures.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Similarly, the government also decided to provide land to the Nepalese Army at Shaktikhor for horse breeding centre and to bear all possible expenses for the same. -- RSS</span></span></span></p>
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			'id' => '20143',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Man Held for Duping Over 600 Foreign Job Aspirants',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'The Valley Crime Investigation Office, Kathmandu has arrested a person for duping more than 600 foreign job aspirants. The 32-year-old fraudster was made public by the police on Thursday.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">February 2: The Valley Crime Investigation Office, Kathmandu has arrested a person for duping more than 600 foreign job aspirants. The 32-year-old fraudster was made public by the police on Thursday.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Bikash Tamang (Waiba), 32, from Kanjosom rural municipality-4 of Lalitpur was arrested from Lele, Lalitpur. He had duped hundreds of people by&nbsp; luring them to send to foreign countries and provide jobs.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Senior Superintendent of Police at the Investigation Office, Somendra Singh Rathaur, informed that Tamang was found involved in defrauding millions of rupees from over 600 people.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">&nbsp;They were falsely assured of jobs in various European countries such as Malta, Poland and Croatia, and Canada. Tamang had pledged the victims that he would send them to those countries, Rathaur added.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Earlier, Tamang had worked as an agent for different human resource recruitment offices including Ayus Manpower since 2073BS and facilitated sending people to Dubai, Qatar and Malaysia.&nbsp;</span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">But since 2077BS, he was absconding and hiding in the country and India after a case filed on fraud and criminal gain. </span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Moreover, he was even running an educational consultancy at Balaju bearing a fake identity card, the police investigation stated.&nbsp;</span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Even some government employees were conned by him. Some of the employees had quit the jobs with false promise of landing jobs &nbsp;in Europe. </span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Police investigation revealed that he took Rs 1.8 million from a person for sending to him/her to Canada, while Rs 800 thousand for Malta, Rs 700 thousand for Poland, Rs 650 thousand for Croatia. (RSS) </span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
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			'created' => '2024-02-02',
			'modified' => '2024-02-02',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '19870',
			'image' => '20240202062154_collage (20).jpg',
			'article_date' => '2024-02-02 06:20:16',
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	(int) 6 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '20140',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Businessman Arun Chaudhary, Ex CEO Thapa Nabbed',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of the Nepal Police has nabbed businessman Arun Chaudhary and Ajit Narayan Thapa, the former CEO of Bansbari Leather and Shoe Factory, on allegations of unlawfully seizing the factory's land.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif">February 1: The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of the Nepal Police has nabbed businessman Arun Chaudhary and Ajit Narayan Thapa, the former CEO of Bansbari Leather and Shoe Factory, on allegations of unlawfully seizing the factory&#39;s land.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">&nbsp;<span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif">Thapa served as the interim executive Chief at the time of the incident, while Chaudhary is the brother of Dollar billionaire businessman and federal parliament member Binod Chaudhary.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif">They are charged with fraudulent acquisition of 10 ropanis of public land belonging to the factory and have been arrested for further investigation into the case, police said. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">&nbsp;</span></span></p>
',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2024-02-01',
			'modified' => '2024-02-01',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '19867',
			'image' => '20240201042245_collage (3).jpg',
			'article_date' => '2024-02-01 16:21:22',
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	(int) 7 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '20139',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'NEPSE Dips by 30.92 Points, Closing at 2067.01',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) Index experienced a significant loss of 30.92 points or 1.47%, closing at 2067.01 on the last trading day of the week on Thursday.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">February 1: The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) Index experienced a significant loss of 30.92 points or 1.47%, closing at 2067.01 on the last trading day of the week on Thursday. </span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">During today&rsquo;s trading session, 309 scrips were traded on the NEPSE through 80,029 transactions. A total of 11,514,571 shares changed hands, resulting in a turnover of Rs 4.18 billion.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Himalayan Reinsurance Limited (HRL) led the transactions with a total turnover of Rs 54 crores, closing at a market price of Rs 695.10 per share. Samaj Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited (SAMAJ) experienced the highest gain of 6.10%, closing at a market price of Rs 582.90 per share.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">On the contrary, Samling Power Company Limited (SPC) incurred the highest loss at 9.42%, closing at a market price of Rs 625 per share.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In terms of sector indices, all sectors closed in the red zone except for the Finance Index. The Hydropower Index suffered the most significant loss at 2.35%, while the Trading Index experienced the smallest drop at 0.01%.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Sensitive Index slumped by 1.47%, while the Float Index and Sensitive Float Index witnessed losses of 1.45% and 1.27%, respectively.</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2024-02-01',
			'modified' => '2024-02-01',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '19866',
			'image' => '20240201034745_collage (1).jpg',
			'article_date' => '2024-02-01 15:46:05',
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	(int) 8 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '20138',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Number of Tourists up in Bardiya National Park',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'February 1: The arrival of domestic and foreign tourists in Bardiya National Park has started to increase of late.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">February 1: The arrival of domestic and foreign tourists in Bardiya National Park has started to increase of late. According to the park officials, tourists come here to see wild animals such as tigers, leopards, elephants, rhinoceros, swamp deer among other wild animals.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Chief Conservation Officer of the national park, Ashok Kumar Ram, said that the number of domestic and foreign tourists increased after the number of tigers in the park rose to 125. According to Ram, around 2,000 foreign tourists had visited the national park as of mid-January of last fiscal year while the number of foreign visitors has increased to around 4,000 by mid-January of the current fiscal year. He added that about 90 percent of tourists have reported sighting tigers at the national park.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Meanwhile, around 6,000 domestic tourists visited the park as of mid-January of the previous year, while the number has reached 10,000 in the corresponding period this year. Similarly, 500 tourists from SAARC countries had visited the park as of mid-January last year, and the number has increased to around 800 this year.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Chief Conservation Officer Ram said that around 20,000 tourists are expected to visit the park this year, the main reason for this being the increase in number of tigers.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">According to him, most of the foreign tourists are from USA, Germany, France, New Zealand, China, and India. -- RSS</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2024-02-01',
			'modified' => '2024-02-01',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '19865',
			'image' => '20240201114954_Bengal_Tiger_Bardia_National_Park1.jpg',
			'article_date' => '2024-02-01 11:49:23',
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	(int) 9 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '20137',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'China Overtakes Japan as World's Top Vehicle Exporter',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'February 1: China overtook Japan as the world's biggest vehicle exporter last year, data from the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA) showed Wednesday.    ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">February 1: China overtook Japan as the world&#39;s biggest vehicle exporter last year, data from the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA) showed Wednesday.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Figures showed Japan shipped 4.42 million vehicles in 2023 compared to 4.91 million exported by China, as reported by the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) this month.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">China&#39;s customs bureau put the number even higher at 5.22 million, a huge year-on-year rise of 57 percent. China had already been exporting more vehicles than Japan on a monthly basis, but Wednesday&#39;s data confirmed that it was also number one for a whole year.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Unlike their Chinese counterparts, Japanese automakers including Toyota -- re-confirmed on Tuesday as the world&#39;s largest company by unit sales -- also make huge volumes of vehicles in other countries.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">China&#39;s auto sector has boomed in recent years in large part because of massive investments in electric cars, an area where Japanese firms have been more cautious.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Japanese manufacturers have long bet instead on hybrids that combine battery power and internal combustion engines, an area they pioneered with the likes of the Toyota Prius.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Chinese company BYD this month snatched Tesla&#39;s crown for most sales of all-electric vehicles, having capitalised on Beijing&#39;s strong government support for the burgeoning sector.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">BYD began life in 1995 as a battery manufacturer, and later turned its attention to producing plug-in hybrid and all-electric vehicles. The Shenzhen-based company competes against Tesla on price inside China and in Europe. &ndash; AFP/RSS</span></span></span></p>
',
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			'created' => '2024-02-01',
			'modified' => '2024-02-01',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '19864',
			'image' => '20240201114855_china.jpeg',
			'article_date' => '2024-02-01 11:48:19',
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	(int) 10 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '20135',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Nepal Insurance Authority Instructs Reinsurance Companies to Increase Capital Base to Rs 20 Billion',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'February 1: Nepal Insurance Authority (NIA) has instructed reinsurance companies to raise their paid-up capital to Rs 20 billion under the regulatory body’s campaign to increase the capital base of insurance companies.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">February 1: Nepal Insurance Authority (NIA) has instructed reinsurance companies to raise their paid-up capital to Rs 20 billion under the regulatory body&rsquo;s campaign&nbsp;to increase the capital base of insurance companies. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Executive Director of the NIA Raju Raman Poudel informed that the board meeting of the authority on Wednesday decided to raise the minimum paid-up capital of reinsurance companies. As per the decision, the two reinsurance companies operating in Nepal will have to double their paid-up capital from the existing capital base within one year. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Poudel said that the NIA decided to increase the paid-up capital of reinsurance companies for the effective management of the insurance sector.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">According to Poudel, the reinsurance companies have to comply with the new provision by mid-February 2025.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">At present, the reinsurance companies need to maintain a minimum paid-up capital of Rs 10 billion.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">There are currenty two reinsurance companies&mdash;Nepal Reinsurance Company and Himalayan Reinsurance Limited&mdash;operating in Nepal.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">The Government of Nepal had established the Nepal Reinsurance Company in 2014 to stem the massive capital outflow for insurance purposes. The company&rsquo;s paid-up capital stands at Rs 12.81 billion at present.&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Likewise, the Himalayan Reinsurance Company -- the second reinsurer of the country &ndash; was set up in 2021. The company has paid-up capital of Rs 10 billion.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">The NIA has issued a 15-day deadline for the reinsurance companies to come-up with their plans to raise their capital bases. </span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
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			'created' => '2024-02-01',
			'modified' => '2024-02-01',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '19863',
			'image' => '20240201114545_electricity.jpg',
			'article_date' => '2024-02-01 11:45:03',
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	(int) 11 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '20136',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Jomsom-Based Shinta Mani Resort Listed in Nat Geo’s Best Hotels in the World',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'February 1: Shinta Mani Resort of Jomsom, Mustang, has been listed among the world's best and favorite hotels for 2024.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">February 1: Shinta Mani Resort of Jomsom, Mustang, has been listed among the world&#39;s best and favorite hotels for 2024.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The hotel of Nepal has been included in the list of the best hotels in the world prepared by National Geographic. The list includes hotels in the Himalayas of Nepal to luxury crash pads in London.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">&quot;Our favorite places to stay this year range from hotels in the Himalayas of Nepal to luxury crash pads in London,&quot; National Geographic&#39;s online site says.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The list includes three hotels from the Asian continent including Shinta Mani Resort. Others from Asia are Sri Lanka&#39;s Kurulu Bay and Bhutan&#39;s AndBeyond Punakha River Lodge.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Shinta Mani resort is built in traditional style using local stone. Visitors can enjoy dishes such as Himalayan yak momos (dumplings) and Tibetan thukpa (meat and noodle soup).</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">&nbsp;&ldquo;Guests at Shinta Mani&rsquo;s all-inclusive lodge are paired with guides who take them adventuring amid the dramatic mountain and desert landscapes of Nepal&rsquo;s Lower Mustang region,&rdquo; wrote National Geographic on its website.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Visitors can experience biking to centuries-old Buddhist monasteries and trekking to high-altitude Dumba Lake from the resort, added National Geographic. </span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
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	(int) 12 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '20131',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Government Begins Discussions about Upcoming FY Budget',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'February 1: The government has initiated discussions with the relevant ministries about the budget for the upcoming fiscal year. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">February 1: The government has initiated discussions with the relevant ministries about the budget for the upcoming fiscal year. Accordingly, the National Planning Commission held a discussion with various ministries and agencies. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">&quot;Before setting the budget ceiling for the upcoming year, discussions have started with various ministries on what kind of plans and programmes are needed and how much budget is required,&quot; said Yamlal Bhusal, the NPC spokesperson.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">It may be noted that the Resource Estimation Committee is chaired by the vice chair of the National Planning Commission. However, in the previous years, the committee used to set the budget limits without the participation and discussion with the relevant ministries. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">This led to discrepancy in budget allocation as per the priority plans and programmes.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Spokesperson Bhusal said that the budget ceiling will now be determined based on the discussions beforehand. The estimates of next year&#39;s budget and the limit of expenditure will be determined after analyzing the status of expenditure up to mid-January of the current fiscal year.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The NPC held discussion on the budget priorities and ceiling with the Ministry of Labour, Ministry of Urban Development, Ministry of Forests and Environment, Ministry of Health and Population, Ministry of Energy and Water Resources and Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The NPC has already discussed the matters related to budget with the Office of the President and the Office of the Vice President, the Supreme Court and other agencies. Discussions with other ministries and agencies will continue on Thursday and Friday. Unilateral discussion will also be held with every ministry and agency.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Budget calendar amended&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Moreover, the annual budget calendar has been amended by the government. President Ram Chandra Paudel issued the Ordinance on Fiscal Procedures and Financial Accountability (first amendment), 2080, which warrants submission of budget principles and priorities three months before the budget is presented in the parliament.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Similarly, the time to ascertain budget ceiling by the resource determination committee has also been revised.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The change mandates government to present principles and priorities of appropriation bill before Falgun 15 (February end). As per the new provision, the parliament shall hold deliberation on principles and priorities of the budget for a month to forward suggestions to the government.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The resource estimate committee will prepare budget ceiling by the end of the month of Magh (mid-February) and provide it to all ministries before first week of Falgun (third week of February).&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Even the mid-term expenditure report has to be sent to all ministries before first week of Falgun as per the revised budget calendar.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Meanwhile, the NPC has already sought proposals for projects and programmes from the provinces and local levels. They have been asked to submit proposals before end of the month of Magh (mid-February). -- RSS</span></span></span></p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '20128',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'NOC Hikes Fuel Prices',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'January 31: Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has increased the price of petroleum products. The new market price of petrol, diesel and cooking gas (LPG) will come into effect from 1:00 am Thursday.    ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">January 31: Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has increased the price of petroleum products. The new market price of petrol, diesel and cooking gas (LPG) will come into effect from 1:00 am Thursday.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Accordingly, the price of petrol has been increased by Rs 4 per litre, that of diesel and kerosene by Rs 2 per litre and LPG by Rs 15 per cylinder. The price has been revised as per the new rate received from the Indian Oil Corporation on Wednesday, NOC said in a statement.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">As per the revised list, petrol will now cost Rs 170 per litre and diesel-kerosene each Rs 158 per litre in Kathmandu, while LPG will cost 1,910 per cylinder. -- RSS&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '20127',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Army’s Feasibility Study Outlines Plan for Revival of Hetauda Textile Industry',
			'sub_title' => 'The industry will have no problem for market if revived as the army will be one of the major potential consumers',
			'summary' => 'January 31: A feasibility study report prepared by the Nepalese Army has pointed out the prospects of reviving the now-defunct Hetauda Textile Industry on condition that the government provides policy and legal support.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">January 31: A feasibility study report prepared by the Nepalese Army has pointed out the prospects of reviving the now-defunct Hetauda Textile Industry on condition that the government provides policy and legal support.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">During a high-level meeting held at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers on Wednesday, the NA briefed the prime minister about the feasibility study regarding the resumption of the factory.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The feasibility study was prepared following the government&rsquo;s announcement to explore possibilities for reviving the closed industries in the current fiscal year&rsquo;s policies and programmes.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The textile factory that was established in 2032 BS with financial and technical assistance from the Chinese government and with the investment of the Government of Nepal halted its production in 2056 BS. The then royal government in 2059 BS decided to close it.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The study report highlighted the lack of market management, lack of technology advancement as per the need of time, the power outage issue, overstaffing and the lack of managerial efficiency among the factors leading to the closure of the factory.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The report states about the possibility to reuse some factory structures and machinery after maintenance. It is stated that NA Welfare Fund has sufficient budget to operate the industry, adding that most of raw materials needed for the factory are available within the country. According to the report, the factory will have no problem for market if revived as the NA will be one of the major potential consumers with NA personnel being likely users of garments to be produced by the industry.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The factory has 166 ropanis of land under its ownership.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The report states that the revival of the industry is needed to contribute to the national industrial development and to contribute to gross domestic product, to send a positive message to the world market, to boost up self-sufficiency of the nation, and for import substitution and creation of employment opportunities.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The study taskforce has also proposed the outline for re-operation of the industry. The proposed plan along with a three-year work plan has set the target of manufacturing approximately 2.6 million metres of cloth. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">A policy decision regarding this would be made in the current fiscal year and the industry would be handed over to the Nepalese Army, which will prepare the DPR, and select and purchase new machinery.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Similarly, it is stated in the proposed outline that test production would be started in the coming fiscal year by completing the construction of the infrastructure and purchase of machine and equipment. It is stated that the machines would be added, the industry&#39;s capacity expanded and regular production started by conducting the feasibility study for the operation of Butwal Spinning Mills and managing the raw materials.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The preliminary cost estimate for re-operating the industry is Rs 1.93 billion and the annual operation cost is expected to be around Rs 780 million. The taskforce has concluded that the industry will be in a position to make profit, replacing the investment cost, after nine years of its re-operation.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The taskforce has also proposed for policy and legal support from the government for the re-operation of the industry. -- RSS</span></span></span></p>
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FOREX

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

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

Bullion

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

Update : 2020-03-25

Source: Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers' Association

Petroleum

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