November 5: The effects of slowdown in economic activities due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war have now started to be seen in the financial statements of…
November 5: The effects of slowdown in economic activities due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war have now started to be seen in the financial statements of…
November 5: The business of flower garlands during this year’s Tihar festival is expected to have a turnover of Rs 310 million.…
November 5: The Nepal Police has requested one and all to be alert as scammers can use the internet or other means to defraud people in the name of earthquake victims by seeking financial…
November 5: A team of National Earthquake Monitoring and Research Center, Lainchaur has reached Jajarkot to carry out further study and research on the earthquake that occurred on Friday…
November 5: An emergency meeting of the Council of Ministers held on Sunday morning has decided to provide free medical treatment for those injured in Friday night's earthquake in Jajarkot and Rukum Paschim.…
The death toll from the earthquake with epicenter in Jajarkot has reached 157 till date. According to Assistant Spokesperson of the Armed Police Force, DSP Shailendra Thapa, the death toll has reached 157 as of Saturday…
November 4: At least 80 people have been killed and hundreds injured in western Nepal following a strong earthquake that hit Jajarkot district on Friday…
November 3: The work of upgrading the Kailali-Kanchanpur road section under the Postal Highway, a national pride project, has been sluggish in recent years thanks to the insufficient…
November 3: Construction entrepreneurs who were excited when the Ministry of Finance gave approval to the concerned ministries to release the due payments for the completed work on October 18, are now disappointed.…
November 3: The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has suspended the licenses of two…
November 3: As the present weather is considered favourable to visit the mountainous district of Manang, the number of tourists visiting this picturesque region has started increasing.…
November 3: The budget session of the House of Representatives (HoR) has ended from Thursday…
November 3: In order to avoid shortage of sugar during Tihar, the government has taken the initiative to supply a stock of 3000 metric tons of sugar kept by Everest Sugar Mill to the…
November 3: The Government of Nepal and the World Bank on Thursday exchanged the digitally-signed financing agreements for a concessional loan worth USD 100 million from the International Development Association and a USD 3.84 million grant from the Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Trust Fund to strengthen the quality, coverage, and resilience of Nepal’s health…
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has expressed its commitment to invest in the Dudh Koshi reservoir-type hydropower project, which has a capacity of 635…
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Similarly, bad loans, which had been rising continuously since the beginning of last year, also improved by the end of the year.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The profit of banks during last year increased by </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">5.94</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> percent in the first quarter, </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">11.10</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> percent in the second quarter and </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">11.67</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> percent in the third quarter. In the fourth quarter, the profit growth rate reached </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">24.93</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> percent.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">However, the improvement was short lived. In the first quarter of the current fiscal year, the performance of banks has not been satisfactory. The profit of banks decreased by </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">19</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> percent in the first quarter of the current year. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">By the end of the first quarter of the current fiscal year, commercial banks have earned a total of Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">13.47</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> billion in net profit. During this period, the profit of </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">12</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> banks decreased while that of eight banks increased. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The profit of Agriculture Development Bank was negative. With the increase in bad loans of the banks, the amount to be set aside for risk management has increased, and the profit has been affected.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The average bad loans of banks were </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">1.71</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> percent in the first quarter of last year, </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">2.31</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> percent in the second quarter and </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">3.04</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> percent in the third quarter. Bad loans were reduced to </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">2.8</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> percent in the fourth quarter of last fiscal year, but it reached </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">3.40</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> percent in the first quarter of the current fiscal year. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The non-performing loans of Agriculture Development Bank reached the highest at </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">5.33</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> percent, followed by Kumari Bank at </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">4.89</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> percent, Nepal Investment Mega’s NPL stood at </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">4.83</span></span> <span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">percent in the review period, followed by Laxmi Sunrise Bank at </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">4.69</span></span> <span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">percent, Himalayan Bank at </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">4.67</span></span> <span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">percent and Global IME Bank at </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">4.38</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> percent.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Bad loans have increased along with the decline in economic activities, affecting the recovery of banks' loans. The increase in bad loans indicates that risks are increasing in the financial sector. As the net profit of commercial banks has decreased, the distributable profit to their shareholders has also weakened. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Banks have earned a distributable profit of Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">17</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">.</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">26 </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">billion in the first quarter of the current year. This profit is </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">61 </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">percent less than compared to the same period of last fiscal year.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-11-05', 'modified' => '2023-11-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '19140', 'image' => '20231105014906_Banks - Copy.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-11-05 13:47:49', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19411', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Garland Business worth Rs 310 Million Expected during Tihar', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 5: The business of flower garlands during this year’s Tihar festival is expected to have a turnover of Rs 310 million. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">November 5: The business of flower garlands during this year’s Tihar festival is expected to have a turnover of Rs 310 million. The Floriculture Association of Nepal has estimated that during this year's Tihar, the garlands made of Chrysanthemum, Marigold and Globe Amaranth flowers would make a brisk business of Rs 310 million. The association estimates that there will be sales of about 4 million garlands during this Tihar.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the association, 80 percent of the market demand for garlands will me met through domestic production and the remaining 20 percent will be fulfilled by importing garlands from India.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">It is estimated that 3.5 million pieces of Marigold flower garlands will be sold during Tihar, the festival of lights. Similarly, it is estimated that 475,000 pieces of Globe Amaranth flower garlands, 20,000 pieces of Chrysanthemum flower garlands and 30,000 pieces of mixed flower garlands will likely be sold during the festival, said Meen Bahadur Tamang, president of the association.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to Tamang, the demand for Marigold flower garlands may increase this year compared to last year. During last year's Tihar, 3.1 million pieces of Marigold garlands were sold.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Compared to last year, it is estimated that the price of garlands will also increase this year. The association said that the retail price of a garland of Marigold flower will reach as much as Rs 125 per piece this year. Last year, marigold flower garlands were sold for Rs 100 per piece. Similarly, Chrysanthemum flower garlands will cost up to Rs 1,000 per piece and Globe Amaranth flower garlands will cost up to Rs 50 per piece.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">At present, floriculture is done on 221 hectares of land in 48 districts across the country, in which more than 1,000 businessmen are involved. Also, 44,000 people have got employment in this sector directly and indirectly. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the Department of Customs, in the last fiscal year, the export of flowers and floral products from Nepal was worth Rs 68 million, while the import stood at Rs 330 million.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Meanwhile, the Floriculture Association Nepal has decided to provide 50 per cent of the amount collected through the one-day ticket sales from the Godavari Flower Exhibition to the earthquake victims of Jajarkot and Rukum. The association said that 50 per cent of the income earned from the ticket sales on Sunday will be deposited in the fund of the Nepal government for the relief and rescue of the earthquake victims. In addition, the association has also requested its active members to help according to their abilities. The fair, which kicked off on October 31, will be concluded on Sunday, November 5. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-11-05', 'modified' => '2023-11-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '19139', 'image' => '20231105011315_Garlands-1.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-11-05 13:12:24', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19410', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Beware of Internet Scammers Seeking Help for Earthquake Victims: Nepal Police', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 5: The Nepal Police has requested one and all to be alert as scammers can use the internet or other means to defraud people in the name of earthquake victims by seeking financial assistance.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">November 5: The Nepal Police has requested one and all to be alert as scammers can use the internet or other means to defraud people in the name of earthquake victims by seeking financial assistance. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Nepal Police has issued a notification asking the general public to be careful from internet scammers while helping the earthquake victims.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The police have urged in the statement to help the earthquake victims only after ascertaining whether the persons or organizations asking for help are genuine. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">"When providing financial or other support to earthquake victims through the Internet or other means, please help only by making sure that the people or organizations asking for help are authorized or not," the police said.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">An earthquake measuring </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">6.4 </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">magnitude in the Richter scale occurred at </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">11:47 </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">on Friday night with its epicenter in Ramidanda of Jajarkot, causing loss of lives and properties in Jajarkot and Rukum West/East and surrounding areas.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-11-05', 'modified' => '2023-11-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '19138', 'image' => '20231105120712_1699092860.scmmer.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-11-05 12:06:39', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19409', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Seismological Team in Jajarkot to Study the Quake ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 5: A team of National Earthquake Monitoring and Research Center, Lainchaur has reached Jajarkot to carry out further study and research on the earthquake that occurred on Friday night.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">November 5: A team of National Earthquake Monitoring and Research Center, Lainchaur has reached Jajarkot to carry out further study and research on the earthquake that occurred on Friday night. The team is led by senior seismologist Dr Lok Bijaya Adhikari. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Director General of the Department of Mines and Geology, Ram Prasad Ghimire, said that the team will be carrying out comprehensive study and research on the earthquake. The team will study the depth of the earthquake, the direction of the damage, and the structures damaged by the earthquake. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Meanwhile, senior seismologist Dr Adhikari said that the Jajarkot earthquake was not an aftershock of the Bajhang earthquake, but a new earthquake. Four aftershocks have occurred following Friday night’s earthquake that hit Ramidanda of Jajarkot. Aftershock of 4.5 magnitude was recorded the same night at 12:08 pm followed by a 4.2 magnitude aftershock at 12:29 pm, 4.3 magnitude aftershock at 12:35 pm and 4.2 magnitude aftershock at 3:40 on Saturday afternoon. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">So far, 157 people have been confirmed dead in Jajarkot and Rukum West with more than 200 people injured in the earthquake that measured 6.4 in the Richter scale. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-11-05', 'modified' => '2023-11-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '19137', 'image' => '20231105112523_HK-Jajarkot-IMG_9219.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-11-05 11:24:42', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19408', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government to Provide Free Treatment for Quake Injured ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 5: An emergency meeting of the Council of Ministers held on Sunday morning has decided to provide free medical treatment for those injured in Friday night's earthquake in Jajarkot and Rukum Paschim. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">November 5: An emergency meeting of the Council of Ministers held on Sunday morning has decided to provide free medical treatment for those injured in Friday night's earthquake in Jajarkot and Rukum Paschim. As per the cabinet decision, all the hospitals will provide treatment to the victims free of cost. The government will bear the cost of the treatment of the quake victims. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Minister for Health and Population Mohan Bahadur Basnet told journalists that rescue of the quake survivors have been almost completed and all the hospitals including those in Kathmandu are on standby for providing treatment to the needy. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He also shared that a decision was taken to move ahead with the post-quake relief and rehabilitation work, learning from the lessons of the Gorkha Earthquake. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Meanwhile, the government will decide in which areas it shall seek assistance from neighbors and friendly countries after further discussion on the matter. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-11-05', 'modified' => '2023-11-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '19136', 'image' => '20231105105033_RM-Khajura.JPG', 'article_date' => '2023-11-05 10:49:44', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19407', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Jajarkot Earthquake Update: 157 Dead, 202 Injured', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'The death toll from the earthquake with epicenter in Jajarkot has reached 157 till date. According to Assistant Spokesperson of the Armed Police Force, DSP Shailendra Thapa, the death toll has reached 157 as of Saturday afternoon.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">November 5: The death toll from the earthquake with epicenter in Jajarkot has reached 157 till date. </span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">According to Assistant Spokesperson of the Armed Police Force, DSP Shailendra Thapa, the death toll has reached 157 as of Saturday afternoon. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">A total of </span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">105 people have died in Jajarkot district, and 52 in Rukum West, according to Thapa. The earthquake measuring 6.4 on the Richter scale struck Jajarkot and West Rukum on Friday night. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Likewise, as many as 202 individuals were injured including 105 in Jajarkot, 85 in West Rukum, 3 people each in Dailekh and Baitadi, 5 in Jumla, and 1 in Rolpa.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Nepali Army, Nepal Police, Armed Police Force, and local residents are actively involved in rescue and relief efforts in the quake-affected areas. For rescue and relief operations in the tremor-hit areas, five helicopters and aircraft have been used. </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-11-05', 'modified' => '2023-11-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '19135', 'image' => '20231105061038_collage (2).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-11-05 06:08:18', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19406', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'At Least 128 Killed as Strong Quake Jolts Jajarkot', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 4: At least 80 people have been killed and hundreds injured in western Nepal following a strong earthquake that hit Jajarkot district on Friday night.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">November 4: At least 80 people have been killed and hundreds injured in western Nepal following a strong earthquake that hit Jajarkot district on Friday night.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Hindu newspaper of India, citing authorities in Nepal, put the death toll at 128, including 80 in Jajarkot – the epicenter of the quake.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The earthquake measuring 6.4 in the Richter scale occurred at 11:47 pm on Friday, with Ramidanda of Jajarkot as the epicenter, the state-owned RSS reported. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The US Geological Survey however put the magnitude at 5.6 and said it was just 18 kilometres (11 miles) deep. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The death toll is expected to rise as hundreds of people have been injured, Chief District Officer of Jajarkot Suresh Sunar told RSS.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to RSS, the earthquake has severely hit Bheri, Nalgad, Kushe, Barekot and Chedagad areas in the district. All the security forces in the district have been mobilized in the search and rescue work, RSS quoted CDO Sunar as saying. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Among the dead also includes Deputy Mayor of Nalgad Municipality Sarita Singh, according to Deputy Superintendent of Police of Jajarkot Santosh Rokka. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The tremors were felt as far away as Kathmandu and even about 600km (375 miles) away in the Indian capital New Delhi, Al Jazeera reported.</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-11-04', 'modified' => '2023-11-04', 'keywords' => 'earthquake, strong, magnitude, US, geological, survey, Hindu, Al, Jazeera, Kathmandu, Nepal, New, Delhi, capital, western, death, toll, killed', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '19134', 'image' => '20231104083356_HKC-Jajarkot-4.JPG', 'article_date' => '2023-11-04 08:33:10', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19405', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Lack of Budget Blamed for Tardy Upgrading Works on Postal Highway ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 3: The work of upgrading the Kailali-Kanchanpur road section under the Postal Highway, a national pride project, has been sluggish in recent years thanks to the insufficient budget. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">November 3: The work of upgrading the Kailali-Kanchanpur road section under the Postal Highway, a national pride project, has been sluggish in recent years thanks to the insufficient budget. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The contractors have been blamed for delaying the construction of the road. Only 31 kilometres of the road have been upgraded in the Kailali section four years after beginning the work.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The total length of the road is 69 kms from the Mohana bridge of Dhangadhi in Kailali to Satti Khakraula. Road upgradation is ongoing in the remaining section, said the Postal Highway Project Office in Dhangadhi. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Out of 29.5 km road from Lamkichuha in Kailali to Satti Khakraula through Tikapur bazaar area (north south), eight km has been blacktopped. Road upgradation remains from Tikapur to Khakraula. Potholes have developed in the single lane road in the area causing difficulties in transportation, complained the locals. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Out of 62 km road from Dokebazaar in Kanchanpur to Daiji bazaar through Belauri, 38 km has been blacktopped in seven years. The section from Dokebazaar to Belauri has been blacktopped while many parts from Belauri to Darji through Beldandi are yet to be tarred. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In the previous fiscal year, budget worth Rs 750 million was allocated for upgrading the road. In the current FY, 2023/24, Rs 400 million has been allocated. For upgrading the Kailali section, the contract was awarded in the FY, 2076/77 BS and of the Kanchanpur section in the FY 2073/74. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-11-03', 'modified' => '2023-11-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '19133', 'image' => '20231103032751_20230406110040_postal highway facebook.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-11-03 15:26:37', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19404', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Construction Entrepreneurs yet to Get Payment due to Lack of Budget', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 3: Construction entrepreneurs who were excited when the Ministry of Finance gave approval to the concerned ministries to release the due payments for the completed work on October 18, are now disappointed. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">November 3: Construction entrepreneurs who were excited when the Ministry of Finance gave approval to the concerned ministries to release the due payments for the completed work on October 18, are now disappointed. Those who submitted the bills for the work completed in the last fiscal year (FY) 2079/80) have not been able to get the payment until the end of the first quarter of the current fiscal year.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Ministry of Finance gave approval to the Ministry of Urban Development to pay the previous year’s dues from the budget allocated for the current fiscal year. However, due to the low budget allocated for the current year, the businessmen could not get the payment, according to the officials.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport, which has to make the largest number of payments, said that it could not pay due to lack of budget. An official of the ministry said, “The finance ministry gave approval to manage the payment of the last year from the allocated budget for the current year, but due to the low budget for the current year, all the payments are yet to be made.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Ramhari Pokhrel, deputy director general of the Department of Roads, gave an example and said, “In the current year, a budget of Rs 10 million is allocated for a bridge, and if the payment of Rs 50 million from the previous year is yet to be made, then the department can pay only Rs 10 million. The remaining Rs 40 million will not be received by the entrepreneurs.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Construction entrepreneurs said that they were excited when the government approved the payment, but they were disappointed because of the lack of implementation. Ravi Singh, the president of the Federation of Contractors Association of Nepal, said that the government is backtracking from its decision.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He said, “The government has pledged to pay the due amount. But the government agencies are facing problems because they do not have enough budget.” He said that if the capital budget is not spent, the economy will not be viable and the construction business as well as other auxiliary industries (such as cement, rods etc.) will also suffer.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-11-03', 'modified' => '2023-11-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '19132', 'image' => '20231103024445_20230605035206_fcann.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-11-03 14:43:18', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19403', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'CAAN Suspends License of Two Tara Air Pilots for Brawling', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 3: The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has suspended the licenses of two pilots. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">November 3: The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has suspended the licenses of two pilots. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">CAAN spokesperson and deputy director general Jagannath Niraula said the license of Senior Captain Santosh Shah and Captain Sanjib Shrestha have been suspended as the two pilots of the Tara Air engaged in a physical assault on the premises of the airport at Manthali, Ramechhap on Friday morning. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"The licenses of the two senior captains have been suspended until further notice due to the breach of the national security standard. Their licenses will be revoked or other action will be taken as per the law after detailed investigation," Niraula added. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">CAAN stated that the reason behind the two pilots belonging to the same company resorting to physical fight is not yet known. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-11-03', 'modified' => '2023-11-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '19131', 'image' => '20231103024259_Tara air.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-11-03 14:42:29', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19402', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Arrival of Tourists Increases in Manang ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 3: As the present weather is considered favourable to visit the mountainous district of Manang, the number of tourists visiting this picturesque region has started increasing. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">November 3: As the present weather is considered favourable to visit the mountainous district of Manang, the number of tourists visiting this picturesque region has started increasing. According to the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP), a total of 9,752 foreign tourists visited the district in the past six months. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The incoming tourists visited both the Annapurna Circuit and the Larke pass in Narpabhumi, said ACAP chief Dhak Bahadur Bhujel. According to him, 928 tourists, both domestic and foreigners, visited the Annapurna Circuit, and 528 tourists toured the Larke pass. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Until mid-October alone, 4,357 foreign tourists entered the area. According to Bhujel, 3,266 tourists visited the area in the Nepali month of Baisakh (mid-April to mid-May), 661 in Jestha (mid-May to mid-June), 259 in Asar (mid-June to mid-July), 296 in Shrawan (mid-July to mid-August), and 913 in Bhadra (mid-August to mid-September). A total of 1,072 tourists had visited the area in the corresponding period of last year. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The number of visitors increased significantly this year compared to last year, he said. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"The main income source here is tourism. There is low revenue collection without the arrival of tourists. The tourism sector has helped the local people sustain," he said. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The locals here are involved in agriculture alongside hotel and tourism business. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The people welcome visiting tourists with locally made food items instead of imported goods, said Binod Gurung, president of the Tourism Entrepreneur Association. "This season, the arrival of tourists has been significant. This has encouraged businesspersons. Nowadays, the inflow of tourists has increased." </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The number of tourists, both domestic and foreign, has increased significantly, he said. "Foreign tourists have already booked hotel rooms. So, the arrangement for their stay has been ensured. On-arrival hotel booking often creates problems. I want to urge aspiring tourists to inquire about the availability of hotel rooms as they might be already booked online." -- RSS</span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">--- </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-11-03', 'modified' => '2023-11-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '19130', 'image' => '20231103014403_20220928123415_Manang.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-11-03 13:43:19', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19401', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'HoR Budget Session Ends ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 3: The budget session of the House of Representatives (HoR) has ended from Thursday midnight. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">November 3: The budget session of the House of Representatives (HoR) has ended from Thursday midnight. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">HoR Speaker Devraj Ghimire read out a letter received from the Office of the President in this regard on Thursday's HoR meeting. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Started on May 7, this session of the HoR held meetings for 180 days and witnessed 65 meetings in 61 days, the Federal Parliament Secretariat said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, six joint meetings of the HoR and National Assembly (NA) were held during the period. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, three question-answer sessions were held with the prime minister on May 18, June 23 and August 29 as per the Rule 56 (5) of the HoR Regulations, 2079 BS. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A total of nine bills were registered in the HoR during this session and three of them were passed from both Houses of parliament. Likewise, three bills are under consideration in the respective committees and two were just tabled in the HoR while another one was registered. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">During this session of the HoR, the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also addressed the joint meeting of the HoR and NA on October 31. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-11-03', 'modified' => '2023-11-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '19129', 'image' => '20231103115010_1698891708.1663413681.Pratinidhi Shabha.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-11-03 11:49:23', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19399', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '3,000 Metric Tons of Sugar Supplied in the Market', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 3: In order to avoid shortage of sugar during Tihar, the government has taken the initiative to supply a stock of 3000 metric tons of sugar kept by Everest Sugar Mill to the market.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">November 3: In order to avoid shortage of sugar during Tihar, the government has taken the initiative to supply a stock of 3000 metric tons of sugar kept by Everest Sugar Mill to the market.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The company has a stock of excess sugar available after selling its products to various beverage companies. The Department of Commerce, Supply and Consumer Protection has taken the initiative to supply this sugar in the market.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Naresh Khadgi, acting president of Nepal Retail Trade Association, informed the state-owned RSS that 160 sacks of sugar were sent to retail shops in Kshetrapati, Sobhabhagavati, Paknajol and Naradevi for sale on Thursday through Guhveshwari Trade Link. He informed that another 600 sacks full of sugar will be sent to shops in the inner city of Kathmandu on Friday.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The sugar provided by the association will be sold at Rs 117 per kg. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"We have instructed our members to sell sugar at Rs 117 per kg," he said, "The consumer should not pay more than the price fixed by the association."</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to him, businessmen have been asked to put up a notice that sugar provided by the association is available in their shops. More than 1,700 retail traders are affiliated to the association in Kathmandu Valley.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Director General of the Department of Commerce, Tirtharaj Chiluwal, said that the shortage of sugar will gradually disappear. He added that a meeting of stakeholders held at the Office of the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers on Thursday decided to adopt all strategies to prevent shortage of sugar in the market. The meeting concluded that sugar is being illegally imported into the Nepal by evading taxes and is being sent to the market at a high price. The meeting decided to mobilize all state agencies to stop the black marketing of sugar.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Director General Chiluwal said that the Nepal Police will check the stock of sugar in all industries in Nepal and discuss with the industrialists to send the excess stock of sugar to the market.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-11-03', 'modified' => '2023-11-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '19128', 'image' => '20231103105412_sugar.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-11-03 10:53:16', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19398', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'World Bank to Provide Concessional Loan of USD 100 Million to Nepal', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 3: The Government of Nepal and the World Bank on Thursday exchanged the digitally-signed financing agreements for a concessional loan worth USD 100 million from the International Development Association and a USD 3.84 million grant from the Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Trust Fund to strengthen the quality, coverage, and resilience of Nepal’s health system. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">November 3: The Government of Nepal and the World Bank on Thursday exchanged the digitally-signed financing agreements for a concessional loan worth USD 100 million from the International Development Association and a USD 3.84 million grant from the Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Trust Fund to strengthen the quality, coverage, and resilience of Nepal’s health system. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">These agreements were digitally signed on October 27, 2023. This is the first World Bank-financed project in Nepal that was digitally signed, according to a statement released by the World Bank Nepal office on Thursday. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The agreements for the Nepal Quality Health Systems Program Operation were signed by Finance Secretary Dr Krishna Hari Pushkar and the World Bank’s Country Director for the Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka, Faris Hadad-Zervos. The agreements were exchanged in the presence of Minister for Finance Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat, World Bank’s Managing Director for Operations, Anna Bjerde and World Bank’s Vice President for South Asia Martin Raiser. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The program will be implemented by the Ministry of Health and Population in coordination with the Health Insurance Board at the federal level, and selected provincial and local levels in Koshi and Gandaki provinces. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The program emphasizes improving the readiness of the health system for delivery of quality healthcare, enhancing coverage of health insurance, and strengthening health emergency preparedness and response capacity at the selected provincial and local levels, adds the statement. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-11-03', 'modified' => '2023-11-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '19126', 'image' => '20231103101247_World-Bank-1024x570-1.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-11-03 10:11:52', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19397', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'ADB’s Commitment to Invest in Dudh Koshi Project', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has expressed its commitment to invest in the Dudh Koshi reservoir-type hydropower project, which has a capacity of 635 megawatts.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">November 3: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has expressed its commitment to invest in the Dudh Koshi reservoir-type hydropower project, which has a capacity of 635 megawatts. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">A high-level team, consisting of the Executive Director of the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) Kul Man Ghising, ADB Director General Ramesh Subramaniam, and ADB-Nepal Resident Mission Director Arnaud Cauchois, conducted an on-site inspection of the project.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">During their visit, the team examined the reservoir area, the power house area and engaged with local representatives in Rabuwa Bazaar, Khotang, where the dam is located. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Director General Subramaniam said that this on-site visit is one of the final inspections before moving forward with the project and mentioned that financial management plans under ADB's leadership would be established soon.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">He emphasized the importance of commencing the project's construction as soon as possible, taking into account technical, environmental, and social considerations.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> The estimated total cost of the project, including interest during the construction period, is $2.20 billion. </span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">A total of $1 billion will be invested in the project by various international financial organizations under ADB's leadership, with ADB committing to provide a $550 million loan for the project.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">ADB Nepal Resident Mission Director Arnaud stated that they are actively working to expedite decision-making processes and have been engaging in frequent discussions with the Government of Nepal.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">He also urged the local community to exercise patience, emphasizing that the Dudh Koshi project is a significant undertaking and the largest dam project in the SAARC region to date. (RSS)</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-11-03', 'modified' => '2023-11-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '19125', 'image' => '20231103054657_collage (1).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-11-03 05:45:12', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = falseinclude - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 60 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
Warning (2): simplexml_load_file() [<a href='http://php.net/function.simplexml-load-file'>function.simplexml-load-file</a>]: I/O warning : failed to load external entity "" [APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 60]file not found!Code Context// $file = 'http://aabhiyan:QUVLg8Wzs2F7G9N7@nepalstock.com.np/api/indexdata.xml';if(!$xml = simplexml_load_file($file)){$viewFile = '/var/www/html/newbusinessage.com/app/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'articles' => array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ) ), 'current_user' => null, 'logged_in' => false ) $articles = array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19412', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Profit of Banks Falls, Bad Debt Rises', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 5: The effects of slowdown in economic activities due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war have now started to be seen in the financial statements of banks.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">November 5: The effects of slowdown in economic activities due to the Covid-</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">19</span></span> <span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war have now started to be seen in the financial statements of banks.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to the unaudited financial statements issued by commercial banks, there has been a significant decline in the profits of banks in the first quarter of the current fiscal year (FY), while bad debts have increased.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The average bad loan of commercial banks, which was </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">1.71</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> percent in the first quarter of the last fiscal year, has reached </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">3.40</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> percent in the first quarter of this year.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Although the profit growth rate decreased in the first, second and third quarters of last year, there was an improvement in the fourth quarter. Similarly, bad loans, which had been rising continuously since the beginning of last year, also improved by the end of the year.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The profit of banks during last year increased by </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">5.94</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> percent in the first quarter, </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">11.10</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> percent in the second quarter and </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">11.67</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> percent in the third quarter. In the fourth quarter, the profit growth rate reached </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">24.93</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> percent.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">However, the improvement was short lived. In the first quarter of the current fiscal year, the performance of banks has not been satisfactory. The profit of banks decreased by </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">19</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> percent in the first quarter of the current year. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">By the end of the first quarter of the current fiscal year, commercial banks have earned a total of Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">13.47</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> billion in net profit. During this period, the profit of </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">12</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> banks decreased while that of eight banks increased. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The profit of Agriculture Development Bank was negative. With the increase in bad loans of the banks, the amount to be set aside for risk management has increased, and the profit has been affected.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The average bad loans of banks were </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">1.71</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> percent in the first quarter of last year, </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">2.31</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> percent in the second quarter and </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">3.04</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> percent in the third quarter. Bad loans were reduced to </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">2.8</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> percent in the fourth quarter of last fiscal year, but it reached </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">3.40</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> percent in the first quarter of the current fiscal year. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The non-performing loans of Agriculture Development Bank reached the highest at </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">5.33</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> percent, followed by Kumari Bank at </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">4.89</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> percent, Nepal Investment Mega’s NPL stood at </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">4.83</span></span> <span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">percent in the review period, followed by Laxmi Sunrise Bank at </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">4.69</span></span> <span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">percent, Himalayan Bank at </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">4.67</span></span> <span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">percent and Global IME Bank at </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">4.38</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> percent.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Bad loans have increased along with the decline in economic activities, affecting the recovery of banks' loans. The increase in bad loans indicates that risks are increasing in the financial sector. As the net profit of commercial banks has decreased, the distributable profit to their shareholders has also weakened. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Banks have earned a distributable profit of Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">17</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">.</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">26 </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">billion in the first quarter of the current year. This profit is </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">61 </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">percent less than compared to the same period of last fiscal year.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-11-05', 'modified' => '2023-11-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '19140', 'image' => '20231105014906_Banks - Copy.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-11-05 13:47:49', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19411', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Garland Business worth Rs 310 Million Expected during Tihar', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 5: The business of flower garlands during this year’s Tihar festival is expected to have a turnover of Rs 310 million. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">November 5: The business of flower garlands during this year’s Tihar festival is expected to have a turnover of Rs 310 million. The Floriculture Association of Nepal has estimated that during this year's Tihar, the garlands made of Chrysanthemum, Marigold and Globe Amaranth flowers would make a brisk business of Rs 310 million. The association estimates that there will be sales of about 4 million garlands during this Tihar.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the association, 80 percent of the market demand for garlands will me met through domestic production and the remaining 20 percent will be fulfilled by importing garlands from India.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">It is estimated that 3.5 million pieces of Marigold flower garlands will be sold during Tihar, the festival of lights. Similarly, it is estimated that 475,000 pieces of Globe Amaranth flower garlands, 20,000 pieces of Chrysanthemum flower garlands and 30,000 pieces of mixed flower garlands will likely be sold during the festival, said Meen Bahadur Tamang, president of the association.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to Tamang, the demand for Marigold flower garlands may increase this year compared to last year. During last year's Tihar, 3.1 million pieces of Marigold garlands were sold.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Compared to last year, it is estimated that the price of garlands will also increase this year. The association said that the retail price of a garland of Marigold flower will reach as much as Rs 125 per piece this year. Last year, marigold flower garlands were sold for Rs 100 per piece. Similarly, Chrysanthemum flower garlands will cost up to Rs 1,000 per piece and Globe Amaranth flower garlands will cost up to Rs 50 per piece.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">At present, floriculture is done on 221 hectares of land in 48 districts across the country, in which more than 1,000 businessmen are involved. Also, 44,000 people have got employment in this sector directly and indirectly. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the Department of Customs, in the last fiscal year, the export of flowers and floral products from Nepal was worth Rs 68 million, while the import stood at Rs 330 million.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Meanwhile, the Floriculture Association Nepal has decided to provide 50 per cent of the amount collected through the one-day ticket sales from the Godavari Flower Exhibition to the earthquake victims of Jajarkot and Rukum. The association said that 50 per cent of the income earned from the ticket sales on Sunday will be deposited in the fund of the Nepal government for the relief and rescue of the earthquake victims. In addition, the association has also requested its active members to help according to their abilities. The fair, which kicked off on October 31, will be concluded on Sunday, November 5. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-11-05', 'modified' => '2023-11-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '19139', 'image' => '20231105011315_Garlands-1.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-11-05 13:12:24', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19410', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Beware of Internet Scammers Seeking Help for Earthquake Victims: Nepal Police', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 5: The Nepal Police has requested one and all to be alert as scammers can use the internet or other means to defraud people in the name of earthquake victims by seeking financial assistance.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">November 5: The Nepal Police has requested one and all to be alert as scammers can use the internet or other means to defraud people in the name of earthquake victims by seeking financial assistance. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Nepal Police has issued a notification asking the general public to be careful from internet scammers while helping the earthquake victims.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The police have urged in the statement to help the earthquake victims only after ascertaining whether the persons or organizations asking for help are genuine. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">"When providing financial or other support to earthquake victims through the Internet or other means, please help only by making sure that the people or organizations asking for help are authorized or not," the police said.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">An earthquake measuring </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">6.4 </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">magnitude in the Richter scale occurred at </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">11:47 </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">on Friday night with its epicenter in Ramidanda of Jajarkot, causing loss of lives and properties in Jajarkot and Rukum West/East and surrounding areas.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-11-05', 'modified' => '2023-11-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '19138', 'image' => '20231105120712_1699092860.scmmer.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-11-05 12:06:39', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19409', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Seismological Team in Jajarkot to Study the Quake ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 5: A team of National Earthquake Monitoring and Research Center, Lainchaur has reached Jajarkot to carry out further study and research on the earthquake that occurred on Friday night.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">November 5: A team of National Earthquake Monitoring and Research Center, Lainchaur has reached Jajarkot to carry out further study and research on the earthquake that occurred on Friday night. The team is led by senior seismologist Dr Lok Bijaya Adhikari. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Director General of the Department of Mines and Geology, Ram Prasad Ghimire, said that the team will be carrying out comprehensive study and research on the earthquake. The team will study the depth of the earthquake, the direction of the damage, and the structures damaged by the earthquake. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Meanwhile, senior seismologist Dr Adhikari said that the Jajarkot earthquake was not an aftershock of the Bajhang earthquake, but a new earthquake. Four aftershocks have occurred following Friday night’s earthquake that hit Ramidanda of Jajarkot. Aftershock of 4.5 magnitude was recorded the same night at 12:08 pm followed by a 4.2 magnitude aftershock at 12:29 pm, 4.3 magnitude aftershock at 12:35 pm and 4.2 magnitude aftershock at 3:40 on Saturday afternoon. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">So far, 157 people have been confirmed dead in Jajarkot and Rukum West with more than 200 people injured in the earthquake that measured 6.4 in the Richter scale. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-11-05', 'modified' => '2023-11-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '19137', 'image' => '20231105112523_HK-Jajarkot-IMG_9219.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-11-05 11:24:42', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19408', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government to Provide Free Treatment for Quake Injured ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 5: An emergency meeting of the Council of Ministers held on Sunday morning has decided to provide free medical treatment for those injured in Friday night's earthquake in Jajarkot and Rukum Paschim. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">November 5: An emergency meeting of the Council of Ministers held on Sunday morning has decided to provide free medical treatment for those injured in Friday night's earthquake in Jajarkot and Rukum Paschim. As per the cabinet decision, all the hospitals will provide treatment to the victims free of cost. The government will bear the cost of the treatment of the quake victims. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Minister for Health and Population Mohan Bahadur Basnet told journalists that rescue of the quake survivors have been almost completed and all the hospitals including those in Kathmandu are on standby for providing treatment to the needy. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He also shared that a decision was taken to move ahead with the post-quake relief and rehabilitation work, learning from the lessons of the Gorkha Earthquake. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Meanwhile, the government will decide in which areas it shall seek assistance from neighbors and friendly countries after further discussion on the matter. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-11-05', 'modified' => '2023-11-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '19136', 'image' => '20231105105033_RM-Khajura.JPG', 'article_date' => '2023-11-05 10:49:44', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19407', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Jajarkot Earthquake Update: 157 Dead, 202 Injured', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'The death toll from the earthquake with epicenter in Jajarkot has reached 157 till date. According to Assistant Spokesperson of the Armed Police Force, DSP Shailendra Thapa, the death toll has reached 157 as of Saturday afternoon.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">November 5: The death toll from the earthquake with epicenter in Jajarkot has reached 157 till date. </span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">According to Assistant Spokesperson of the Armed Police Force, DSP Shailendra Thapa, the death toll has reached 157 as of Saturday afternoon. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">A total of </span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">105 people have died in Jajarkot district, and 52 in Rukum West, according to Thapa. The earthquake measuring 6.4 on the Richter scale struck Jajarkot and West Rukum on Friday night. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Likewise, as many as 202 individuals were injured including 105 in Jajarkot, 85 in West Rukum, 3 people each in Dailekh and Baitadi, 5 in Jumla, and 1 in Rolpa.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Nepali Army, Nepal Police, Armed Police Force, and local residents are actively involved in rescue and relief efforts in the quake-affected areas. For rescue and relief operations in the tremor-hit areas, five helicopters and aircraft have been used. </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-11-05', 'modified' => '2023-11-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '19135', 'image' => '20231105061038_collage (2).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-11-05 06:08:18', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19406', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'At Least 128 Killed as Strong Quake Jolts Jajarkot', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 4: At least 80 people have been killed and hundreds injured in western Nepal following a strong earthquake that hit Jajarkot district on Friday night.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">November 4: At least 80 people have been killed and hundreds injured in western Nepal following a strong earthquake that hit Jajarkot district on Friday night.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Hindu newspaper of India, citing authorities in Nepal, put the death toll at 128, including 80 in Jajarkot – the epicenter of the quake.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The earthquake measuring 6.4 in the Richter scale occurred at 11:47 pm on Friday, with Ramidanda of Jajarkot as the epicenter, the state-owned RSS reported. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The US Geological Survey however put the magnitude at 5.6 and said it was just 18 kilometres (11 miles) deep. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The death toll is expected to rise as hundreds of people have been injured, Chief District Officer of Jajarkot Suresh Sunar told RSS.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to RSS, the earthquake has severely hit Bheri, Nalgad, Kushe, Barekot and Chedagad areas in the district. All the security forces in the district have been mobilized in the search and rescue work, RSS quoted CDO Sunar as saying. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Among the dead also includes Deputy Mayor of Nalgad Municipality Sarita Singh, according to Deputy Superintendent of Police of Jajarkot Santosh Rokka. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The tremors were felt as far away as Kathmandu and even about 600km (375 miles) away in the Indian capital New Delhi, Al Jazeera reported.</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-11-04', 'modified' => '2023-11-04', 'keywords' => 'earthquake, strong, magnitude, US, geological, survey, Hindu, Al, Jazeera, Kathmandu, Nepal, New, Delhi, capital, western, death, toll, killed', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '19134', 'image' => '20231104083356_HKC-Jajarkot-4.JPG', 'article_date' => '2023-11-04 08:33:10', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19405', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Lack of Budget Blamed for Tardy Upgrading Works on Postal Highway ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 3: The work of upgrading the Kailali-Kanchanpur road section under the Postal Highway, a national pride project, has been sluggish in recent years thanks to the insufficient budget. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">November 3: The work of upgrading the Kailali-Kanchanpur road section under the Postal Highway, a national pride project, has been sluggish in recent years thanks to the insufficient budget. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The contractors have been blamed for delaying the construction of the road. Only 31 kilometres of the road have been upgraded in the Kailali section four years after beginning the work.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The total length of the road is 69 kms from the Mohana bridge of Dhangadhi in Kailali to Satti Khakraula. Road upgradation is ongoing in the remaining section, said the Postal Highway Project Office in Dhangadhi. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Out of 29.5 km road from Lamkichuha in Kailali to Satti Khakraula through Tikapur bazaar area (north south), eight km has been blacktopped. Road upgradation remains from Tikapur to Khakraula. Potholes have developed in the single lane road in the area causing difficulties in transportation, complained the locals. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Out of 62 km road from Dokebazaar in Kanchanpur to Daiji bazaar through Belauri, 38 km has been blacktopped in seven years. The section from Dokebazaar to Belauri has been blacktopped while many parts from Belauri to Darji through Beldandi are yet to be tarred. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In the previous fiscal year, budget worth Rs 750 million was allocated for upgrading the road. In the current FY, 2023/24, Rs 400 million has been allocated. For upgrading the Kailali section, the contract was awarded in the FY, 2076/77 BS and of the Kanchanpur section in the FY 2073/74. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-11-03', 'modified' => '2023-11-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '19133', 'image' => '20231103032751_20230406110040_postal highway facebook.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-11-03 15:26:37', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19404', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Construction Entrepreneurs yet to Get Payment due to Lack of Budget', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 3: Construction entrepreneurs who were excited when the Ministry of Finance gave approval to the concerned ministries to release the due payments for the completed work on October 18, are now disappointed. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">November 3: Construction entrepreneurs who were excited when the Ministry of Finance gave approval to the concerned ministries to release the due payments for the completed work on October 18, are now disappointed. Those who submitted the bills for the work completed in the last fiscal year (FY) 2079/80) have not been able to get the payment until the end of the first quarter of the current fiscal year.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Ministry of Finance gave approval to the Ministry of Urban Development to pay the previous year’s dues from the budget allocated for the current fiscal year. However, due to the low budget allocated for the current year, the businessmen could not get the payment, according to the officials.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport, which has to make the largest number of payments, said that it could not pay due to lack of budget. An official of the ministry said, “The finance ministry gave approval to manage the payment of the last year from the allocated budget for the current year, but due to the low budget for the current year, all the payments are yet to be made.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Ramhari Pokhrel, deputy director general of the Department of Roads, gave an example and said, “In the current year, a budget of Rs 10 million is allocated for a bridge, and if the payment of Rs 50 million from the previous year is yet to be made, then the department can pay only Rs 10 million. The remaining Rs 40 million will not be received by the entrepreneurs.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Construction entrepreneurs said that they were excited when the government approved the payment, but they were disappointed because of the lack of implementation. Ravi Singh, the president of the Federation of Contractors Association of Nepal, said that the government is backtracking from its decision.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He said, “The government has pledged to pay the due amount. But the government agencies are facing problems because they do not have enough budget.” He said that if the capital budget is not spent, the economy will not be viable and the construction business as well as other auxiliary industries (such as cement, rods etc.) will also suffer.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-11-03', 'modified' => '2023-11-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '19132', 'image' => '20231103024445_20230605035206_fcann.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-11-03 14:43:18', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19403', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'CAAN Suspends License of Two Tara Air Pilots for Brawling', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 3: The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has suspended the licenses of two pilots. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">November 3: The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has suspended the licenses of two pilots. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">CAAN spokesperson and deputy director general Jagannath Niraula said the license of Senior Captain Santosh Shah and Captain Sanjib Shrestha have been suspended as the two pilots of the Tara Air engaged in a physical assault on the premises of the airport at Manthali, Ramechhap on Friday morning. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"The licenses of the two senior captains have been suspended until further notice due to the breach of the national security standard. Their licenses will be revoked or other action will be taken as per the law after detailed investigation," Niraula added. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">CAAN stated that the reason behind the two pilots belonging to the same company resorting to physical fight is not yet known. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-11-03', 'modified' => '2023-11-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '19131', 'image' => '20231103024259_Tara air.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-11-03 14:42:29', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19402', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Arrival of Tourists Increases in Manang ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 3: As the present weather is considered favourable to visit the mountainous district of Manang, the number of tourists visiting this picturesque region has started increasing. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">November 3: As the present weather is considered favourable to visit the mountainous district of Manang, the number of tourists visiting this picturesque region has started increasing. According to the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP), a total of 9,752 foreign tourists visited the district in the past six months. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The incoming tourists visited both the Annapurna Circuit and the Larke pass in Narpabhumi, said ACAP chief Dhak Bahadur Bhujel. According to him, 928 tourists, both domestic and foreigners, visited the Annapurna Circuit, and 528 tourists toured the Larke pass. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Until mid-October alone, 4,357 foreign tourists entered the area. According to Bhujel, 3,266 tourists visited the area in the Nepali month of Baisakh (mid-April to mid-May), 661 in Jestha (mid-May to mid-June), 259 in Asar (mid-June to mid-July), 296 in Shrawan (mid-July to mid-August), and 913 in Bhadra (mid-August to mid-September). A total of 1,072 tourists had visited the area in the corresponding period of last year. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The number of visitors increased significantly this year compared to last year, he said. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"The main income source here is tourism. There is low revenue collection without the arrival of tourists. The tourism sector has helped the local people sustain," he said. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The locals here are involved in agriculture alongside hotel and tourism business. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The people welcome visiting tourists with locally made food items instead of imported goods, said Binod Gurung, president of the Tourism Entrepreneur Association. "This season, the arrival of tourists has been significant. This has encouraged businesspersons. Nowadays, the inflow of tourists has increased." </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The number of tourists, both domestic and foreign, has increased significantly, he said. "Foreign tourists have already booked hotel rooms. So, the arrangement for their stay has been ensured. On-arrival hotel booking often creates problems. I want to urge aspiring tourists to inquire about the availability of hotel rooms as they might be already booked online." -- RSS</span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">--- </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-11-03', 'modified' => '2023-11-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '19130', 'image' => '20231103014403_20220928123415_Manang.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-11-03 13:43:19', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19401', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'HoR Budget Session Ends ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 3: The budget session of the House of Representatives (HoR) has ended from Thursday midnight. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">November 3: The budget session of the House of Representatives (HoR) has ended from Thursday midnight. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">HoR Speaker Devraj Ghimire read out a letter received from the Office of the President in this regard on Thursday's HoR meeting. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Started on May 7, this session of the HoR held meetings for 180 days and witnessed 65 meetings in 61 days, the Federal Parliament Secretariat said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, six joint meetings of the HoR and National Assembly (NA) were held during the period. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, three question-answer sessions were held with the prime minister on May 18, June 23 and August 29 as per the Rule 56 (5) of the HoR Regulations, 2079 BS. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A total of nine bills were registered in the HoR during this session and three of them were passed from both Houses of parliament. Likewise, three bills are under consideration in the respective committees and two were just tabled in the HoR while another one was registered. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">During this session of the HoR, the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also addressed the joint meeting of the HoR and NA on October 31. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-11-03', 'modified' => '2023-11-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '19129', 'image' => '20231103115010_1698891708.1663413681.Pratinidhi Shabha.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-11-03 11:49:23', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19399', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '3,000 Metric Tons of Sugar Supplied in the Market', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 3: In order to avoid shortage of sugar during Tihar, the government has taken the initiative to supply a stock of 3000 metric tons of sugar kept by Everest Sugar Mill to the market.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">November 3: In order to avoid shortage of sugar during Tihar, the government has taken the initiative to supply a stock of 3000 metric tons of sugar kept by Everest Sugar Mill to the market.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The company has a stock of excess sugar available after selling its products to various beverage companies. The Department of Commerce, Supply and Consumer Protection has taken the initiative to supply this sugar in the market.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Naresh Khadgi, acting president of Nepal Retail Trade Association, informed the state-owned RSS that 160 sacks of sugar were sent to retail shops in Kshetrapati, Sobhabhagavati, Paknajol and Naradevi for sale on Thursday through Guhveshwari Trade Link. He informed that another 600 sacks full of sugar will be sent to shops in the inner city of Kathmandu on Friday.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The sugar provided by the association will be sold at Rs 117 per kg. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"We have instructed our members to sell sugar at Rs 117 per kg," he said, "The consumer should not pay more than the price fixed by the association."</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to him, businessmen have been asked to put up a notice that sugar provided by the association is available in their shops. More than 1,700 retail traders are affiliated to the association in Kathmandu Valley.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Director General of the Department of Commerce, Tirtharaj Chiluwal, said that the shortage of sugar will gradually disappear. He added that a meeting of stakeholders held at the Office of the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers on Thursday decided to adopt all strategies to prevent shortage of sugar in the market. The meeting concluded that sugar is being illegally imported into the Nepal by evading taxes and is being sent to the market at a high price. The meeting decided to mobilize all state agencies to stop the black marketing of sugar.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Director General Chiluwal said that the Nepal Police will check the stock of sugar in all industries in Nepal and discuss with the industrialists to send the excess stock of sugar to the market.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-11-03', 'modified' => '2023-11-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '19128', 'image' => '20231103105412_sugar.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-11-03 10:53:16', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19398', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'World Bank to Provide Concessional Loan of USD 100 Million to Nepal', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 3: The Government of Nepal and the World Bank on Thursday exchanged the digitally-signed financing agreements for a concessional loan worth USD 100 million from the International Development Association and a USD 3.84 million grant from the Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Trust Fund to strengthen the quality, coverage, and resilience of Nepal’s health system. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">November 3: The Government of Nepal and the World Bank on Thursday exchanged the digitally-signed financing agreements for a concessional loan worth USD 100 million from the International Development Association and a USD 3.84 million grant from the Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Trust Fund to strengthen the quality, coverage, and resilience of Nepal’s health system. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">These agreements were digitally signed on October 27, 2023. This is the first World Bank-financed project in Nepal that was digitally signed, according to a statement released by the World Bank Nepal office on Thursday. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The agreements for the Nepal Quality Health Systems Program Operation were signed by Finance Secretary Dr Krishna Hari Pushkar and the World Bank’s Country Director for the Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka, Faris Hadad-Zervos. The agreements were exchanged in the presence of Minister for Finance Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat, World Bank’s Managing Director for Operations, Anna Bjerde and World Bank’s Vice President for South Asia Martin Raiser. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The program will be implemented by the Ministry of Health and Population in coordination with the Health Insurance Board at the federal level, and selected provincial and local levels in Koshi and Gandaki provinces. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The program emphasizes improving the readiness of the health system for delivery of quality healthcare, enhancing coverage of health insurance, and strengthening health emergency preparedness and response capacity at the selected provincial and local levels, adds the statement. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-11-03', 'modified' => '2023-11-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '19126', 'image' => '20231103101247_World-Bank-1024x570-1.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-11-03 10:11:52', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19397', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'ADB’s Commitment to Invest in Dudh Koshi Project', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has expressed its commitment to invest in the Dudh Koshi reservoir-type hydropower project, which has a capacity of 635 megawatts.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">November 3: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has expressed its commitment to invest in the Dudh Koshi reservoir-type hydropower project, which has a capacity of 635 megawatts. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">A high-level team, consisting of the Executive Director of the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) Kul Man Ghising, ADB Director General Ramesh Subramaniam, and ADB-Nepal Resident Mission Director Arnaud Cauchois, conducted an on-site inspection of the project.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">During their visit, the team examined the reservoir area, the power house area and engaged with local representatives in Rabuwa Bazaar, Khotang, where the dam is located. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Director General Subramaniam said that this on-site visit is one of the final inspections before moving forward with the project and mentioned that financial management plans under ADB's leadership would be established soon.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">He emphasized the importance of commencing the project's construction as soon as possible, taking into account technical, environmental, and social considerations.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> The estimated total cost of the project, including interest during the construction period, is $2.20 billion. </span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">A total of $1 billion will be invested in the project by various international financial organizations under ADB's leadership, with ADB committing to provide a $550 million loan for the project.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">ADB Nepal Resident Mission Director Arnaud stated that they are actively working to expedite decision-making processes and have been engaging in frequent discussions with the Government of Nepal.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">He also urged the local community to exercise patience, emphasizing that the Dudh Koshi project is a significant undertaking and the largest dam project in the SAARC region to date. (RSS)</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-11-03', 'modified' => '2023-11-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '19125', 'image' => '20231103054657_collage (1).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-11-03 05:45:12', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = falsesimplexml_load_file - [internal], line ?? include - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 60 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
Notice (8): Undefined variable: file [APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 133]Code Context// $file = 'http://aabhiyan:QUVLg8Wzs2F7G9N7@nepalstock.com.np/api/subindexdata.xml';if(!$xml = simplexml_load_file($file)){$viewFile = '/var/www/html/newbusinessage.com/app/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'articles' => array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ) ), 'current_user' => null, 'logged_in' => false ) $articles = array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19412', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Profit of Banks Falls, Bad Debt Rises', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 5: The effects of slowdown in economic activities due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war have now started to be seen in the financial statements of banks.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">November 5: The effects of slowdown in economic activities due to the Covid-</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">19</span></span> <span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war have now started to be seen in the financial statements of banks.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to the unaudited financial statements issued by commercial banks, there has been a significant decline in the profits of banks in the first quarter of the current fiscal year (FY), while bad debts have increased.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The average bad loan of commercial banks, which was </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">1.71</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> percent in the first quarter of the last fiscal year, has reached </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">3.40</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> percent in the first quarter of this year.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Although the profit growth rate decreased in the first, second and third quarters of last year, there was an improvement in the fourth quarter. Similarly, bad loans, which had been rising continuously since the beginning of last year, also improved by the end of the year.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The profit of banks during last year increased by </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">5.94</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> percent in the first quarter, </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">11.10</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> percent in the second quarter and </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">11.67</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> percent in the third quarter. In the fourth quarter, the profit growth rate reached </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">24.93</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> percent.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">However, the improvement was short lived. In the first quarter of the current fiscal year, the performance of banks has not been satisfactory. The profit of banks decreased by </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">19</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> percent in the first quarter of the current year. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">By the end of the first quarter of the current fiscal year, commercial banks have earned a total of Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">13.47</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> billion in net profit. During this period, the profit of </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">12</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> banks decreased while that of eight banks increased. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The profit of Agriculture Development Bank was negative. With the increase in bad loans of the banks, the amount to be set aside for risk management has increased, and the profit has been affected.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The average bad loans of banks were </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">1.71</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> percent in the first quarter of last year, </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">2.31</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> percent in the second quarter and </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">3.04</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> percent in the third quarter. Bad loans were reduced to </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">2.8</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> percent in the fourth quarter of last fiscal year, but it reached </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">3.40</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> percent in the first quarter of the current fiscal year. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The non-performing loans of Agriculture Development Bank reached the highest at </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">5.33</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> percent, followed by Kumari Bank at </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">4.89</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> percent, Nepal Investment Mega’s NPL stood at </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">4.83</span></span> <span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">percent in the review period, followed by Laxmi Sunrise Bank at </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">4.69</span></span> <span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">percent, Himalayan Bank at </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">4.67</span></span> <span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">percent and Global IME Bank at </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">4.38</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> percent.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Bad loans have increased along with the decline in economic activities, affecting the recovery of banks' loans. The increase in bad loans indicates that risks are increasing in the financial sector. As the net profit of commercial banks has decreased, the distributable profit to their shareholders has also weakened. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Banks have earned a distributable profit of Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">17</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">.</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">26 </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">billion in the first quarter of the current year. This profit is </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">61 </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">percent less than compared to the same period of last fiscal year.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-11-05', 'modified' => '2023-11-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '19140', 'image' => '20231105014906_Banks - Copy.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-11-05 13:47:49', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19411', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Garland Business worth Rs 310 Million Expected during Tihar', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 5: The business of flower garlands during this year’s Tihar festival is expected to have a turnover of Rs 310 million. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">November 5: The business of flower garlands during this year’s Tihar festival is expected to have a turnover of Rs 310 million. The Floriculture Association of Nepal has estimated that during this year's Tihar, the garlands made of Chrysanthemum, Marigold and Globe Amaranth flowers would make a brisk business of Rs 310 million. The association estimates that there will be sales of about 4 million garlands during this Tihar.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the association, 80 percent of the market demand for garlands will me met through domestic production and the remaining 20 percent will be fulfilled by importing garlands from India.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">It is estimated that 3.5 million pieces of Marigold flower garlands will be sold during Tihar, the festival of lights. Similarly, it is estimated that 475,000 pieces of Globe Amaranth flower garlands, 20,000 pieces of Chrysanthemum flower garlands and 30,000 pieces of mixed flower garlands will likely be sold during the festival, said Meen Bahadur Tamang, president of the association.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to Tamang, the demand for Marigold flower garlands may increase this year compared to last year. During last year's Tihar, 3.1 million pieces of Marigold garlands were sold.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Compared to last year, it is estimated that the price of garlands will also increase this year. The association said that the retail price of a garland of Marigold flower will reach as much as Rs 125 per piece this year. Last year, marigold flower garlands were sold for Rs 100 per piece. Similarly, Chrysanthemum flower garlands will cost up to Rs 1,000 per piece and Globe Amaranth flower garlands will cost up to Rs 50 per piece.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">At present, floriculture is done on 221 hectares of land in 48 districts across the country, in which more than 1,000 businessmen are involved. Also, 44,000 people have got employment in this sector directly and indirectly. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the Department of Customs, in the last fiscal year, the export of flowers and floral products from Nepal was worth Rs 68 million, while the import stood at Rs 330 million.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Meanwhile, the Floriculture Association Nepal has decided to provide 50 per cent of the amount collected through the one-day ticket sales from the Godavari Flower Exhibition to the earthquake victims of Jajarkot and Rukum. The association said that 50 per cent of the income earned from the ticket sales on Sunday will be deposited in the fund of the Nepal government for the relief and rescue of the earthquake victims. In addition, the association has also requested its active members to help according to their abilities. The fair, which kicked off on October 31, will be concluded on Sunday, November 5. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-11-05', 'modified' => '2023-11-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '19139', 'image' => '20231105011315_Garlands-1.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-11-05 13:12:24', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19410', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Beware of Internet Scammers Seeking Help for Earthquake Victims: Nepal Police', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 5: The Nepal Police has requested one and all to be alert as scammers can use the internet or other means to defraud people in the name of earthquake victims by seeking financial assistance.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">November 5: The Nepal Police has requested one and all to be alert as scammers can use the internet or other means to defraud people in the name of earthquake victims by seeking financial assistance. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Nepal Police has issued a notification asking the general public to be careful from internet scammers while helping the earthquake victims.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The police have urged in the statement to help the earthquake victims only after ascertaining whether the persons or organizations asking for help are genuine. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">"When providing financial or other support to earthquake victims through the Internet or other means, please help only by making sure that the people or organizations asking for help are authorized or not," the police said.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">An earthquake measuring </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">6.4 </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">magnitude in the Richter scale occurred at </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">11:47 </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">on Friday night with its epicenter in Ramidanda of Jajarkot, causing loss of lives and properties in Jajarkot and Rukum West/East and surrounding areas.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-11-05', 'modified' => '2023-11-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '19138', 'image' => '20231105120712_1699092860.scmmer.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-11-05 12:06:39', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19409', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Seismological Team in Jajarkot to Study the Quake ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 5: A team of National Earthquake Monitoring and Research Center, Lainchaur has reached Jajarkot to carry out further study and research on the earthquake that occurred on Friday night.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">November 5: A team of National Earthquake Monitoring and Research Center, Lainchaur has reached Jajarkot to carry out further study and research on the earthquake that occurred on Friday night. The team is led by senior seismologist Dr Lok Bijaya Adhikari. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Director General of the Department of Mines and Geology, Ram Prasad Ghimire, said that the team will be carrying out comprehensive study and research on the earthquake. The team will study the depth of the earthquake, the direction of the damage, and the structures damaged by the earthquake. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Meanwhile, senior seismologist Dr Adhikari said that the Jajarkot earthquake was not an aftershock of the Bajhang earthquake, but a new earthquake. Four aftershocks have occurred following Friday night’s earthquake that hit Ramidanda of Jajarkot. Aftershock of 4.5 magnitude was recorded the same night at 12:08 pm followed by a 4.2 magnitude aftershock at 12:29 pm, 4.3 magnitude aftershock at 12:35 pm and 4.2 magnitude aftershock at 3:40 on Saturday afternoon. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">So far, 157 people have been confirmed dead in Jajarkot and Rukum West with more than 200 people injured in the earthquake that measured 6.4 in the Richter scale. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-11-05', 'modified' => '2023-11-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '19137', 'image' => '20231105112523_HK-Jajarkot-IMG_9219.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-11-05 11:24:42', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19408', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government to Provide Free Treatment for Quake Injured ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 5: An emergency meeting of the Council of Ministers held on Sunday morning has decided to provide free medical treatment for those injured in Friday night's earthquake in Jajarkot and Rukum Paschim. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">November 5: An emergency meeting of the Council of Ministers held on Sunday morning has decided to provide free medical treatment for those injured in Friday night's earthquake in Jajarkot and Rukum Paschim. As per the cabinet decision, all the hospitals will provide treatment to the victims free of cost. The government will bear the cost of the treatment of the quake victims. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Minister for Health and Population Mohan Bahadur Basnet told journalists that rescue of the quake survivors have been almost completed and all the hospitals including those in Kathmandu are on standby for providing treatment to the needy. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He also shared that a decision was taken to move ahead with the post-quake relief and rehabilitation work, learning from the lessons of the Gorkha Earthquake. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Meanwhile, the government will decide in which areas it shall seek assistance from neighbors and friendly countries after further discussion on the matter. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-11-05', 'modified' => '2023-11-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '19136', 'image' => '20231105105033_RM-Khajura.JPG', 'article_date' => '2023-11-05 10:49:44', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19407', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Jajarkot Earthquake Update: 157 Dead, 202 Injured', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'The death toll from the earthquake with epicenter in Jajarkot has reached 157 till date. According to Assistant Spokesperson of the Armed Police Force, DSP Shailendra Thapa, the death toll has reached 157 as of Saturday afternoon.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">November 5: The death toll from the earthquake with epicenter in Jajarkot has reached 157 till date. </span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">According to Assistant Spokesperson of the Armed Police Force, DSP Shailendra Thapa, the death toll has reached 157 as of Saturday afternoon. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">A total of </span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">105 people have died in Jajarkot district, and 52 in Rukum West, according to Thapa. The earthquake measuring 6.4 on the Richter scale struck Jajarkot and West Rukum on Friday night. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Likewise, as many as 202 individuals were injured including 105 in Jajarkot, 85 in West Rukum, 3 people each in Dailekh and Baitadi, 5 in Jumla, and 1 in Rolpa.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Nepali Army, Nepal Police, Armed Police Force, and local residents are actively involved in rescue and relief efforts in the quake-affected areas. For rescue and relief operations in the tremor-hit areas, five helicopters and aircraft have been used. </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-11-05', 'modified' => '2023-11-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '19135', 'image' => '20231105061038_collage (2).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-11-05 06:08:18', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19406', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'At Least 128 Killed as Strong Quake Jolts Jajarkot', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 4: At least 80 people have been killed and hundreds injured in western Nepal following a strong earthquake that hit Jajarkot district on Friday night.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">November 4: At least 80 people have been killed and hundreds injured in western Nepal following a strong earthquake that hit Jajarkot district on Friday night.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Hindu newspaper of India, citing authorities in Nepal, put the death toll at 128, including 80 in Jajarkot – the epicenter of the quake.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The earthquake measuring 6.4 in the Richter scale occurred at 11:47 pm on Friday, with Ramidanda of Jajarkot as the epicenter, the state-owned RSS reported. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The US Geological Survey however put the magnitude at 5.6 and said it was just 18 kilometres (11 miles) deep. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The death toll is expected to rise as hundreds of people have been injured, Chief District Officer of Jajarkot Suresh Sunar told RSS.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to RSS, the earthquake has severely hit Bheri, Nalgad, Kushe, Barekot and Chedagad areas in the district. All the security forces in the district have been mobilized in the search and rescue work, RSS quoted CDO Sunar as saying. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Among the dead also includes Deputy Mayor of Nalgad Municipality Sarita Singh, according to Deputy Superintendent of Police of Jajarkot Santosh Rokka. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The tremors were felt as far away as Kathmandu and even about 600km (375 miles) away in the Indian capital New Delhi, Al Jazeera reported.</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-11-04', 'modified' => '2023-11-04', 'keywords' => 'earthquake, strong, magnitude, US, geological, survey, Hindu, Al, Jazeera, Kathmandu, Nepal, New, Delhi, capital, western, death, toll, killed', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '19134', 'image' => '20231104083356_HKC-Jajarkot-4.JPG', 'article_date' => '2023-11-04 08:33:10', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19405', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Lack of Budget Blamed for Tardy Upgrading Works on Postal Highway ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 3: The work of upgrading the Kailali-Kanchanpur road section under the Postal Highway, a national pride project, has been sluggish in recent years thanks to the insufficient budget. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">November 3: The work of upgrading the Kailali-Kanchanpur road section under the Postal Highway, a national pride project, has been sluggish in recent years thanks to the insufficient budget. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The contractors have been blamed for delaying the construction of the road. Only 31 kilometres of the road have been upgraded in the Kailali section four years after beginning the work.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The total length of the road is 69 kms from the Mohana bridge of Dhangadhi in Kailali to Satti Khakraula. Road upgradation is ongoing in the remaining section, said the Postal Highway Project Office in Dhangadhi. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Out of 29.5 km road from Lamkichuha in Kailali to Satti Khakraula through Tikapur bazaar area (north south), eight km has been blacktopped. Road upgradation remains from Tikapur to Khakraula. Potholes have developed in the single lane road in the area causing difficulties in transportation, complained the locals. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Out of 62 km road from Dokebazaar in Kanchanpur to Daiji bazaar through Belauri, 38 km has been blacktopped in seven years. The section from Dokebazaar to Belauri has been blacktopped while many parts from Belauri to Darji through Beldandi are yet to be tarred. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In the previous fiscal year, budget worth Rs 750 million was allocated for upgrading the road. In the current FY, 2023/24, Rs 400 million has been allocated. For upgrading the Kailali section, the contract was awarded in the FY, 2076/77 BS and of the Kanchanpur section in the FY 2073/74. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-11-03', 'modified' => '2023-11-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '19133', 'image' => '20231103032751_20230406110040_postal highway facebook.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-11-03 15:26:37', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19404', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Construction Entrepreneurs yet to Get Payment due to Lack of Budget', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 3: Construction entrepreneurs who were excited when the Ministry of Finance gave approval to the concerned ministries to release the due payments for the completed work on October 18, are now disappointed. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">November 3: Construction entrepreneurs who were excited when the Ministry of Finance gave approval to the concerned ministries to release the due payments for the completed work on October 18, are now disappointed. Those who submitted the bills for the work completed in the last fiscal year (FY) 2079/80) have not been able to get the payment until the end of the first quarter of the current fiscal year.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Ministry of Finance gave approval to the Ministry of Urban Development to pay the previous year’s dues from the budget allocated for the current fiscal year. However, due to the low budget allocated for the current year, the businessmen could not get the payment, according to the officials.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport, which has to make the largest number of payments, said that it could not pay due to lack of budget. An official of the ministry said, “The finance ministry gave approval to manage the payment of the last year from the allocated budget for the current year, but due to the low budget for the current year, all the payments are yet to be made.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Ramhari Pokhrel, deputy director general of the Department of Roads, gave an example and said, “In the current year, a budget of Rs 10 million is allocated for a bridge, and if the payment of Rs 50 million from the previous year is yet to be made, then the department can pay only Rs 10 million. The remaining Rs 40 million will not be received by the entrepreneurs.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Construction entrepreneurs said that they were excited when the government approved the payment, but they were disappointed because of the lack of implementation. Ravi Singh, the president of the Federation of Contractors Association of Nepal, said that the government is backtracking from its decision.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He said, “The government has pledged to pay the due amount. But the government agencies are facing problems because they do not have enough budget.” He said that if the capital budget is not spent, the economy will not be viable and the construction business as well as other auxiliary industries (such as cement, rods etc.) will also suffer.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-11-03', 'modified' => '2023-11-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '19132', 'image' => '20231103024445_20230605035206_fcann.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-11-03 14:43:18', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19403', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'CAAN Suspends License of Two Tara Air Pilots for Brawling', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 3: The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has suspended the licenses of two pilots. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">November 3: The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has suspended the licenses of two pilots. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">CAAN spokesperson and deputy director general Jagannath Niraula said the license of Senior Captain Santosh Shah and Captain Sanjib Shrestha have been suspended as the two pilots of the Tara Air engaged in a physical assault on the premises of the airport at Manthali, Ramechhap on Friday morning. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"The licenses of the two senior captains have been suspended until further notice due to the breach of the national security standard. Their licenses will be revoked or other action will be taken as per the law after detailed investigation," Niraula added. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">CAAN stated that the reason behind the two pilots belonging to the same company resorting to physical fight is not yet known. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-11-03', 'modified' => '2023-11-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '19131', 'image' => '20231103024259_Tara air.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-11-03 14:42:29', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19402', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Arrival of Tourists Increases in Manang ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 3: As the present weather is considered favourable to visit the mountainous district of Manang, the number of tourists visiting this picturesque region has started increasing. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">November 3: As the present weather is considered favourable to visit the mountainous district of Manang, the number of tourists visiting this picturesque region has started increasing. According to the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP), a total of 9,752 foreign tourists visited the district in the past six months. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The incoming tourists visited both the Annapurna Circuit and the Larke pass in Narpabhumi, said ACAP chief Dhak Bahadur Bhujel. According to him, 928 tourists, both domestic and foreigners, visited the Annapurna Circuit, and 528 tourists toured the Larke pass. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Until mid-October alone, 4,357 foreign tourists entered the area. According to Bhujel, 3,266 tourists visited the area in the Nepali month of Baisakh (mid-April to mid-May), 661 in Jestha (mid-May to mid-June), 259 in Asar (mid-June to mid-July), 296 in Shrawan (mid-July to mid-August), and 913 in Bhadra (mid-August to mid-September). A total of 1,072 tourists had visited the area in the corresponding period of last year. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The number of visitors increased significantly this year compared to last year, he said. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"The main income source here is tourism. There is low revenue collection without the arrival of tourists. The tourism sector has helped the local people sustain," he said. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The locals here are involved in agriculture alongside hotel and tourism business. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The people welcome visiting tourists with locally made food items instead of imported goods, said Binod Gurung, president of the Tourism Entrepreneur Association. "This season, the arrival of tourists has been significant. This has encouraged businesspersons. Nowadays, the inflow of tourists has increased." </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The number of tourists, both domestic and foreign, has increased significantly, he said. "Foreign tourists have already booked hotel rooms. So, the arrangement for their stay has been ensured. On-arrival hotel booking often creates problems. I want to urge aspiring tourists to inquire about the availability of hotel rooms as they might be already booked online." -- RSS</span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">--- </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-11-03', 'modified' => '2023-11-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '19130', 'image' => '20231103014403_20220928123415_Manang.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-11-03 13:43:19', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19401', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'HoR Budget Session Ends ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 3: The budget session of the House of Representatives (HoR) has ended from Thursday midnight. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">November 3: The budget session of the House of Representatives (HoR) has ended from Thursday midnight. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">HoR Speaker Devraj Ghimire read out a letter received from the Office of the President in this regard on Thursday's HoR meeting. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Started on May 7, this session of the HoR held meetings for 180 days and witnessed 65 meetings in 61 days, the Federal Parliament Secretariat said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, six joint meetings of the HoR and National Assembly (NA) were held during the period. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, three question-answer sessions were held with the prime minister on May 18, June 23 and August 29 as per the Rule 56 (5) of the HoR Regulations, 2079 BS. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A total of nine bills were registered in the HoR during this session and three of them were passed from both Houses of parliament. Likewise, three bills are under consideration in the respective committees and two were just tabled in the HoR while another one was registered. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">During this session of the HoR, the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also addressed the joint meeting of the HoR and NA on October 31. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-11-03', 'modified' => '2023-11-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '19129', 'image' => '20231103115010_1698891708.1663413681.Pratinidhi Shabha.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-11-03 11:49:23', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19399', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '3,000 Metric Tons of Sugar Supplied in the Market', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 3: In order to avoid shortage of sugar during Tihar, the government has taken the initiative to supply a stock of 3000 metric tons of sugar kept by Everest Sugar Mill to the market.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">November 3: In order to avoid shortage of sugar during Tihar, the government has taken the initiative to supply a stock of 3000 metric tons of sugar kept by Everest Sugar Mill to the market.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The company has a stock of excess sugar available after selling its products to various beverage companies. The Department of Commerce, Supply and Consumer Protection has taken the initiative to supply this sugar in the market.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Naresh Khadgi, acting president of Nepal Retail Trade Association, informed the state-owned RSS that 160 sacks of sugar were sent to retail shops in Kshetrapati, Sobhabhagavati, Paknajol and Naradevi for sale on Thursday through Guhveshwari Trade Link. He informed that another 600 sacks full of sugar will be sent to shops in the inner city of Kathmandu on Friday.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The sugar provided by the association will be sold at Rs 117 per kg. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"We have instructed our members to sell sugar at Rs 117 per kg," he said, "The consumer should not pay more than the price fixed by the association."</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to him, businessmen have been asked to put up a notice that sugar provided by the association is available in their shops. More than 1,700 retail traders are affiliated to the association in Kathmandu Valley.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Director General of the Department of Commerce, Tirtharaj Chiluwal, said that the shortage of sugar will gradually disappear. He added that a meeting of stakeholders held at the Office of the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers on Thursday decided to adopt all strategies to prevent shortage of sugar in the market. The meeting concluded that sugar is being illegally imported into the Nepal by evading taxes and is being sent to the market at a high price. The meeting decided to mobilize all state agencies to stop the black marketing of sugar.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Director General Chiluwal said that the Nepal Police will check the stock of sugar in all industries in Nepal and discuss with the industrialists to send the excess stock of sugar to the market.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-11-03', 'modified' => '2023-11-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '19128', 'image' => '20231103105412_sugar.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-11-03 10:53:16', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19398', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'World Bank to Provide Concessional Loan of USD 100 Million to Nepal', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 3: The Government of Nepal and the World Bank on Thursday exchanged the digitally-signed financing agreements for a concessional loan worth USD 100 million from the International Development Association and a USD 3.84 million grant from the Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Trust Fund to strengthen the quality, coverage, and resilience of Nepal’s health system. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">November 3: The Government of Nepal and the World Bank on Thursday exchanged the digitally-signed financing agreements for a concessional loan worth USD 100 million from the International Development Association and a USD 3.84 million grant from the Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Trust Fund to strengthen the quality, coverage, and resilience of Nepal’s health system. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">These agreements were digitally signed on October 27, 2023. This is the first World Bank-financed project in Nepal that was digitally signed, according to a statement released by the World Bank Nepal office on Thursday. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The agreements for the Nepal Quality Health Systems Program Operation were signed by Finance Secretary Dr Krishna Hari Pushkar and the World Bank’s Country Director for the Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka, Faris Hadad-Zervos. The agreements were exchanged in the presence of Minister for Finance Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat, World Bank’s Managing Director for Operations, Anna Bjerde and World Bank’s Vice President for South Asia Martin Raiser. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The program will be implemented by the Ministry of Health and Population in coordination with the Health Insurance Board at the federal level, and selected provincial and local levels in Koshi and Gandaki provinces. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The program emphasizes improving the readiness of the health system for delivery of quality healthcare, enhancing coverage of health insurance, and strengthening health emergency preparedness and response capacity at the selected provincial and local levels, adds the statement. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-11-03', 'modified' => '2023-11-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '19126', 'image' => '20231103101247_World-Bank-1024x570-1.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-11-03 10:11:52', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19397', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'ADB’s Commitment to Invest in Dudh Koshi Project', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has expressed its commitment to invest in the Dudh Koshi reservoir-type hydropower project, which has a capacity of 635 megawatts.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">November 3: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has expressed its commitment to invest in the Dudh Koshi reservoir-type hydropower project, which has a capacity of 635 megawatts. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">A high-level team, consisting of the Executive Director of the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) Kul Man Ghising, ADB Director General Ramesh Subramaniam, and ADB-Nepal Resident Mission Director Arnaud Cauchois, conducted an on-site inspection of the project.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">During their visit, the team examined the reservoir area, the power house area and engaged with local representatives in Rabuwa Bazaar, Khotang, where the dam is located. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Director General Subramaniam said that this on-site visit is one of the final inspections before moving forward with the project and mentioned that financial management plans under ADB's leadership would be established soon.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">He emphasized the importance of commencing the project's construction as soon as possible, taking into account technical, environmental, and social considerations.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> The estimated total cost of the project, including interest during the construction period, is $2.20 billion. </span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">A total of $1 billion will be invested in the project by various international financial organizations under ADB's leadership, with ADB committing to provide a $550 million loan for the project.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">ADB Nepal Resident Mission Director Arnaud stated that they are actively working to expedite decision-making processes and have been engaging in frequent discussions with the Government of Nepal.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">He also urged the local community to exercise patience, emphasizing that the Dudh Koshi project is a significant undertaking and the largest dam project in the SAARC region to date. (RSS)</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-11-03', 'modified' => '2023-11-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '19125', 'image' => '20231103054657_collage (1).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-11-03 05:45:12', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = false $xml = falseinclude - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 133 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
Warning (2): simplexml_load_file() [<a href='http://php.net/function.simplexml-load-file'>function.simplexml-load-file</a>]: I/O warning : failed to load external entity "" [APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 133]file not found!Code Context// $file = 'http://aabhiyan:QUVLg8Wzs2F7G9N7@nepalstock.com.np/api/subindexdata.xml';if(!$xml = simplexml_load_file($file)){$viewFile = '/var/www/html/newbusinessage.com/app/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'articles' => array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ) ), 'current_user' => null, 'logged_in' => false ) $articles = array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19412', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Profit of Banks Falls, Bad Debt Rises', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 5: The effects of slowdown in economic activities due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war have now started to be seen in the financial statements of banks.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">November 5: The effects of slowdown in economic activities due to the Covid-</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">19</span></span> <span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war have now started to be seen in the financial statements of banks.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to the unaudited financial statements issued by commercial banks, there has been a significant decline in the profits of banks in the first quarter of the current fiscal year (FY), while bad debts have increased.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The average bad loan of commercial banks, which was </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">1.71</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> percent in the first quarter of the last fiscal year, has reached </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">3.40</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> percent in the first quarter of this year.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Although the profit growth rate decreased in the first, second and third quarters of last year, there was an improvement in the fourth quarter. Similarly, bad loans, which had been rising continuously since the beginning of last year, also improved by the end of the year.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The profit of banks during last year increased by </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">5.94</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> percent in the first quarter, </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">11.10</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> percent in the second quarter and </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">11.67</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> percent in the third quarter. In the fourth quarter, the profit growth rate reached </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">24.93</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> percent.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">However, the improvement was short lived. In the first quarter of the current fiscal year, the performance of banks has not been satisfactory. The profit of banks decreased by </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">19</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> percent in the first quarter of the current year. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">By the end of the first quarter of the current fiscal year, commercial banks have earned a total of Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">13.47</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> billion in net profit. During this period, the profit of </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">12</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> banks decreased while that of eight banks increased. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The profit of Agriculture Development Bank was negative. With the increase in bad loans of the banks, the amount to be set aside for risk management has increased, and the profit has been affected.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The average bad loans of banks were </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">1.71</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> percent in the first quarter of last year, </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">2.31</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> percent in the second quarter and </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">3.04</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> percent in the third quarter. Bad loans were reduced to </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">2.8</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> percent in the fourth quarter of last fiscal year, but it reached </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">3.40</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> percent in the first quarter of the current fiscal year. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The non-performing loans of Agriculture Development Bank reached the highest at </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">5.33</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> percent, followed by Kumari Bank at </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">4.89</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> percent, Nepal Investment Mega’s NPL stood at </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">4.83</span></span> <span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">percent in the review period, followed by Laxmi Sunrise Bank at </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">4.69</span></span> <span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">percent, Himalayan Bank at </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">4.67</span></span> <span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">percent and Global IME Bank at </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">4.38</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> percent.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Bad loans have increased along with the decline in economic activities, affecting the recovery of banks' loans. The increase in bad loans indicates that risks are increasing in the financial sector. As the net profit of commercial banks has decreased, the distributable profit to their shareholders has also weakened. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Banks have earned a distributable profit of Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">17</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">.</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">26 </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">billion in the first quarter of the current year. This profit is </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">61 </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">percent less than compared to the same period of last fiscal year.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-11-05', 'modified' => '2023-11-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '19140', 'image' => '20231105014906_Banks - Copy.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-11-05 13:47:49', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19411', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Garland Business worth Rs 310 Million Expected during Tihar', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 5: The business of flower garlands during this year’s Tihar festival is expected to have a turnover of Rs 310 million. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">November 5: The business of flower garlands during this year’s Tihar festival is expected to have a turnover of Rs 310 million. The Floriculture Association of Nepal has estimated that during this year's Tihar, the garlands made of Chrysanthemum, Marigold and Globe Amaranth flowers would make a brisk business of Rs 310 million. The association estimates that there will be sales of about 4 million garlands during this Tihar.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the association, 80 percent of the market demand for garlands will me met through domestic production and the remaining 20 percent will be fulfilled by importing garlands from India.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">It is estimated that 3.5 million pieces of Marigold flower garlands will be sold during Tihar, the festival of lights. Similarly, it is estimated that 475,000 pieces of Globe Amaranth flower garlands, 20,000 pieces of Chrysanthemum flower garlands and 30,000 pieces of mixed flower garlands will likely be sold during the festival, said Meen Bahadur Tamang, president of the association.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to Tamang, the demand for Marigold flower garlands may increase this year compared to last year. During last year's Tihar, 3.1 million pieces of Marigold garlands were sold.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Compared to last year, it is estimated that the price of garlands will also increase this year. The association said that the retail price of a garland of Marigold flower will reach as much as Rs 125 per piece this year. Last year, marigold flower garlands were sold for Rs 100 per piece. Similarly, Chrysanthemum flower garlands will cost up to Rs 1,000 per piece and Globe Amaranth flower garlands will cost up to Rs 50 per piece.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">At present, floriculture is done on 221 hectares of land in 48 districts across the country, in which more than 1,000 businessmen are involved. Also, 44,000 people have got employment in this sector directly and indirectly. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the Department of Customs, in the last fiscal year, the export of flowers and floral products from Nepal was worth Rs 68 million, while the import stood at Rs 330 million.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Meanwhile, the Floriculture Association Nepal has decided to provide 50 per cent of the amount collected through the one-day ticket sales from the Godavari Flower Exhibition to the earthquake victims of Jajarkot and Rukum. The association said that 50 per cent of the income earned from the ticket sales on Sunday will be deposited in the fund of the Nepal government for the relief and rescue of the earthquake victims. In addition, the association has also requested its active members to help according to their abilities. The fair, which kicked off on October 31, will be concluded on Sunday, November 5. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-11-05', 'modified' => '2023-11-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '19139', 'image' => '20231105011315_Garlands-1.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-11-05 13:12:24', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19410', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Beware of Internet Scammers Seeking Help for Earthquake Victims: Nepal Police', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 5: The Nepal Police has requested one and all to be alert as scammers can use the internet or other means to defraud people in the name of earthquake victims by seeking financial assistance.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">November 5: The Nepal Police has requested one and all to be alert as scammers can use the internet or other means to defraud people in the name of earthquake victims by seeking financial assistance. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Nepal Police has issued a notification asking the general public to be careful from internet scammers while helping the earthquake victims.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The police have urged in the statement to help the earthquake victims only after ascertaining whether the persons or organizations asking for help are genuine. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">"When providing financial or other support to earthquake victims through the Internet or other means, please help only by making sure that the people or organizations asking for help are authorized or not," the police said.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">An earthquake measuring </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">6.4 </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">magnitude in the Richter scale occurred at </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">11:47 </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">on Friday night with its epicenter in Ramidanda of Jajarkot, causing loss of lives and properties in Jajarkot and Rukum West/East and surrounding areas.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-11-05', 'modified' => '2023-11-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '19138', 'image' => '20231105120712_1699092860.scmmer.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-11-05 12:06:39', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19409', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Seismological Team in Jajarkot to Study the Quake ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 5: A team of National Earthquake Monitoring and Research Center, Lainchaur has reached Jajarkot to carry out further study and research on the earthquake that occurred on Friday night.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">November 5: A team of National Earthquake Monitoring and Research Center, Lainchaur has reached Jajarkot to carry out further study and research on the earthquake that occurred on Friday night. The team is led by senior seismologist Dr Lok Bijaya Adhikari. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Director General of the Department of Mines and Geology, Ram Prasad Ghimire, said that the team will be carrying out comprehensive study and research on the earthquake. The team will study the depth of the earthquake, the direction of the damage, and the structures damaged by the earthquake. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Meanwhile, senior seismologist Dr Adhikari said that the Jajarkot earthquake was not an aftershock of the Bajhang earthquake, but a new earthquake. Four aftershocks have occurred following Friday night’s earthquake that hit Ramidanda of Jajarkot. Aftershock of 4.5 magnitude was recorded the same night at 12:08 pm followed by a 4.2 magnitude aftershock at 12:29 pm, 4.3 magnitude aftershock at 12:35 pm and 4.2 magnitude aftershock at 3:40 on Saturday afternoon. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">So far, 157 people have been confirmed dead in Jajarkot and Rukum West with more than 200 people injured in the earthquake that measured 6.4 in the Richter scale. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-11-05', 'modified' => '2023-11-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '19137', 'image' => '20231105112523_HK-Jajarkot-IMG_9219.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-11-05 11:24:42', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19408', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government to Provide Free Treatment for Quake Injured ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 5: An emergency meeting of the Council of Ministers held on Sunday morning has decided to provide free medical treatment for those injured in Friday night's earthquake in Jajarkot and Rukum Paschim. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">November 5: An emergency meeting of the Council of Ministers held on Sunday morning has decided to provide free medical treatment for those injured in Friday night's earthquake in Jajarkot and Rukum Paschim. As per the cabinet decision, all the hospitals will provide treatment to the victims free of cost. The government will bear the cost of the treatment of the quake victims. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Minister for Health and Population Mohan Bahadur Basnet told journalists that rescue of the quake survivors have been almost completed and all the hospitals including those in Kathmandu are on standby for providing treatment to the needy. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He also shared that a decision was taken to move ahead with the post-quake relief and rehabilitation work, learning from the lessons of the Gorkha Earthquake. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Meanwhile, the government will decide in which areas it shall seek assistance from neighbors and friendly countries after further discussion on the matter. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-11-05', 'modified' => '2023-11-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '19136', 'image' => '20231105105033_RM-Khajura.JPG', 'article_date' => '2023-11-05 10:49:44', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19407', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Jajarkot Earthquake Update: 157 Dead, 202 Injured', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'The death toll from the earthquake with epicenter in Jajarkot has reached 157 till date. According to Assistant Spokesperson of the Armed Police Force, DSP Shailendra Thapa, the death toll has reached 157 as of Saturday afternoon.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">November 5: The death toll from the earthquake with epicenter in Jajarkot has reached 157 till date. </span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">According to Assistant Spokesperson of the Armed Police Force, DSP Shailendra Thapa, the death toll has reached 157 as of Saturday afternoon. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">A total of </span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">105 people have died in Jajarkot district, and 52 in Rukum West, according to Thapa. The earthquake measuring 6.4 on the Richter scale struck Jajarkot and West Rukum on Friday night. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Likewise, as many as 202 individuals were injured including 105 in Jajarkot, 85 in West Rukum, 3 people each in Dailekh and Baitadi, 5 in Jumla, and 1 in Rolpa.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Nepali Army, Nepal Police, Armed Police Force, and local residents are actively involved in rescue and relief efforts in the quake-affected areas. For rescue and relief operations in the tremor-hit areas, five helicopters and aircraft have been used. </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-11-05', 'modified' => '2023-11-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '19135', 'image' => '20231105061038_collage (2).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-11-05 06:08:18', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19406', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'At Least 128 Killed as Strong Quake Jolts Jajarkot', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 4: At least 80 people have been killed and hundreds injured in western Nepal following a strong earthquake that hit Jajarkot district on Friday night.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">November 4: At least 80 people have been killed and hundreds injured in western Nepal following a strong earthquake that hit Jajarkot district on Friday night.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Hindu newspaper of India, citing authorities in Nepal, put the death toll at 128, including 80 in Jajarkot – the epicenter of the quake.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The earthquake measuring 6.4 in the Richter scale occurred at 11:47 pm on Friday, with Ramidanda of Jajarkot as the epicenter, the state-owned RSS reported. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The US Geological Survey however put the magnitude at 5.6 and said it was just 18 kilometres (11 miles) deep. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The death toll is expected to rise as hundreds of people have been injured, Chief District Officer of Jajarkot Suresh Sunar told RSS.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to RSS, the earthquake has severely hit Bheri, Nalgad, Kushe, Barekot and Chedagad areas in the district. All the security forces in the district have been mobilized in the search and rescue work, RSS quoted CDO Sunar as saying. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Among the dead also includes Deputy Mayor of Nalgad Municipality Sarita Singh, according to Deputy Superintendent of Police of Jajarkot Santosh Rokka. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The tremors were felt as far away as Kathmandu and even about 600km (375 miles) away in the Indian capital New Delhi, Al Jazeera reported.</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-11-04', 'modified' => '2023-11-04', 'keywords' => 'earthquake, strong, magnitude, US, geological, survey, Hindu, Al, Jazeera, Kathmandu, Nepal, New, Delhi, capital, western, death, toll, killed', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '19134', 'image' => '20231104083356_HKC-Jajarkot-4.JPG', 'article_date' => '2023-11-04 08:33:10', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19405', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Lack of Budget Blamed for Tardy Upgrading Works on Postal Highway ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 3: The work of upgrading the Kailali-Kanchanpur road section under the Postal Highway, a national pride project, has been sluggish in recent years thanks to the insufficient budget. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">November 3: The work of upgrading the Kailali-Kanchanpur road section under the Postal Highway, a national pride project, has been sluggish in recent years thanks to the insufficient budget. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The contractors have been blamed for delaying the construction of the road. Only 31 kilometres of the road have been upgraded in the Kailali section four years after beginning the work.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The total length of the road is 69 kms from the Mohana bridge of Dhangadhi in Kailali to Satti Khakraula. Road upgradation is ongoing in the remaining section, said the Postal Highway Project Office in Dhangadhi. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Out of 29.5 km road from Lamkichuha in Kailali to Satti Khakraula through Tikapur bazaar area (north south), eight km has been blacktopped. Road upgradation remains from Tikapur to Khakraula. Potholes have developed in the single lane road in the area causing difficulties in transportation, complained the locals. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Out of 62 km road from Dokebazaar in Kanchanpur to Daiji bazaar through Belauri, 38 km has been blacktopped in seven years. The section from Dokebazaar to Belauri has been blacktopped while many parts from Belauri to Darji through Beldandi are yet to be tarred. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In the previous fiscal year, budget worth Rs 750 million was allocated for upgrading the road. In the current FY, 2023/24, Rs 400 million has been allocated. For upgrading the Kailali section, the contract was awarded in the FY, 2076/77 BS and of the Kanchanpur section in the FY 2073/74. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-11-03', 'modified' => '2023-11-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '19133', 'image' => '20231103032751_20230406110040_postal highway facebook.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-11-03 15:26:37', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19404', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Construction Entrepreneurs yet to Get Payment due to Lack of Budget', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 3: Construction entrepreneurs who were excited when the Ministry of Finance gave approval to the concerned ministries to release the due payments for the completed work on October 18, are now disappointed. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">November 3: Construction entrepreneurs who were excited when the Ministry of Finance gave approval to the concerned ministries to release the due payments for the completed work on October 18, are now disappointed. Those who submitted the bills for the work completed in the last fiscal year (FY) 2079/80) have not been able to get the payment until the end of the first quarter of the current fiscal year.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Ministry of Finance gave approval to the Ministry of Urban Development to pay the previous year’s dues from the budget allocated for the current fiscal year. However, due to the low budget allocated for the current year, the businessmen could not get the payment, according to the officials.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport, which has to make the largest number of payments, said that it could not pay due to lack of budget. An official of the ministry said, “The finance ministry gave approval to manage the payment of the last year from the allocated budget for the current year, but due to the low budget for the current year, all the payments are yet to be made.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Ramhari Pokhrel, deputy director general of the Department of Roads, gave an example and said, “In the current year, a budget of Rs 10 million is allocated for a bridge, and if the payment of Rs 50 million from the previous year is yet to be made, then the department can pay only Rs 10 million. The remaining Rs 40 million will not be received by the entrepreneurs.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Construction entrepreneurs said that they were excited when the government approved the payment, but they were disappointed because of the lack of implementation. Ravi Singh, the president of the Federation of Contractors Association of Nepal, said that the government is backtracking from its decision.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He said, “The government has pledged to pay the due amount. But the government agencies are facing problems because they do not have enough budget.” He said that if the capital budget is not spent, the economy will not be viable and the construction business as well as other auxiliary industries (such as cement, rods etc.) will also suffer.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-11-03', 'modified' => '2023-11-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '19132', 'image' => '20231103024445_20230605035206_fcann.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-11-03 14:43:18', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19403', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'CAAN Suspends License of Two Tara Air Pilots for Brawling', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 3: The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has suspended the licenses of two pilots. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">November 3: The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has suspended the licenses of two pilots. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">CAAN spokesperson and deputy director general Jagannath Niraula said the license of Senior Captain Santosh Shah and Captain Sanjib Shrestha have been suspended as the two pilots of the Tara Air engaged in a physical assault on the premises of the airport at Manthali, Ramechhap on Friday morning. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"The licenses of the two senior captains have been suspended until further notice due to the breach of the national security standard. Their licenses will be revoked or other action will be taken as per the law after detailed investigation," Niraula added. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">CAAN stated that the reason behind the two pilots belonging to the same company resorting to physical fight is not yet known. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-11-03', 'modified' => '2023-11-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '19131', 'image' => '20231103024259_Tara air.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-11-03 14:42:29', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19402', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Arrival of Tourists Increases in Manang ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 3: As the present weather is considered favourable to visit the mountainous district of Manang, the number of tourists visiting this picturesque region has started increasing. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">November 3: As the present weather is considered favourable to visit the mountainous district of Manang, the number of tourists visiting this picturesque region has started increasing. According to the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP), a total of 9,752 foreign tourists visited the district in the past six months. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The incoming tourists visited both the Annapurna Circuit and the Larke pass in Narpabhumi, said ACAP chief Dhak Bahadur Bhujel. According to him, 928 tourists, both domestic and foreigners, visited the Annapurna Circuit, and 528 tourists toured the Larke pass. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Until mid-October alone, 4,357 foreign tourists entered the area. According to Bhujel, 3,266 tourists visited the area in the Nepali month of Baisakh (mid-April to mid-May), 661 in Jestha (mid-May to mid-June), 259 in Asar (mid-June to mid-July), 296 in Shrawan (mid-July to mid-August), and 913 in Bhadra (mid-August to mid-September). A total of 1,072 tourists had visited the area in the corresponding period of last year. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The number of visitors increased significantly this year compared to last year, he said. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"The main income source here is tourism. There is low revenue collection without the arrival of tourists. The tourism sector has helped the local people sustain," he said. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The locals here are involved in agriculture alongside hotel and tourism business. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The people welcome visiting tourists with locally made food items instead of imported goods, said Binod Gurung, president of the Tourism Entrepreneur Association. "This season, the arrival of tourists has been significant. This has encouraged businesspersons. Nowadays, the inflow of tourists has increased." </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The number of tourists, both domestic and foreign, has increased significantly, he said. "Foreign tourists have already booked hotel rooms. So, the arrangement for their stay has been ensured. On-arrival hotel booking often creates problems. I want to urge aspiring tourists to inquire about the availability of hotel rooms as they might be already booked online." -- RSS</span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">--- </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-11-03', 'modified' => '2023-11-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '19130', 'image' => '20231103014403_20220928123415_Manang.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-11-03 13:43:19', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19401', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'HoR Budget Session Ends ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 3: The budget session of the House of Representatives (HoR) has ended from Thursday midnight. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">November 3: The budget session of the House of Representatives (HoR) has ended from Thursday midnight. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">HoR Speaker Devraj Ghimire read out a letter received from the Office of the President in this regard on Thursday's HoR meeting. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Started on May 7, this session of the HoR held meetings for 180 days and witnessed 65 meetings in 61 days, the Federal Parliament Secretariat said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, six joint meetings of the HoR and National Assembly (NA) were held during the period. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, three question-answer sessions were held with the prime minister on May 18, June 23 and August 29 as per the Rule 56 (5) of the HoR Regulations, 2079 BS. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A total of nine bills were registered in the HoR during this session and three of them were passed from both Houses of parliament. Likewise, three bills are under consideration in the respective committees and two were just tabled in the HoR while another one was registered. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">During this session of the HoR, the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also addressed the joint meeting of the HoR and NA on October 31. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-11-03', 'modified' => '2023-11-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '19129', 'image' => '20231103115010_1698891708.1663413681.Pratinidhi Shabha.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-11-03 11:49:23', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19399', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '3,000 Metric Tons of Sugar Supplied in the Market', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 3: In order to avoid shortage of sugar during Tihar, the government has taken the initiative to supply a stock of 3000 metric tons of sugar kept by Everest Sugar Mill to the market.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">November 3: In order to avoid shortage of sugar during Tihar, the government has taken the initiative to supply a stock of 3000 metric tons of sugar kept by Everest Sugar Mill to the market.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The company has a stock of excess sugar available after selling its products to various beverage companies. The Department of Commerce, Supply and Consumer Protection has taken the initiative to supply this sugar in the market.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Naresh Khadgi, acting president of Nepal Retail Trade Association, informed the state-owned RSS that 160 sacks of sugar were sent to retail shops in Kshetrapati, Sobhabhagavati, Paknajol and Naradevi for sale on Thursday through Guhveshwari Trade Link. He informed that another 600 sacks full of sugar will be sent to shops in the inner city of Kathmandu on Friday.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The sugar provided by the association will be sold at Rs 117 per kg. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"We have instructed our members to sell sugar at Rs 117 per kg," he said, "The consumer should not pay more than the price fixed by the association."</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to him, businessmen have been asked to put up a notice that sugar provided by the association is available in their shops. More than 1,700 retail traders are affiliated to the association in Kathmandu Valley.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Director General of the Department of Commerce, Tirtharaj Chiluwal, said that the shortage of sugar will gradually disappear. He added that a meeting of stakeholders held at the Office of the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers on Thursday decided to adopt all strategies to prevent shortage of sugar in the market. The meeting concluded that sugar is being illegally imported into the Nepal by evading taxes and is being sent to the market at a high price. The meeting decided to mobilize all state agencies to stop the black marketing of sugar.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Director General Chiluwal said that the Nepal Police will check the stock of sugar in all industries in Nepal and discuss with the industrialists to send the excess stock of sugar to the market.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-11-03', 'modified' => '2023-11-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '19128', 'image' => '20231103105412_sugar.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-11-03 10:53:16', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19398', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'World Bank to Provide Concessional Loan of USD 100 Million to Nepal', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 3: The Government of Nepal and the World Bank on Thursday exchanged the digitally-signed financing agreements for a concessional loan worth USD 100 million from the International Development Association and a USD 3.84 million grant from the Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Trust Fund to strengthen the quality, coverage, and resilience of Nepal’s health system. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">November 3: The Government of Nepal and the World Bank on Thursday exchanged the digitally-signed financing agreements for a concessional loan worth USD 100 million from the International Development Association and a USD 3.84 million grant from the Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Trust Fund to strengthen the quality, coverage, and resilience of Nepal’s health system. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">These agreements were digitally signed on October 27, 2023. This is the first World Bank-financed project in Nepal that was digitally signed, according to a statement released by the World Bank Nepal office on Thursday. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The agreements for the Nepal Quality Health Systems Program Operation were signed by Finance Secretary Dr Krishna Hari Pushkar and the World Bank’s Country Director for the Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka, Faris Hadad-Zervos. The agreements were exchanged in the presence of Minister for Finance Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat, World Bank’s Managing Director for Operations, Anna Bjerde and World Bank’s Vice President for South Asia Martin Raiser. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The program will be implemented by the Ministry of Health and Population in coordination with the Health Insurance Board at the federal level, and selected provincial and local levels in Koshi and Gandaki provinces. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The program emphasizes improving the readiness of the health system for delivery of quality healthcare, enhancing coverage of health insurance, and strengthening health emergency preparedness and response capacity at the selected provincial and local levels, adds the statement. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-11-03', 'modified' => '2023-11-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '19126', 'image' => '20231103101247_World-Bank-1024x570-1.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-11-03 10:11:52', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19397', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'ADB’s Commitment to Invest in Dudh Koshi Project', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has expressed its commitment to invest in the Dudh Koshi reservoir-type hydropower project, which has a capacity of 635 megawatts.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">November 3: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has expressed its commitment to invest in the Dudh Koshi reservoir-type hydropower project, which has a capacity of 635 megawatts. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">A high-level team, consisting of the Executive Director of the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) Kul Man Ghising, ADB Director General Ramesh Subramaniam, and ADB-Nepal Resident Mission Director Arnaud Cauchois, conducted an on-site inspection of the project.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">During their visit, the team examined the reservoir area, the power house area and engaged with local representatives in Rabuwa Bazaar, Khotang, where the dam is located. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Director General Subramaniam said that this on-site visit is one of the final inspections before moving forward with the project and mentioned that financial management plans under ADB's leadership would be established soon.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">He emphasized the importance of commencing the project's construction as soon as possible, taking into account technical, environmental, and social considerations.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> The estimated total cost of the project, including interest during the construction period, is $2.20 billion. </span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">A total of $1 billion will be invested in the project by various international financial organizations under ADB's leadership, with ADB committing to provide a $550 million loan for the project.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">ADB Nepal Resident Mission Director Arnaud stated that they are actively working to expedite decision-making processes and have been engaging in frequent discussions with the Government of Nepal.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">He also urged the local community to exercise patience, emphasizing that the Dudh Koshi project is a significant undertaking and the largest dam project in the SAARC region to date. (RSS)</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-11-03', 'modified' => '2023-11-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '19125', 'image' => '20231103054657_collage (1).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-11-03 05:45:12', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = false $xml = falsesimplexml_load_file - [internal], line ?? include - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 133 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
| Currency | Unit |
Buy | Sell |
| U.S. Dollar | 1 | 121.23 | 121.83 |
| European Euro | 1 | 131.65 | 132.31 |
| UK Pound Sterling | 1 | 142.47 | 143.18 |
| Swiss Franc | 1 | 124.29 | 124.90 |
| Australian Dollar | 1 | 71.69 | 72.05 |
| Canadian Dollar | 1 | 83.90 | 84.32 |
| Japanese Yen | 10 | 10.94 | 11.00 |
| Chinese Yuan | 1 | 17.17 | 17.26 |
| Saudi Arabian Riyal | 1 | 32.27 | 32.43 |
| UAE Dirham | 1 | 33.01 | 33.17 |
| Malaysian Ringgit | 1 | 27.36 | 27.50 |
| South Korean Won | 100 | 9.77 | 9.82 |
Update: 2020-03-25 | Source: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB)
| Fine Gold | 1 tola | 77000.00 |
| Tejabi Gold | 1 tola | 76700.00 |
| Silver | 1 tola | 720.00 |
Update : 2020-03-25
Source: Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers' Association
| Petrol | 1 Liter | 106.00 |
| Diesel | 1 Liter | 95.00 |
| Kerosene | 1 Liter | 95.00 |
| LP Gas | 1 Cylinder | 1375.00 |
Update : 2020-03-25
