July 4: The Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) has banned the entry of vehicles within the Hanumandhoka premises. The metropolis took this decision to protect the world Heritage…
July 4: The Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) has banned the entry of vehicles within the Hanumandhoka premises. The metropolis took this decision to protect the world Heritage…
July 4: About a dozen new star and deluxe hotels have come into operation in Nepal from since February 2022. Apart from this, boutique hotels, lodges and resorts have also been added to the…
July 4: All the preparations for the Standard Chartered Newbiz Business Women Summit and Awards 2023 have been…
July 4: The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies has assured that there would be no shortage of food grains anywhere during the rainy season this…
Community school employees in the federal capital, Maitighar, are continuing with their hunger strike, demanding improved services, facilities, and the retention of their…
Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has lowered the prices of diesel, petrol, kerosene, and aviation fuel, effective from Monday midnight. The price adjustments are based on the division of the country's territory into three…
Indian benchmark equity indices continued their rally on July 3, with the BSE Sensex ending above the 65,000 mark for the first time ever, while the NSE Nifty climbed 133.50 points or 0.70% to end at a record high of…
July 3: The National Examinations Board (NEB) is in the final stage of publishing the results of this year’s Secondary Education Examination…
VG Impex Pvt. Ltd., the sole authorized importer and distributor of GWM Brand of Vehicles in Nepal, has partnered with Nabil Bank Limited to provide financing options for GWM…
July 3: The government has held two major investment conferences since revising the existing policy rules to fund foreign direct investment (FDI) in the country.…
July 3: The culture of drinking coffee in Nepal is increasing.…
July 3: Two-way traffic has resumed along the Narayangarh-Muglin road…
July 3: The National Planning Commission (NPC) has brought a calendar to prepare the 16th five-year periodic plan to be enforced from 2081/82 BS to 2085/86 BS.…
July 3: Operators of banks and financial institutions (BFIs) have warned to stop the banking business if the attacks on their employees do not stop right…
Anil Shrestha has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Progressive Finance Limited. The decision was made during a meeting of the Board of Directors held on…
Notice (8): Undefined variable: file [APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 60]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' => '18357', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'KMC Prohibits Vehicles in Hanumandhoka Area', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 4: The Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) has banned the entry of vehicles within the Hanumandhoka premises. The metropolis took this decision to protect the world Heritage Site. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">July 4: The Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) has banned the entry of vehicles within the Hanumandhoka premises. The metropolis took this decision to protect the world Heritage Site. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">KMC Mayor Balendra Shah said it is necessary to preserve the place for its unique identity and ancient heritage. </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"">"These very heritages and their ancient distinctiveness are the ones that we can proudly show to the world. This place can attract hundreds of thousands of tourists," he said on social site. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Noting that thousands of tourists visit Basantapur area daily, Mayor Shah said there is possibility of hundreds of thousands of visitors coming for a visit in future. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He said vehicles have been banned within the Hanumandhoka premises, reiterating it is essential to preserve the uniqueness and aesthetics of the place and to keep the environment of the premises peaceful, clean and pleasing. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-07-04', 'modified' => '2023-07-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18087', 'image' => '20230704021925_20221102120925_20190430021212_1x.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-07-04 14:18:46', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18356', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'A Dozen New Hotels Come into Operation', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 4: About a dozen new star and deluxe hotels have come into operation in Nepal from since February 2022. Apart from this, boutique hotels, lodges and resorts have also been added to the list.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 4: About a dozen new star and deluxe hotels have come into operation in Nepal from since February 2022. Apart from this, boutique hotels, lodges and resorts have also been added to the list. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Some time ago, it seemed challenging to meet the operating expenses of hotels and other businesses that rely on tourists due to the Covid-19 pandemic. However, things are getting better as the viral infection has largely subsided and the World Health Organisation has also removed coronavirus from the global emergency list.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the Economic Survey 2079/80 published by the Ministry of Finance, 11 deluxe and star hotels have come into operation since February last year. With this, the number of such hotels in the country has reached 173. According to the survey, the number of such hotels was 162 till February 2022.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the economic survey, by February of the current fiscal year, 45 new companies in the hospitality business including boutique hotels, lodges and resorts of tourist level have been added to the list. The total number of such hotels and lodges currently stands at 1,228. Last year, this number was 1,183. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">With the increase in the number of hotels from five stars to deluxe, the bed capacity has also increased. By February, the number of beds in star hotels increased by 560 and reached 16,335.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The total number of beds of all types of hotels in Nepal has now reached 37,300. The survey shows that the number of casinos and mini-casinos increased from 24 to 28. Similarly, travel agency, trekking agency, rafting business, tourist transport service business have also increased.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">General Secretary of Hotel Association Nepal (HAN) Sajan Shakya said that although other sectors of the business are not flourishing, investment in the tourism sector has increased. He said, “Investment may have increased due to potential in the tourism sector.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He said that the arrival of new investment in tourism is positive, but the challenge of increasing the number of tourists is also there. Now there are three international airports in the country. Although hoteliers say that they can serve millions of tourists with the existing infrastructure, there is a record of 1.2 million tourists arriving in Nepal in a year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In the years after the Covid-19 pandemic, there has been an improvement in the arrival of tourists. The arrival of tourists, which fell to 150,000 in 2021, has now exceeded 400,000 in the first 5 months of 2023. In 2022, 614,148 tourists visited Nepal. </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-07-04', 'modified' => '2023-07-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18086', 'image' => '20230704010219_20221121092031_Clipboard64.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-07-04 12:58:03', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18355', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Preparations for Newbiz Business Women's Summit and Awards Completed', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 4: All the preparations for the Standard Chartered Newbiz Business Women Summit and Awards 2023 have been completed.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 4: All the preparations for the Standard Chartered Newbiz Business Women Summit and Awards 2023 have been completed, according to the organizer – New Business Age Pvt Ltd which has been organizing this event annually with the aim of encouraging successful businesspersons and women entrepreneurs.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The first session of the event will feature the summit during which a panel discussion on the theme of 'Women Entrepreneurs in the Digital Age' will be held. Key speakers during the panel discussion will be Radhika Aryal, joint secretary of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Rumee Singh, co-founder of Rumsan Nepal, and Seema Golcha, director of Golcha Group.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The panel discussion will be moderated by Michael Siddi, Transaction Country Head of Standard Chartered Bank Nepal.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The awards will be distributed in the second session of the program, in which one best female entrepreneur will be selected as Entrepreneurial Woman of the Year from all seven provinces.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Likewise, the Lifetime Achievement Award, Social Entrepreneur of the Year Award, Woman in Tech of the Year Award, Professional Woman of the Year Award, Business Woman of the Year Award, Woman Entrepreneur of the Year Award will also be distributed during the program.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The organizers informed that the best women entrepreneurs selected from all over the country will be honored amid a special program to be held in Kathmandu on coming Friday.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to New Business Age Pvt. Ltd., about 2000 women entrepreneurs from seven provinces have been nominated for the award.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The best entrepreneurs in more than seven different categories will be honored in a special ceremony. New Business Age has been organizing various events since 2013 to encourage enterprise and business. The program to honor women entrepreneurs was started in 2021.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Standard Chartered Bank is the main sponsor of the event.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, IME Life Insurance is the life insurance partner of the event, and Salico (Sagarmatha Lumbini Insurance Company Limited) is the non-life insurance partner. The awards program is supported by Salt Trading Corporation, Machhapuchhre Bank, Sun Life Insurance, Reliable Life Insurance, Sitaram Milk, Sangrila Development Bank, Honda Grazia, Agriculture Development Bank Limited and Byanjan. WorldLink is the internet partner while New V Rhoto is the eyecare partner.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-07-04', 'modified' => '2023-07-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18085', 'image' => '20230704120905_aaaaa.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-07-04 12:05:01', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18354', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'No Shortage of Food Grains during Rainy Season ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 4: The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies has assured that there would be no shortage of food grains anywhere during the rainy season this year. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">July 4: The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies has assured that there would be no shortage of food grains anywhere during the rainy season this year. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">There is adequate stock of food grains in warehouses across the country, said officials of the ministry, adding that the process to purchase additional food grains is underway. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the state-owned Food Management and Trading Company, currently there is a stock of 36,356 quintals of food grains in Kathmandu Valley and the Tarai districts. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, there is a stock of 25,505 quintals of food grains in remote districts, added the company. The company has a stock of 26,375 quintals of paddy. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Meanwhile, the Salt Trading Corporation is preparing to import 34,320 quintals of wheat immediately from India under the quota system. The corporation has a stock of 266,300 quintals of food grains. An additional 89,100 quintals of food grains will be arriving from India as per the agreement reached with the southern neighbor. The shipment has already been loaded, according to officials of the Salt Trading Corporation. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The state-owned companies responsible for distributing food grains have already supplied 17,830 metric tonnes of food grains in remote districts as of June 27 of the current fiscal year. The quota of food grains has been increased in Humla. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The company clarified that there is sufficient stock of good grains in eastern districts as well --- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-07-04', 'modified' => '2023-07-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18084', 'image' => '20230704111115_20200515035749_hinkstockphotos.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-07-04 11:10:31', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18353', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'School Employees Continue Their Hunger Strike', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Community school employees in the federal capital, Maitighar, are continuing with their hunger strike, demanding improved services, facilities, and the retention of their quota.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:19.0pt">July 4: Community school employees in the federal capital, Maitighar, are continuing with their hunger strike, demanding improved services, facilities, and the retention of their quota.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:19.0pt"> The hunger strike has now entered its 22nd day and involves employees from approximately 60 community schools, said Shanti Nath Yogi, General Secretary of the School Employees Council.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:19.0pt">The hunger-striking employees are currently facing difficulties regarding food and accommodation, according to Yogi. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:19.0pt">Although the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology initiated discussions with the protesting employees on June 18 through the formation of a committee for talks, no agreement has been reached thus far.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:19.0pt">Yogi announced that the Council is preparing additional protest programs due to the lack of agreement regarding their demands. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:19.0pt">The Ministry's talks team, led by Chudamani Poudel, the Director General of the Centre for Education and Human Resource Development, also includes Under-Secretaries from the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:19.0pt">Poudel stated that the Ministry of Finance has not responded to the issue of additional budget allocation to meet the employees' demands.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:19.0pt">Following the government's invitation for talks, the Council withdrew its plan to close schools. However, the hunger strike continues to press the government to fulfill their demands. (RSS)</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-07-04', 'modified' => '2023-07-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18083', 'image' => '20230704061406_collage (13).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-07-04 06:12:21', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18352', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NOC Slashes Prices of Petroleum Products', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has lowered the prices of diesel, petrol, kerosene, and aviation fuel, effective from Monday midnight. The price adjustments are based on the division of the country's territory into three categories.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">July 4: Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has lowered the prices of diesel, petrol, kerosene, and aviation fuel, effective from Monday midnight. </span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The price adjustments are based on the division of the country's territory into three categories.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In the first category, the prices of diesel, petrol, and kerosene have been reduced by Rs 7.50. In the second category, the reduction is Rs 6, and in the third category, it is Rs 5.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">As per the revised prices, petrol will now cost Rs 167.50 per litre in the first category, Rs 169 in the second category, and Rs 170 in the third category. </span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">This marks a decrease from the previous uniform price of Rs 175 per litre across the entire country. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Diesel and kerosene prices are now Rs 147.50 per litre in the first category, Rs 149 per litre in the second category, and Rs 150 per litre in the third category.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">NOC has categorized specific cities and regions accordingly. The first category includes Charali, Biratnagar, Janakpur, Birgunj, Amalekhgunj, Bhalbari, Nepalgunj, and Dhangadi. </span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Surkhet and Dang are part of the second category, while Kathmandu, Pokhara, and Dipayal fall into the third category.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Additionally, the price of domestic aviation fuel has been reduced by Rs 14 per litre. The price of international aviation fuel has been slashed to 1.035 US Dollar from 1.150 US dollars per kiloliter. </span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">However, the price of LP gas or cooking gas remains unchanged at this time.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-07-04', 'modified' => '2023-07-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18082', 'image' => '20230704055414_collage (12).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-07-04 05:52:26', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18351', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Sensex Crosses 65,000; Nifty Hits Record High as Bulls Dominate Dalal Street', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Indian benchmark equity indices continued their rally on July 3, with the BSE Sensex ending above the 65,000 mark for the first time ever, while the NSE Nifty climbed 133.50 points or 0.70% to end at a record high of 19,322.55.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">July 3: Indian benchmark equity indices continued their rally on July 3, with the BSE Sensex ending above the 65,000 mark for the first time ever, while the NSE Nifty climbed 133.50 points or 0.70% to end at a record high of 19,322.55.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Hectic buying in index majors Reliance Industries, ITC and HDFC twins also added to the market momentum, traders said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Rallying for the fourth straight session, the 30-share BSE Sensex jumped 486.49 points or 0.75% to settle at its all-time closing high of 65,205.05. During the day, it rallied 581.79 points or 0.89% to its lifetime intra-day high of 65,300.35.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The NSE Nifty climbed 133.50 points or 0.70% to end at a record high of 19,322.55. In intra-day trade, the benchmark zoomed 156.05 points or 0.81% to hit its all-time intra-day peak of 19,345.10. <span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Market benchmarks settled at record highs for the third straight session on Monday.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Reliance Industries was the top gainer in the Sensex chart, rising 2.53%, followed by ITC, Bajaj Finance, State Bank of India, HDFC, UltraTech Cement, NTPC, HDFC Bank, Mahindra & Mahindra, Tata Steel, Bajaj Finserv and ICICI Bank.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">In contrast, Power Grid, Maruti, Larsen & Toubro, Tata Consultancy Services, Tech Mahindra, Nestle and Tata Motors were among the laggards, skidding up to 1.86%.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">In Asian markets, Seoul, Tokyo, Shanghai and Hong Kong ended in the green.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Equity markets in Europe were trading in the positive territory.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">These remarkable gains reflect the growing optimism among investors as inflationary pressures in the United States appear to be moderating. This development has sparked renewed confidence in the equity markets, propelling Indian shares to unprecedented heights. (Agencies) </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-07-03', 'modified' => '2023-07-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18081', 'image' => '20230703051110_collage (66).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-07-03 17:09:15', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18350', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Examination Board to Publish SEE Results within this Week ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 3: The National Examinations Board (NEB) is in the final stage of publishing the results of this year’s Secondary Education Examination (SEE).', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">July 3: The National Examinations Board (NEB) is in the final stage of publishing the results of this year’s Secondary Education Examination (SEE).</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 board’s Chairperson Dr Mahashram Sharma said that they are currently recording results in the computer system after completing answer sheet checking. He added that re-checking and tallying the results have also been done already. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"We are working tirelessly to publish the results in the first week of July. Only technical work remains," he said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">SEE started on 31st March, 2023. A total 485,396 students from 12,083 schools (both community and private) sat for the tests in 2,037 examination centres across the country. The examinees included 242,712 girls and 242,674 boys. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-07-03', 'modified' => '2023-07-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18080', 'image' => '20230703044048_exam-media1619757704.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-07-03 16:39:54', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18349', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'VG Impex Partners with Nabil Bank to Provide Financing for GWM Vehicles in Nepal', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'VG Impex Pvt. Ltd., the sole authorized importer and distributor of GWM Brand of Vehicles in Nepal, has partnered with Nabil Bank Limited to provide financing options for GWM vehicles.', 'content' => '<p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:15.0pt">July 3: VG Impex Pvt. Ltd., the sole authorized importer and distributor of GWM Brand of Vehicles in Nepal, has partnered with Nabil Bank Limited to provide financing options for GWM vehicles.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:15.0pt"> The agreement covers both Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) models, including Haval Jolion, Haval H6, GWM Poer, and GWM Wingle 5, as well as the Electric Vehicle (EV) model Ora 03.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:15.0pt"> Mr. Rupesh Sharma Bhatta, Vice President of VG Impex (GWM-Nepal), and Ms. Chandani Shrestha, Head of Retail Lending at Nabil Bank Limited, signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to solidify the collaboration on June 30. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:15.0pt">Under the MOU, customers will have the option to finance their preferred GWM models through Nabil Bank. Auto loans of up to 50% of the vehicle's value will be available for ICE models at an interest rate of 12.90%, while for EVs, up to 80% financing will be offered at a rate of 12.15%. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:15.0pt">The loan tenure for both types of vehicles will be 7 years. To apply for an auto loan, interested customers can visit their nearest Nabil Bank Branch with the necessary documents.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:15.0pt">Through this partnership with one of Nepal's largest banks, VG Impex aims to make GWM vehicles more accessible to a wider range of automobile enthusiasts in Nepal.</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-07-03', 'modified' => '2023-07-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18079', 'image' => '20230703043148_collage (64).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-07-03 16:30:47', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18348', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Foreign Investors Commit Rs 17.32 Billion to 247 Projects of Minimum Threshold', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 3: The government has held two major investment conferences since revising the existing policy rules to fund foreign direct investment (FDI) in the country. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 3: The government has held two major investment conferences since revising the existing policy rules to fund foreign direct investment (FDI) in the country. Investors seem to be focused on the minimum limit (threshold) of foreign investment set by the government.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The government has been revising this threshold time and again. Due to this, the data of the department shows that foreign investors are more focused on getting investment approved in projects with minimum limit.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The government last reduced the foreign investment threshold to Rs 20 million in mid-September to mid-October last 2022. Prior to this, the minimum threshold was fixed at Rs 50 million in mid-May to mid-June 2019. Before that, the minimum limit for foreign investment was Rs 5 million.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Looking at the statistics of the Department of Industry, it seems that foreign investors are focusing on proposing projects and getting them approved within this limit. They are more interested in investing in projects of Rs 20 million rather than big or medium-sized projects. The data for 11 months of the current fiscal year (FY) 2022/23 also validates this fact.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">During this period, 274 project proposals for foreign investment have been approved. Majority of those 247 projects are small-scale industries. According to the data released by the department a few days ago, foreign investment has been approved for 5 big and 22 medium-sized projects.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Foreign investors have expressed their commitment to invest a total of Rs 34.58 billion in Nepal as of the 11th month of the current fiscal year. Half of that commitment has come to small-scale industries. The department said that Rs 17.32 billion investment commitments have been received in 247 small-scale projects. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Shankar Singh Dhami, director of the foreign investment and technology transfer branch of the department, said that investors have poured investment into small-scale industries and projects after the investment cap was reduced.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He said that the proposals and commitments coming on a small scale are in the fields of services, hotels, restaurants, cargo handling, and construction. Projects with a fixed capital of Rs 20 million to Rs 150 million are approved and registered with the Department of Industries.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Officials of the department share that investment commitment is positive, but they doubt whether the projects are coming only for visa approval, or to genuinely support the economy in Nepal.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Former Industry Secretary Krishna Gyawali opined that investors may find it difficult to invest in large and medium projects because it requires more investment and preparation.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">"On the other hand, investors may also fear that there will be problems in investment due to policy changes," he said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Since small investments do not contribute much to the economy and are more troublesome, there have been repeated attempts to increase the minimum investment threshold.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-07-03', 'modified' => '2023-07-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18078', 'image' => '20230703031121_Foreign investment.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-07-03 15:09:59', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18347', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Coffee Imports Increasing due to Lack of Domestic Production', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 3: The culture of drinking coffee in Nepal is increasing. ', '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"">July 3: The culture of drinking coffee in Nepal is increasing. However, because there is not enough coffee production in the country, coffee worth millions of rupees is being imported every year. Experts in this field say that the number of cafes, restaurants and coffee culture in Nepal has increased, so the domestic production has not been able to meet the demand for coffee.</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 climate of Nepal is considered good for coffee cultivation. However, as the production is not able to meet the demand, there is still a lot of imports. Even though coffee cultivation started in </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">1995</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">, Nepal has not been able to become self-sufficient in coffee. </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 National Tea and Coffee Development Board, coffee is grown in </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">44</span></span> <span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">mid-hills districts of Nepal. According to the board, </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">31</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"">389</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> farmers are involved in this profession.</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 produced </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">354.9</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> metric tons of green bean coffee in </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">3</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"">346</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> hectares of land during the last fiscal year. The data of the last </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">5</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> years show that there has been a significant decrease in coffee production. In the fiscal year (FY) </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">2071/72</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">, a total of </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">463.58</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> metric tons of coffee was produced in Nepal, but it has decreased to </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">354.9</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> metric tons in the fiscal year </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">2078/79. </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Coffee production has decreased by </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">23</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> percent in eight years.</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 data of the Department of Customs, in the </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">11</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> months of the current fiscal year, the country imported coffee worth Rs 312.77 million. In the same period last year, coffee worth Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">115.7</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> million was imported. As the production in the country is not encouraging, the import of coffee has increased by </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">70</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> percent and the price has increased by </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">170</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"">If we look at the data of the last eight</span></span> <span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">years, it seems that the import of coffee has increased a lot. In the FY </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">2071/72</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">, altogether </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">66 </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">metric tons of coffee was imported, and in the year </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">2078/79</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">, it increased to </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">279 </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">metric tons. Compared to the year </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">2071/72</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">, the import has increased by </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">322 </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">percent in the year </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">2078/79. </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"">Chandra Puri, Agricultural Development Officer of the National Tea and Coffee Development Board, says that the demand for coffee in Nepal is high. However, the country is forced to import coffee due to lack of production.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-07-03', 'modified' => '2023-07-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18077', 'image' => '20230703020046_20221204030252_1669933354.Clipboard05.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-07-03 13:59:53', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18346', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Two-way Traffic Resumes on Narayangarh-Muglin Road Section ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 3: Two-way traffic has resumed along the Narayangarh-Muglin road section. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">July 3: Two-way traffic has resumed along the Narayangarh-Muglin road section. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the Area Police Office, Muglin, the two-way road traffic was disrupted again on Monday morning after a landslide occurred at bridge number three of Ichhakamana-5. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The vehicular movement was brought to normalcy after clearing off the landslide debris, informed Inspector Bishal Tamang, chief of the Area Police Office, Muglin. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the police, the driver of a truck with registration number Na 6 Kha 710 was injured in a landslide on Monday morning. Injured driver is undergoing treatment at Muglin Highway Hospital, police said. </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"">Frequent landslides have been obstructing the Narayangarh-Muglin road section time and again.</span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Prior to this, the road that was closed on Thursday due to landslide at the same place. </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 road was blocked again on Saturday night. Vehicular movement had resumed on Sunday evening after 18 hours. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-07-03', 'modified' => '2023-07-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18076', 'image' => '20230703011459_HLG_MUGLIN_IMG_9554.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-07-03 13:13:34', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18345', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NPC brings Calendar to Prepare 16th Periodic Plan ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 3: The National Planning Commission (NPC) has brought a calendar to prepare the 16th five-year periodic plan to be enforced from 2081/82 BS to 2085/86 BS. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">July 3: The National Planning Commission (NPC) has brought a calendar to prepare the 16th five-year periodic plan to be enforced from 2081/82 BS to 2085/86 BS. It has issued a 'work procedure on institutional management for preparation of the 16th periodic plan, 2080'. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">As per the work procedure, activities began from June 4 and they would be concluded with the periodic plan getting endorsed by mid-February 2024. Similarly, the interviews with experts would conclude as part of the preparation of the plan by mid-July this year. The NPC is to endorse the draft of the concept paper of 16th periodic plan by July 23. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A direction committee has been formed under the coordination of NPC vice chairman while five thematic committees have been formed under the coordination of NPC members. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The federal planning body of the country is all set to gather thematic information from the concerned ministries by August 24. Overall economic and investment framework will be completed by the end of August. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The work procedure further states that by upcoming October 8, the National Development Council would be formed and its members handed over the integrated preliminary draft of the 16th periodic plan. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The NPC said that the 16th five-year periodic plan to be enforced from the beginning of the fiscal year 2081/82 BS would be prepared by taking into account the Constitution of Nepal, national and sectoral policies, 15th periodic plan and its review, LDC Graduation Strategy, achievements of SDGs, and mid-term expenditure framework, among others. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Currently, discussions with the subject experts are going on. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The thematic committees formed for the preparation of 16th five-year plan will cover issues such as the overall economic outline and plans, economic sector, infrastructures and environment sector, social sector and institutional development and good governance. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-07-03', 'modified' => '2023-07-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18075', 'image' => '20230703105203_image.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-07-03 10:44:46', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18343', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'BFIs Warn of Shutting their Business if Attack Continues', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 3: Operators of banks and financial institutions (BFIs) have warned to stop the banking business if the attacks on their employees do not stop right away.', '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"">July 3: Operators of banks and financial institutions (BFIs) have warned to stop the banking business if the attacks on their employees do not stop right away.</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 Confederation of Banks and Financial Institutions Nepal (CIBFIN), an umbrella organization of bank and financial institutions, issued a press statement on Sunday demanding security guarantee from the government and legal action against individuals or groups who attack banks and financial institutions. The statement has also urged the government to make effective security arrangements for the operation of banking business.</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"">Recently, disputes between businessmen and banks have increased after banks and financial institutions emphasized on debt recovery. In some districts, the businessmen protested against the bank and also resorted to physical attacks on bank employees.</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 meeting of the confederation held on Friday decided to file a complaint for legal action against individuals or groups who attack banks and financial institutions and their employees. They say that efforts to discourage non-payment of loan interest and to physically assault, humiliate, or prevent employees from doing their jobs are being done continuously in various places.</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 Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">CBFIN and all its affiliate members are fully committed to file a complaint against any person or organization that causes damage to the credibility or property of banks and financial institutions under any pretext by creating obstacles in the banking business," said a banker after the meeting. The statement released by CBFIN has urged the prime minister, home minister, home secretary, inspector general of police, chief district officers of </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">77</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> districts and all stakeholders to make effective security arrangements for banks and financial institutions and all employees.</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 association has also warned that if the government is not able to create an environment for operation of banks, the banking services will be completely closed. </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"">“If the government and its agencies cannot ensure an environment that facilitates the fulfillment of duties and responsibilities by using the rights given to banks and financial institutions in a safe environment, then all banks and financial institutions licensed by Nepal Rastra Bank may have to completely shut their services,” reads the statement, adding, “This will create a serious crisis for all stakeholders including the depositors, creditors and ultimately create an unimaginable crisis in the economy as a whole, so we want to draw the attention of all concerned.”</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"">Earlier, Nepal Bankers Association, Development Bankers Association Nepal, Nepal Financial Institutions Association and Nepal Microfinance Bankers Association had also issued a joint statement and warned that they will act strongly against the continued threat to banks and financial institutions.</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 bankers say that some people have obstructed the service delivery of some branches of banks and financial institutions as well as microfinance companies in Itahari, Sunsari, Birtamod and other places of eastern Nepal. They added that the employees have been threatened and customers deprived of essential banking services. </span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-07-03', 'modified' => '2023-07-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18073', 'image' => '20230703103256_Banks - Copy.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-07-03 10:31:37', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18342', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Anil Shrestha Appointed New CEO of Progressive Finance Limited', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Anil Shrestha has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Progressive Finance Limited. The decision was made during a meeting of the Board of Directors held on Friday.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20.0pt">July 3: Anil Shrestha has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Progressive Finance Limited. The decision was made during a meeting of the Board of Directors held on Friday.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20.0pt">Shrestha, with 27 years of experience in various financial institutions, including 13 years as the CEO of Reliance Finance, brings a wealth of expertise to his new role.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20.0pt"> His strong leadership in financial risk management and compliance is expected to propel Progressive Finance to new heights. Shrestha will serve as CEO for a tenure of four years.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20.0pt">Shrestha has expressed his commitment to making the finance strong, capable and excellent in every possible way. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-07-03', 'modified' => '2023-07-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18072', 'image' => '20230703060909_collage (11).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-07-03 06:07:59', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, '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' => '18357', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'KMC Prohibits Vehicles in Hanumandhoka Area', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 4: The Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) has banned the entry of vehicles within the Hanumandhoka premises. The metropolis took this decision to protect the world Heritage Site. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">July 4: The Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) has banned the entry of vehicles within the Hanumandhoka premises. The metropolis took this decision to protect the world Heritage Site. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">KMC Mayor Balendra Shah said it is necessary to preserve the place for its unique identity and ancient heritage. </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"">"These very heritages and their ancient distinctiveness are the ones that we can proudly show to the world. This place can attract hundreds of thousands of tourists," he said on social site. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Noting that thousands of tourists visit Basantapur area daily, Mayor Shah said there is possibility of hundreds of thousands of visitors coming for a visit in future. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He said vehicles have been banned within the Hanumandhoka premises, reiterating it is essential to preserve the uniqueness and aesthetics of the place and to keep the environment of the premises peaceful, clean and pleasing. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-07-04', 'modified' => '2023-07-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18087', 'image' => '20230704021925_20221102120925_20190430021212_1x.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-07-04 14:18:46', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18356', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'A Dozen New Hotels Come into Operation', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 4: About a dozen new star and deluxe hotels have come into operation in Nepal from since February 2022. Apart from this, boutique hotels, lodges and resorts have also been added to the list.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 4: About a dozen new star and deluxe hotels have come into operation in Nepal from since February 2022. Apart from this, boutique hotels, lodges and resorts have also been added to the list. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Some time ago, it seemed challenging to meet the operating expenses of hotels and other businesses that rely on tourists due to the Covid-19 pandemic. However, things are getting better as the viral infection has largely subsided and the World Health Organisation has also removed coronavirus from the global emergency list.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the Economic Survey 2079/80 published by the Ministry of Finance, 11 deluxe and star hotels have come into operation since February last year. With this, the number of such hotels in the country has reached 173. According to the survey, the number of such hotels was 162 till February 2022.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the economic survey, by February of the current fiscal year, 45 new companies in the hospitality business including boutique hotels, lodges and resorts of tourist level have been added to the list. The total number of such hotels and lodges currently stands at 1,228. Last year, this number was 1,183. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">With the increase in the number of hotels from five stars to deluxe, the bed capacity has also increased. By February, the number of beds in star hotels increased by 560 and reached 16,335.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The total number of beds of all types of hotels in Nepal has now reached 37,300. The survey shows that the number of casinos and mini-casinos increased from 24 to 28. Similarly, travel agency, trekking agency, rafting business, tourist transport service business have also increased.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">General Secretary of Hotel Association Nepal (HAN) Sajan Shakya said that although other sectors of the business are not flourishing, investment in the tourism sector has increased. He said, “Investment may have increased due to potential in the tourism sector.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He said that the arrival of new investment in tourism is positive, but the challenge of increasing the number of tourists is also there. Now there are three international airports in the country. Although hoteliers say that they can serve millions of tourists with the existing infrastructure, there is a record of 1.2 million tourists arriving in Nepal in a year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In the years after the Covid-19 pandemic, there has been an improvement in the arrival of tourists. The arrival of tourists, which fell to 150,000 in 2021, has now exceeded 400,000 in the first 5 months of 2023. In 2022, 614,148 tourists visited Nepal. </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-07-04', 'modified' => '2023-07-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18086', 'image' => '20230704010219_20221121092031_Clipboard64.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-07-04 12:58:03', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18355', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Preparations for Newbiz Business Women's Summit and Awards Completed', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 4: All the preparations for the Standard Chartered Newbiz Business Women Summit and Awards 2023 have been completed.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 4: All the preparations for the Standard Chartered Newbiz Business Women Summit and Awards 2023 have been completed, according to the organizer – New Business Age Pvt Ltd which has been organizing this event annually with the aim of encouraging successful businesspersons and women entrepreneurs.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The first session of the event will feature the summit during which a panel discussion on the theme of 'Women Entrepreneurs in the Digital Age' will be held. Key speakers during the panel discussion will be Radhika Aryal, joint secretary of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Rumee Singh, co-founder of Rumsan Nepal, and Seema Golcha, director of Golcha Group.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The panel discussion will be moderated by Michael Siddi, Transaction Country Head of Standard Chartered Bank Nepal.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The awards will be distributed in the second session of the program, in which one best female entrepreneur will be selected as Entrepreneurial Woman of the Year from all seven provinces.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Likewise, the Lifetime Achievement Award, Social Entrepreneur of the Year Award, Woman in Tech of the Year Award, Professional Woman of the Year Award, Business Woman of the Year Award, Woman Entrepreneur of the Year Award will also be distributed during the program.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The organizers informed that the best women entrepreneurs selected from all over the country will be honored amid a special program to be held in Kathmandu on coming Friday.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to New Business Age Pvt. Ltd., about 2000 women entrepreneurs from seven provinces have been nominated for the award.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The best entrepreneurs in more than seven different categories will be honored in a special ceremony. New Business Age has been organizing various events since 2013 to encourage enterprise and business. The program to honor women entrepreneurs was started in 2021.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Standard Chartered Bank is the main sponsor of the event.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, IME Life Insurance is the life insurance partner of the event, and Salico (Sagarmatha Lumbini Insurance Company Limited) is the non-life insurance partner. The awards program is supported by Salt Trading Corporation, Machhapuchhre Bank, Sun Life Insurance, Reliable Life Insurance, Sitaram Milk, Sangrila Development Bank, Honda Grazia, Agriculture Development Bank Limited and Byanjan. WorldLink is the internet partner while New V Rhoto is the eyecare partner.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-07-04', 'modified' => '2023-07-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18085', 'image' => '20230704120905_aaaaa.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-07-04 12:05:01', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18354', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'No Shortage of Food Grains during Rainy Season ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 4: The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies has assured that there would be no shortage of food grains anywhere during the rainy season this year. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">July 4: The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies has assured that there would be no shortage of food grains anywhere during the rainy season this year. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">There is adequate stock of food grains in warehouses across the country, said officials of the ministry, adding that the process to purchase additional food grains is underway. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the state-owned Food Management and Trading Company, currently there is a stock of 36,356 quintals of food grains in Kathmandu Valley and the Tarai districts. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, there is a stock of 25,505 quintals of food grains in remote districts, added the company. The company has a stock of 26,375 quintals of paddy. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Meanwhile, the Salt Trading Corporation is preparing to import 34,320 quintals of wheat immediately from India under the quota system. The corporation has a stock of 266,300 quintals of food grains. An additional 89,100 quintals of food grains will be arriving from India as per the agreement reached with the southern neighbor. The shipment has already been loaded, according to officials of the Salt Trading Corporation. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The state-owned companies responsible for distributing food grains have already supplied 17,830 metric tonnes of food grains in remote districts as of June 27 of the current fiscal year. The quota of food grains has been increased in Humla. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The company clarified that there is sufficient stock of good grains in eastern districts as well --- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-07-04', 'modified' => '2023-07-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18084', 'image' => '20230704111115_20200515035749_hinkstockphotos.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-07-04 11:10:31', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18353', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'School Employees Continue Their Hunger Strike', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Community school employees in the federal capital, Maitighar, are continuing with their hunger strike, demanding improved services, facilities, and the retention of their quota.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:19.0pt">July 4: Community school employees in the federal capital, Maitighar, are continuing with their hunger strike, demanding improved services, facilities, and the retention of their quota.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:19.0pt"> The hunger strike has now entered its 22nd day and involves employees from approximately 60 community schools, said Shanti Nath Yogi, General Secretary of the School Employees Council.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:19.0pt">The hunger-striking employees are currently facing difficulties regarding food and accommodation, according to Yogi. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:19.0pt">Although the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology initiated discussions with the protesting employees on June 18 through the formation of a committee for talks, no agreement has been reached thus far.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:19.0pt">Yogi announced that the Council is preparing additional protest programs due to the lack of agreement regarding their demands. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:19.0pt">The Ministry's talks team, led by Chudamani Poudel, the Director General of the Centre for Education and Human Resource Development, also includes Under-Secretaries from the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:19.0pt">Poudel stated that the Ministry of Finance has not responded to the issue of additional budget allocation to meet the employees' demands.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:19.0pt">Following the government's invitation for talks, the Council withdrew its plan to close schools. However, the hunger strike continues to press the government to fulfill their demands. (RSS)</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-07-04', 'modified' => '2023-07-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18083', 'image' => '20230704061406_collage (13).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-07-04 06:12:21', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18352', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NOC Slashes Prices of Petroleum Products', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has lowered the prices of diesel, petrol, kerosene, and aviation fuel, effective from Monday midnight. The price adjustments are based on the division of the country's territory into three categories.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">July 4: Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has lowered the prices of diesel, petrol, kerosene, and aviation fuel, effective from Monday midnight. </span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The price adjustments are based on the division of the country's territory into three categories.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In the first category, the prices of diesel, petrol, and kerosene have been reduced by Rs 7.50. In the second category, the reduction is Rs 6, and in the third category, it is Rs 5.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">As per the revised prices, petrol will now cost Rs 167.50 per litre in the first category, Rs 169 in the second category, and Rs 170 in the third category. </span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">This marks a decrease from the previous uniform price of Rs 175 per litre across the entire country. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Diesel and kerosene prices are now Rs 147.50 per litre in the first category, Rs 149 per litre in the second category, and Rs 150 per litre in the third category.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">NOC has categorized specific cities and regions accordingly. The first category includes Charali, Biratnagar, Janakpur, Birgunj, Amalekhgunj, Bhalbari, Nepalgunj, and Dhangadi. </span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Surkhet and Dang are part of the second category, while Kathmandu, Pokhara, and Dipayal fall into the third category.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Additionally, the price of domestic aviation fuel has been reduced by Rs 14 per litre. The price of international aviation fuel has been slashed to 1.035 US Dollar from 1.150 US dollars per kiloliter. </span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">However, the price of LP gas or cooking gas remains unchanged at this time.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-07-04', 'modified' => '2023-07-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18082', 'image' => '20230704055414_collage (12).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-07-04 05:52:26', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18351', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Sensex Crosses 65,000; Nifty Hits Record High as Bulls Dominate Dalal Street', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Indian benchmark equity indices continued their rally on July 3, with the BSE Sensex ending above the 65,000 mark for the first time ever, while the NSE Nifty climbed 133.50 points or 0.70% to end at a record high of 19,322.55.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">July 3: Indian benchmark equity indices continued their rally on July 3, with the BSE Sensex ending above the 65,000 mark for the first time ever, while the NSE Nifty climbed 133.50 points or 0.70% to end at a record high of 19,322.55.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Hectic buying in index majors Reliance Industries, ITC and HDFC twins also added to the market momentum, traders said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Rallying for the fourth straight session, the 30-share BSE Sensex jumped 486.49 points or 0.75% to settle at its all-time closing high of 65,205.05. During the day, it rallied 581.79 points or 0.89% to its lifetime intra-day high of 65,300.35.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The NSE Nifty climbed 133.50 points or 0.70% to end at a record high of 19,322.55. In intra-day trade, the benchmark zoomed 156.05 points or 0.81% to hit its all-time intra-day peak of 19,345.10. <span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Market benchmarks settled at record highs for the third straight session on Monday.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Reliance Industries was the top gainer in the Sensex chart, rising 2.53%, followed by ITC, Bajaj Finance, State Bank of India, HDFC, UltraTech Cement, NTPC, HDFC Bank, Mahindra & Mahindra, Tata Steel, Bajaj Finserv and ICICI Bank.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">In contrast, Power Grid, Maruti, Larsen & Toubro, Tata Consultancy Services, Tech Mahindra, Nestle and Tata Motors were among the laggards, skidding up to 1.86%.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">In Asian markets, Seoul, Tokyo, Shanghai and Hong Kong ended in the green.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Equity markets in Europe were trading in the positive territory.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">These remarkable gains reflect the growing optimism among investors as inflationary pressures in the United States appear to be moderating. This development has sparked renewed confidence in the equity markets, propelling Indian shares to unprecedented heights. (Agencies) </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-07-03', 'modified' => '2023-07-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18081', 'image' => '20230703051110_collage (66).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-07-03 17:09:15', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18350', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Examination Board to Publish SEE Results within this Week ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 3: The National Examinations Board (NEB) is in the final stage of publishing the results of this year’s Secondary Education Examination (SEE).', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">July 3: The National Examinations Board (NEB) is in the final stage of publishing the results of this year’s Secondary Education Examination (SEE).</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 board’s Chairperson Dr Mahashram Sharma said that they are currently recording results in the computer system after completing answer sheet checking. He added that re-checking and tallying the results have also been done already. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"We are working tirelessly to publish the results in the first week of July. Only technical work remains," he said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">SEE started on 31st March, 2023. A total 485,396 students from 12,083 schools (both community and private) sat for the tests in 2,037 examination centres across the country. The examinees included 242,712 girls and 242,674 boys. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-07-03', 'modified' => '2023-07-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18080', 'image' => '20230703044048_exam-media1619757704.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-07-03 16:39:54', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18349', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'VG Impex Partners with Nabil Bank to Provide Financing for GWM Vehicles in Nepal', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'VG Impex Pvt. Ltd., the sole authorized importer and distributor of GWM Brand of Vehicles in Nepal, has partnered with Nabil Bank Limited to provide financing options for GWM vehicles.', 'content' => '<p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:15.0pt">July 3: VG Impex Pvt. Ltd., the sole authorized importer and distributor of GWM Brand of Vehicles in Nepal, has partnered with Nabil Bank Limited to provide financing options for GWM vehicles.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:15.0pt"> The agreement covers both Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) models, including Haval Jolion, Haval H6, GWM Poer, and GWM Wingle 5, as well as the Electric Vehicle (EV) model Ora 03.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:15.0pt"> Mr. Rupesh Sharma Bhatta, Vice President of VG Impex (GWM-Nepal), and Ms. Chandani Shrestha, Head of Retail Lending at Nabil Bank Limited, signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to solidify the collaboration on June 30. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:15.0pt">Under the MOU, customers will have the option to finance their preferred GWM models through Nabil Bank. Auto loans of up to 50% of the vehicle's value will be available for ICE models at an interest rate of 12.90%, while for EVs, up to 80% financing will be offered at a rate of 12.15%. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:15.0pt">The loan tenure for both types of vehicles will be 7 years. To apply for an auto loan, interested customers can visit their nearest Nabil Bank Branch with the necessary documents.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:15.0pt">Through this partnership with one of Nepal's largest banks, VG Impex aims to make GWM vehicles more accessible to a wider range of automobile enthusiasts in Nepal.</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-07-03', 'modified' => '2023-07-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18079', 'image' => '20230703043148_collage (64).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-07-03 16:30:47', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18348', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Foreign Investors Commit Rs 17.32 Billion to 247 Projects of Minimum Threshold', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 3: The government has held two major investment conferences since revising the existing policy rules to fund foreign direct investment (FDI) in the country. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 3: The government has held two major investment conferences since revising the existing policy rules to fund foreign direct investment (FDI) in the country. Investors seem to be focused on the minimum limit (threshold) of foreign investment set by the government.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The government has been revising this threshold time and again. Due to this, the data of the department shows that foreign investors are more focused on getting investment approved in projects with minimum limit.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The government last reduced the foreign investment threshold to Rs 20 million in mid-September to mid-October last 2022. Prior to this, the minimum threshold was fixed at Rs 50 million in mid-May to mid-June 2019. Before that, the minimum limit for foreign investment was Rs 5 million.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Looking at the statistics of the Department of Industry, it seems that foreign investors are focusing on proposing projects and getting them approved within this limit. They are more interested in investing in projects of Rs 20 million rather than big or medium-sized projects. The data for 11 months of the current fiscal year (FY) 2022/23 also validates this fact.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">During this period, 274 project proposals for foreign investment have been approved. Majority of those 247 projects are small-scale industries. According to the data released by the department a few days ago, foreign investment has been approved for 5 big and 22 medium-sized projects.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Foreign investors have expressed their commitment to invest a total of Rs 34.58 billion in Nepal as of the 11th month of the current fiscal year. Half of that commitment has come to small-scale industries. The department said that Rs 17.32 billion investment commitments have been received in 247 small-scale projects. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Shankar Singh Dhami, director of the foreign investment and technology transfer branch of the department, said that investors have poured investment into small-scale industries and projects after the investment cap was reduced.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He said that the proposals and commitments coming on a small scale are in the fields of services, hotels, restaurants, cargo handling, and construction. Projects with a fixed capital of Rs 20 million to Rs 150 million are approved and registered with the Department of Industries.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Officials of the department share that investment commitment is positive, but they doubt whether the projects are coming only for visa approval, or to genuinely support the economy in Nepal.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Former Industry Secretary Krishna Gyawali opined that investors may find it difficult to invest in large and medium projects because it requires more investment and preparation.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">"On the other hand, investors may also fear that there will be problems in investment due to policy changes," he said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Since small investments do not contribute much to the economy and are more troublesome, there have been repeated attempts to increase the minimum investment threshold.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-07-03', 'modified' => '2023-07-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18078', 'image' => '20230703031121_Foreign investment.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-07-03 15:09:59', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18347', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Coffee Imports Increasing due to Lack of Domestic Production', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 3: The culture of drinking coffee in Nepal is increasing. ', '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"">July 3: The culture of drinking coffee in Nepal is increasing. However, because there is not enough coffee production in the country, coffee worth millions of rupees is being imported every year. Experts in this field say that the number of cafes, restaurants and coffee culture in Nepal has increased, so the domestic production has not been able to meet the demand for coffee.</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 climate of Nepal is considered good for coffee cultivation. However, as the production is not able to meet the demand, there is still a lot of imports. Even though coffee cultivation started in </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">1995</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">, Nepal has not been able to become self-sufficient in coffee. </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 National Tea and Coffee Development Board, coffee is grown in </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">44</span></span> <span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">mid-hills districts of Nepal. According to the board, </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">31</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"">389</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> farmers are involved in this profession.</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 produced </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">354.9</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> metric tons of green bean coffee in </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">3</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"">346</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> hectares of land during the last fiscal year. The data of the last </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">5</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> years show that there has been a significant decrease in coffee production. In the fiscal year (FY) </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">2071/72</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">, a total of </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">463.58</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> metric tons of coffee was produced in Nepal, but it has decreased to </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">354.9</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> metric tons in the fiscal year </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">2078/79. </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Coffee production has decreased by </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">23</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> percent in eight years.</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 data of the Department of Customs, in the </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">11</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> months of the current fiscal year, the country imported coffee worth Rs 312.77 million. In the same period last year, coffee worth Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">115.7</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> million was imported. As the production in the country is not encouraging, the import of coffee has increased by </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">70</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> percent and the price has increased by </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">170</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"">If we look at the data of the last eight</span></span> <span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">years, it seems that the import of coffee has increased a lot. In the FY </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">2071/72</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">, altogether </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">66 </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">metric tons of coffee was imported, and in the year </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">2078/79</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">, it increased to </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">279 </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">metric tons. Compared to the year </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">2071/72</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">, the import has increased by </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">322 </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">percent in the year </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">2078/79. </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"">Chandra Puri, Agricultural Development Officer of the National Tea and Coffee Development Board, says that the demand for coffee in Nepal is high. However, the country is forced to import coffee due to lack of production.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-07-03', 'modified' => '2023-07-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18077', 'image' => '20230703020046_20221204030252_1669933354.Clipboard05.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-07-03 13:59:53', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18346', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Two-way Traffic Resumes on Narayangarh-Muglin Road Section ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 3: Two-way traffic has resumed along the Narayangarh-Muglin road section. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">July 3: Two-way traffic has resumed along the Narayangarh-Muglin road section. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the Area Police Office, Muglin, the two-way road traffic was disrupted again on Monday morning after a landslide occurred at bridge number three of Ichhakamana-5. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The vehicular movement was brought to normalcy after clearing off the landslide debris, informed Inspector Bishal Tamang, chief of the Area Police Office, Muglin. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the police, the driver of a truck with registration number Na 6 Kha 710 was injured in a landslide on Monday morning. Injured driver is undergoing treatment at Muglin Highway Hospital, police said. </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"">Frequent landslides have been obstructing the Narayangarh-Muglin road section time and again.</span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Prior to this, the road that was closed on Thursday due to landslide at the same place. </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 road was blocked again on Saturday night. Vehicular movement had resumed on Sunday evening after 18 hours. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-07-03', 'modified' => '2023-07-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18076', 'image' => '20230703011459_HLG_MUGLIN_IMG_9554.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-07-03 13:13:34', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18345', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NPC brings Calendar to Prepare 16th Periodic Plan ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 3: The National Planning Commission (NPC) has brought a calendar to prepare the 16th five-year periodic plan to be enforced from 2081/82 BS to 2085/86 BS. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">July 3: The National Planning Commission (NPC) has brought a calendar to prepare the 16th five-year periodic plan to be enforced from 2081/82 BS to 2085/86 BS. It has issued a 'work procedure on institutional management for preparation of the 16th periodic plan, 2080'. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">As per the work procedure, activities began from June 4 and they would be concluded with the periodic plan getting endorsed by mid-February 2024. Similarly, the interviews with experts would conclude as part of the preparation of the plan by mid-July this year. The NPC is to endorse the draft of the concept paper of 16th periodic plan by July 23. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A direction committee has been formed under the coordination of NPC vice chairman while five thematic committees have been formed under the coordination of NPC members. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The federal planning body of the country is all set to gather thematic information from the concerned ministries by August 24. Overall economic and investment framework will be completed by the end of August. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The work procedure further states that by upcoming October 8, the National Development Council would be formed and its members handed over the integrated preliminary draft of the 16th periodic plan. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The NPC said that the 16th five-year periodic plan to be enforced from the beginning of the fiscal year 2081/82 BS would be prepared by taking into account the Constitution of Nepal, national and sectoral policies, 15th periodic plan and its review, LDC Graduation Strategy, achievements of SDGs, and mid-term expenditure framework, among others. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Currently, discussions with the subject experts are going on. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The thematic committees formed for the preparation of 16th five-year plan will cover issues such as the overall economic outline and plans, economic sector, infrastructures and environment sector, social sector and institutional development and good governance. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-07-03', 'modified' => '2023-07-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18075', 'image' => '20230703105203_image.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-07-03 10:44:46', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18343', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'BFIs Warn of Shutting their Business if Attack Continues', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 3: Operators of banks and financial institutions (BFIs) have warned to stop the banking business if the attacks on their employees do not stop right away.', '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"">July 3: Operators of banks and financial institutions (BFIs) have warned to stop the banking business if the attacks on their employees do not stop right away.</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 Confederation of Banks and Financial Institutions Nepal (CIBFIN), an umbrella organization of bank and financial institutions, issued a press statement on Sunday demanding security guarantee from the government and legal action against individuals or groups who attack banks and financial institutions. The statement has also urged the government to make effective security arrangements for the operation of banking business.</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"">Recently, disputes between businessmen and banks have increased after banks and financial institutions emphasized on debt recovery. In some districts, the businessmen protested against the bank and also resorted to physical attacks on bank employees.</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 meeting of the confederation held on Friday decided to file a complaint for legal action against individuals or groups who attack banks and financial institutions and their employees. They say that efforts to discourage non-payment of loan interest and to physically assault, humiliate, or prevent employees from doing their jobs are being done continuously in various places.</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 Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">CBFIN and all its affiliate members are fully committed to file a complaint against any person or organization that causes damage to the credibility or property of banks and financial institutions under any pretext by creating obstacles in the banking business," said a banker after the meeting. The statement released by CBFIN has urged the prime minister, home minister, home secretary, inspector general of police, chief district officers of </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">77</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> districts and all stakeholders to make effective security arrangements for banks and financial institutions and all employees.</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 association has also warned that if the government is not able to create an environment for operation of banks, the banking services will be completely closed. </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"">“If the government and its agencies cannot ensure an environment that facilitates the fulfillment of duties and responsibilities by using the rights given to banks and financial institutions in a safe environment, then all banks and financial institutions licensed by Nepal Rastra Bank may have to completely shut their services,” reads the statement, adding, “This will create a serious crisis for all stakeholders including the depositors, creditors and ultimately create an unimaginable crisis in the economy as a whole, so we want to draw the attention of all concerned.”</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"">Earlier, Nepal Bankers Association, Development Bankers Association Nepal, Nepal Financial Institutions Association and Nepal Microfinance Bankers Association had also issued a joint statement and warned that they will act strongly against the continued threat to banks and financial institutions.</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 bankers say that some people have obstructed the service delivery of some branches of banks and financial institutions as well as microfinance companies in Itahari, Sunsari, Birtamod and other places of eastern Nepal. They added that the employees have been threatened and customers deprived of essential banking services. </span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-07-03', 'modified' => '2023-07-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18073', 'image' => '20230703103256_Banks - Copy.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-07-03 10:31:37', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18342', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Anil Shrestha Appointed New CEO of Progressive Finance Limited', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Anil Shrestha has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Progressive Finance Limited. The decision was made during a meeting of the Board of Directors held on Friday.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20.0pt">July 3: Anil Shrestha has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Progressive Finance Limited. The decision was made during a meeting of the Board of Directors held on Friday.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20.0pt">Shrestha, with 27 years of experience in various financial institutions, including 13 years as the CEO of Reliance Finance, brings a wealth of expertise to his new role.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20.0pt"> His strong leadership in financial risk management and compliance is expected to propel Progressive Finance to new heights. Shrestha will serve as CEO for a tenure of four years.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20.0pt">Shrestha has expressed his commitment to making the finance strong, capable and excellent in every possible way. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-07-03', 'modified' => '2023-07-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18072', 'image' => '20230703060909_collage (11).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-07-03 06:07:59', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, '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' => '18357', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'KMC Prohibits Vehicles in Hanumandhoka Area', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 4: The Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) has banned the entry of vehicles within the Hanumandhoka premises. The metropolis took this decision to protect the world Heritage Site. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">July 4: The Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) has banned the entry of vehicles within the Hanumandhoka premises. The metropolis took this decision to protect the world Heritage Site. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">KMC Mayor Balendra Shah said it is necessary to preserve the place for its unique identity and ancient heritage. </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"">"These very heritages and their ancient distinctiveness are the ones that we can proudly show to the world. This place can attract hundreds of thousands of tourists," he said on social site. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Noting that thousands of tourists visit Basantapur area daily, Mayor Shah said there is possibility of hundreds of thousands of visitors coming for a visit in future. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He said vehicles have been banned within the Hanumandhoka premises, reiterating it is essential to preserve the uniqueness and aesthetics of the place and to keep the environment of the premises peaceful, clean and pleasing. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-07-04', 'modified' => '2023-07-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18087', 'image' => '20230704021925_20221102120925_20190430021212_1x.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-07-04 14:18:46', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18356', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'A Dozen New Hotels Come into Operation', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 4: About a dozen new star and deluxe hotels have come into operation in Nepal from since February 2022. Apart from this, boutique hotels, lodges and resorts have also been added to the list.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 4: About a dozen new star and deluxe hotels have come into operation in Nepal from since February 2022. Apart from this, boutique hotels, lodges and resorts have also been added to the list. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Some time ago, it seemed challenging to meet the operating expenses of hotels and other businesses that rely on tourists due to the Covid-19 pandemic. However, things are getting better as the viral infection has largely subsided and the World Health Organisation has also removed coronavirus from the global emergency list.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the Economic Survey 2079/80 published by the Ministry of Finance, 11 deluxe and star hotels have come into operation since February last year. With this, the number of such hotels in the country has reached 173. According to the survey, the number of such hotels was 162 till February 2022.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the economic survey, by February of the current fiscal year, 45 new companies in the hospitality business including boutique hotels, lodges and resorts of tourist level have been added to the list. The total number of such hotels and lodges currently stands at 1,228. Last year, this number was 1,183. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">With the increase in the number of hotels from five stars to deluxe, the bed capacity has also increased. By February, the number of beds in star hotels increased by 560 and reached 16,335.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The total number of beds of all types of hotels in Nepal has now reached 37,300. The survey shows that the number of casinos and mini-casinos increased from 24 to 28. Similarly, travel agency, trekking agency, rafting business, tourist transport service business have also increased.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">General Secretary of Hotel Association Nepal (HAN) Sajan Shakya said that although other sectors of the business are not flourishing, investment in the tourism sector has increased. He said, “Investment may have increased due to potential in the tourism sector.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He said that the arrival of new investment in tourism is positive, but the challenge of increasing the number of tourists is also there. Now there are three international airports in the country. Although hoteliers say that they can serve millions of tourists with the existing infrastructure, there is a record of 1.2 million tourists arriving in Nepal in a year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In the years after the Covid-19 pandemic, there has been an improvement in the arrival of tourists. The arrival of tourists, which fell to 150,000 in 2021, has now exceeded 400,000 in the first 5 months of 2023. In 2022, 614,148 tourists visited Nepal. </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-07-04', 'modified' => '2023-07-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18086', 'image' => '20230704010219_20221121092031_Clipboard64.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-07-04 12:58:03', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18355', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Preparations for Newbiz Business Women's Summit and Awards Completed', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 4: All the preparations for the Standard Chartered Newbiz Business Women Summit and Awards 2023 have been completed.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 4: All the preparations for the Standard Chartered Newbiz Business Women Summit and Awards 2023 have been completed, according to the organizer – New Business Age Pvt Ltd which has been organizing this event annually with the aim of encouraging successful businesspersons and women entrepreneurs.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The first session of the event will feature the summit during which a panel discussion on the theme of 'Women Entrepreneurs in the Digital Age' will be held. Key speakers during the panel discussion will be Radhika Aryal, joint secretary of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Rumee Singh, co-founder of Rumsan Nepal, and Seema Golcha, director of Golcha Group.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The panel discussion will be moderated by Michael Siddi, Transaction Country Head of Standard Chartered Bank Nepal.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The awards will be distributed in the second session of the program, in which one best female entrepreneur will be selected as Entrepreneurial Woman of the Year from all seven provinces.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Likewise, the Lifetime Achievement Award, Social Entrepreneur of the Year Award, Woman in Tech of the Year Award, Professional Woman of the Year Award, Business Woman of the Year Award, Woman Entrepreneur of the Year Award will also be distributed during the program.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The organizers informed that the best women entrepreneurs selected from all over the country will be honored amid a special program to be held in Kathmandu on coming Friday.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to New Business Age Pvt. Ltd., about 2000 women entrepreneurs from seven provinces have been nominated for the award.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The best entrepreneurs in more than seven different categories will be honored in a special ceremony. New Business Age has been organizing various events since 2013 to encourage enterprise and business. The program to honor women entrepreneurs was started in 2021.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Standard Chartered Bank is the main sponsor of the event.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, IME Life Insurance is the life insurance partner of the event, and Salico (Sagarmatha Lumbini Insurance Company Limited) is the non-life insurance partner. The awards program is supported by Salt Trading Corporation, Machhapuchhre Bank, Sun Life Insurance, Reliable Life Insurance, Sitaram Milk, Sangrila Development Bank, Honda Grazia, Agriculture Development Bank Limited and Byanjan. WorldLink is the internet partner while New V Rhoto is the eyecare partner.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-07-04', 'modified' => '2023-07-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18085', 'image' => '20230704120905_aaaaa.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-07-04 12:05:01', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18354', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'No Shortage of Food Grains during Rainy Season ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 4: The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies has assured that there would be no shortage of food grains anywhere during the rainy season this year. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">July 4: The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies has assured that there would be no shortage of food grains anywhere during the rainy season this year. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">There is adequate stock of food grains in warehouses across the country, said officials of the ministry, adding that the process to purchase additional food grains is underway. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the state-owned Food Management and Trading Company, currently there is a stock of 36,356 quintals of food grains in Kathmandu Valley and the Tarai districts. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, there is a stock of 25,505 quintals of food grains in remote districts, added the company. The company has a stock of 26,375 quintals of paddy. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Meanwhile, the Salt Trading Corporation is preparing to import 34,320 quintals of wheat immediately from India under the quota system. The corporation has a stock of 266,300 quintals of food grains. An additional 89,100 quintals of food grains will be arriving from India as per the agreement reached with the southern neighbor. The shipment has already been loaded, according to officials of the Salt Trading Corporation. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The state-owned companies responsible for distributing food grains have already supplied 17,830 metric tonnes of food grains in remote districts as of June 27 of the current fiscal year. The quota of food grains has been increased in Humla. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The company clarified that there is sufficient stock of good grains in eastern districts as well --- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-07-04', 'modified' => '2023-07-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18084', 'image' => '20230704111115_20200515035749_hinkstockphotos.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-07-04 11:10:31', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18353', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'School Employees Continue Their Hunger Strike', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Community school employees in the federal capital, Maitighar, are continuing with their hunger strike, demanding improved services, facilities, and the retention of their quota.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:19.0pt">July 4: Community school employees in the federal capital, Maitighar, are continuing with their hunger strike, demanding improved services, facilities, and the retention of their quota.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:19.0pt"> The hunger strike has now entered its 22nd day and involves employees from approximately 60 community schools, said Shanti Nath Yogi, General Secretary of the School Employees Council.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:19.0pt">The hunger-striking employees are currently facing difficulties regarding food and accommodation, according to Yogi. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:19.0pt">Although the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology initiated discussions with the protesting employees on June 18 through the formation of a committee for talks, no agreement has been reached thus far.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:19.0pt">Yogi announced that the Council is preparing additional protest programs due to the lack of agreement regarding their demands. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:19.0pt">The Ministry's talks team, led by Chudamani Poudel, the Director General of the Centre for Education and Human Resource Development, also includes Under-Secretaries from the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:19.0pt">Poudel stated that the Ministry of Finance has not responded to the issue of additional budget allocation to meet the employees' demands.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:19.0pt">Following the government's invitation for talks, the Council withdrew its plan to close schools. However, the hunger strike continues to press the government to fulfill their demands. (RSS)</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-07-04', 'modified' => '2023-07-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18083', 'image' => '20230704061406_collage (13).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-07-04 06:12:21', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18352', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NOC Slashes Prices of Petroleum Products', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has lowered the prices of diesel, petrol, kerosene, and aviation fuel, effective from Monday midnight. The price adjustments are based on the division of the country's territory into three categories.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">July 4: Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has lowered the prices of diesel, petrol, kerosene, and aviation fuel, effective from Monday midnight. </span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The price adjustments are based on the division of the country's territory into three categories.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In the first category, the prices of diesel, petrol, and kerosene have been reduced by Rs 7.50. In the second category, the reduction is Rs 6, and in the third category, it is Rs 5.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">As per the revised prices, petrol will now cost Rs 167.50 per litre in the first category, Rs 169 in the second category, and Rs 170 in the third category. </span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">This marks a decrease from the previous uniform price of Rs 175 per litre across the entire country. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Diesel and kerosene prices are now Rs 147.50 per litre in the first category, Rs 149 per litre in the second category, and Rs 150 per litre in the third category.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">NOC has categorized specific cities and regions accordingly. The first category includes Charali, Biratnagar, Janakpur, Birgunj, Amalekhgunj, Bhalbari, Nepalgunj, and Dhangadi. </span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Surkhet and Dang are part of the second category, while Kathmandu, Pokhara, and Dipayal fall into the third category.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Additionally, the price of domestic aviation fuel has been reduced by Rs 14 per litre. The price of international aviation fuel has been slashed to 1.035 US Dollar from 1.150 US dollars per kiloliter. </span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">However, the price of LP gas or cooking gas remains unchanged at this time.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-07-04', 'modified' => '2023-07-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18082', 'image' => '20230704055414_collage (12).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-07-04 05:52:26', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18351', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Sensex Crosses 65,000; Nifty Hits Record High as Bulls Dominate Dalal Street', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Indian benchmark equity indices continued their rally on July 3, with the BSE Sensex ending above the 65,000 mark for the first time ever, while the NSE Nifty climbed 133.50 points or 0.70% to end at a record high of 19,322.55.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">July 3: Indian benchmark equity indices continued their rally on July 3, with the BSE Sensex ending above the 65,000 mark for the first time ever, while the NSE Nifty climbed 133.50 points or 0.70% to end at a record high of 19,322.55.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Hectic buying in index majors Reliance Industries, ITC and HDFC twins also added to the market momentum, traders said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Rallying for the fourth straight session, the 30-share BSE Sensex jumped 486.49 points or 0.75% to settle at its all-time closing high of 65,205.05. During the day, it rallied 581.79 points or 0.89% to its lifetime intra-day high of 65,300.35.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The NSE Nifty climbed 133.50 points or 0.70% to end at a record high of 19,322.55. In intra-day trade, the benchmark zoomed 156.05 points or 0.81% to hit its all-time intra-day peak of 19,345.10. <span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Market benchmarks settled at record highs for the third straight session on Monday.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Reliance Industries was the top gainer in the Sensex chart, rising 2.53%, followed by ITC, Bajaj Finance, State Bank of India, HDFC, UltraTech Cement, NTPC, HDFC Bank, Mahindra & Mahindra, Tata Steel, Bajaj Finserv and ICICI Bank.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">In contrast, Power Grid, Maruti, Larsen & Toubro, Tata Consultancy Services, Tech Mahindra, Nestle and Tata Motors were among the laggards, skidding up to 1.86%.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">In Asian markets, Seoul, Tokyo, Shanghai and Hong Kong ended in the green.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Equity markets in Europe were trading in the positive territory.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">These remarkable gains reflect the growing optimism among investors as inflationary pressures in the United States appear to be moderating. This development has sparked renewed confidence in the equity markets, propelling Indian shares to unprecedented heights. (Agencies) </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-07-03', 'modified' => '2023-07-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18081', 'image' => '20230703051110_collage (66).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-07-03 17:09:15', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18350', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Examination Board to Publish SEE Results within this Week ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 3: The National Examinations Board (NEB) is in the final stage of publishing the results of this year’s Secondary Education Examination (SEE).', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">July 3: The National Examinations Board (NEB) is in the final stage of publishing the results of this year’s Secondary Education Examination (SEE).</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 board’s Chairperson Dr Mahashram Sharma said that they are currently recording results in the computer system after completing answer sheet checking. He added that re-checking and tallying the results have also been done already. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"We are working tirelessly to publish the results in the first week of July. Only technical work remains," he said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">SEE started on 31st March, 2023. A total 485,396 students from 12,083 schools (both community and private) sat for the tests in 2,037 examination centres across the country. The examinees included 242,712 girls and 242,674 boys. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-07-03', 'modified' => '2023-07-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18080', 'image' => '20230703044048_exam-media1619757704.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-07-03 16:39:54', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18349', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'VG Impex Partners with Nabil Bank to Provide Financing for GWM Vehicles in Nepal', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'VG Impex Pvt. Ltd., the sole authorized importer and distributor of GWM Brand of Vehicles in Nepal, has partnered with Nabil Bank Limited to provide financing options for GWM vehicles.', 'content' => '<p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:15.0pt">July 3: VG Impex Pvt. Ltd., the sole authorized importer and distributor of GWM Brand of Vehicles in Nepal, has partnered with Nabil Bank Limited to provide financing options for GWM vehicles.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:15.0pt"> The agreement covers both Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) models, including Haval Jolion, Haval H6, GWM Poer, and GWM Wingle 5, as well as the Electric Vehicle (EV) model Ora 03.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:15.0pt"> Mr. Rupesh Sharma Bhatta, Vice President of VG Impex (GWM-Nepal), and Ms. Chandani Shrestha, Head of Retail Lending at Nabil Bank Limited, signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to solidify the collaboration on June 30. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:15.0pt">Under the MOU, customers will have the option to finance their preferred GWM models through Nabil Bank. Auto loans of up to 50% of the vehicle's value will be available for ICE models at an interest rate of 12.90%, while for EVs, up to 80% financing will be offered at a rate of 12.15%. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:15.0pt">The loan tenure for both types of vehicles will be 7 years. To apply for an auto loan, interested customers can visit their nearest Nabil Bank Branch with the necessary documents.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:15.0pt">Through this partnership with one of Nepal's largest banks, VG Impex aims to make GWM vehicles more accessible to a wider range of automobile enthusiasts in Nepal.</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-07-03', 'modified' => '2023-07-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18079', 'image' => '20230703043148_collage (64).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-07-03 16:30:47', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18348', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Foreign Investors Commit Rs 17.32 Billion to 247 Projects of Minimum Threshold', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 3: The government has held two major investment conferences since revising the existing policy rules to fund foreign direct investment (FDI) in the country. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 3: The government has held two major investment conferences since revising the existing policy rules to fund foreign direct investment (FDI) in the country. Investors seem to be focused on the minimum limit (threshold) of foreign investment set by the government.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The government has been revising this threshold time and again. Due to this, the data of the department shows that foreign investors are more focused on getting investment approved in projects with minimum limit.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The government last reduced the foreign investment threshold to Rs 20 million in mid-September to mid-October last 2022. Prior to this, the minimum threshold was fixed at Rs 50 million in mid-May to mid-June 2019. Before that, the minimum limit for foreign investment was Rs 5 million.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Looking at the statistics of the Department of Industry, it seems that foreign investors are focusing on proposing projects and getting them approved within this limit. They are more interested in investing in projects of Rs 20 million rather than big or medium-sized projects. The data for 11 months of the current fiscal year (FY) 2022/23 also validates this fact.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">During this period, 274 project proposals for foreign investment have been approved. Majority of those 247 projects are small-scale industries. According to the data released by the department a few days ago, foreign investment has been approved for 5 big and 22 medium-sized projects.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Foreign investors have expressed their commitment to invest a total of Rs 34.58 billion in Nepal as of the 11th month of the current fiscal year. Half of that commitment has come to small-scale industries. The department said that Rs 17.32 billion investment commitments have been received in 247 small-scale projects. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Shankar Singh Dhami, director of the foreign investment and technology transfer branch of the department, said that investors have poured investment into small-scale industries and projects after the investment cap was reduced.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He said that the proposals and commitments coming on a small scale are in the fields of services, hotels, restaurants, cargo handling, and construction. Projects with a fixed capital of Rs 20 million to Rs 150 million are approved and registered with the Department of Industries.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Officials of the department share that investment commitment is positive, but they doubt whether the projects are coming only for visa approval, or to genuinely support the economy in Nepal.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Former Industry Secretary Krishna Gyawali opined that investors may find it difficult to invest in large and medium projects because it requires more investment and preparation.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">"On the other hand, investors may also fear that there will be problems in investment due to policy changes," he said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Since small investments do not contribute much to the economy and are more troublesome, there have been repeated attempts to increase the minimum investment threshold.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-07-03', 'modified' => '2023-07-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18078', 'image' => '20230703031121_Foreign investment.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-07-03 15:09:59', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18347', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Coffee Imports Increasing due to Lack of Domestic Production', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 3: The culture of drinking coffee in Nepal is increasing. ', '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"">July 3: The culture of drinking coffee in Nepal is increasing. However, because there is not enough coffee production in the country, coffee worth millions of rupees is being imported every year. Experts in this field say that the number of cafes, restaurants and coffee culture in Nepal has increased, so the domestic production has not been able to meet the demand for coffee.</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 climate of Nepal is considered good for coffee cultivation. However, as the production is not able to meet the demand, there is still a lot of imports. Even though coffee cultivation started in </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">1995</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">, Nepal has not been able to become self-sufficient in coffee. </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 National Tea and Coffee Development Board, coffee is grown in </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">44</span></span> <span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">mid-hills districts of Nepal. According to the board, </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">31</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"">389</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> farmers are involved in this profession.</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 produced </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">354.9</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> metric tons of green bean coffee in </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">3</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"">346</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> hectares of land during the last fiscal year. The data of the last </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">5</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> years show that there has been a significant decrease in coffee production. In the fiscal year (FY) </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">2071/72</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">, a total of </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">463.58</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> metric tons of coffee was produced in Nepal, but it has decreased to </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">354.9</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> metric tons in the fiscal year </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">2078/79. </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Coffee production has decreased by </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">23</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> percent in eight years.</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 data of the Department of Customs, in the </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">11</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> months of the current fiscal year, the country imported coffee worth Rs 312.77 million. In the same period last year, coffee worth Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">115.7</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> million was imported. As the production in the country is not encouraging, the import of coffee has increased by </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">70</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> percent and the price has increased by </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">170</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"">If we look at the data of the last eight</span></span> <span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">years, it seems that the import of coffee has increased a lot. In the FY </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">2071/72</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">, altogether </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">66 </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">metric tons of coffee was imported, and in the year </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">2078/79</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">, it increased to </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">279 </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">metric tons. Compared to the year </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">2071/72</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">, the import has increased by </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">322 </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">percent in the year </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">2078/79. </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"">Chandra Puri, Agricultural Development Officer of the National Tea and Coffee Development Board, says that the demand for coffee in Nepal is high. However, the country is forced to import coffee due to lack of production.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-07-03', 'modified' => '2023-07-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18077', 'image' => '20230703020046_20221204030252_1669933354.Clipboard05.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-07-03 13:59:53', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18346', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Two-way Traffic Resumes on Narayangarh-Muglin Road Section ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 3: Two-way traffic has resumed along the Narayangarh-Muglin road section. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">July 3: Two-way traffic has resumed along the Narayangarh-Muglin road section. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the Area Police Office, Muglin, the two-way road traffic was disrupted again on Monday morning after a landslide occurred at bridge number three of Ichhakamana-5. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The vehicular movement was brought to normalcy after clearing off the landslide debris, informed Inspector Bishal Tamang, chief of the Area Police Office, Muglin. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the police, the driver of a truck with registration number Na 6 Kha 710 was injured in a landslide on Monday morning. Injured driver is undergoing treatment at Muglin Highway Hospital, police said. </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"">Frequent landslides have been obstructing the Narayangarh-Muglin road section time and again.</span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Prior to this, the road that was closed on Thursday due to landslide at the same place. </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 road was blocked again on Saturday night. Vehicular movement had resumed on Sunday evening after 18 hours. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-07-03', 'modified' => '2023-07-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18076', 'image' => '20230703011459_HLG_MUGLIN_IMG_9554.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-07-03 13:13:34', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18345', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NPC brings Calendar to Prepare 16th Periodic Plan ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 3: The National Planning Commission (NPC) has brought a calendar to prepare the 16th five-year periodic plan to be enforced from 2081/82 BS to 2085/86 BS. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">July 3: The National Planning Commission (NPC) has brought a calendar to prepare the 16th five-year periodic plan to be enforced from 2081/82 BS to 2085/86 BS. It has issued a 'work procedure on institutional management for preparation of the 16th periodic plan, 2080'. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">As per the work procedure, activities began from June 4 and they would be concluded with the periodic plan getting endorsed by mid-February 2024. Similarly, the interviews with experts would conclude as part of the preparation of the plan by mid-July this year. The NPC is to endorse the draft of the concept paper of 16th periodic plan by July 23. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A direction committee has been formed under the coordination of NPC vice chairman while five thematic committees have been formed under the coordination of NPC members. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The federal planning body of the country is all set to gather thematic information from the concerned ministries by August 24. Overall economic and investment framework will be completed by the end of August. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The work procedure further states that by upcoming October 8, the National Development Council would be formed and its members handed over the integrated preliminary draft of the 16th periodic plan. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The NPC said that the 16th five-year periodic plan to be enforced from the beginning of the fiscal year 2081/82 BS would be prepared by taking into account the Constitution of Nepal, national and sectoral policies, 15th periodic plan and its review, LDC Graduation Strategy, achievements of SDGs, and mid-term expenditure framework, among others. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Currently, discussions with the subject experts are going on. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The thematic committees formed for the preparation of 16th five-year plan will cover issues such as the overall economic outline and plans, economic sector, infrastructures and environment sector, social sector and institutional development and good governance. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-07-03', 'modified' => '2023-07-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18075', 'image' => '20230703105203_image.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-07-03 10:44:46', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18343', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'BFIs Warn of Shutting their Business if Attack Continues', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 3: Operators of banks and financial institutions (BFIs) have warned to stop the banking business if the attacks on their employees do not stop right away.', '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"">July 3: Operators of banks and financial institutions (BFIs) have warned to stop the banking business if the attacks on their employees do not stop right away.</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 Confederation of Banks and Financial Institutions Nepal (CIBFIN), an umbrella organization of bank and financial institutions, issued a press statement on Sunday demanding security guarantee from the government and legal action against individuals or groups who attack banks and financial institutions. The statement has also urged the government to make effective security arrangements for the operation of banking business.</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"">Recently, disputes between businessmen and banks have increased after banks and financial institutions emphasized on debt recovery. In some districts, the businessmen protested against the bank and also resorted to physical attacks on bank employees.</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 meeting of the confederation held on Friday decided to file a complaint for legal action against individuals or groups who attack banks and financial institutions and their employees. They say that efforts to discourage non-payment of loan interest and to physically assault, humiliate, or prevent employees from doing their jobs are being done continuously in various places.</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 Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">CBFIN and all its affiliate members are fully committed to file a complaint against any person or organization that causes damage to the credibility or property of banks and financial institutions under any pretext by creating obstacles in the banking business," said a banker after the meeting. The statement released by CBFIN has urged the prime minister, home minister, home secretary, inspector general of police, chief district officers of </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">77</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> districts and all stakeholders to make effective security arrangements for banks and financial institutions and all employees.</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 association has also warned that if the government is not able to create an environment for operation of banks, the banking services will be completely closed. </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"">“If the government and its agencies cannot ensure an environment that facilitates the fulfillment of duties and responsibilities by using the rights given to banks and financial institutions in a safe environment, then all banks and financial institutions licensed by Nepal Rastra Bank may have to completely shut their services,” reads the statement, adding, “This will create a serious crisis for all stakeholders including the depositors, creditors and ultimately create an unimaginable crisis in the economy as a whole, so we want to draw the attention of all concerned.”</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"">Earlier, Nepal Bankers Association, Development Bankers Association Nepal, Nepal Financial Institutions Association and Nepal Microfinance Bankers Association had also issued a joint statement and warned that they will act strongly against the continued threat to banks and financial institutions.</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 bankers say that some people have obstructed the service delivery of some branches of banks and financial institutions as well as microfinance companies in Itahari, Sunsari, Birtamod and other places of eastern Nepal. They added that the employees have been threatened and customers deprived of essential banking services. </span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-07-03', 'modified' => '2023-07-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18073', 'image' => '20230703103256_Banks - Copy.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-07-03 10:31:37', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18342', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Anil Shrestha Appointed New CEO of Progressive Finance Limited', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Anil Shrestha has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Progressive Finance Limited. The decision was made during a meeting of the Board of Directors held on Friday.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20.0pt">July 3: Anil Shrestha has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Progressive Finance Limited. The decision was made during a meeting of the Board of Directors held on Friday.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20.0pt">Shrestha, with 27 years of experience in various financial institutions, including 13 years as the CEO of Reliance Finance, brings a wealth of expertise to his new role.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20.0pt"> His strong leadership in financial risk management and compliance is expected to propel Progressive Finance to new heights. Shrestha will serve as CEO for a tenure of four years.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20.0pt">Shrestha has expressed his commitment to making the finance strong, capable and excellent in every possible way. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-07-03', 'modified' => '2023-07-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18072', 'image' => '20230703060909_collage (11).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-07-03 06:07:59', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, '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' => '18357', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'KMC Prohibits Vehicles in Hanumandhoka Area', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 4: The Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) has banned the entry of vehicles within the Hanumandhoka premises. The metropolis took this decision to protect the world Heritage Site. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">July 4: The Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) has banned the entry of vehicles within the Hanumandhoka premises. The metropolis took this decision to protect the world Heritage Site. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">KMC Mayor Balendra Shah said it is necessary to preserve the place for its unique identity and ancient heritage. </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"">"These very heritages and their ancient distinctiveness are the ones that we can proudly show to the world. This place can attract hundreds of thousands of tourists," he said on social site. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Noting that thousands of tourists visit Basantapur area daily, Mayor Shah said there is possibility of hundreds of thousands of visitors coming for a visit in future. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He said vehicles have been banned within the Hanumandhoka premises, reiterating it is essential to preserve the uniqueness and aesthetics of the place and to keep the environment of the premises peaceful, clean and pleasing. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-07-04', 'modified' => '2023-07-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18087', 'image' => '20230704021925_20221102120925_20190430021212_1x.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-07-04 14:18:46', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18356', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'A Dozen New Hotels Come into Operation', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 4: About a dozen new star and deluxe hotels have come into operation in Nepal from since February 2022. Apart from this, boutique hotels, lodges and resorts have also been added to the list.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 4: About a dozen new star and deluxe hotels have come into operation in Nepal from since February 2022. Apart from this, boutique hotels, lodges and resorts have also been added to the list. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Some time ago, it seemed challenging to meet the operating expenses of hotels and other businesses that rely on tourists due to the Covid-19 pandemic. However, things are getting better as the viral infection has largely subsided and the World Health Organisation has also removed coronavirus from the global emergency list.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the Economic Survey 2079/80 published by the Ministry of Finance, 11 deluxe and star hotels have come into operation since February last year. With this, the number of such hotels in the country has reached 173. According to the survey, the number of such hotels was 162 till February 2022.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the economic survey, by February of the current fiscal year, 45 new companies in the hospitality business including boutique hotels, lodges and resorts of tourist level have been added to the list. The total number of such hotels and lodges currently stands at 1,228. Last year, this number was 1,183. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">With the increase in the number of hotels from five stars to deluxe, the bed capacity has also increased. By February, the number of beds in star hotels increased by 560 and reached 16,335.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The total number of beds of all types of hotels in Nepal has now reached 37,300. The survey shows that the number of casinos and mini-casinos increased from 24 to 28. Similarly, travel agency, trekking agency, rafting business, tourist transport service business have also increased.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">General Secretary of Hotel Association Nepal (HAN) Sajan Shakya said that although other sectors of the business are not flourishing, investment in the tourism sector has increased. He said, “Investment may have increased due to potential in the tourism sector.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He said that the arrival of new investment in tourism is positive, but the challenge of increasing the number of tourists is also there. Now there are three international airports in the country. Although hoteliers say that they can serve millions of tourists with the existing infrastructure, there is a record of 1.2 million tourists arriving in Nepal in a year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In the years after the Covid-19 pandemic, there has been an improvement in the arrival of tourists. The arrival of tourists, which fell to 150,000 in 2021, has now exceeded 400,000 in the first 5 months of 2023. In 2022, 614,148 tourists visited Nepal. </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-07-04', 'modified' => '2023-07-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18086', 'image' => '20230704010219_20221121092031_Clipboard64.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-07-04 12:58:03', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18355', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Preparations for Newbiz Business Women's Summit and Awards Completed', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 4: All the preparations for the Standard Chartered Newbiz Business Women Summit and Awards 2023 have been completed.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 4: All the preparations for the Standard Chartered Newbiz Business Women Summit and Awards 2023 have been completed, according to the organizer – New Business Age Pvt Ltd which has been organizing this event annually with the aim of encouraging successful businesspersons and women entrepreneurs.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The first session of the event will feature the summit during which a panel discussion on the theme of 'Women Entrepreneurs in the Digital Age' will be held. Key speakers during the panel discussion will be Radhika Aryal, joint secretary of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Rumee Singh, co-founder of Rumsan Nepal, and Seema Golcha, director of Golcha Group.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The panel discussion will be moderated by Michael Siddi, Transaction Country Head of Standard Chartered Bank Nepal.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The awards will be distributed in the second session of the program, in which one best female entrepreneur will be selected as Entrepreneurial Woman of the Year from all seven provinces.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Likewise, the Lifetime Achievement Award, Social Entrepreneur of the Year Award, Woman in Tech of the Year Award, Professional Woman of the Year Award, Business Woman of the Year Award, Woman Entrepreneur of the Year Award will also be distributed during the program.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The organizers informed that the best women entrepreneurs selected from all over the country will be honored amid a special program to be held in Kathmandu on coming Friday.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to New Business Age Pvt. Ltd., about 2000 women entrepreneurs from seven provinces have been nominated for the award.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The best entrepreneurs in more than seven different categories will be honored in a special ceremony. New Business Age has been organizing various events since 2013 to encourage enterprise and business. The program to honor women entrepreneurs was started in 2021.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Standard Chartered Bank is the main sponsor of the event.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, IME Life Insurance is the life insurance partner of the event, and Salico (Sagarmatha Lumbini Insurance Company Limited) is the non-life insurance partner. The awards program is supported by Salt Trading Corporation, Machhapuchhre Bank, Sun Life Insurance, Reliable Life Insurance, Sitaram Milk, Sangrila Development Bank, Honda Grazia, Agriculture Development Bank Limited and Byanjan. WorldLink is the internet partner while New V Rhoto is the eyecare partner.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-07-04', 'modified' => '2023-07-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18085', 'image' => '20230704120905_aaaaa.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-07-04 12:05:01', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18354', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'No Shortage of Food Grains during Rainy Season ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 4: The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies has assured that there would be no shortage of food grains anywhere during the rainy season this year. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">July 4: The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies has assured that there would be no shortage of food grains anywhere during the rainy season this year. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">There is adequate stock of food grains in warehouses across the country, said officials of the ministry, adding that the process to purchase additional food grains is underway. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the state-owned Food Management and Trading Company, currently there is a stock of 36,356 quintals of food grains in Kathmandu Valley and the Tarai districts. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, there is a stock of 25,505 quintals of food grains in remote districts, added the company. The company has a stock of 26,375 quintals of paddy. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Meanwhile, the Salt Trading Corporation is preparing to import 34,320 quintals of wheat immediately from India under the quota system. The corporation has a stock of 266,300 quintals of food grains. An additional 89,100 quintals of food grains will be arriving from India as per the agreement reached with the southern neighbor. The shipment has already been loaded, according to officials of the Salt Trading Corporation. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The state-owned companies responsible for distributing food grains have already supplied 17,830 metric tonnes of food grains in remote districts as of June 27 of the current fiscal year. The quota of food grains has been increased in Humla. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The company clarified that there is sufficient stock of good grains in eastern districts as well --- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-07-04', 'modified' => '2023-07-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18084', 'image' => '20230704111115_20200515035749_hinkstockphotos.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-07-04 11:10:31', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18353', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'School Employees Continue Their Hunger Strike', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Community school employees in the federal capital, Maitighar, are continuing with their hunger strike, demanding improved services, facilities, and the retention of their quota.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:19.0pt">July 4: Community school employees in the federal capital, Maitighar, are continuing with their hunger strike, demanding improved services, facilities, and the retention of their quota.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:19.0pt"> The hunger strike has now entered its 22nd day and involves employees from approximately 60 community schools, said Shanti Nath Yogi, General Secretary of the School Employees Council.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:19.0pt">The hunger-striking employees are currently facing difficulties regarding food and accommodation, according to Yogi. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:19.0pt">Although the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology initiated discussions with the protesting employees on June 18 through the formation of a committee for talks, no agreement has been reached thus far.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:19.0pt">Yogi announced that the Council is preparing additional protest programs due to the lack of agreement regarding their demands. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:19.0pt">The Ministry's talks team, led by Chudamani Poudel, the Director General of the Centre for Education and Human Resource Development, also includes Under-Secretaries from the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:19.0pt">Poudel stated that the Ministry of Finance has not responded to the issue of additional budget allocation to meet the employees' demands.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:19.0pt">Following the government's invitation for talks, the Council withdrew its plan to close schools. However, the hunger strike continues to press the government to fulfill their demands. (RSS)</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-07-04', 'modified' => '2023-07-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18083', 'image' => '20230704061406_collage (13).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-07-04 06:12:21', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18352', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NOC Slashes Prices of Petroleum Products', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has lowered the prices of diesel, petrol, kerosene, and aviation fuel, effective from Monday midnight. The price adjustments are based on the division of the country's territory into three categories.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">July 4: Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has lowered the prices of diesel, petrol, kerosene, and aviation fuel, effective from Monday midnight. </span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The price adjustments are based on the division of the country's territory into three categories.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In the first category, the prices of diesel, petrol, and kerosene have been reduced by Rs 7.50. In the second category, the reduction is Rs 6, and in the third category, it is Rs 5.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">As per the revised prices, petrol will now cost Rs 167.50 per litre in the first category, Rs 169 in the second category, and Rs 170 in the third category. </span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">This marks a decrease from the previous uniform price of Rs 175 per litre across the entire country. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Diesel and kerosene prices are now Rs 147.50 per litre in the first category, Rs 149 per litre in the second category, and Rs 150 per litre in the third category.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">NOC has categorized specific cities and regions accordingly. The first category includes Charali, Biratnagar, Janakpur, Birgunj, Amalekhgunj, Bhalbari, Nepalgunj, and Dhangadi. </span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Surkhet and Dang are part of the second category, while Kathmandu, Pokhara, and Dipayal fall into the third category.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Additionally, the price of domestic aviation fuel has been reduced by Rs 14 per litre. The price of international aviation fuel has been slashed to 1.035 US Dollar from 1.150 US dollars per kiloliter. </span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">However, the price of LP gas or cooking gas remains unchanged at this time.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-07-04', 'modified' => '2023-07-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18082', 'image' => '20230704055414_collage (12).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-07-04 05:52:26', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18351', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Sensex Crosses 65,000; Nifty Hits Record High as Bulls Dominate Dalal Street', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Indian benchmark equity indices continued their rally on July 3, with the BSE Sensex ending above the 65,000 mark for the first time ever, while the NSE Nifty climbed 133.50 points or 0.70% to end at a record high of 19,322.55.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">July 3: Indian benchmark equity indices continued their rally on July 3, with the BSE Sensex ending above the 65,000 mark for the first time ever, while the NSE Nifty climbed 133.50 points or 0.70% to end at a record high of 19,322.55.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Hectic buying in index majors Reliance Industries, ITC and HDFC twins also added to the market momentum, traders said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Rallying for the fourth straight session, the 30-share BSE Sensex jumped 486.49 points or 0.75% to settle at its all-time closing high of 65,205.05. During the day, it rallied 581.79 points or 0.89% to its lifetime intra-day high of 65,300.35.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The NSE Nifty climbed 133.50 points or 0.70% to end at a record high of 19,322.55. In intra-day trade, the benchmark zoomed 156.05 points or 0.81% to hit its all-time intra-day peak of 19,345.10. <span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Market benchmarks settled at record highs for the third straight session on Monday.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Reliance Industries was the top gainer in the Sensex chart, rising 2.53%, followed by ITC, Bajaj Finance, State Bank of India, HDFC, UltraTech Cement, NTPC, HDFC Bank, Mahindra & Mahindra, Tata Steel, Bajaj Finserv and ICICI Bank.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">In contrast, Power Grid, Maruti, Larsen & Toubro, Tata Consultancy Services, Tech Mahindra, Nestle and Tata Motors were among the laggards, skidding up to 1.86%.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">In Asian markets, Seoul, Tokyo, Shanghai and Hong Kong ended in the green.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Equity markets in Europe were trading in the positive territory.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">These remarkable gains reflect the growing optimism among investors as inflationary pressures in the United States appear to be moderating. This development has sparked renewed confidence in the equity markets, propelling Indian shares to unprecedented heights. (Agencies) </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-07-03', 'modified' => '2023-07-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18081', 'image' => '20230703051110_collage (66).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-07-03 17:09:15', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18350', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Examination Board to Publish SEE Results within this Week ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 3: The National Examinations Board (NEB) is in the final stage of publishing the results of this year’s Secondary Education Examination (SEE).', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">July 3: The National Examinations Board (NEB) is in the final stage of publishing the results of this year’s Secondary Education Examination (SEE).</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 board’s Chairperson Dr Mahashram Sharma said that they are currently recording results in the computer system after completing answer sheet checking. He added that re-checking and tallying the results have also been done already. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"We are working tirelessly to publish the results in the first week of July. Only technical work remains," he said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">SEE started on 31st March, 2023. A total 485,396 students from 12,083 schools (both community and private) sat for the tests in 2,037 examination centres across the country. The examinees included 242,712 girls and 242,674 boys. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-07-03', 'modified' => '2023-07-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18080', 'image' => '20230703044048_exam-media1619757704.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-07-03 16:39:54', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18349', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'VG Impex Partners with Nabil Bank to Provide Financing for GWM Vehicles in Nepal', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'VG Impex Pvt. Ltd., the sole authorized importer and distributor of GWM Brand of Vehicles in Nepal, has partnered with Nabil Bank Limited to provide financing options for GWM vehicles.', 'content' => '<p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:15.0pt">July 3: VG Impex Pvt. Ltd., the sole authorized importer and distributor of GWM Brand of Vehicles in Nepal, has partnered with Nabil Bank Limited to provide financing options for GWM vehicles.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:15.0pt"> The agreement covers both Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) models, including Haval Jolion, Haval H6, GWM Poer, and GWM Wingle 5, as well as the Electric Vehicle (EV) model Ora 03.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:15.0pt"> Mr. Rupesh Sharma Bhatta, Vice President of VG Impex (GWM-Nepal), and Ms. Chandani Shrestha, Head of Retail Lending at Nabil Bank Limited, signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to solidify the collaboration on June 30. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:15.0pt">Under the MOU, customers will have the option to finance their preferred GWM models through Nabil Bank. Auto loans of up to 50% of the vehicle's value will be available for ICE models at an interest rate of 12.90%, while for EVs, up to 80% financing will be offered at a rate of 12.15%. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:15.0pt">The loan tenure for both types of vehicles will be 7 years. To apply for an auto loan, interested customers can visit their nearest Nabil Bank Branch with the necessary documents.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:15.0pt">Through this partnership with one of Nepal's largest banks, VG Impex aims to make GWM vehicles more accessible to a wider range of automobile enthusiasts in Nepal.</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-07-03', 'modified' => '2023-07-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18079', 'image' => '20230703043148_collage (64).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-07-03 16:30:47', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18348', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Foreign Investors Commit Rs 17.32 Billion to 247 Projects of Minimum Threshold', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 3: The government has held two major investment conferences since revising the existing policy rules to fund foreign direct investment (FDI) in the country. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">July 3: The government has held two major investment conferences since revising the existing policy rules to fund foreign direct investment (FDI) in the country. Investors seem to be focused on the minimum limit (threshold) of foreign investment set by the government.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The government has been revising this threshold time and again. Due to this, the data of the department shows that foreign investors are more focused on getting investment approved in projects with minimum limit.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The government last reduced the foreign investment threshold to Rs 20 million in mid-September to mid-October last 2022. Prior to this, the minimum threshold was fixed at Rs 50 million in mid-May to mid-June 2019. Before that, the minimum limit for foreign investment was Rs 5 million.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Looking at the statistics of the Department of Industry, it seems that foreign investors are focusing on proposing projects and getting them approved within this limit. They are more interested in investing in projects of Rs 20 million rather than big or medium-sized projects. The data for 11 months of the current fiscal year (FY) 2022/23 also validates this fact.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">During this period, 274 project proposals for foreign investment have been approved. Majority of those 247 projects are small-scale industries. According to the data released by the department a few days ago, foreign investment has been approved for 5 big and 22 medium-sized projects.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Foreign investors have expressed their commitment to invest a total of Rs 34.58 billion in Nepal as of the 11th month of the current fiscal year. Half of that commitment has come to small-scale industries. The department said that Rs 17.32 billion investment commitments have been received in 247 small-scale projects. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Shankar Singh Dhami, director of the foreign investment and technology transfer branch of the department, said that investors have poured investment into small-scale industries and projects after the investment cap was reduced.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He said that the proposals and commitments coming on a small scale are in the fields of services, hotels, restaurants, cargo handling, and construction. Projects with a fixed capital of Rs 20 million to Rs 150 million are approved and registered with the Department of Industries.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Officials of the department share that investment commitment is positive, but they doubt whether the projects are coming only for visa approval, or to genuinely support the economy in Nepal.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Former Industry Secretary Krishna Gyawali opined that investors may find it difficult to invest in large and medium projects because it requires more investment and preparation.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">"On the other hand, investors may also fear that there will be problems in investment due to policy changes," he said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Since small investments do not contribute much to the economy and are more troublesome, there have been repeated attempts to increase the minimum investment threshold.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-07-03', 'modified' => '2023-07-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18078', 'image' => '20230703031121_Foreign investment.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-07-03 15:09:59', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18347', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Coffee Imports Increasing due to Lack of Domestic Production', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 3: The culture of drinking coffee in Nepal is increasing. ', '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"">July 3: The culture of drinking coffee in Nepal is increasing. However, because there is not enough coffee production in the country, coffee worth millions of rupees is being imported every year. Experts in this field say that the number of cafes, restaurants and coffee culture in Nepal has increased, so the domestic production has not been able to meet the demand for coffee.</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 climate of Nepal is considered good for coffee cultivation. However, as the production is not able to meet the demand, there is still a lot of imports. Even though coffee cultivation started in </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">1995</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">, Nepal has not been able to become self-sufficient in coffee. </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 National Tea and Coffee Development Board, coffee is grown in </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">44</span></span> <span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">mid-hills districts of Nepal. According to the board, </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">31</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"">389</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> farmers are involved in this profession.</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 produced </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">354.9</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> metric tons of green bean coffee in </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">3</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"">346</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> hectares of land during the last fiscal year. The data of the last </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">5</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> years show that there has been a significant decrease in coffee production. In the fiscal year (FY) </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">2071/72</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">, a total of </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">463.58</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> metric tons of coffee was produced in Nepal, but it has decreased to </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">354.9</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> metric tons in the fiscal year </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">2078/79. </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Coffee production has decreased by </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">23</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> percent in eight years.</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 data of the Department of Customs, in the </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">11</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> months of the current fiscal year, the country imported coffee worth Rs 312.77 million. In the same period last year, coffee worth Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">115.7</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> million was imported. As the production in the country is not encouraging, the import of coffee has increased by </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">70</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> percent and the price has increased by </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">170</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"">If we look at the data of the last eight</span></span> <span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">years, it seems that the import of coffee has increased a lot. In the FY </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">2071/72</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">, altogether </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">66 </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">metric tons of coffee was imported, and in the year </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">2078/79</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">, it increased to </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">279 </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">metric tons. Compared to the year </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">2071/72</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">, the import has increased by </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">322 </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">percent in the year </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">2078/79. </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"">Chandra Puri, Agricultural Development Officer of the National Tea and Coffee Development Board, says that the demand for coffee in Nepal is high. However, the country is forced to import coffee due to lack of production.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-07-03', 'modified' => '2023-07-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18077', 'image' => '20230703020046_20221204030252_1669933354.Clipboard05.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-07-03 13:59:53', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18346', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Two-way Traffic Resumes on Narayangarh-Muglin Road Section ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 3: Two-way traffic has resumed along the Narayangarh-Muglin road section. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">July 3: Two-way traffic has resumed along the Narayangarh-Muglin road section. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the Area Police Office, Muglin, the two-way road traffic was disrupted again on Monday morning after a landslide occurred at bridge number three of Ichhakamana-5. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The vehicular movement was brought to normalcy after clearing off the landslide debris, informed Inspector Bishal Tamang, chief of the Area Police Office, Muglin. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the police, the driver of a truck with registration number Na 6 Kha 710 was injured in a landslide on Monday morning. Injured driver is undergoing treatment at Muglin Highway Hospital, police said. </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"">Frequent landslides have been obstructing the Narayangarh-Muglin road section time and again.</span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Prior to this, the road that was closed on Thursday due to landslide at the same place. </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 road was blocked again on Saturday night. Vehicular movement had resumed on Sunday evening after 18 hours. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-07-03', 'modified' => '2023-07-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18076', 'image' => '20230703011459_HLG_MUGLIN_IMG_9554.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-07-03 13:13:34', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18345', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NPC brings Calendar to Prepare 16th Periodic Plan ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 3: The National Planning Commission (NPC) has brought a calendar to prepare the 16th five-year periodic plan to be enforced from 2081/82 BS to 2085/86 BS. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">July 3: The National Planning Commission (NPC) has brought a calendar to prepare the 16th five-year periodic plan to be enforced from 2081/82 BS to 2085/86 BS. It has issued a 'work procedure on institutional management for preparation of the 16th periodic plan, 2080'. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">As per the work procedure, activities began from June 4 and they would be concluded with the periodic plan getting endorsed by mid-February 2024. Similarly, the interviews with experts would conclude as part of the preparation of the plan by mid-July this year. The NPC is to endorse the draft of the concept paper of 16th periodic plan by July 23. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A direction committee has been formed under the coordination of NPC vice chairman while five thematic committees have been formed under the coordination of NPC members. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The federal planning body of the country is all set to gather thematic information from the concerned ministries by August 24. Overall economic and investment framework will be completed by the end of August. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The work procedure further states that by upcoming October 8, the National Development Council would be formed and its members handed over the integrated preliminary draft of the 16th periodic plan. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The NPC said that the 16th five-year periodic plan to be enforced from the beginning of the fiscal year 2081/82 BS would be prepared by taking into account the Constitution of Nepal, national and sectoral policies, 15th periodic plan and its review, LDC Graduation Strategy, achievements of SDGs, and mid-term expenditure framework, among others. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Currently, discussions with the subject experts are going on. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The thematic committees formed for the preparation of 16th five-year plan will cover issues such as the overall economic outline and plans, economic sector, infrastructures and environment sector, social sector and institutional development and good governance. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-07-03', 'modified' => '2023-07-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18075', 'image' => '20230703105203_image.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-07-03 10:44:46', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18343', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'BFIs Warn of Shutting their Business if Attack Continues', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'July 3: Operators of banks and financial institutions (BFIs) have warned to stop the banking business if the attacks on their employees do not stop right away.', '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"">July 3: Operators of banks and financial institutions (BFIs) have warned to stop the banking business if the attacks on their employees do not stop right away.</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 Confederation of Banks and Financial Institutions Nepal (CIBFIN), an umbrella organization of bank and financial institutions, issued a press statement on Sunday demanding security guarantee from the government and legal action against individuals or groups who attack banks and financial institutions. The statement has also urged the government to make effective security arrangements for the operation of banking business.</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"">Recently, disputes between businessmen and banks have increased after banks and financial institutions emphasized on debt recovery. In some districts, the businessmen protested against the bank and also resorted to physical attacks on bank employees.</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 meeting of the confederation held on Friday decided to file a complaint for legal action against individuals or groups who attack banks and financial institutions and their employees. They say that efforts to discourage non-payment of loan interest and to physically assault, humiliate, or prevent employees from doing their jobs are being done continuously in various places.</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 Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">CBFIN and all its affiliate members are fully committed to file a complaint against any person or organization that causes damage to the credibility or property of banks and financial institutions under any pretext by creating obstacles in the banking business," said a banker after the meeting. The statement released by CBFIN has urged the prime minister, home minister, home secretary, inspector general of police, chief district officers of </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">77</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> districts and all stakeholders to make effective security arrangements for banks and financial institutions and all employees.</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 association has also warned that if the government is not able to create an environment for operation of banks, the banking services will be completely closed. </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"">“If the government and its agencies cannot ensure an environment that facilitates the fulfillment of duties and responsibilities by using the rights given to banks and financial institutions in a safe environment, then all banks and financial institutions licensed by Nepal Rastra Bank may have to completely shut their services,” reads the statement, adding, “This will create a serious crisis for all stakeholders including the depositors, creditors and ultimately create an unimaginable crisis in the economy as a whole, so we want to draw the attention of all concerned.”</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"">Earlier, Nepal Bankers Association, Development Bankers Association Nepal, Nepal Financial Institutions Association and Nepal Microfinance Bankers Association had also issued a joint statement and warned that they will act strongly against the continued threat to banks and financial institutions.</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 bankers say that some people have obstructed the service delivery of some branches of banks and financial institutions as well as microfinance companies in Itahari, Sunsari, Birtamod and other places of eastern Nepal. They added that the employees have been threatened and customers deprived of essential banking services. </span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-07-03', 'modified' => '2023-07-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18073', 'image' => '20230703103256_Banks - Copy.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-07-03 10:31:37', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18342', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Anil Shrestha Appointed New CEO of Progressive Finance Limited', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Anil Shrestha has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Progressive Finance Limited. The decision was made during a meeting of the Board of Directors held on Friday.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20.0pt">July 3: Anil Shrestha has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Progressive Finance Limited. The decision was made during a meeting of the Board of Directors held on Friday.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20.0pt">Shrestha, with 27 years of experience in various financial institutions, including 13 years as the CEO of Reliance Finance, brings a wealth of expertise to his new role.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20.0pt"> His strong leadership in financial risk management and compliance is expected to propel Progressive Finance to new heights. Shrestha will serve as CEO for a tenure of four years.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20.0pt">Shrestha has expressed his commitment to making the finance strong, capable and excellent in every possible way. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-07-03', 'modified' => '2023-07-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18072', 'image' => '20230703060909_collage (11).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-07-03 06:07:59', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, '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
