Five more individuals have been arrested in connection with the Lalita Niwas land procurement scam. The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police made the arrests in different locations within…
Five more individuals have been arrested in connection with the Lalita Niwas land procurement scam. The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police made the arrests in different locations within…
June 27: An arrangement has been made for allowing only three visitors of a passenger to enter the Tribhuvan International Airport to see off and welcome the…
June 27: Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) is preparing to operate direct flights from Bhairahawa to Hong Kong.…
Only 50,000 Embossed Number Plates Installed in Seven…
June 27: Police have arrested Meen Bahadur Gurung, the proprietor of Bhatbhateni Super Market franchise, in connection with the Lalita Niwas land-grab scam. …
June 27: The National Concern and Coordination Committee of the National Assembly held a discussion on the government’s auditing process, arrears, problems, challenges and the implementation status of the report of the Office of the Auditor…
June 27: Chairman of Shiva Shikhar Multi-Purpose Cooperatives, Kedarnath Sharma, has been arrested for embezzling millions of rupees of the…
June 27: The government has made it mandatory to put labels with clear details of importer and distributor on imported goods starting from July 17.…
The police have made another arrest in connection with the fake Bhutanese refugee scam. The suspect, Ashish Budhathoki, was apprehended by the Kathmandu District Police Range from Mandikhatar in the capital city on…
…
Four wooden artworks dating back to the early 20th century will be brought back to Nepal from…
June 26: The Securities Board of Nepal has said that the matter of the postponed initial public offering (IPO) of Ghorahi Cement Industry Limited will be resolved soon.…
June 26: Despite the increase in investable capital in the banking system, the interbank interest rate has dropped to around 2.5 percent due to the lack of credit…
June 26: The Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) on Sunday presented the Finance Bill, 2080 in the Municipal Assembly to implement its financial proposal.…
June 26: In five months of 2023, a total of 404,231 foreign tourists visited…
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The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police made the arrests in different locations within Kathmandu.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">June 27: Five more individuals have been arrested in connection with the Lalita Niwas land procurement scam. </span></span><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police made the arrests in different locations within Kathmandu. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Among the arrested individuals are Kaladhar Deuja, the former chief of the Inland Revenue Office in Dilli Bazar, Surendraman Kapali, Dharma Prasad Gautam, Hupendra Mani KC, and Gopal Karki, who were employees at the same office. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Prior to these arrests, Meen Bahadur Gurung, the owner of the Bhatbhateni Super Market franchise, was also apprehended by the CIB as part of the investigation into the Lalita Niwas land grab scam.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Lalita Niwas land-grab scandal involves allegations of forgery related to the transfer of land ownership from Lalita Niwas in Baluwatar to individuals between the years 2049 BS and 2069 BS. </span></span><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The CIB had previously submitted a report to the Government Attorney's Office, identifying 300 individuals as defendants in the scandal.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> However, the investigation file was returned by the Office, which deemed further investigation necessary. The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has also conducted its own investigation into the scam and has filed cases against 175 individuals at the Special Court, which are currently under judicial review.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-27', 'modified' => '2023-06-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18025', 'image' => '20230627045342_collage (54).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-27 16:51:22', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18294', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Only Three Visitors Allowed to Enter TIA to Welcome and See Off Passengers ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 27: An arrangement has been made for allowing only three visitors of a passenger to enter the Tribhuvan International Airport to see off and welcome the passenger. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">June 27: An arrangement has been made for allowing only three visitors of a passenger to enter the Tribhuvan International Airport to see off and welcome the passenger. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">TIA Spokesperson Teknath Sitaula said the Airport Security Committee took the decision in this regard in view of possible air safety risk following the high number of visitors at the domestic and international terminal buildings of the airport. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He shared such a decision was taken after problem surfaced in management of traffic as well as risk of accident heightened. The passengers also started facing problems following the huge crowd at terminal buildings, added Sitaula. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The international terminal witnesses an enormous crowd till 10:00 pm from the evening. Family members and relatives of passengers gather in large number to see them off. Thirty air service providers including three Nepali airliners have been operating international flights at TIA while 20 air service providers including 11 helicopter companies conduct domestic flights. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-27', 'modified' => '2023-06-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18024', 'image' => '20230627040802_20220428023242_5e.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-27 16:07:20', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18293', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Airlines to Operate Bhairahawa-Hong Kong Flights ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 27: Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) is preparing to operate direct flights from Bhairahawa to Hong Kong. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">June 27: Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) is preparing to operate direct flights from Bhairahawa to Hong Kong. The national flag-carrier of Nepal, which is currently conducting direct flight to Hong Kong from Kathmandu, is making preparations to operate direct flight to Hong Kong from Bhairahawa with the goal of bringing maximum number of tourists through air connectivity between Hong Kong and Lumbini, the birth place of the Buddha. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Nepal Airlines also plans to operate flight from Bhairahawa to New Delhi, India, soon. Ramesh Poudel, spokesperson for the Nepal Airlines, said that final preparations are being made to operate direct flights from Bhairahawa to Hong Kong and New Delhi. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"We have made preparation for the Bhairahawa-Hong Kong flight. It will be finalized in a day or two. We also plan to expand flights to other countries as well, including New Delhi of India," he said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to spokesperson Poudel, ticket bookings would be opened within 15 days from now for flights to both Hong Kong and New Delhi. Nepal Airlines is planning to operate flights to more destinations such as Dubai and Doha as well. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Nepal Airlines is operating two flights a week to Hong Kong from Kathmandu at present and daily two flights to New Delhi. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Poudel said that the number of flights to these destinations from Bhairahawa is not finalized yet. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Nepal Airlines has been operating regular flights from the Bhirahawa-based Gautam Buddha International Airport from June 12. It has been operating flights on Bhairahawa-Malaysia and Malaysia-Bhairahawa-Kathmandu routes. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Bhairahawa Airport came into commercial operation since May 16, 2022. Only Jazeera Air had been operating flights to this airport since then, but the company has suspended flights lately citing technical reasons. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-27', 'modified' => '2023-06-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18023', 'image' => '20230627035453_naccccc.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-27 15:53:33', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18292', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Installation of Embossed Number Plates Not So Encouraging', 'sub_title' => ' Only 50,000 Embossed Number Plates Installed in Seven Years', 'summary' => ' Only 50,000 Embossed Number Plates Installed in Seven Years', '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"">June 27: In the seven years since the government entered into an agreement for 'embossed number plates', nearly </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">50,000</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> service users have installed such number plates on their vehicles.</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"">Since the government has not made it mandatory of vehicles to install embossed number plates, only a small number of users have installed such number plates so far. The Department of Transport Management (DoTM) said that nearly 300,000 embossed number plates have been produced so far but the use is negligible. </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"">Ishwaridatta Paneru, the spokesperson for the department, said that the delay in connection is not due to the supply issue but because the department has not made it mandatory. </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"">He said that the supplier is saying that they can produce as much number plates requested by the department. The DoTM is in a dilemma whether to produce more such plates or not because of the confusion over which language to use for the long run. </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 government has instructed the department to print 'embossed number plates' also in Nepali, so the department is making necessary preparations to this end.</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"">Spokesperson Paneru said that the government’s capacity to provide all services related to embossed number plates is questionable.</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 him, it is necessary to have physical infrastructure such to have those number plates installed on the office premises of along with human resources, parking space, etc. </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"">He said that since the transport management offices fall under the provincial governments, the department should not be the only one responsible for managing everything. He said that a plan will be made in coordination with these offices to determine the number of embossed plates required.</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"">It is said that the installation of embossed number plates has been delayed due to court cases and sometimes due to language disputes. The department is extending the deadline for installing embossed number plates due to other reasons and not because of the supply issue. According to the last extension, all vehicles will have to comply with the rule to install embossed number plates by next December. </span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-27', 'modified' => '2023-06-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18022', 'image' => '20230627024519_1687835735.abhiyan.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-27 14:44:30', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18291', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Proprietor of Bhatbhateni Franchise, Gurung, Arrested ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 27: Police have arrested Meen Bahadur Gurung, the proprietor of Bhatbhateni Super Market franchise, in connection with the Lalita Niwas land-grab scam. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">June 27: Police have arrested Meen Bahadur Gurung, the proprietor of Bhatbhateni Super Market franchise, in connection with the Lalita Niwas land-grab scam. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A team of the Central Investigation Bureau(CIB) of Nepal Police apprehended Gurung from his residence in Kathmandu on Tuesday morning, spokesperson for the Nepal Police Deputy Inspector General Kuber Kadayat told RSS. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Police said they are conducting a 'special operation' in connection to the infamous Lalita Niwas land-grab scandal. The Nepal Police spokesperson said that the police are also looking for more persons suspected to be involved in the scandal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The CIB had submitted a report to the Office of the Government Attorney, naming 300 individuals as the defendants in this scandal. But the office had returned the police investigation file, stating that further investigation was needed. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) had also carried out its own investigation into this scam and filed cases at the Special Court against certain individuals, which is still sub judice at the court. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Police arrested Gurung on the charge of transferring the land of Lalita Niwas at Baluwatar which is under the government's ownership in the name of various individuals. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-27', 'modified' => '2023-06-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18021', 'image' => '20230627013547_1687850983.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-27 13:35:01', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18290', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Parliamentary Committee Discusses Growing Arrears ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 27: The National Concern and Coordination Committee of the National Assembly held a discussion on the government’s auditing process, arrears, problems, challenges and the implementation status of the report of the Office of the Auditor General. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">June 27: The National Concern and Coordination Committee of the National Assembly held a discussion on the government’s auditing process, arrears, problems, challenges and the implementation status of the report of the Office of the Auditor General. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Committee Chairperson Dil Kumari Rawal Thapa said that they discussed the reasons behind the growing arrears and measures to be taken for correction. </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"">"Fiscal disciple is essential to reduce arrears," she said, adding that issues such as policy and structural reforms, human workforce management, use of new policy, effective implementation of new technology were zeroed in during the meeting held with the officials of the Office of the Auditor General (OAG). </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The committee is preparing to issue a directive to the bodies for reform after garnering suggestions in this regard, said Thapa. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Lawmakers said the culture of seeking commission by the government employees, frequent transfer, and huge amount released early as remuneration were some of the reasons behind the rise in arrears. Lawmaker Kumar Dasaudi blamed the government that it spends huge amount of budget at the end of fiscal year. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The lawmakers also sought suggestions from the OAG on how the existing legal arrangement could address the problems of arrears. </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"">On the occasion, Acting Auditor General Ram Maya Kunwar stressed the need for reform from the local level. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-27', 'modified' => '2023-06-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18020', 'image' => '20230627124226_parliament building.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-27 12:41:41', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18289', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Shiva Shikhar Cooperative's Chair Arrested for Duping Depositors ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 27: Chairman of Shiva Shikhar Multi-Purpose Cooperatives, Kedarnath Sharma, has been arrested for embezzling millions of rupees of the depositors. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">June 27: Chairman of Shiva Shikhar Multi-Purpose Cooperatives, Kedarnath Sharma, has been arrested for embezzling millions of rupees of the depositors. </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 Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police arrested him from western Nepal and brought him to Kathmandu. Additional details would be shared later, according to Superintendent of Police Nabaraj Adhikari. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The police had received information that Sharma had been hiding in different parts of India. They were able to nab him when he arrived in western Nepal recently.</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"">He had also established a cooperative in Morang. He is accused of duping depositors by investing the deposits in his personal company and firms illegally. </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 depositors had lodged complaints against Sharma and other promoters at the CIB and the Department of Cooperatives after Sharma failed to return the deposits upon their demand.</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"">Lately, many cooperatives have turned problematic due to investment in unproductive sectors and lack of proper monitoring. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-27', 'modified' => '2023-06-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18019', 'image' => '20230627120912_cooperative problematic.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-27 12:08:27', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18288', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Details of Importers Mandatory for Import of Goods', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 27: The government has made it mandatory to put labels with clear details of importer and distributor on imported goods starting from July 17. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">June 27: The government has made it mandatory to put labels with clear details of importer and distributor on imported goods starting from July 17. A notice issued by the government mentions that items without such details cannot be sold.</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 made such an arrangement through the Finance Bill 2080. The Department of Customs said the goods that are found being sold and distributed without the details of the importer and distributor will be confiscated.</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 department and its subordinate offices sent this notice to the importers recently. In a letter written by Dhan Bahadur Baruwal, chief customs officer of Birgunj Customs, to the Birgunj Chamber of Commerce and Industry, traders are requested to comply with this rule.</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"">Customs officials said that the government adopted such a policy to control the importation of low-quality goods. Ram Chandra Dhakal, Information Officer of Birgunj Customs, said that clear details of importer and distributor are made mandatory in order to protect the rights of consumers.</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 department also said that the details of importers and distributors will be monitored. </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"">However, the importers on the other hand say that the manufacturer does not bother to put such details on the goods sent to 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"">“There isn’t any system for the importers to label the imported goods which are already packed,” said Ganesh Lath, the outgoing president of Madhes Province chapter of the FNCCI. Traders also mentioned that some items cannot be labeled.</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 importers claim that there is a problem in keeping such details on some items and parts brought for industrial purposes. They say that it is not possible to sell potatoes, onions and other vegetables, fruits and daily consumables. Traders suspect this new rule might be another means to extort money from them by the authorities.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-27', 'modified' => '2023-06-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18018', 'image' => '20230627063047_import.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-27 06:30:01', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18287', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Fake Bhutanese Refugee Scam: One More Absconding Defendant Arrested', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'The police have made another arrest in connection with the fake Bhutanese refugee scam. The suspect, Ashish Budhathoki, was apprehended by the Kathmandu District Police Range from Mandikhatar in the capital city on Monday.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">June 27: The police have made another arrest in connection with the fake Bhutanese refugee scam. </span></span><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The suspect, Ashish Budhathoki, was apprehended by the Kathmandu District Police Range from Mandikhatar in the capital city on Monday. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Superintendent of Police Sitaram Rijal confirmed that Ashish Budhathoki was one of the absconding defendants in the case. Budhathoki had allegedly been involved in the fraudulent scheme of promising Nepali citizens the opportunity to travel to the USA by creating forged documents of fake Bhutanese refugees.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">According to SP Rijal, money collected by the individuals responsible for the scam were found to have been deposited in Budhathoki's bank account. </span></span><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">As a result, he has been implicated in the case, and charges have been filed against him in the Kathmandu District Court.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The District Attorney's Office in Kathmandu has filed lawsuits against several high-profile individuals, including former ministers Top Bahadur Rayamajhi and Bal Krishna Khand, as well as former home secretary Tek Narayan Pandey, among others. They have been accused of being involved in the fake Bhutanese refugee scam.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The case is currently being examined in relation to five different charges, which include fraud, organized crime, and treason. </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-27', 'modified' => '2023-06-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18017', 'image' => '20230627054827_collage (6).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-27 05:44:59', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18286', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'CIAA Files Lawsuit Against Former PADT Member Secretary Dhakal', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => '', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:18.0pt">June 26: The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has filed a lawsuit against Dr. Pradeep Dhakal, the former member secretary of the Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT), at the Special Court in Kathmandu. The lawsuit accuses him of illegally amassing properties.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:18.0pt">According to the CIAA spokesperson, Bhola Dahal, the charge sheet presented by the CIAA states that Dhakal acquired an amount exceeding Rs 14 million, the source of which has not been legally established. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:18.0pt">The investigation, which was launched based on a complaint, revealed that Dhakal allegedly amassed a substantial sum of money through abuse of power during his tenure as the member secretary of PADT.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:18.0pt">Dhakal’s tenure spanned from the Nepali month of Shrawan, 2074 BS, to Jestha, 2079 BS.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-26', 'modified' => '2023-06-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18016', 'image' => '20230626061037_collage (52).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-26 18:09:09', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18285', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Four Wooden Artifacts to Be Brought Back to Nepal from Australia', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Four wooden artworks dating back to the early 20th century will be brought back to Nepal from Australia.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">June 26: Four wooden artworks dating back to the early 20th century will be brought back to Nepal from Australia.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">The National Gallery of Australia, located in Canberra, has handed over these valuable artifacts to the Nepali Embassy, which will oversee their safe return.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">The responsibility of transporting the artworks back to Nepal has been assigned to Shangrila International Freight Private Limited.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Weighing a total of 26 kilos, these historic objects are of immense cultural importance to Nepal. Saugat Singh, the executive director of Shangrila International Freight, confirmed the weight of the artifacts. Upon their arrival, the artworks will be handed over to the Department of Archaeology, Nepal. (RSS)</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-26', 'modified' => '2023-06-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18015', 'image' => '20230626055959_collage (51).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-26 17:58:56', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18283', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'SEBON to Resolve Ghorahi Cement's IPO Controversy Soon', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 26: The Securities Board of Nepal has said that the matter of the postponed initial public offering (IPO) of Ghorahi Cement Industry Limited will be resolved soon. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">June 26: The Securities Board of Nepal has said that the matter of the postponed initial public offering (IPO) of Ghorahi Cement Industry Limited will be resolved soon. The board decided to stop the issuance of IPO of the company on June 19, saying that it would investigate the fake applications for the company's IPO.</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"">As the company’s IPOs have been oversubscribed, the board increased its monitoring by extending the period. CDS and Clearing Limited (CDSC) announced that a dozen investors had applied to buy millions of shares despite having no funds in their accounts. Due to the suspicious activity, the board suspended the process. </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"">Tej Prasad Devkota, information officer of the board, said that the board is trying to solve this issue as soon as possible.</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 since the investigation committee is working, the board will decide after they receive the report. According to information officer Devkota, the board is working with special vigilance as the issue of securities is being issued to the public in the primary market and the matter of Ghorahi has an impact on others as well. He said that it will not take much time to resolve this. </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 board believes that transactions should be conducted fairly and transparently in the securities market," 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"">Ghorahi had opened the IPO to allocate 6.91 million shares to the general public from June 15 for Rs 435 per share with a premium charge. CDSC said that applications without funds in the account have been cancelled. </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"">According to CDSC, this is the first time in the history of Nepal's securities market that so many applications have been rejected during public offering.</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 IPO has received three times more applicants than the demand placed by the company. A total of 562,043 applicants want to buy shares worth Rs 22.61 million. The amount has been froozen in the bank. Investors have requested not to withhold their money for a long time.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Company's belief that the IPO issuance process will go ahead</span></strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Meanwhile, the company has claimed that the misleading and wrong information flow harms the professional reputation and reputation of the industry, which is one of the largest in the country.</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"">One of the directors of the company, seeking anonymity, responded that the regulatory body stopped the process based on wrong information, which would affect the reputation of the company. He also said that the company will help the board in the investigation process in a completely transparent manner.</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 company is ready to take responsibility for all the documents, including the prospectus, financial statement and credit rating report submitted for the IPO issuance process. </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"">Regarding the dispute about the rating company, he said, "The credit rating process is done by a specific method, and the process is done through the analysis and evaluation of international experts, so there is no weakness."</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 is hopeful that the stopped process will be resumed immediately following the procedure according to the law regarding the fake application. The board has allowed Ghorahi Cement to sell 7.94 million shares in IPO at a premium rate. The board has allowed the IPO sale for the residents of industry-affected areas at a face value of Rs 400 by adding Rs 300 to the initial price of Rs 100 per share. Likewise, the company has offered the share at a face value of Rs 430 to the general public. </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 company has distributed 606,350 shares to Nepalis working abroad, 328,961 shares to collective investment funds, 19,530 shares to the company employees and 77,290 shares to residents affected by the industry. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-26', 'modified' => '2023-06-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18014', 'image' => '20230626023435_1687742782.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-26 14:33:39', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18282', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Interbank Interest Rate Drops to 2.65 Percent', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 26: Despite the increase in investable capital in the banking system, the interbank interest rate has dropped to around 2.5 percent due to the lack of credit expansion.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">June 26: Despite the increase in investable capital in the banking system, the interbank interest rate has dropped to around 2.5 percent due to the lack of credit expansion. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The interbank interest rate, which started falling continuously since the beginning of June, was fixed at 2.65 percent on Friday.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The interbank interest rate, which was 5.74 percent last Wednesday, fell to 4.01 percent last Monday.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">At the beginning of the current fiscal year, the interbank interest rate exceeded 8 percent. It dropped to 4 percent in January with an increase in liquidity. However, after the Nepal Rastra Bank mopped liquidity from the market through reverse repo, the interbank rate increased again and reached 8.5 percent in February. In recent times, the liquidity has eased again and bank deposits are increasing due to increase in remittances and government spending. Lack of credit flow is also responsible for the increase in liquidity. As there is more liquidity in the financial system, NRB mopped funds through reverse repo twice in a week.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In recent times, despite the increase in bank deposits, flow of loans is minimal due to which the interest rates of interbank, treasury, development bonds etc are decreasing. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">As of Friday, the credit-deposit ratio (CD ratio) of banks remained at 83.97 percent. Since banks can maintain a CD ratio of up to 90 percent to extend loans, there is a situation where they can give more loans of about Rs 500 billion loans. However, there is no demand for loans due to the high interest rate and a decline in economic activities.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">As of Friday, the total deposits of banks and financial institutions have reached Rs 5571 billion and disbursement of loans has reached Rs 4855 billion.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> As the liquidity becomes easier, the interest rate of the government's short-term bond treasury bills is gradually decreasing. Last Tuesday, the interest rate of Treasury Bills dropped to 4 percent.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-26', 'modified' => '2023-06-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18013', 'image' => '20230626022148_Nepal_Rastra_Bank2 2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-26 14:21:05', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18281', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'How Much Taxes have been Fixed for Various Businesses and Industries in KMC?', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 26: The Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) on Sunday presented the Finance Bill, 2080 in the Municipal Assembly to implement its financial proposal. ', '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:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">June 26: The Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) on Sunday presented the Finance Bill, 2080 in the Municipal Assembly to implement its financial proposal. The Finance Bill has proposed changing the tax rates within the jurisdiction of the metropolis in the next fiscal year. The metropolis has determined the commercial taxes by taking into consideration the nature of various businesses and the investment situation.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><strong><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">Beverage Manufacturers and Suppliers</span></span></span></span></strong></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:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">According to the Finance Bill of the Kathmandu Metropolitan City, those registered in the soft drinks industry (Coca-Cola, Pepsi-Cola, Frooti, etc.) in the manufacturing business and industry will have to pay a tax of Rs 50,000 to the KMC. An annual fee of Rs 2,000 has been set for the renewal of license of the domestic industries that produce soda and soft drinks, Rs 50,000 for distillery industry, Rs 5,000 for various businesses involved in or industries that produce exportable goods and Rs 10,000 for businesses and industries involved in import of goods.</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:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">A tax of Rs 5,000 has been fixed for the mineral water industry, Rs 10,000 for the ice cream industry (above three kilowatts) and Rs 2,000 for such domestic industries (up to three kilowatts).</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:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">Similarly, a tax of Rs 10,000 has been imposed on branded biscuits, bread rolls, cake industries and Rs 2,000 on domestic industries that produce such products. The dairy industry will have to pay Rs 10,000, while the mills will have to pay Rs 5,000, branded shoes and slippers industry will have to pay Rs 12,000, industries that manufacture bags, belts, purses etc will have to pay Rs 5,000 each.</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:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">Similarly, grocery and retail shop will have to pay Rs 2000 each for the renewal of their license while the renewal tax for wholesale grocery shop has been fixed at Rs 5000. Similarly, wholesale food sellers will have to pay Rs 10000 as taxes for license renewal while retailers will have to pay Rs 3000.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><strong><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">Small Scale Industries</span></span></span></span></strong></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:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">A tax of Rs 10,000 has been fixed for food industries (above five kilowatts) and Rs 5,000 for such small industries. Carpet, garment, pashmina and plastic industries will have to pay Rs 10,000 as annual tax. Meanwhile, an annual tax ranging from Rs 2000 to Rs 12000 has been fixed for copy, book and printing industry according to their capacity.</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:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">Likewise, annual tax of Rs 50,000 has been fixed for underground water processing industry and Rs 7,000 for bottled and jar water industry.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><strong><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">Construction and Business</span></span></span></span></strong></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:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">The industrial enterprises that constructs and operates road bridges, ropeways, railways, tunnels, flyovers and industrial, commercial and residential complexes etc will be taxed Rs 25,000 each. Hostels with up to 50 people will have to pay Rs 3,000 as taxes and hostels with more than 50 people will have to pay Rs 5,000. Makeup studio will have to pay Rs 3000 as annual tax. Similarly, cushion-making industry will be taxed Rs 5000 and herbal industry Rs 2000.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><strong><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">Agriculture</span></span></span></span></strong></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:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">The KMC has fixed annual tax of Rs 2000 for the beekeeping industry and Rs 3,000 for selling chicks. Similarly, a tax of Rs 1,000 has been set for retail shops selling fruits, juices and vegetables, Rs 2,000 for fruit and vegetable wholesale shops, and Rs 2,000 for nurseries. </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:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">Retailers of fish/meat, eggs will have to pay Rs 2,500 and wholesalers will have to pay Rs 6,000. A tax of Rs 5,000 has been imposed for those who sell processed meat products. </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:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">Meanwhile, a tax of Rs 2,000 has been set for businesses engaged in vegetable farming, animal husbandry and other agricultural activities, Rs 7,000 for wholesale shops selling pet products (feed/food for pets) and Rs 3,000 for retail shops. Similarly, a tax of Rs 5,000 has been set for dog breeding centers, Rs 2,000 for modern animal slaughterhouses and shops selling vegetable seeds.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><strong><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">Tourism and Recreation</span></span></span></span></strong></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:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">In the hotel and tourism sector and entertainment business, the KMC has fixed a tax of Rs 100,000 for five-star hotels, Rs 80,000 for four-star hotels, Rs 60,000 for three-star hotels, Rs 40,000 for two-star hotels and Rs 20,000 for one-star hotels. </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:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">A tax of Rs 10,000 has been fixed for film halls, ordinary hotels, lodges, guesthouses, homestays with a capacity of more than 50 people, restaurants and bars (except dance bars), as well as travel and trekking agencies.</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:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">A tax of Rs 10,000 has also been fixed for massage parlours, spa, jacuzzi, sauna, swimming pool among others. </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:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">A tax of Rs 3,000 will be levied for contact offices of tourist sports (golf courses, rafting, safari, horse riding, skiing, gliding, water rafting, pony trekking, paragliding, polo, bungee jump, cable car, resort, hotel etc.). </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:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">Similarly, a tax of Rs 15,000 has been fixed for film production companies and Rs 5,000 on distribution companies.</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:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">Similarly, a tax of Rs 300,000 has been set for casinos and Rs 25,000 for mini casinos. </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:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">A tax of Rs 5,000 has been set for trekking goods shops, businesses providing entertainment services, Thanka shops, dance training centers, businesses providing music related services, and tattoo houses. A fun park with an area of up to five ropanis will have to pay Rs 10,000, a fun park with an area of up to ten ropanies will have to pay Rs 20,000 and a fun park with an area of more than ten ropanis will have to pay Rs 30,000.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><strong><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">Communication</span></span></span></span></strong></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:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">In the communication sector, a tax of Rs 5,000 has been set for television broadcasting companies, Rs 1,000 for FM stations, Rs 2,000 for online businesses, Rs 500 for online news portals, Rs 2,000 for national newspapers, Rs 1,000 for local newspapers and Rs 2,000 for cyber cafes.</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:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">A tax of Rs 50,000 has been fixed for foreign airline service providers and Rs 25,000 for domestic airline services. </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:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">Similarly, a tax of Rs 25,000 will be levied on aircraft rental companies, discos, night clubs, foreign employment liaison businesses, etc.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-26', 'modified' => '2023-06-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18012', 'image' => '20230626014125_taxxxxx.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-26 13:39:59', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18280', 'article_category_id' => '251', 'title' => 'Arrival of Tourists up by 45 % Compared to 2022', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 26: In five months of 2023, a total of 404,231 foreign tourists visited Nepal.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">MK Kulung</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"">June 26: In five months of 2023, a total of 404,231 foreign tourists visited Nepal. According to Nepal Tourism Board’s data, altogether 55,074 foreigners visited Nepal in January, 73,255 in February, 99,426 in March, 98,773 in April and 77,703 in May. In the six months of 2022, only 237,000 foreign tourists had visited 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"">According to the data, the first five months of 2023 saw a 45 percent growth in arrival of tourists compared to the corresponding period of 2022. Therefore, if foreign tourists arrive at the same rate this year, there is a possibility that the number of tourists in Nepal will increase to the mark of 1 million. Likewise, in the six months of 2022, Nepal earned foreign currency equal to Rs 25.52 billion from tourism. However, in the year 2023, the data regarding how much money they spent in a period of five months has not come out yet.</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 the same period of the fiscal year 2077-078 (the year 2021), tourism contributed Rs 6.69 billion to the economy.</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"">At the end of December 2019, not only Nepal's tourism industry, but the world's tourism industry had to suffer an unexpected shock due to Covid-19 which spread from China’s Wuhan, the capital of the South-eastern province of Hubei, and gradually took over the global. However, now that the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the end of Covid-19 as a global emergency and world tourism activities are gaining momentum.</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"">However, if we look at the history of tourism in Nepal, it is only since 1963 that the government of Nepal has officially started keeping statistics of foreign tourists visiting Nepal. After almost 60 years since then, i.e. in 2023, the number of foreign tourists coming to Nepal is increasing, which is a very good sign.</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 encouraging number of foreign tourists who visited Nepal in recent years, the government of Nepal announced that 2018 will be celebrated as the Visit Nepal Year.</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"">But in 2018, due to various reasons, it was not possible to celebrate the Visit Nepal Year, and preparations were made to celebrate 'Visit Nepal Year-2020' again in 2020 with an ambitious plan to attract two million foreign tourists in a year. However, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Government of Nepal postponed the 'Visit Nepal Year-2020'. Although all the preparations were completed and some programs were implemented, and the inauguration was done, it had to be postponed.</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"">At that time, experts in the world's tourism industry estimated that it would take at least 2024/26 for the tourism industry to return to normalcy.</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"">In the future, it seems that efforts should be made to attract as many Chinese tourists as possible to Nepal. If this can be done, the Nepali tourism industry will progress quickly.</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"">According to the data compiled by various organizations related to world tourism, including UNWTO, Chinese tourists have consistently ranked among the highest-spending tourists in the world.</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"">Also, based on the number of Chinese tourists, they are ranked at the top among people going on the world tour. Recently, in collaboration with the Chinese people, a dragon boat competition was organized in Pokhara.</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 Chinese tourists who took part in it chartered a plane and landed in Pokhara. This has raised the prospects of Chinese tourists coming to Pokhara in the future.</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"">In the recent past, the second largest number of tourists visiting Nepal were Chinese after the Indians. This is not the case at present, but it can be expected that Chinese tourists will increase. For them, Pokhara is the most attractive tourist destination in Nepal. That's why they seem eager to come to Pokhara.</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"">It seems that various tourist infrastructures built there have also attracted Chinese tourists. Nepali businessmen should take the initiative to bring Chinese tourists to Nepal through chartered flights. If this can be done, it seems that Nepal's tourism will be completely revived. However, their expenses seem to depend on the activities conducted here.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-26', 'modified' => '2023-06-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18011', 'image' => '20230626010005_20230623024119_KrishnaDawadi_Kaski_RSS_08_boatracecometion.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-26 12:58:53', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ) ) $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' => '18295', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Lalita Niwas Land Grab Scam: Five More Arrested', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Five more individuals have been arrested in connection with the Lalita Niwas land procurement scam. The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police made the arrests in different locations within Kathmandu.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">June 27: Five more individuals have been arrested in connection with the Lalita Niwas land procurement scam. </span></span><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police made the arrests in different locations within Kathmandu. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Among the arrested individuals are Kaladhar Deuja, the former chief of the Inland Revenue Office in Dilli Bazar, Surendraman Kapali, Dharma Prasad Gautam, Hupendra Mani KC, and Gopal Karki, who were employees at the same office. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Prior to these arrests, Meen Bahadur Gurung, the owner of the Bhatbhateni Super Market franchise, was also apprehended by the CIB as part of the investigation into the Lalita Niwas land grab scam.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Lalita Niwas land-grab scandal involves allegations of forgery related to the transfer of land ownership from Lalita Niwas in Baluwatar to individuals between the years 2049 BS and 2069 BS. </span></span><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The CIB had previously submitted a report to the Government Attorney's Office, identifying 300 individuals as defendants in the scandal.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> However, the investigation file was returned by the Office, which deemed further investigation necessary. The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has also conducted its own investigation into the scam and has filed cases against 175 individuals at the Special Court, which are currently under judicial review.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-27', 'modified' => '2023-06-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18025', 'image' => '20230627045342_collage (54).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-27 16:51:22', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18294', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Only Three Visitors Allowed to Enter TIA to Welcome and See Off Passengers ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 27: An arrangement has been made for allowing only three visitors of a passenger to enter the Tribhuvan International Airport to see off and welcome the passenger. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">June 27: An arrangement has been made for allowing only three visitors of a passenger to enter the Tribhuvan International Airport to see off and welcome the passenger. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">TIA Spokesperson Teknath Sitaula said the Airport Security Committee took the decision in this regard in view of possible air safety risk following the high number of visitors at the domestic and international terminal buildings of the airport. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He shared such a decision was taken after problem surfaced in management of traffic as well as risk of accident heightened. The passengers also started facing problems following the huge crowd at terminal buildings, added Sitaula. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The international terminal witnesses an enormous crowd till 10:00 pm from the evening. Family members and relatives of passengers gather in large number to see them off. Thirty air service providers including three Nepali airliners have been operating international flights at TIA while 20 air service providers including 11 helicopter companies conduct domestic flights. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-27', 'modified' => '2023-06-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18024', 'image' => '20230627040802_20220428023242_5e.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-27 16:07:20', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18293', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Airlines to Operate Bhairahawa-Hong Kong Flights ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 27: Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) is preparing to operate direct flights from Bhairahawa to Hong Kong. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">June 27: Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) is preparing to operate direct flights from Bhairahawa to Hong Kong. The national flag-carrier of Nepal, which is currently conducting direct flight to Hong Kong from Kathmandu, is making preparations to operate direct flight to Hong Kong from Bhairahawa with the goal of bringing maximum number of tourists through air connectivity between Hong Kong and Lumbini, the birth place of the Buddha. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Nepal Airlines also plans to operate flight from Bhairahawa to New Delhi, India, soon. Ramesh Poudel, spokesperson for the Nepal Airlines, said that final preparations are being made to operate direct flights from Bhairahawa to Hong Kong and New Delhi. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"We have made preparation for the Bhairahawa-Hong Kong flight. It will be finalized in a day or two. We also plan to expand flights to other countries as well, including New Delhi of India," he said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to spokesperson Poudel, ticket bookings would be opened within 15 days from now for flights to both Hong Kong and New Delhi. Nepal Airlines is planning to operate flights to more destinations such as Dubai and Doha as well. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Nepal Airlines is operating two flights a week to Hong Kong from Kathmandu at present and daily two flights to New Delhi. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Poudel said that the number of flights to these destinations from Bhairahawa is not finalized yet. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Nepal Airlines has been operating regular flights from the Bhirahawa-based Gautam Buddha International Airport from June 12. It has been operating flights on Bhairahawa-Malaysia and Malaysia-Bhairahawa-Kathmandu routes. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Bhairahawa Airport came into commercial operation since May 16, 2022. Only Jazeera Air had been operating flights to this airport since then, but the company has suspended flights lately citing technical reasons. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-27', 'modified' => '2023-06-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18023', 'image' => '20230627035453_naccccc.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-27 15:53:33', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18292', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Installation of Embossed Number Plates Not So Encouraging', 'sub_title' => ' Only 50,000 Embossed Number Plates Installed in Seven Years', 'summary' => ' Only 50,000 Embossed Number Plates Installed in Seven Years', '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"">June 27: In the seven years since the government entered into an agreement for 'embossed number plates', nearly </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">50,000</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> service users have installed such number plates on their vehicles.</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"">Since the government has not made it mandatory of vehicles to install embossed number plates, only a small number of users have installed such number plates so far. The Department of Transport Management (DoTM) said that nearly 300,000 embossed number plates have been produced so far but the use is negligible. </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"">Ishwaridatta Paneru, the spokesperson for the department, said that the delay in connection is not due to the supply issue but because the department has not made it mandatory. </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"">He said that the supplier is saying that they can produce as much number plates requested by the department. The DoTM is in a dilemma whether to produce more such plates or not because of the confusion over which language to use for the long run. </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 government has instructed the department to print 'embossed number plates' also in Nepali, so the department is making necessary preparations to this end.</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"">Spokesperson Paneru said that the government’s capacity to provide all services related to embossed number plates is questionable.</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 him, it is necessary to have physical infrastructure such to have those number plates installed on the office premises of along with human resources, parking space, etc. </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"">He said that since the transport management offices fall under the provincial governments, the department should not be the only one responsible for managing everything. He said that a plan will be made in coordination with these offices to determine the number of embossed plates required.</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"">It is said that the installation of embossed number plates has been delayed due to court cases and sometimes due to language disputes. The department is extending the deadline for installing embossed number plates due to other reasons and not because of the supply issue. According to the last extension, all vehicles will have to comply with the rule to install embossed number plates by next December. </span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-27', 'modified' => '2023-06-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18022', 'image' => '20230627024519_1687835735.abhiyan.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-27 14:44:30', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18291', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Proprietor of Bhatbhateni Franchise, Gurung, Arrested ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 27: Police have arrested Meen Bahadur Gurung, the proprietor of Bhatbhateni Super Market franchise, in connection with the Lalita Niwas land-grab scam. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">June 27: Police have arrested Meen Bahadur Gurung, the proprietor of Bhatbhateni Super Market franchise, in connection with the Lalita Niwas land-grab scam. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A team of the Central Investigation Bureau(CIB) of Nepal Police apprehended Gurung from his residence in Kathmandu on Tuesday morning, spokesperson for the Nepal Police Deputy Inspector General Kuber Kadayat told RSS. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Police said they are conducting a 'special operation' in connection to the infamous Lalita Niwas land-grab scandal. The Nepal Police spokesperson said that the police are also looking for more persons suspected to be involved in the scandal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The CIB had submitted a report to the Office of the Government Attorney, naming 300 individuals as the defendants in this scandal. But the office had returned the police investigation file, stating that further investigation was needed. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) had also carried out its own investigation into this scam and filed cases at the Special Court against certain individuals, which is still sub judice at the court. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Police arrested Gurung on the charge of transferring the land of Lalita Niwas at Baluwatar which is under the government's ownership in the name of various individuals. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-27', 'modified' => '2023-06-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18021', 'image' => '20230627013547_1687850983.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-27 13:35:01', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18290', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Parliamentary Committee Discusses Growing Arrears ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 27: The National Concern and Coordination Committee of the National Assembly held a discussion on the government’s auditing process, arrears, problems, challenges and the implementation status of the report of the Office of the Auditor General. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">June 27: The National Concern and Coordination Committee of the National Assembly held a discussion on the government’s auditing process, arrears, problems, challenges and the implementation status of the report of the Office of the Auditor General. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Committee Chairperson Dil Kumari Rawal Thapa said that they discussed the reasons behind the growing arrears and measures to be taken for correction. </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"">"Fiscal disciple is essential to reduce arrears," she said, adding that issues such as policy and structural reforms, human workforce management, use of new policy, effective implementation of new technology were zeroed in during the meeting held with the officials of the Office of the Auditor General (OAG). </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The committee is preparing to issue a directive to the bodies for reform after garnering suggestions in this regard, said Thapa. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Lawmakers said the culture of seeking commission by the government employees, frequent transfer, and huge amount released early as remuneration were some of the reasons behind the rise in arrears. Lawmaker Kumar Dasaudi blamed the government that it spends huge amount of budget at the end of fiscal year. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The lawmakers also sought suggestions from the OAG on how the existing legal arrangement could address the problems of arrears. </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"">On the occasion, Acting Auditor General Ram Maya Kunwar stressed the need for reform from the local level. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-27', 'modified' => '2023-06-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18020', 'image' => '20230627124226_parliament building.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-27 12:41:41', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18289', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Shiva Shikhar Cooperative's Chair Arrested for Duping Depositors ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 27: Chairman of Shiva Shikhar Multi-Purpose Cooperatives, Kedarnath Sharma, has been arrested for embezzling millions of rupees of the depositors. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">June 27: Chairman of Shiva Shikhar Multi-Purpose Cooperatives, Kedarnath Sharma, has been arrested for embezzling millions of rupees of the depositors. </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 Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police arrested him from western Nepal and brought him to Kathmandu. Additional details would be shared later, according to Superintendent of Police Nabaraj Adhikari. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The police had received information that Sharma had been hiding in different parts of India. They were able to nab him when he arrived in western Nepal recently.</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"">He had also established a cooperative in Morang. He is accused of duping depositors by investing the deposits in his personal company and firms illegally. </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 depositors had lodged complaints against Sharma and other promoters at the CIB and the Department of Cooperatives after Sharma failed to return the deposits upon their demand.</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"">Lately, many cooperatives have turned problematic due to investment in unproductive sectors and lack of proper monitoring. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-27', 'modified' => '2023-06-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18019', 'image' => '20230627120912_cooperative problematic.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-27 12:08:27', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18288', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Details of Importers Mandatory for Import of Goods', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 27: The government has made it mandatory to put labels with clear details of importer and distributor on imported goods starting from July 17. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">June 27: The government has made it mandatory to put labels with clear details of importer and distributor on imported goods starting from July 17. A notice issued by the government mentions that items without such details cannot be sold.</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 made such an arrangement through the Finance Bill 2080. The Department of Customs said the goods that are found being sold and distributed without the details of the importer and distributor will be confiscated.</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 department and its subordinate offices sent this notice to the importers recently. In a letter written by Dhan Bahadur Baruwal, chief customs officer of Birgunj Customs, to the Birgunj Chamber of Commerce and Industry, traders are requested to comply with this rule.</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"">Customs officials said that the government adopted such a policy to control the importation of low-quality goods. Ram Chandra Dhakal, Information Officer of Birgunj Customs, said that clear details of importer and distributor are made mandatory in order to protect the rights of consumers.</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 department also said that the details of importers and distributors will be monitored. </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"">However, the importers on the other hand say that the manufacturer does not bother to put such details on the goods sent to 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"">“There isn’t any system for the importers to label the imported goods which are already packed,” said Ganesh Lath, the outgoing president of Madhes Province chapter of the FNCCI. Traders also mentioned that some items cannot be labeled.</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 importers claim that there is a problem in keeping such details on some items and parts brought for industrial purposes. They say that it is not possible to sell potatoes, onions and other vegetables, fruits and daily consumables. Traders suspect this new rule might be another means to extort money from them by the authorities.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-27', 'modified' => '2023-06-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18018', 'image' => '20230627063047_import.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-27 06:30:01', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18287', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Fake Bhutanese Refugee Scam: One More Absconding Defendant Arrested', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'The police have made another arrest in connection with the fake Bhutanese refugee scam. The suspect, Ashish Budhathoki, was apprehended by the Kathmandu District Police Range from Mandikhatar in the capital city on Monday.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">June 27: The police have made another arrest in connection with the fake Bhutanese refugee scam. </span></span><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The suspect, Ashish Budhathoki, was apprehended by the Kathmandu District Police Range from Mandikhatar in the capital city on Monday. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Superintendent of Police Sitaram Rijal confirmed that Ashish Budhathoki was one of the absconding defendants in the case. Budhathoki had allegedly been involved in the fraudulent scheme of promising Nepali citizens the opportunity to travel to the USA by creating forged documents of fake Bhutanese refugees.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">According to SP Rijal, money collected by the individuals responsible for the scam were found to have been deposited in Budhathoki's bank account. </span></span><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">As a result, he has been implicated in the case, and charges have been filed against him in the Kathmandu District Court.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The District Attorney's Office in Kathmandu has filed lawsuits against several high-profile individuals, including former ministers Top Bahadur Rayamajhi and Bal Krishna Khand, as well as former home secretary Tek Narayan Pandey, among others. They have been accused of being involved in the fake Bhutanese refugee scam.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The case is currently being examined in relation to five different charges, which include fraud, organized crime, and treason. </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-27', 'modified' => '2023-06-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18017', 'image' => '20230627054827_collage (6).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-27 05:44:59', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18286', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'CIAA Files Lawsuit Against Former PADT Member Secretary Dhakal', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => '', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:18.0pt">June 26: The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has filed a lawsuit against Dr. Pradeep Dhakal, the former member secretary of the Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT), at the Special Court in Kathmandu. The lawsuit accuses him of illegally amassing properties.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:18.0pt">According to the CIAA spokesperson, Bhola Dahal, the charge sheet presented by the CIAA states that Dhakal acquired an amount exceeding Rs 14 million, the source of which has not been legally established. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:18.0pt">The investigation, which was launched based on a complaint, revealed that Dhakal allegedly amassed a substantial sum of money through abuse of power during his tenure as the member secretary of PADT.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:18.0pt">Dhakal’s tenure spanned from the Nepali month of Shrawan, 2074 BS, to Jestha, 2079 BS.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-26', 'modified' => '2023-06-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18016', 'image' => '20230626061037_collage (52).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-26 18:09:09', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18285', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Four Wooden Artifacts to Be Brought Back to Nepal from Australia', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Four wooden artworks dating back to the early 20th century will be brought back to Nepal from Australia.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">June 26: Four wooden artworks dating back to the early 20th century will be brought back to Nepal from Australia.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">The National Gallery of Australia, located in Canberra, has handed over these valuable artifacts to the Nepali Embassy, which will oversee their safe return.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">The responsibility of transporting the artworks back to Nepal has been assigned to Shangrila International Freight Private Limited.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Weighing a total of 26 kilos, these historic objects are of immense cultural importance to Nepal. Saugat Singh, the executive director of Shangrila International Freight, confirmed the weight of the artifacts. Upon their arrival, the artworks will be handed over to the Department of Archaeology, Nepal. (RSS)</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-26', 'modified' => '2023-06-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18015', 'image' => '20230626055959_collage (51).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-26 17:58:56', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18283', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'SEBON to Resolve Ghorahi Cement's IPO Controversy Soon', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 26: The Securities Board of Nepal has said that the matter of the postponed initial public offering (IPO) of Ghorahi Cement Industry Limited will be resolved soon. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">June 26: The Securities Board of Nepal has said that the matter of the postponed initial public offering (IPO) of Ghorahi Cement Industry Limited will be resolved soon. The board decided to stop the issuance of IPO of the company on June 19, saying that it would investigate the fake applications for the company's IPO.</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"">As the company’s IPOs have been oversubscribed, the board increased its monitoring by extending the period. CDS and Clearing Limited (CDSC) announced that a dozen investors had applied to buy millions of shares despite having no funds in their accounts. Due to the suspicious activity, the board suspended the process. </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"">Tej Prasad Devkota, information officer of the board, said that the board is trying to solve this issue as soon as possible.</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 since the investigation committee is working, the board will decide after they receive the report. According to information officer Devkota, the board is working with special vigilance as the issue of securities is being issued to the public in the primary market and the matter of Ghorahi has an impact on others as well. He said that it will not take much time to resolve this. </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 board believes that transactions should be conducted fairly and transparently in the securities market," 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"">Ghorahi had opened the IPO to allocate 6.91 million shares to the general public from June 15 for Rs 435 per share with a premium charge. CDSC said that applications without funds in the account have been cancelled. </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"">According to CDSC, this is the first time in the history of Nepal's securities market that so many applications have been rejected during public offering.</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 IPO has received three times more applicants than the demand placed by the company. A total of 562,043 applicants want to buy shares worth Rs 22.61 million. The amount has been froozen in the bank. Investors have requested not to withhold their money for a long time.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Company's belief that the IPO issuance process will go ahead</span></strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Meanwhile, the company has claimed that the misleading and wrong information flow harms the professional reputation and reputation of the industry, which is one of the largest in the country.</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"">One of the directors of the company, seeking anonymity, responded that the regulatory body stopped the process based on wrong information, which would affect the reputation of the company. He also said that the company will help the board in the investigation process in a completely transparent manner.</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 company is ready to take responsibility for all the documents, including the prospectus, financial statement and credit rating report submitted for the IPO issuance process. </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"">Regarding the dispute about the rating company, he said, "The credit rating process is done by a specific method, and the process is done through the analysis and evaluation of international experts, so there is no weakness."</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 is hopeful that the stopped process will be resumed immediately following the procedure according to the law regarding the fake application. The board has allowed Ghorahi Cement to sell 7.94 million shares in IPO at a premium rate. The board has allowed the IPO sale for the residents of industry-affected areas at a face value of Rs 400 by adding Rs 300 to the initial price of Rs 100 per share. Likewise, the company has offered the share at a face value of Rs 430 to the general public. </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 company has distributed 606,350 shares to Nepalis working abroad, 328,961 shares to collective investment funds, 19,530 shares to the company employees and 77,290 shares to residents affected by the industry. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-26', 'modified' => '2023-06-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18014', 'image' => '20230626023435_1687742782.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-26 14:33:39', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18282', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Interbank Interest Rate Drops to 2.65 Percent', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 26: Despite the increase in investable capital in the banking system, the interbank interest rate has dropped to around 2.5 percent due to the lack of credit expansion.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">June 26: Despite the increase in investable capital in the banking system, the interbank interest rate has dropped to around 2.5 percent due to the lack of credit expansion. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The interbank interest rate, which started falling continuously since the beginning of June, was fixed at 2.65 percent on Friday.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The interbank interest rate, which was 5.74 percent last Wednesday, fell to 4.01 percent last Monday.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">At the beginning of the current fiscal year, the interbank interest rate exceeded 8 percent. It dropped to 4 percent in January with an increase in liquidity. However, after the Nepal Rastra Bank mopped liquidity from the market through reverse repo, the interbank rate increased again and reached 8.5 percent in February. In recent times, the liquidity has eased again and bank deposits are increasing due to increase in remittances and government spending. Lack of credit flow is also responsible for the increase in liquidity. As there is more liquidity in the financial system, NRB mopped funds through reverse repo twice in a week.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In recent times, despite the increase in bank deposits, flow of loans is minimal due to which the interest rates of interbank, treasury, development bonds etc are decreasing. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">As of Friday, the credit-deposit ratio (CD ratio) of banks remained at 83.97 percent. Since banks can maintain a CD ratio of up to 90 percent to extend loans, there is a situation where they can give more loans of about Rs 500 billion loans. However, there is no demand for loans due to the high interest rate and a decline in economic activities.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">As of Friday, the total deposits of banks and financial institutions have reached Rs 5571 billion and disbursement of loans has reached Rs 4855 billion.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> As the liquidity becomes easier, the interest rate of the government's short-term bond treasury bills is gradually decreasing. Last Tuesday, the interest rate of Treasury Bills dropped to 4 percent.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-26', 'modified' => '2023-06-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18013', 'image' => '20230626022148_Nepal_Rastra_Bank2 2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-26 14:21:05', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18281', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'How Much Taxes have been Fixed for Various Businesses and Industries in KMC?', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 26: The Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) on Sunday presented the Finance Bill, 2080 in the Municipal Assembly to implement its financial proposal. ', '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:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">June 26: The Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) on Sunday presented the Finance Bill, 2080 in the Municipal Assembly to implement its financial proposal. The Finance Bill has proposed changing the tax rates within the jurisdiction of the metropolis in the next fiscal year. The metropolis has determined the commercial taxes by taking into consideration the nature of various businesses and the investment situation.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><strong><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">Beverage Manufacturers and Suppliers</span></span></span></span></strong></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:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">According to the Finance Bill of the Kathmandu Metropolitan City, those registered in the soft drinks industry (Coca-Cola, Pepsi-Cola, Frooti, etc.) in the manufacturing business and industry will have to pay a tax of Rs 50,000 to the KMC. An annual fee of Rs 2,000 has been set for the renewal of license of the domestic industries that produce soda and soft drinks, Rs 50,000 for distillery industry, Rs 5,000 for various businesses involved in or industries that produce exportable goods and Rs 10,000 for businesses and industries involved in import of goods.</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:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">A tax of Rs 5,000 has been fixed for the mineral water industry, Rs 10,000 for the ice cream industry (above three kilowatts) and Rs 2,000 for such domestic industries (up to three kilowatts).</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:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">Similarly, a tax of Rs 10,000 has been imposed on branded biscuits, bread rolls, cake industries and Rs 2,000 on domestic industries that produce such products. The dairy industry will have to pay Rs 10,000, while the mills will have to pay Rs 5,000, branded shoes and slippers industry will have to pay Rs 12,000, industries that manufacture bags, belts, purses etc will have to pay Rs 5,000 each.</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:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">Similarly, grocery and retail shop will have to pay Rs 2000 each for the renewal of their license while the renewal tax for wholesale grocery shop has been fixed at Rs 5000. Similarly, wholesale food sellers will have to pay Rs 10000 as taxes for license renewal while retailers will have to pay Rs 3000.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><strong><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">Small Scale Industries</span></span></span></span></strong></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:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">A tax of Rs 10,000 has been fixed for food industries (above five kilowatts) and Rs 5,000 for such small industries. Carpet, garment, pashmina and plastic industries will have to pay Rs 10,000 as annual tax. Meanwhile, an annual tax ranging from Rs 2000 to Rs 12000 has been fixed for copy, book and printing industry according to their capacity.</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:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">Likewise, annual tax of Rs 50,000 has been fixed for underground water processing industry and Rs 7,000 for bottled and jar water industry.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><strong><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">Construction and Business</span></span></span></span></strong></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:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">The industrial enterprises that constructs and operates road bridges, ropeways, railways, tunnels, flyovers and industrial, commercial and residential complexes etc will be taxed Rs 25,000 each. Hostels with up to 50 people will have to pay Rs 3,000 as taxes and hostels with more than 50 people will have to pay Rs 5,000. Makeup studio will have to pay Rs 3000 as annual tax. Similarly, cushion-making industry will be taxed Rs 5000 and herbal industry Rs 2000.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><strong><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">Agriculture</span></span></span></span></strong></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:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">The KMC has fixed annual tax of Rs 2000 for the beekeeping industry and Rs 3,000 for selling chicks. Similarly, a tax of Rs 1,000 has been set for retail shops selling fruits, juices and vegetables, Rs 2,000 for fruit and vegetable wholesale shops, and Rs 2,000 for nurseries. </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:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">Retailers of fish/meat, eggs will have to pay Rs 2,500 and wholesalers will have to pay Rs 6,000. A tax of Rs 5,000 has been imposed for those who sell processed meat products. </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:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">Meanwhile, a tax of Rs 2,000 has been set for businesses engaged in vegetable farming, animal husbandry and other agricultural activities, Rs 7,000 for wholesale shops selling pet products (feed/food for pets) and Rs 3,000 for retail shops. Similarly, a tax of Rs 5,000 has been set for dog breeding centers, Rs 2,000 for modern animal slaughterhouses and shops selling vegetable seeds.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><strong><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">Tourism and Recreation</span></span></span></span></strong></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:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">In the hotel and tourism sector and entertainment business, the KMC has fixed a tax of Rs 100,000 for five-star hotels, Rs 80,000 for four-star hotels, Rs 60,000 for three-star hotels, Rs 40,000 for two-star hotels and Rs 20,000 for one-star hotels. </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:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">A tax of Rs 10,000 has been fixed for film halls, ordinary hotels, lodges, guesthouses, homestays with a capacity of more than 50 people, restaurants and bars (except dance bars), as well as travel and trekking agencies.</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:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">A tax of Rs 10,000 has also been fixed for massage parlours, spa, jacuzzi, sauna, swimming pool among others. </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:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">A tax of Rs 3,000 will be levied for contact offices of tourist sports (golf courses, rafting, safari, horse riding, skiing, gliding, water rafting, pony trekking, paragliding, polo, bungee jump, cable car, resort, hotel etc.). </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:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">Similarly, a tax of Rs 15,000 has been fixed for film production companies and Rs 5,000 on distribution companies.</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:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">Similarly, a tax of Rs 300,000 has been set for casinos and Rs 25,000 for mini casinos. </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:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">A tax of Rs 5,000 has been set for trekking goods shops, businesses providing entertainment services, Thanka shops, dance training centers, businesses providing music related services, and tattoo houses. A fun park with an area of up to five ropanis will have to pay Rs 10,000, a fun park with an area of up to ten ropanies will have to pay Rs 20,000 and a fun park with an area of more than ten ropanis will have to pay Rs 30,000.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><strong><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">Communication</span></span></span></span></strong></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:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">In the communication sector, a tax of Rs 5,000 has been set for television broadcasting companies, Rs 1,000 for FM stations, Rs 2,000 for online businesses, Rs 500 for online news portals, Rs 2,000 for national newspapers, Rs 1,000 for local newspapers and Rs 2,000 for cyber cafes.</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:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">A tax of Rs 50,000 has been fixed for foreign airline service providers and Rs 25,000 for domestic airline services. </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:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">Similarly, a tax of Rs 25,000 will be levied on aircraft rental companies, discos, night clubs, foreign employment liaison businesses, etc.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-26', 'modified' => '2023-06-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18012', 'image' => '20230626014125_taxxxxx.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-26 13:39:59', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18280', 'article_category_id' => '251', 'title' => 'Arrival of Tourists up by 45 % Compared to 2022', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 26: In five months of 2023, a total of 404,231 foreign tourists visited Nepal.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">MK Kulung</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"">June 26: In five months of 2023, a total of 404,231 foreign tourists visited Nepal. According to Nepal Tourism Board’s data, altogether 55,074 foreigners visited Nepal in January, 73,255 in February, 99,426 in March, 98,773 in April and 77,703 in May. In the six months of 2022, only 237,000 foreign tourists had visited 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"">According to the data, the first five months of 2023 saw a 45 percent growth in arrival of tourists compared to the corresponding period of 2022. Therefore, if foreign tourists arrive at the same rate this year, there is a possibility that the number of tourists in Nepal will increase to the mark of 1 million. Likewise, in the six months of 2022, Nepal earned foreign currency equal to Rs 25.52 billion from tourism. However, in the year 2023, the data regarding how much money they spent in a period of five months has not come out yet.</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 the same period of the fiscal year 2077-078 (the year 2021), tourism contributed Rs 6.69 billion to the economy.</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"">At the end of December 2019, not only Nepal's tourism industry, but the world's tourism industry had to suffer an unexpected shock due to Covid-19 which spread from China’s Wuhan, the capital of the South-eastern province of Hubei, and gradually took over the global. However, now that the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the end of Covid-19 as a global emergency and world tourism activities are gaining momentum.</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"">However, if we look at the history of tourism in Nepal, it is only since 1963 that the government of Nepal has officially started keeping statistics of foreign tourists visiting Nepal. After almost 60 years since then, i.e. in 2023, the number of foreign tourists coming to Nepal is increasing, which is a very good sign.</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 encouraging number of foreign tourists who visited Nepal in recent years, the government of Nepal announced that 2018 will be celebrated as the Visit Nepal Year.</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"">But in 2018, due to various reasons, it was not possible to celebrate the Visit Nepal Year, and preparations were made to celebrate 'Visit Nepal Year-2020' again in 2020 with an ambitious plan to attract two million foreign tourists in a year. However, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Government of Nepal postponed the 'Visit Nepal Year-2020'. Although all the preparations were completed and some programs were implemented, and the inauguration was done, it had to be postponed.</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"">At that time, experts in the world's tourism industry estimated that it would take at least 2024/26 for the tourism industry to return to normalcy.</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"">In the future, it seems that efforts should be made to attract as many Chinese tourists as possible to Nepal. If this can be done, the Nepali tourism industry will progress quickly.</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"">According to the data compiled by various organizations related to world tourism, including UNWTO, Chinese tourists have consistently ranked among the highest-spending tourists in the world.</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"">Also, based on the number of Chinese tourists, they are ranked at the top among people going on the world tour. Recently, in collaboration with the Chinese people, a dragon boat competition was organized in Pokhara.</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 Chinese tourists who took part in it chartered a plane and landed in Pokhara. This has raised the prospects of Chinese tourists coming to Pokhara in the future.</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"">In the recent past, the second largest number of tourists visiting Nepal were Chinese after the Indians. This is not the case at present, but it can be expected that Chinese tourists will increase. For them, Pokhara is the most attractive tourist destination in Nepal. That's why they seem eager to come to Pokhara.</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"">It seems that various tourist infrastructures built there have also attracted Chinese tourists. Nepali businessmen should take the initiative to bring Chinese tourists to Nepal through chartered flights. If this can be done, it seems that Nepal's tourism will be completely revived. However, their expenses seem to depend on the activities conducted here.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-26', 'modified' => '2023-06-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18011', 'image' => '20230626010005_20230623024119_KrishnaDawadi_Kaski_RSS_08_boatracecometion.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-26 12:58:53', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ) ) $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' => '18295', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Lalita Niwas Land Grab Scam: Five More Arrested', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Five more individuals have been arrested in connection with the Lalita Niwas land procurement scam. The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police made the arrests in different locations within Kathmandu.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">June 27: Five more individuals have been arrested in connection with the Lalita Niwas land procurement scam. </span></span><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police made the arrests in different locations within Kathmandu. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Among the arrested individuals are Kaladhar Deuja, the former chief of the Inland Revenue Office in Dilli Bazar, Surendraman Kapali, Dharma Prasad Gautam, Hupendra Mani KC, and Gopal Karki, who were employees at the same office. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Prior to these arrests, Meen Bahadur Gurung, the owner of the Bhatbhateni Super Market franchise, was also apprehended by the CIB as part of the investigation into the Lalita Niwas land grab scam.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Lalita Niwas land-grab scandal involves allegations of forgery related to the transfer of land ownership from Lalita Niwas in Baluwatar to individuals between the years 2049 BS and 2069 BS. </span></span><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The CIB had previously submitted a report to the Government Attorney's Office, identifying 300 individuals as defendants in the scandal.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> However, the investigation file was returned by the Office, which deemed further investigation necessary. The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has also conducted its own investigation into the scam and has filed cases against 175 individuals at the Special Court, which are currently under judicial review.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-27', 'modified' => '2023-06-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18025', 'image' => '20230627045342_collage (54).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-27 16:51:22', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18294', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Only Three Visitors Allowed to Enter TIA to Welcome and See Off Passengers ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 27: An arrangement has been made for allowing only three visitors of a passenger to enter the Tribhuvan International Airport to see off and welcome the passenger. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">June 27: An arrangement has been made for allowing only three visitors of a passenger to enter the Tribhuvan International Airport to see off and welcome the passenger. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">TIA Spokesperson Teknath Sitaula said the Airport Security Committee took the decision in this regard in view of possible air safety risk following the high number of visitors at the domestic and international terminal buildings of the airport. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He shared such a decision was taken after problem surfaced in management of traffic as well as risk of accident heightened. The passengers also started facing problems following the huge crowd at terminal buildings, added Sitaula. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The international terminal witnesses an enormous crowd till 10:00 pm from the evening. Family members and relatives of passengers gather in large number to see them off. Thirty air service providers including three Nepali airliners have been operating international flights at TIA while 20 air service providers including 11 helicopter companies conduct domestic flights. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-27', 'modified' => '2023-06-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18024', 'image' => '20230627040802_20220428023242_5e.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-27 16:07:20', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18293', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Airlines to Operate Bhairahawa-Hong Kong Flights ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 27: Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) is preparing to operate direct flights from Bhairahawa to Hong Kong. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">June 27: Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) is preparing to operate direct flights from Bhairahawa to Hong Kong. The national flag-carrier of Nepal, which is currently conducting direct flight to Hong Kong from Kathmandu, is making preparations to operate direct flight to Hong Kong from Bhairahawa with the goal of bringing maximum number of tourists through air connectivity between Hong Kong and Lumbini, the birth place of the Buddha. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Nepal Airlines also plans to operate flight from Bhairahawa to New Delhi, India, soon. Ramesh Poudel, spokesperson for the Nepal Airlines, said that final preparations are being made to operate direct flights from Bhairahawa to Hong Kong and New Delhi. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"We have made preparation for the Bhairahawa-Hong Kong flight. It will be finalized in a day or two. We also plan to expand flights to other countries as well, including New Delhi of India," he said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to spokesperson Poudel, ticket bookings would be opened within 15 days from now for flights to both Hong Kong and New Delhi. Nepal Airlines is planning to operate flights to more destinations such as Dubai and Doha as well. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Nepal Airlines is operating two flights a week to Hong Kong from Kathmandu at present and daily two flights to New Delhi. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Poudel said that the number of flights to these destinations from Bhairahawa is not finalized yet. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Nepal Airlines has been operating regular flights from the Bhirahawa-based Gautam Buddha International Airport from June 12. It has been operating flights on Bhairahawa-Malaysia and Malaysia-Bhairahawa-Kathmandu routes. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Bhairahawa Airport came into commercial operation since May 16, 2022. Only Jazeera Air had been operating flights to this airport since then, but the company has suspended flights lately citing technical reasons. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-27', 'modified' => '2023-06-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18023', 'image' => '20230627035453_naccccc.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-27 15:53:33', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18292', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Installation of Embossed Number Plates Not So Encouraging', 'sub_title' => ' Only 50,000 Embossed Number Plates Installed in Seven Years', 'summary' => ' Only 50,000 Embossed Number Plates Installed in Seven Years', '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"">June 27: In the seven years since the government entered into an agreement for 'embossed number plates', nearly </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">50,000</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> service users have installed such number plates on their vehicles.</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"">Since the government has not made it mandatory of vehicles to install embossed number plates, only a small number of users have installed such number plates so far. The Department of Transport Management (DoTM) said that nearly 300,000 embossed number plates have been produced so far but the use is negligible. </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"">Ishwaridatta Paneru, the spokesperson for the department, said that the delay in connection is not due to the supply issue but because the department has not made it mandatory. </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"">He said that the supplier is saying that they can produce as much number plates requested by the department. The DoTM is in a dilemma whether to produce more such plates or not because of the confusion over which language to use for the long run. </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 government has instructed the department to print 'embossed number plates' also in Nepali, so the department is making necessary preparations to this end.</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"">Spokesperson Paneru said that the government’s capacity to provide all services related to embossed number plates is questionable.</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 him, it is necessary to have physical infrastructure such to have those number plates installed on the office premises of along with human resources, parking space, etc. </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"">He said that since the transport management offices fall under the provincial governments, the department should not be the only one responsible for managing everything. He said that a plan will be made in coordination with these offices to determine the number of embossed plates required.</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"">It is said that the installation of embossed number plates has been delayed due to court cases and sometimes due to language disputes. The department is extending the deadline for installing embossed number plates due to other reasons and not because of the supply issue. According to the last extension, all vehicles will have to comply with the rule to install embossed number plates by next December. </span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-27', 'modified' => '2023-06-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18022', 'image' => '20230627024519_1687835735.abhiyan.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-27 14:44:30', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18291', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Proprietor of Bhatbhateni Franchise, Gurung, Arrested ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 27: Police have arrested Meen Bahadur Gurung, the proprietor of Bhatbhateni Super Market franchise, in connection with the Lalita Niwas land-grab scam. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">June 27: Police have arrested Meen Bahadur Gurung, the proprietor of Bhatbhateni Super Market franchise, in connection with the Lalita Niwas land-grab scam. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A team of the Central Investigation Bureau(CIB) of Nepal Police apprehended Gurung from his residence in Kathmandu on Tuesday morning, spokesperson for the Nepal Police Deputy Inspector General Kuber Kadayat told RSS. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Police said they are conducting a 'special operation' in connection to the infamous Lalita Niwas land-grab scandal. The Nepal Police spokesperson said that the police are also looking for more persons suspected to be involved in the scandal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The CIB had submitted a report to the Office of the Government Attorney, naming 300 individuals as the defendants in this scandal. But the office had returned the police investigation file, stating that further investigation was needed. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) had also carried out its own investigation into this scam and filed cases at the Special Court against certain individuals, which is still sub judice at the court. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Police arrested Gurung on the charge of transferring the land of Lalita Niwas at Baluwatar which is under the government's ownership in the name of various individuals. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-27', 'modified' => '2023-06-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18021', 'image' => '20230627013547_1687850983.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-27 13:35:01', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18290', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Parliamentary Committee Discusses Growing Arrears ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 27: The National Concern and Coordination Committee of the National Assembly held a discussion on the government’s auditing process, arrears, problems, challenges and the implementation status of the report of the Office of the Auditor General. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">June 27: The National Concern and Coordination Committee of the National Assembly held a discussion on the government’s auditing process, arrears, problems, challenges and the implementation status of the report of the Office of the Auditor General. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Committee Chairperson Dil Kumari Rawal Thapa said that they discussed the reasons behind the growing arrears and measures to be taken for correction. </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"">"Fiscal disciple is essential to reduce arrears," she said, adding that issues such as policy and structural reforms, human workforce management, use of new policy, effective implementation of new technology were zeroed in during the meeting held with the officials of the Office of the Auditor General (OAG). </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The committee is preparing to issue a directive to the bodies for reform after garnering suggestions in this regard, said Thapa. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Lawmakers said the culture of seeking commission by the government employees, frequent transfer, and huge amount released early as remuneration were some of the reasons behind the rise in arrears. Lawmaker Kumar Dasaudi blamed the government that it spends huge amount of budget at the end of fiscal year. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The lawmakers also sought suggestions from the OAG on how the existing legal arrangement could address the problems of arrears. </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"">On the occasion, Acting Auditor General Ram Maya Kunwar stressed the need for reform from the local level. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-27', 'modified' => '2023-06-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18020', 'image' => '20230627124226_parliament building.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-27 12:41:41', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18289', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Shiva Shikhar Cooperative's Chair Arrested for Duping Depositors ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 27: Chairman of Shiva Shikhar Multi-Purpose Cooperatives, Kedarnath Sharma, has been arrested for embezzling millions of rupees of the depositors. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">June 27: Chairman of Shiva Shikhar Multi-Purpose Cooperatives, Kedarnath Sharma, has been arrested for embezzling millions of rupees of the depositors. </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 Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police arrested him from western Nepal and brought him to Kathmandu. Additional details would be shared later, according to Superintendent of Police Nabaraj Adhikari. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The police had received information that Sharma had been hiding in different parts of India. They were able to nab him when he arrived in western Nepal recently.</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"">He had also established a cooperative in Morang. He is accused of duping depositors by investing the deposits in his personal company and firms illegally. </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 depositors had lodged complaints against Sharma and other promoters at the CIB and the Department of Cooperatives after Sharma failed to return the deposits upon their demand.</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"">Lately, many cooperatives have turned problematic due to investment in unproductive sectors and lack of proper monitoring. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-27', 'modified' => '2023-06-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18019', 'image' => '20230627120912_cooperative problematic.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-27 12:08:27', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18288', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Details of Importers Mandatory for Import of Goods', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 27: The government has made it mandatory to put labels with clear details of importer and distributor on imported goods starting from July 17. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">June 27: The government has made it mandatory to put labels with clear details of importer and distributor on imported goods starting from July 17. A notice issued by the government mentions that items without such details cannot be sold.</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 made such an arrangement through the Finance Bill 2080. The Department of Customs said the goods that are found being sold and distributed without the details of the importer and distributor will be confiscated.</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 department and its subordinate offices sent this notice to the importers recently. In a letter written by Dhan Bahadur Baruwal, chief customs officer of Birgunj Customs, to the Birgunj Chamber of Commerce and Industry, traders are requested to comply with this rule.</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"">Customs officials said that the government adopted such a policy to control the importation of low-quality goods. Ram Chandra Dhakal, Information Officer of Birgunj Customs, said that clear details of importer and distributor are made mandatory in order to protect the rights of consumers.</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 department also said that the details of importers and distributors will be monitored. </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"">However, the importers on the other hand say that the manufacturer does not bother to put such details on the goods sent to 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"">“There isn’t any system for the importers to label the imported goods which are already packed,” said Ganesh Lath, the outgoing president of Madhes Province chapter of the FNCCI. Traders also mentioned that some items cannot be labeled.</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 importers claim that there is a problem in keeping such details on some items and parts brought for industrial purposes. They say that it is not possible to sell potatoes, onions and other vegetables, fruits and daily consumables. Traders suspect this new rule might be another means to extort money from them by the authorities.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-27', 'modified' => '2023-06-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18018', 'image' => '20230627063047_import.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-27 06:30:01', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18287', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Fake Bhutanese Refugee Scam: One More Absconding Defendant Arrested', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'The police have made another arrest in connection with the fake Bhutanese refugee scam. The suspect, Ashish Budhathoki, was apprehended by the Kathmandu District Police Range from Mandikhatar in the capital city on Monday.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">June 27: The police have made another arrest in connection with the fake Bhutanese refugee scam. </span></span><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The suspect, Ashish Budhathoki, was apprehended by the Kathmandu District Police Range from Mandikhatar in the capital city on Monday. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Superintendent of Police Sitaram Rijal confirmed that Ashish Budhathoki was one of the absconding defendants in the case. Budhathoki had allegedly been involved in the fraudulent scheme of promising Nepali citizens the opportunity to travel to the USA by creating forged documents of fake Bhutanese refugees.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">According to SP Rijal, money collected by the individuals responsible for the scam were found to have been deposited in Budhathoki's bank account. </span></span><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">As a result, he has been implicated in the case, and charges have been filed against him in the Kathmandu District Court.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The District Attorney's Office in Kathmandu has filed lawsuits against several high-profile individuals, including former ministers Top Bahadur Rayamajhi and Bal Krishna Khand, as well as former home secretary Tek Narayan Pandey, among others. They have been accused of being involved in the fake Bhutanese refugee scam.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The case is currently being examined in relation to five different charges, which include fraud, organized crime, and treason. </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-27', 'modified' => '2023-06-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18017', 'image' => '20230627054827_collage (6).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-27 05:44:59', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18286', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'CIAA Files Lawsuit Against Former PADT Member Secretary Dhakal', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => '', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:18.0pt">June 26: The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has filed a lawsuit against Dr. Pradeep Dhakal, the former member secretary of the Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT), at the Special Court in Kathmandu. The lawsuit accuses him of illegally amassing properties.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:18.0pt">According to the CIAA spokesperson, Bhola Dahal, the charge sheet presented by the CIAA states that Dhakal acquired an amount exceeding Rs 14 million, the source of which has not been legally established. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:18.0pt">The investigation, which was launched based on a complaint, revealed that Dhakal allegedly amassed a substantial sum of money through abuse of power during his tenure as the member secretary of PADT.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:18.0pt">Dhakal’s tenure spanned from the Nepali month of Shrawan, 2074 BS, to Jestha, 2079 BS.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-26', 'modified' => '2023-06-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18016', 'image' => '20230626061037_collage (52).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-26 18:09:09', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18285', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Four Wooden Artifacts to Be Brought Back to Nepal from Australia', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Four wooden artworks dating back to the early 20th century will be brought back to Nepal from Australia.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">June 26: Four wooden artworks dating back to the early 20th century will be brought back to Nepal from Australia.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">The National Gallery of Australia, located in Canberra, has handed over these valuable artifacts to the Nepali Embassy, which will oversee their safe return.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">The responsibility of transporting the artworks back to Nepal has been assigned to Shangrila International Freight Private Limited.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Weighing a total of 26 kilos, these historic objects are of immense cultural importance to Nepal. Saugat Singh, the executive director of Shangrila International Freight, confirmed the weight of the artifacts. Upon their arrival, the artworks will be handed over to the Department of Archaeology, Nepal. (RSS)</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-26', 'modified' => '2023-06-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18015', 'image' => '20230626055959_collage (51).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-26 17:58:56', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18283', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'SEBON to Resolve Ghorahi Cement's IPO Controversy Soon', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 26: The Securities Board of Nepal has said that the matter of the postponed initial public offering (IPO) of Ghorahi Cement Industry Limited will be resolved soon. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">June 26: The Securities Board of Nepal has said that the matter of the postponed initial public offering (IPO) of Ghorahi Cement Industry Limited will be resolved soon. The board decided to stop the issuance of IPO of the company on June 19, saying that it would investigate the fake applications for the company's IPO.</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"">As the company’s IPOs have been oversubscribed, the board increased its monitoring by extending the period. CDS and Clearing Limited (CDSC) announced that a dozen investors had applied to buy millions of shares despite having no funds in their accounts. Due to the suspicious activity, the board suspended the process. </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"">Tej Prasad Devkota, information officer of the board, said that the board is trying to solve this issue as soon as possible.</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 since the investigation committee is working, the board will decide after they receive the report. According to information officer Devkota, the board is working with special vigilance as the issue of securities is being issued to the public in the primary market and the matter of Ghorahi has an impact on others as well. He said that it will not take much time to resolve this. </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 board believes that transactions should be conducted fairly and transparently in the securities market," 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"">Ghorahi had opened the IPO to allocate 6.91 million shares to the general public from June 15 for Rs 435 per share with a premium charge. CDSC said that applications without funds in the account have been cancelled. </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"">According to CDSC, this is the first time in the history of Nepal's securities market that so many applications have been rejected during public offering.</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 IPO has received three times more applicants than the demand placed by the company. A total of 562,043 applicants want to buy shares worth Rs 22.61 million. The amount has been froozen in the bank. Investors have requested not to withhold their money for a long time.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Company's belief that the IPO issuance process will go ahead</span></strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Meanwhile, the company has claimed that the misleading and wrong information flow harms the professional reputation and reputation of the industry, which is one of the largest in the country.</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"">One of the directors of the company, seeking anonymity, responded that the regulatory body stopped the process based on wrong information, which would affect the reputation of the company. He also said that the company will help the board in the investigation process in a completely transparent manner.</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 company is ready to take responsibility for all the documents, including the prospectus, financial statement and credit rating report submitted for the IPO issuance process. </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"">Regarding the dispute about the rating company, he said, "The credit rating process is done by a specific method, and the process is done through the analysis and evaluation of international experts, so there is no weakness."</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 is hopeful that the stopped process will be resumed immediately following the procedure according to the law regarding the fake application. The board has allowed Ghorahi Cement to sell 7.94 million shares in IPO at a premium rate. The board has allowed the IPO sale for the residents of industry-affected areas at a face value of Rs 400 by adding Rs 300 to the initial price of Rs 100 per share. Likewise, the company has offered the share at a face value of Rs 430 to the general public. </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 company has distributed 606,350 shares to Nepalis working abroad, 328,961 shares to collective investment funds, 19,530 shares to the company employees and 77,290 shares to residents affected by the industry. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-26', 'modified' => '2023-06-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18014', 'image' => '20230626023435_1687742782.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-26 14:33:39', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18282', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Interbank Interest Rate Drops to 2.65 Percent', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 26: Despite the increase in investable capital in the banking system, the interbank interest rate has dropped to around 2.5 percent due to the lack of credit expansion.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">June 26: Despite the increase in investable capital in the banking system, the interbank interest rate has dropped to around 2.5 percent due to the lack of credit expansion. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The interbank interest rate, which started falling continuously since the beginning of June, was fixed at 2.65 percent on Friday.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The interbank interest rate, which was 5.74 percent last Wednesday, fell to 4.01 percent last Monday.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">At the beginning of the current fiscal year, the interbank interest rate exceeded 8 percent. It dropped to 4 percent in January with an increase in liquidity. However, after the Nepal Rastra Bank mopped liquidity from the market through reverse repo, the interbank rate increased again and reached 8.5 percent in February. In recent times, the liquidity has eased again and bank deposits are increasing due to increase in remittances and government spending. Lack of credit flow is also responsible for the increase in liquidity. As there is more liquidity in the financial system, NRB mopped funds through reverse repo twice in a week.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In recent times, despite the increase in bank deposits, flow of loans is minimal due to which the interest rates of interbank, treasury, development bonds etc are decreasing. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">As of Friday, the credit-deposit ratio (CD ratio) of banks remained at 83.97 percent. Since banks can maintain a CD ratio of up to 90 percent to extend loans, there is a situation where they can give more loans of about Rs 500 billion loans. However, there is no demand for loans due to the high interest rate and a decline in economic activities.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">As of Friday, the total deposits of banks and financial institutions have reached Rs 5571 billion and disbursement of loans has reached Rs 4855 billion.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> As the liquidity becomes easier, the interest rate of the government's short-term bond treasury bills is gradually decreasing. Last Tuesday, the interest rate of Treasury Bills dropped to 4 percent.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-26', 'modified' => '2023-06-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18013', 'image' => '20230626022148_Nepal_Rastra_Bank2 2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-26 14:21:05', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18281', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'How Much Taxes have been Fixed for Various Businesses and Industries in KMC?', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 26: The Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) on Sunday presented the Finance Bill, 2080 in the Municipal Assembly to implement its financial proposal. ', '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:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">June 26: The Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) on Sunday presented the Finance Bill, 2080 in the Municipal Assembly to implement its financial proposal. The Finance Bill has proposed changing the tax rates within the jurisdiction of the metropolis in the next fiscal year. The metropolis has determined the commercial taxes by taking into consideration the nature of various businesses and the investment situation.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><strong><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">Beverage Manufacturers and Suppliers</span></span></span></span></strong></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:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">According to the Finance Bill of the Kathmandu Metropolitan City, those registered in the soft drinks industry (Coca-Cola, Pepsi-Cola, Frooti, etc.) in the manufacturing business and industry will have to pay a tax of Rs 50,000 to the KMC. An annual fee of Rs 2,000 has been set for the renewal of license of the domestic industries that produce soda and soft drinks, Rs 50,000 for distillery industry, Rs 5,000 for various businesses involved in or industries that produce exportable goods and Rs 10,000 for businesses and industries involved in import of goods.</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:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">A tax of Rs 5,000 has been fixed for the mineral water industry, Rs 10,000 for the ice cream industry (above three kilowatts) and Rs 2,000 for such domestic industries (up to three kilowatts).</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:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">Similarly, a tax of Rs 10,000 has been imposed on branded biscuits, bread rolls, cake industries and Rs 2,000 on domestic industries that produce such products. The dairy industry will have to pay Rs 10,000, while the mills will have to pay Rs 5,000, branded shoes and slippers industry will have to pay Rs 12,000, industries that manufacture bags, belts, purses etc will have to pay Rs 5,000 each.</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:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">Similarly, grocery and retail shop will have to pay Rs 2000 each for the renewal of their license while the renewal tax for wholesale grocery shop has been fixed at Rs 5000. Similarly, wholesale food sellers will have to pay Rs 10000 as taxes for license renewal while retailers will have to pay Rs 3000.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><strong><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">Small Scale Industries</span></span></span></span></strong></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:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">A tax of Rs 10,000 has been fixed for food industries (above five kilowatts) and Rs 5,000 for such small industries. Carpet, garment, pashmina and plastic industries will have to pay Rs 10,000 as annual tax. Meanwhile, an annual tax ranging from Rs 2000 to Rs 12000 has been fixed for copy, book and printing industry according to their capacity.</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:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">Likewise, annual tax of Rs 50,000 has been fixed for underground water processing industry and Rs 7,000 for bottled and jar water industry.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><strong><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">Construction and Business</span></span></span></span></strong></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:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">The industrial enterprises that constructs and operates road bridges, ropeways, railways, tunnels, flyovers and industrial, commercial and residential complexes etc will be taxed Rs 25,000 each. Hostels with up to 50 people will have to pay Rs 3,000 as taxes and hostels with more than 50 people will have to pay Rs 5,000. Makeup studio will have to pay Rs 3000 as annual tax. Similarly, cushion-making industry will be taxed Rs 5000 and herbal industry Rs 2000.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><strong><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">Agriculture</span></span></span></span></strong></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:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">The KMC has fixed annual tax of Rs 2000 for the beekeeping industry and Rs 3,000 for selling chicks. Similarly, a tax of Rs 1,000 has been set for retail shops selling fruits, juices and vegetables, Rs 2,000 for fruit and vegetable wholesale shops, and Rs 2,000 for nurseries. </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:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">Retailers of fish/meat, eggs will have to pay Rs 2,500 and wholesalers will have to pay Rs 6,000. A tax of Rs 5,000 has been imposed for those who sell processed meat products. </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:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">Meanwhile, a tax of Rs 2,000 has been set for businesses engaged in vegetable farming, animal husbandry and other agricultural activities, Rs 7,000 for wholesale shops selling pet products (feed/food for pets) and Rs 3,000 for retail shops. Similarly, a tax of Rs 5,000 has been set for dog breeding centers, Rs 2,000 for modern animal slaughterhouses and shops selling vegetable seeds.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><strong><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">Tourism and Recreation</span></span></span></span></strong></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:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">In the hotel and tourism sector and entertainment business, the KMC has fixed a tax of Rs 100,000 for five-star hotels, Rs 80,000 for four-star hotels, Rs 60,000 for three-star hotels, Rs 40,000 for two-star hotels and Rs 20,000 for one-star hotels. </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:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">A tax of Rs 10,000 has been fixed for film halls, ordinary hotels, lodges, guesthouses, homestays with a capacity of more than 50 people, restaurants and bars (except dance bars), as well as travel and trekking agencies.</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:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">A tax of Rs 10,000 has also been fixed for massage parlours, spa, jacuzzi, sauna, swimming pool among others. </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:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">A tax of Rs 3,000 will be levied for contact offices of tourist sports (golf courses, rafting, safari, horse riding, skiing, gliding, water rafting, pony trekking, paragliding, polo, bungee jump, cable car, resort, hotel etc.). </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:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">Similarly, a tax of Rs 15,000 has been fixed for film production companies and Rs 5,000 on distribution companies.</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:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">Similarly, a tax of Rs 300,000 has been set for casinos and Rs 25,000 for mini casinos. </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:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">A tax of Rs 5,000 has been set for trekking goods shops, businesses providing entertainment services, Thanka shops, dance training centers, businesses providing music related services, and tattoo houses. A fun park with an area of up to five ropanis will have to pay Rs 10,000, a fun park with an area of up to ten ropanies will have to pay Rs 20,000 and a fun park with an area of more than ten ropanis will have to pay Rs 30,000.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><strong><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">Communication</span></span></span></span></strong></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:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">In the communication sector, a tax of Rs 5,000 has been set for television broadcasting companies, Rs 1,000 for FM stations, Rs 2,000 for online businesses, Rs 500 for online news portals, Rs 2,000 for national newspapers, Rs 1,000 for local newspapers and Rs 2,000 for cyber cafes.</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:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">A tax of Rs 50,000 has been fixed for foreign airline service providers and Rs 25,000 for domestic airline services. </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:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">Similarly, a tax of Rs 25,000 will be levied on aircraft rental companies, discos, night clubs, foreign employment liaison businesses, etc.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-26', 'modified' => '2023-06-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18012', 'image' => '20230626014125_taxxxxx.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-26 13:39:59', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18280', 'article_category_id' => '251', 'title' => 'Arrival of Tourists up by 45 % Compared to 2022', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 26: In five months of 2023, a total of 404,231 foreign tourists visited Nepal.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">MK Kulung</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"">June 26: In five months of 2023, a total of 404,231 foreign tourists visited Nepal. According to Nepal Tourism Board’s data, altogether 55,074 foreigners visited Nepal in January, 73,255 in February, 99,426 in March, 98,773 in April and 77,703 in May. In the six months of 2022, only 237,000 foreign tourists had visited 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"">According to the data, the first five months of 2023 saw a 45 percent growth in arrival of tourists compared to the corresponding period of 2022. Therefore, if foreign tourists arrive at the same rate this year, there is a possibility that the number of tourists in Nepal will increase to the mark of 1 million. Likewise, in the six months of 2022, Nepal earned foreign currency equal to Rs 25.52 billion from tourism. However, in the year 2023, the data regarding how much money they spent in a period of five months has not come out yet.</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 the same period of the fiscal year 2077-078 (the year 2021), tourism contributed Rs 6.69 billion to the economy.</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"">At the end of December 2019, not only Nepal's tourism industry, but the world's tourism industry had to suffer an unexpected shock due to Covid-19 which spread from China’s Wuhan, the capital of the South-eastern province of Hubei, and gradually took over the global. However, now that the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the end of Covid-19 as a global emergency and world tourism activities are gaining momentum.</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"">However, if we look at the history of tourism in Nepal, it is only since 1963 that the government of Nepal has officially started keeping statistics of foreign tourists visiting Nepal. After almost 60 years since then, i.e. in 2023, the number of foreign tourists coming to Nepal is increasing, which is a very good sign.</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 encouraging number of foreign tourists who visited Nepal in recent years, the government of Nepal announced that 2018 will be celebrated as the Visit Nepal Year.</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"">But in 2018, due to various reasons, it was not possible to celebrate the Visit Nepal Year, and preparations were made to celebrate 'Visit Nepal Year-2020' again in 2020 with an ambitious plan to attract two million foreign tourists in a year. However, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Government of Nepal postponed the 'Visit Nepal Year-2020'. Although all the preparations were completed and some programs were implemented, and the inauguration was done, it had to be postponed.</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"">At that time, experts in the world's tourism industry estimated that it would take at least 2024/26 for the tourism industry to return to normalcy.</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"">In the future, it seems that efforts should be made to attract as many Chinese tourists as possible to Nepal. If this can be done, the Nepali tourism industry will progress quickly.</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"">According to the data compiled by various organizations related to world tourism, including UNWTO, Chinese tourists have consistently ranked among the highest-spending tourists in the world.</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"">Also, based on the number of Chinese tourists, they are ranked at the top among people going on the world tour. Recently, in collaboration with the Chinese people, a dragon boat competition was organized in Pokhara.</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 Chinese tourists who took part in it chartered a plane and landed in Pokhara. This has raised the prospects of Chinese tourists coming to Pokhara in the future.</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"">In the recent past, the second largest number of tourists visiting Nepal were Chinese after the Indians. This is not the case at present, but it can be expected that Chinese tourists will increase. For them, Pokhara is the most attractive tourist destination in Nepal. That's why they seem eager to come to Pokhara.</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"">It seems that various tourist infrastructures built there have also attracted Chinese tourists. Nepali businessmen should take the initiative to bring Chinese tourists to Nepal through chartered flights. If this can be done, it seems that Nepal's tourism will be completely revived. However, their expenses seem to depend on the activities conducted here.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-26', 'modified' => '2023-06-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18011', 'image' => '20230626010005_20230623024119_KrishnaDawadi_Kaski_RSS_08_boatracecometion.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-26 12:58:53', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = false $xml = falseinclude - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 133 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
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The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police made the arrests in different locations within Kathmandu.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">June 27: Five more individuals have been arrested in connection with the Lalita Niwas land procurement scam. </span></span><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police made the arrests in different locations within Kathmandu. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Among the arrested individuals are Kaladhar Deuja, the former chief of the Inland Revenue Office in Dilli Bazar, Surendraman Kapali, Dharma Prasad Gautam, Hupendra Mani KC, and Gopal Karki, who were employees at the same office. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Prior to these arrests, Meen Bahadur Gurung, the owner of the Bhatbhateni Super Market franchise, was also apprehended by the CIB as part of the investigation into the Lalita Niwas land grab scam.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Lalita Niwas land-grab scandal involves allegations of forgery related to the transfer of land ownership from Lalita Niwas in Baluwatar to individuals between the years 2049 BS and 2069 BS. </span></span><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The CIB had previously submitted a report to the Government Attorney's Office, identifying 300 individuals as defendants in the scandal.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> However, the investigation file was returned by the Office, which deemed further investigation necessary. The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has also conducted its own investigation into the scam and has filed cases against 175 individuals at the Special Court, which are currently under judicial review.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-27', 'modified' => '2023-06-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18025', 'image' => '20230627045342_collage (54).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-27 16:51:22', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18294', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Only Three Visitors Allowed to Enter TIA to Welcome and See Off Passengers ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 27: An arrangement has been made for allowing only three visitors of a passenger to enter the Tribhuvan International Airport to see off and welcome the passenger. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">June 27: An arrangement has been made for allowing only three visitors of a passenger to enter the Tribhuvan International Airport to see off and welcome the passenger. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">TIA Spokesperson Teknath Sitaula said the Airport Security Committee took the decision in this regard in view of possible air safety risk following the high number of visitors at the domestic and international terminal buildings of the airport. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He shared such a decision was taken after problem surfaced in management of traffic as well as risk of accident heightened. The passengers also started facing problems following the huge crowd at terminal buildings, added Sitaula. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The international terminal witnesses an enormous crowd till 10:00 pm from the evening. Family members and relatives of passengers gather in large number to see them off. Thirty air service providers including three Nepali airliners have been operating international flights at TIA while 20 air service providers including 11 helicopter companies conduct domestic flights. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-27', 'modified' => '2023-06-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18024', 'image' => '20230627040802_20220428023242_5e.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-27 16:07:20', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18293', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Airlines to Operate Bhairahawa-Hong Kong Flights ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 27: Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) is preparing to operate direct flights from Bhairahawa to Hong Kong. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">June 27: Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) is preparing to operate direct flights from Bhairahawa to Hong Kong. The national flag-carrier of Nepal, which is currently conducting direct flight to Hong Kong from Kathmandu, is making preparations to operate direct flight to Hong Kong from Bhairahawa with the goal of bringing maximum number of tourists through air connectivity between Hong Kong and Lumbini, the birth place of the Buddha. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Nepal Airlines also plans to operate flight from Bhairahawa to New Delhi, India, soon. Ramesh Poudel, spokesperson for the Nepal Airlines, said that final preparations are being made to operate direct flights from Bhairahawa to Hong Kong and New Delhi. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"We have made preparation for the Bhairahawa-Hong Kong flight. It will be finalized in a day or two. We also plan to expand flights to other countries as well, including New Delhi of India," he said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to spokesperson Poudel, ticket bookings would be opened within 15 days from now for flights to both Hong Kong and New Delhi. Nepal Airlines is planning to operate flights to more destinations such as Dubai and Doha as well. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Nepal Airlines is operating two flights a week to Hong Kong from Kathmandu at present and daily two flights to New Delhi. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Poudel said that the number of flights to these destinations from Bhairahawa is not finalized yet. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Nepal Airlines has been operating regular flights from the Bhirahawa-based Gautam Buddha International Airport from June 12. It has been operating flights on Bhairahawa-Malaysia and Malaysia-Bhairahawa-Kathmandu routes. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Bhairahawa Airport came into commercial operation since May 16, 2022. Only Jazeera Air had been operating flights to this airport since then, but the company has suspended flights lately citing technical reasons. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-27', 'modified' => '2023-06-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18023', 'image' => '20230627035453_naccccc.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-27 15:53:33', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18292', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Installation of Embossed Number Plates Not So Encouraging', 'sub_title' => ' Only 50,000 Embossed Number Plates Installed in Seven Years', 'summary' => ' Only 50,000 Embossed Number Plates Installed in Seven Years', '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"">June 27: In the seven years since the government entered into an agreement for 'embossed number plates', nearly </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">50,000</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> service users have installed such number plates on their vehicles.</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"">Since the government has not made it mandatory of vehicles to install embossed number plates, only a small number of users have installed such number plates so far. The Department of Transport Management (DoTM) said that nearly 300,000 embossed number plates have been produced so far but the use is negligible. </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"">Ishwaridatta Paneru, the spokesperson for the department, said that the delay in connection is not due to the supply issue but because the department has not made it mandatory. </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"">He said that the supplier is saying that they can produce as much number plates requested by the department. The DoTM is in a dilemma whether to produce more such plates or not because of the confusion over which language to use for the long run. </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 government has instructed the department to print 'embossed number plates' also in Nepali, so the department is making necessary preparations to this end.</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"">Spokesperson Paneru said that the government’s capacity to provide all services related to embossed number plates is questionable.</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 him, it is necessary to have physical infrastructure such to have those number plates installed on the office premises of along with human resources, parking space, etc. </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"">He said that since the transport management offices fall under the provincial governments, the department should not be the only one responsible for managing everything. He said that a plan will be made in coordination with these offices to determine the number of embossed plates required.</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"">It is said that the installation of embossed number plates has been delayed due to court cases and sometimes due to language disputes. The department is extending the deadline for installing embossed number plates due to other reasons and not because of the supply issue. According to the last extension, all vehicles will have to comply with the rule to install embossed number plates by next December. </span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-27', 'modified' => '2023-06-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18022', 'image' => '20230627024519_1687835735.abhiyan.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-27 14:44:30', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18291', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Proprietor of Bhatbhateni Franchise, Gurung, Arrested ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 27: Police have arrested Meen Bahadur Gurung, the proprietor of Bhatbhateni Super Market franchise, in connection with the Lalita Niwas land-grab scam. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">June 27: Police have arrested Meen Bahadur Gurung, the proprietor of Bhatbhateni Super Market franchise, in connection with the Lalita Niwas land-grab scam. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A team of the Central Investigation Bureau(CIB) of Nepal Police apprehended Gurung from his residence in Kathmandu on Tuesday morning, spokesperson for the Nepal Police Deputy Inspector General Kuber Kadayat told RSS. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Police said they are conducting a 'special operation' in connection to the infamous Lalita Niwas land-grab scandal. The Nepal Police spokesperson said that the police are also looking for more persons suspected to be involved in the scandal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The CIB had submitted a report to the Office of the Government Attorney, naming 300 individuals as the defendants in this scandal. But the office had returned the police investigation file, stating that further investigation was needed. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) had also carried out its own investigation into this scam and filed cases at the Special Court against certain individuals, which is still sub judice at the court. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Police arrested Gurung on the charge of transferring the land of Lalita Niwas at Baluwatar which is under the government's ownership in the name of various individuals. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-27', 'modified' => '2023-06-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18021', 'image' => '20230627013547_1687850983.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-27 13:35:01', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18290', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Parliamentary Committee Discusses Growing Arrears ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 27: The National Concern and Coordination Committee of the National Assembly held a discussion on the government’s auditing process, arrears, problems, challenges and the implementation status of the report of the Office of the Auditor General. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">June 27: The National Concern and Coordination Committee of the National Assembly held a discussion on the government’s auditing process, arrears, problems, challenges and the implementation status of the report of the Office of the Auditor General. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Committee Chairperson Dil Kumari Rawal Thapa said that they discussed the reasons behind the growing arrears and measures to be taken for correction. </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"">"Fiscal disciple is essential to reduce arrears," she said, adding that issues such as policy and structural reforms, human workforce management, use of new policy, effective implementation of new technology were zeroed in during the meeting held with the officials of the Office of the Auditor General (OAG). </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The committee is preparing to issue a directive to the bodies for reform after garnering suggestions in this regard, said Thapa. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Lawmakers said the culture of seeking commission by the government employees, frequent transfer, and huge amount released early as remuneration were some of the reasons behind the rise in arrears. Lawmaker Kumar Dasaudi blamed the government that it spends huge amount of budget at the end of fiscal year. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The lawmakers also sought suggestions from the OAG on how the existing legal arrangement could address the problems of arrears. </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"">On the occasion, Acting Auditor General Ram Maya Kunwar stressed the need for reform from the local level. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-27', 'modified' => '2023-06-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18020', 'image' => '20230627124226_parliament building.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-27 12:41:41', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18289', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Shiva Shikhar Cooperative's Chair Arrested for Duping Depositors ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 27: Chairman of Shiva Shikhar Multi-Purpose Cooperatives, Kedarnath Sharma, has been arrested for embezzling millions of rupees of the depositors. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">June 27: Chairman of Shiva Shikhar Multi-Purpose Cooperatives, Kedarnath Sharma, has been arrested for embezzling millions of rupees of the depositors. </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 Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police arrested him from western Nepal and brought him to Kathmandu. Additional details would be shared later, according to Superintendent of Police Nabaraj Adhikari. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The police had received information that Sharma had been hiding in different parts of India. They were able to nab him when he arrived in western Nepal recently.</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"">He had also established a cooperative in Morang. He is accused of duping depositors by investing the deposits in his personal company and firms illegally. </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 depositors had lodged complaints against Sharma and other promoters at the CIB and the Department of Cooperatives after Sharma failed to return the deposits upon their demand.</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"">Lately, many cooperatives have turned problematic due to investment in unproductive sectors and lack of proper monitoring. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-27', 'modified' => '2023-06-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18019', 'image' => '20230627120912_cooperative problematic.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-27 12:08:27', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18288', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Details of Importers Mandatory for Import of Goods', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 27: The government has made it mandatory to put labels with clear details of importer and distributor on imported goods starting from July 17. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">June 27: The government has made it mandatory to put labels with clear details of importer and distributor on imported goods starting from July 17. A notice issued by the government mentions that items without such details cannot be sold.</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 made such an arrangement through the Finance Bill 2080. The Department of Customs said the goods that are found being sold and distributed without the details of the importer and distributor will be confiscated.</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 department and its subordinate offices sent this notice to the importers recently. In a letter written by Dhan Bahadur Baruwal, chief customs officer of Birgunj Customs, to the Birgunj Chamber of Commerce and Industry, traders are requested to comply with this rule.</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"">Customs officials said that the government adopted such a policy to control the importation of low-quality goods. Ram Chandra Dhakal, Information Officer of Birgunj Customs, said that clear details of importer and distributor are made mandatory in order to protect the rights of consumers.</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 department also said that the details of importers and distributors will be monitored. </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"">However, the importers on the other hand say that the manufacturer does not bother to put such details on the goods sent to 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"">“There isn’t any system for the importers to label the imported goods which are already packed,” said Ganesh Lath, the outgoing president of Madhes Province chapter of the FNCCI. Traders also mentioned that some items cannot be labeled.</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 importers claim that there is a problem in keeping such details on some items and parts brought for industrial purposes. They say that it is not possible to sell potatoes, onions and other vegetables, fruits and daily consumables. Traders suspect this new rule might be another means to extort money from them by the authorities.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-27', 'modified' => '2023-06-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18018', 'image' => '20230627063047_import.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-27 06:30:01', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18287', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Fake Bhutanese Refugee Scam: One More Absconding Defendant Arrested', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'The police have made another arrest in connection with the fake Bhutanese refugee scam. The suspect, Ashish Budhathoki, was apprehended by the Kathmandu District Police Range from Mandikhatar in the capital city on Monday.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">June 27: The police have made another arrest in connection with the fake Bhutanese refugee scam. </span></span><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The suspect, Ashish Budhathoki, was apprehended by the Kathmandu District Police Range from Mandikhatar in the capital city on Monday. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Superintendent of Police Sitaram Rijal confirmed that Ashish Budhathoki was one of the absconding defendants in the case. Budhathoki had allegedly been involved in the fraudulent scheme of promising Nepali citizens the opportunity to travel to the USA by creating forged documents of fake Bhutanese refugees.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">According to SP Rijal, money collected by the individuals responsible for the scam were found to have been deposited in Budhathoki's bank account. </span></span><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">As a result, he has been implicated in the case, and charges have been filed against him in the Kathmandu District Court.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The District Attorney's Office in Kathmandu has filed lawsuits against several high-profile individuals, including former ministers Top Bahadur Rayamajhi and Bal Krishna Khand, as well as former home secretary Tek Narayan Pandey, among others. They have been accused of being involved in the fake Bhutanese refugee scam.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The case is currently being examined in relation to five different charges, which include fraud, organized crime, and treason. </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-27', 'modified' => '2023-06-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18017', 'image' => '20230627054827_collage (6).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-27 05:44:59', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18286', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'CIAA Files Lawsuit Against Former PADT Member Secretary Dhakal', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => '', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:18.0pt">June 26: The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has filed a lawsuit against Dr. Pradeep Dhakal, the former member secretary of the Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT), at the Special Court in Kathmandu. The lawsuit accuses him of illegally amassing properties.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:18.0pt">According to the CIAA spokesperson, Bhola Dahal, the charge sheet presented by the CIAA states that Dhakal acquired an amount exceeding Rs 14 million, the source of which has not been legally established. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:18.0pt">The investigation, which was launched based on a complaint, revealed that Dhakal allegedly amassed a substantial sum of money through abuse of power during his tenure as the member secretary of PADT.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:18.0pt">Dhakal’s tenure spanned from the Nepali month of Shrawan, 2074 BS, to Jestha, 2079 BS.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-26', 'modified' => '2023-06-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18016', 'image' => '20230626061037_collage (52).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-26 18:09:09', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18285', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Four Wooden Artifacts to Be Brought Back to Nepal from Australia', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Four wooden artworks dating back to the early 20th century will be brought back to Nepal from Australia.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">June 26: Four wooden artworks dating back to the early 20th century will be brought back to Nepal from Australia.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">The National Gallery of Australia, located in Canberra, has handed over these valuable artifacts to the Nepali Embassy, which will oversee their safe return.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">The responsibility of transporting the artworks back to Nepal has been assigned to Shangrila International Freight Private Limited.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Weighing a total of 26 kilos, these historic objects are of immense cultural importance to Nepal. Saugat Singh, the executive director of Shangrila International Freight, confirmed the weight of the artifacts. Upon their arrival, the artworks will be handed over to the Department of Archaeology, Nepal. (RSS)</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-26', 'modified' => '2023-06-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18015', 'image' => '20230626055959_collage (51).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-26 17:58:56', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18283', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'SEBON to Resolve Ghorahi Cement's IPO Controversy Soon', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 26: The Securities Board of Nepal has said that the matter of the postponed initial public offering (IPO) of Ghorahi Cement Industry Limited will be resolved soon. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">June 26: The Securities Board of Nepal has said that the matter of the postponed initial public offering (IPO) of Ghorahi Cement Industry Limited will be resolved soon. The board decided to stop the issuance of IPO of the company on June 19, saying that it would investigate the fake applications for the company's IPO.</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"">As the company’s IPOs have been oversubscribed, the board increased its monitoring by extending the period. CDS and Clearing Limited (CDSC) announced that a dozen investors had applied to buy millions of shares despite having no funds in their accounts. Due to the suspicious activity, the board suspended the process. </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"">Tej Prasad Devkota, information officer of the board, said that the board is trying to solve this issue as soon as possible.</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 since the investigation committee is working, the board will decide after they receive the report. According to information officer Devkota, the board is working with special vigilance as the issue of securities is being issued to the public in the primary market and the matter of Ghorahi has an impact on others as well. He said that it will not take much time to resolve this. </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 board believes that transactions should be conducted fairly and transparently in the securities market," 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"">Ghorahi had opened the IPO to allocate 6.91 million shares to the general public from June 15 for Rs 435 per share with a premium charge. CDSC said that applications without funds in the account have been cancelled. </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"">According to CDSC, this is the first time in the history of Nepal's securities market that so many applications have been rejected during public offering.</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 IPO has received three times more applicants than the demand placed by the company. A total of 562,043 applicants want to buy shares worth Rs 22.61 million. The amount has been froozen in the bank. Investors have requested not to withhold their money for a long time.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Company's belief that the IPO issuance process will go ahead</span></strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Meanwhile, the company has claimed that the misleading and wrong information flow harms the professional reputation and reputation of the industry, which is one of the largest in the country.</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"">One of the directors of the company, seeking anonymity, responded that the regulatory body stopped the process based on wrong information, which would affect the reputation of the company. He also said that the company will help the board in the investigation process in a completely transparent manner.</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 company is ready to take responsibility for all the documents, including the prospectus, financial statement and credit rating report submitted for the IPO issuance process. </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"">Regarding the dispute about the rating company, he said, "The credit rating process is done by a specific method, and the process is done through the analysis and evaluation of international experts, so there is no weakness."</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 is hopeful that the stopped process will be resumed immediately following the procedure according to the law regarding the fake application. The board has allowed Ghorahi Cement to sell 7.94 million shares in IPO at a premium rate. The board has allowed the IPO sale for the residents of industry-affected areas at a face value of Rs 400 by adding Rs 300 to the initial price of Rs 100 per share. Likewise, the company has offered the share at a face value of Rs 430 to the general public. </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 company has distributed 606,350 shares to Nepalis working abroad, 328,961 shares to collective investment funds, 19,530 shares to the company employees and 77,290 shares to residents affected by the industry. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-26', 'modified' => '2023-06-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18014', 'image' => '20230626023435_1687742782.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-26 14:33:39', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18282', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Interbank Interest Rate Drops to 2.65 Percent', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 26: Despite the increase in investable capital in the banking system, the interbank interest rate has dropped to around 2.5 percent due to the lack of credit expansion.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">June 26: Despite the increase in investable capital in the banking system, the interbank interest rate has dropped to around 2.5 percent due to the lack of credit expansion. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The interbank interest rate, which started falling continuously since the beginning of June, was fixed at 2.65 percent on Friday.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The interbank interest rate, which was 5.74 percent last Wednesday, fell to 4.01 percent last Monday.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">At the beginning of the current fiscal year, the interbank interest rate exceeded 8 percent. It dropped to 4 percent in January with an increase in liquidity. However, after the Nepal Rastra Bank mopped liquidity from the market through reverse repo, the interbank rate increased again and reached 8.5 percent in February. In recent times, the liquidity has eased again and bank deposits are increasing due to increase in remittances and government spending. Lack of credit flow is also responsible for the increase in liquidity. As there is more liquidity in the financial system, NRB mopped funds through reverse repo twice in a week.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In recent times, despite the increase in bank deposits, flow of loans is minimal due to which the interest rates of interbank, treasury, development bonds etc are decreasing. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">As of Friday, the credit-deposit ratio (CD ratio) of banks remained at 83.97 percent. Since banks can maintain a CD ratio of up to 90 percent to extend loans, there is a situation where they can give more loans of about Rs 500 billion loans. However, there is no demand for loans due to the high interest rate and a decline in economic activities.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">As of Friday, the total deposits of banks and financial institutions have reached Rs 5571 billion and disbursement of loans has reached Rs 4855 billion.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> As the liquidity becomes easier, the interest rate of the government's short-term bond treasury bills is gradually decreasing. Last Tuesday, the interest rate of Treasury Bills dropped to 4 percent.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-26', 'modified' => '2023-06-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18013', 'image' => '20230626022148_Nepal_Rastra_Bank2 2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-26 14:21:05', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18281', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'How Much Taxes have been Fixed for Various Businesses and Industries in KMC?', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 26: The Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) on Sunday presented the Finance Bill, 2080 in the Municipal Assembly to implement its financial proposal. ', '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:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">June 26: The Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) on Sunday presented the Finance Bill, 2080 in the Municipal Assembly to implement its financial proposal. The Finance Bill has proposed changing the tax rates within the jurisdiction of the metropolis in the next fiscal year. The metropolis has determined the commercial taxes by taking into consideration the nature of various businesses and the investment situation.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><strong><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">Beverage Manufacturers and Suppliers</span></span></span></span></strong></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:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">According to the Finance Bill of the Kathmandu Metropolitan City, those registered in the soft drinks industry (Coca-Cola, Pepsi-Cola, Frooti, etc.) in the manufacturing business and industry will have to pay a tax of Rs 50,000 to the KMC. An annual fee of Rs 2,000 has been set for the renewal of license of the domestic industries that produce soda and soft drinks, Rs 50,000 for distillery industry, Rs 5,000 for various businesses involved in or industries that produce exportable goods and Rs 10,000 for businesses and industries involved in import of goods.</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:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">A tax of Rs 5,000 has been fixed for the mineral water industry, Rs 10,000 for the ice cream industry (above three kilowatts) and Rs 2,000 for such domestic industries (up to three kilowatts).</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:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">Similarly, a tax of Rs 10,000 has been imposed on branded biscuits, bread rolls, cake industries and Rs 2,000 on domestic industries that produce such products. The dairy industry will have to pay Rs 10,000, while the mills will have to pay Rs 5,000, branded shoes and slippers industry will have to pay Rs 12,000, industries that manufacture bags, belts, purses etc will have to pay Rs 5,000 each.</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:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">Similarly, grocery and retail shop will have to pay Rs 2000 each for the renewal of their license while the renewal tax for wholesale grocery shop has been fixed at Rs 5000. Similarly, wholesale food sellers will have to pay Rs 10000 as taxes for license renewal while retailers will have to pay Rs 3000.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><strong><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">Small Scale Industries</span></span></span></span></strong></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:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">A tax of Rs 10,000 has been fixed for food industries (above five kilowatts) and Rs 5,000 for such small industries. Carpet, garment, pashmina and plastic industries will have to pay Rs 10,000 as annual tax. Meanwhile, an annual tax ranging from Rs 2000 to Rs 12000 has been fixed for copy, book and printing industry according to their capacity.</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:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">Likewise, annual tax of Rs 50,000 has been fixed for underground water processing industry and Rs 7,000 for bottled and jar water industry.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><strong><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">Construction and Business</span></span></span></span></strong></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:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">The industrial enterprises that constructs and operates road bridges, ropeways, railways, tunnels, flyovers and industrial, commercial and residential complexes etc will be taxed Rs 25,000 each. Hostels with up to 50 people will have to pay Rs 3,000 as taxes and hostels with more than 50 people will have to pay Rs 5,000. Makeup studio will have to pay Rs 3000 as annual tax. Similarly, cushion-making industry will be taxed Rs 5000 and herbal industry Rs 2000.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><strong><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">Agriculture</span></span></span></span></strong></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:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">The KMC has fixed annual tax of Rs 2000 for the beekeeping industry and Rs 3,000 for selling chicks. Similarly, a tax of Rs 1,000 has been set for retail shops selling fruits, juices and vegetables, Rs 2,000 for fruit and vegetable wholesale shops, and Rs 2,000 for nurseries. </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:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">Retailers of fish/meat, eggs will have to pay Rs 2,500 and wholesalers will have to pay Rs 6,000. A tax of Rs 5,000 has been imposed for those who sell processed meat products. </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:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">Meanwhile, a tax of Rs 2,000 has been set for businesses engaged in vegetable farming, animal husbandry and other agricultural activities, Rs 7,000 for wholesale shops selling pet products (feed/food for pets) and Rs 3,000 for retail shops. Similarly, a tax of Rs 5,000 has been set for dog breeding centers, Rs 2,000 for modern animal slaughterhouses and shops selling vegetable seeds.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><strong><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">Tourism and Recreation</span></span></span></span></strong></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:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">In the hotel and tourism sector and entertainment business, the KMC has fixed a tax of Rs 100,000 for five-star hotels, Rs 80,000 for four-star hotels, Rs 60,000 for three-star hotels, Rs 40,000 for two-star hotels and Rs 20,000 for one-star hotels. </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:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">A tax of Rs 10,000 has been fixed for film halls, ordinary hotels, lodges, guesthouses, homestays with a capacity of more than 50 people, restaurants and bars (except dance bars), as well as travel and trekking agencies.</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:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">A tax of Rs 10,000 has also been fixed for massage parlours, spa, jacuzzi, sauna, swimming pool among others. </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:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">A tax of Rs 3,000 will be levied for contact offices of tourist sports (golf courses, rafting, safari, horse riding, skiing, gliding, water rafting, pony trekking, paragliding, polo, bungee jump, cable car, resort, hotel etc.). </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:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">Similarly, a tax of Rs 15,000 has been fixed for film production companies and Rs 5,000 on distribution companies.</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:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">Similarly, a tax of Rs 300,000 has been set for casinos and Rs 25,000 for mini casinos. </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:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">A tax of Rs 5,000 has been set for trekking goods shops, businesses providing entertainment services, Thanka shops, dance training centers, businesses providing music related services, and tattoo houses. A fun park with an area of up to five ropanis will have to pay Rs 10,000, a fun park with an area of up to ten ropanies will have to pay Rs 20,000 and a fun park with an area of more than ten ropanis will have to pay Rs 30,000.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><strong><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">Communication</span></span></span></span></strong></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:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">In the communication sector, a tax of Rs 5,000 has been set for television broadcasting companies, Rs 1,000 for FM stations, Rs 2,000 for online businesses, Rs 500 for online news portals, Rs 2,000 for national newspapers, Rs 1,000 for local newspapers and Rs 2,000 for cyber cafes.</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:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">A tax of Rs 50,000 has been fixed for foreign airline service providers and Rs 25,000 for domestic airline services. </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:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">Similarly, a tax of Rs 25,000 will be levied on aircraft rental companies, discos, night clubs, foreign employment liaison businesses, etc.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-26', 'modified' => '2023-06-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18012', 'image' => '20230626014125_taxxxxx.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-26 13:39:59', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18280', 'article_category_id' => '251', 'title' => 'Arrival of Tourists up by 45 % Compared to 2022', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'June 26: In five months of 2023, a total of 404,231 foreign tourists visited Nepal.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">MK Kulung</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"">June 26: In five months of 2023, a total of 404,231 foreign tourists visited Nepal. According to Nepal Tourism Board’s data, altogether 55,074 foreigners visited Nepal in January, 73,255 in February, 99,426 in March, 98,773 in April and 77,703 in May. In the six months of 2022, only 237,000 foreign tourists had visited 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"">According to the data, the first five months of 2023 saw a 45 percent growth in arrival of tourists compared to the corresponding period of 2022. Therefore, if foreign tourists arrive at the same rate this year, there is a possibility that the number of tourists in Nepal will increase to the mark of 1 million. Likewise, in the six months of 2022, Nepal earned foreign currency equal to Rs 25.52 billion from tourism. However, in the year 2023, the data regarding how much money they spent in a period of five months has not come out yet.</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 the same period of the fiscal year 2077-078 (the year 2021), tourism contributed Rs 6.69 billion to the economy.</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"">At the end of December 2019, not only Nepal's tourism industry, but the world's tourism industry had to suffer an unexpected shock due to Covid-19 which spread from China’s Wuhan, the capital of the South-eastern province of Hubei, and gradually took over the global. However, now that the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the end of Covid-19 as a global emergency and world tourism activities are gaining momentum.</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"">However, if we look at the history of tourism in Nepal, it is only since 1963 that the government of Nepal has officially started keeping statistics of foreign tourists visiting Nepal. After almost 60 years since then, i.e. in 2023, the number of foreign tourists coming to Nepal is increasing, which is a very good sign.</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 encouraging number of foreign tourists who visited Nepal in recent years, the government of Nepal announced that 2018 will be celebrated as the Visit Nepal Year.</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"">But in 2018, due to various reasons, it was not possible to celebrate the Visit Nepal Year, and preparations were made to celebrate 'Visit Nepal Year-2020' again in 2020 with an ambitious plan to attract two million foreign tourists in a year. However, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Government of Nepal postponed the 'Visit Nepal Year-2020'. Although all the preparations were completed and some programs were implemented, and the inauguration was done, it had to be postponed.</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"">At that time, experts in the world's tourism industry estimated that it would take at least 2024/26 for the tourism industry to return to normalcy.</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"">In the future, it seems that efforts should be made to attract as many Chinese tourists as possible to Nepal. If this can be done, the Nepali tourism industry will progress quickly.</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"">According to the data compiled by various organizations related to world tourism, including UNWTO, Chinese tourists have consistently ranked among the highest-spending tourists in the world.</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"">Also, based on the number of Chinese tourists, they are ranked at the top among people going on the world tour. Recently, in collaboration with the Chinese people, a dragon boat competition was organized in Pokhara.</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 Chinese tourists who took part in it chartered a plane and landed in Pokhara. This has raised the prospects of Chinese tourists coming to Pokhara in the future.</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"">In the recent past, the second largest number of tourists visiting Nepal were Chinese after the Indians. This is not the case at present, but it can be expected that Chinese tourists will increase. For them, Pokhara is the most attractive tourist destination in Nepal. That's why they seem eager to come to Pokhara.</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"">It seems that various tourist infrastructures built there have also attracted Chinese tourists. Nepali businessmen should take the initiative to bring Chinese tourists to Nepal through chartered flights. If this can be done, it seems that Nepal's tourism will be completely revived. However, their expenses seem to depend on the activities conducted here.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-06-26', 'modified' => '2023-06-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18011', 'image' => '20230626010005_20230623024119_KrishnaDawadi_Kaski_RSS_08_boatracecometion.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-06-26 12:58:53', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ) ) $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
