May 19: A report prepared by the Nepal Insurance Authority (NIA) shows that Bagmati Province is ahead in the insurance sector as well as in other sectors.…
May 19: A report prepared by the Nepal Insurance Authority (NIA) shows that Bagmati Province is ahead in the insurance sector as well as in other sectors.…
May 19: The police have arrested Chairperson of the Nepal Haj Committee Shamsher Miya in connection with the fake Bhutanese refugee…
May 19: New Business Age, one of the leading business magazines of Nepal, is organizing NewBiz Startup Summit and Awards programme with the theme ‘Search for Nepali Unicorn’ amid a special function today.…
May 19: The announcement of chartered flights from Pokhara to different cities of China starting from June 23 has excited the tourism entrepreneurs of the lake…
May 19: The government will be unveiling its policies and programmes for the upcoming fiscal year (FY 2023/24) on Friday.…
A total of 213 start-ups have been disqualified from receiving enterprise loans after failing to meet the eligibility…
The 6th Nepal Chamber Expo-2023 commenced at Bhrikuti Mandap, Kathmandu on Thursday. Hosted by the Nepal Chamber of Commerce (NCC), the expo was inaugurated by Minister for Labour, Employment, and Social Security, Sharat Singh…
The share market, which has been on a downward trend for some time, has started to show a positive atmosphere. With the reversal of the NEPSE with re-testing of 1807 points, investors have become active, resulting in the rise of the NEPSE Index along with turnover…
May 18: The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (UNFAO) has released the 'country programming framework (2023-27)' for the transformation of overall agriculture sector of…
May 18: The Supreme Court (SC) has issued an interlocutory order to the government, directing the government not to provide Rs 200,000 to each of the disqualified Maoist…
May 18: The Gautam Buddha International Airport (GBIA) has completed its first anniversary, but the second international airport of Nepal after Kathmandu-based Tribhuvan International Airport going through setbacks has added to worries of the investors. The private sector has reportedly invested over Rs 60 billion targeting this…
May 18: The Westerly wind coupled with the local wind has had a general impact in the country’s weather at present, the Meteorological Forecasting Division said.…
May 18: The Securities Board of Nepal (SEBON) has expressed its anger over the demand of the Stock Broker Association of Nepal (SBAN) to stop the new broker license process.…
May 18: Record-holder mountaineer Kamirita Sherpa successfully climbed Mt Everest (Sagarmatha) for a record 27th time on Wednesday. This makes him the only person to climb Everest for 27…
May 18: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved a US$300 million loan to improve transport connectivity of the Kakarbhitta–Laukahi road in Nepal to international trade routes, particularly to India and…
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', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">May 19: A report prepared by the Nepal Insurance Authority (NIA) shows that Bagmati Province is ahead in the insurance sector as well as in other sectors. As the insurance companies are concentrated only in Bagmati Province, the insurance fee collected by the insurance companies in other provinces is lower than that of Bagmati Province.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the Nepal Insurance Authority, the number of active non-life insurance policies till mid-April of the current fiscal year is 2.1 million of which 45.15 per cent is in Bagmati province. The lowest number of active non-life insurance policies is in Karnali Province at 2.18 per cent and the second lowest in Sudurpaschim Province at 5.14 per cent.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The number of active life insurance policies has reached 14.1 million by mid-April. Among them, 72.22 per cent is in Bagmati Province. The lowest number of active life insurance policies is 1.44 per cent in Karnali Province, the second lowest is 3.19 per cent in Sudurpaschim Province and the third lowest is 3.59 per cent in Madhesh Province.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The report shows that about 50 per cent of the insurance fee comes from Bagmati alone. Insurance companies have earned Rs 134 billion in insurance fees from all over the country in the nine months of the current fiscal year. Of that, 49.72 per cent (Rs 67 billion) has been collected from Bagmati Province. According to the authority, the non-life insurance companies have collected insurance fees of Rs 30 billion as of mid-April. They have collected 66.25 per cent (19.88 billion rupees) of the total insurance fee from Bagmati Province alone. Similarly, they collected Rs 2.73 billion from Lumbini Province and Rs 2.62 billion from Koshi Province.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, life insurance companies have collected Rs 104 billion in insurance fees till mid-April of the current year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Out of that, Rs 47.11 billion have been collected from Bagmati Province. This is 44.99 per cent of the total insurance fee. Likewise, Rs 15.26 billion was collected from Lumbini Province and Rs 12.61 billion from Koshi Province.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Chairman of Nepal Insurance Authority Surya Prasad Silwal said that the authority is conducting continuous insurance awareness programs across the country. According to Silwal, in the current fiscal year alone, the authority has organized more than 100 insurance awareness and interaction programs at the local level.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He said that since Bagmati Province has the largest number of industries, companies, and transportation in the country, it is usual that the share of insurance is higher in the province. Silwal said that since the share of insurance in other provinces is low, insurance awareness is the priority of the authority.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">As citizens become aware of insurance, the scope of insurance will gradually increase in other provinces as well, he said.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-19', 'modified' => '2023-05-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17649', 'image' => '20230519015423_INSURANCE-COVERAGE.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-19 13:53:37', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17917', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Police Arrest Haj Committee Chair Miya, Teknath Rijal in Connection with Fake Bhutanese Refugee Scam', 'sub_title' => '16 People Arrested in Connection with the Case So Far', 'summary' => 'May 19: The police have arrested Chairperson of the Nepal Haj Committee Shamsher Miya in connection with the fake Bhutanese refugee scam.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">May 19: The police have arrested Chairperson of the Nepal Haj Committee Shamsher Miya in connection with the fake Bhutanese refugee scam. He was apprehended from Singha Durbar on Thursday afternoon. </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"">Miya was arrested after his involvement was established in sending Nepali citizens to the United States as Bhutanese refugees, said Senior Superintendent of Police Dan Bahadur Karki, chief of the District Police Range, Kathmandu. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Miya had made available a vehicle provided to the Haj Committee for the group of people involved in the racket, said SSP Karki. The jeep (embossed vehicle number BAB-1405) under the brand of Nissan was reportedly used to facilitate the racket, according to the police. The police have also taken the vehicle under control. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Members of the racket would use the vehicle while travelling to various parts of the country like Sauraha of Chitwan district and Sundhara of Kathmandu in the name of taking interviews of their clients aspiring to go to the US, claimed the police. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The jeep under the ownership of the Ministry of Home Affairs has been registered with the Haj Committee. Miya was absconding after the police launched investigations into the case until his arrest on Thursday.</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"">Meanwhile, the Kathmandu District Court has remanded Miya along with Bhutanese refugee leader Teknath Rijal for two days in judicial custody for investigation into their alleged involvement in the Bhutanese refugee scam. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Rizal was arrested by the police from Tribhuvan International Airport while he was coming to Kathmandu from Jhapa, while Miya was arrested from the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation at Singha Durbar, Superintendent of Police Sitaram Rial said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Police had earlier arrested 14 people, including the former home minister and home secretary, in connection with the case.</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"">Further arrests were made based on the statements given by the accused. The number of people arrested in relation to this scam has reached 16. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Rijal was arrested for investigation after it was found that he had financial transactions with Sanu Bhandari, who was detained earlier by the police. </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"">Other high-profile individuals arrested in connection with the case including former deputy prime minister Top Bahadur Rayamajhi, former home minister Bal Krishna Khand, former secretary (home affairs) Teknarayan Pandey, former home minister's security adviser Dr Indrajit Rai. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-19', 'modified' => '2023-05-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17648', 'image' => '20230519122847_teknath-rijal.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-19 12:27:34', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17916', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => ''NewBiz Startup Summit and Awards 2023’ Happening Today', 'sub_title' => 'Eight outstanding start-ups will be awarded under four categories', 'summary' => 'May 19: New Business Age, one of the leading business magazines of Nepal, is organizing NewBiz Startup Summit and Awards programme with the theme ‘Search for Nepali Unicorn’ amid a special function today. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">May 19: New Business Age, one of the leading business magazines of Nepal, is organizing NewBiz Startup Summit and Awards programme with the theme ‘Search for Nepali Unicorn’ amid a special function today (May 19). </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">New Business Age will award eight outstanding startups during the awards ceremony which will kick off in the capital at 4 pm. More than 2,000 startup entrepreneurs from across the country had submitted applications for the awards programme. Among them, eight outstanding startups will be awarded under four categories- Emerging Startup, Inspiring Women-Led Startup, Startup Scaleup and Best Startup.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">All the winners will get free credit voucher worth Rs 100,000 on Next Generation Rigo HRMS and Rigo Accounting software from Rigo Technologies. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Member of Parliament and economist Dr Swarnim Wagle, the chief guest of the programme, along with Ramesh Hamal, chairman of the Securities Board Nepal (SEBON) and Tim </span></span><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Gocher, founder and CEO of Dolma Fund Management, will attend the programme. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Likewise, a panel discussion on the topic 'Towards a Startup Nation' will also be held during the event. Dr Toya Gyawali, secretary of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies; Sunita </span></span><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Nhemaphuki, founder of R&D Innovative Solutions; and Rahul Malla Thakuri, co-founder and assistant vice-president (commercial) of Upaya are the panellist for the panel discussion. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The panel discussion will be moderated by Asmod Karki, co-founder and head of operations at VikasaTech.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The summit and awards programme is supported by Sastodeal.com, Laxmi Bank, Shikhar Insurance, Citizen Life Insurance, National Life Insurance, Rigo, Nexon EV Max, and City Express. Similarly, Nepal Rastra Bank, the Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Nepal Insurance Authority, Nepali Patro and Dishome Fiber Net have also supported the awards program.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">New Business Age has been organising various award programs. The company has been selecting and awarding the best management colleges and companies since 2013. Since 2019, the company has started honoring women entrepreneurs. New Business Age had organized the New Biz Business Conclave and Awards programme in November.</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-19', 'modified' => '2023-05-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17647', 'image' => '20230519022807_update Newbiz Startup design.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-19 11:47:10', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17915', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Tourism entrepreneurs of Pokhara Elated with the Announcement of Chartered Flights ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 19: The announcement of chartered flights from Pokhara to different cities of China starting from June 23 has excited the tourism entrepreneurs of the lake city. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">May 19: The announcement of chartered flights from Pokhara to different cities of China starting from June 23 has excited the tourism entrepreneurs of the lake city. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Addressing the 24th national conference and annual general meeting of Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATTA) on Thursday, Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Sudan Kirati announced to begin chartered flights to different cities of China from June. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The announcement is expected to materialize the dream of Pokhara folks to start international flights from Pokhara. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Pokhara Regional International Airport was inaugurated on January 1 this year but no international flight has taken place since then. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Chairman of Pokhara Tourism Council Pom Narayan Shrestha said, "We are excited with the announcement to commence chartered flights. This will mark the beginning of international flights. This should be implemented at any cost." </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, chairman of NATTA Gandaki Province Hari Ram Adhikari said that this will be a good beginning for the tourism industry and will serve as a milestone for the entire country's tourism development. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">It is said that around 80 per cent of the total Chinese tourists arriving Nepal visit Pokhara city. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-19', 'modified' => '2023-05-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17646', 'image' => '20230519112122_Pokhara-Airport-800X533.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-19 11:19:56', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17914', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government to Unveil Policies and Programmes Today ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 19: The government will be unveiling its policies and programmes for the upcoming fiscal year (FY 2023/24) on Friday. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">May 19: The government will be unveiling its policies and programmes for the upcoming fiscal year (FY 2023/24) on Friday. The policies and progrmmes will be presented before a joint session of the House of Representatives and National Assembly at 4:00 pm on May 19. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">During the HoR session on Thursday, Speaker Devraj Ghimire read out the letter in this regard and directed the entire Members of Parliament to be present in the meeting by 3: 45 pm and in the prescribed dress code and to take their respective seats. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The annual report of the government was presented during the lower house meeting on Thursday. Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal presented the report before the meeting in accordance with the Article 53 of the Constitution and Clause 41 of the Good Governance (Management and Operation) Act, 2064 BS. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-19', 'modified' => '2023-05-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17645', 'image' => '20230519105356_parliament building.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-19 10:53:04', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17913', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '213 Start-ups Disqualified for Enterprise Loans', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => ' A total of 213 start-ups have been disqualified from receiving enterprise loans after failing to meet the eligibility criteria.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">May 19: A total of 213 start-ups have been disqualified from receiving enterprise loans after failing to meet the eligibility criteria. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">These start-ups were among the 382 applicants who had applied for loans in the initial phase. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Department of Industry, in line with Clause 8 of the Start-up Enterprise Loan Fund Procedure, 2079, had called for applications for loans on March 30.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Department has clarified that the disqualified start-ups did not meet the necessary requirements for the loans. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">To be eligible for the scheme, start-ups must have a paid-up capital of no more than Rs 5 million, annual incomes below Rs 500,000, fixed assets (excluding real estate) not exceeding Rs 20 million, and a workforce consisting of no more than 10 employees.</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-19', 'modified' => '2023-05-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17644', 'image' => '20230519060523_collage (4).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-19 06:03:55', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17912', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '6th Nepal Chamber Expo-2023 kicks off in Kathmandu', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'The 6th Nepal Chamber Expo-2023 commenced at Bhrikuti Mandap, Kathmandu on Thursday. Hosted by the Nepal Chamber of Commerce (NCC), the expo was inaugurated by Minister for Labour, Employment, and Social Security, Sharat Singh Bhandari. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px">May 18: The 6th Nepal Chamber Expo-2023 commenced at Bhrikuti Mandap, Kathmandu on Thursday.<br /> Hosted by the Nepal Chamber of Commerce (NCC), the expo was inaugurated by Minister for Labour, Employment, and Social Security, Sharat Singh Bhandari. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">The primary objective of this fair, as stated by the NCC, is to promote the export of domestic goods and invigorate the business community.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Featuring 150 stalls, the expo will run until May 22, showcasing a diverse range of products including automobiles, electrical appliances, electronics, furnishings, essential items, clothing, mobile phones, handicrafts, leather goods, cosmetics, and Ayurvedic products. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">The participation of national and international companies and entrepreneurs from Nepal, India, and Bangladesh adds to the significance of this event.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">The expo is expected to facilitate interactions, information exchange regarding imports and exports, and enhance the market presence of Nepali products, according to the NCC. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">During the inauguration, the minister emphasized the importance of collaboration between the government and the private sector to foster economic prosperity. The minister urged the private sector to increase investment, while assuring governmental support in facilitating economic activities.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Furthermore, Madhu Kumar Marasini, the secretary of the ministry, expressed optimism that the expo would facilitate the exchange of national and international business experiences, fostering stronger business relationships both domestically and internationally. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Rajendra Malla, President of the NCC, emphasized the need to attract foreign investments in sectors such as agriculture, hydropower, tourism, and services, while promoting exports and boosting domestic production to achieve self-reliance in the country.</span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-18', 'modified' => '2023-05-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17643', 'image' => '20230518060821_collage (6).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-18 17:58:34', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17911', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Positive Atmosphere Commences in NEPSE; Turnover Amount Surpasses 1 Billion after 25 Days ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'The share market, which has been on a downward trend for some time, has started to show a positive atmosphere. With the reversal of the NEPSE with re-testing of 1807 points, investors have become active, resulting in the rise of the NEPSE Index along with turnover amount. ', 'content' => '<p><br /> <span style="font-size:18px">May 18: The share market, which has been on a downward trend for some time, has started to show a positive atmosphere. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">With the reversal of the NEPSE with re-testing of 1807 points, investors have become active, resulting in the rise of the NEPSE Index along with turnover amount. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Earlier, the NEPSE Index had tested the low of 1807 points and reversed and this time the index followed the suit, say technical analysts. The turnover amount has surpassed NPR 1 billion after 25 days.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Buyers have dominated the market taking advantage of the low prices of the shares and declining interest rates. Investors are calling regulatory authorities and the government to address their demands in the stock market. This has had a positive in the share market.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">NEPSE index surged by 1.75% points or 32.30 points, closing at 1877.32 points on the last trading day of the week, Thursday. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">264 scrips traded their hands via 32,579 transactions today. A total of 4,422,186 shares exchanged hands, amounting to NPR 1.47 billion in turnover amount. This is higher than the last trading day's turnover of Rs. 85.76 Crores.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Nepal Doorsanchar Company Limited (NTC) had the highest turnover of Rs. 8.63 crores closing at a market price of Rs. 779.20 per share. The shares of SHIVM traded the most.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Two scrips gained the highest 10% each and hit the positive circuit for the day, while NIBL Growth Fund (NIBLGF) lost the highest 3.14% today.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">All sector indices closed in green zone. The "Hotels and Tourism" gained the highest 3.75%, while "Others" gained the least 0.90% today. The sensitive index has increased by 1.48%, the float index by 1.74%, and the sensitive float index by 1.54% today. </span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-18', 'modified' => '2023-05-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17642', 'image' => '20230518043802_collage (4).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-18 16:33:04', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17910', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => ' FAO Releases 'Country Programming Framework' for Transformation of Agriculture Sector', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 18: The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (UNFAO) has released the 'country programming framework (2023-27)' for the transformation of overall agriculture sector of Nepal. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">May 18: The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (UNFAO) has released the 'country programming framework (2023-27)' for the transformation of overall agriculture sector of Nepal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development Dr Beduram Bhusal, National Planning Commission Vice-Chairperson Dr Min Bahadur Shrestha, FAO Asia-Pacific Region Chief Jong-Jin Kim and UN Resident Representative Hanaa Singer-Hamdy jointly launched the framework on Wednesday. The framework covers strategic programme for five years from 2023 to 2027. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">On the occasion, Minister Dr Bhusal appreciated the support and cooperation of the FAO for the agriculture development of Nepal and expressed his belief that the framework would help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Lauding over seven-decade long partnership between FAO and Nepal, the minister said the framework was the shared document of the Nepal government and FAO. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He further noted that the document would help promote sustainable development, maintain food and nutrition security and achieve SDGs. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Also speaking on the occasion, Vice-Chairperson of the NPC, Dr Shrestha said the framework would contribute to the transformation of food system of Nepal, support the national campaign against food crisis and poverty and combat climate change issues. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">FAO's Asia-Pacific Region Chief Kim expressed FAO readiness to support the policy and priorities of the Nepal government as per its mandate. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He said FAO has brought several programmes, including increment in production and improvement in nutrition, environment as per the strategic framework of improved livelihood in its member countries. He further said such practice would not only facilitate inclusive development but also assure food security of all citizens. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Chief Kim also insisted the need to transform the country's food system to effectively tackle malnutrition and other food challenges. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">UN Resident Representative Hamdy said the framework has laid special emphasis on women-friendly technological development and promotion when women's responsibility has increased in the agriculture sector with the growing trends of Nepali youths leaving their home for employment. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The UN senior official also expressed full support and cooperation of the UN to Nepal in its process to graduate to a developing country from the Least Developed Country by 2026. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The programme was attended by ambassadors, representatives of development partners, government officials, private sector representatives, agriculture entrepreneurs, industrialists and business community. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-18', 'modified' => '2023-05-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17641', 'image' => '20230518124920_FAO.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-18 12:48:45', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17909', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'SC Orders Government Not to Provide Money to Disqualified Maoist Combatants ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 18: The Supreme Court (SC) has issued an interlocutory order to the government, directing the government not to provide Rs 200,000 to each of the disqualified Maoist combatants. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">May 18: The Supreme Court (SC) has issued an interlocutory order to the government, directing the government not to provide Rs 200,000 to each of the disqualified Maoist combatants. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">A single bench of Justice Kumar Regmi issued the order in this regard on Tuesday. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Advocate Gyanendra Aran had filed a writ petition at the SC against the government's decision to provide Rs 200,000 to each of the disqualified Maoist combatants. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The apex court has also sought a written response from the government and ordered for discussion with both sides. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">A meeting of the Council of Ministers on March 20 had decided to dole out Rs 800 million for the disqualified fighters at the rate of Rs 200,000 to each of the 4,000 plus disqualified combatants.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">After the Comprehensive Peace Accord in 2006, the United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) had verified 19,602 Maoist combatants as eligible fighters for integration into the Nepalese Army while 4,008 were certified as disqualified on various grounds and particularly because most of them were underage.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The incumbent government led by Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, who is also the chairman of the CPN Maoist Centre, has been heavily criticized for trying to misuse the funds of the state coffers in the name of distributing funds to the disqualified Maoist combatants when the country’s economy is facing crisis.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-18', 'modified' => '2023-05-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17640', 'image' => '20230518124828_Supreme Court.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-18 12:47:38', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17906', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'GBIA Marks First Anniversary but is Yet to Come into Full Operation', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 18: The Gautam Buddha International Airport (GBIA) has completed its first anniversary, but the second international airport of Nepal after Kathmandu-based Tribhuvan International Airport going through setbacks has added to worries of the investors. The private sector has reportedly invested over Rs 60 billion targeting this project. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">May 18: The Gautam Buddha International Airport (GBIA) has completed its first anniversary, but the second international airport of Nepal after Kathmandu-based Tribhuvan International Airport going through setbacks has added to worries of the investors. The private sector has reportedly invested over Rs 60 billion targeting this project. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">GBIA has failed to come in full operation. So far, Jazeera Airways had been operating three Bhairahawa-Kuwait flights a week. It conducted a test flight on 16 May, 2022. But now, it has reportedly told about halting its flights to and from the airport. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">“The private sector invested over Rs 60 billion targeting the airport,” said Krishna Prasad Sharma, president of the Lumbini chapter of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI). They have invested in hotels, infrastructures, services, trade and tourism targeting the project, he added. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"The mobility of approximately 20,000 people was expected in the area on a daily basis. With this hope, the area has been developed as a trade hub. But now, the airport has not been operated as expected. This has only added to our worries. Fears of our investments risks are deepening day by day. Entrepreneurs have no any other option,” he said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He blamed the government for not paying attention to fully operate the airport. </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"">“Failure to fully operate the airport has left all of us in the lurch,” he complained. </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"">India is reportedly dilly-dallying to agree on giving air entry points. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">However, Sharma is not ready to accept it. “Air entry points and Indian obstructions are only rumours. We are assured that the Asian Development Bank invested in the project after taking into accounts all these issues. The Government of Nepal should take a lead role to resolve these problems. There is no other alternative to operate the airport. This is our demand with the government,” he said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He was of the view that Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal during his upcoming visit to India should strictly take up the matter with India, and take concrete steps in operating the project. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Millions of rupees of investment at risk</span></strong> <br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Construction of hotel buildings and infrastructures has taken place along with the building of the airport. Around 146 hotels, big and small, are operational with the investment of around Rs 30 billion. Besides, around 21 hotels are under construction at the cost of approximately Rs 20 billion. “Millions of rupees invested in these projects are at risk. Entrepreneurs are in tension due to failure to pay bank loans. Some of them have got to the situation of abandoning the business,” said Chandra Prakash Shrestha, president of the Siddhartha Hotel Association. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He complained about the failure of the state to take initiatives for its operation. The government should take initiatives to bring in tourists from the countries that follow Buddhism in East Asia through the airport, he stressed. “We have repeatedly taken up the matter with the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, and the government. We do not know why are the demands are yet to be addressed.” </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Two cable cars in Butwal are under construction with the investment of millions of rupees targeting incoming tourists through the airport. The projects that run three kilometers from Butwal to Basantapur of Tinau Rural Municipality-3 in Palpa district are estimated to cost over Rs 3.5 billion. One station is located at Bamghat of Butwal-3, and another at Basantapur of the Rural Municipality-3. Hotels, a park for recreation, and Kamakhyadevi Temple are under construction at Basantapur hill. A picnic spot has also come into operation. </span><br /> <strong><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Air routes not an issue</span></strong> <br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Hansha Raj Pandey, the general manager of the airport does not agree with the air route problem as reported. “Landing in the airport is feasible and cost friendly, he said. It is easier for an aircraft entering Simara to land in Bhairahawa. Despite long distance, there isn’t any air traffic here compared to Kathmandu. Airline companies have to bear additional costs when an aircraft has to hold in the sky. There is no such problem here.” </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to Pandey, routes will be shorter for aircraft to fly through the L626 Mahendranagar route from Bhairahawa. </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"">“Pilots can also understand this. So, the report that the airport is not properly operating as a result of the air route problem is only a rumour,” he said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Making the L626 two ways will make the airport much feasible, he said. Nevertheless, there is a problem in operating the airport during winter, he said. There may be a visibility problem despite landing through the instrument landing system (ILS). </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Discounts on fees for aviation services for one more year </span></strong><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The airport has been offering 100 percent discounts on fees charged for plane landing, parking, communications and aviation services and security check for international airlines, and this offer has been extended for one more year, said the airport’s general manager Pandey. The exemption came into operation on 28 May, 2022. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Late Prime Minister Sushil Koirala had laid the foundation stone of the airport on 15 January, 2015. Later, the then Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba inaugurated the airport with an investment of approximately Rs 35 billion on May 16 in 2022. Spanning around 800 bighas of land, the project has runways that span three kilometers. It has capacity to park four narrow-body aircraft and one wide-body aircraft. </span><br /> <strong><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Private sector draws attention of Prime Minister</span></strong> <br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Entrepreneurs submitted a memorandum to PM Dahal during his visit to Lumbini to attend an event organised here on 5 May, 2023 on the occasion of the 2567th Birth Anniversary of Gautam Buddha and the Lumbini Day, 2080, demanding full operation of the airport. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A delegation from the Siddhartha Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Rupandehi met with the PM and put forth the demand. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Their demands include PM Dahal taking a flight from the airport during his upcoming visit to India. The Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC), the flag carrier of Nepal, should start its flights from the airport to attract both domestic and international airlines, they demanded. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Their other demands are that the NAC starts flights along Bhairahawa-Delhi, Bhairahawa-Malaysia, Bhairahawa-Qatar routes at the earliest, and the PM should take initiatives for regular and chartered flights at the airport for all countries in the world that follow Buddhism as Lumbini, the birthplace of Gautam Buddha, is considered to be of great significance to those countries.</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"">Initiatives should be taken immediately to fully operate the airport so as to save the investment of over Rs 60 billion of the private sector in hotels, infrastructures and tourism, they demanded. </span><br /> <strong><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">No alternative airport</span></strong> <br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">On 26 February, 2023, an aircraft of Air Vistara en route to Kathmandu from New Delhi and another one of FlyDubai from Dubai to Kathmandu were diverted to Lucknow of India after they could not land at the TIA due to bad weather. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly on 24 April, 2023, an aircraft of FlyDubai caught a fire in its engine during a takeoff from the TIA. However, all these aircraft did not show interest in diverting to two international airports of Nepal -- Pokhara and Gautam Buddha airports. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">International aircraft often give first priority to make an emergency landing or divert to airports outsides Nepal. International aircraft entering Nepal should choose an alternative airport. The Gautam Buddha International Airport should be taken as an alternative airport. But, no international flight has been diverted to it so far, it has been reported. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">“We have kept the airport ready 24 hours a day. A workforce has also been managed accordingly. But, aircraft did not show interest to land here,” said Pandey blaming a lack of passengers for their apathy to land at the airport. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">“A large aircraft has over 300 passengers. The airline company should reach an agreement with a hotel for the accommodation and food for its passengers. But, in Bhairahawa, as far as I know, there has not been any agreement reached between an international airline and a hotel in this regard,” he said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">When an emergency landing takes place in the airport, there arises problems of accommodation, food for passengers and crews and the conduction of a security check during a takeoff the following day, say experts. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Besides, variations in the prices of aviation fuel in Nepal and India have also made the matter worse, they said. Aviation fuel is much cheaper in India than in Nepal. In Nepal, aviation fuel is sold for 1,360 dollars per thousand litres, while it costs 998 dollars in India. The diverted international aircraft did not pick the airport to save money, they said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"It is a pilot’s choice to land a diverted plane. We cannot force them," said Pandey. The airport is feasible for diverted international aircraft than the one in Lucknow in terms of distance and time, he said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Not only international flights, domestic airliners have also preferred to divert to Lucknow instead of the Gautam Buddha International Airport. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">It requires human resources including engineers for a diverted aircraft to take off. The respective airline company has to manage human resources for this. As of now, Jazeera Airways has been operating flights from the airport. So, planes could not be diverted to the airport due to a lack of agreement between these airlines and the Jazeera Airways, said the airport employees. Without the management of a workforce, there are difficulties and the lengthy process for a diverted plant to take off from the airport, they said. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-18', 'modified' => '2023-05-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17638', 'image' => '20230518121326_GB airporttt.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-18 12:12:37', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17908', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Precipitation due to the Influence of Westerly Wind ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 18: The Westerly wind coupled with the local wind has had a general impact in the country’s weather at present, the Meteorological Forecasting Division said. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">May 18: The Westerly wind coupled with the local wind has had a general impact in the country’s weather at present, the Meteorological Forecasting Division said. The weather is partly to generally cloudy in Koshi Province and partly cloudy to generally clear in the rest of the provinces due to this. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Kathmandu's weather is cloudy and it received light rainfall in the morning. It will be partly to generally cloudy in the hill region of the country towards the afternoon. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">There are chances of brief or light rainfall accompanied by thunder and lightning in some places of Koshi Province, Bagmati Province and Gandaki Province and in a few places of the hill region of the rest of the provinces, the division stated in its weather bulletin. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-18', 'modified' => '2023-05-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17637', 'image' => '20230518122214_weatherrr - Copy.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-18 12:21:35', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17905', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'SEBON Dismisses Allegation of Irregularities in the Process of Issuing Stock Broker License', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 18: The Securities Board of Nepal (SEBON) has expressed its anger over the demand of the Stock Broker Association of Nepal (SBAN) to stop the new broker license process. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">May 18: The Securities Board of Nepal (SEBON) has expressed its anger over the demand of the Stock Broker Association of Nepal (SBAN) to stop the new broker license process. The board issued a press statement and said that baseless accusations were made against the board with a mala fide intention to keep the broker business within the circle of limited traders.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the board, it issued the letter of intent for the distribution of broker license in order to provide equal opportunity to all those who have fulfilled the criteria through legal process within the given deadline. The board expressed its regret that the old brokers tried to hinder the overall market development by publishing certain self-centered, self-interested statements without maintaining their minimum professional dignity.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The board clarified that the fifth amendment to the Securities Dealers (Securities Brokers and Securities Dealers) Regulations, 2064 was approved by the Government of Nepal, the Council of Ministers on September 14 and made a policy arrangement for the open entry of securities brokers.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to international practices, the board proceeded with the licensing process in accordance with the provisions of the regulation, considering the capital of the organization, the qualification of the directors, the qualification of the head of the organization and the information technology as the main criteria for granting the license. The board published a 30-day public notice on September 18 and invited applications for issuing securities brokers and securities traders' licenses.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Out of the total 46 applications received for the new broker license, the board gave letter of intent to 43 companies. According to the board, 41 applications were for limited-service securities brokers, four were for full-fledged securities brokers and one was for securities traders.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The board clarified that the process for broker license is completed within 35 days from the date of expiry of the application deadline.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The board informed that its efforts to allow 12 "A" class banks’ subsidiaries and 31 other organizations to enter as securities brokers and traders will make the securities market more competitive and transparent. The board claims that the level of securities market services will increase and investors will benefit from competition in services and prices.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The board expects that the demand for the entry of securities brokers, which the investors have been demanding for a long time, will be addressed and there will be competition in the securities market as well as employment opportunities and this will contribute to the overall economy. The board also expressed its commitment to formulate and implement an open and progressive policy for the protection of investors' rights and interests and for the development and expansion of the secondary market in the future as well.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">SBAN issued a statement last Friday and demanded immediate suspension of the brokers’ license just like the license of the stock exchange was suspended. Alleging financial irregularities, the association also demanded investigation and action.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The board issued a counter statement claiming that the regulations were drafted and then amended several times by the Council of Ministers.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-18', 'modified' => '2023-05-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17636', 'image' => '20230518112800_Sebon-update.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-18 11:27:06', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17904', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Kamirita Sherpa Scales Mt Everest for the 27th Time, Creates History ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 18: Record-holder mountaineer Kamirita Sherpa successfully climbed Mt Everest (Sagarmatha) for a record 27th time on Wednesday. This makes him the only person to climb Everest for 27 times.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">May 18: Record-holder mountaineer Kamirita Sherpa successfully climbed Mt Everest (Sagarmatha) for a record 27th time on Wednesday. This makes him the only person to climb Everest for 27 times.</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 53-year-old mountaineer stood atop the highest mountain in the world on Wednesday morning at 8:30 am, Director of the Department of Tourism Yuwaraj Khatiwada told RSS. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Sherpa, who is originally a resident of Thame in Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality in Solukhumbu district and is currently residing in Kathmandu, broke his own record of climbing the 8,848.86 metres mountain and thereby creating a new one. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Khatiwada shared that the expedition is going on in full swing but the number of climbers making it to the top of the Mt Everest could not be ascertained owing to lack of communications with the climbers pushing towards the summit. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Imagine Nepal Treks and Expedition Company's Director Mingma Gyalzen Sherpa informed RSS that over 100 mountaineers including Kamirita have climbed Mt Everest so far this spring while as many were on a summit push bid. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"Kamirita latest ascent has spread a message to the world that the mountaineering sector of Nepal is safe," asserted Khatiwada.</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"">Kamirita, who first set his feet atop the Everest on May 13, 1994, has climbed many mountains over 8,000 metres at home and abroad for over 39 times till date. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Meanwhile, Pasang Dawa Sherpa is hot on the heels of Kamirita and ascended Everest for the 26th time this spring. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A record number of climbers are attempting to scale the Mt Everest this spring as Nepal issued the highest number of climbing permits in history for Everest this season since the first successful ascent of the Everest on May 29, 1953. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Department issued 478 permits for 44 groups this season. </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-18', 'modified' => '2023-05-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17635', 'image' => '20230518105218_FwTHtq6agAEVihB (1).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-18 10:47:46', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17903', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'ADB Approves US$300 Million Loan to Improve Road Connectivity and Trade in Nepal', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 18: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved a US$300 million loan to improve transport connectivity of the Kakarbhitta–Laukahi road in Nepal to international trade routes, particularly to India and Bangladesh.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">May 18: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved a US$300 million loan to improve transport connectivity of the Kakarbhitta–Laukahi road in Nepal to international trade routes, particularly to India and Bangladesh. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Issuing a statement on Wednesday, ADB Transport Specialist for South Asia Sin Wai Chong said that the project road is along the East–West Highway which forms part of the South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation corridor.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">“Together with other regional cooperation initiatives under the SASEC framework, better infrastructure, improved connectivity, and safe road networks will boost border trade and logistics and improve the lives of rural communities,” said Chong.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">According to the ADB, at least 95 kilometers (km) of road from Kakarbhitta to Laukahi will be upgraded from a two-lane to a four-lane dual roadway. It will incorporate climate and disaster-resilient design features such as higher thermal resistant pavements and bridges with stringent flood-proofing requirement, added the statement. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The project will improve road safety through features such as junctions with traffic signals, footpaths with streetlights and tactile paving surface, overhead pedestrian crossings, road crossings with raised platform, and bus stops equipped with lighting system, the ADB further said. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">According to the ADB statement, the project will build the capacity of the Department of Roads in climate and disaster-resilient strategies, road asset management, road safety, and project management and implementation. “Community awareness campaigns on road safety, health and hygiene, and human trafficking will also be conducted. This will be complemented with capacity building programs for women and disadvantaged groups to improve their mobility and access to services.” </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">ADB said it will provide an additional US$750,000 technical assistance grant from its Technical Assistance Special Fund to develop climate change mitigation and adaptation guidelines for road projects, bidding documents, performance indicators, and a user handbook on long-term performance-based maintenance. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">ADB added that it is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. Established in 1966, it is owned by 68 members—49 from the region.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-18', 'modified' => '2023-05-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17634', 'image' => '20230518100646_adbb.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-18 10:06:09', '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
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', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">May 19: A report prepared by the Nepal Insurance Authority (NIA) shows that Bagmati Province is ahead in the insurance sector as well as in other sectors. As the insurance companies are concentrated only in Bagmati Province, the insurance fee collected by the insurance companies in other provinces is lower than that of Bagmati Province.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the Nepal Insurance Authority, the number of active non-life insurance policies till mid-April of the current fiscal year is 2.1 million of which 45.15 per cent is in Bagmati province. The lowest number of active non-life insurance policies is in Karnali Province at 2.18 per cent and the second lowest in Sudurpaschim Province at 5.14 per cent.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The number of active life insurance policies has reached 14.1 million by mid-April. Among them, 72.22 per cent is in Bagmati Province. The lowest number of active life insurance policies is 1.44 per cent in Karnali Province, the second lowest is 3.19 per cent in Sudurpaschim Province and the third lowest is 3.59 per cent in Madhesh Province.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The report shows that about 50 per cent of the insurance fee comes from Bagmati alone. Insurance companies have earned Rs 134 billion in insurance fees from all over the country in the nine months of the current fiscal year. Of that, 49.72 per cent (Rs 67 billion) has been collected from Bagmati Province. According to the authority, the non-life insurance companies have collected insurance fees of Rs 30 billion as of mid-April. They have collected 66.25 per cent (19.88 billion rupees) of the total insurance fee from Bagmati Province alone. Similarly, they collected Rs 2.73 billion from Lumbini Province and Rs 2.62 billion from Koshi Province.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, life insurance companies have collected Rs 104 billion in insurance fees till mid-April of the current year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Out of that, Rs 47.11 billion have been collected from Bagmati Province. This is 44.99 per cent of the total insurance fee. Likewise, Rs 15.26 billion was collected from Lumbini Province and Rs 12.61 billion from Koshi Province.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Chairman of Nepal Insurance Authority Surya Prasad Silwal said that the authority is conducting continuous insurance awareness programs across the country. According to Silwal, in the current fiscal year alone, the authority has organized more than 100 insurance awareness and interaction programs at the local level.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He said that since Bagmati Province has the largest number of industries, companies, and transportation in the country, it is usual that the share of insurance is higher in the province. Silwal said that since the share of insurance in other provinces is low, insurance awareness is the priority of the authority.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">As citizens become aware of insurance, the scope of insurance will gradually increase in other provinces as well, he said.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-19', 'modified' => '2023-05-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17649', 'image' => '20230519015423_INSURANCE-COVERAGE.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-19 13:53:37', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17917', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Police Arrest Haj Committee Chair Miya, Teknath Rijal in Connection with Fake Bhutanese Refugee Scam', 'sub_title' => '16 People Arrested in Connection with the Case So Far', 'summary' => 'May 19: The police have arrested Chairperson of the Nepal Haj Committee Shamsher Miya in connection with the fake Bhutanese refugee scam.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">May 19: The police have arrested Chairperson of the Nepal Haj Committee Shamsher Miya in connection with the fake Bhutanese refugee scam. He was apprehended from Singha Durbar on Thursday afternoon. </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"">Miya was arrested after his involvement was established in sending Nepali citizens to the United States as Bhutanese refugees, said Senior Superintendent of Police Dan Bahadur Karki, chief of the District Police Range, Kathmandu. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Miya had made available a vehicle provided to the Haj Committee for the group of people involved in the racket, said SSP Karki. The jeep (embossed vehicle number BAB-1405) under the brand of Nissan was reportedly used to facilitate the racket, according to the police. The police have also taken the vehicle under control. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Members of the racket would use the vehicle while travelling to various parts of the country like Sauraha of Chitwan district and Sundhara of Kathmandu in the name of taking interviews of their clients aspiring to go to the US, claimed the police. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The jeep under the ownership of the Ministry of Home Affairs has been registered with the Haj Committee. Miya was absconding after the police launched investigations into the case until his arrest on Thursday.</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"">Meanwhile, the Kathmandu District Court has remanded Miya along with Bhutanese refugee leader Teknath Rijal for two days in judicial custody for investigation into their alleged involvement in the Bhutanese refugee scam. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Rizal was arrested by the police from Tribhuvan International Airport while he was coming to Kathmandu from Jhapa, while Miya was arrested from the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation at Singha Durbar, Superintendent of Police Sitaram Rial said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Police had earlier arrested 14 people, including the former home minister and home secretary, in connection with the case.</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"">Further arrests were made based on the statements given by the accused. The number of people arrested in relation to this scam has reached 16. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Rijal was arrested for investigation after it was found that he had financial transactions with Sanu Bhandari, who was detained earlier by the police. </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"">Other high-profile individuals arrested in connection with the case including former deputy prime minister Top Bahadur Rayamajhi, former home minister Bal Krishna Khand, former secretary (home affairs) Teknarayan Pandey, former home minister's security adviser Dr Indrajit Rai. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-19', 'modified' => '2023-05-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17648', 'image' => '20230519122847_teknath-rijal.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-19 12:27:34', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17916', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => ''NewBiz Startup Summit and Awards 2023’ Happening Today', 'sub_title' => 'Eight outstanding start-ups will be awarded under four categories', 'summary' => 'May 19: New Business Age, one of the leading business magazines of Nepal, is organizing NewBiz Startup Summit and Awards programme with the theme ‘Search for Nepali Unicorn’ amid a special function today. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">May 19: New Business Age, one of the leading business magazines of Nepal, is organizing NewBiz Startup Summit and Awards programme with the theme ‘Search for Nepali Unicorn’ amid a special function today (May 19). </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">New Business Age will award eight outstanding startups during the awards ceremony which will kick off in the capital at 4 pm. More than 2,000 startup entrepreneurs from across the country had submitted applications for the awards programme. Among them, eight outstanding startups will be awarded under four categories- Emerging Startup, Inspiring Women-Led Startup, Startup Scaleup and Best Startup.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">All the winners will get free credit voucher worth Rs 100,000 on Next Generation Rigo HRMS and Rigo Accounting software from Rigo Technologies. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Member of Parliament and economist Dr Swarnim Wagle, the chief guest of the programme, along with Ramesh Hamal, chairman of the Securities Board Nepal (SEBON) and Tim </span></span><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Gocher, founder and CEO of Dolma Fund Management, will attend the programme. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Likewise, a panel discussion on the topic 'Towards a Startup Nation' will also be held during the event. Dr Toya Gyawali, secretary of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies; Sunita </span></span><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Nhemaphuki, founder of R&D Innovative Solutions; and Rahul Malla Thakuri, co-founder and assistant vice-president (commercial) of Upaya are the panellist for the panel discussion. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The panel discussion will be moderated by Asmod Karki, co-founder and head of operations at VikasaTech.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The summit and awards programme is supported by Sastodeal.com, Laxmi Bank, Shikhar Insurance, Citizen Life Insurance, National Life Insurance, Rigo, Nexon EV Max, and City Express. Similarly, Nepal Rastra Bank, the Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Nepal Insurance Authority, Nepali Patro and Dishome Fiber Net have also supported the awards program.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">New Business Age has been organising various award programs. The company has been selecting and awarding the best management colleges and companies since 2013. Since 2019, the company has started honoring women entrepreneurs. New Business Age had organized the New Biz Business Conclave and Awards programme in November.</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-19', 'modified' => '2023-05-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17647', 'image' => '20230519022807_update Newbiz Startup design.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-19 11:47:10', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17915', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Tourism entrepreneurs of Pokhara Elated with the Announcement of Chartered Flights ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 19: The announcement of chartered flights from Pokhara to different cities of China starting from June 23 has excited the tourism entrepreneurs of the lake city. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">May 19: The announcement of chartered flights from Pokhara to different cities of China starting from June 23 has excited the tourism entrepreneurs of the lake city. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Addressing the 24th national conference and annual general meeting of Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATTA) on Thursday, Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Sudan Kirati announced to begin chartered flights to different cities of China from June. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The announcement is expected to materialize the dream of Pokhara folks to start international flights from Pokhara. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Pokhara Regional International Airport was inaugurated on January 1 this year but no international flight has taken place since then. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Chairman of Pokhara Tourism Council Pom Narayan Shrestha said, "We are excited with the announcement to commence chartered flights. This will mark the beginning of international flights. This should be implemented at any cost." </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, chairman of NATTA Gandaki Province Hari Ram Adhikari said that this will be a good beginning for the tourism industry and will serve as a milestone for the entire country's tourism development. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">It is said that around 80 per cent of the total Chinese tourists arriving Nepal visit Pokhara city. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-19', 'modified' => '2023-05-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17646', 'image' => '20230519112122_Pokhara-Airport-800X533.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-19 11:19:56', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17914', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government to Unveil Policies and Programmes Today ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 19: The government will be unveiling its policies and programmes for the upcoming fiscal year (FY 2023/24) on Friday. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">May 19: The government will be unveiling its policies and programmes for the upcoming fiscal year (FY 2023/24) on Friday. The policies and progrmmes will be presented before a joint session of the House of Representatives and National Assembly at 4:00 pm on May 19. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">During the HoR session on Thursday, Speaker Devraj Ghimire read out the letter in this regard and directed the entire Members of Parliament to be present in the meeting by 3: 45 pm and in the prescribed dress code and to take their respective seats. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The annual report of the government was presented during the lower house meeting on Thursday. Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal presented the report before the meeting in accordance with the Article 53 of the Constitution and Clause 41 of the Good Governance (Management and Operation) Act, 2064 BS. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-19', 'modified' => '2023-05-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17645', 'image' => '20230519105356_parliament building.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-19 10:53:04', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17913', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '213 Start-ups Disqualified for Enterprise Loans', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => ' A total of 213 start-ups have been disqualified from receiving enterprise loans after failing to meet the eligibility criteria.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">May 19: A total of 213 start-ups have been disqualified from receiving enterprise loans after failing to meet the eligibility criteria. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">These start-ups were among the 382 applicants who had applied for loans in the initial phase. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Department of Industry, in line with Clause 8 of the Start-up Enterprise Loan Fund Procedure, 2079, had called for applications for loans on March 30.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Department has clarified that the disqualified start-ups did not meet the necessary requirements for the loans. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">To be eligible for the scheme, start-ups must have a paid-up capital of no more than Rs 5 million, annual incomes below Rs 500,000, fixed assets (excluding real estate) not exceeding Rs 20 million, and a workforce consisting of no more than 10 employees.</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-19', 'modified' => '2023-05-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17644', 'image' => '20230519060523_collage (4).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-19 06:03:55', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17912', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '6th Nepal Chamber Expo-2023 kicks off in Kathmandu', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'The 6th Nepal Chamber Expo-2023 commenced at Bhrikuti Mandap, Kathmandu on Thursday. Hosted by the Nepal Chamber of Commerce (NCC), the expo was inaugurated by Minister for Labour, Employment, and Social Security, Sharat Singh Bhandari. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px">May 18: The 6th Nepal Chamber Expo-2023 commenced at Bhrikuti Mandap, Kathmandu on Thursday.<br /> Hosted by the Nepal Chamber of Commerce (NCC), the expo was inaugurated by Minister for Labour, Employment, and Social Security, Sharat Singh Bhandari. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">The primary objective of this fair, as stated by the NCC, is to promote the export of domestic goods and invigorate the business community.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Featuring 150 stalls, the expo will run until May 22, showcasing a diverse range of products including automobiles, electrical appliances, electronics, furnishings, essential items, clothing, mobile phones, handicrafts, leather goods, cosmetics, and Ayurvedic products. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">The participation of national and international companies and entrepreneurs from Nepal, India, and Bangladesh adds to the significance of this event.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">The expo is expected to facilitate interactions, information exchange regarding imports and exports, and enhance the market presence of Nepali products, according to the NCC. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">During the inauguration, the minister emphasized the importance of collaboration between the government and the private sector to foster economic prosperity. The minister urged the private sector to increase investment, while assuring governmental support in facilitating economic activities.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Furthermore, Madhu Kumar Marasini, the secretary of the ministry, expressed optimism that the expo would facilitate the exchange of national and international business experiences, fostering stronger business relationships both domestically and internationally. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Rajendra Malla, President of the NCC, emphasized the need to attract foreign investments in sectors such as agriculture, hydropower, tourism, and services, while promoting exports and boosting domestic production to achieve self-reliance in the country.</span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-18', 'modified' => '2023-05-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17643', 'image' => '20230518060821_collage (6).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-18 17:58:34', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17911', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Positive Atmosphere Commences in NEPSE; Turnover Amount Surpasses 1 Billion after 25 Days ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'The share market, which has been on a downward trend for some time, has started to show a positive atmosphere. With the reversal of the NEPSE with re-testing of 1807 points, investors have become active, resulting in the rise of the NEPSE Index along with turnover amount. ', 'content' => '<p><br /> <span style="font-size:18px">May 18: The share market, which has been on a downward trend for some time, has started to show a positive atmosphere. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">With the reversal of the NEPSE with re-testing of 1807 points, investors have become active, resulting in the rise of the NEPSE Index along with turnover amount. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Earlier, the NEPSE Index had tested the low of 1807 points and reversed and this time the index followed the suit, say technical analysts. The turnover amount has surpassed NPR 1 billion after 25 days.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Buyers have dominated the market taking advantage of the low prices of the shares and declining interest rates. Investors are calling regulatory authorities and the government to address their demands in the stock market. This has had a positive in the share market.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">NEPSE index surged by 1.75% points or 32.30 points, closing at 1877.32 points on the last trading day of the week, Thursday. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">264 scrips traded their hands via 32,579 transactions today. A total of 4,422,186 shares exchanged hands, amounting to NPR 1.47 billion in turnover amount. This is higher than the last trading day's turnover of Rs. 85.76 Crores.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Nepal Doorsanchar Company Limited (NTC) had the highest turnover of Rs. 8.63 crores closing at a market price of Rs. 779.20 per share. The shares of SHIVM traded the most.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Two scrips gained the highest 10% each and hit the positive circuit for the day, while NIBL Growth Fund (NIBLGF) lost the highest 3.14% today.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">All sector indices closed in green zone. The "Hotels and Tourism" gained the highest 3.75%, while "Others" gained the least 0.90% today. The sensitive index has increased by 1.48%, the float index by 1.74%, and the sensitive float index by 1.54% today. </span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-18', 'modified' => '2023-05-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17642', 'image' => '20230518043802_collage (4).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-18 16:33:04', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17910', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => ' FAO Releases 'Country Programming Framework' for Transformation of Agriculture Sector', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 18: The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (UNFAO) has released the 'country programming framework (2023-27)' for the transformation of overall agriculture sector of Nepal. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">May 18: The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (UNFAO) has released the 'country programming framework (2023-27)' for the transformation of overall agriculture sector of Nepal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development Dr Beduram Bhusal, National Planning Commission Vice-Chairperson Dr Min Bahadur Shrestha, FAO Asia-Pacific Region Chief Jong-Jin Kim and UN Resident Representative Hanaa Singer-Hamdy jointly launched the framework on Wednesday. The framework covers strategic programme for five years from 2023 to 2027. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">On the occasion, Minister Dr Bhusal appreciated the support and cooperation of the FAO for the agriculture development of Nepal and expressed his belief that the framework would help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Lauding over seven-decade long partnership between FAO and Nepal, the minister said the framework was the shared document of the Nepal government and FAO. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He further noted that the document would help promote sustainable development, maintain food and nutrition security and achieve SDGs. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Also speaking on the occasion, Vice-Chairperson of the NPC, Dr Shrestha said the framework would contribute to the transformation of food system of Nepal, support the national campaign against food crisis and poverty and combat climate change issues. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">FAO's Asia-Pacific Region Chief Kim expressed FAO readiness to support the policy and priorities of the Nepal government as per its mandate. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He said FAO has brought several programmes, including increment in production and improvement in nutrition, environment as per the strategic framework of improved livelihood in its member countries. He further said such practice would not only facilitate inclusive development but also assure food security of all citizens. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Chief Kim also insisted the need to transform the country's food system to effectively tackle malnutrition and other food challenges. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">UN Resident Representative Hamdy said the framework has laid special emphasis on women-friendly technological development and promotion when women's responsibility has increased in the agriculture sector with the growing trends of Nepali youths leaving their home for employment. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The UN senior official also expressed full support and cooperation of the UN to Nepal in its process to graduate to a developing country from the Least Developed Country by 2026. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The programme was attended by ambassadors, representatives of development partners, government officials, private sector representatives, agriculture entrepreneurs, industrialists and business community. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-18', 'modified' => '2023-05-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17641', 'image' => '20230518124920_FAO.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-18 12:48:45', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17909', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'SC Orders Government Not to Provide Money to Disqualified Maoist Combatants ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 18: The Supreme Court (SC) has issued an interlocutory order to the government, directing the government not to provide Rs 200,000 to each of the disqualified Maoist combatants. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">May 18: The Supreme Court (SC) has issued an interlocutory order to the government, directing the government not to provide Rs 200,000 to each of the disqualified Maoist combatants. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">A single bench of Justice Kumar Regmi issued the order in this regard on Tuesday. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Advocate Gyanendra Aran had filed a writ petition at the SC against the government's decision to provide Rs 200,000 to each of the disqualified Maoist combatants. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The apex court has also sought a written response from the government and ordered for discussion with both sides. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">A meeting of the Council of Ministers on March 20 had decided to dole out Rs 800 million for the disqualified fighters at the rate of Rs 200,000 to each of the 4,000 plus disqualified combatants.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">After the Comprehensive Peace Accord in 2006, the United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) had verified 19,602 Maoist combatants as eligible fighters for integration into the Nepalese Army while 4,008 were certified as disqualified on various grounds and particularly because most of them were underage.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The incumbent government led by Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, who is also the chairman of the CPN Maoist Centre, has been heavily criticized for trying to misuse the funds of the state coffers in the name of distributing funds to the disqualified Maoist combatants when the country’s economy is facing crisis.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-18', 'modified' => '2023-05-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17640', 'image' => '20230518124828_Supreme Court.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-18 12:47:38', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17906', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'GBIA Marks First Anniversary but is Yet to Come into Full Operation', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 18: The Gautam Buddha International Airport (GBIA) has completed its first anniversary, but the second international airport of Nepal after Kathmandu-based Tribhuvan International Airport going through setbacks has added to worries of the investors. The private sector has reportedly invested over Rs 60 billion targeting this project. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">May 18: The Gautam Buddha International Airport (GBIA) has completed its first anniversary, but the second international airport of Nepal after Kathmandu-based Tribhuvan International Airport going through setbacks has added to worries of the investors. The private sector has reportedly invested over Rs 60 billion targeting this project. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">GBIA has failed to come in full operation. So far, Jazeera Airways had been operating three Bhairahawa-Kuwait flights a week. It conducted a test flight on 16 May, 2022. But now, it has reportedly told about halting its flights to and from the airport. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">“The private sector invested over Rs 60 billion targeting the airport,” said Krishna Prasad Sharma, president of the Lumbini chapter of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI). They have invested in hotels, infrastructures, services, trade and tourism targeting the project, he added. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"The mobility of approximately 20,000 people was expected in the area on a daily basis. With this hope, the area has been developed as a trade hub. But now, the airport has not been operated as expected. This has only added to our worries. Fears of our investments risks are deepening day by day. Entrepreneurs have no any other option,” he said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He blamed the government for not paying attention to fully operate the airport. </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"">“Failure to fully operate the airport has left all of us in the lurch,” he complained. </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"">India is reportedly dilly-dallying to agree on giving air entry points. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">However, Sharma is not ready to accept it. “Air entry points and Indian obstructions are only rumours. We are assured that the Asian Development Bank invested in the project after taking into accounts all these issues. The Government of Nepal should take a lead role to resolve these problems. There is no other alternative to operate the airport. This is our demand with the government,” he said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He was of the view that Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal during his upcoming visit to India should strictly take up the matter with India, and take concrete steps in operating the project. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Millions of rupees of investment at risk</span></strong> <br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Construction of hotel buildings and infrastructures has taken place along with the building of the airport. Around 146 hotels, big and small, are operational with the investment of around Rs 30 billion. Besides, around 21 hotels are under construction at the cost of approximately Rs 20 billion. “Millions of rupees invested in these projects are at risk. Entrepreneurs are in tension due to failure to pay bank loans. Some of them have got to the situation of abandoning the business,” said Chandra Prakash Shrestha, president of the Siddhartha Hotel Association. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He complained about the failure of the state to take initiatives for its operation. The government should take initiatives to bring in tourists from the countries that follow Buddhism in East Asia through the airport, he stressed. “We have repeatedly taken up the matter with the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, and the government. We do not know why are the demands are yet to be addressed.” </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Two cable cars in Butwal are under construction with the investment of millions of rupees targeting incoming tourists through the airport. The projects that run three kilometers from Butwal to Basantapur of Tinau Rural Municipality-3 in Palpa district are estimated to cost over Rs 3.5 billion. One station is located at Bamghat of Butwal-3, and another at Basantapur of the Rural Municipality-3. Hotels, a park for recreation, and Kamakhyadevi Temple are under construction at Basantapur hill. A picnic spot has also come into operation. </span><br /> <strong><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Air routes not an issue</span></strong> <br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Hansha Raj Pandey, the general manager of the airport does not agree with the air route problem as reported. “Landing in the airport is feasible and cost friendly, he said. It is easier for an aircraft entering Simara to land in Bhairahawa. Despite long distance, there isn’t any air traffic here compared to Kathmandu. Airline companies have to bear additional costs when an aircraft has to hold in the sky. There is no such problem here.” </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to Pandey, routes will be shorter for aircraft to fly through the L626 Mahendranagar route from Bhairahawa. </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"">“Pilots can also understand this. So, the report that the airport is not properly operating as a result of the air route problem is only a rumour,” he said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Making the L626 two ways will make the airport much feasible, he said. Nevertheless, there is a problem in operating the airport during winter, he said. There may be a visibility problem despite landing through the instrument landing system (ILS). </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Discounts on fees for aviation services for one more year </span></strong><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The airport has been offering 100 percent discounts on fees charged for plane landing, parking, communications and aviation services and security check for international airlines, and this offer has been extended for one more year, said the airport’s general manager Pandey. The exemption came into operation on 28 May, 2022. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Late Prime Minister Sushil Koirala had laid the foundation stone of the airport on 15 January, 2015. Later, the then Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba inaugurated the airport with an investment of approximately Rs 35 billion on May 16 in 2022. Spanning around 800 bighas of land, the project has runways that span three kilometers. It has capacity to park four narrow-body aircraft and one wide-body aircraft. </span><br /> <strong><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Private sector draws attention of Prime Minister</span></strong> <br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Entrepreneurs submitted a memorandum to PM Dahal during his visit to Lumbini to attend an event organised here on 5 May, 2023 on the occasion of the 2567th Birth Anniversary of Gautam Buddha and the Lumbini Day, 2080, demanding full operation of the airport. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A delegation from the Siddhartha Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Rupandehi met with the PM and put forth the demand. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Their demands include PM Dahal taking a flight from the airport during his upcoming visit to India. The Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC), the flag carrier of Nepal, should start its flights from the airport to attract both domestic and international airlines, they demanded. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Their other demands are that the NAC starts flights along Bhairahawa-Delhi, Bhairahawa-Malaysia, Bhairahawa-Qatar routes at the earliest, and the PM should take initiatives for regular and chartered flights at the airport for all countries in the world that follow Buddhism as Lumbini, the birthplace of Gautam Buddha, is considered to be of great significance to those countries.</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"">Initiatives should be taken immediately to fully operate the airport so as to save the investment of over Rs 60 billion of the private sector in hotels, infrastructures and tourism, they demanded. </span><br /> <strong><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">No alternative airport</span></strong> <br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">On 26 February, 2023, an aircraft of Air Vistara en route to Kathmandu from New Delhi and another one of FlyDubai from Dubai to Kathmandu were diverted to Lucknow of India after they could not land at the TIA due to bad weather. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly on 24 April, 2023, an aircraft of FlyDubai caught a fire in its engine during a takeoff from the TIA. However, all these aircraft did not show interest in diverting to two international airports of Nepal -- Pokhara and Gautam Buddha airports. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">International aircraft often give first priority to make an emergency landing or divert to airports outsides Nepal. International aircraft entering Nepal should choose an alternative airport. The Gautam Buddha International Airport should be taken as an alternative airport. But, no international flight has been diverted to it so far, it has been reported. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">“We have kept the airport ready 24 hours a day. A workforce has also been managed accordingly. But, aircraft did not show interest to land here,” said Pandey blaming a lack of passengers for their apathy to land at the airport. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">“A large aircraft has over 300 passengers. The airline company should reach an agreement with a hotel for the accommodation and food for its passengers. But, in Bhairahawa, as far as I know, there has not been any agreement reached between an international airline and a hotel in this regard,” he said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">When an emergency landing takes place in the airport, there arises problems of accommodation, food for passengers and crews and the conduction of a security check during a takeoff the following day, say experts. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Besides, variations in the prices of aviation fuel in Nepal and India have also made the matter worse, they said. Aviation fuel is much cheaper in India than in Nepal. In Nepal, aviation fuel is sold for 1,360 dollars per thousand litres, while it costs 998 dollars in India. The diverted international aircraft did not pick the airport to save money, they said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"It is a pilot’s choice to land a diverted plane. We cannot force them," said Pandey. The airport is feasible for diverted international aircraft than the one in Lucknow in terms of distance and time, he said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Not only international flights, domestic airliners have also preferred to divert to Lucknow instead of the Gautam Buddha International Airport. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">It requires human resources including engineers for a diverted aircraft to take off. The respective airline company has to manage human resources for this. As of now, Jazeera Airways has been operating flights from the airport. So, planes could not be diverted to the airport due to a lack of agreement between these airlines and the Jazeera Airways, said the airport employees. Without the management of a workforce, there are difficulties and the lengthy process for a diverted plant to take off from the airport, they said. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-18', 'modified' => '2023-05-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17638', 'image' => '20230518121326_GB airporttt.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-18 12:12:37', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17908', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Precipitation due to the Influence of Westerly Wind ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 18: The Westerly wind coupled with the local wind has had a general impact in the country’s weather at present, the Meteorological Forecasting Division said. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">May 18: The Westerly wind coupled with the local wind has had a general impact in the country’s weather at present, the Meteorological Forecasting Division said. The weather is partly to generally cloudy in Koshi Province and partly cloudy to generally clear in the rest of the provinces due to this. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Kathmandu's weather is cloudy and it received light rainfall in the morning. It will be partly to generally cloudy in the hill region of the country towards the afternoon. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">There are chances of brief or light rainfall accompanied by thunder and lightning in some places of Koshi Province, Bagmati Province and Gandaki Province and in a few places of the hill region of the rest of the provinces, the division stated in its weather bulletin. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-18', 'modified' => '2023-05-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17637', 'image' => '20230518122214_weatherrr - Copy.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-18 12:21:35', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17905', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'SEBON Dismisses Allegation of Irregularities in the Process of Issuing Stock Broker License', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 18: The Securities Board of Nepal (SEBON) has expressed its anger over the demand of the Stock Broker Association of Nepal (SBAN) to stop the new broker license process. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">May 18: The Securities Board of Nepal (SEBON) has expressed its anger over the demand of the Stock Broker Association of Nepal (SBAN) to stop the new broker license process. The board issued a press statement and said that baseless accusations were made against the board with a mala fide intention to keep the broker business within the circle of limited traders.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the board, it issued the letter of intent for the distribution of broker license in order to provide equal opportunity to all those who have fulfilled the criteria through legal process within the given deadline. The board expressed its regret that the old brokers tried to hinder the overall market development by publishing certain self-centered, self-interested statements without maintaining their minimum professional dignity.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The board clarified that the fifth amendment to the Securities Dealers (Securities Brokers and Securities Dealers) Regulations, 2064 was approved by the Government of Nepal, the Council of Ministers on September 14 and made a policy arrangement for the open entry of securities brokers.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to international practices, the board proceeded with the licensing process in accordance with the provisions of the regulation, considering the capital of the organization, the qualification of the directors, the qualification of the head of the organization and the information technology as the main criteria for granting the license. The board published a 30-day public notice on September 18 and invited applications for issuing securities brokers and securities traders' licenses.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Out of the total 46 applications received for the new broker license, the board gave letter of intent to 43 companies. According to the board, 41 applications were for limited-service securities brokers, four were for full-fledged securities brokers and one was for securities traders.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The board clarified that the process for broker license is completed within 35 days from the date of expiry of the application deadline.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The board informed that its efforts to allow 12 "A" class banks’ subsidiaries and 31 other organizations to enter as securities brokers and traders will make the securities market more competitive and transparent. The board claims that the level of securities market services will increase and investors will benefit from competition in services and prices.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The board expects that the demand for the entry of securities brokers, which the investors have been demanding for a long time, will be addressed and there will be competition in the securities market as well as employment opportunities and this will contribute to the overall economy. The board also expressed its commitment to formulate and implement an open and progressive policy for the protection of investors' rights and interests and for the development and expansion of the secondary market in the future as well.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">SBAN issued a statement last Friday and demanded immediate suspension of the brokers’ license just like the license of the stock exchange was suspended. Alleging financial irregularities, the association also demanded investigation and action.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The board issued a counter statement claiming that the regulations were drafted and then amended several times by the Council of Ministers.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-18', 'modified' => '2023-05-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17636', 'image' => '20230518112800_Sebon-update.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-18 11:27:06', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17904', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Kamirita Sherpa Scales Mt Everest for the 27th Time, Creates History ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 18: Record-holder mountaineer Kamirita Sherpa successfully climbed Mt Everest (Sagarmatha) for a record 27th time on Wednesday. This makes him the only person to climb Everest for 27 times.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">May 18: Record-holder mountaineer Kamirita Sherpa successfully climbed Mt Everest (Sagarmatha) for a record 27th time on Wednesday. This makes him the only person to climb Everest for 27 times.</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 53-year-old mountaineer stood atop the highest mountain in the world on Wednesday morning at 8:30 am, Director of the Department of Tourism Yuwaraj Khatiwada told RSS. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Sherpa, who is originally a resident of Thame in Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality in Solukhumbu district and is currently residing in Kathmandu, broke his own record of climbing the 8,848.86 metres mountain and thereby creating a new one. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Khatiwada shared that the expedition is going on in full swing but the number of climbers making it to the top of the Mt Everest could not be ascertained owing to lack of communications with the climbers pushing towards the summit. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Imagine Nepal Treks and Expedition Company's Director Mingma Gyalzen Sherpa informed RSS that over 100 mountaineers including Kamirita have climbed Mt Everest so far this spring while as many were on a summit push bid. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"Kamirita latest ascent has spread a message to the world that the mountaineering sector of Nepal is safe," asserted Khatiwada.</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"">Kamirita, who first set his feet atop the Everest on May 13, 1994, has climbed many mountains over 8,000 metres at home and abroad for over 39 times till date. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Meanwhile, Pasang Dawa Sherpa is hot on the heels of Kamirita and ascended Everest for the 26th time this spring. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A record number of climbers are attempting to scale the Mt Everest this spring as Nepal issued the highest number of climbing permits in history for Everest this season since the first successful ascent of the Everest on May 29, 1953. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Department issued 478 permits for 44 groups this season. </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-18', 'modified' => '2023-05-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17635', 'image' => '20230518105218_FwTHtq6agAEVihB (1).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-18 10:47:46', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17903', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'ADB Approves US$300 Million Loan to Improve Road Connectivity and Trade in Nepal', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 18: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved a US$300 million loan to improve transport connectivity of the Kakarbhitta–Laukahi road in Nepal to international trade routes, particularly to India and Bangladesh.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">May 18: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved a US$300 million loan to improve transport connectivity of the Kakarbhitta–Laukahi road in Nepal to international trade routes, particularly to India and Bangladesh. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Issuing a statement on Wednesday, ADB Transport Specialist for South Asia Sin Wai Chong said that the project road is along the East–West Highway which forms part of the South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation corridor.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">“Together with other regional cooperation initiatives under the SASEC framework, better infrastructure, improved connectivity, and safe road networks will boost border trade and logistics and improve the lives of rural communities,” said Chong.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">According to the ADB, at least 95 kilometers (km) of road from Kakarbhitta to Laukahi will be upgraded from a two-lane to a four-lane dual roadway. It will incorporate climate and disaster-resilient design features such as higher thermal resistant pavements and bridges with stringent flood-proofing requirement, added the statement. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The project will improve road safety through features such as junctions with traffic signals, footpaths with streetlights and tactile paving surface, overhead pedestrian crossings, road crossings with raised platform, and bus stops equipped with lighting system, the ADB further said. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">According to the ADB statement, the project will build the capacity of the Department of Roads in climate and disaster-resilient strategies, road asset management, road safety, and project management and implementation. “Community awareness campaigns on road safety, health and hygiene, and human trafficking will also be conducted. This will be complemented with capacity building programs for women and disadvantaged groups to improve their mobility and access to services.” </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">ADB said it will provide an additional US$750,000 technical assistance grant from its Technical Assistance Special Fund to develop climate change mitigation and adaptation guidelines for road projects, bidding documents, performance indicators, and a user handbook on long-term performance-based maintenance. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">ADB added that it is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. Established in 1966, it is owned by 68 members—49 from the region.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-18', 'modified' => '2023-05-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17634', 'image' => '20230518100646_adbb.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-18 10:06:09', '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' => '17918', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Bagmati Province Ahead in Insurance Business', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 19: A report prepared by the Nepal Insurance Authority (NIA) shows that Bagmati Province is ahead in the insurance sector as well as in other sectors. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">May 19: A report prepared by the Nepal Insurance Authority (NIA) shows that Bagmati Province is ahead in the insurance sector as well as in other sectors. As the insurance companies are concentrated only in Bagmati Province, the insurance fee collected by the insurance companies in other provinces is lower than that of Bagmati Province.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the Nepal Insurance Authority, the number of active non-life insurance policies till mid-April of the current fiscal year is 2.1 million of which 45.15 per cent is in Bagmati province. The lowest number of active non-life insurance policies is in Karnali Province at 2.18 per cent and the second lowest in Sudurpaschim Province at 5.14 per cent.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The number of active life insurance policies has reached 14.1 million by mid-April. Among them, 72.22 per cent is in Bagmati Province. The lowest number of active life insurance policies is 1.44 per cent in Karnali Province, the second lowest is 3.19 per cent in Sudurpaschim Province and the third lowest is 3.59 per cent in Madhesh Province.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The report shows that about 50 per cent of the insurance fee comes from Bagmati alone. Insurance companies have earned Rs 134 billion in insurance fees from all over the country in the nine months of the current fiscal year. Of that, 49.72 per cent (Rs 67 billion) has been collected from Bagmati Province. According to the authority, the non-life insurance companies have collected insurance fees of Rs 30 billion as of mid-April. They have collected 66.25 per cent (19.88 billion rupees) of the total insurance fee from Bagmati Province alone. Similarly, they collected Rs 2.73 billion from Lumbini Province and Rs 2.62 billion from Koshi Province.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, life insurance companies have collected Rs 104 billion in insurance fees till mid-April of the current year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Out of that, Rs 47.11 billion have been collected from Bagmati Province. This is 44.99 per cent of the total insurance fee. Likewise, Rs 15.26 billion was collected from Lumbini Province and Rs 12.61 billion from Koshi Province.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Chairman of Nepal Insurance Authority Surya Prasad Silwal said that the authority is conducting continuous insurance awareness programs across the country. According to Silwal, in the current fiscal year alone, the authority has organized more than 100 insurance awareness and interaction programs at the local level.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He said that since Bagmati Province has the largest number of industries, companies, and transportation in the country, it is usual that the share of insurance is higher in the province. Silwal said that since the share of insurance in other provinces is low, insurance awareness is the priority of the authority.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">As citizens become aware of insurance, the scope of insurance will gradually increase in other provinces as well, he said.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-19', 'modified' => '2023-05-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17649', 'image' => '20230519015423_INSURANCE-COVERAGE.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-19 13:53:37', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17917', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Police Arrest Haj Committee Chair Miya, Teknath Rijal in Connection with Fake Bhutanese Refugee Scam', 'sub_title' => '16 People Arrested in Connection with the Case So Far', 'summary' => 'May 19: The police have arrested Chairperson of the Nepal Haj Committee Shamsher Miya in connection with the fake Bhutanese refugee scam.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">May 19: The police have arrested Chairperson of the Nepal Haj Committee Shamsher Miya in connection with the fake Bhutanese refugee scam. He was apprehended from Singha Durbar on Thursday afternoon. </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"">Miya was arrested after his involvement was established in sending Nepali citizens to the United States as Bhutanese refugees, said Senior Superintendent of Police Dan Bahadur Karki, chief of the District Police Range, Kathmandu. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Miya had made available a vehicle provided to the Haj Committee for the group of people involved in the racket, said SSP Karki. The jeep (embossed vehicle number BAB-1405) under the brand of Nissan was reportedly used to facilitate the racket, according to the police. The police have also taken the vehicle under control. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Members of the racket would use the vehicle while travelling to various parts of the country like Sauraha of Chitwan district and Sundhara of Kathmandu in the name of taking interviews of their clients aspiring to go to the US, claimed the police. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The jeep under the ownership of the Ministry of Home Affairs has been registered with the Haj Committee. Miya was absconding after the police launched investigations into the case until his arrest on Thursday.</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"">Meanwhile, the Kathmandu District Court has remanded Miya along with Bhutanese refugee leader Teknath Rijal for two days in judicial custody for investigation into their alleged involvement in the Bhutanese refugee scam. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Rizal was arrested by the police from Tribhuvan International Airport while he was coming to Kathmandu from Jhapa, while Miya was arrested from the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation at Singha Durbar, Superintendent of Police Sitaram Rial said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Police had earlier arrested 14 people, including the former home minister and home secretary, in connection with the case.</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"">Further arrests were made based on the statements given by the accused. The number of people arrested in relation to this scam has reached 16. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Rijal was arrested for investigation after it was found that he had financial transactions with Sanu Bhandari, who was detained earlier by the police. </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"">Other high-profile individuals arrested in connection with the case including former deputy prime minister Top Bahadur Rayamajhi, former home minister Bal Krishna Khand, former secretary (home affairs) Teknarayan Pandey, former home minister's security adviser Dr Indrajit Rai. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-19', 'modified' => '2023-05-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17648', 'image' => '20230519122847_teknath-rijal.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-19 12:27:34', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17916', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => ''NewBiz Startup Summit and Awards 2023’ Happening Today', 'sub_title' => 'Eight outstanding start-ups will be awarded under four categories', 'summary' => 'May 19: New Business Age, one of the leading business magazines of Nepal, is organizing NewBiz Startup Summit and Awards programme with the theme ‘Search for Nepali Unicorn’ amid a special function today. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">May 19: New Business Age, one of the leading business magazines of Nepal, is organizing NewBiz Startup Summit and Awards programme with the theme ‘Search for Nepali Unicorn’ amid a special function today (May 19). </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">New Business Age will award eight outstanding startups during the awards ceremony which will kick off in the capital at 4 pm. More than 2,000 startup entrepreneurs from across the country had submitted applications for the awards programme. Among them, eight outstanding startups will be awarded under four categories- Emerging Startup, Inspiring Women-Led Startup, Startup Scaleup and Best Startup.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">All the winners will get free credit voucher worth Rs 100,000 on Next Generation Rigo HRMS and Rigo Accounting software from Rigo Technologies. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Member of Parliament and economist Dr Swarnim Wagle, the chief guest of the programme, along with Ramesh Hamal, chairman of the Securities Board Nepal (SEBON) and Tim </span></span><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Gocher, founder and CEO of Dolma Fund Management, will attend the programme. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Likewise, a panel discussion on the topic 'Towards a Startup Nation' will also be held during the event. Dr Toya Gyawali, secretary of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies; Sunita </span></span><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Nhemaphuki, founder of R&D Innovative Solutions; and Rahul Malla Thakuri, co-founder and assistant vice-president (commercial) of Upaya are the panellist for the panel discussion. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The panel discussion will be moderated by Asmod Karki, co-founder and head of operations at VikasaTech.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The summit and awards programme is supported by Sastodeal.com, Laxmi Bank, Shikhar Insurance, Citizen Life Insurance, National Life Insurance, Rigo, Nexon EV Max, and City Express. Similarly, Nepal Rastra Bank, the Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Nepal Insurance Authority, Nepali Patro and Dishome Fiber Net have also supported the awards program.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">New Business Age has been organising various award programs. The company has been selecting and awarding the best management colleges and companies since 2013. Since 2019, the company has started honoring women entrepreneurs. New Business Age had organized the New Biz Business Conclave and Awards programme in November.</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-19', 'modified' => '2023-05-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17647', 'image' => '20230519022807_update Newbiz Startup design.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-19 11:47:10', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17915', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Tourism entrepreneurs of Pokhara Elated with the Announcement of Chartered Flights ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 19: The announcement of chartered flights from Pokhara to different cities of China starting from June 23 has excited the tourism entrepreneurs of the lake city. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">May 19: The announcement of chartered flights from Pokhara to different cities of China starting from June 23 has excited the tourism entrepreneurs of the lake city. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Addressing the 24th national conference and annual general meeting of Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATTA) on Thursday, Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Sudan Kirati announced to begin chartered flights to different cities of China from June. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The announcement is expected to materialize the dream of Pokhara folks to start international flights from Pokhara. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Pokhara Regional International Airport was inaugurated on January 1 this year but no international flight has taken place since then. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Chairman of Pokhara Tourism Council Pom Narayan Shrestha said, "We are excited with the announcement to commence chartered flights. This will mark the beginning of international flights. This should be implemented at any cost." </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, chairman of NATTA Gandaki Province Hari Ram Adhikari said that this will be a good beginning for the tourism industry and will serve as a milestone for the entire country's tourism development. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">It is said that around 80 per cent of the total Chinese tourists arriving Nepal visit Pokhara city. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-19', 'modified' => '2023-05-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17646', 'image' => '20230519112122_Pokhara-Airport-800X533.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-19 11:19:56', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17914', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government to Unveil Policies and Programmes Today ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 19: The government will be unveiling its policies and programmes for the upcoming fiscal year (FY 2023/24) on Friday. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">May 19: The government will be unveiling its policies and programmes for the upcoming fiscal year (FY 2023/24) on Friday. The policies and progrmmes will be presented before a joint session of the House of Representatives and National Assembly at 4:00 pm on May 19. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">During the HoR session on Thursday, Speaker Devraj Ghimire read out the letter in this regard and directed the entire Members of Parliament to be present in the meeting by 3: 45 pm and in the prescribed dress code and to take their respective seats. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The annual report of the government was presented during the lower house meeting on Thursday. Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal presented the report before the meeting in accordance with the Article 53 of the Constitution and Clause 41 of the Good Governance (Management and Operation) Act, 2064 BS. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-19', 'modified' => '2023-05-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17645', 'image' => '20230519105356_parliament building.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-19 10:53:04', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17913', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '213 Start-ups Disqualified for Enterprise Loans', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => ' A total of 213 start-ups have been disqualified from receiving enterprise loans after failing to meet the eligibility criteria.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">May 19: A total of 213 start-ups have been disqualified from receiving enterprise loans after failing to meet the eligibility criteria. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">These start-ups were among the 382 applicants who had applied for loans in the initial phase. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Department of Industry, in line with Clause 8 of the Start-up Enterprise Loan Fund Procedure, 2079, had called for applications for loans on March 30.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Department has clarified that the disqualified start-ups did not meet the necessary requirements for the loans. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">To be eligible for the scheme, start-ups must have a paid-up capital of no more than Rs 5 million, annual incomes below Rs 500,000, fixed assets (excluding real estate) not exceeding Rs 20 million, and a workforce consisting of no more than 10 employees.</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-19', 'modified' => '2023-05-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17644', 'image' => '20230519060523_collage (4).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-19 06:03:55', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17912', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '6th Nepal Chamber Expo-2023 kicks off in Kathmandu', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'The 6th Nepal Chamber Expo-2023 commenced at Bhrikuti Mandap, Kathmandu on Thursday. Hosted by the Nepal Chamber of Commerce (NCC), the expo was inaugurated by Minister for Labour, Employment, and Social Security, Sharat Singh Bhandari. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px">May 18: The 6th Nepal Chamber Expo-2023 commenced at Bhrikuti Mandap, Kathmandu on Thursday.<br /> Hosted by the Nepal Chamber of Commerce (NCC), the expo was inaugurated by Minister for Labour, Employment, and Social Security, Sharat Singh Bhandari. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">The primary objective of this fair, as stated by the NCC, is to promote the export of domestic goods and invigorate the business community.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Featuring 150 stalls, the expo will run until May 22, showcasing a diverse range of products including automobiles, electrical appliances, electronics, furnishings, essential items, clothing, mobile phones, handicrafts, leather goods, cosmetics, and Ayurvedic products. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">The participation of national and international companies and entrepreneurs from Nepal, India, and Bangladesh adds to the significance of this event.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">The expo is expected to facilitate interactions, information exchange regarding imports and exports, and enhance the market presence of Nepali products, according to the NCC. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">During the inauguration, the minister emphasized the importance of collaboration between the government and the private sector to foster economic prosperity. The minister urged the private sector to increase investment, while assuring governmental support in facilitating economic activities.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Furthermore, Madhu Kumar Marasini, the secretary of the ministry, expressed optimism that the expo would facilitate the exchange of national and international business experiences, fostering stronger business relationships both domestically and internationally. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Rajendra Malla, President of the NCC, emphasized the need to attract foreign investments in sectors such as agriculture, hydropower, tourism, and services, while promoting exports and boosting domestic production to achieve self-reliance in the country.</span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-18', 'modified' => '2023-05-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17643', 'image' => '20230518060821_collage (6).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-18 17:58:34', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17911', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Positive Atmosphere Commences in NEPSE; Turnover Amount Surpasses 1 Billion after 25 Days ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'The share market, which has been on a downward trend for some time, has started to show a positive atmosphere. With the reversal of the NEPSE with re-testing of 1807 points, investors have become active, resulting in the rise of the NEPSE Index along with turnover amount. ', 'content' => '<p><br /> <span style="font-size:18px">May 18: The share market, which has been on a downward trend for some time, has started to show a positive atmosphere. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">With the reversal of the NEPSE with re-testing of 1807 points, investors have become active, resulting in the rise of the NEPSE Index along with turnover amount. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Earlier, the NEPSE Index had tested the low of 1807 points and reversed and this time the index followed the suit, say technical analysts. The turnover amount has surpassed NPR 1 billion after 25 days.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Buyers have dominated the market taking advantage of the low prices of the shares and declining interest rates. Investors are calling regulatory authorities and the government to address their demands in the stock market. This has had a positive in the share market.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">NEPSE index surged by 1.75% points or 32.30 points, closing at 1877.32 points on the last trading day of the week, Thursday. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">264 scrips traded their hands via 32,579 transactions today. A total of 4,422,186 shares exchanged hands, amounting to NPR 1.47 billion in turnover amount. This is higher than the last trading day's turnover of Rs. 85.76 Crores.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Nepal Doorsanchar Company Limited (NTC) had the highest turnover of Rs. 8.63 crores closing at a market price of Rs. 779.20 per share. The shares of SHIVM traded the most.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Two scrips gained the highest 10% each and hit the positive circuit for the day, while NIBL Growth Fund (NIBLGF) lost the highest 3.14% today.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">All sector indices closed in green zone. The "Hotels and Tourism" gained the highest 3.75%, while "Others" gained the least 0.90% today. The sensitive index has increased by 1.48%, the float index by 1.74%, and the sensitive float index by 1.54% today. </span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-18', 'modified' => '2023-05-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17642', 'image' => '20230518043802_collage (4).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-18 16:33:04', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17910', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => ' FAO Releases 'Country Programming Framework' for Transformation of Agriculture Sector', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 18: The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (UNFAO) has released the 'country programming framework (2023-27)' for the transformation of overall agriculture sector of Nepal. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">May 18: The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (UNFAO) has released the 'country programming framework (2023-27)' for the transformation of overall agriculture sector of Nepal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development Dr Beduram Bhusal, National Planning Commission Vice-Chairperson Dr Min Bahadur Shrestha, FAO Asia-Pacific Region Chief Jong-Jin Kim and UN Resident Representative Hanaa Singer-Hamdy jointly launched the framework on Wednesday. The framework covers strategic programme for five years from 2023 to 2027. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">On the occasion, Minister Dr Bhusal appreciated the support and cooperation of the FAO for the agriculture development of Nepal and expressed his belief that the framework would help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Lauding over seven-decade long partnership between FAO and Nepal, the minister said the framework was the shared document of the Nepal government and FAO. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He further noted that the document would help promote sustainable development, maintain food and nutrition security and achieve SDGs. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Also speaking on the occasion, Vice-Chairperson of the NPC, Dr Shrestha said the framework would contribute to the transformation of food system of Nepal, support the national campaign against food crisis and poverty and combat climate change issues. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">FAO's Asia-Pacific Region Chief Kim expressed FAO readiness to support the policy and priorities of the Nepal government as per its mandate. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He said FAO has brought several programmes, including increment in production and improvement in nutrition, environment as per the strategic framework of improved livelihood in its member countries. He further said such practice would not only facilitate inclusive development but also assure food security of all citizens. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Chief Kim also insisted the need to transform the country's food system to effectively tackle malnutrition and other food challenges. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">UN Resident Representative Hamdy said the framework has laid special emphasis on women-friendly technological development and promotion when women's responsibility has increased in the agriculture sector with the growing trends of Nepali youths leaving their home for employment. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The UN senior official also expressed full support and cooperation of the UN to Nepal in its process to graduate to a developing country from the Least Developed Country by 2026. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The programme was attended by ambassadors, representatives of development partners, government officials, private sector representatives, agriculture entrepreneurs, industrialists and business community. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-18', 'modified' => '2023-05-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17641', 'image' => '20230518124920_FAO.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-18 12:48:45', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17909', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'SC Orders Government Not to Provide Money to Disqualified Maoist Combatants ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 18: The Supreme Court (SC) has issued an interlocutory order to the government, directing the government not to provide Rs 200,000 to each of the disqualified Maoist combatants. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">May 18: The Supreme Court (SC) has issued an interlocutory order to the government, directing the government not to provide Rs 200,000 to each of the disqualified Maoist combatants. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">A single bench of Justice Kumar Regmi issued the order in this regard on Tuesday. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Advocate Gyanendra Aran had filed a writ petition at the SC against the government's decision to provide Rs 200,000 to each of the disqualified Maoist combatants. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The apex court has also sought a written response from the government and ordered for discussion with both sides. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">A meeting of the Council of Ministers on March 20 had decided to dole out Rs 800 million for the disqualified fighters at the rate of Rs 200,000 to each of the 4,000 plus disqualified combatants.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">After the Comprehensive Peace Accord in 2006, the United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) had verified 19,602 Maoist combatants as eligible fighters for integration into the Nepalese Army while 4,008 were certified as disqualified on various grounds and particularly because most of them were underage.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The incumbent government led by Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, who is also the chairman of the CPN Maoist Centre, has been heavily criticized for trying to misuse the funds of the state coffers in the name of distributing funds to the disqualified Maoist combatants when the country’s economy is facing crisis.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-18', 'modified' => '2023-05-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17640', 'image' => '20230518124828_Supreme Court.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-18 12:47:38', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17906', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'GBIA Marks First Anniversary but is Yet to Come into Full Operation', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 18: The Gautam Buddha International Airport (GBIA) has completed its first anniversary, but the second international airport of Nepal after Kathmandu-based Tribhuvan International Airport going through setbacks has added to worries of the investors. The private sector has reportedly invested over Rs 60 billion targeting this project. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">May 18: The Gautam Buddha International Airport (GBIA) has completed its first anniversary, but the second international airport of Nepal after Kathmandu-based Tribhuvan International Airport going through setbacks has added to worries of the investors. The private sector has reportedly invested over Rs 60 billion targeting this project. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">GBIA has failed to come in full operation. So far, Jazeera Airways had been operating three Bhairahawa-Kuwait flights a week. It conducted a test flight on 16 May, 2022. But now, it has reportedly told about halting its flights to and from the airport. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">“The private sector invested over Rs 60 billion targeting the airport,” said Krishna Prasad Sharma, president of the Lumbini chapter of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI). They have invested in hotels, infrastructures, services, trade and tourism targeting the project, he added. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"The mobility of approximately 20,000 people was expected in the area on a daily basis. With this hope, the area has been developed as a trade hub. But now, the airport has not been operated as expected. This has only added to our worries. Fears of our investments risks are deepening day by day. Entrepreneurs have no any other option,” he said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He blamed the government for not paying attention to fully operate the airport. </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"">“Failure to fully operate the airport has left all of us in the lurch,” he complained. </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"">India is reportedly dilly-dallying to agree on giving air entry points. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">However, Sharma is not ready to accept it. “Air entry points and Indian obstructions are only rumours. We are assured that the Asian Development Bank invested in the project after taking into accounts all these issues. The Government of Nepal should take a lead role to resolve these problems. There is no other alternative to operate the airport. This is our demand with the government,” he said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He was of the view that Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal during his upcoming visit to India should strictly take up the matter with India, and take concrete steps in operating the project. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Millions of rupees of investment at risk</span></strong> <br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Construction of hotel buildings and infrastructures has taken place along with the building of the airport. Around 146 hotels, big and small, are operational with the investment of around Rs 30 billion. Besides, around 21 hotels are under construction at the cost of approximately Rs 20 billion. “Millions of rupees invested in these projects are at risk. Entrepreneurs are in tension due to failure to pay bank loans. Some of them have got to the situation of abandoning the business,” said Chandra Prakash Shrestha, president of the Siddhartha Hotel Association. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He complained about the failure of the state to take initiatives for its operation. The government should take initiatives to bring in tourists from the countries that follow Buddhism in East Asia through the airport, he stressed. “We have repeatedly taken up the matter with the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, and the government. We do not know why are the demands are yet to be addressed.” </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Two cable cars in Butwal are under construction with the investment of millions of rupees targeting incoming tourists through the airport. The projects that run three kilometers from Butwal to Basantapur of Tinau Rural Municipality-3 in Palpa district are estimated to cost over Rs 3.5 billion. One station is located at Bamghat of Butwal-3, and another at Basantapur of the Rural Municipality-3. Hotels, a park for recreation, and Kamakhyadevi Temple are under construction at Basantapur hill. A picnic spot has also come into operation. </span><br /> <strong><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Air routes not an issue</span></strong> <br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Hansha Raj Pandey, the general manager of the airport does not agree with the air route problem as reported. “Landing in the airport is feasible and cost friendly, he said. It is easier for an aircraft entering Simara to land in Bhairahawa. Despite long distance, there isn’t any air traffic here compared to Kathmandu. Airline companies have to bear additional costs when an aircraft has to hold in the sky. There is no such problem here.” </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to Pandey, routes will be shorter for aircraft to fly through the L626 Mahendranagar route from Bhairahawa. </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"">“Pilots can also understand this. So, the report that the airport is not properly operating as a result of the air route problem is only a rumour,” he said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Making the L626 two ways will make the airport much feasible, he said. Nevertheless, there is a problem in operating the airport during winter, he said. There may be a visibility problem despite landing through the instrument landing system (ILS). </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Discounts on fees for aviation services for one more year </span></strong><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The airport has been offering 100 percent discounts on fees charged for plane landing, parking, communications and aviation services and security check for international airlines, and this offer has been extended for one more year, said the airport’s general manager Pandey. The exemption came into operation on 28 May, 2022. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Late Prime Minister Sushil Koirala had laid the foundation stone of the airport on 15 January, 2015. Later, the then Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba inaugurated the airport with an investment of approximately Rs 35 billion on May 16 in 2022. Spanning around 800 bighas of land, the project has runways that span three kilometers. It has capacity to park four narrow-body aircraft and one wide-body aircraft. </span><br /> <strong><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Private sector draws attention of Prime Minister</span></strong> <br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Entrepreneurs submitted a memorandum to PM Dahal during his visit to Lumbini to attend an event organised here on 5 May, 2023 on the occasion of the 2567th Birth Anniversary of Gautam Buddha and the Lumbini Day, 2080, demanding full operation of the airport. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A delegation from the Siddhartha Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Rupandehi met with the PM and put forth the demand. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Their demands include PM Dahal taking a flight from the airport during his upcoming visit to India. The Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC), the flag carrier of Nepal, should start its flights from the airport to attract both domestic and international airlines, they demanded. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Their other demands are that the NAC starts flights along Bhairahawa-Delhi, Bhairahawa-Malaysia, Bhairahawa-Qatar routes at the earliest, and the PM should take initiatives for regular and chartered flights at the airport for all countries in the world that follow Buddhism as Lumbini, the birthplace of Gautam Buddha, is considered to be of great significance to those countries.</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"">Initiatives should be taken immediately to fully operate the airport so as to save the investment of over Rs 60 billion of the private sector in hotels, infrastructures and tourism, they demanded. </span><br /> <strong><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">No alternative airport</span></strong> <br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">On 26 February, 2023, an aircraft of Air Vistara en route to Kathmandu from New Delhi and another one of FlyDubai from Dubai to Kathmandu were diverted to Lucknow of India after they could not land at the TIA due to bad weather. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly on 24 April, 2023, an aircraft of FlyDubai caught a fire in its engine during a takeoff from the TIA. However, all these aircraft did not show interest in diverting to two international airports of Nepal -- Pokhara and Gautam Buddha airports. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">International aircraft often give first priority to make an emergency landing or divert to airports outsides Nepal. International aircraft entering Nepal should choose an alternative airport. The Gautam Buddha International Airport should be taken as an alternative airport. But, no international flight has been diverted to it so far, it has been reported. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">“We have kept the airport ready 24 hours a day. A workforce has also been managed accordingly. But, aircraft did not show interest to land here,” said Pandey blaming a lack of passengers for their apathy to land at the airport. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">“A large aircraft has over 300 passengers. The airline company should reach an agreement with a hotel for the accommodation and food for its passengers. But, in Bhairahawa, as far as I know, there has not been any agreement reached between an international airline and a hotel in this regard,” he said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">When an emergency landing takes place in the airport, there arises problems of accommodation, food for passengers and crews and the conduction of a security check during a takeoff the following day, say experts. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Besides, variations in the prices of aviation fuel in Nepal and India have also made the matter worse, they said. Aviation fuel is much cheaper in India than in Nepal. In Nepal, aviation fuel is sold for 1,360 dollars per thousand litres, while it costs 998 dollars in India. The diverted international aircraft did not pick the airport to save money, they said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"It is a pilot’s choice to land a diverted plane. We cannot force them," said Pandey. The airport is feasible for diverted international aircraft than the one in Lucknow in terms of distance and time, he said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Not only international flights, domestic airliners have also preferred to divert to Lucknow instead of the Gautam Buddha International Airport. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">It requires human resources including engineers for a diverted aircraft to take off. The respective airline company has to manage human resources for this. As of now, Jazeera Airways has been operating flights from the airport. So, planes could not be diverted to the airport due to a lack of agreement between these airlines and the Jazeera Airways, said the airport employees. Without the management of a workforce, there are difficulties and the lengthy process for a diverted plant to take off from the airport, they said. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-18', 'modified' => '2023-05-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17638', 'image' => '20230518121326_GB airporttt.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-18 12:12:37', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17908', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Precipitation due to the Influence of Westerly Wind ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 18: The Westerly wind coupled with the local wind has had a general impact in the country’s weather at present, the Meteorological Forecasting Division said. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">May 18: The Westerly wind coupled with the local wind has had a general impact in the country’s weather at present, the Meteorological Forecasting Division said. The weather is partly to generally cloudy in Koshi Province and partly cloudy to generally clear in the rest of the provinces due to this. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Kathmandu's weather is cloudy and it received light rainfall in the morning. It will be partly to generally cloudy in the hill region of the country towards the afternoon. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">There are chances of brief or light rainfall accompanied by thunder and lightning in some places of Koshi Province, Bagmati Province and Gandaki Province and in a few places of the hill region of the rest of the provinces, the division stated in its weather bulletin. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-18', 'modified' => '2023-05-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17637', 'image' => '20230518122214_weatherrr - Copy.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-18 12:21:35', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17905', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'SEBON Dismisses Allegation of Irregularities in the Process of Issuing Stock Broker License', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 18: The Securities Board of Nepal (SEBON) has expressed its anger over the demand of the Stock Broker Association of Nepal (SBAN) to stop the new broker license process. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">May 18: The Securities Board of Nepal (SEBON) has expressed its anger over the demand of the Stock Broker Association of Nepal (SBAN) to stop the new broker license process. The board issued a press statement and said that baseless accusations were made against the board with a mala fide intention to keep the broker business within the circle of limited traders.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the board, it issued the letter of intent for the distribution of broker license in order to provide equal opportunity to all those who have fulfilled the criteria through legal process within the given deadline. The board expressed its regret that the old brokers tried to hinder the overall market development by publishing certain self-centered, self-interested statements without maintaining their minimum professional dignity.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The board clarified that the fifth amendment to the Securities Dealers (Securities Brokers and Securities Dealers) Regulations, 2064 was approved by the Government of Nepal, the Council of Ministers on September 14 and made a policy arrangement for the open entry of securities brokers.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to international practices, the board proceeded with the licensing process in accordance with the provisions of the regulation, considering the capital of the organization, the qualification of the directors, the qualification of the head of the organization and the information technology as the main criteria for granting the license. The board published a 30-day public notice on September 18 and invited applications for issuing securities brokers and securities traders' licenses.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Out of the total 46 applications received for the new broker license, the board gave letter of intent to 43 companies. According to the board, 41 applications were for limited-service securities brokers, four were for full-fledged securities brokers and one was for securities traders.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The board clarified that the process for broker license is completed within 35 days from the date of expiry of the application deadline.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The board informed that its efforts to allow 12 "A" class banks’ subsidiaries and 31 other organizations to enter as securities brokers and traders will make the securities market more competitive and transparent. The board claims that the level of securities market services will increase and investors will benefit from competition in services and prices.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The board expects that the demand for the entry of securities brokers, which the investors have been demanding for a long time, will be addressed and there will be competition in the securities market as well as employment opportunities and this will contribute to the overall economy. The board also expressed its commitment to formulate and implement an open and progressive policy for the protection of investors' rights and interests and for the development and expansion of the secondary market in the future as well.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">SBAN issued a statement last Friday and demanded immediate suspension of the brokers’ license just like the license of the stock exchange was suspended. Alleging financial irregularities, the association also demanded investigation and action.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The board issued a counter statement claiming that the regulations were drafted and then amended several times by the Council of Ministers.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-18', 'modified' => '2023-05-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17636', 'image' => '20230518112800_Sebon-update.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-18 11:27:06', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17904', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Kamirita Sherpa Scales Mt Everest for the 27th Time, Creates History ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 18: Record-holder mountaineer Kamirita Sherpa successfully climbed Mt Everest (Sagarmatha) for a record 27th time on Wednesday. This makes him the only person to climb Everest for 27 times.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">May 18: Record-holder mountaineer Kamirita Sherpa successfully climbed Mt Everest (Sagarmatha) for a record 27th time on Wednesday. This makes him the only person to climb Everest for 27 times.</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 53-year-old mountaineer stood atop the highest mountain in the world on Wednesday morning at 8:30 am, Director of the Department of Tourism Yuwaraj Khatiwada told RSS. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Sherpa, who is originally a resident of Thame in Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality in Solukhumbu district and is currently residing in Kathmandu, broke his own record of climbing the 8,848.86 metres mountain and thereby creating a new one. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Khatiwada shared that the expedition is going on in full swing but the number of climbers making it to the top of the Mt Everest could not be ascertained owing to lack of communications with the climbers pushing towards the summit. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Imagine Nepal Treks and Expedition Company's Director Mingma Gyalzen Sherpa informed RSS that over 100 mountaineers including Kamirita have climbed Mt Everest so far this spring while as many were on a summit push bid. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"Kamirita latest ascent has spread a message to the world that the mountaineering sector of Nepal is safe," asserted Khatiwada.</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"">Kamirita, who first set his feet atop the Everest on May 13, 1994, has climbed many mountains over 8,000 metres at home and abroad for over 39 times till date. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Meanwhile, Pasang Dawa Sherpa is hot on the heels of Kamirita and ascended Everest for the 26th time this spring. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A record number of climbers are attempting to scale the Mt Everest this spring as Nepal issued the highest number of climbing permits in history for Everest this season since the first successful ascent of the Everest on May 29, 1953. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Department issued 478 permits for 44 groups this season. </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-18', 'modified' => '2023-05-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17635', 'image' => '20230518105218_FwTHtq6agAEVihB (1).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-18 10:47:46', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17903', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'ADB Approves US$300 Million Loan to Improve Road Connectivity and Trade in Nepal', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 18: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved a US$300 million loan to improve transport connectivity of the Kakarbhitta–Laukahi road in Nepal to international trade routes, particularly to India and Bangladesh.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">May 18: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved a US$300 million loan to improve transport connectivity of the Kakarbhitta–Laukahi road in Nepal to international trade routes, particularly to India and Bangladesh. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Issuing a statement on Wednesday, ADB Transport Specialist for South Asia Sin Wai Chong said that the project road is along the East–West Highway which forms part of the South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation corridor.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">“Together with other regional cooperation initiatives under the SASEC framework, better infrastructure, improved connectivity, and safe road networks will boost border trade and logistics and improve the lives of rural communities,” said Chong.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">According to the ADB, at least 95 kilometers (km) of road from Kakarbhitta to Laukahi will be upgraded from a two-lane to a four-lane dual roadway. It will incorporate climate and disaster-resilient design features such as higher thermal resistant pavements and bridges with stringent flood-proofing requirement, added the statement. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The project will improve road safety through features such as junctions with traffic signals, footpaths with streetlights and tactile paving surface, overhead pedestrian crossings, road crossings with raised platform, and bus stops equipped with lighting system, the ADB further said. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">According to the ADB statement, the project will build the capacity of the Department of Roads in climate and disaster-resilient strategies, road asset management, road safety, and project management and implementation. “Community awareness campaigns on road safety, health and hygiene, and human trafficking will also be conducted. This will be complemented with capacity building programs for women and disadvantaged groups to improve their mobility and access to services.” </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">ADB said it will provide an additional US$750,000 technical assistance grant from its Technical Assistance Special Fund to develop climate change mitigation and adaptation guidelines for road projects, bidding documents, performance indicators, and a user handbook on long-term performance-based maintenance. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">ADB added that it is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. Established in 1966, it is owned by 68 members—49 from the region.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-18', 'modified' => '2023-05-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17634', 'image' => '20230518100646_adbb.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-18 10:06:09', '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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', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">May 19: A report prepared by the Nepal Insurance Authority (NIA) shows that Bagmati Province is ahead in the insurance sector as well as in other sectors. As the insurance companies are concentrated only in Bagmati Province, the insurance fee collected by the insurance companies in other provinces is lower than that of Bagmati Province.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the Nepal Insurance Authority, the number of active non-life insurance policies till mid-April of the current fiscal year is 2.1 million of which 45.15 per cent is in Bagmati province. The lowest number of active non-life insurance policies is in Karnali Province at 2.18 per cent and the second lowest in Sudurpaschim Province at 5.14 per cent.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The number of active life insurance policies has reached 14.1 million by mid-April. Among them, 72.22 per cent is in Bagmati Province. The lowest number of active life insurance policies is 1.44 per cent in Karnali Province, the second lowest is 3.19 per cent in Sudurpaschim Province and the third lowest is 3.59 per cent in Madhesh Province.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The report shows that about 50 per cent of the insurance fee comes from Bagmati alone. Insurance companies have earned Rs 134 billion in insurance fees from all over the country in the nine months of the current fiscal year. Of that, 49.72 per cent (Rs 67 billion) has been collected from Bagmati Province. According to the authority, the non-life insurance companies have collected insurance fees of Rs 30 billion as of mid-April. They have collected 66.25 per cent (19.88 billion rupees) of the total insurance fee from Bagmati Province alone. Similarly, they collected Rs 2.73 billion from Lumbini Province and Rs 2.62 billion from Koshi Province.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, life insurance companies have collected Rs 104 billion in insurance fees till mid-April of the current year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Out of that, Rs 47.11 billion have been collected from Bagmati Province. This is 44.99 per cent of the total insurance fee. Likewise, Rs 15.26 billion was collected from Lumbini Province and Rs 12.61 billion from Koshi Province.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Chairman of Nepal Insurance Authority Surya Prasad Silwal said that the authority is conducting continuous insurance awareness programs across the country. According to Silwal, in the current fiscal year alone, the authority has organized more than 100 insurance awareness and interaction programs at the local level.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He said that since Bagmati Province has the largest number of industries, companies, and transportation in the country, it is usual that the share of insurance is higher in the province. Silwal said that since the share of insurance in other provinces is low, insurance awareness is the priority of the authority.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">As citizens become aware of insurance, the scope of insurance will gradually increase in other provinces as well, he said.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-19', 'modified' => '2023-05-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17649', 'image' => '20230519015423_INSURANCE-COVERAGE.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-19 13:53:37', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17917', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Police Arrest Haj Committee Chair Miya, Teknath Rijal in Connection with Fake Bhutanese Refugee Scam', 'sub_title' => '16 People Arrested in Connection with the Case So Far', 'summary' => 'May 19: The police have arrested Chairperson of the Nepal Haj Committee Shamsher Miya in connection with the fake Bhutanese refugee scam.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">May 19: The police have arrested Chairperson of the Nepal Haj Committee Shamsher Miya in connection with the fake Bhutanese refugee scam. He was apprehended from Singha Durbar on Thursday afternoon. </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"">Miya was arrested after his involvement was established in sending Nepali citizens to the United States as Bhutanese refugees, said Senior Superintendent of Police Dan Bahadur Karki, chief of the District Police Range, Kathmandu. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Miya had made available a vehicle provided to the Haj Committee for the group of people involved in the racket, said SSP Karki. The jeep (embossed vehicle number BAB-1405) under the brand of Nissan was reportedly used to facilitate the racket, according to the police. The police have also taken the vehicle under control. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Members of the racket would use the vehicle while travelling to various parts of the country like Sauraha of Chitwan district and Sundhara of Kathmandu in the name of taking interviews of their clients aspiring to go to the US, claimed the police. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The jeep under the ownership of the Ministry of Home Affairs has been registered with the Haj Committee. Miya was absconding after the police launched investigations into the case until his arrest on Thursday.</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"">Meanwhile, the Kathmandu District Court has remanded Miya along with Bhutanese refugee leader Teknath Rijal for two days in judicial custody for investigation into their alleged involvement in the Bhutanese refugee scam. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Rizal was arrested by the police from Tribhuvan International Airport while he was coming to Kathmandu from Jhapa, while Miya was arrested from the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation at Singha Durbar, Superintendent of Police Sitaram Rial said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Police had earlier arrested 14 people, including the former home minister and home secretary, in connection with the case.</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"">Further arrests were made based on the statements given by the accused. The number of people arrested in relation to this scam has reached 16. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Rijal was arrested for investigation after it was found that he had financial transactions with Sanu Bhandari, who was detained earlier by the police. </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"">Other high-profile individuals arrested in connection with the case including former deputy prime minister Top Bahadur Rayamajhi, former home minister Bal Krishna Khand, former secretary (home affairs) Teknarayan Pandey, former home minister's security adviser Dr Indrajit Rai. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-19', 'modified' => '2023-05-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17648', 'image' => '20230519122847_teknath-rijal.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-19 12:27:34', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17916', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => ''NewBiz Startup Summit and Awards 2023’ Happening Today', 'sub_title' => 'Eight outstanding start-ups will be awarded under four categories', 'summary' => 'May 19: New Business Age, one of the leading business magazines of Nepal, is organizing NewBiz Startup Summit and Awards programme with the theme ‘Search for Nepali Unicorn’ amid a special function today. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">May 19: New Business Age, one of the leading business magazines of Nepal, is organizing NewBiz Startup Summit and Awards programme with the theme ‘Search for Nepali Unicorn’ amid a special function today (May 19). </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">New Business Age will award eight outstanding startups during the awards ceremony which will kick off in the capital at 4 pm. More than 2,000 startup entrepreneurs from across the country had submitted applications for the awards programme. Among them, eight outstanding startups will be awarded under four categories- Emerging Startup, Inspiring Women-Led Startup, Startup Scaleup and Best Startup.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">All the winners will get free credit voucher worth Rs 100,000 on Next Generation Rigo HRMS and Rigo Accounting software from Rigo Technologies. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Member of Parliament and economist Dr Swarnim Wagle, the chief guest of the programme, along with Ramesh Hamal, chairman of the Securities Board Nepal (SEBON) and Tim </span></span><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Gocher, founder and CEO of Dolma Fund Management, will attend the programme. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Likewise, a panel discussion on the topic 'Towards a Startup Nation' will also be held during the event. Dr Toya Gyawali, secretary of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies; Sunita </span></span><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Nhemaphuki, founder of R&D Innovative Solutions; and Rahul Malla Thakuri, co-founder and assistant vice-president (commercial) of Upaya are the panellist for the panel discussion. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The panel discussion will be moderated by Asmod Karki, co-founder and head of operations at VikasaTech.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The summit and awards programme is supported by Sastodeal.com, Laxmi Bank, Shikhar Insurance, Citizen Life Insurance, National Life Insurance, Rigo, Nexon EV Max, and City Express. Similarly, Nepal Rastra Bank, the Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Nepal Insurance Authority, Nepali Patro and Dishome Fiber Net have also supported the awards program.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">New Business Age has been organising various award programs. The company has been selecting and awarding the best management colleges and companies since 2013. Since 2019, the company has started honoring women entrepreneurs. New Business Age had organized the New Biz Business Conclave and Awards programme in November.</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-19', 'modified' => '2023-05-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17647', 'image' => '20230519022807_update Newbiz Startup design.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-19 11:47:10', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17915', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Tourism entrepreneurs of Pokhara Elated with the Announcement of Chartered Flights ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 19: The announcement of chartered flights from Pokhara to different cities of China starting from June 23 has excited the tourism entrepreneurs of the lake city. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">May 19: The announcement of chartered flights from Pokhara to different cities of China starting from June 23 has excited the tourism entrepreneurs of the lake city. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Addressing the 24th national conference and annual general meeting of Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATTA) on Thursday, Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Sudan Kirati announced to begin chartered flights to different cities of China from June. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The announcement is expected to materialize the dream of Pokhara folks to start international flights from Pokhara. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Pokhara Regional International Airport was inaugurated on January 1 this year but no international flight has taken place since then. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Chairman of Pokhara Tourism Council Pom Narayan Shrestha said, "We are excited with the announcement to commence chartered flights. This will mark the beginning of international flights. This should be implemented at any cost." </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, chairman of NATTA Gandaki Province Hari Ram Adhikari said that this will be a good beginning for the tourism industry and will serve as a milestone for the entire country's tourism development. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">It is said that around 80 per cent of the total Chinese tourists arriving Nepal visit Pokhara city. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-19', 'modified' => '2023-05-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17646', 'image' => '20230519112122_Pokhara-Airport-800X533.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-19 11:19:56', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17914', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government to Unveil Policies and Programmes Today ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 19: The government will be unveiling its policies and programmes for the upcoming fiscal year (FY 2023/24) on Friday. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">May 19: The government will be unveiling its policies and programmes for the upcoming fiscal year (FY 2023/24) on Friday. The policies and progrmmes will be presented before a joint session of the House of Representatives and National Assembly at 4:00 pm on May 19. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">During the HoR session on Thursday, Speaker Devraj Ghimire read out the letter in this regard and directed the entire Members of Parliament to be present in the meeting by 3: 45 pm and in the prescribed dress code and to take their respective seats. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The annual report of the government was presented during the lower house meeting on Thursday. Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal presented the report before the meeting in accordance with the Article 53 of the Constitution and Clause 41 of the Good Governance (Management and Operation) Act, 2064 BS. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-19', 'modified' => '2023-05-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17645', 'image' => '20230519105356_parliament building.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-19 10:53:04', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17913', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '213 Start-ups Disqualified for Enterprise Loans', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => ' A total of 213 start-ups have been disqualified from receiving enterprise loans after failing to meet the eligibility criteria.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">May 19: A total of 213 start-ups have been disqualified from receiving enterprise loans after failing to meet the eligibility criteria. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">These start-ups were among the 382 applicants who had applied for loans in the initial phase. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Department of Industry, in line with Clause 8 of the Start-up Enterprise Loan Fund Procedure, 2079, had called for applications for loans on March 30.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Department has clarified that the disqualified start-ups did not meet the necessary requirements for the loans. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">To be eligible for the scheme, start-ups must have a paid-up capital of no more than Rs 5 million, annual incomes below Rs 500,000, fixed assets (excluding real estate) not exceeding Rs 20 million, and a workforce consisting of no more than 10 employees.</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-19', 'modified' => '2023-05-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17644', 'image' => '20230519060523_collage (4).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-19 06:03:55', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17912', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '6th Nepal Chamber Expo-2023 kicks off in Kathmandu', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'The 6th Nepal Chamber Expo-2023 commenced at Bhrikuti Mandap, Kathmandu on Thursday. Hosted by the Nepal Chamber of Commerce (NCC), the expo was inaugurated by Minister for Labour, Employment, and Social Security, Sharat Singh Bhandari. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px">May 18: The 6th Nepal Chamber Expo-2023 commenced at Bhrikuti Mandap, Kathmandu on Thursday.<br /> Hosted by the Nepal Chamber of Commerce (NCC), the expo was inaugurated by Minister for Labour, Employment, and Social Security, Sharat Singh Bhandari. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">The primary objective of this fair, as stated by the NCC, is to promote the export of domestic goods and invigorate the business community.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Featuring 150 stalls, the expo will run until May 22, showcasing a diverse range of products including automobiles, electrical appliances, electronics, furnishings, essential items, clothing, mobile phones, handicrafts, leather goods, cosmetics, and Ayurvedic products. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">The participation of national and international companies and entrepreneurs from Nepal, India, and Bangladesh adds to the significance of this event.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">The expo is expected to facilitate interactions, information exchange regarding imports and exports, and enhance the market presence of Nepali products, according to the NCC. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">During the inauguration, the minister emphasized the importance of collaboration between the government and the private sector to foster economic prosperity. The minister urged the private sector to increase investment, while assuring governmental support in facilitating economic activities.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Furthermore, Madhu Kumar Marasini, the secretary of the ministry, expressed optimism that the expo would facilitate the exchange of national and international business experiences, fostering stronger business relationships both domestically and internationally. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Rajendra Malla, President of the NCC, emphasized the need to attract foreign investments in sectors such as agriculture, hydropower, tourism, and services, while promoting exports and boosting domestic production to achieve self-reliance in the country.</span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-18', 'modified' => '2023-05-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17643', 'image' => '20230518060821_collage (6).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-18 17:58:34', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17911', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Positive Atmosphere Commences in NEPSE; Turnover Amount Surpasses 1 Billion after 25 Days ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'The share market, which has been on a downward trend for some time, has started to show a positive atmosphere. With the reversal of the NEPSE with re-testing of 1807 points, investors have become active, resulting in the rise of the NEPSE Index along with turnover amount. ', 'content' => '<p><br /> <span style="font-size:18px">May 18: The share market, which has been on a downward trend for some time, has started to show a positive atmosphere. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">With the reversal of the NEPSE with re-testing of 1807 points, investors have become active, resulting in the rise of the NEPSE Index along with turnover amount. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Earlier, the NEPSE Index had tested the low of 1807 points and reversed and this time the index followed the suit, say technical analysts. The turnover amount has surpassed NPR 1 billion after 25 days.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Buyers have dominated the market taking advantage of the low prices of the shares and declining interest rates. Investors are calling regulatory authorities and the government to address their demands in the stock market. This has had a positive in the share market.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">NEPSE index surged by 1.75% points or 32.30 points, closing at 1877.32 points on the last trading day of the week, Thursday. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">264 scrips traded their hands via 32,579 transactions today. A total of 4,422,186 shares exchanged hands, amounting to NPR 1.47 billion in turnover amount. This is higher than the last trading day's turnover of Rs. 85.76 Crores.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Nepal Doorsanchar Company Limited (NTC) had the highest turnover of Rs. 8.63 crores closing at a market price of Rs. 779.20 per share. The shares of SHIVM traded the most.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Two scrips gained the highest 10% each and hit the positive circuit for the day, while NIBL Growth Fund (NIBLGF) lost the highest 3.14% today.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">All sector indices closed in green zone. The "Hotels and Tourism" gained the highest 3.75%, while "Others" gained the least 0.90% today. The sensitive index has increased by 1.48%, the float index by 1.74%, and the sensitive float index by 1.54% today. </span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-18', 'modified' => '2023-05-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17642', 'image' => '20230518043802_collage (4).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-18 16:33:04', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17910', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => ' FAO Releases 'Country Programming Framework' for Transformation of Agriculture Sector', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 18: The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (UNFAO) has released the 'country programming framework (2023-27)' for the transformation of overall agriculture sector of Nepal. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">May 18: The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (UNFAO) has released the 'country programming framework (2023-27)' for the transformation of overall agriculture sector of Nepal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development Dr Beduram Bhusal, National Planning Commission Vice-Chairperson Dr Min Bahadur Shrestha, FAO Asia-Pacific Region Chief Jong-Jin Kim and UN Resident Representative Hanaa Singer-Hamdy jointly launched the framework on Wednesday. The framework covers strategic programme for five years from 2023 to 2027. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">On the occasion, Minister Dr Bhusal appreciated the support and cooperation of the FAO for the agriculture development of Nepal and expressed his belief that the framework would help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Lauding over seven-decade long partnership between FAO and Nepal, the minister said the framework was the shared document of the Nepal government and FAO. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He further noted that the document would help promote sustainable development, maintain food and nutrition security and achieve SDGs. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Also speaking on the occasion, Vice-Chairperson of the NPC, Dr Shrestha said the framework would contribute to the transformation of food system of Nepal, support the national campaign against food crisis and poverty and combat climate change issues. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">FAO's Asia-Pacific Region Chief Kim expressed FAO readiness to support the policy and priorities of the Nepal government as per its mandate. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He said FAO has brought several programmes, including increment in production and improvement in nutrition, environment as per the strategic framework of improved livelihood in its member countries. He further said such practice would not only facilitate inclusive development but also assure food security of all citizens. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Chief Kim also insisted the need to transform the country's food system to effectively tackle malnutrition and other food challenges. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">UN Resident Representative Hamdy said the framework has laid special emphasis on women-friendly technological development and promotion when women's responsibility has increased in the agriculture sector with the growing trends of Nepali youths leaving their home for employment. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The UN senior official also expressed full support and cooperation of the UN to Nepal in its process to graduate to a developing country from the Least Developed Country by 2026. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The programme was attended by ambassadors, representatives of development partners, government officials, private sector representatives, agriculture entrepreneurs, industrialists and business community. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-18', 'modified' => '2023-05-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17641', 'image' => '20230518124920_FAO.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-18 12:48:45', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17909', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'SC Orders Government Not to Provide Money to Disqualified Maoist Combatants ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 18: The Supreme Court (SC) has issued an interlocutory order to the government, directing the government not to provide Rs 200,000 to each of the disqualified Maoist combatants. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">May 18: The Supreme Court (SC) has issued an interlocutory order to the government, directing the government not to provide Rs 200,000 to each of the disqualified Maoist combatants. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">A single bench of Justice Kumar Regmi issued the order in this regard on Tuesday. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Advocate Gyanendra Aran had filed a writ petition at the SC against the government's decision to provide Rs 200,000 to each of the disqualified Maoist combatants. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The apex court has also sought a written response from the government and ordered for discussion with both sides. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">A meeting of the Council of Ministers on March 20 had decided to dole out Rs 800 million for the disqualified fighters at the rate of Rs 200,000 to each of the 4,000 plus disqualified combatants.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">After the Comprehensive Peace Accord in 2006, the United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) had verified 19,602 Maoist combatants as eligible fighters for integration into the Nepalese Army while 4,008 were certified as disqualified on various grounds and particularly because most of them were underage.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The incumbent government led by Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, who is also the chairman of the CPN Maoist Centre, has been heavily criticized for trying to misuse the funds of the state coffers in the name of distributing funds to the disqualified Maoist combatants when the country’s economy is facing crisis.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-18', 'modified' => '2023-05-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17640', 'image' => '20230518124828_Supreme Court.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-18 12:47:38', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17906', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'GBIA Marks First Anniversary but is Yet to Come into Full Operation', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 18: The Gautam Buddha International Airport (GBIA) has completed its first anniversary, but the second international airport of Nepal after Kathmandu-based Tribhuvan International Airport going through setbacks has added to worries of the investors. The private sector has reportedly invested over Rs 60 billion targeting this project. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">May 18: The Gautam Buddha International Airport (GBIA) has completed its first anniversary, but the second international airport of Nepal after Kathmandu-based Tribhuvan International Airport going through setbacks has added to worries of the investors. The private sector has reportedly invested over Rs 60 billion targeting this project. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">GBIA has failed to come in full operation. So far, Jazeera Airways had been operating three Bhairahawa-Kuwait flights a week. It conducted a test flight on 16 May, 2022. But now, it has reportedly told about halting its flights to and from the airport. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">“The private sector invested over Rs 60 billion targeting the airport,” said Krishna Prasad Sharma, president of the Lumbini chapter of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI). They have invested in hotels, infrastructures, services, trade and tourism targeting the project, he added. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"The mobility of approximately 20,000 people was expected in the area on a daily basis. With this hope, the area has been developed as a trade hub. But now, the airport has not been operated as expected. This has only added to our worries. Fears of our investments risks are deepening day by day. Entrepreneurs have no any other option,” he said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He blamed the government for not paying attention to fully operate the airport. </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"">“Failure to fully operate the airport has left all of us in the lurch,” he complained. </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"">India is reportedly dilly-dallying to agree on giving air entry points. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">However, Sharma is not ready to accept it. “Air entry points and Indian obstructions are only rumours. We are assured that the Asian Development Bank invested in the project after taking into accounts all these issues. The Government of Nepal should take a lead role to resolve these problems. There is no other alternative to operate the airport. This is our demand with the government,” he said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He was of the view that Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal during his upcoming visit to India should strictly take up the matter with India, and take concrete steps in operating the project. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Millions of rupees of investment at risk</span></strong> <br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Construction of hotel buildings and infrastructures has taken place along with the building of the airport. Around 146 hotels, big and small, are operational with the investment of around Rs 30 billion. Besides, around 21 hotels are under construction at the cost of approximately Rs 20 billion. “Millions of rupees invested in these projects are at risk. Entrepreneurs are in tension due to failure to pay bank loans. Some of them have got to the situation of abandoning the business,” said Chandra Prakash Shrestha, president of the Siddhartha Hotel Association. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He complained about the failure of the state to take initiatives for its operation. The government should take initiatives to bring in tourists from the countries that follow Buddhism in East Asia through the airport, he stressed. “We have repeatedly taken up the matter with the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, and the government. We do not know why are the demands are yet to be addressed.” </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Two cable cars in Butwal are under construction with the investment of millions of rupees targeting incoming tourists through the airport. The projects that run three kilometers from Butwal to Basantapur of Tinau Rural Municipality-3 in Palpa district are estimated to cost over Rs 3.5 billion. One station is located at Bamghat of Butwal-3, and another at Basantapur of the Rural Municipality-3. Hotels, a park for recreation, and Kamakhyadevi Temple are under construction at Basantapur hill. A picnic spot has also come into operation. </span><br /> <strong><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Air routes not an issue</span></strong> <br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Hansha Raj Pandey, the general manager of the airport does not agree with the air route problem as reported. “Landing in the airport is feasible and cost friendly, he said. It is easier for an aircraft entering Simara to land in Bhairahawa. Despite long distance, there isn’t any air traffic here compared to Kathmandu. Airline companies have to bear additional costs when an aircraft has to hold in the sky. There is no such problem here.” </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to Pandey, routes will be shorter for aircraft to fly through the L626 Mahendranagar route from Bhairahawa. </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"">“Pilots can also understand this. So, the report that the airport is not properly operating as a result of the air route problem is only a rumour,” he said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Making the L626 two ways will make the airport much feasible, he said. Nevertheless, there is a problem in operating the airport during winter, he said. There may be a visibility problem despite landing through the instrument landing system (ILS). </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Discounts on fees for aviation services for one more year </span></strong><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The airport has been offering 100 percent discounts on fees charged for plane landing, parking, communications and aviation services and security check for international airlines, and this offer has been extended for one more year, said the airport’s general manager Pandey. The exemption came into operation on 28 May, 2022. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Late Prime Minister Sushil Koirala had laid the foundation stone of the airport on 15 January, 2015. Later, the then Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba inaugurated the airport with an investment of approximately Rs 35 billion on May 16 in 2022. Spanning around 800 bighas of land, the project has runways that span three kilometers. It has capacity to park four narrow-body aircraft and one wide-body aircraft. </span><br /> <strong><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Private sector draws attention of Prime Minister</span></strong> <br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Entrepreneurs submitted a memorandum to PM Dahal during his visit to Lumbini to attend an event organised here on 5 May, 2023 on the occasion of the 2567th Birth Anniversary of Gautam Buddha and the Lumbini Day, 2080, demanding full operation of the airport. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A delegation from the Siddhartha Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Rupandehi met with the PM and put forth the demand. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Their demands include PM Dahal taking a flight from the airport during his upcoming visit to India. The Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC), the flag carrier of Nepal, should start its flights from the airport to attract both domestic and international airlines, they demanded. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Their other demands are that the NAC starts flights along Bhairahawa-Delhi, Bhairahawa-Malaysia, Bhairahawa-Qatar routes at the earliest, and the PM should take initiatives for regular and chartered flights at the airport for all countries in the world that follow Buddhism as Lumbini, the birthplace of Gautam Buddha, is considered to be of great significance to those countries.</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"">Initiatives should be taken immediately to fully operate the airport so as to save the investment of over Rs 60 billion of the private sector in hotels, infrastructures and tourism, they demanded. </span><br /> <strong><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">No alternative airport</span></strong> <br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">On 26 February, 2023, an aircraft of Air Vistara en route to Kathmandu from New Delhi and another one of FlyDubai from Dubai to Kathmandu were diverted to Lucknow of India after they could not land at the TIA due to bad weather. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly on 24 April, 2023, an aircraft of FlyDubai caught a fire in its engine during a takeoff from the TIA. However, all these aircraft did not show interest in diverting to two international airports of Nepal -- Pokhara and Gautam Buddha airports. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">International aircraft often give first priority to make an emergency landing or divert to airports outsides Nepal. International aircraft entering Nepal should choose an alternative airport. The Gautam Buddha International Airport should be taken as an alternative airport. But, no international flight has been diverted to it so far, it has been reported. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">“We have kept the airport ready 24 hours a day. A workforce has also been managed accordingly. But, aircraft did not show interest to land here,” said Pandey blaming a lack of passengers for their apathy to land at the airport. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">“A large aircraft has over 300 passengers. The airline company should reach an agreement with a hotel for the accommodation and food for its passengers. But, in Bhairahawa, as far as I know, there has not been any agreement reached between an international airline and a hotel in this regard,” he said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">When an emergency landing takes place in the airport, there arises problems of accommodation, food for passengers and crews and the conduction of a security check during a takeoff the following day, say experts. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Besides, variations in the prices of aviation fuel in Nepal and India have also made the matter worse, they said. Aviation fuel is much cheaper in India than in Nepal. In Nepal, aviation fuel is sold for 1,360 dollars per thousand litres, while it costs 998 dollars in India. The diverted international aircraft did not pick the airport to save money, they said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"It is a pilot’s choice to land a diverted plane. We cannot force them," said Pandey. The airport is feasible for diverted international aircraft than the one in Lucknow in terms of distance and time, he said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Not only international flights, domestic airliners have also preferred to divert to Lucknow instead of the Gautam Buddha International Airport. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">It requires human resources including engineers for a diverted aircraft to take off. The respective airline company has to manage human resources for this. As of now, Jazeera Airways has been operating flights from the airport. So, planes could not be diverted to the airport due to a lack of agreement between these airlines and the Jazeera Airways, said the airport employees. Without the management of a workforce, there are difficulties and the lengthy process for a diverted plant to take off from the airport, they said. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-18', 'modified' => '2023-05-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17638', 'image' => '20230518121326_GB airporttt.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-18 12:12:37', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17908', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Precipitation due to the Influence of Westerly Wind ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 18: The Westerly wind coupled with the local wind has had a general impact in the country’s weather at present, the Meteorological Forecasting Division said. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">May 18: The Westerly wind coupled with the local wind has had a general impact in the country’s weather at present, the Meteorological Forecasting Division said. The weather is partly to generally cloudy in Koshi Province and partly cloudy to generally clear in the rest of the provinces due to this. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Kathmandu's weather is cloudy and it received light rainfall in the morning. It will be partly to generally cloudy in the hill region of the country towards the afternoon. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">There are chances of brief or light rainfall accompanied by thunder and lightning in some places of Koshi Province, Bagmati Province and Gandaki Province and in a few places of the hill region of the rest of the provinces, the division stated in its weather bulletin. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-18', 'modified' => '2023-05-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17637', 'image' => '20230518122214_weatherrr - Copy.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-18 12:21:35', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17905', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'SEBON Dismisses Allegation of Irregularities in the Process of Issuing Stock Broker License', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 18: The Securities Board of Nepal (SEBON) has expressed its anger over the demand of the Stock Broker Association of Nepal (SBAN) to stop the new broker license process. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">May 18: The Securities Board of Nepal (SEBON) has expressed its anger over the demand of the Stock Broker Association of Nepal (SBAN) to stop the new broker license process. The board issued a press statement and said that baseless accusations were made against the board with a mala fide intention to keep the broker business within the circle of limited traders.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the board, it issued the letter of intent for the distribution of broker license in order to provide equal opportunity to all those who have fulfilled the criteria through legal process within the given deadline. The board expressed its regret that the old brokers tried to hinder the overall market development by publishing certain self-centered, self-interested statements without maintaining their minimum professional dignity.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The board clarified that the fifth amendment to the Securities Dealers (Securities Brokers and Securities Dealers) Regulations, 2064 was approved by the Government of Nepal, the Council of Ministers on September 14 and made a policy arrangement for the open entry of securities brokers.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to international practices, the board proceeded with the licensing process in accordance with the provisions of the regulation, considering the capital of the organization, the qualification of the directors, the qualification of the head of the organization and the information technology as the main criteria for granting the license. The board published a 30-day public notice on September 18 and invited applications for issuing securities brokers and securities traders' licenses.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Out of the total 46 applications received for the new broker license, the board gave letter of intent to 43 companies. According to the board, 41 applications were for limited-service securities brokers, four were for full-fledged securities brokers and one was for securities traders.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The board clarified that the process for broker license is completed within 35 days from the date of expiry of the application deadline.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The board informed that its efforts to allow 12 "A" class banks’ subsidiaries and 31 other organizations to enter as securities brokers and traders will make the securities market more competitive and transparent. The board claims that the level of securities market services will increase and investors will benefit from competition in services and prices.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The board expects that the demand for the entry of securities brokers, which the investors have been demanding for a long time, will be addressed and there will be competition in the securities market as well as employment opportunities and this will contribute to the overall economy. The board also expressed its commitment to formulate and implement an open and progressive policy for the protection of investors' rights and interests and for the development and expansion of the secondary market in the future as well.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">SBAN issued a statement last Friday and demanded immediate suspension of the brokers’ license just like the license of the stock exchange was suspended. Alleging financial irregularities, the association also demanded investigation and action.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The board issued a counter statement claiming that the regulations were drafted and then amended several times by the Council of Ministers.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-18', 'modified' => '2023-05-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17636', 'image' => '20230518112800_Sebon-update.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-18 11:27:06', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17904', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Kamirita Sherpa Scales Mt Everest for the 27th Time, Creates History ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 18: Record-holder mountaineer Kamirita Sherpa successfully climbed Mt Everest (Sagarmatha) for a record 27th time on Wednesday. This makes him the only person to climb Everest for 27 times.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">May 18: Record-holder mountaineer Kamirita Sherpa successfully climbed Mt Everest (Sagarmatha) for a record 27th time on Wednesday. This makes him the only person to climb Everest for 27 times.</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 53-year-old mountaineer stood atop the highest mountain in the world on Wednesday morning at 8:30 am, Director of the Department of Tourism Yuwaraj Khatiwada told RSS. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Sherpa, who is originally a resident of Thame in Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality in Solukhumbu district and is currently residing in Kathmandu, broke his own record of climbing the 8,848.86 metres mountain and thereby creating a new one. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Khatiwada shared that the expedition is going on in full swing but the number of climbers making it to the top of the Mt Everest could not be ascertained owing to lack of communications with the climbers pushing towards the summit. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Imagine Nepal Treks and Expedition Company's Director Mingma Gyalzen Sherpa informed RSS that over 100 mountaineers including Kamirita have climbed Mt Everest so far this spring while as many were on a summit push bid. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"Kamirita latest ascent has spread a message to the world that the mountaineering sector of Nepal is safe," asserted Khatiwada.</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"">Kamirita, who first set his feet atop the Everest on May 13, 1994, has climbed many mountains over 8,000 metres at home and abroad for over 39 times till date. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Meanwhile, Pasang Dawa Sherpa is hot on the heels of Kamirita and ascended Everest for the 26th time this spring. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A record number of climbers are attempting to scale the Mt Everest this spring as Nepal issued the highest number of climbing permits in history for Everest this season since the first successful ascent of the Everest on May 29, 1953. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Department issued 478 permits for 44 groups this season. </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-18', 'modified' => '2023-05-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17635', 'image' => '20230518105218_FwTHtq6agAEVihB (1).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-18 10:47:46', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17903', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'ADB Approves US$300 Million Loan to Improve Road Connectivity and Trade in Nepal', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 18: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved a US$300 million loan to improve transport connectivity of the Kakarbhitta–Laukahi road in Nepal to international trade routes, particularly to India and Bangladesh.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">May 18: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved a US$300 million loan to improve transport connectivity of the Kakarbhitta–Laukahi road in Nepal to international trade routes, particularly to India and Bangladesh. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Issuing a statement on Wednesday, ADB Transport Specialist for South Asia Sin Wai Chong said that the project road is along the East–West Highway which forms part of the South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation corridor.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">“Together with other regional cooperation initiatives under the SASEC framework, better infrastructure, improved connectivity, and safe road networks will boost border trade and logistics and improve the lives of rural communities,” said Chong.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">According to the ADB, at least 95 kilometers (km) of road from Kakarbhitta to Laukahi will be upgraded from a two-lane to a four-lane dual roadway. It will incorporate climate and disaster-resilient design features such as higher thermal resistant pavements and bridges with stringent flood-proofing requirement, added the statement. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The project will improve road safety through features such as junctions with traffic signals, footpaths with streetlights and tactile paving surface, overhead pedestrian crossings, road crossings with raised platform, and bus stops equipped with lighting system, the ADB further said. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">According to the ADB statement, the project will build the capacity of the Department of Roads in climate and disaster-resilient strategies, road asset management, road safety, and project management and implementation. “Community awareness campaigns on road safety, health and hygiene, and human trafficking will also be conducted. This will be complemented with capacity building programs for women and disadvantaged groups to improve their mobility and access to services.” </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">ADB said it will provide an additional US$750,000 technical assistance grant from its Technical Assistance Special Fund to develop climate change mitigation and adaptation guidelines for road projects, bidding documents, performance indicators, and a user handbook on long-term performance-based maintenance. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">ADB added that it is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. Established in 1966, it is owned by 68 members—49 from the region.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-05-18', 'modified' => '2023-05-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '17634', 'image' => '20230518100646_adbb.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-05-18 10:06:09', '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
