February 23: The investment of the Indian government in small projects through the embassy has decreased…
February 23: The investment of the Indian government in small projects through the embassy has decreased…
February 23: An Air Crash Investigation Commission formed by the government to investigate the crash of Tara Air plane near Jomsom in Mustang district around nine months ago has pointed out the mistake of the aircraft crew members for the fatal…
February 23: A school, two health posts and several houses were damaged in the 5.2 magnitude earthquake that struck Bichhya in Himali Rural Municipality of Bajura district on Wednesday afternoon.…
Aatmanirbhar Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited has open sale of its Initial Public Offering (IPO) to general public from Thursday.…
February 22: Nepal's total trade deficit has crossed Rs 825.73 billion in the first six months of the current fiscal year.…
In a bid to attract more tourists, the Shuklaphanta Festival kicked off in the Shuklaphanta National Park in Kanchnapur district on…
An earthquake has struck Bajura on Wednesday. Nearly a month after a 5.9-magnitude tremor hit the district on January 24, a fresh quake struck Bajura at 1:45 pm on…
February 22: Nepal imported watermelons worth Rs 139.1 million in the first six months of the current fiscal…
February 22: More than 64,000 Nepali nationals received work permits for foreign employment in the month of Magh (mid-January to…
February 22: Hertz, an internationally renowned rental car service provider, is preparing to expand its business in Nepal in collaboration with President Travel and Tours Private…
February 22: Senior ophthalmologist and executive director of Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology, Dr Sanduk Ruit, has been honoured with the Isa Award for Service to Humanity, a prestigious award of…
February 22: Surya Nepal Western Open, the fourth tournament under the Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2022-23, teed off today (Wednesday) at the Himalayan Golf Course in…
February 22: Nepal made a clean sweep in the triangular one-day series against Scotland and Namibia under the ICC Men's One-day World Cup League 2 on Tuesday.…
February 22: An airplane of Saurya Airlines which was about to takeoff for Biratnagar from Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) on Tuesday returned to the parking-way after detection of a…
An under construction Bharat Lake located in wards No 4 and 12 of Bagmati Municipality has turned a tourist destination in Sarlahi. The under construction lake is increasingly luring domestic and foreign…
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Before 2015, the Indian government used to support at least 6-7 projects. But the Indian Embassy signed MoU and invested in just six projects in the last four years.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">From the year 2003, direct investments were made in small projects under the name of Small Development Project (SDP) with the direct involvement of the Indian Embassy under which it used to directly give up to a maximum of Rs 50 million to small development projects like schools and health centers through the District Development Committee. However, after the government tightened the selection and spending criteria, such support stopped coming from India. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the Ministry of Federal Affairs and Local Development, currently only three projects are signed under the SDP. Currently, the local levels of Udayapur, Dhading, Solukhumbu districts have signed MoU for Indian assistance under the SDP project, according to Rudrasingh Tamang, joint secretary of the ministry.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Before the country adopted a federal setup, the programs were implemented directly through the district development committee. However, after the promulgation of the new constitution, the sole right to investment in such projects was authorized to the federal government. Therefore India could not give the funds directly after the new constitution came into effect.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Officials of the Ministry of Finance say that India has not shown much interest in carrying out the projects recommended under the new arrangement. A senior official of finance informed that although they have recommended about 150 projects for the last 4 years after consulting the local level, only 6 to 7 projects have moved forward with MoU.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the official, all the remaining projects are put on hold. Dozens of previously run projects are stalled recently due to lack of Indian support. The Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration has the authority to regulate the SDP program along with the Ministry of Finance.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">After the country went into federalism, the program halted for almost 6 years because it was not clear how to get the investment under this support of the Indian Embassy. Three years ago, the government under the leadership of KP Sharma Oli extended the deadline for the continuation of the SDP program until August 2023 by making the criteria for the SDP program to be invested by the Indian Embassy. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Former Foreign Secretary Madhuraman Acharya takes the decline in Indian assistance as a positive thing after the government tightened the policy. He said, “There is no need to continue receiving help from others in small projects that Nepal can undertake itself.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the standards implemented by the government, India can conduct programs and projects under the SDP run with the support of the government of India in direct coordination with the government of Nepal, from building construction of community schools to waste management. Under the SDP, India can invest in small infrastructure projects such as community school buildings, early childhood development centers, libraries, hospitals, health centers, yoga centers, blood transfusion centers, and maternity homes.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, India can also invest in water supply projects and construction of agricultural infrastructure. With the government clarifying the areas of investment, India can now invest in such programs in coordination with the local level. Currently, the local level is responsible for plan selection to implementation.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">A detailed project report (DPR) has to be prepared while selecting the plan. There is a provision that 20 percent investment of the local level must be mandatory in the project to be conducted with Indian investment. The then government decided that the letter of commitment must be sent to the Ministry of Federal Affairs. </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-23', 'modified' => '2023-02-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16838', 'image' => '20230223104946_1677031240.14.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-23 10:49:05', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17099', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Pilots at Fault in Jomsom Plane Crash: Report ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 23: An Air Crash Investigation Commission formed by the government to investigate the crash of Tara Air plane near Jomsom in Mustang district around nine months ago has pointed out the mistake of the aircraft crew members for the fatal accident.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">February 23: An Air Crash Investigation Commission formed by the government to investigate the crash of Tara Air plane near Jomsom in Mustang district around nine months ago has pointed out the mistake of the aircraft crew members for the fatal accident.</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"">Twenty-two passengers including three crew members were killed when Tara Air’s Twin-Otter with call sign 9N-AET flying to Jomsom from Pokhara met with the accident in Mustang on May 29, 2022. </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 commission submitted its final report of the investigation to Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Sudan Kirati on Wednesday. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The report states that the Terrain Avoidance and Warning System (TAWS) that gives information about the mountain ahead and its risk was turned off in the aircraft, leading to the accident. </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 crew members did not get any information of the aircraft’s proximity with the terrain because the system was shut,” reads the report. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The government had formed Air Crash Investigation Commission under leadership of former Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) Ratish Chandra Lal Suman on May 30. Captain Dipu Jwarchan, senior maintenance engineer Upendra Lal Shrestha, and senior meteorologist Mani Ratna Shakya were the members of the commission while Buddhi Sagar Lamichhane was appointed as the member-secretary. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The report states that the plane hit a mountain after the crew members failed to utilize the TAWS system installed in the aircraft in an appropriate manner. -- RSS </span><br /> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-23', 'modified' => '2023-02-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16837', 'image' => '20230223095638_IMG_20170214_063210-2-scaled.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-23 09:55:46', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17098', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'School, Health Post and Houses Damaged in Bajura Earthquake', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 23: A school, two health posts and several houses were damaged in the 5.2 magnitude earthquake that struck Bichhya in Himali Rural Municipality of Bajura district on Wednesday afternoon. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">February 23: A school, two health posts and several houses were damaged in the 5.2 magnitude earthquake that struck Bichhya in Himali Rural Municipality of Bajura district on Wednesday afternoon. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Chief District Officer Pushkar Khadka confirmed that two health centers and one school in Himali Rural Municipality 1, 3 and 5 were damaged by the earthquake. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, the child development building in ward no 1 of the rural municipality has been completely destroyed. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">“Eight houses have been damaged and the details of the damage are being collected,” said chair of the rural municipality, Gobindra Bahadur Malla. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the District Police Office Bajura, the two-storied houses of Purna Prasad Pandey and Harichandra Pandey in the ward no 4 of the same rural municipality were completely damaged by the earthquake. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-23', 'modified' => '2023-02-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16836', 'image' => '20230223092331_earth.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-23 09:22:48', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17097', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Aatmanirbhar Laghubitta Opens Sale of Its Public Offering ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Aatmanirbhar Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited has open sale of its Initial Public Offering (IPO) to general public from Thursday. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px">February 23: Aatmanirbhar Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited has opened sale of its Initial Public Offering (IPO) to general public from Thursday. Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha is issuing 1,69,755 units of shares worth Rs 1,69,75,500 to the general public at a face value to Rs 100.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">In the first phase, the laghubitta bittiya sanstha had issued 20,338 shares, which is ten per cent of the total 2,03,380 units of shares set aside for the public, to the Nepali citizens working in foreign countries. The IPO for the migrant workers has already been allotted.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Of the total shares set aside for public issuance, 3,117 shares have been reserved for laghubitta’s employees whereas 10,170 shares have been set aside to the mutual fund schemes.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Sunrise Capital is the issue and sales manager. Interest individuals can apply for a minimum of 10 shares and a maximum of 1000 units of shares. The public offering will close on Falgun 15. Since laghubitta company’s IPO receives overwhelming response from the investors, the company may not extend the deadline.</span><br /> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Interested individuals can apply for the IPO through all CASBA approved banks and financial institutions by the Securities Board of Nepal (SEBON). They can also apply for the IPO through Mero Share .</span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-23', 'modified' => '2023-02-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16835', 'image' => '20230223062756_collage (8) (1).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-23 06:23:39', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17096', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Trade Deficit Hits Rs 825 Billion in Six Months ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 22: Nepal's total trade deficit has crossed Rs 825.73 billion in the first six months of the current fiscal year. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">February 22: Nepal's total trade deficit has crossed Rs 825.73 billion in the first six months of the current fiscal year. The half-yearly review of the current Fiscal Year (FY 2022/23) by the Department of Customs shows that Nepal's foreign trade was equivalent to total Rs 1012.59 billion as of February 12. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Of this volume of foreign trade, the country imported goods and services worth Rs 919.16 billion and exported goods and services worth only Rs 93.43 billion. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Out of the total foreign trade of Nepal during this period, 90.77 per cent accounted for imports while only 9.23 per cent comprised of exports.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The country raised customs revenue amounting to Rs 212.12 billion from foreign trade during the review period. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Nepal's total foreign trade decreased by 20.84 per cent in volume in the six months of the current fiscal year as compared to the foreign trade during the corresponding period of the last fiscal year (FY 2021/22). </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, the country’s import figure has dropped by 19.90 per cent while exports dropped by 29 per cent compared to the last fiscal year. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">India is Nepal's largest trading partner. Nepal imported goods worth Rs 570.96 billion from India until February 12 of the current fiscal year starting July 17, 2022. Nepal's export to India during this period was equivalent to Rs 66.22 billion. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, Nepal's imports from China amounted to Rs 125.52 billion and exports to Rs 422.6 million only during the six months' period. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Indonesia was the third largest trade partner of Nepal during this period. The import from Indonesia amounted to Rs 57.90 billion while exports amounted to only Rs 103.60 million during this period. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Nepal imported the highest amount of petroleum products until February 12 of the current fiscal year. According to the department, the country imported diesel worth Rs 84.61 billion, petrol worth Rs 38.73 billion and LPG worth Rs 33.34 billion in the last six months. The country imported crude soybean oil worth Rs 26.42 billion during the same period. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-22', 'modified' => '2023-02-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16834', 'image' => '20230222061525_Trade.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-22 18:14:42', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17095', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Shuklaphanta Festival Kicks off in Kanchanpur ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'In a bid to attract more tourists, the Shuklaphanta Festival kicked off in the Shuklaphanta National Park in Kanchnapur district on Wednesday.', 'content' => '<p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">February 22: In a bid to attract more tourists, the Shuklaphanta Festival kicked off in the Shuklaphanta National Park in Kanchnapur district on Wednesday.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">The Bhimdutta Municipality organized the Festival aiming to promote the National Park that spreads in an area of 305 square kilometres in the south-eastern part of Kanchanpur district.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">The national park is home to a wide variety of flora, faunas and rich vegetation. The Park, which was a hunting reserve initially in the 1969, was turned into a National Park in 2017, said the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">District Coordination Committee Kanchanpur Chief Durga Dutta Bohara inaugurated the festival and stressed the need to develop the National Park as a tourist destination. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">"We have rare species of wildlife in our Shuklaphanta National Park. It is imperative we promote this Park and develop this place as the destination for foreign and domestic tourists," said Bohara. He urged everyone to work for the promotion of tourism in the park. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Bhimdutta Municipality Mayor Padam Bogati expressed confidence that the festival would help in the tourism development in the district. “If the dry port, Mahakali Corridor, Majhgaun Airport, and Daijichhela Industrial Area are operated, the tourism business here will boom,” Bogati said. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Similarly, Pitamber Joshi, President of Kanchanpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry, argued that the local government should bring forward tourism promotion programmes in coordination of the private sector. He argued that the government should ensure an easy access to tourism destinations apart from putting in place necessary amenities. <br /> The 10-day festival will feature discussions, a secondary school level oratory competition on the importance of tourism and tourism conservation, sight-seeing excursions, observation of herds of blackbuck and tourism promotional events, said the organizers. </span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-22', 'modified' => '2023-02-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16833', 'image' => '20230222060733_collage - 2023-02-22T180508.638.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-22 18:03:03', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17094', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Fresh Earthquake Strikes Bajura', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'An earthquake has struck Bajura on Wednesday. Nearly a month after a 5.9-magnitude tremor hit the district on January 24, a fresh quake struck Bajura at 1:45 pm on Wednesday.', 'content' => '<p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">February 22: An earthquake has struck Bajura on Wednesday. Nearly a month after a 5.9-magnitude tremor hit the district on January 24, a fresh quake struck Bajura at 1:45 pm on Wednesday.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"> According to the Seismological Research and Measurement Centre Surkhet, the tremor measured 5.2 on the Richter scale with its epicenter at Bichchhya of Himali Rural Municipality struck the district. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">The tremor was felt in the hilly districts of the Sudurpaschim province, including Bajura, Bajhang, Achham. The earthquake has left the locals panicked. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Local people worry that the earthquake might damage their thatched houses. People affected by the earlier earthquake have not yet got the relief nor have they been rehabilitated. Details regarding the possible damage by the earthquake are yet to be received. </span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-22', 'modified' => '2023-02-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16832', 'image' => '20230222043112_collage - 2023-02-22T163044.309.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-22 16:29:10', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17093', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Import of Watermelons has Doubled in Six Months of Current FY', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 22: Nepal imported watermelons worth Rs 139.1 million in the first six months of the current fiscal year.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">February 22: Nepal imported watermelons worth Rs 139.1 million in the first six months of the current fiscal year. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to the data of the Department of Customs, Nepal imported around 51,84,329 kg of watermelons during this period. In the same period of last year, Nepal imported 23,03,188 kg of watermelons worth Rs 62.7 million. Compared to the same period last year, the import of watermelon has doubled this year.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">In Nepal, the annual import of this fruit, which can be easily grown on the banks of rivers and in fields, is increasing by two folds every two years.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">In the fiscal year 2076/77, Nepal imported 1,14,70,568 kilograms of watermelons worth Rs 296.3 million. In the fiscal year 2077/78, a total of 1,67,29,502 kg of watermelons worth Rs 415.63 million were imported into the country.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">During the last fiscal year (FY 2078/79), Nepal imported 2,16,04,453 kilograms of watermelons worth 562.6 million which is almost double the imports in 2076/77 in terms of both the value and quantity of imports. The data shows that the annual import of watermelon is doubling every two years.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Amar Baniya, President of Kuleshwar Fruit Market, told New Business Age that the commercial production of watermelon in Nepal is not able to meet the local demand and the quality of the produce is also not good.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">He says that the demand for watermelon is also high because of health benefits and its consumption has increased because there is even more demand for it in big hotels. However, Nepali farmers have not been able to benefits from the increasing consumption of watermelons due to the lack of production in Nepal. Baniya said that due to lack of domestic production, they have to import watermelons from India to meet the demand.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">This year, the farmers of Nepal are not able to produce watermelon so far. He says that because the watermelons of Nepal are available only in May and June, the market demand is met by imported watermelons from India before the domestic produce is available in the market.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Since the weather is favorable for watermelon production in India round the year, watermelons are imported from the southern neighbour for twelve months. Baniya also added that the daily consumption of watermelon is around 50 tons.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">At present, the wholesale price of watermelon is Rs 30 to 40 per kg. Watermelon grows in hot terai areas, but its commercial cultivation has not been done in all places of Nepal. Baniyan says that the demand for watermelon is more in summer than in winter and the demand from hotels is more during winter.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Bhavna Adhikari (Pokharel), director of Jhapa-based Paradise Agro Firm, said that there has not been watermelon production this year. She says that the production has decreased because the seeds did not ripen on time.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">She claimed that even after production, watermelons do not find market. So, the farmers' interest in its cultivation is also declining.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Nutritionist Supriya Bhattarai says that as watermelon contains 92 percent water along with vitamin 'A' and 'anti-oxidant', it is very beneficial for health. According to her, in addition to giving benefits to immunity, its seeds also contain nutrients such as folate, iron, zinc, copper, magnesium, potassium, amino acids and vitamin 'B' in abundance.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">These nutrients boost the body's natural metabolism. It is considered very good for common people to eat 150 grams of watermelon daily, says Bhattarai.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-22', 'modified' => '2023-02-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16831', 'image' => '20230222030203_Juicy-Watermelon-2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-22 15:01:24', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17092', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'More than 64,000 Nepalis Receive Work Permits in One Month', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 22: More than 64,000 Nepali nationals received work permits for foreign employment in the month of Magh (mid-January to mid-February).', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">February 22: More than 64,000 Nepali nationals received work permits for foreign employment in the month of Magh (mid-January to mid-February). Most of them had applied for work permit in Malaysia, one of the major labour destinations of Nepali migrant workers.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to the Department of Foreign Employment, a total of 64,284 people, including 58,447 men and 5,837 women, took work permits for foreign employment in the review month.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">This figure represents those who took individual work permits for the first time to work abroad as well as institutional work permits and renewal of work permits. The number of Nepalis who have received new labor permits is 39,124. According to the department, it includes 4,266 women and 34,858 men.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Most of them are those who have taken work permit to go to Malaysia. A total of 19,783 people have received work permits for Malaysia. Similarly, 12,704 people have taken work permit to go to Qatar, 10,576 people for Saudi Arabia, 9,770 people for the UAE and 2,992 people for Kuwait.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Similarly, 417 have acquired work permits for Cyprus, 471 for Croatia, 882 for Japan, 270 for Malta, 720 for Poland, 45 for Portugal and 804 for Romania, the department said.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-22', 'modified' => '2023-02-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16830', 'image' => '20230222015437_1676986110.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-22 13:53:57', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17091', 'article_category_id' => '266', 'title' => 'Hertz to Expand its Service in Nepal in Collaboration with President Travel and Tours', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 22: Hertz, an internationally renowned rental car service provider, is preparing to expand its business in Nepal in collaboration with President Travel and Tours Private Limited.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">February 22: Hertz, an internationally renowned rental car service provider, is preparing to expand its business in Nepal in collaboration with President Travel and Tours Private Limited.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Issuing a joint press statement, Hertz said it has appointed President Travel and Tours as its official representative in Nepal.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">President Travel and Tours has been facilitating Nepalis for travelling abroad in various countries. It has been collaborating with Malaysian Airlines, RailEurope and CWT and is planning to work together with Hertz as well as Thrifty, Dollar Car Rental and Ace.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">After the agreement, Nepalis can avail the services provided by Hertz through President Travel and Tours. Nepali nationals can rent a car from Hertz at affordable rates during any trip.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Hertz officials believe this collaboration with President Travel and Tours, which is recognized by the IATA, will help provide reliable service to the tourists.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, Managing Director of President Group of Companies Bhola Bikram Thapa said that this partnership has opened new avenues and they are ready to implement the agreement.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">“We are excited to work as the representative of Hertz. We have got an opportunity to work with a reputed and renowned company,” the statement quoted Thapa as saying.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">“We are committed to provide world-class service under this partnership.”</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-22', 'modified' => '2023-02-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16829', 'image' => '20230222125842_Image 2023-02-15 at 2.28.51 PM.jpeg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-22 12:57:49', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17090', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Dr Ruit Feted with Isa Award for Service to Humanity ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 22: Senior ophthalmologist and executive director of Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology, Dr Sanduk Ruit, has been honoured with the Isa Award for Service to Humanity, a prestigious award of Bahrain. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">February 22: Senior ophthalmologist and executive director of Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology, Dr Sanduk Ruit, has been honoured with the Isa Award for Service to Humanity, a prestigious award of Bahrain. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the Institute's public relation officer Sunita KC, Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa honoured Dr Ruit amid a programme organized in Bahrain on Tuesday. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The award carrying a purse of USD 1 million has been conferred on Dr Ruit in recognition of his contribution for eliminating blindness through (cataract) surgery. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The award instituted in the name of former King of Bahrain, Sheikh Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa in 2009 is being distributed by the Isa Award for Service to Humanity for those contributing remarkably for humanity. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Altogether 145 organizations and candidates from across the world had applied for the award. Dr Ruit was selected from the six short-listed candidates, it was shared. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Dr Ruit has devised a new method for treating cataracts. The institute that he leads has been producing intraocular lens of international standards in fairly low price to treat blindness. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-22', 'modified' => '2023-02-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16828', 'image' => '20230222123817_ruit.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-22 12:37:28', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17089', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Surya Nepal Western Open Tees Off', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 22: Surya Nepal Western Open, the fourth tournament under the Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2022-23, teed off today (Wednesday) at the Himalayan Golf Course in Pokhara.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">February 22: Surya Nepal Western Open, the fourth tournament under the Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2022-23, teed off today (Wednesday) at the Himalayan Golf Course in Pokhara.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Altogether 31 professional and 14 amateur golfers are participating in the tournament organized by the Professional Golfers Association Nepal and sponsored by Surya Nepal Pvt Ltd.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to the organisers, the winner of the competition will receive a purse of Rs 140,000, the runner-up will bag Rs 90,000 and the third position holder will walk away with Rs 67,000. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Similarly, the organizers informed that cash prizes have been arranged for the top 21 players. This is the 23rd edition of Surya Nepal Western Open.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-22', 'modified' => '2023-02-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16827', 'image' => '20230222120715_snw.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-22 12:06:29', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17088', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Clean Sweeps Triangular Series with Victory over Scotland ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 22: Nepal made a clean sweep in the triangular one-day series against Scotland and Namibia under the ICC Men's One-day World Cup League 2 on Tuesday. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">February 22: Nepal made a clean sweep in the triangular one-day series against Scotland and Namibia under the ICC Men's One-day World Cup League 2 on Tuesday. Nepal maintained its perfect record on home turf in the fourth and last match of the series held at TU Cricket Ground on Tuesday defeating Scotland by 2 wickets to finish the series undefeated.</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"">After winning the toss and inviting Scotland to bat first, Nepal restricted the visitors to 212 runs taking all their wickets in 46.1 overs. In reply, Nepal reached the target of 213 runs losing 8 wickets in 44.1 overs. </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"">Nepal’s captain Rohit Kumar Paudel scored an unbeaten 95 runs while Karan KC remained not out with 31 runs to ensure a nail-biting victory after an initial setback, reported the state-owned RSS. The home team had lost 8 wickets when KC joined his captain in the 32nd over with only 138 runs on board. The ninth wicket partnership between the two remained unbroken with player-of-the-match Paudel hitting a four to close the innings for the fourth win in as many matches. </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"">Former captain Gyanendra Malla contributed 21 runs while Kushal Malla and Ashif Sheikh scored 17 and 12 runs respectively. </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"">Scotland’s Mark Watt took 3 wickets and Chris Graves took 2 wickets. </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"">Earlier, George Munsey was the top-scorer for Scotland with 60 runs before being bowled out by rape-accused Sandeep Lamichhane, who took 4 wickets. Lamichhane, who has been released on bail from jail, has played a crucial role in Nepal’s victory. Scotland players had refused to shake hands with Lamichhane and had also notified Cricket Association of Nepal about the decision.</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, Matthew Cross scored 42, Brandon McMullen scored 31 while Kyle Kotzer and Christopher McBride scored 22 runs each. </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"">For Nepal, Karan KC took 3 wickets while Lalit Narayan Rajbanshi and Kushal Malla took one wicket each. </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"">In their first match of the series, Nepal had defeated Scotland by 3 wickets. Nepal also defeated Namibia twice, by 2 wickets and 3 wickets respectively. </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"">Two head-turning run chases from Nepal on home soil have opened up the Cricket World Cup League 2 top-three race, wrote Daniel Beswick on ICC’s official website.</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"">Nepal in the sixth place in the league with 26 points from 28 matches. Namibia is in the third position with 37 points. Scotland has been declared the winner of League 2 with 50 points from 36 matches. </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 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2 is a two-and-half-year competition involving seven teams that are two steps away from the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023</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"">Men’s CWC League 2 - which sits one tier under the Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League - will see 21 tri-series played. Participating teams Namibia, Nepal, Oman, Papua New Guinea, Scotland, United Arab Emirates and United States of America will play 36 One Day Internationals each on the Road to India 2023.</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' => '2023-02-22', 'modified' => '2023-02-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16826', 'image' => '20230222092218_table.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-22 09:21:23', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17087', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Aircraft about to Take Off Returns back to Parking Way ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 22: An airplane of Saurya Airlines which was about to takeoff for Biratnagar from Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) on Tuesday returned to the parking-way after detection of a problem. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">February 22: An airplane of Saurya Airlines which was about to takeoff for Biratnagar from Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) on Tuesday returned to the parking-way after detection of a problem. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to airport sources, the aircraft returned after its indicator signalled a problem when the plane had reached near the runway for the take off. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The aircraft with flight number SAU 721 had reached near the runway after boarding the passengers when its indicator signaled a glitch, said TIA spokesperson Teknath Sitaula. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to him, it is not clear what problem was seen in the airplane. The plane is presently kept at the parking-way. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">TIA authorities have said the permission for flight would be issued only after the engineers of the airlines examine the problem in the aircraft and inform them that the plane is fit for flying. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-22', 'modified' => '2023-02-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16825', 'image' => '20230222085608_20170313010057_saurya.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-22 08:54:41', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17086', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Bagmati Bharat Lake Turning Into Tourist Hub ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'An under construction Bharat Lake located in wards No 4 and 12 of Bagmati Municipality has turned a tourist destination in Sarlahi. The under construction lake is increasingly luring domestic and foreign tourists.', 'content' => '<div> <div> <div> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> February 22: An under construction Bharat Lake located in wards No 4 and 12 of Bagmati Municipality has turned a tourist destination in Sarlahi. The under construction lake is increasingly luring domestic and foreign tourists.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Bagmati Municipality Mayor Bharat Kumar Thapa says that his municipality has already spent 980 million for the lake construction so far. “The lake requires extra Rs 1 billion budget for its completion and plans are afoot to develop the project as multi-purpose one,” said Mayor Thapa.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Under the multi-purpose project, a hotel with modern picnic spots, jungle safari, Sumeru Parbat with the temple of Shiva and Parbati, Funpark, mini casino is being constructed, according to Chair Om Bahadur Shrestha of Ward No 12.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Shrestha said that the municipality was developing Bharat Lake as its major source of income. “We are planning to develop the lake as the tourist hub of the Madhes province,” Shrestha added.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The municipality has completed only 20-25 per cent of the construction work in the lake. The municipality has started keeping fish and ducks in the lake to increase its income. “The municipality is working to finish the lake in three years,” Mayor Thapa said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The municipality has operated multi-purpose project in 121 bigaha of the land where lake construction is underway. </span></span></span><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Tourists from Nepal and India are visiting the under construction lake. “We are constructing the physical structures that can attract 6 million tourists in a year,” said the municipality.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Around 500 people are employed in the lake right now. As many 40 big and small boats are operating in the lake at the moment.</span></span></span></p> </div> <div> </div> <div> </div> </div> </div> <div> </div> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-22', 'modified' => '2023-02-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16824', 'image' => '20230222061500_collage - 2023-02-21T181451.011.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-22 06:07:19', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = falseinclude - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 60 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
Warning (2): simplexml_load_file() [<a href='http://php.net/function.simplexml-load-file'>function.simplexml-load-file</a>]: I/O warning : failed to load external entity "" [APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 60]file not found!Code Context// $file = 'http://aabhiyan:QUVLg8Wzs2F7G9N7@nepalstock.com.np/api/indexdata.xml';if(!$xml = simplexml_load_file($file)){$viewFile = '/var/www/html/newbusinessage.com/app/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'articles' => array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ) ), 'current_user' => null, 'logged_in' => false ) $articles = array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17100', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'India’s Assistance for Small Projects Declining', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 23: The investment of the Indian government in small projects through the embassy has decreased recently.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">February 23: The investment of the Indian government in small projects through the embassy has decreased recently. Before 2015, the Indian government used to support at least 6-7 projects. But the Indian Embassy signed MoU and invested in just six projects in the last four years.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">From the year 2003, direct investments were made in small projects under the name of Small Development Project (SDP) with the direct involvement of the Indian Embassy under which it used to directly give up to a maximum of Rs 50 million to small development projects like schools and health centers through the District Development Committee. However, after the government tightened the selection and spending criteria, such support stopped coming from India. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the Ministry of Federal Affairs and Local Development, currently only three projects are signed under the SDP. Currently, the local levels of Udayapur, Dhading, Solukhumbu districts have signed MoU for Indian assistance under the SDP project, according to Rudrasingh Tamang, joint secretary of the ministry.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Before the country adopted a federal setup, the programs were implemented directly through the district development committee. However, after the promulgation of the new constitution, the sole right to investment in such projects was authorized to the federal government. Therefore India could not give the funds directly after the new constitution came into effect.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Officials of the Ministry of Finance say that India has not shown much interest in carrying out the projects recommended under the new arrangement. A senior official of finance informed that although they have recommended about 150 projects for the last 4 years after consulting the local level, only 6 to 7 projects have moved forward with MoU.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the official, all the remaining projects are put on hold. Dozens of previously run projects are stalled recently due to lack of Indian support. The Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration has the authority to regulate the SDP program along with the Ministry of Finance.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">After the country went into federalism, the program halted for almost 6 years because it was not clear how to get the investment under this support of the Indian Embassy. Three years ago, the government under the leadership of KP Sharma Oli extended the deadline for the continuation of the SDP program until August 2023 by making the criteria for the SDP program to be invested by the Indian Embassy. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Former Foreign Secretary Madhuraman Acharya takes the decline in Indian assistance as a positive thing after the government tightened the policy. He said, “There is no need to continue receiving help from others in small projects that Nepal can undertake itself.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the standards implemented by the government, India can conduct programs and projects under the SDP run with the support of the government of India in direct coordination with the government of Nepal, from building construction of community schools to waste management. Under the SDP, India can invest in small infrastructure projects such as community school buildings, early childhood development centers, libraries, hospitals, health centers, yoga centers, blood transfusion centers, and maternity homes.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, India can also invest in water supply projects and construction of agricultural infrastructure. With the government clarifying the areas of investment, India can now invest in such programs in coordination with the local level. Currently, the local level is responsible for plan selection to implementation.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">A detailed project report (DPR) has to be prepared while selecting the plan. There is a provision that 20 percent investment of the local level must be mandatory in the project to be conducted with Indian investment. The then government decided that the letter of commitment must be sent to the Ministry of Federal Affairs. </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-23', 'modified' => '2023-02-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16838', 'image' => '20230223104946_1677031240.14.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-23 10:49:05', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17099', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Pilots at Fault in Jomsom Plane Crash: Report ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 23: An Air Crash Investigation Commission formed by the government to investigate the crash of Tara Air plane near Jomsom in Mustang district around nine months ago has pointed out the mistake of the aircraft crew members for the fatal accident.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">February 23: An Air Crash Investigation Commission formed by the government to investigate the crash of Tara Air plane near Jomsom in Mustang district around nine months ago has pointed out the mistake of the aircraft crew members for the fatal accident.</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"">Twenty-two passengers including three crew members were killed when Tara Air’s Twin-Otter with call sign 9N-AET flying to Jomsom from Pokhara met with the accident in Mustang on May 29, 2022. </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 commission submitted its final report of the investigation to Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Sudan Kirati on Wednesday. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The report states that the Terrain Avoidance and Warning System (TAWS) that gives information about the mountain ahead and its risk was turned off in the aircraft, leading to the accident. </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 crew members did not get any information of the aircraft’s proximity with the terrain because the system was shut,” reads the report. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The government had formed Air Crash Investigation Commission under leadership of former Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) Ratish Chandra Lal Suman on May 30. Captain Dipu Jwarchan, senior maintenance engineer Upendra Lal Shrestha, and senior meteorologist Mani Ratna Shakya were the members of the commission while Buddhi Sagar Lamichhane was appointed as the member-secretary. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The report states that the plane hit a mountain after the crew members failed to utilize the TAWS system installed in the aircraft in an appropriate manner. -- RSS </span><br /> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-23', 'modified' => '2023-02-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16837', 'image' => '20230223095638_IMG_20170214_063210-2-scaled.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-23 09:55:46', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17098', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'School, Health Post and Houses Damaged in Bajura Earthquake', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 23: A school, two health posts and several houses were damaged in the 5.2 magnitude earthquake that struck Bichhya in Himali Rural Municipality of Bajura district on Wednesday afternoon. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">February 23: A school, two health posts and several houses were damaged in the 5.2 magnitude earthquake that struck Bichhya in Himali Rural Municipality of Bajura district on Wednesday afternoon. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Chief District Officer Pushkar Khadka confirmed that two health centers and one school in Himali Rural Municipality 1, 3 and 5 were damaged by the earthquake. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, the child development building in ward no 1 of the rural municipality has been completely destroyed. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">“Eight houses have been damaged and the details of the damage are being collected,” said chair of the rural municipality, Gobindra Bahadur Malla. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the District Police Office Bajura, the two-storied houses of Purna Prasad Pandey and Harichandra Pandey in the ward no 4 of the same rural municipality were completely damaged by the earthquake. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-23', 'modified' => '2023-02-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16836', 'image' => '20230223092331_earth.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-23 09:22:48', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17097', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Aatmanirbhar Laghubitta Opens Sale of Its Public Offering ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Aatmanirbhar Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited has open sale of its Initial Public Offering (IPO) to general public from Thursday. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px">February 23: Aatmanirbhar Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited has opened sale of its Initial Public Offering (IPO) to general public from Thursday. Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha is issuing 1,69,755 units of shares worth Rs 1,69,75,500 to the general public at a face value to Rs 100.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">In the first phase, the laghubitta bittiya sanstha had issued 20,338 shares, which is ten per cent of the total 2,03,380 units of shares set aside for the public, to the Nepali citizens working in foreign countries. The IPO for the migrant workers has already been allotted.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Of the total shares set aside for public issuance, 3,117 shares have been reserved for laghubitta’s employees whereas 10,170 shares have been set aside to the mutual fund schemes.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Sunrise Capital is the issue and sales manager. Interest individuals can apply for a minimum of 10 shares and a maximum of 1000 units of shares. The public offering will close on Falgun 15. Since laghubitta company’s IPO receives overwhelming response from the investors, the company may not extend the deadline.</span><br /> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Interested individuals can apply for the IPO through all CASBA approved banks and financial institutions by the Securities Board of Nepal (SEBON). They can also apply for the IPO through Mero Share .</span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-23', 'modified' => '2023-02-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16835', 'image' => '20230223062756_collage (8) (1).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-23 06:23:39', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17096', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Trade Deficit Hits Rs 825 Billion in Six Months ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 22: Nepal's total trade deficit has crossed Rs 825.73 billion in the first six months of the current fiscal year. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">February 22: Nepal's total trade deficit has crossed Rs 825.73 billion in the first six months of the current fiscal year. The half-yearly review of the current Fiscal Year (FY 2022/23) by the Department of Customs shows that Nepal's foreign trade was equivalent to total Rs 1012.59 billion as of February 12. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Of this volume of foreign trade, the country imported goods and services worth Rs 919.16 billion and exported goods and services worth only Rs 93.43 billion. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Out of the total foreign trade of Nepal during this period, 90.77 per cent accounted for imports while only 9.23 per cent comprised of exports.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The country raised customs revenue amounting to Rs 212.12 billion from foreign trade during the review period. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Nepal's total foreign trade decreased by 20.84 per cent in volume in the six months of the current fiscal year as compared to the foreign trade during the corresponding period of the last fiscal year (FY 2021/22). </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, the country’s import figure has dropped by 19.90 per cent while exports dropped by 29 per cent compared to the last fiscal year. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">India is Nepal's largest trading partner. Nepal imported goods worth Rs 570.96 billion from India until February 12 of the current fiscal year starting July 17, 2022. Nepal's export to India during this period was equivalent to Rs 66.22 billion. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, Nepal's imports from China amounted to Rs 125.52 billion and exports to Rs 422.6 million only during the six months' period. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Indonesia was the third largest trade partner of Nepal during this period. The import from Indonesia amounted to Rs 57.90 billion while exports amounted to only Rs 103.60 million during this period. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Nepal imported the highest amount of petroleum products until February 12 of the current fiscal year. According to the department, the country imported diesel worth Rs 84.61 billion, petrol worth Rs 38.73 billion and LPG worth Rs 33.34 billion in the last six months. The country imported crude soybean oil worth Rs 26.42 billion during the same period. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-22', 'modified' => '2023-02-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16834', 'image' => '20230222061525_Trade.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-22 18:14:42', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17095', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Shuklaphanta Festival Kicks off in Kanchanpur ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'In a bid to attract more tourists, the Shuklaphanta Festival kicked off in the Shuklaphanta National Park in Kanchnapur district on Wednesday.', 'content' => '<p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">February 22: In a bid to attract more tourists, the Shuklaphanta Festival kicked off in the Shuklaphanta National Park in Kanchnapur district on Wednesday.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">The Bhimdutta Municipality organized the Festival aiming to promote the National Park that spreads in an area of 305 square kilometres in the south-eastern part of Kanchanpur district.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">The national park is home to a wide variety of flora, faunas and rich vegetation. The Park, which was a hunting reserve initially in the 1969, was turned into a National Park in 2017, said the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">District Coordination Committee Kanchanpur Chief Durga Dutta Bohara inaugurated the festival and stressed the need to develop the National Park as a tourist destination. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">"We have rare species of wildlife in our Shuklaphanta National Park. It is imperative we promote this Park and develop this place as the destination for foreign and domestic tourists," said Bohara. He urged everyone to work for the promotion of tourism in the park. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Bhimdutta Municipality Mayor Padam Bogati expressed confidence that the festival would help in the tourism development in the district. “If the dry port, Mahakali Corridor, Majhgaun Airport, and Daijichhela Industrial Area are operated, the tourism business here will boom,” Bogati said. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Similarly, Pitamber Joshi, President of Kanchanpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry, argued that the local government should bring forward tourism promotion programmes in coordination of the private sector. He argued that the government should ensure an easy access to tourism destinations apart from putting in place necessary amenities. <br /> The 10-day festival will feature discussions, a secondary school level oratory competition on the importance of tourism and tourism conservation, sight-seeing excursions, observation of herds of blackbuck and tourism promotional events, said the organizers. </span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-22', 'modified' => '2023-02-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16833', 'image' => '20230222060733_collage - 2023-02-22T180508.638.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-22 18:03:03', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17094', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Fresh Earthquake Strikes Bajura', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'An earthquake has struck Bajura on Wednesday. Nearly a month after a 5.9-magnitude tremor hit the district on January 24, a fresh quake struck Bajura at 1:45 pm on Wednesday.', 'content' => '<p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">February 22: An earthquake has struck Bajura on Wednesday. Nearly a month after a 5.9-magnitude tremor hit the district on January 24, a fresh quake struck Bajura at 1:45 pm on Wednesday.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"> According to the Seismological Research and Measurement Centre Surkhet, the tremor measured 5.2 on the Richter scale with its epicenter at Bichchhya of Himali Rural Municipality struck the district. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">The tremor was felt in the hilly districts of the Sudurpaschim province, including Bajura, Bajhang, Achham. The earthquake has left the locals panicked. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Local people worry that the earthquake might damage their thatched houses. People affected by the earlier earthquake have not yet got the relief nor have they been rehabilitated. Details regarding the possible damage by the earthquake are yet to be received. </span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-22', 'modified' => '2023-02-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16832', 'image' => '20230222043112_collage - 2023-02-22T163044.309.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-22 16:29:10', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17093', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Import of Watermelons has Doubled in Six Months of Current FY', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 22: Nepal imported watermelons worth Rs 139.1 million in the first six months of the current fiscal year.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">February 22: Nepal imported watermelons worth Rs 139.1 million in the first six months of the current fiscal year. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to the data of the Department of Customs, Nepal imported around 51,84,329 kg of watermelons during this period. In the same period of last year, Nepal imported 23,03,188 kg of watermelons worth Rs 62.7 million. Compared to the same period last year, the import of watermelon has doubled this year.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">In Nepal, the annual import of this fruit, which can be easily grown on the banks of rivers and in fields, is increasing by two folds every two years.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">In the fiscal year 2076/77, Nepal imported 1,14,70,568 kilograms of watermelons worth Rs 296.3 million. In the fiscal year 2077/78, a total of 1,67,29,502 kg of watermelons worth Rs 415.63 million were imported into the country.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">During the last fiscal year (FY 2078/79), Nepal imported 2,16,04,453 kilograms of watermelons worth 562.6 million which is almost double the imports in 2076/77 in terms of both the value and quantity of imports. The data shows that the annual import of watermelon is doubling every two years.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Amar Baniya, President of Kuleshwar Fruit Market, told New Business Age that the commercial production of watermelon in Nepal is not able to meet the local demand and the quality of the produce is also not good.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">He says that the demand for watermelon is also high because of health benefits and its consumption has increased because there is even more demand for it in big hotels. However, Nepali farmers have not been able to benefits from the increasing consumption of watermelons due to the lack of production in Nepal. Baniya said that due to lack of domestic production, they have to import watermelons from India to meet the demand.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">This year, the farmers of Nepal are not able to produce watermelon so far. He says that because the watermelons of Nepal are available only in May and June, the market demand is met by imported watermelons from India before the domestic produce is available in the market.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Since the weather is favorable for watermelon production in India round the year, watermelons are imported from the southern neighbour for twelve months. Baniya also added that the daily consumption of watermelon is around 50 tons.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">At present, the wholesale price of watermelon is Rs 30 to 40 per kg. Watermelon grows in hot terai areas, but its commercial cultivation has not been done in all places of Nepal. Baniyan says that the demand for watermelon is more in summer than in winter and the demand from hotels is more during winter.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Bhavna Adhikari (Pokharel), director of Jhapa-based Paradise Agro Firm, said that there has not been watermelon production this year. She says that the production has decreased because the seeds did not ripen on time.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">She claimed that even after production, watermelons do not find market. So, the farmers' interest in its cultivation is also declining.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Nutritionist Supriya Bhattarai says that as watermelon contains 92 percent water along with vitamin 'A' and 'anti-oxidant', it is very beneficial for health. According to her, in addition to giving benefits to immunity, its seeds also contain nutrients such as folate, iron, zinc, copper, magnesium, potassium, amino acids and vitamin 'B' in abundance.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">These nutrients boost the body's natural metabolism. It is considered very good for common people to eat 150 grams of watermelon daily, says Bhattarai.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-22', 'modified' => '2023-02-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16831', 'image' => '20230222030203_Juicy-Watermelon-2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-22 15:01:24', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17092', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'More than 64,000 Nepalis Receive Work Permits in One Month', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 22: More than 64,000 Nepali nationals received work permits for foreign employment in the month of Magh (mid-January to mid-February).', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">February 22: More than 64,000 Nepali nationals received work permits for foreign employment in the month of Magh (mid-January to mid-February). Most of them had applied for work permit in Malaysia, one of the major labour destinations of Nepali migrant workers.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to the Department of Foreign Employment, a total of 64,284 people, including 58,447 men and 5,837 women, took work permits for foreign employment in the review month.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">This figure represents those who took individual work permits for the first time to work abroad as well as institutional work permits and renewal of work permits. The number of Nepalis who have received new labor permits is 39,124. According to the department, it includes 4,266 women and 34,858 men.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Most of them are those who have taken work permit to go to Malaysia. A total of 19,783 people have received work permits for Malaysia. Similarly, 12,704 people have taken work permit to go to Qatar, 10,576 people for Saudi Arabia, 9,770 people for the UAE and 2,992 people for Kuwait.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Similarly, 417 have acquired work permits for Cyprus, 471 for Croatia, 882 for Japan, 270 for Malta, 720 for Poland, 45 for Portugal and 804 for Romania, the department said.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-22', 'modified' => '2023-02-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16830', 'image' => '20230222015437_1676986110.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-22 13:53:57', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17091', 'article_category_id' => '266', 'title' => 'Hertz to Expand its Service in Nepal in Collaboration with President Travel and Tours', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 22: Hertz, an internationally renowned rental car service provider, is preparing to expand its business in Nepal in collaboration with President Travel and Tours Private Limited.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">February 22: Hertz, an internationally renowned rental car service provider, is preparing to expand its business in Nepal in collaboration with President Travel and Tours Private Limited.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Issuing a joint press statement, Hertz said it has appointed President Travel and Tours as its official representative in Nepal.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">President Travel and Tours has been facilitating Nepalis for travelling abroad in various countries. It has been collaborating with Malaysian Airlines, RailEurope and CWT and is planning to work together with Hertz as well as Thrifty, Dollar Car Rental and Ace.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">After the agreement, Nepalis can avail the services provided by Hertz through President Travel and Tours. Nepali nationals can rent a car from Hertz at affordable rates during any trip.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Hertz officials believe this collaboration with President Travel and Tours, which is recognized by the IATA, will help provide reliable service to the tourists.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, Managing Director of President Group of Companies Bhola Bikram Thapa said that this partnership has opened new avenues and they are ready to implement the agreement.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">“We are excited to work as the representative of Hertz. We have got an opportunity to work with a reputed and renowned company,” the statement quoted Thapa as saying.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">“We are committed to provide world-class service under this partnership.”</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-22', 'modified' => '2023-02-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16829', 'image' => '20230222125842_Image 2023-02-15 at 2.28.51 PM.jpeg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-22 12:57:49', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17090', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Dr Ruit Feted with Isa Award for Service to Humanity ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 22: Senior ophthalmologist and executive director of Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology, Dr Sanduk Ruit, has been honoured with the Isa Award for Service to Humanity, a prestigious award of Bahrain. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">February 22: Senior ophthalmologist and executive director of Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology, Dr Sanduk Ruit, has been honoured with the Isa Award for Service to Humanity, a prestigious award of Bahrain. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the Institute's public relation officer Sunita KC, Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa honoured Dr Ruit amid a programme organized in Bahrain on Tuesday. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The award carrying a purse of USD 1 million has been conferred on Dr Ruit in recognition of his contribution for eliminating blindness through (cataract) surgery. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The award instituted in the name of former King of Bahrain, Sheikh Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa in 2009 is being distributed by the Isa Award for Service to Humanity for those contributing remarkably for humanity. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Altogether 145 organizations and candidates from across the world had applied for the award. Dr Ruit was selected from the six short-listed candidates, it was shared. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Dr Ruit has devised a new method for treating cataracts. The institute that he leads has been producing intraocular lens of international standards in fairly low price to treat blindness. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-22', 'modified' => '2023-02-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16828', 'image' => '20230222123817_ruit.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-22 12:37:28', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17089', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Surya Nepal Western Open Tees Off', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 22: Surya Nepal Western Open, the fourth tournament under the Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2022-23, teed off today (Wednesday) at the Himalayan Golf Course in Pokhara.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">February 22: Surya Nepal Western Open, the fourth tournament under the Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2022-23, teed off today (Wednesday) at the Himalayan Golf Course in Pokhara.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Altogether 31 professional and 14 amateur golfers are participating in the tournament organized by the Professional Golfers Association Nepal and sponsored by Surya Nepal Pvt Ltd.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to the organisers, the winner of the competition will receive a purse of Rs 140,000, the runner-up will bag Rs 90,000 and the third position holder will walk away with Rs 67,000. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Similarly, the organizers informed that cash prizes have been arranged for the top 21 players. This is the 23rd edition of Surya Nepal Western Open.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-22', 'modified' => '2023-02-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16827', 'image' => '20230222120715_snw.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-22 12:06:29', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17088', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Clean Sweeps Triangular Series with Victory over Scotland ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 22: Nepal made a clean sweep in the triangular one-day series against Scotland and Namibia under the ICC Men's One-day World Cup League 2 on Tuesday. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">February 22: Nepal made a clean sweep in the triangular one-day series against Scotland and Namibia under the ICC Men's One-day World Cup League 2 on Tuesday. Nepal maintained its perfect record on home turf in the fourth and last match of the series held at TU Cricket Ground on Tuesday defeating Scotland by 2 wickets to finish the series undefeated.</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"">After winning the toss and inviting Scotland to bat first, Nepal restricted the visitors to 212 runs taking all their wickets in 46.1 overs. In reply, Nepal reached the target of 213 runs losing 8 wickets in 44.1 overs. </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"">Nepal’s captain Rohit Kumar Paudel scored an unbeaten 95 runs while Karan KC remained not out with 31 runs to ensure a nail-biting victory after an initial setback, reported the state-owned RSS. The home team had lost 8 wickets when KC joined his captain in the 32nd over with only 138 runs on board. The ninth wicket partnership between the two remained unbroken with player-of-the-match Paudel hitting a four to close the innings for the fourth win in as many matches. </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"">Former captain Gyanendra Malla contributed 21 runs while Kushal Malla and Ashif Sheikh scored 17 and 12 runs respectively. </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"">Scotland’s Mark Watt took 3 wickets and Chris Graves took 2 wickets. </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"">Earlier, George Munsey was the top-scorer for Scotland with 60 runs before being bowled out by rape-accused Sandeep Lamichhane, who took 4 wickets. Lamichhane, who has been released on bail from jail, has played a crucial role in Nepal’s victory. Scotland players had refused to shake hands with Lamichhane and had also notified Cricket Association of Nepal about the decision.</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, Matthew Cross scored 42, Brandon McMullen scored 31 while Kyle Kotzer and Christopher McBride scored 22 runs each. </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"">For Nepal, Karan KC took 3 wickets while Lalit Narayan Rajbanshi and Kushal Malla took one wicket each. </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"">In their first match of the series, Nepal had defeated Scotland by 3 wickets. Nepal also defeated Namibia twice, by 2 wickets and 3 wickets respectively. </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"">Two head-turning run chases from Nepal on home soil have opened up the Cricket World Cup League 2 top-three race, wrote Daniel Beswick on ICC’s official website.</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"">Nepal in the sixth place in the league with 26 points from 28 matches. Namibia is in the third position with 37 points. Scotland has been declared the winner of League 2 with 50 points from 36 matches. </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 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2 is a two-and-half-year competition involving seven teams that are two steps away from the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023</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"">Men’s CWC League 2 - which sits one tier under the Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League - will see 21 tri-series played. Participating teams Namibia, Nepal, Oman, Papua New Guinea, Scotland, United Arab Emirates and United States of America will play 36 One Day Internationals each on the Road to India 2023.</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' => '2023-02-22', 'modified' => '2023-02-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16826', 'image' => '20230222092218_table.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-22 09:21:23', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17087', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Aircraft about to Take Off Returns back to Parking Way ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 22: An airplane of Saurya Airlines which was about to takeoff for Biratnagar from Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) on Tuesday returned to the parking-way after detection of a problem. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">February 22: An airplane of Saurya Airlines which was about to takeoff for Biratnagar from Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) on Tuesday returned to the parking-way after detection of a problem. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to airport sources, the aircraft returned after its indicator signalled a problem when the plane had reached near the runway for the take off. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The aircraft with flight number SAU 721 had reached near the runway after boarding the passengers when its indicator signaled a glitch, said TIA spokesperson Teknath Sitaula. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to him, it is not clear what problem was seen in the airplane. The plane is presently kept at the parking-way. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">TIA authorities have said the permission for flight would be issued only after the engineers of the airlines examine the problem in the aircraft and inform them that the plane is fit for flying. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-22', 'modified' => '2023-02-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16825', 'image' => '20230222085608_20170313010057_saurya.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-22 08:54:41', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17086', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Bagmati Bharat Lake Turning Into Tourist Hub ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'An under construction Bharat Lake located in wards No 4 and 12 of Bagmati Municipality has turned a tourist destination in Sarlahi. The under construction lake is increasingly luring domestic and foreign tourists.', 'content' => '<div> <div> <div> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> February 22: An under construction Bharat Lake located in wards No 4 and 12 of Bagmati Municipality has turned a tourist destination in Sarlahi. The under construction lake is increasingly luring domestic and foreign tourists.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Bagmati Municipality Mayor Bharat Kumar Thapa says that his municipality has already spent 980 million for the lake construction so far. “The lake requires extra Rs 1 billion budget for its completion and plans are afoot to develop the project as multi-purpose one,” said Mayor Thapa.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Under the multi-purpose project, a hotel with modern picnic spots, jungle safari, Sumeru Parbat with the temple of Shiva and Parbati, Funpark, mini casino is being constructed, according to Chair Om Bahadur Shrestha of Ward No 12.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Shrestha said that the municipality was developing Bharat Lake as its major source of income. “We are planning to develop the lake as the tourist hub of the Madhes province,” Shrestha added.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The municipality has completed only 20-25 per cent of the construction work in the lake. The municipality has started keeping fish and ducks in the lake to increase its income. “The municipality is working to finish the lake in three years,” Mayor Thapa said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The municipality has operated multi-purpose project in 121 bigaha of the land where lake construction is underway. </span></span></span><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Tourists from Nepal and India are visiting the under construction lake. “We are constructing the physical structures that can attract 6 million tourists in a year,” said the municipality.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Around 500 people are employed in the lake right now. As many 40 big and small boats are operating in the lake at the moment.</span></span></span></p> </div> <div> </div> <div> </div> </div> </div> <div> </div> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-22', 'modified' => '2023-02-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16824', 'image' => '20230222061500_collage - 2023-02-21T181451.011.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-22 06:07:19', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = falsesimplexml_load_file - [internal], line ?? include - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 60 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
Notice (8): Undefined variable: file [APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 133]Code Context// $file = 'http://aabhiyan:QUVLg8Wzs2F7G9N7@nepalstock.com.np/api/subindexdata.xml';if(!$xml = simplexml_load_file($file)){$viewFile = '/var/www/html/newbusinessage.com/app/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'articles' => array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ) ), 'current_user' => null, 'logged_in' => false ) $articles = array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17100', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'India’s Assistance for Small Projects Declining', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 23: The investment of the Indian government in small projects through the embassy has decreased recently.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">February 23: The investment of the Indian government in small projects through the embassy has decreased recently. Before 2015, the Indian government used to support at least 6-7 projects. But the Indian Embassy signed MoU and invested in just six projects in the last four years.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">From the year 2003, direct investments were made in small projects under the name of Small Development Project (SDP) with the direct involvement of the Indian Embassy under which it used to directly give up to a maximum of Rs 50 million to small development projects like schools and health centers through the District Development Committee. However, after the government tightened the selection and spending criteria, such support stopped coming from India. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the Ministry of Federal Affairs and Local Development, currently only three projects are signed under the SDP. Currently, the local levels of Udayapur, Dhading, Solukhumbu districts have signed MoU for Indian assistance under the SDP project, according to Rudrasingh Tamang, joint secretary of the ministry.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Before the country adopted a federal setup, the programs were implemented directly through the district development committee. However, after the promulgation of the new constitution, the sole right to investment in such projects was authorized to the federal government. Therefore India could not give the funds directly after the new constitution came into effect.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Officials of the Ministry of Finance say that India has not shown much interest in carrying out the projects recommended under the new arrangement. A senior official of finance informed that although they have recommended about 150 projects for the last 4 years after consulting the local level, only 6 to 7 projects have moved forward with MoU.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the official, all the remaining projects are put on hold. Dozens of previously run projects are stalled recently due to lack of Indian support. The Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration has the authority to regulate the SDP program along with the Ministry of Finance.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">After the country went into federalism, the program halted for almost 6 years because it was not clear how to get the investment under this support of the Indian Embassy. Three years ago, the government under the leadership of KP Sharma Oli extended the deadline for the continuation of the SDP program until August 2023 by making the criteria for the SDP program to be invested by the Indian Embassy. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Former Foreign Secretary Madhuraman Acharya takes the decline in Indian assistance as a positive thing after the government tightened the policy. He said, “There is no need to continue receiving help from others in small projects that Nepal can undertake itself.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the standards implemented by the government, India can conduct programs and projects under the SDP run with the support of the government of India in direct coordination with the government of Nepal, from building construction of community schools to waste management. Under the SDP, India can invest in small infrastructure projects such as community school buildings, early childhood development centers, libraries, hospitals, health centers, yoga centers, blood transfusion centers, and maternity homes.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, India can also invest in water supply projects and construction of agricultural infrastructure. With the government clarifying the areas of investment, India can now invest in such programs in coordination with the local level. Currently, the local level is responsible for plan selection to implementation.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">A detailed project report (DPR) has to be prepared while selecting the plan. There is a provision that 20 percent investment of the local level must be mandatory in the project to be conducted with Indian investment. The then government decided that the letter of commitment must be sent to the Ministry of Federal Affairs. </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-23', 'modified' => '2023-02-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16838', 'image' => '20230223104946_1677031240.14.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-23 10:49:05', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17099', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Pilots at Fault in Jomsom Plane Crash: Report ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 23: An Air Crash Investigation Commission formed by the government to investigate the crash of Tara Air plane near Jomsom in Mustang district around nine months ago has pointed out the mistake of the aircraft crew members for the fatal accident.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">February 23: An Air Crash Investigation Commission formed by the government to investigate the crash of Tara Air plane near Jomsom in Mustang district around nine months ago has pointed out the mistake of the aircraft crew members for the fatal accident.</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"">Twenty-two passengers including three crew members were killed when Tara Air’s Twin-Otter with call sign 9N-AET flying to Jomsom from Pokhara met with the accident in Mustang on May 29, 2022. </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 commission submitted its final report of the investigation to Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Sudan Kirati on Wednesday. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The report states that the Terrain Avoidance and Warning System (TAWS) that gives information about the mountain ahead and its risk was turned off in the aircraft, leading to the accident. </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 crew members did not get any information of the aircraft’s proximity with the terrain because the system was shut,” reads the report. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The government had formed Air Crash Investigation Commission under leadership of former Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) Ratish Chandra Lal Suman on May 30. Captain Dipu Jwarchan, senior maintenance engineer Upendra Lal Shrestha, and senior meteorologist Mani Ratna Shakya were the members of the commission while Buddhi Sagar Lamichhane was appointed as the member-secretary. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The report states that the plane hit a mountain after the crew members failed to utilize the TAWS system installed in the aircraft in an appropriate manner. -- RSS </span><br /> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-23', 'modified' => '2023-02-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16837', 'image' => '20230223095638_IMG_20170214_063210-2-scaled.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-23 09:55:46', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17098', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'School, Health Post and Houses Damaged in Bajura Earthquake', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 23: A school, two health posts and several houses were damaged in the 5.2 magnitude earthquake that struck Bichhya in Himali Rural Municipality of Bajura district on Wednesday afternoon. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">February 23: A school, two health posts and several houses were damaged in the 5.2 magnitude earthquake that struck Bichhya in Himali Rural Municipality of Bajura district on Wednesday afternoon. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Chief District Officer Pushkar Khadka confirmed that two health centers and one school in Himali Rural Municipality 1, 3 and 5 were damaged by the earthquake. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, the child development building in ward no 1 of the rural municipality has been completely destroyed. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">“Eight houses have been damaged and the details of the damage are being collected,” said chair of the rural municipality, Gobindra Bahadur Malla. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the District Police Office Bajura, the two-storied houses of Purna Prasad Pandey and Harichandra Pandey in the ward no 4 of the same rural municipality were completely damaged by the earthquake. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-23', 'modified' => '2023-02-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16836', 'image' => '20230223092331_earth.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-23 09:22:48', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17097', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Aatmanirbhar Laghubitta Opens Sale of Its Public Offering ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Aatmanirbhar Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited has open sale of its Initial Public Offering (IPO) to general public from Thursday. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px">February 23: Aatmanirbhar Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited has opened sale of its Initial Public Offering (IPO) to general public from Thursday. Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha is issuing 1,69,755 units of shares worth Rs 1,69,75,500 to the general public at a face value to Rs 100.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">In the first phase, the laghubitta bittiya sanstha had issued 20,338 shares, which is ten per cent of the total 2,03,380 units of shares set aside for the public, to the Nepali citizens working in foreign countries. The IPO for the migrant workers has already been allotted.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Of the total shares set aside for public issuance, 3,117 shares have been reserved for laghubitta’s employees whereas 10,170 shares have been set aside to the mutual fund schemes.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Sunrise Capital is the issue and sales manager. Interest individuals can apply for a minimum of 10 shares and a maximum of 1000 units of shares. The public offering will close on Falgun 15. Since laghubitta company’s IPO receives overwhelming response from the investors, the company may not extend the deadline.</span><br /> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Interested individuals can apply for the IPO through all CASBA approved banks and financial institutions by the Securities Board of Nepal (SEBON). They can also apply for the IPO through Mero Share .</span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-23', 'modified' => '2023-02-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16835', 'image' => '20230223062756_collage (8) (1).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-23 06:23:39', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17096', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Trade Deficit Hits Rs 825 Billion in Six Months ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 22: Nepal's total trade deficit has crossed Rs 825.73 billion in the first six months of the current fiscal year. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">February 22: Nepal's total trade deficit has crossed Rs 825.73 billion in the first six months of the current fiscal year. The half-yearly review of the current Fiscal Year (FY 2022/23) by the Department of Customs shows that Nepal's foreign trade was equivalent to total Rs 1012.59 billion as of February 12. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Of this volume of foreign trade, the country imported goods and services worth Rs 919.16 billion and exported goods and services worth only Rs 93.43 billion. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Out of the total foreign trade of Nepal during this period, 90.77 per cent accounted for imports while only 9.23 per cent comprised of exports.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The country raised customs revenue amounting to Rs 212.12 billion from foreign trade during the review period. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Nepal's total foreign trade decreased by 20.84 per cent in volume in the six months of the current fiscal year as compared to the foreign trade during the corresponding period of the last fiscal year (FY 2021/22). </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, the country’s import figure has dropped by 19.90 per cent while exports dropped by 29 per cent compared to the last fiscal year. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">India is Nepal's largest trading partner. Nepal imported goods worth Rs 570.96 billion from India until February 12 of the current fiscal year starting July 17, 2022. Nepal's export to India during this period was equivalent to Rs 66.22 billion. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, Nepal's imports from China amounted to Rs 125.52 billion and exports to Rs 422.6 million only during the six months' period. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Indonesia was the third largest trade partner of Nepal during this period. The import from Indonesia amounted to Rs 57.90 billion while exports amounted to only Rs 103.60 million during this period. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Nepal imported the highest amount of petroleum products until February 12 of the current fiscal year. According to the department, the country imported diesel worth Rs 84.61 billion, petrol worth Rs 38.73 billion and LPG worth Rs 33.34 billion in the last six months. The country imported crude soybean oil worth Rs 26.42 billion during the same period. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-22', 'modified' => '2023-02-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16834', 'image' => '20230222061525_Trade.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-22 18:14:42', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17095', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Shuklaphanta Festival Kicks off in Kanchanpur ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'In a bid to attract more tourists, the Shuklaphanta Festival kicked off in the Shuklaphanta National Park in Kanchnapur district on Wednesday.', 'content' => '<p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">February 22: In a bid to attract more tourists, the Shuklaphanta Festival kicked off in the Shuklaphanta National Park in Kanchnapur district on Wednesday.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">The Bhimdutta Municipality organized the Festival aiming to promote the National Park that spreads in an area of 305 square kilometres in the south-eastern part of Kanchanpur district.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">The national park is home to a wide variety of flora, faunas and rich vegetation. The Park, which was a hunting reserve initially in the 1969, was turned into a National Park in 2017, said the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">District Coordination Committee Kanchanpur Chief Durga Dutta Bohara inaugurated the festival and stressed the need to develop the National Park as a tourist destination. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">"We have rare species of wildlife in our Shuklaphanta National Park. It is imperative we promote this Park and develop this place as the destination for foreign and domestic tourists," said Bohara. He urged everyone to work for the promotion of tourism in the park. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Bhimdutta Municipality Mayor Padam Bogati expressed confidence that the festival would help in the tourism development in the district. “If the dry port, Mahakali Corridor, Majhgaun Airport, and Daijichhela Industrial Area are operated, the tourism business here will boom,” Bogati said. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Similarly, Pitamber Joshi, President of Kanchanpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry, argued that the local government should bring forward tourism promotion programmes in coordination of the private sector. He argued that the government should ensure an easy access to tourism destinations apart from putting in place necessary amenities. <br /> The 10-day festival will feature discussions, a secondary school level oratory competition on the importance of tourism and tourism conservation, sight-seeing excursions, observation of herds of blackbuck and tourism promotional events, said the organizers. </span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-22', 'modified' => '2023-02-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16833', 'image' => '20230222060733_collage - 2023-02-22T180508.638.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-22 18:03:03', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17094', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Fresh Earthquake Strikes Bajura', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'An earthquake has struck Bajura on Wednesday. Nearly a month after a 5.9-magnitude tremor hit the district on January 24, a fresh quake struck Bajura at 1:45 pm on Wednesday.', 'content' => '<p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">February 22: An earthquake has struck Bajura on Wednesday. Nearly a month after a 5.9-magnitude tremor hit the district on January 24, a fresh quake struck Bajura at 1:45 pm on Wednesday.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"> According to the Seismological Research and Measurement Centre Surkhet, the tremor measured 5.2 on the Richter scale with its epicenter at Bichchhya of Himali Rural Municipality struck the district. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">The tremor was felt in the hilly districts of the Sudurpaschim province, including Bajura, Bajhang, Achham. The earthquake has left the locals panicked. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Local people worry that the earthquake might damage their thatched houses. People affected by the earlier earthquake have not yet got the relief nor have they been rehabilitated. Details regarding the possible damage by the earthquake are yet to be received. </span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-22', 'modified' => '2023-02-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16832', 'image' => '20230222043112_collage - 2023-02-22T163044.309.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-22 16:29:10', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17093', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Import of Watermelons has Doubled in Six Months of Current FY', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 22: Nepal imported watermelons worth Rs 139.1 million in the first six months of the current fiscal year.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">February 22: Nepal imported watermelons worth Rs 139.1 million in the first six months of the current fiscal year. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to the data of the Department of Customs, Nepal imported around 51,84,329 kg of watermelons during this period. In the same period of last year, Nepal imported 23,03,188 kg of watermelons worth Rs 62.7 million. Compared to the same period last year, the import of watermelon has doubled this year.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">In Nepal, the annual import of this fruit, which can be easily grown on the banks of rivers and in fields, is increasing by two folds every two years.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">In the fiscal year 2076/77, Nepal imported 1,14,70,568 kilograms of watermelons worth Rs 296.3 million. In the fiscal year 2077/78, a total of 1,67,29,502 kg of watermelons worth Rs 415.63 million were imported into the country.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">During the last fiscal year (FY 2078/79), Nepal imported 2,16,04,453 kilograms of watermelons worth 562.6 million which is almost double the imports in 2076/77 in terms of both the value and quantity of imports. The data shows that the annual import of watermelon is doubling every two years.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Amar Baniya, President of Kuleshwar Fruit Market, told New Business Age that the commercial production of watermelon in Nepal is not able to meet the local demand and the quality of the produce is also not good.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">He says that the demand for watermelon is also high because of health benefits and its consumption has increased because there is even more demand for it in big hotels. However, Nepali farmers have not been able to benefits from the increasing consumption of watermelons due to the lack of production in Nepal. Baniya said that due to lack of domestic production, they have to import watermelons from India to meet the demand.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">This year, the farmers of Nepal are not able to produce watermelon so far. He says that because the watermelons of Nepal are available only in May and June, the market demand is met by imported watermelons from India before the domestic produce is available in the market.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Since the weather is favorable for watermelon production in India round the year, watermelons are imported from the southern neighbour for twelve months. Baniya also added that the daily consumption of watermelon is around 50 tons.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">At present, the wholesale price of watermelon is Rs 30 to 40 per kg. Watermelon grows in hot terai areas, but its commercial cultivation has not been done in all places of Nepal. Baniyan says that the demand for watermelon is more in summer than in winter and the demand from hotels is more during winter.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Bhavna Adhikari (Pokharel), director of Jhapa-based Paradise Agro Firm, said that there has not been watermelon production this year. She says that the production has decreased because the seeds did not ripen on time.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">She claimed that even after production, watermelons do not find market. So, the farmers' interest in its cultivation is also declining.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Nutritionist Supriya Bhattarai says that as watermelon contains 92 percent water along with vitamin 'A' and 'anti-oxidant', it is very beneficial for health. According to her, in addition to giving benefits to immunity, its seeds also contain nutrients such as folate, iron, zinc, copper, magnesium, potassium, amino acids and vitamin 'B' in abundance.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">These nutrients boost the body's natural metabolism. It is considered very good for common people to eat 150 grams of watermelon daily, says Bhattarai.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-22', 'modified' => '2023-02-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16831', 'image' => '20230222030203_Juicy-Watermelon-2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-22 15:01:24', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17092', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'More than 64,000 Nepalis Receive Work Permits in One Month', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 22: More than 64,000 Nepali nationals received work permits for foreign employment in the month of Magh (mid-January to mid-February).', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">February 22: More than 64,000 Nepali nationals received work permits for foreign employment in the month of Magh (mid-January to mid-February). Most of them had applied for work permit in Malaysia, one of the major labour destinations of Nepali migrant workers.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to the Department of Foreign Employment, a total of 64,284 people, including 58,447 men and 5,837 women, took work permits for foreign employment in the review month.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">This figure represents those who took individual work permits for the first time to work abroad as well as institutional work permits and renewal of work permits. The number of Nepalis who have received new labor permits is 39,124. According to the department, it includes 4,266 women and 34,858 men.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Most of them are those who have taken work permit to go to Malaysia. A total of 19,783 people have received work permits for Malaysia. Similarly, 12,704 people have taken work permit to go to Qatar, 10,576 people for Saudi Arabia, 9,770 people for the UAE and 2,992 people for Kuwait.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Similarly, 417 have acquired work permits for Cyprus, 471 for Croatia, 882 for Japan, 270 for Malta, 720 for Poland, 45 for Portugal and 804 for Romania, the department said.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-22', 'modified' => '2023-02-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16830', 'image' => '20230222015437_1676986110.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-22 13:53:57', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17091', 'article_category_id' => '266', 'title' => 'Hertz to Expand its Service in Nepal in Collaboration with President Travel and Tours', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 22: Hertz, an internationally renowned rental car service provider, is preparing to expand its business in Nepal in collaboration with President Travel and Tours Private Limited.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">February 22: Hertz, an internationally renowned rental car service provider, is preparing to expand its business in Nepal in collaboration with President Travel and Tours Private Limited.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Issuing a joint press statement, Hertz said it has appointed President Travel and Tours as its official representative in Nepal.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">President Travel and Tours has been facilitating Nepalis for travelling abroad in various countries. It has been collaborating with Malaysian Airlines, RailEurope and CWT and is planning to work together with Hertz as well as Thrifty, Dollar Car Rental and Ace.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">After the agreement, Nepalis can avail the services provided by Hertz through President Travel and Tours. Nepali nationals can rent a car from Hertz at affordable rates during any trip.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Hertz officials believe this collaboration with President Travel and Tours, which is recognized by the IATA, will help provide reliable service to the tourists.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, Managing Director of President Group of Companies Bhola Bikram Thapa said that this partnership has opened new avenues and they are ready to implement the agreement.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">“We are excited to work as the representative of Hertz. We have got an opportunity to work with a reputed and renowned company,” the statement quoted Thapa as saying.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">“We are committed to provide world-class service under this partnership.”</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-22', 'modified' => '2023-02-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16829', 'image' => '20230222125842_Image 2023-02-15 at 2.28.51 PM.jpeg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-22 12:57:49', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17090', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Dr Ruit Feted with Isa Award for Service to Humanity ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 22: Senior ophthalmologist and executive director of Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology, Dr Sanduk Ruit, has been honoured with the Isa Award for Service to Humanity, a prestigious award of Bahrain. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">February 22: Senior ophthalmologist and executive director of Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology, Dr Sanduk Ruit, has been honoured with the Isa Award for Service to Humanity, a prestigious award of Bahrain. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the Institute's public relation officer Sunita KC, Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa honoured Dr Ruit amid a programme organized in Bahrain on Tuesday. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The award carrying a purse of USD 1 million has been conferred on Dr Ruit in recognition of his contribution for eliminating blindness through (cataract) surgery. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The award instituted in the name of former King of Bahrain, Sheikh Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa in 2009 is being distributed by the Isa Award for Service to Humanity for those contributing remarkably for humanity. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Altogether 145 organizations and candidates from across the world had applied for the award. Dr Ruit was selected from the six short-listed candidates, it was shared. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Dr Ruit has devised a new method for treating cataracts. The institute that he leads has been producing intraocular lens of international standards in fairly low price to treat blindness. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-22', 'modified' => '2023-02-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16828', 'image' => '20230222123817_ruit.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-22 12:37:28', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17089', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Surya Nepal Western Open Tees Off', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 22: Surya Nepal Western Open, the fourth tournament under the Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2022-23, teed off today (Wednesday) at the Himalayan Golf Course in Pokhara.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">February 22: Surya Nepal Western Open, the fourth tournament under the Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2022-23, teed off today (Wednesday) at the Himalayan Golf Course in Pokhara.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Altogether 31 professional and 14 amateur golfers are participating in the tournament organized by the Professional Golfers Association Nepal and sponsored by Surya Nepal Pvt Ltd.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to the organisers, the winner of the competition will receive a purse of Rs 140,000, the runner-up will bag Rs 90,000 and the third position holder will walk away with Rs 67,000. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Similarly, the organizers informed that cash prizes have been arranged for the top 21 players. This is the 23rd edition of Surya Nepal Western Open.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-22', 'modified' => '2023-02-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16827', 'image' => '20230222120715_snw.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-22 12:06:29', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17088', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Clean Sweeps Triangular Series with Victory over Scotland ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 22: Nepal made a clean sweep in the triangular one-day series against Scotland and Namibia under the ICC Men's One-day World Cup League 2 on Tuesday. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">February 22: Nepal made a clean sweep in the triangular one-day series against Scotland and Namibia under the ICC Men's One-day World Cup League 2 on Tuesday. Nepal maintained its perfect record on home turf in the fourth and last match of the series held at TU Cricket Ground on Tuesday defeating Scotland by 2 wickets to finish the series undefeated.</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"">After winning the toss and inviting Scotland to bat first, Nepal restricted the visitors to 212 runs taking all their wickets in 46.1 overs. In reply, Nepal reached the target of 213 runs losing 8 wickets in 44.1 overs. </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"">Nepal’s captain Rohit Kumar Paudel scored an unbeaten 95 runs while Karan KC remained not out with 31 runs to ensure a nail-biting victory after an initial setback, reported the state-owned RSS. The home team had lost 8 wickets when KC joined his captain in the 32nd over with only 138 runs on board. The ninth wicket partnership between the two remained unbroken with player-of-the-match Paudel hitting a four to close the innings for the fourth win in as many matches. </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"">Former captain Gyanendra Malla contributed 21 runs while Kushal Malla and Ashif Sheikh scored 17 and 12 runs respectively. </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"">Scotland’s Mark Watt took 3 wickets and Chris Graves took 2 wickets. </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"">Earlier, George Munsey was the top-scorer for Scotland with 60 runs before being bowled out by rape-accused Sandeep Lamichhane, who took 4 wickets. Lamichhane, who has been released on bail from jail, has played a crucial role in Nepal’s victory. Scotland players had refused to shake hands with Lamichhane and had also notified Cricket Association of Nepal about the decision.</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, Matthew Cross scored 42, Brandon McMullen scored 31 while Kyle Kotzer and Christopher McBride scored 22 runs each. </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"">For Nepal, Karan KC took 3 wickets while Lalit Narayan Rajbanshi and Kushal Malla took one wicket each. </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"">In their first match of the series, Nepal had defeated Scotland by 3 wickets. Nepal also defeated Namibia twice, by 2 wickets and 3 wickets respectively. </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"">Two head-turning run chases from Nepal on home soil have opened up the Cricket World Cup League 2 top-three race, wrote Daniel Beswick on ICC’s official website.</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"">Nepal in the sixth place in the league with 26 points from 28 matches. Namibia is in the third position with 37 points. Scotland has been declared the winner of League 2 with 50 points from 36 matches. </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 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2 is a two-and-half-year competition involving seven teams that are two steps away from the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023</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"">Men’s CWC League 2 - which sits one tier under the Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League - will see 21 tri-series played. Participating teams Namibia, Nepal, Oman, Papua New Guinea, Scotland, United Arab Emirates and United States of America will play 36 One Day Internationals each on the Road to India 2023.</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' => '2023-02-22', 'modified' => '2023-02-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16826', 'image' => '20230222092218_table.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-22 09:21:23', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17087', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Aircraft about to Take Off Returns back to Parking Way ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 22: An airplane of Saurya Airlines which was about to takeoff for Biratnagar from Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) on Tuesday returned to the parking-way after detection of a problem. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">February 22: An airplane of Saurya Airlines which was about to takeoff for Biratnagar from Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) on Tuesday returned to the parking-way after detection of a problem. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to airport sources, the aircraft returned after its indicator signalled a problem when the plane had reached near the runway for the take off. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The aircraft with flight number SAU 721 had reached near the runway after boarding the passengers when its indicator signaled a glitch, said TIA spokesperson Teknath Sitaula. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to him, it is not clear what problem was seen in the airplane. The plane is presently kept at the parking-way. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">TIA authorities have said the permission for flight would be issued only after the engineers of the airlines examine the problem in the aircraft and inform them that the plane is fit for flying. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-22', 'modified' => '2023-02-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16825', 'image' => '20230222085608_20170313010057_saurya.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-22 08:54:41', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17086', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Bagmati Bharat Lake Turning Into Tourist Hub ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'An under construction Bharat Lake located in wards No 4 and 12 of Bagmati Municipality has turned a tourist destination in Sarlahi. The under construction lake is increasingly luring domestic and foreign tourists.', 'content' => '<div> <div> <div> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> February 22: An under construction Bharat Lake located in wards No 4 and 12 of Bagmati Municipality has turned a tourist destination in Sarlahi. The under construction lake is increasingly luring domestic and foreign tourists.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Bagmati Municipality Mayor Bharat Kumar Thapa says that his municipality has already spent 980 million for the lake construction so far. “The lake requires extra Rs 1 billion budget for its completion and plans are afoot to develop the project as multi-purpose one,” said Mayor Thapa.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Under the multi-purpose project, a hotel with modern picnic spots, jungle safari, Sumeru Parbat with the temple of Shiva and Parbati, Funpark, mini casino is being constructed, according to Chair Om Bahadur Shrestha of Ward No 12.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Shrestha said that the municipality was developing Bharat Lake as its major source of income. “We are planning to develop the lake as the tourist hub of the Madhes province,” Shrestha added.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The municipality has completed only 20-25 per cent of the construction work in the lake. The municipality has started keeping fish and ducks in the lake to increase its income. “The municipality is working to finish the lake in three years,” Mayor Thapa said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The municipality has operated multi-purpose project in 121 bigaha of the land where lake construction is underway. </span></span></span><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Tourists from Nepal and India are visiting the under construction lake. “We are constructing the physical structures that can attract 6 million tourists in a year,” said the municipality.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Around 500 people are employed in the lake right now. As many 40 big and small boats are operating in the lake at the moment.</span></span></span></p> </div> <div> </div> <div> </div> </div> </div> <div> </div> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-22', 'modified' => '2023-02-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16824', 'image' => '20230222061500_collage - 2023-02-21T181451.011.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-22 06:07:19', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = false $xml = falseinclude - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 133 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
Warning (2): simplexml_load_file() [<a href='http://php.net/function.simplexml-load-file'>function.simplexml-load-file</a>]: I/O warning : failed to load external entity "" [APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 133]file not found!Code Context// $file = 'http://aabhiyan:QUVLg8Wzs2F7G9N7@nepalstock.com.np/api/subindexdata.xml';if(!$xml = simplexml_load_file($file)){$viewFile = '/var/www/html/newbusinessage.com/app/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'articles' => array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ) ), 'current_user' => null, 'logged_in' => false ) $articles = array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17100', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'India’s Assistance for Small Projects Declining', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 23: The investment of the Indian government in small projects through the embassy has decreased recently.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">February 23: The investment of the Indian government in small projects through the embassy has decreased recently. Before 2015, the Indian government used to support at least 6-7 projects. But the Indian Embassy signed MoU and invested in just six projects in the last four years.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">From the year 2003, direct investments were made in small projects under the name of Small Development Project (SDP) with the direct involvement of the Indian Embassy under which it used to directly give up to a maximum of Rs 50 million to small development projects like schools and health centers through the District Development Committee. However, after the government tightened the selection and spending criteria, such support stopped coming from India. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the Ministry of Federal Affairs and Local Development, currently only three projects are signed under the SDP. Currently, the local levels of Udayapur, Dhading, Solukhumbu districts have signed MoU for Indian assistance under the SDP project, according to Rudrasingh Tamang, joint secretary of the ministry.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Before the country adopted a federal setup, the programs were implemented directly through the district development committee. However, after the promulgation of the new constitution, the sole right to investment in such projects was authorized to the federal government. Therefore India could not give the funds directly after the new constitution came into effect.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Officials of the Ministry of Finance say that India has not shown much interest in carrying out the projects recommended under the new arrangement. A senior official of finance informed that although they have recommended about 150 projects for the last 4 years after consulting the local level, only 6 to 7 projects have moved forward with MoU.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the official, all the remaining projects are put on hold. Dozens of previously run projects are stalled recently due to lack of Indian support. The Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration has the authority to regulate the SDP program along with the Ministry of Finance.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">After the country went into federalism, the program halted for almost 6 years because it was not clear how to get the investment under this support of the Indian Embassy. Three years ago, the government under the leadership of KP Sharma Oli extended the deadline for the continuation of the SDP program until August 2023 by making the criteria for the SDP program to be invested by the Indian Embassy. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Former Foreign Secretary Madhuraman Acharya takes the decline in Indian assistance as a positive thing after the government tightened the policy. He said, “There is no need to continue receiving help from others in small projects that Nepal can undertake itself.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the standards implemented by the government, India can conduct programs and projects under the SDP run with the support of the government of India in direct coordination with the government of Nepal, from building construction of community schools to waste management. Under the SDP, India can invest in small infrastructure projects such as community school buildings, early childhood development centers, libraries, hospitals, health centers, yoga centers, blood transfusion centers, and maternity homes.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, India can also invest in water supply projects and construction of agricultural infrastructure. With the government clarifying the areas of investment, India can now invest in such programs in coordination with the local level. Currently, the local level is responsible for plan selection to implementation.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">A detailed project report (DPR) has to be prepared while selecting the plan. There is a provision that 20 percent investment of the local level must be mandatory in the project to be conducted with Indian investment. The then government decided that the letter of commitment must be sent to the Ministry of Federal Affairs. </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-23', 'modified' => '2023-02-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16838', 'image' => '20230223104946_1677031240.14.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-23 10:49:05', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17099', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Pilots at Fault in Jomsom Plane Crash: Report ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 23: An Air Crash Investigation Commission formed by the government to investigate the crash of Tara Air plane near Jomsom in Mustang district around nine months ago has pointed out the mistake of the aircraft crew members for the fatal accident.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">February 23: An Air Crash Investigation Commission formed by the government to investigate the crash of Tara Air plane near Jomsom in Mustang district around nine months ago has pointed out the mistake of the aircraft crew members for the fatal accident.</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"">Twenty-two passengers including three crew members were killed when Tara Air’s Twin-Otter with call sign 9N-AET flying to Jomsom from Pokhara met with the accident in Mustang on May 29, 2022. </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 commission submitted its final report of the investigation to Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Sudan Kirati on Wednesday. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The report states that the Terrain Avoidance and Warning System (TAWS) that gives information about the mountain ahead and its risk was turned off in the aircraft, leading to the accident. </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 crew members did not get any information of the aircraft’s proximity with the terrain because the system was shut,” reads the report. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The government had formed Air Crash Investigation Commission under leadership of former Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) Ratish Chandra Lal Suman on May 30. Captain Dipu Jwarchan, senior maintenance engineer Upendra Lal Shrestha, and senior meteorologist Mani Ratna Shakya were the members of the commission while Buddhi Sagar Lamichhane was appointed as the member-secretary. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The report states that the plane hit a mountain after the crew members failed to utilize the TAWS system installed in the aircraft in an appropriate manner. -- RSS </span><br /> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-23', 'modified' => '2023-02-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16837', 'image' => '20230223095638_IMG_20170214_063210-2-scaled.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-23 09:55:46', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17098', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'School, Health Post and Houses Damaged in Bajura Earthquake', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 23: A school, two health posts and several houses were damaged in the 5.2 magnitude earthquake that struck Bichhya in Himali Rural Municipality of Bajura district on Wednesday afternoon. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">February 23: A school, two health posts and several houses were damaged in the 5.2 magnitude earthquake that struck Bichhya in Himali Rural Municipality of Bajura district on Wednesday afternoon. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Chief District Officer Pushkar Khadka confirmed that two health centers and one school in Himali Rural Municipality 1, 3 and 5 were damaged by the earthquake. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, the child development building in ward no 1 of the rural municipality has been completely destroyed. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">“Eight houses have been damaged and the details of the damage are being collected,” said chair of the rural municipality, Gobindra Bahadur Malla. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the District Police Office Bajura, the two-storied houses of Purna Prasad Pandey and Harichandra Pandey in the ward no 4 of the same rural municipality were completely damaged by the earthquake. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-23', 'modified' => '2023-02-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16836', 'image' => '20230223092331_earth.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-23 09:22:48', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17097', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Aatmanirbhar Laghubitta Opens Sale of Its Public Offering ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Aatmanirbhar Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited has open sale of its Initial Public Offering (IPO) to general public from Thursday. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px">February 23: Aatmanirbhar Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited has opened sale of its Initial Public Offering (IPO) to general public from Thursday. Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha is issuing 1,69,755 units of shares worth Rs 1,69,75,500 to the general public at a face value to Rs 100.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">In the first phase, the laghubitta bittiya sanstha had issued 20,338 shares, which is ten per cent of the total 2,03,380 units of shares set aside for the public, to the Nepali citizens working in foreign countries. The IPO for the migrant workers has already been allotted.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Of the total shares set aside for public issuance, 3,117 shares have been reserved for laghubitta’s employees whereas 10,170 shares have been set aside to the mutual fund schemes.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Sunrise Capital is the issue and sales manager. Interest individuals can apply for a minimum of 10 shares and a maximum of 1000 units of shares. The public offering will close on Falgun 15. Since laghubitta company’s IPO receives overwhelming response from the investors, the company may not extend the deadline.</span><br /> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Interested individuals can apply for the IPO through all CASBA approved banks and financial institutions by the Securities Board of Nepal (SEBON). They can also apply for the IPO through Mero Share .</span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-23', 'modified' => '2023-02-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16835', 'image' => '20230223062756_collage (8) (1).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-23 06:23:39', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17096', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Trade Deficit Hits Rs 825 Billion in Six Months ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 22: Nepal's total trade deficit has crossed Rs 825.73 billion in the first six months of the current fiscal year. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">February 22: Nepal's total trade deficit has crossed Rs 825.73 billion in the first six months of the current fiscal year. The half-yearly review of the current Fiscal Year (FY 2022/23) by the Department of Customs shows that Nepal's foreign trade was equivalent to total Rs 1012.59 billion as of February 12. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Of this volume of foreign trade, the country imported goods and services worth Rs 919.16 billion and exported goods and services worth only Rs 93.43 billion. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Out of the total foreign trade of Nepal during this period, 90.77 per cent accounted for imports while only 9.23 per cent comprised of exports.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The country raised customs revenue amounting to Rs 212.12 billion from foreign trade during the review period. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Nepal's total foreign trade decreased by 20.84 per cent in volume in the six months of the current fiscal year as compared to the foreign trade during the corresponding period of the last fiscal year (FY 2021/22). </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, the country’s import figure has dropped by 19.90 per cent while exports dropped by 29 per cent compared to the last fiscal year. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">India is Nepal's largest trading partner. Nepal imported goods worth Rs 570.96 billion from India until February 12 of the current fiscal year starting July 17, 2022. Nepal's export to India during this period was equivalent to Rs 66.22 billion. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, Nepal's imports from China amounted to Rs 125.52 billion and exports to Rs 422.6 million only during the six months' period. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Indonesia was the third largest trade partner of Nepal during this period. The import from Indonesia amounted to Rs 57.90 billion while exports amounted to only Rs 103.60 million during this period. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Nepal imported the highest amount of petroleum products until February 12 of the current fiscal year. According to the department, the country imported diesel worth Rs 84.61 billion, petrol worth Rs 38.73 billion and LPG worth Rs 33.34 billion in the last six months. The country imported crude soybean oil worth Rs 26.42 billion during the same period. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-22', 'modified' => '2023-02-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16834', 'image' => '20230222061525_Trade.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-22 18:14:42', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17095', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Shuklaphanta Festival Kicks off in Kanchanpur ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'In a bid to attract more tourists, the Shuklaphanta Festival kicked off in the Shuklaphanta National Park in Kanchnapur district on Wednesday.', 'content' => '<p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">February 22: In a bid to attract more tourists, the Shuklaphanta Festival kicked off in the Shuklaphanta National Park in Kanchnapur district on Wednesday.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">The Bhimdutta Municipality organized the Festival aiming to promote the National Park that spreads in an area of 305 square kilometres in the south-eastern part of Kanchanpur district.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">The national park is home to a wide variety of flora, faunas and rich vegetation. The Park, which was a hunting reserve initially in the 1969, was turned into a National Park in 2017, said the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">District Coordination Committee Kanchanpur Chief Durga Dutta Bohara inaugurated the festival and stressed the need to develop the National Park as a tourist destination. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">"We have rare species of wildlife in our Shuklaphanta National Park. It is imperative we promote this Park and develop this place as the destination for foreign and domestic tourists," said Bohara. He urged everyone to work for the promotion of tourism in the park. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Bhimdutta Municipality Mayor Padam Bogati expressed confidence that the festival would help in the tourism development in the district. “If the dry port, Mahakali Corridor, Majhgaun Airport, and Daijichhela Industrial Area are operated, the tourism business here will boom,” Bogati said. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Similarly, Pitamber Joshi, President of Kanchanpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry, argued that the local government should bring forward tourism promotion programmes in coordination of the private sector. He argued that the government should ensure an easy access to tourism destinations apart from putting in place necessary amenities. <br /> The 10-day festival will feature discussions, a secondary school level oratory competition on the importance of tourism and tourism conservation, sight-seeing excursions, observation of herds of blackbuck and tourism promotional events, said the organizers. </span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-22', 'modified' => '2023-02-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16833', 'image' => '20230222060733_collage - 2023-02-22T180508.638.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-22 18:03:03', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17094', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Fresh Earthquake Strikes Bajura', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'An earthquake has struck Bajura on Wednesday. Nearly a month after a 5.9-magnitude tremor hit the district on January 24, a fresh quake struck Bajura at 1:45 pm on Wednesday.', 'content' => '<p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">February 22: An earthquake has struck Bajura on Wednesday. Nearly a month after a 5.9-magnitude tremor hit the district on January 24, a fresh quake struck Bajura at 1:45 pm on Wednesday.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"> According to the Seismological Research and Measurement Centre Surkhet, the tremor measured 5.2 on the Richter scale with its epicenter at Bichchhya of Himali Rural Municipality struck the district. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">The tremor was felt in the hilly districts of the Sudurpaschim province, including Bajura, Bajhang, Achham. The earthquake has left the locals panicked. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Local people worry that the earthquake might damage their thatched houses. People affected by the earlier earthquake have not yet got the relief nor have they been rehabilitated. Details regarding the possible damage by the earthquake are yet to be received. </span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-22', 'modified' => '2023-02-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16832', 'image' => '20230222043112_collage - 2023-02-22T163044.309.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-22 16:29:10', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17093', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Import of Watermelons has Doubled in Six Months of Current FY', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 22: Nepal imported watermelons worth Rs 139.1 million in the first six months of the current fiscal year.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">February 22: Nepal imported watermelons worth Rs 139.1 million in the first six months of the current fiscal year. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to the data of the Department of Customs, Nepal imported around 51,84,329 kg of watermelons during this period. In the same period of last year, Nepal imported 23,03,188 kg of watermelons worth Rs 62.7 million. Compared to the same period last year, the import of watermelon has doubled this year.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">In Nepal, the annual import of this fruit, which can be easily grown on the banks of rivers and in fields, is increasing by two folds every two years.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">In the fiscal year 2076/77, Nepal imported 1,14,70,568 kilograms of watermelons worth Rs 296.3 million. In the fiscal year 2077/78, a total of 1,67,29,502 kg of watermelons worth Rs 415.63 million were imported into the country.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">During the last fiscal year (FY 2078/79), Nepal imported 2,16,04,453 kilograms of watermelons worth 562.6 million which is almost double the imports in 2076/77 in terms of both the value and quantity of imports. The data shows that the annual import of watermelon is doubling every two years.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Amar Baniya, President of Kuleshwar Fruit Market, told New Business Age that the commercial production of watermelon in Nepal is not able to meet the local demand and the quality of the produce is also not good.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">He says that the demand for watermelon is also high because of health benefits and its consumption has increased because there is even more demand for it in big hotels. However, Nepali farmers have not been able to benefits from the increasing consumption of watermelons due to the lack of production in Nepal. Baniya said that due to lack of domestic production, they have to import watermelons from India to meet the demand.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">This year, the farmers of Nepal are not able to produce watermelon so far. He says that because the watermelons of Nepal are available only in May and June, the market demand is met by imported watermelons from India before the domestic produce is available in the market.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Since the weather is favorable for watermelon production in India round the year, watermelons are imported from the southern neighbour for twelve months. Baniya also added that the daily consumption of watermelon is around 50 tons.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">At present, the wholesale price of watermelon is Rs 30 to 40 per kg. Watermelon grows in hot terai areas, but its commercial cultivation has not been done in all places of Nepal. Baniyan says that the demand for watermelon is more in summer than in winter and the demand from hotels is more during winter.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Bhavna Adhikari (Pokharel), director of Jhapa-based Paradise Agro Firm, said that there has not been watermelon production this year. She says that the production has decreased because the seeds did not ripen on time.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">She claimed that even after production, watermelons do not find market. So, the farmers' interest in its cultivation is also declining.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Nutritionist Supriya Bhattarai says that as watermelon contains 92 percent water along with vitamin 'A' and 'anti-oxidant', it is very beneficial for health. According to her, in addition to giving benefits to immunity, its seeds also contain nutrients such as folate, iron, zinc, copper, magnesium, potassium, amino acids and vitamin 'B' in abundance.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">These nutrients boost the body's natural metabolism. It is considered very good for common people to eat 150 grams of watermelon daily, says Bhattarai.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-22', 'modified' => '2023-02-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16831', 'image' => '20230222030203_Juicy-Watermelon-2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-22 15:01:24', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17092', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'More than 64,000 Nepalis Receive Work Permits in One Month', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 22: More than 64,000 Nepali nationals received work permits for foreign employment in the month of Magh (mid-January to mid-February).', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">February 22: More than 64,000 Nepali nationals received work permits for foreign employment in the month of Magh (mid-January to mid-February). Most of them had applied for work permit in Malaysia, one of the major labour destinations of Nepali migrant workers.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to the Department of Foreign Employment, a total of 64,284 people, including 58,447 men and 5,837 women, took work permits for foreign employment in the review month.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">This figure represents those who took individual work permits for the first time to work abroad as well as institutional work permits and renewal of work permits. The number of Nepalis who have received new labor permits is 39,124. According to the department, it includes 4,266 women and 34,858 men.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Most of them are those who have taken work permit to go to Malaysia. A total of 19,783 people have received work permits for Malaysia. Similarly, 12,704 people have taken work permit to go to Qatar, 10,576 people for Saudi Arabia, 9,770 people for the UAE and 2,992 people for Kuwait.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Similarly, 417 have acquired work permits for Cyprus, 471 for Croatia, 882 for Japan, 270 for Malta, 720 for Poland, 45 for Portugal and 804 for Romania, the department said.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-22', 'modified' => '2023-02-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16830', 'image' => '20230222015437_1676986110.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-22 13:53:57', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17091', 'article_category_id' => '266', 'title' => 'Hertz to Expand its Service in Nepal in Collaboration with President Travel and Tours', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 22: Hertz, an internationally renowned rental car service provider, is preparing to expand its business in Nepal in collaboration with President Travel and Tours Private Limited.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">February 22: Hertz, an internationally renowned rental car service provider, is preparing to expand its business in Nepal in collaboration with President Travel and Tours Private Limited.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Issuing a joint press statement, Hertz said it has appointed President Travel and Tours as its official representative in Nepal.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">President Travel and Tours has been facilitating Nepalis for travelling abroad in various countries. It has been collaborating with Malaysian Airlines, RailEurope and CWT and is planning to work together with Hertz as well as Thrifty, Dollar Car Rental and Ace.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">After the agreement, Nepalis can avail the services provided by Hertz through President Travel and Tours. Nepali nationals can rent a car from Hertz at affordable rates during any trip.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Hertz officials believe this collaboration with President Travel and Tours, which is recognized by the IATA, will help provide reliable service to the tourists.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, Managing Director of President Group of Companies Bhola Bikram Thapa said that this partnership has opened new avenues and they are ready to implement the agreement.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">“We are excited to work as the representative of Hertz. We have got an opportunity to work with a reputed and renowned company,” the statement quoted Thapa as saying.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">“We are committed to provide world-class service under this partnership.”</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-22', 'modified' => '2023-02-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16829', 'image' => '20230222125842_Image 2023-02-15 at 2.28.51 PM.jpeg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-22 12:57:49', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17090', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Dr Ruit Feted with Isa Award for Service to Humanity ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 22: Senior ophthalmologist and executive director of Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology, Dr Sanduk Ruit, has been honoured with the Isa Award for Service to Humanity, a prestigious award of Bahrain. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">February 22: Senior ophthalmologist and executive director of Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology, Dr Sanduk Ruit, has been honoured with the Isa Award for Service to Humanity, a prestigious award of Bahrain. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the Institute's public relation officer Sunita KC, Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa honoured Dr Ruit amid a programme organized in Bahrain on Tuesday. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The award carrying a purse of USD 1 million has been conferred on Dr Ruit in recognition of his contribution for eliminating blindness through (cataract) surgery. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The award instituted in the name of former King of Bahrain, Sheikh Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa in 2009 is being distributed by the Isa Award for Service to Humanity for those contributing remarkably for humanity. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Altogether 145 organizations and candidates from across the world had applied for the award. Dr Ruit was selected from the six short-listed candidates, it was shared. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Dr Ruit has devised a new method for treating cataracts. The institute that he leads has been producing intraocular lens of international standards in fairly low price to treat blindness. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-22', 'modified' => '2023-02-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16828', 'image' => '20230222123817_ruit.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-22 12:37:28', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17089', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Surya Nepal Western Open Tees Off', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 22: Surya Nepal Western Open, the fourth tournament under the Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2022-23, teed off today (Wednesday) at the Himalayan Golf Course in Pokhara.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">February 22: Surya Nepal Western Open, the fourth tournament under the Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2022-23, teed off today (Wednesday) at the Himalayan Golf Course in Pokhara.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Altogether 31 professional and 14 amateur golfers are participating in the tournament organized by the Professional Golfers Association Nepal and sponsored by Surya Nepal Pvt Ltd.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to the organisers, the winner of the competition will receive a purse of Rs 140,000, the runner-up will bag Rs 90,000 and the third position holder will walk away with Rs 67,000. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Similarly, the organizers informed that cash prizes have been arranged for the top 21 players. This is the 23rd edition of Surya Nepal Western Open.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-22', 'modified' => '2023-02-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16827', 'image' => '20230222120715_snw.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-22 12:06:29', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17088', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Clean Sweeps Triangular Series with Victory over Scotland ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 22: Nepal made a clean sweep in the triangular one-day series against Scotland and Namibia under the ICC Men's One-day World Cup League 2 on Tuesday. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">February 22: Nepal made a clean sweep in the triangular one-day series against Scotland and Namibia under the ICC Men's One-day World Cup League 2 on Tuesday. Nepal maintained its perfect record on home turf in the fourth and last match of the series held at TU Cricket Ground on Tuesday defeating Scotland by 2 wickets to finish the series undefeated.</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"">After winning the toss and inviting Scotland to bat first, Nepal restricted the visitors to 212 runs taking all their wickets in 46.1 overs. In reply, Nepal reached the target of 213 runs losing 8 wickets in 44.1 overs. </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"">Nepal’s captain Rohit Kumar Paudel scored an unbeaten 95 runs while Karan KC remained not out with 31 runs to ensure a nail-biting victory after an initial setback, reported the state-owned RSS. The home team had lost 8 wickets when KC joined his captain in the 32nd over with only 138 runs on board. The ninth wicket partnership between the two remained unbroken with player-of-the-match Paudel hitting a four to close the innings for the fourth win in as many matches. </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"">Former captain Gyanendra Malla contributed 21 runs while Kushal Malla and Ashif Sheikh scored 17 and 12 runs respectively. </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"">Scotland’s Mark Watt took 3 wickets and Chris Graves took 2 wickets. </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"">Earlier, George Munsey was the top-scorer for Scotland with 60 runs before being bowled out by rape-accused Sandeep Lamichhane, who took 4 wickets. Lamichhane, who has been released on bail from jail, has played a crucial role in Nepal’s victory. Scotland players had refused to shake hands with Lamichhane and had also notified Cricket Association of Nepal about the decision.</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, Matthew Cross scored 42, Brandon McMullen scored 31 while Kyle Kotzer and Christopher McBride scored 22 runs each. </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"">For Nepal, Karan KC took 3 wickets while Lalit Narayan Rajbanshi and Kushal Malla took one wicket each. </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"">In their first match of the series, Nepal had defeated Scotland by 3 wickets. Nepal also defeated Namibia twice, by 2 wickets and 3 wickets respectively. </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"">Two head-turning run chases from Nepal on home soil have opened up the Cricket World Cup League 2 top-three race, wrote Daniel Beswick on ICC’s official website.</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"">Nepal in the sixth place in the league with 26 points from 28 matches. Namibia is in the third position with 37 points. Scotland has been declared the winner of League 2 with 50 points from 36 matches. </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 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2 is a two-and-half-year competition involving seven teams that are two steps away from the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023</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"">Men’s CWC League 2 - which sits one tier under the Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League - will see 21 tri-series played. Participating teams Namibia, Nepal, Oman, Papua New Guinea, Scotland, United Arab Emirates and United States of America will play 36 One Day Internationals each on the Road to India 2023.</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' => '2023-02-22', 'modified' => '2023-02-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16826', 'image' => '20230222092218_table.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-22 09:21:23', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17087', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Aircraft about to Take Off Returns back to Parking Way ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 22: An airplane of Saurya Airlines which was about to takeoff for Biratnagar from Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) on Tuesday returned to the parking-way after detection of a problem. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">February 22: An airplane of Saurya Airlines which was about to takeoff for Biratnagar from Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) on Tuesday returned to the parking-way after detection of a problem. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to airport sources, the aircraft returned after its indicator signalled a problem when the plane had reached near the runway for the take off. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The aircraft with flight number SAU 721 had reached near the runway after boarding the passengers when its indicator signaled a glitch, said TIA spokesperson Teknath Sitaula. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to him, it is not clear what problem was seen in the airplane. The plane is presently kept at the parking-way. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">TIA authorities have said the permission for flight would be issued only after the engineers of the airlines examine the problem in the aircraft and inform them that the plane is fit for flying. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-22', 'modified' => '2023-02-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16825', 'image' => '20230222085608_20170313010057_saurya.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-22 08:54:41', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17086', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Bagmati Bharat Lake Turning Into Tourist Hub ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'An under construction Bharat Lake located in wards No 4 and 12 of Bagmati Municipality has turned a tourist destination in Sarlahi. The under construction lake is increasingly luring domestic and foreign tourists.', 'content' => '<div> <div> <div> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> February 22: An under construction Bharat Lake located in wards No 4 and 12 of Bagmati Municipality has turned a tourist destination in Sarlahi. The under construction lake is increasingly luring domestic and foreign tourists.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Bagmati Municipality Mayor Bharat Kumar Thapa says that his municipality has already spent 980 million for the lake construction so far. “The lake requires extra Rs 1 billion budget for its completion and plans are afoot to develop the project as multi-purpose one,” said Mayor Thapa.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Under the multi-purpose project, a hotel with modern picnic spots, jungle safari, Sumeru Parbat with the temple of Shiva and Parbati, Funpark, mini casino is being constructed, according to Chair Om Bahadur Shrestha of Ward No 12.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Shrestha said that the municipality was developing Bharat Lake as its major source of income. “We are planning to develop the lake as the tourist hub of the Madhes province,” Shrestha added.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The municipality has completed only 20-25 per cent of the construction work in the lake. The municipality has started keeping fish and ducks in the lake to increase its income. “The municipality is working to finish the lake in three years,” Mayor Thapa said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The municipality has operated multi-purpose project in 121 bigaha of the land where lake construction is underway. </span></span></span><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Tourists from Nepal and India are visiting the under construction lake. “We are constructing the physical structures that can attract 6 million tourists in a year,” said the municipality.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Around 500 people are employed in the lake right now. As many 40 big and small boats are operating in the lake at the moment.</span></span></span></p> </div> <div> </div> <div> </div> </div> </div> <div> </div> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-22', 'modified' => '2023-02-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16824', 'image' => '20230222061500_collage - 2023-02-21T181451.011.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-22 06:07:19', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = false $xml = falsesimplexml_load_file - [internal], line ?? include - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 133 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
| Currency | Unit |
Buy | Sell |
| U.S. Dollar | 1 | 121.23 | 121.83 |
| European Euro | 1 | 131.65 | 132.31 |
| UK Pound Sterling | 1 | 142.47 | 143.18 |
| Swiss Franc | 1 | 124.29 | 124.90 |
| Australian Dollar | 1 | 71.69 | 72.05 |
| Canadian Dollar | 1 | 83.90 | 84.32 |
| Japanese Yen | 10 | 10.94 | 11.00 |
| Chinese Yuan | 1 | 17.17 | 17.26 |
| Saudi Arabian Riyal | 1 | 32.27 | 32.43 |
| UAE Dirham | 1 | 33.01 | 33.17 |
| Malaysian Ringgit | 1 | 27.36 | 27.50 |
| South Korean Won | 100 | 9.77 | 9.82 |
Update: 2020-03-25 | Source: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB)
| Fine Gold | 1 tola | 77000.00 |
| Tejabi Gold | 1 tola | 76700.00 |
| Silver | 1 tola | 720.00 |
Update : 2020-03-25
Source: Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers' Association
| Petrol | 1 Liter | 106.00 |
| Diesel | 1 Liter | 95.00 |
| Kerosene | 1 Liter | 95.00 |
| LP Gas | 1 Cylinder | 1375.00 |
Update : 2020-03-25
