January 25: High hills and mountainous areas of western Nepal witnessed snowfall since Monday night due to the impact of low pressure system active in western parts of the…
January 25: High hills and mountainous areas of western Nepal witnessed snowfall since Monday night due to the impact of low pressure system active in western parts of the…
The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) will construct transmission lines and substations with capacity ranging from 66 kV to 220 kV in the Kathmandu…
January 25: The rate of return of banks is headed on a downhill…
January 25: Surya Nepal Pvt. Ltd. handed over an ambulance to the Chitwan-based Prithvi Highway Trauma Hospital operated by Armed Police Force Nepal Disaster Management Training…
January 25: Nepal Airlines Corporation Captain Nar Bahadur Bishwakarma has refuted reports about his suspension from regular…
January 25: The widening of Narayangarh-Butwal road section along the East-West Highway has so far made only 23 percent progress with less than eight months left for the extended deadline to…
January 25: Stakeholders and experts have suggested that agencies should promote connection of innovation-based startup ecosystems between Nepal and…
January 24: An investigation carried out by the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police has concluded that the recently held Nepal-T20 League was…
An earthquake measuring 5.9 on the Richter scale jolted western Nepal at 2:43 pm on Tuesday. The earthquake having its epicenter in the Mela area of Bajura district was felt in various districts, including Banke, Kailali, Bajhang, among others, in Sudurpaschim…
Community campuses are experiencing a financial crisis in Parbat district. Plummeting students’ number and lack of government grant have put a total of 12 public colleges under financial…
January 24: Nepal’s import volume in mid-December to mid-January was the lowest in the last three…
January 24: Price of gold has hit an all-time high in the domestic market on…
January 24: The newly-constructed Chobhar Dry Port is likely to become a white elephant because the dry port on the southern outskirts of Kathmandu has not been active even one year after it came into…
January 24: The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has directed the Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) to suspend five of its pilots for disobeying the instructions given by the air traffic controller (ATC) of Hong Kong, China, while landing the…
January 24: The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police on Monday arrested cricketers Mahabub Alam and Mohammad Adil Ansari on charge of spot fixing and match fixing in the recently held T-20 League in…
Notice (8): Undefined variable: file [APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 60]Code Context// $file = 'http://aabhiyan:QUVLg8Wzs2F7G9N7@nepalstock.com.np/api/indexdata.xml';if(!$xml = simplexml_load_file($file)){$viewFile = '/var/www/html/newbusinessage.com/app/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'articles' => array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ) ), 'current_user' => null, 'logged_in' => false ) $articles = array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16842', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Chances of Light Snowfall in High-Hills and Mountainous Regions ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 25: High hills and mountainous areas of western Nepal witnessed snowfall since Monday night due to the impact of low pressure system active in western parts of the country.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">January 25: High hills and mountainous areas of western Nepal witnessed snowfall since Monday night due to the impact of low pressure system active in western parts of the country. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Places like Jumla, Dolpa, Humla and Mugu were covered with snow on Tuesday as a result of snowfall that occurred in the country quite late this year.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">There were reports of air service disruption in several districts of western Nepal due to the snowfall while the normal life in the remote areas came to a standstill due to the snowfall.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The farmers who were worried due to the delay in rainfall rejoiced after receiving the first rainfall and snowfall this winter.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the Meteorological Forecasting Division, light snowfall is likely to occur in a few places in the high hills and mountainous areas of Bagmati, Gandaki, Karnali and Sudur Pashchim provinces today (Wednesday) as well.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Meanwhile, farmers of eastern Nepal are still worried as the winter crops have started wilting in the eastern region which is yet to receive rainfall this year.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Meteorological Forecasting Division has predicted chances of light rainfall in a few places of Gandaki, Lumbini, Karnali and Sudur Pashchim provinces today (Wednesday). </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the division, the weather will be partly to generally cloudy in Province 1, Madesh, Bagmati , Gandaki and Lumbini provinces and partly cloudy to mainly fair in the rest of the country tonight. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-25', 'modified' => '2023-01-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16582', 'image' => '20230125043141_HKC_Jajarkot-juphal.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-25 16:31:02', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16841', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NEA to Build Substations and Transmission Lines in Kathmandu Valley', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) will construct transmission lines and substations with capacity ranging from 66 kV to 220 kV in the Kathmandu Valley. ', 'content' => '<p><br /> <span style="font-size:16px">January 25: The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) will construct transmission lines and substations with capacity ranging from 66 kV to 220 kV in the Kathmandu Valley. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px">To make the power distribution system well-managed, the NEA is planning to construct a high capacity substation at Tarkeswor Municipality. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px">New transmission lines and substations aim at managing the electricity distribution system in the Kathmandu Valley by supplying high voltage electricity on a regular basis and reducing problems like electricity discontinuation in an emergency, said the NEA Executive Director Kulman Ghising.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px">With construction of new electricity infrastructures, the NEA will easily address the power demand in the Valley for the next 30 years, he said, adding “A ring circuit will be built in the valley”. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px">Ghising has already announced to construct a 132 kV transmission line along river banks. Similarly, substations will also be built in Kavrepalanchowk district, at the then Jitpurphedi VDC-5 and Goldhunga VDC-3. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px">It is learnt that the Kathmandu Valley has to suffer forced load-shedding due to a lack of transmission lines and substations. Likewise, electricity authority has expedited repair, upgrade and expansion of existing transmission lines and substations. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px">The NEA published a notice relating to the land acquisition for the projects as per Clause 61 of the Land Acquisition Act, 2034 BS on Wednesday. Lands of the total 61 families will be acquired for transmission lines and substations at Jitpurphedi VDC-5 and Goldhunga VDC-3. -RSS</span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-25', 'modified' => '2023-01-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16581', 'image' => '20230125041443_collage (86).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-25 16:06:30', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16840', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Rate of Return of Banks Declining', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 25: The rate of return of banks is headed on a downhill path.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">January 25: The rate of return of banks is headed on a downhill path. As the profits of banks declined due to their failure to expand business amid liquidity crisis and the stiff competition among the banks as well as regulatory provisions, the rate of return of banks has also declined.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the Nepal Bankers Association, the financial statements of commercial banks as of the second quarter of the current fiscal year show a drop of 11.73 percent on the return on equity (ROE) of commercial banks in an average. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">During the same period last year, the ROE of banks was 12.45 percent. Compared to mid-January last year, the ROE of nine banks decreased in the current fiscal year, while there has been an increase in ROE of 12 banks.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">As of mid-January this year, the net profit of Agricultural Development Bank decreased by 109 percent compared to the previous year and remained at minus 128.9 million rupees, making its ROE negative. NIC Asia Bank has the highest ROE of 26.25 percent by mid-January. NIC's ROE increased by 3.6 percentage points compared to last year. Nepal Investment Mega Bank is yet to publish its financial statements for the second quarter of this year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">President of Nepal Bankers Association and Chief Executive Officer of NMB Bank Sunil KC said that the rate of return is decreasing as the profitability of banks has been affected due to various factors. Addressing a press conference, KC said, “Banks provide most of their income to depositors and borrowers. Because of this, the rate of return of banks is decreasing.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war, the banks have been unable to expand their business. Similarly, the increase in bad loans of banks has also affected their profit. The total bad loans of banks increased to 2.29 percent till mid-January of the current fiscal year, which was 1.09 percent last year. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Anil Sharma, Chief Executive Officer of NBA, said that even though banks are accused of earning only profit, the figures state otherwise. He said that while the income of the banks from interest increased by 68 percent in the six months of the current year, their expenses on interest increased by 84 percent.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to Sharma, in the previous year, the commercial banks distributed an average of 14.3 percent dividend, but in the last year, they could give only 10.76 percent and the ROE was 24.42 percent in the year 2069/70, which was limited to 11.73 percent last year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Confederation of Banks and Financial Institutions (CBFIN), the umbrella organization of bank investors, also drew the attention of Nepal Rastra Bank, saying that the return of banks has been decreasing since a year and this has started to discourage investors.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In the report which was submitted after studying the condition of the banks since 2073, the rate of return of banks and financial institutions has been continuously decreasing and to manage this challenge, NRB has been requested to allow the interest rate to be determined according to the concept of open market, not to limit the spread rate, and not to limit the premium fee. According to CBFIN’s report, the return on investment of banks increased from 19 percent in 2068 to 23 percent in 2073. After that, it dropped to 12 percent in the year 2077.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-25', 'modified' => '2023-01-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16580', 'image' => '20230125031815_Banks.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-25 15:17:41', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16839', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Surya Nepal Provides Ambulance to APF Trauma Center', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 25: Surya Nepal Pvt. Ltd. handed over an ambulance to the Chitwan-based Prithvi Highway Trauma Hospital operated by Armed Police Force Nepal Disaster Management Training Academy.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">January 25: Surya Nepal Pvt. Ltd. handed over an ambulance to the Chitwan-based Prithvi Highway Trauma Hospital operated by Armed Police Force Nepal Disaster Management Training Academy. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">During an event on Monday, the company's Vice President for Corporate Affairs Ravi KC handed over the key of the ambulance to Superintendent of Police Anjani Kumar Pokhrel of APF Nepal Disaster Management Training Academy Kurintar, Chitwan.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Surya Nepal said that the company provided an ambulance to the trauma hospital under its corporate social responsibility as the hospital was facing difficulty to rescue the injured immediately due to the lack of ambulances.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the APF trauma center, the ambulance will be used to rescue the people injured in accidents along the highway.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-25', 'modified' => '2023-01-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16579', 'image' => '20230125022452_1674601856.Clipboard08.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-25 14:24:14', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16838', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NAC Captain Bishwakarma Refutes Suspension, says he is still in the Cockpit ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 25: Nepal Airlines Corporation Captain Nar Bahadur Bishwakarma has refuted reports about his suspension from regular duty.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">January 25: Nepal Airlines Corporation Captain Nar Bahadur Bishwakarma has refuted reports about his suspension from regular duty. Although it was reported that the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) had instructed to suspend five pilots of the Nepal Airlines Corporation, Captain Bishwakarma has clarified that he has not been suspended. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Captain Bishwakarma said that the CAAN had instructed to suspend pilots who disobeyed the instructions of the ATC during landing of an NAC plane at Hong Kong airport, but he was not involved in the flight, hence he was not suspended. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Bishwakarma however told RSS that he was in the same flight but only as a passenger when it landed at Hong Kong airport. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"I am dismayed over my name appearing on the list. Even today I am flying a NAC plane," he said before flying to Singapore on Tuesday night. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Meanwhile, Deputy Spokesperson of Nepal Airlines Corporation Ganesh Ghimire said that pilots Uddhav Ghimire and Rajesh Kushwaha, who disobeyed the instructions of the ATC while landing at the Hong Kong airport, and Prashanna Rana and YP Juwarchan who failed to follow the standard operational procedure during the flight from Kathmandu to Japan were suspended as per the instructions given by the CAAN. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He also informed that although pilot Nar Bahadur Bishwakarma was on the NAC flight to Hong Kong, he was not suspended. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-25', 'modified' => '2023-01-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16578', 'image' => '20230125013624_naccccc.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-25 13:35:44', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16837', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Narayangarh-Butwal Road Expansion Sees Dismal Progress ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 25: The widening of Narayangarh-Butwal road section along the East-West Highway has so far made only 23 percent progress with less than eight months left for the extended deadline to expire.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">January 25: The widening of Narayangarh-Butwal road section along the East-West Highway has so far made only 23 percent progress with less than eight months left for the extended deadline to expire.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The road widening project was supposed to be completed by August 2022 but the progress remains dismal even though it has been four years since the project started.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the China State Construction Engineering Corporation Limited, which is undertaking the expansion work, the widening of the road has been delayed due to complications brought out by COVID-19, tree felling, relocation of electric poles and mobilization of equipment. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Meanwhile, the Department of Roads had earlier concluded that the work was delayed due to the non-cooperation of the government, construction companies and local municipalities.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The department had even sought explanation from the Chinese construction company -- China State Construction Engineering Corporation Limited – as the progress was not satisfactory. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">A team of experts from the DoR led by Director General Arjun Jung Thapa had visited the site for inspection in early November and deduced that the construction was delayed due to three main reasons. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“It was seen that there was a delay in the work to be done by the Nepal government as well. The local municipality prohibited on buying of construction materials like aggregates, gravel and soil despite paying royalty to the local municipality. In addition, there were problems with the management of the construction company, leading to the delay in completion of wok on time,” Thapa had told New Business Age in an earlier interview.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Even now, the electric poles on the road that needs to be widened have not been removed. Thapa said that he did not get any help from the local municipality. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">An agreement was reached between the Department of Roads and the Chinese company to complete the 114 km Narayangadh-Butwal road upgrading work in 3.5 years in January 2018.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The 114 kilometres of road stretch was divided in two sections while awarding the contract through a global bidding process. The China State Construction Engineering Corporation Limited had won the tender bids of both sections considering its proposal to construct the road section at the minimum base rate. However, several complaints have been received on part of the construction company regarding the dillydallying of the project. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The department earlier warned to terminate the contract arguing that the travelers and vehicles have faced several issues including difficulties in travel, air pollution and others problems due to carelessness of the construction company. The locals in the affected area have also suffered while road accidents have increased. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">As the contract agreement ended on August 7, the government has extended the deadline for one more year at the request of the construction company. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The expansion of this road section is estimated to cost around Rs 16 billion. The project is running with concessional loan provided by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-25', 'modified' => '2023-01-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16577', 'image' => '20230125121853_20220926014301_road.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-25 12:18:16', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16836', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Call to Promote Nepal-India Startup Ecosystem', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 25: Stakeholders and experts have suggested that agencies should promote connection of innovation-based startup ecosystems between Nepal and India. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">January 25: Stakeholders and experts have suggested that agencies should promote connection of innovation-based startup ecosystems between Nepal and India. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">At an interaction on ‘India-Nepal Startup Connect’ organized by the Embassy of India, Kathmandu, in association with the Young Entrepreneur Forum of the Confederation of Nepalese Industries on Tuesday, the speakers called for further collaboration in financial technology to bring together the startup ecosystems of both the countries. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The event focused on fostering a connection between Indian and Nepali startup ecosystems, according to a press statement by the Embassy of India, Kathmandu. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">On the occasion, Governor of Nepal Rastra Bank Maha Prasad Adhikari said that 2023 would be the year for promoting the digital payment system and urged for further cooperation between Nepal and India on fintech. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He said that cross-border payment and QR payment should be advanced as the potential area of further cooperation. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Also speaking at the event, Naveen Srivastava, ambassador of India to Nepal, highlighted the importance of digital public goods in enabling financial inclusion and startups. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies Babu Ram Gautam delivered a presentation on “Startup Opportunities in Nepal”. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-25', 'modified' => '2023-01-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16576', 'image' => '20230125115120_startup.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-25 11:50:28', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16835', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'CIB Confirms Spot-Fixing in Nepal T-20 League', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 24: An investigation carried out by the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police has concluded that the recently held Nepal-T20 League was rigged.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">January 24: An investigation carried out by the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police has concluded that the recently held Nepal-T20 League was rigged.</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:"Times New Roman","serif"">The police have already arrested two people, including former national cricketer Mehboob Alam for their alleged involvement in spot fixing during the league held from December 24 to January 11 at TU Cricket Ground, Kirtipur.</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:"Times New Roman","serif"">Police investigation has revealed that a total of 10 people, including six foeigners were involved in the fixing scam.</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:"Times New Roman","serif"">Organising a press conference on Tuesday, the CIB said that the police made the arrests based on evidences collected from Whatsapp messages and phone call details of the suspects. </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:"Times New Roman","serif"">The second person arrested in connection to the scam is 20-year old cricketer Mohammad Aadil Ansari, who was instructed to throw a no ball and a wide ball by Mehboob Alam, the police said. Alam allegedly approached the player offering him financial incentives. As per the rules of the International Cricket Council (ICC), a player should report to the Anti-Corruption Unit of ICC if anyone offers them incentives for fixing the game. However, Mohammad Aadil Ansari's failure to report to the unit led to his arrest, said the police source adding that three other players had reported offers to fix the game to the Anti-Corruption Unit of ICC. </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:"Times New Roman","serif"">Former captain of Nepal’s national team Gyanendra Malla had earlier claimed during a press conference that one of the players of his team during the league was approached for fixing. </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:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) had entrusted an Indian company named Seven Three Sports for the overall management of the T-20 league, which courted controversy right from the beginning.</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:"Times New Roman","serif"">The organizers had revealed that a betting company was the main sponsor of the league, raising quite a few eyebrows. The Nepal T-20 league was also interrupted briefly after the players protested over salary issue.</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:"Times New Roman","serif"">CAN had banned other domestic T-20 leagues of Nepal to organize this league arguing that the country can have only one official T-20 league as per the international rules.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-24', 'modified' => '2023-01-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16575', 'image' => '20230124070811_CIB-Logo.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-24 19:07:32', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16834', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '5.9-magnitude Earthquake Jolts Western Nepal ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'An earthquake measuring 5.9 on the Richter scale jolted western Nepal at 2:43 pm on Tuesday. The earthquake having its epicenter in the Mela area of Bajura district was felt in various districts, including Banke, Kailali, Bajhang, among others, in Sudurpaschim Province. ', 'content' => '<p>January 24: An earthquake measuring 5.9 on the Richter scale jolted western Nepal at 2:43 pm on Tuesday. The earthquake having its epicenter in the Mela area of Bajura district was felt in various districts, including Banke, Kailali, Bajhang, among others, in Sudurpaschim Province. </p> <p>The powerful tremor had sent people out of their homes in panic. </p> <p>Information Officer at Seismological Centre, Surkhet, Tirtha Raj Dahal, said the earthquake of 5.9 on the Richter scale had struck the western Nepal with its epicenter at Mela of Bajura district, sending many residents out of their homes.</p> <p>The details of human casualties and physical damage are yet to come. </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-24', 'modified' => '2023-01-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16574', 'image' => '20230124052444_collage (85).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-24 17:17:33', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16833', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Community Campuses Face Financial Crisis in Parbat ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => ' Community campuses are experiencing a financial crisis in Parbat district. Plummeting students’ number and lack of government grant have put a total of 12 public colleges under financial strains. ', 'content' => '<p><br /> January 24: Community campuses are experiencing a financial crisis in Parbat district. Plummeting students’ number and lack of government grant have put a total of 12 public colleges under financial strains. </p> <p>Gupteswor and Shivalaya Multiple Campuses located at Parbat headquarters and Shankarpokhari Multiple Campus, Bahaki Campus, Janaat Sudarshan Campus, Navajagrit Campus, among others, located in rural areas have a minimum number of pupils. </p> <p>As a result, colleges have failed to collect fees from students as expected for their operation. <br /> Student number has plunged as some students have left for overseas for foreign employment, while others have gone outside the district to pursue education.</p> <p>“We are having a hard time running the campus due to the low number of students and fall of the government grant for the campus”, shared Campus Chief Suvash Panta of Gupteswor Multiple Campus.</p> <p>Shivalaya Multiple Campus Management Committee’s Chairman Bishnu Newar said that they had to face the financial crunch for lack of the campus’ credible source of income. </p> <p>Newar complained that they were operating the campus seeking help from various organizations at the request of party leaders, and playing deusi and bhailo. <br /> Tribhuvan University is yet to give permission of constituent campus to Gupteswor Campus, which is struggling financially for lack of a sustainable source of income. The college is hardly able to meet lecturers’ salary, infrastructure development, and miscellaneous expenses.</p> <p>Gupteswor Multiple Campus receives Rs 1.3 million annually, which is hardly enough to pay for the salary of two professors. <br /> Established in 2041 BS, Prabat Multiple Campus has a debt of Rs 15 million for want of source of income.</p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-24', 'modified' => '2023-01-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16573', 'image' => '20230124044449_collage (82).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-24 16:40:04', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16832', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal’s Import Volume Lowest in Three Months', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 24: Nepal’s import volume in mid-December to mid-January was the lowest in the last three months.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">January 24: Nepal’s import volume in mid-December to mid-January was the lowest in the last three months.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Analysts believe that the imports have declined due to the high interest rates of banks and the government’s policy to discourage imports.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">However, it has been found that export of goods from has increased in the same duration.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Compared to the same period last year, the overall trade of 6 months has decreased by 20 per cent and export by 32 per cent.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the customs department, Nepal imported goods of Rs 792 billion in the first six months of the current year. During the corresponding period of last year, the import volume was equal to Rs 1000 billion.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In the current fiscal year, the total volume of imports has decreased by 20.68 per cent.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Meanwhile, Nepal exported goods worth Rs 80.80 billion during this period. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In mid-December to mid-January alone, Nepal imported goods worth Rs 127.91 billion while the exports were worth Rs 13.5 billion. This is the lowest imports and highest export in the last three months.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">A large amount of money Nepal spends on imports goes to cooking gas and petroleum products. Nepal spent Rs 143 billion during the first six months on cooking gas and petroleum products.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Nepal spent Rs 18 billion more than last year for the import of cooking gas, diesel, petrol and aviation fuel. But the quantity has decreased. Due to the increase in the price of petroleum products, the amount of money spent on imports has increased, but the quantity has decreased.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In the first six months of the current year, Nepal imported cooking gas worth Rs 28.20 billion, diesel worth Rs 70.10 billion, aviation fuel worth Rs 11.24 billion and petrol worth Rs 33.53 billion.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">During the same period last year, cooking gas worth Rs 29.23 billion, diesel worth Rs 61.47 billion, aviation fuel worth Rs 5.33 billion and petrol worth Rs 29.27 billion were imported.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">This year Nepal imported 334.31 thousand kiloliters of petrol, 550.90 thousand kiloliters of diesel, 87.88 thousand kiloliters of aviation fuel and 247.90 million thousand kg of cooking gas.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Due to the government's ban on the import of luxury goods, overall imports have decreased by 20 per cent.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-24', 'modified' => '2023-01-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16572', 'image' => '20230124033007_import.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-24 15:29:28', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16831', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Price of Gold Sets New Record ', 'sub_title' => 'Hallmark Gold is Being Traded at Rs 106,300 Per Tola', 'summary' => 'January 24: Price of gold has hit an all-time high in the domestic market 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"">January 24: Price of gold has hit an all-time high in the domestic market on Tuesday. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">President of the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers Association, Manik Ratna Shakya, said the price of hallmark gold climbed to Rs 106,300 per tola (11.66 grams) on Monday. According to Shakya, the price of hallmark gold, which was traded for Rs 105,300 on Monday, increased by Rs 1,000 per tola on Tuesday. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Earlier on March 9, 2022, the price of gold had climbed to a record high price of Rs 105,005 per tola. According to NEGOSIDA, the price of worked gold has been fixed at Rs 105,800 per tola. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, price of silver has decreased by Rs 15 per tola and is being traded at Rs 1,365. The price of gold has increased due to the war between Russia and Ukraine due to which the central banks of different countries started increasing the stock of gold, shared Shakya. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The NEGOSIDA has been demanding 30-35 kg gold per day but the import is limited to 10 kg a day. Nepal Rastra Bank has capped the daily import of gold at 10 kg. Commercial banks are the only institutions licensed to import gold into the country. (With inputs from RSS)</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-24', 'modified' => '2023-01-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16571', 'image' => '20230124024612_gold.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-24 14:45:19', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16830', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Chobhar Dry Port Risks Turning into a White Elephant ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 24: The newly-constructed Chobhar Dry Port is likely to become a white elephant because the dry port on the southern outskirts of Kathmandu has not been active even one year after it came into operation.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">January 24: The newly-constructed Chobhar Dry Port is likely to become a white elephant because the dry port on the southern outskirts of Kathmandu has not been active even one year after it came into operation.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to government data, only 77 containers have entered the dry port since it came into operation while only three containers have left the premises.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Chobhar Dry Port was built with an investment of Rs 1.5 billion. It took three years to complete the construction of the dry port. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">It was inaugurated by the then Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba in last March. The port is spread over an area of 220 ropanis. The dry port can hold 500 containers.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Such a large dry port was constructed in Chobhar to facilitate the import and export of goods to and from Kathmandu, the largest city of the country, as well as reduce congestion at major customs such as Birgunj, and Bhairahawa. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">However, the disappointment in operating the dry port has led to concerns that the huge investment has been of no use.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Ashish Gajurel, executive director of the Nepal Intermodal Transport Development Committee, which is responsible for the operation of the dry port, says that the port is not running as expected. "There has been a problem in operations because the Kathmandu-Nijgadh fast track, which is close to the dry port, is yet to be built," he said, adding that there is not much support from the private sector. The government has not made a binding arrangement either.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to Gajurel, it will be easier if the government makes arrangements to bring certain materials coming into the valley through the Chobhar Dry Port. Most of the goods entering Nepal through the Birgunj customs come to Kathmandu Valley. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The road used by cargo trucks to enter Kathmandu from the dry port in Chobhar via Balkhu stretched up to ten kilometers and is narrow. The containers trucks are reluctant to come to Chobhar dry port as the route is more expensive and uncomfortable.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Containers coming to Chobhar have to go through the process twice -- at Birganj Customs and Chobhar Customs, the traders said. They also complain that the Department of Customs has imposed heavy fines on GPS.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">A fine of up to 200 per cent has been imposed if the lock of the GPS is opened while coming from the border crossing to the customs at Chobhar Dry Port. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“This is a very large fine. What can we do if the lock is opened due to some other reasons? Instead of Chobhar, it would have been easier to bring the goods through a checkpoint at Birganj or Bhairahawa customs," said Dinesh Shrestha, vice president of the Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industry.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to Shrestha, the letter sent to the government with suggestions on what should be done to run the Chobhar Dry Port properly has not been addressed. "Government’s readiness is not seen for the efficient operation of the port, which was built at such an expense," he said.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Department of Customs has said that the traders are doing business without using the Chobhar Dry Port. </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-24', 'modified' => '2023-01-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16570', 'image' => '20230124115624_Chobhar Dy port.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-24 11:55:47', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16829', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'CAAN Tells NAC to Suspend Five Pilots ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 24: The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has directed the Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) to suspend five of its pilots for disobeying the instructions given by the air traffic controller (ATC) of Hong Kong, China, while landing the plane. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">January 24: The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has directed the Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) to suspend five of its pilots for disobeying the instructions given by the air traffic controller (ATC) of Hong Kong, China, while landing the plane. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Spokesperson of CAAN Jagannath Niraula confirmed that the NAC has been directed to suspend five of its pilots for not abiding by the rules. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to Niraula, pilots Uddhab Ghimire, Rajesh Kushwaha and Nar Bahadur Bishwakarma did not follow the instructions of the ATC while landing the NAC aircraft at the Hong Kong Airport. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, the NAC has been directed to suspend pilots Prashanna Rana and YP Juwarchan for not following the Standard Operational Procedures (SOP) while taking off the plane from Kathmandu to Japan. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The state-owned flag carrier of Nepal must comply with the directive of CAAN and suspend all five pilots. After the suspension, the CAAN will interrogate them before taking further decision on whether to continue or end the suspension of those pilots, Niraula said. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-24', 'modified' => '2023-01-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16569', 'image' => '20230124115528_naccccc.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-24 11:54:46', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16828', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Two Cricketers Held on Charge of Match Fixing ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 24: The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police on Monday arrested cricketers Mahabub Alam and Mohammad Adil Ansari on charge of spot fixing and match fixing in the recently held T-20 League in Nepal. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">January 24: The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police on Monday arrested cricketers Mahabub Alam and Mohammad Adil Ansari on charge of spot fixing and match fixing in the recently held T-20 League in Nepal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A CIB source said that one of them was held from Biratnangar and the other from Rajbiraj and were brought to Kathmandu. The T-20 league was held in the Kathmandu valley last month. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The CIB had carried out investigations on match fixing and spot fixing during the league. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A police officer at the CIB told RSS that the team has completed investigation and will share the details by organizing a news conference on Tuesday. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-24', 'modified' => '2023-01-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16568', 'image' => '20230124110059_t20.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-24 11:00:17', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = falseinclude - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 60 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
Warning (2): simplexml_load_file() [<a href='http://php.net/function.simplexml-load-file'>function.simplexml-load-file</a>]: I/O warning : failed to load external entity "" [APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 60]file not found!Code Context// $file = 'http://aabhiyan:QUVLg8Wzs2F7G9N7@nepalstock.com.np/api/indexdata.xml';if(!$xml = simplexml_load_file($file)){$viewFile = '/var/www/html/newbusinessage.com/app/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'articles' => array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ) ), 'current_user' => null, 'logged_in' => false ) $articles = array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16842', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Chances of Light Snowfall in High-Hills and Mountainous Regions ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 25: High hills and mountainous areas of western Nepal witnessed snowfall since Monday night due to the impact of low pressure system active in western parts of the country.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">January 25: High hills and mountainous areas of western Nepal witnessed snowfall since Monday night due to the impact of low pressure system active in western parts of the country. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Places like Jumla, Dolpa, Humla and Mugu were covered with snow on Tuesday as a result of snowfall that occurred in the country quite late this year.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">There were reports of air service disruption in several districts of western Nepal due to the snowfall while the normal life in the remote areas came to a standstill due to the snowfall.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The farmers who were worried due to the delay in rainfall rejoiced after receiving the first rainfall and snowfall this winter.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the Meteorological Forecasting Division, light snowfall is likely to occur in a few places in the high hills and mountainous areas of Bagmati, Gandaki, Karnali and Sudur Pashchim provinces today (Wednesday) as well.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Meanwhile, farmers of eastern Nepal are still worried as the winter crops have started wilting in the eastern region which is yet to receive rainfall this year.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Meteorological Forecasting Division has predicted chances of light rainfall in a few places of Gandaki, Lumbini, Karnali and Sudur Pashchim provinces today (Wednesday). </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the division, the weather will be partly to generally cloudy in Province 1, Madesh, Bagmati , Gandaki and Lumbini provinces and partly cloudy to mainly fair in the rest of the country tonight. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-25', 'modified' => '2023-01-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16582', 'image' => '20230125043141_HKC_Jajarkot-juphal.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-25 16:31:02', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16841', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NEA to Build Substations and Transmission Lines in Kathmandu Valley', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) will construct transmission lines and substations with capacity ranging from 66 kV to 220 kV in the Kathmandu Valley. ', 'content' => '<p><br /> <span style="font-size:16px">January 25: The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) will construct transmission lines and substations with capacity ranging from 66 kV to 220 kV in the Kathmandu Valley. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px">To make the power distribution system well-managed, the NEA is planning to construct a high capacity substation at Tarkeswor Municipality. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px">New transmission lines and substations aim at managing the electricity distribution system in the Kathmandu Valley by supplying high voltage electricity on a regular basis and reducing problems like electricity discontinuation in an emergency, said the NEA Executive Director Kulman Ghising.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px">With construction of new electricity infrastructures, the NEA will easily address the power demand in the Valley for the next 30 years, he said, adding “A ring circuit will be built in the valley”. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px">Ghising has already announced to construct a 132 kV transmission line along river banks. Similarly, substations will also be built in Kavrepalanchowk district, at the then Jitpurphedi VDC-5 and Goldhunga VDC-3. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px">It is learnt that the Kathmandu Valley has to suffer forced load-shedding due to a lack of transmission lines and substations. Likewise, electricity authority has expedited repair, upgrade and expansion of existing transmission lines and substations. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px">The NEA published a notice relating to the land acquisition for the projects as per Clause 61 of the Land Acquisition Act, 2034 BS on Wednesday. Lands of the total 61 families will be acquired for transmission lines and substations at Jitpurphedi VDC-5 and Goldhunga VDC-3. -RSS</span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-25', 'modified' => '2023-01-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16581', 'image' => '20230125041443_collage (86).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-25 16:06:30', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16840', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Rate of Return of Banks Declining', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 25: The rate of return of banks is headed on a downhill path.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">January 25: The rate of return of banks is headed on a downhill path. As the profits of banks declined due to their failure to expand business amid liquidity crisis and the stiff competition among the banks as well as regulatory provisions, the rate of return of banks has also declined.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the Nepal Bankers Association, the financial statements of commercial banks as of the second quarter of the current fiscal year show a drop of 11.73 percent on the return on equity (ROE) of commercial banks in an average. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">During the same period last year, the ROE of banks was 12.45 percent. Compared to mid-January last year, the ROE of nine banks decreased in the current fiscal year, while there has been an increase in ROE of 12 banks.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">As of mid-January this year, the net profit of Agricultural Development Bank decreased by 109 percent compared to the previous year and remained at minus 128.9 million rupees, making its ROE negative. NIC Asia Bank has the highest ROE of 26.25 percent by mid-January. NIC's ROE increased by 3.6 percentage points compared to last year. Nepal Investment Mega Bank is yet to publish its financial statements for the second quarter of this year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">President of Nepal Bankers Association and Chief Executive Officer of NMB Bank Sunil KC said that the rate of return is decreasing as the profitability of banks has been affected due to various factors. Addressing a press conference, KC said, “Banks provide most of their income to depositors and borrowers. Because of this, the rate of return of banks is decreasing.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war, the banks have been unable to expand their business. Similarly, the increase in bad loans of banks has also affected their profit. The total bad loans of banks increased to 2.29 percent till mid-January of the current fiscal year, which was 1.09 percent last year. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Anil Sharma, Chief Executive Officer of NBA, said that even though banks are accused of earning only profit, the figures state otherwise. He said that while the income of the banks from interest increased by 68 percent in the six months of the current year, their expenses on interest increased by 84 percent.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to Sharma, in the previous year, the commercial banks distributed an average of 14.3 percent dividend, but in the last year, they could give only 10.76 percent and the ROE was 24.42 percent in the year 2069/70, which was limited to 11.73 percent last year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Confederation of Banks and Financial Institutions (CBFIN), the umbrella organization of bank investors, also drew the attention of Nepal Rastra Bank, saying that the return of banks has been decreasing since a year and this has started to discourage investors.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In the report which was submitted after studying the condition of the banks since 2073, the rate of return of banks and financial institutions has been continuously decreasing and to manage this challenge, NRB has been requested to allow the interest rate to be determined according to the concept of open market, not to limit the spread rate, and not to limit the premium fee. According to CBFIN’s report, the return on investment of banks increased from 19 percent in 2068 to 23 percent in 2073. After that, it dropped to 12 percent in the year 2077.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-25', 'modified' => '2023-01-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16580', 'image' => '20230125031815_Banks.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-25 15:17:41', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16839', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Surya Nepal Provides Ambulance to APF Trauma Center', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 25: Surya Nepal Pvt. Ltd. handed over an ambulance to the Chitwan-based Prithvi Highway Trauma Hospital operated by Armed Police Force Nepal Disaster Management Training Academy.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">January 25: Surya Nepal Pvt. Ltd. handed over an ambulance to the Chitwan-based Prithvi Highway Trauma Hospital operated by Armed Police Force Nepal Disaster Management Training Academy. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">During an event on Monday, the company's Vice President for Corporate Affairs Ravi KC handed over the key of the ambulance to Superintendent of Police Anjani Kumar Pokhrel of APF Nepal Disaster Management Training Academy Kurintar, Chitwan.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Surya Nepal said that the company provided an ambulance to the trauma hospital under its corporate social responsibility as the hospital was facing difficulty to rescue the injured immediately due to the lack of ambulances.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the APF trauma center, the ambulance will be used to rescue the people injured in accidents along the highway.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-25', 'modified' => '2023-01-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16579', 'image' => '20230125022452_1674601856.Clipboard08.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-25 14:24:14', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16838', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NAC Captain Bishwakarma Refutes Suspension, says he is still in the Cockpit ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 25: Nepal Airlines Corporation Captain Nar Bahadur Bishwakarma has refuted reports about his suspension from regular duty.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">January 25: Nepal Airlines Corporation Captain Nar Bahadur Bishwakarma has refuted reports about his suspension from regular duty. Although it was reported that the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) had instructed to suspend five pilots of the Nepal Airlines Corporation, Captain Bishwakarma has clarified that he has not been suspended. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Captain Bishwakarma said that the CAAN had instructed to suspend pilots who disobeyed the instructions of the ATC during landing of an NAC plane at Hong Kong airport, but he was not involved in the flight, hence he was not suspended. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Bishwakarma however told RSS that he was in the same flight but only as a passenger when it landed at Hong Kong airport. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"I am dismayed over my name appearing on the list. Even today I am flying a NAC plane," he said before flying to Singapore on Tuesday night. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Meanwhile, Deputy Spokesperson of Nepal Airlines Corporation Ganesh Ghimire said that pilots Uddhav Ghimire and Rajesh Kushwaha, who disobeyed the instructions of the ATC while landing at the Hong Kong airport, and Prashanna Rana and YP Juwarchan who failed to follow the standard operational procedure during the flight from Kathmandu to Japan were suspended as per the instructions given by the CAAN. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He also informed that although pilot Nar Bahadur Bishwakarma was on the NAC flight to Hong Kong, he was not suspended. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-25', 'modified' => '2023-01-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16578', 'image' => '20230125013624_naccccc.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-25 13:35:44', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16837', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Narayangarh-Butwal Road Expansion Sees Dismal Progress ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 25: The widening of Narayangarh-Butwal road section along the East-West Highway has so far made only 23 percent progress with less than eight months left for the extended deadline to expire.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">January 25: The widening of Narayangarh-Butwal road section along the East-West Highway has so far made only 23 percent progress with less than eight months left for the extended deadline to expire.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The road widening project was supposed to be completed by August 2022 but the progress remains dismal even though it has been four years since the project started.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the China State Construction Engineering Corporation Limited, which is undertaking the expansion work, the widening of the road has been delayed due to complications brought out by COVID-19, tree felling, relocation of electric poles and mobilization of equipment. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Meanwhile, the Department of Roads had earlier concluded that the work was delayed due to the non-cooperation of the government, construction companies and local municipalities.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The department had even sought explanation from the Chinese construction company -- China State Construction Engineering Corporation Limited – as the progress was not satisfactory. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">A team of experts from the DoR led by Director General Arjun Jung Thapa had visited the site for inspection in early November and deduced that the construction was delayed due to three main reasons. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“It was seen that there was a delay in the work to be done by the Nepal government as well. The local municipality prohibited on buying of construction materials like aggregates, gravel and soil despite paying royalty to the local municipality. In addition, there were problems with the management of the construction company, leading to the delay in completion of wok on time,” Thapa had told New Business Age in an earlier interview.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Even now, the electric poles on the road that needs to be widened have not been removed. Thapa said that he did not get any help from the local municipality. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">An agreement was reached between the Department of Roads and the Chinese company to complete the 114 km Narayangadh-Butwal road upgrading work in 3.5 years in January 2018.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The 114 kilometres of road stretch was divided in two sections while awarding the contract through a global bidding process. The China State Construction Engineering Corporation Limited had won the tender bids of both sections considering its proposal to construct the road section at the minimum base rate. However, several complaints have been received on part of the construction company regarding the dillydallying of the project. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The department earlier warned to terminate the contract arguing that the travelers and vehicles have faced several issues including difficulties in travel, air pollution and others problems due to carelessness of the construction company. The locals in the affected area have also suffered while road accidents have increased. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">As the contract agreement ended on August 7, the government has extended the deadline for one more year at the request of the construction company. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The expansion of this road section is estimated to cost around Rs 16 billion. The project is running with concessional loan provided by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-25', 'modified' => '2023-01-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16577', 'image' => '20230125121853_20220926014301_road.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-25 12:18:16', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16836', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Call to Promote Nepal-India Startup Ecosystem', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 25: Stakeholders and experts have suggested that agencies should promote connection of innovation-based startup ecosystems between Nepal and India. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">January 25: Stakeholders and experts have suggested that agencies should promote connection of innovation-based startup ecosystems between Nepal and India. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">At an interaction on ‘India-Nepal Startup Connect’ organized by the Embassy of India, Kathmandu, in association with the Young Entrepreneur Forum of the Confederation of Nepalese Industries on Tuesday, the speakers called for further collaboration in financial technology to bring together the startup ecosystems of both the countries. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The event focused on fostering a connection between Indian and Nepali startup ecosystems, according to a press statement by the Embassy of India, Kathmandu. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">On the occasion, Governor of Nepal Rastra Bank Maha Prasad Adhikari said that 2023 would be the year for promoting the digital payment system and urged for further cooperation between Nepal and India on fintech. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He said that cross-border payment and QR payment should be advanced as the potential area of further cooperation. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Also speaking at the event, Naveen Srivastava, ambassador of India to Nepal, highlighted the importance of digital public goods in enabling financial inclusion and startups. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies Babu Ram Gautam delivered a presentation on “Startup Opportunities in Nepal”. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-25', 'modified' => '2023-01-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16576', 'image' => '20230125115120_startup.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-25 11:50:28', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16835', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'CIB Confirms Spot-Fixing in Nepal T-20 League', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 24: An investigation carried out by the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police has concluded that the recently held Nepal-T20 League was rigged.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">January 24: An investigation carried out by the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police has concluded that the recently held Nepal-T20 League was rigged.</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:"Times New Roman","serif"">The police have already arrested two people, including former national cricketer Mehboob Alam for their alleged involvement in spot fixing during the league held from December 24 to January 11 at TU Cricket Ground, Kirtipur.</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:"Times New Roman","serif"">Police investigation has revealed that a total of 10 people, including six foeigners were involved in the fixing scam.</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:"Times New Roman","serif"">Organising a press conference on Tuesday, the CIB said that the police made the arrests based on evidences collected from Whatsapp messages and phone call details of the suspects. </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:"Times New Roman","serif"">The second person arrested in connection to the scam is 20-year old cricketer Mohammad Aadil Ansari, who was instructed to throw a no ball and a wide ball by Mehboob Alam, the police said. Alam allegedly approached the player offering him financial incentives. As per the rules of the International Cricket Council (ICC), a player should report to the Anti-Corruption Unit of ICC if anyone offers them incentives for fixing the game. However, Mohammad Aadil Ansari's failure to report to the unit led to his arrest, said the police source adding that three other players had reported offers to fix the game to the Anti-Corruption Unit of ICC. </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:"Times New Roman","serif"">Former captain of Nepal’s national team Gyanendra Malla had earlier claimed during a press conference that one of the players of his team during the league was approached for fixing. </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:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) had entrusted an Indian company named Seven Three Sports for the overall management of the T-20 league, which courted controversy right from the beginning.</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:"Times New Roman","serif"">The organizers had revealed that a betting company was the main sponsor of the league, raising quite a few eyebrows. The Nepal T-20 league was also interrupted briefly after the players protested over salary issue.</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:"Times New Roman","serif"">CAN had banned other domestic T-20 leagues of Nepal to organize this league arguing that the country can have only one official T-20 league as per the international rules.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-24', 'modified' => '2023-01-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16575', 'image' => '20230124070811_CIB-Logo.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-24 19:07:32', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16834', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '5.9-magnitude Earthquake Jolts Western Nepal ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'An earthquake measuring 5.9 on the Richter scale jolted western Nepal at 2:43 pm on Tuesday. The earthquake having its epicenter in the Mela area of Bajura district was felt in various districts, including Banke, Kailali, Bajhang, among others, in Sudurpaschim Province. ', 'content' => '<p>January 24: An earthquake measuring 5.9 on the Richter scale jolted western Nepal at 2:43 pm on Tuesday. The earthquake having its epicenter in the Mela area of Bajura district was felt in various districts, including Banke, Kailali, Bajhang, among others, in Sudurpaschim Province. </p> <p>The powerful tremor had sent people out of their homes in panic. </p> <p>Information Officer at Seismological Centre, Surkhet, Tirtha Raj Dahal, said the earthquake of 5.9 on the Richter scale had struck the western Nepal with its epicenter at Mela of Bajura district, sending many residents out of their homes.</p> <p>The details of human casualties and physical damage are yet to come. </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-24', 'modified' => '2023-01-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16574', 'image' => '20230124052444_collage (85).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-24 17:17:33', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16833', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Community Campuses Face Financial Crisis in Parbat ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => ' Community campuses are experiencing a financial crisis in Parbat district. Plummeting students’ number and lack of government grant have put a total of 12 public colleges under financial strains. ', 'content' => '<p><br /> January 24: Community campuses are experiencing a financial crisis in Parbat district. Plummeting students’ number and lack of government grant have put a total of 12 public colleges under financial strains. </p> <p>Gupteswor and Shivalaya Multiple Campuses located at Parbat headquarters and Shankarpokhari Multiple Campus, Bahaki Campus, Janaat Sudarshan Campus, Navajagrit Campus, among others, located in rural areas have a minimum number of pupils. </p> <p>As a result, colleges have failed to collect fees from students as expected for their operation. <br /> Student number has plunged as some students have left for overseas for foreign employment, while others have gone outside the district to pursue education.</p> <p>“We are having a hard time running the campus due to the low number of students and fall of the government grant for the campus”, shared Campus Chief Suvash Panta of Gupteswor Multiple Campus.</p> <p>Shivalaya Multiple Campus Management Committee’s Chairman Bishnu Newar said that they had to face the financial crunch for lack of the campus’ credible source of income. </p> <p>Newar complained that they were operating the campus seeking help from various organizations at the request of party leaders, and playing deusi and bhailo. <br /> Tribhuvan University is yet to give permission of constituent campus to Gupteswor Campus, which is struggling financially for lack of a sustainable source of income. The college is hardly able to meet lecturers’ salary, infrastructure development, and miscellaneous expenses.</p> <p>Gupteswor Multiple Campus receives Rs 1.3 million annually, which is hardly enough to pay for the salary of two professors. <br /> Established in 2041 BS, Prabat Multiple Campus has a debt of Rs 15 million for want of source of income.</p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-24', 'modified' => '2023-01-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16573', 'image' => '20230124044449_collage (82).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-24 16:40:04', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16832', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal’s Import Volume Lowest in Three Months', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 24: Nepal’s import volume in mid-December to mid-January was the lowest in the last three months.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">January 24: Nepal’s import volume in mid-December to mid-January was the lowest in the last three months.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Analysts believe that the imports have declined due to the high interest rates of banks and the government’s policy to discourage imports.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">However, it has been found that export of goods from has increased in the same duration.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Compared to the same period last year, the overall trade of 6 months has decreased by 20 per cent and export by 32 per cent.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the customs department, Nepal imported goods of Rs 792 billion in the first six months of the current year. During the corresponding period of last year, the import volume was equal to Rs 1000 billion.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In the current fiscal year, the total volume of imports has decreased by 20.68 per cent.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Meanwhile, Nepal exported goods worth Rs 80.80 billion during this period. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In mid-December to mid-January alone, Nepal imported goods worth Rs 127.91 billion while the exports were worth Rs 13.5 billion. This is the lowest imports and highest export in the last three months.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">A large amount of money Nepal spends on imports goes to cooking gas and petroleum products. Nepal spent Rs 143 billion during the first six months on cooking gas and petroleum products.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Nepal spent Rs 18 billion more than last year for the import of cooking gas, diesel, petrol and aviation fuel. But the quantity has decreased. Due to the increase in the price of petroleum products, the amount of money spent on imports has increased, but the quantity has decreased.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In the first six months of the current year, Nepal imported cooking gas worth Rs 28.20 billion, diesel worth Rs 70.10 billion, aviation fuel worth Rs 11.24 billion and petrol worth Rs 33.53 billion.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">During the same period last year, cooking gas worth Rs 29.23 billion, diesel worth Rs 61.47 billion, aviation fuel worth Rs 5.33 billion and petrol worth Rs 29.27 billion were imported.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">This year Nepal imported 334.31 thousand kiloliters of petrol, 550.90 thousand kiloliters of diesel, 87.88 thousand kiloliters of aviation fuel and 247.90 million thousand kg of cooking gas.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Due to the government's ban on the import of luxury goods, overall imports have decreased by 20 per cent.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-24', 'modified' => '2023-01-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16572', 'image' => '20230124033007_import.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-24 15:29:28', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16831', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Price of Gold Sets New Record ', 'sub_title' => 'Hallmark Gold is Being Traded at Rs 106,300 Per Tola', 'summary' => 'January 24: Price of gold has hit an all-time high in the domestic market 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"">January 24: Price of gold has hit an all-time high in the domestic market on Tuesday. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">President of the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers Association, Manik Ratna Shakya, said the price of hallmark gold climbed to Rs 106,300 per tola (11.66 grams) on Monday. According to Shakya, the price of hallmark gold, which was traded for Rs 105,300 on Monday, increased by Rs 1,000 per tola on Tuesday. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Earlier on March 9, 2022, the price of gold had climbed to a record high price of Rs 105,005 per tola. According to NEGOSIDA, the price of worked gold has been fixed at Rs 105,800 per tola. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, price of silver has decreased by Rs 15 per tola and is being traded at Rs 1,365. The price of gold has increased due to the war between Russia and Ukraine due to which the central banks of different countries started increasing the stock of gold, shared Shakya. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The NEGOSIDA has been demanding 30-35 kg gold per day but the import is limited to 10 kg a day. Nepal Rastra Bank has capped the daily import of gold at 10 kg. Commercial banks are the only institutions licensed to import gold into the country. (With inputs from RSS)</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-24', 'modified' => '2023-01-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16571', 'image' => '20230124024612_gold.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-24 14:45:19', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16830', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Chobhar Dry Port Risks Turning into a White Elephant ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 24: The newly-constructed Chobhar Dry Port is likely to become a white elephant because the dry port on the southern outskirts of Kathmandu has not been active even one year after it came into operation.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">January 24: The newly-constructed Chobhar Dry Port is likely to become a white elephant because the dry port on the southern outskirts of Kathmandu has not been active even one year after it came into operation.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to government data, only 77 containers have entered the dry port since it came into operation while only three containers have left the premises.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Chobhar Dry Port was built with an investment of Rs 1.5 billion. It took three years to complete the construction of the dry port. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">It was inaugurated by the then Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba in last March. The port is spread over an area of 220 ropanis. The dry port can hold 500 containers.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Such a large dry port was constructed in Chobhar to facilitate the import and export of goods to and from Kathmandu, the largest city of the country, as well as reduce congestion at major customs such as Birgunj, and Bhairahawa. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">However, the disappointment in operating the dry port has led to concerns that the huge investment has been of no use.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Ashish Gajurel, executive director of the Nepal Intermodal Transport Development Committee, which is responsible for the operation of the dry port, says that the port is not running as expected. "There has been a problem in operations because the Kathmandu-Nijgadh fast track, which is close to the dry port, is yet to be built," he said, adding that there is not much support from the private sector. The government has not made a binding arrangement either.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to Gajurel, it will be easier if the government makes arrangements to bring certain materials coming into the valley through the Chobhar Dry Port. Most of the goods entering Nepal through the Birgunj customs come to Kathmandu Valley. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The road used by cargo trucks to enter Kathmandu from the dry port in Chobhar via Balkhu stretched up to ten kilometers and is narrow. The containers trucks are reluctant to come to Chobhar dry port as the route is more expensive and uncomfortable.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Containers coming to Chobhar have to go through the process twice -- at Birganj Customs and Chobhar Customs, the traders said. They also complain that the Department of Customs has imposed heavy fines on GPS.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">A fine of up to 200 per cent has been imposed if the lock of the GPS is opened while coming from the border crossing to the customs at Chobhar Dry Port. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“This is a very large fine. What can we do if the lock is opened due to some other reasons? Instead of Chobhar, it would have been easier to bring the goods through a checkpoint at Birganj or Bhairahawa customs," said Dinesh Shrestha, vice president of the Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industry.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to Shrestha, the letter sent to the government with suggestions on what should be done to run the Chobhar Dry Port properly has not been addressed. "Government’s readiness is not seen for the efficient operation of the port, which was built at such an expense," he said.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Department of Customs has said that the traders are doing business without using the Chobhar Dry Port. </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-24', 'modified' => '2023-01-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16570', 'image' => '20230124115624_Chobhar Dy port.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-24 11:55:47', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16829', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'CAAN Tells NAC to Suspend Five Pilots ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 24: The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has directed the Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) to suspend five of its pilots for disobeying the instructions given by the air traffic controller (ATC) of Hong Kong, China, while landing the plane. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">January 24: The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has directed the Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) to suspend five of its pilots for disobeying the instructions given by the air traffic controller (ATC) of Hong Kong, China, while landing the plane. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Spokesperson of CAAN Jagannath Niraula confirmed that the NAC has been directed to suspend five of its pilots for not abiding by the rules. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to Niraula, pilots Uddhab Ghimire, Rajesh Kushwaha and Nar Bahadur Bishwakarma did not follow the instructions of the ATC while landing the NAC aircraft at the Hong Kong Airport. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, the NAC has been directed to suspend pilots Prashanna Rana and YP Juwarchan for not following the Standard Operational Procedures (SOP) while taking off the plane from Kathmandu to Japan. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The state-owned flag carrier of Nepal must comply with the directive of CAAN and suspend all five pilots. After the suspension, the CAAN will interrogate them before taking further decision on whether to continue or end the suspension of those pilots, Niraula said. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-24', 'modified' => '2023-01-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16569', 'image' => '20230124115528_naccccc.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-24 11:54:46', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16828', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Two Cricketers Held on Charge of Match Fixing ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 24: The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police on Monday arrested cricketers Mahabub Alam and Mohammad Adil Ansari on charge of spot fixing and match fixing in the recently held T-20 League in Nepal. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">January 24: The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police on Monday arrested cricketers Mahabub Alam and Mohammad Adil Ansari on charge of spot fixing and match fixing in the recently held T-20 League in Nepal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A CIB source said that one of them was held from Biratnangar and the other from Rajbiraj and were brought to Kathmandu. The T-20 league was held in the Kathmandu valley last month. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The CIB had carried out investigations on match fixing and spot fixing during the league. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A police officer at the CIB told RSS that the team has completed investigation and will share the details by organizing a news conference on Tuesday. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-24', 'modified' => '2023-01-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16568', 'image' => '20230124110059_t20.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-24 11:00:17', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = falsesimplexml_load_file - [internal], line ?? include - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 60 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
Notice (8): Undefined variable: file [APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 133]Code Context// $file = 'http://aabhiyan:QUVLg8Wzs2F7G9N7@nepalstock.com.np/api/subindexdata.xml';if(!$xml = simplexml_load_file($file)){$viewFile = '/var/www/html/newbusinessage.com/app/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'articles' => array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ) ), 'current_user' => null, 'logged_in' => false ) $articles = array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16842', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Chances of Light Snowfall in High-Hills and Mountainous Regions ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 25: High hills and mountainous areas of western Nepal witnessed snowfall since Monday night due to the impact of low pressure system active in western parts of the country.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">January 25: High hills and mountainous areas of western Nepal witnessed snowfall since Monday night due to the impact of low pressure system active in western parts of the country. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Places like Jumla, Dolpa, Humla and Mugu were covered with snow on Tuesday as a result of snowfall that occurred in the country quite late this year.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">There were reports of air service disruption in several districts of western Nepal due to the snowfall while the normal life in the remote areas came to a standstill due to the snowfall.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The farmers who were worried due to the delay in rainfall rejoiced after receiving the first rainfall and snowfall this winter.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the Meteorological Forecasting Division, light snowfall is likely to occur in a few places in the high hills and mountainous areas of Bagmati, Gandaki, Karnali and Sudur Pashchim provinces today (Wednesday) as well.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Meanwhile, farmers of eastern Nepal are still worried as the winter crops have started wilting in the eastern region which is yet to receive rainfall this year.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Meteorological Forecasting Division has predicted chances of light rainfall in a few places of Gandaki, Lumbini, Karnali and Sudur Pashchim provinces today (Wednesday). </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the division, the weather will be partly to generally cloudy in Province 1, Madesh, Bagmati , Gandaki and Lumbini provinces and partly cloudy to mainly fair in the rest of the country tonight. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-25', 'modified' => '2023-01-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16582', 'image' => '20230125043141_HKC_Jajarkot-juphal.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-25 16:31:02', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16841', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NEA to Build Substations and Transmission Lines in Kathmandu Valley', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) will construct transmission lines and substations with capacity ranging from 66 kV to 220 kV in the Kathmandu Valley. ', 'content' => '<p><br /> <span style="font-size:16px">January 25: The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) will construct transmission lines and substations with capacity ranging from 66 kV to 220 kV in the Kathmandu Valley. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px">To make the power distribution system well-managed, the NEA is planning to construct a high capacity substation at Tarkeswor Municipality. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px">New transmission lines and substations aim at managing the electricity distribution system in the Kathmandu Valley by supplying high voltage electricity on a regular basis and reducing problems like electricity discontinuation in an emergency, said the NEA Executive Director Kulman Ghising.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px">With construction of new electricity infrastructures, the NEA will easily address the power demand in the Valley for the next 30 years, he said, adding “A ring circuit will be built in the valley”. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px">Ghising has already announced to construct a 132 kV transmission line along river banks. Similarly, substations will also be built in Kavrepalanchowk district, at the then Jitpurphedi VDC-5 and Goldhunga VDC-3. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px">It is learnt that the Kathmandu Valley has to suffer forced load-shedding due to a lack of transmission lines and substations. Likewise, electricity authority has expedited repair, upgrade and expansion of existing transmission lines and substations. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px">The NEA published a notice relating to the land acquisition for the projects as per Clause 61 of the Land Acquisition Act, 2034 BS on Wednesday. Lands of the total 61 families will be acquired for transmission lines and substations at Jitpurphedi VDC-5 and Goldhunga VDC-3. -RSS</span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-25', 'modified' => '2023-01-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16581', 'image' => '20230125041443_collage (86).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-25 16:06:30', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16840', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Rate of Return of Banks Declining', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 25: The rate of return of banks is headed on a downhill path.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">January 25: The rate of return of banks is headed on a downhill path. As the profits of banks declined due to their failure to expand business amid liquidity crisis and the stiff competition among the banks as well as regulatory provisions, the rate of return of banks has also declined.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the Nepal Bankers Association, the financial statements of commercial banks as of the second quarter of the current fiscal year show a drop of 11.73 percent on the return on equity (ROE) of commercial banks in an average. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">During the same period last year, the ROE of banks was 12.45 percent. Compared to mid-January last year, the ROE of nine banks decreased in the current fiscal year, while there has been an increase in ROE of 12 banks.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">As of mid-January this year, the net profit of Agricultural Development Bank decreased by 109 percent compared to the previous year and remained at minus 128.9 million rupees, making its ROE negative. NIC Asia Bank has the highest ROE of 26.25 percent by mid-January. NIC's ROE increased by 3.6 percentage points compared to last year. Nepal Investment Mega Bank is yet to publish its financial statements for the second quarter of this year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">President of Nepal Bankers Association and Chief Executive Officer of NMB Bank Sunil KC said that the rate of return is decreasing as the profitability of banks has been affected due to various factors. Addressing a press conference, KC said, “Banks provide most of their income to depositors and borrowers. Because of this, the rate of return of banks is decreasing.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war, the banks have been unable to expand their business. Similarly, the increase in bad loans of banks has also affected their profit. The total bad loans of banks increased to 2.29 percent till mid-January of the current fiscal year, which was 1.09 percent last year. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Anil Sharma, Chief Executive Officer of NBA, said that even though banks are accused of earning only profit, the figures state otherwise. He said that while the income of the banks from interest increased by 68 percent in the six months of the current year, their expenses on interest increased by 84 percent.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to Sharma, in the previous year, the commercial banks distributed an average of 14.3 percent dividend, but in the last year, they could give only 10.76 percent and the ROE was 24.42 percent in the year 2069/70, which was limited to 11.73 percent last year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Confederation of Banks and Financial Institutions (CBFIN), the umbrella organization of bank investors, also drew the attention of Nepal Rastra Bank, saying that the return of banks has been decreasing since a year and this has started to discourage investors.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In the report which was submitted after studying the condition of the banks since 2073, the rate of return of banks and financial institutions has been continuously decreasing and to manage this challenge, NRB has been requested to allow the interest rate to be determined according to the concept of open market, not to limit the spread rate, and not to limit the premium fee. According to CBFIN’s report, the return on investment of banks increased from 19 percent in 2068 to 23 percent in 2073. After that, it dropped to 12 percent in the year 2077.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-25', 'modified' => '2023-01-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16580', 'image' => '20230125031815_Banks.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-25 15:17:41', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16839', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Surya Nepal Provides Ambulance to APF Trauma Center', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 25: Surya Nepal Pvt. Ltd. handed over an ambulance to the Chitwan-based Prithvi Highway Trauma Hospital operated by Armed Police Force Nepal Disaster Management Training Academy.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">January 25: Surya Nepal Pvt. Ltd. handed over an ambulance to the Chitwan-based Prithvi Highway Trauma Hospital operated by Armed Police Force Nepal Disaster Management Training Academy. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">During an event on Monday, the company's Vice President for Corporate Affairs Ravi KC handed over the key of the ambulance to Superintendent of Police Anjani Kumar Pokhrel of APF Nepal Disaster Management Training Academy Kurintar, Chitwan.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Surya Nepal said that the company provided an ambulance to the trauma hospital under its corporate social responsibility as the hospital was facing difficulty to rescue the injured immediately due to the lack of ambulances.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the APF trauma center, the ambulance will be used to rescue the people injured in accidents along the highway.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-25', 'modified' => '2023-01-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16579', 'image' => '20230125022452_1674601856.Clipboard08.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-25 14:24:14', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16838', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NAC Captain Bishwakarma Refutes Suspension, says he is still in the Cockpit ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 25: Nepal Airlines Corporation Captain Nar Bahadur Bishwakarma has refuted reports about his suspension from regular duty.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">January 25: Nepal Airlines Corporation Captain Nar Bahadur Bishwakarma has refuted reports about his suspension from regular duty. Although it was reported that the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) had instructed to suspend five pilots of the Nepal Airlines Corporation, Captain Bishwakarma has clarified that he has not been suspended. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Captain Bishwakarma said that the CAAN had instructed to suspend pilots who disobeyed the instructions of the ATC during landing of an NAC plane at Hong Kong airport, but he was not involved in the flight, hence he was not suspended. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Bishwakarma however told RSS that he was in the same flight but only as a passenger when it landed at Hong Kong airport. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"I am dismayed over my name appearing on the list. Even today I am flying a NAC plane," he said before flying to Singapore on Tuesday night. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Meanwhile, Deputy Spokesperson of Nepal Airlines Corporation Ganesh Ghimire said that pilots Uddhav Ghimire and Rajesh Kushwaha, who disobeyed the instructions of the ATC while landing at the Hong Kong airport, and Prashanna Rana and YP Juwarchan who failed to follow the standard operational procedure during the flight from Kathmandu to Japan were suspended as per the instructions given by the CAAN. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He also informed that although pilot Nar Bahadur Bishwakarma was on the NAC flight to Hong Kong, he was not suspended. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-25', 'modified' => '2023-01-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16578', 'image' => '20230125013624_naccccc.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-25 13:35:44', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16837', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Narayangarh-Butwal Road Expansion Sees Dismal Progress ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 25: The widening of Narayangarh-Butwal road section along the East-West Highway has so far made only 23 percent progress with less than eight months left for the extended deadline to expire.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">January 25: The widening of Narayangarh-Butwal road section along the East-West Highway has so far made only 23 percent progress with less than eight months left for the extended deadline to expire.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The road widening project was supposed to be completed by August 2022 but the progress remains dismal even though it has been four years since the project started.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the China State Construction Engineering Corporation Limited, which is undertaking the expansion work, the widening of the road has been delayed due to complications brought out by COVID-19, tree felling, relocation of electric poles and mobilization of equipment. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Meanwhile, the Department of Roads had earlier concluded that the work was delayed due to the non-cooperation of the government, construction companies and local municipalities.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The department had even sought explanation from the Chinese construction company -- China State Construction Engineering Corporation Limited – as the progress was not satisfactory. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">A team of experts from the DoR led by Director General Arjun Jung Thapa had visited the site for inspection in early November and deduced that the construction was delayed due to three main reasons. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“It was seen that there was a delay in the work to be done by the Nepal government as well. The local municipality prohibited on buying of construction materials like aggregates, gravel and soil despite paying royalty to the local municipality. In addition, there were problems with the management of the construction company, leading to the delay in completion of wok on time,” Thapa had told New Business Age in an earlier interview.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Even now, the electric poles on the road that needs to be widened have not been removed. Thapa said that he did not get any help from the local municipality. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">An agreement was reached between the Department of Roads and the Chinese company to complete the 114 km Narayangadh-Butwal road upgrading work in 3.5 years in January 2018.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The 114 kilometres of road stretch was divided in two sections while awarding the contract through a global bidding process. The China State Construction Engineering Corporation Limited had won the tender bids of both sections considering its proposal to construct the road section at the minimum base rate. However, several complaints have been received on part of the construction company regarding the dillydallying of the project. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The department earlier warned to terminate the contract arguing that the travelers and vehicles have faced several issues including difficulties in travel, air pollution and others problems due to carelessness of the construction company. The locals in the affected area have also suffered while road accidents have increased. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">As the contract agreement ended on August 7, the government has extended the deadline for one more year at the request of the construction company. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The expansion of this road section is estimated to cost around Rs 16 billion. The project is running with concessional loan provided by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-25', 'modified' => '2023-01-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16577', 'image' => '20230125121853_20220926014301_road.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-25 12:18:16', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16836', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Call to Promote Nepal-India Startup Ecosystem', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 25: Stakeholders and experts have suggested that agencies should promote connection of innovation-based startup ecosystems between Nepal and India. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">January 25: Stakeholders and experts have suggested that agencies should promote connection of innovation-based startup ecosystems between Nepal and India. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">At an interaction on ‘India-Nepal Startup Connect’ organized by the Embassy of India, Kathmandu, in association with the Young Entrepreneur Forum of the Confederation of Nepalese Industries on Tuesday, the speakers called for further collaboration in financial technology to bring together the startup ecosystems of both the countries. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The event focused on fostering a connection between Indian and Nepali startup ecosystems, according to a press statement by the Embassy of India, Kathmandu. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">On the occasion, Governor of Nepal Rastra Bank Maha Prasad Adhikari said that 2023 would be the year for promoting the digital payment system and urged for further cooperation between Nepal and India on fintech. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He said that cross-border payment and QR payment should be advanced as the potential area of further cooperation. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Also speaking at the event, Naveen Srivastava, ambassador of India to Nepal, highlighted the importance of digital public goods in enabling financial inclusion and startups. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies Babu Ram Gautam delivered a presentation on “Startup Opportunities in Nepal”. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-25', 'modified' => '2023-01-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16576', 'image' => '20230125115120_startup.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-25 11:50:28', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16835', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'CIB Confirms Spot-Fixing in Nepal T-20 League', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 24: An investigation carried out by the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police has concluded that the recently held Nepal-T20 League was rigged.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">January 24: An investigation carried out by the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police has concluded that the recently held Nepal-T20 League was rigged.</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:"Times New Roman","serif"">The police have already arrested two people, including former national cricketer Mehboob Alam for their alleged involvement in spot fixing during the league held from December 24 to January 11 at TU Cricket Ground, Kirtipur.</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:"Times New Roman","serif"">Police investigation has revealed that a total of 10 people, including six foeigners were involved in the fixing scam.</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:"Times New Roman","serif"">Organising a press conference on Tuesday, the CIB said that the police made the arrests based on evidences collected from Whatsapp messages and phone call details of the suspects. </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:"Times New Roman","serif"">The second person arrested in connection to the scam is 20-year old cricketer Mohammad Aadil Ansari, who was instructed to throw a no ball and a wide ball by Mehboob Alam, the police said. Alam allegedly approached the player offering him financial incentives. As per the rules of the International Cricket Council (ICC), a player should report to the Anti-Corruption Unit of ICC if anyone offers them incentives for fixing the game. However, Mohammad Aadil Ansari's failure to report to the unit led to his arrest, said the police source adding that three other players had reported offers to fix the game to the Anti-Corruption Unit of ICC. </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:"Times New Roman","serif"">Former captain of Nepal’s national team Gyanendra Malla had earlier claimed during a press conference that one of the players of his team during the league was approached for fixing. </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:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) had entrusted an Indian company named Seven Three Sports for the overall management of the T-20 league, which courted controversy right from the beginning.</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:"Times New Roman","serif"">The organizers had revealed that a betting company was the main sponsor of the league, raising quite a few eyebrows. The Nepal T-20 league was also interrupted briefly after the players protested over salary issue.</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:"Times New Roman","serif"">CAN had banned other domestic T-20 leagues of Nepal to organize this league arguing that the country can have only one official T-20 league as per the international rules.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-24', 'modified' => '2023-01-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16575', 'image' => '20230124070811_CIB-Logo.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-24 19:07:32', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16834', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '5.9-magnitude Earthquake Jolts Western Nepal ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'An earthquake measuring 5.9 on the Richter scale jolted western Nepal at 2:43 pm on Tuesday. The earthquake having its epicenter in the Mela area of Bajura district was felt in various districts, including Banke, Kailali, Bajhang, among others, in Sudurpaschim Province. ', 'content' => '<p>January 24: An earthquake measuring 5.9 on the Richter scale jolted western Nepal at 2:43 pm on Tuesday. The earthquake having its epicenter in the Mela area of Bajura district was felt in various districts, including Banke, Kailali, Bajhang, among others, in Sudurpaschim Province. </p> <p>The powerful tremor had sent people out of their homes in panic. </p> <p>Information Officer at Seismological Centre, Surkhet, Tirtha Raj Dahal, said the earthquake of 5.9 on the Richter scale had struck the western Nepal with its epicenter at Mela of Bajura district, sending many residents out of their homes.</p> <p>The details of human casualties and physical damage are yet to come. </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-24', 'modified' => '2023-01-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16574', 'image' => '20230124052444_collage (85).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-24 17:17:33', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16833', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Community Campuses Face Financial Crisis in Parbat ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => ' Community campuses are experiencing a financial crisis in Parbat district. Plummeting students’ number and lack of government grant have put a total of 12 public colleges under financial strains. ', 'content' => '<p><br /> January 24: Community campuses are experiencing a financial crisis in Parbat district. Plummeting students’ number and lack of government grant have put a total of 12 public colleges under financial strains. </p> <p>Gupteswor and Shivalaya Multiple Campuses located at Parbat headquarters and Shankarpokhari Multiple Campus, Bahaki Campus, Janaat Sudarshan Campus, Navajagrit Campus, among others, located in rural areas have a minimum number of pupils. </p> <p>As a result, colleges have failed to collect fees from students as expected for their operation. <br /> Student number has plunged as some students have left for overseas for foreign employment, while others have gone outside the district to pursue education.</p> <p>“We are having a hard time running the campus due to the low number of students and fall of the government grant for the campus”, shared Campus Chief Suvash Panta of Gupteswor Multiple Campus.</p> <p>Shivalaya Multiple Campus Management Committee’s Chairman Bishnu Newar said that they had to face the financial crunch for lack of the campus’ credible source of income. </p> <p>Newar complained that they were operating the campus seeking help from various organizations at the request of party leaders, and playing deusi and bhailo. <br /> Tribhuvan University is yet to give permission of constituent campus to Gupteswor Campus, which is struggling financially for lack of a sustainable source of income. The college is hardly able to meet lecturers’ salary, infrastructure development, and miscellaneous expenses.</p> <p>Gupteswor Multiple Campus receives Rs 1.3 million annually, which is hardly enough to pay for the salary of two professors. <br /> Established in 2041 BS, Prabat Multiple Campus has a debt of Rs 15 million for want of source of income.</p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-24', 'modified' => '2023-01-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16573', 'image' => '20230124044449_collage (82).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-24 16:40:04', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16832', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal’s Import Volume Lowest in Three Months', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 24: Nepal’s import volume in mid-December to mid-January was the lowest in the last three months.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">January 24: Nepal’s import volume in mid-December to mid-January was the lowest in the last three months.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Analysts believe that the imports have declined due to the high interest rates of banks and the government’s policy to discourage imports.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">However, it has been found that export of goods from has increased in the same duration.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Compared to the same period last year, the overall trade of 6 months has decreased by 20 per cent and export by 32 per cent.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the customs department, Nepal imported goods of Rs 792 billion in the first six months of the current year. During the corresponding period of last year, the import volume was equal to Rs 1000 billion.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In the current fiscal year, the total volume of imports has decreased by 20.68 per cent.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Meanwhile, Nepal exported goods worth Rs 80.80 billion during this period. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In mid-December to mid-January alone, Nepal imported goods worth Rs 127.91 billion while the exports were worth Rs 13.5 billion. This is the lowest imports and highest export in the last three months.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">A large amount of money Nepal spends on imports goes to cooking gas and petroleum products. Nepal spent Rs 143 billion during the first six months on cooking gas and petroleum products.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Nepal spent Rs 18 billion more than last year for the import of cooking gas, diesel, petrol and aviation fuel. But the quantity has decreased. Due to the increase in the price of petroleum products, the amount of money spent on imports has increased, but the quantity has decreased.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In the first six months of the current year, Nepal imported cooking gas worth Rs 28.20 billion, diesel worth Rs 70.10 billion, aviation fuel worth Rs 11.24 billion and petrol worth Rs 33.53 billion.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">During the same period last year, cooking gas worth Rs 29.23 billion, diesel worth Rs 61.47 billion, aviation fuel worth Rs 5.33 billion and petrol worth Rs 29.27 billion were imported.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">This year Nepal imported 334.31 thousand kiloliters of petrol, 550.90 thousand kiloliters of diesel, 87.88 thousand kiloliters of aviation fuel and 247.90 million thousand kg of cooking gas.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Due to the government's ban on the import of luxury goods, overall imports have decreased by 20 per cent.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-24', 'modified' => '2023-01-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16572', 'image' => '20230124033007_import.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-24 15:29:28', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16831', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Price of Gold Sets New Record ', 'sub_title' => 'Hallmark Gold is Being Traded at Rs 106,300 Per Tola', 'summary' => 'January 24: Price of gold has hit an all-time high in the domestic market 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"">January 24: Price of gold has hit an all-time high in the domestic market on Tuesday. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">President of the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers Association, Manik Ratna Shakya, said the price of hallmark gold climbed to Rs 106,300 per tola (11.66 grams) on Monday. According to Shakya, the price of hallmark gold, which was traded for Rs 105,300 on Monday, increased by Rs 1,000 per tola on Tuesday. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Earlier on March 9, 2022, the price of gold had climbed to a record high price of Rs 105,005 per tola. According to NEGOSIDA, the price of worked gold has been fixed at Rs 105,800 per tola. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, price of silver has decreased by Rs 15 per tola and is being traded at Rs 1,365. The price of gold has increased due to the war between Russia and Ukraine due to which the central banks of different countries started increasing the stock of gold, shared Shakya. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The NEGOSIDA has been demanding 30-35 kg gold per day but the import is limited to 10 kg a day. Nepal Rastra Bank has capped the daily import of gold at 10 kg. Commercial banks are the only institutions licensed to import gold into the country. (With inputs from RSS)</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-24', 'modified' => '2023-01-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16571', 'image' => '20230124024612_gold.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-24 14:45:19', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16830', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Chobhar Dry Port Risks Turning into a White Elephant ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 24: The newly-constructed Chobhar Dry Port is likely to become a white elephant because the dry port on the southern outskirts of Kathmandu has not been active even one year after it came into operation.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">January 24: The newly-constructed Chobhar Dry Port is likely to become a white elephant because the dry port on the southern outskirts of Kathmandu has not been active even one year after it came into operation.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to government data, only 77 containers have entered the dry port since it came into operation while only three containers have left the premises.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Chobhar Dry Port was built with an investment of Rs 1.5 billion. It took three years to complete the construction of the dry port. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">It was inaugurated by the then Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba in last March. The port is spread over an area of 220 ropanis. The dry port can hold 500 containers.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Such a large dry port was constructed in Chobhar to facilitate the import and export of goods to and from Kathmandu, the largest city of the country, as well as reduce congestion at major customs such as Birgunj, and Bhairahawa. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">However, the disappointment in operating the dry port has led to concerns that the huge investment has been of no use.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Ashish Gajurel, executive director of the Nepal Intermodal Transport Development Committee, which is responsible for the operation of the dry port, says that the port is not running as expected. "There has been a problem in operations because the Kathmandu-Nijgadh fast track, which is close to the dry port, is yet to be built," he said, adding that there is not much support from the private sector. The government has not made a binding arrangement either.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to Gajurel, it will be easier if the government makes arrangements to bring certain materials coming into the valley through the Chobhar Dry Port. Most of the goods entering Nepal through the Birgunj customs come to Kathmandu Valley. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The road used by cargo trucks to enter Kathmandu from the dry port in Chobhar via Balkhu stretched up to ten kilometers and is narrow. The containers trucks are reluctant to come to Chobhar dry port as the route is more expensive and uncomfortable.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Containers coming to Chobhar have to go through the process twice -- at Birganj Customs and Chobhar Customs, the traders said. They also complain that the Department of Customs has imposed heavy fines on GPS.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">A fine of up to 200 per cent has been imposed if the lock of the GPS is opened while coming from the border crossing to the customs at Chobhar Dry Port. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“This is a very large fine. What can we do if the lock is opened due to some other reasons? Instead of Chobhar, it would have been easier to bring the goods through a checkpoint at Birganj or Bhairahawa customs," said Dinesh Shrestha, vice president of the Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industry.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to Shrestha, the letter sent to the government with suggestions on what should be done to run the Chobhar Dry Port properly has not been addressed. "Government’s readiness is not seen for the efficient operation of the port, which was built at such an expense," he said.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Department of Customs has said that the traders are doing business without using the Chobhar Dry Port. </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-24', 'modified' => '2023-01-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16570', 'image' => '20230124115624_Chobhar Dy port.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-24 11:55:47', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16829', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'CAAN Tells NAC to Suspend Five Pilots ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 24: The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has directed the Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) to suspend five of its pilots for disobeying the instructions given by the air traffic controller (ATC) of Hong Kong, China, while landing the plane. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">January 24: The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has directed the Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) to suspend five of its pilots for disobeying the instructions given by the air traffic controller (ATC) of Hong Kong, China, while landing the plane. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Spokesperson of CAAN Jagannath Niraula confirmed that the NAC has been directed to suspend five of its pilots for not abiding by the rules. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to Niraula, pilots Uddhab Ghimire, Rajesh Kushwaha and Nar Bahadur Bishwakarma did not follow the instructions of the ATC while landing the NAC aircraft at the Hong Kong Airport. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, the NAC has been directed to suspend pilots Prashanna Rana and YP Juwarchan for not following the Standard Operational Procedures (SOP) while taking off the plane from Kathmandu to Japan. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The state-owned flag carrier of Nepal must comply with the directive of CAAN and suspend all five pilots. After the suspension, the CAAN will interrogate them before taking further decision on whether to continue or end the suspension of those pilots, Niraula said. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-24', 'modified' => '2023-01-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16569', 'image' => '20230124115528_naccccc.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-24 11:54:46', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16828', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Two Cricketers Held on Charge of Match Fixing ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 24: The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police on Monday arrested cricketers Mahabub Alam and Mohammad Adil Ansari on charge of spot fixing and match fixing in the recently held T-20 League in Nepal. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">January 24: The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police on Monday arrested cricketers Mahabub Alam and Mohammad Adil Ansari on charge of spot fixing and match fixing in the recently held T-20 League in Nepal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A CIB source said that one of them was held from Biratnangar and the other from Rajbiraj and were brought to Kathmandu. The T-20 league was held in the Kathmandu valley last month. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The CIB had carried out investigations on match fixing and spot fixing during the league. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A police officer at the CIB told RSS that the team has completed investigation and will share the details by organizing a news conference on Tuesday. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-24', 'modified' => '2023-01-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16568', 'image' => '20230124110059_t20.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-24 11:00:17', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = false $xml = falseinclude - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 133 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
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' => '16842', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Chances of Light Snowfall in High-Hills and Mountainous Regions ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 25: High hills and mountainous areas of western Nepal witnessed snowfall since Monday night due to the impact of low pressure system active in western parts of the country.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">January 25: High hills and mountainous areas of western Nepal witnessed snowfall since Monday night due to the impact of low pressure system active in western parts of the country. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Places like Jumla, Dolpa, Humla and Mugu were covered with snow on Tuesday as a result of snowfall that occurred in the country quite late this year.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">There were reports of air service disruption in several districts of western Nepal due to the snowfall while the normal life in the remote areas came to a standstill due to the snowfall.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The farmers who were worried due to the delay in rainfall rejoiced after receiving the first rainfall and snowfall this winter.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the Meteorological Forecasting Division, light snowfall is likely to occur in a few places in the high hills and mountainous areas of Bagmati, Gandaki, Karnali and Sudur Pashchim provinces today (Wednesday) as well.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Meanwhile, farmers of eastern Nepal are still worried as the winter crops have started wilting in the eastern region which is yet to receive rainfall this year.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Meteorological Forecasting Division has predicted chances of light rainfall in a few places of Gandaki, Lumbini, Karnali and Sudur Pashchim provinces today (Wednesday). </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the division, the weather will be partly to generally cloudy in Province 1, Madesh, Bagmati , Gandaki and Lumbini provinces and partly cloudy to mainly fair in the rest of the country tonight. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-25', 'modified' => '2023-01-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16582', 'image' => '20230125043141_HKC_Jajarkot-juphal.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-25 16:31:02', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16841', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NEA to Build Substations and Transmission Lines in Kathmandu Valley', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) will construct transmission lines and substations with capacity ranging from 66 kV to 220 kV in the Kathmandu Valley. ', 'content' => '<p><br /> <span style="font-size:16px">January 25: The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) will construct transmission lines and substations with capacity ranging from 66 kV to 220 kV in the Kathmandu Valley. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px">To make the power distribution system well-managed, the NEA is planning to construct a high capacity substation at Tarkeswor Municipality. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px">New transmission lines and substations aim at managing the electricity distribution system in the Kathmandu Valley by supplying high voltage electricity on a regular basis and reducing problems like electricity discontinuation in an emergency, said the NEA Executive Director Kulman Ghising.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px">With construction of new electricity infrastructures, the NEA will easily address the power demand in the Valley for the next 30 years, he said, adding “A ring circuit will be built in the valley”. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px">Ghising has already announced to construct a 132 kV transmission line along river banks. Similarly, substations will also be built in Kavrepalanchowk district, at the then Jitpurphedi VDC-5 and Goldhunga VDC-3. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px">It is learnt that the Kathmandu Valley has to suffer forced load-shedding due to a lack of transmission lines and substations. Likewise, electricity authority has expedited repair, upgrade and expansion of existing transmission lines and substations. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px">The NEA published a notice relating to the land acquisition for the projects as per Clause 61 of the Land Acquisition Act, 2034 BS on Wednesday. Lands of the total 61 families will be acquired for transmission lines and substations at Jitpurphedi VDC-5 and Goldhunga VDC-3. -RSS</span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-25', 'modified' => '2023-01-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16581', 'image' => '20230125041443_collage (86).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-25 16:06:30', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16840', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Rate of Return of Banks Declining', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 25: The rate of return of banks is headed on a downhill path.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">January 25: The rate of return of banks is headed on a downhill path. As the profits of banks declined due to their failure to expand business amid liquidity crisis and the stiff competition among the banks as well as regulatory provisions, the rate of return of banks has also declined.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the Nepal Bankers Association, the financial statements of commercial banks as of the second quarter of the current fiscal year show a drop of 11.73 percent on the return on equity (ROE) of commercial banks in an average. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">During the same period last year, the ROE of banks was 12.45 percent. Compared to mid-January last year, the ROE of nine banks decreased in the current fiscal year, while there has been an increase in ROE of 12 banks.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">As of mid-January this year, the net profit of Agricultural Development Bank decreased by 109 percent compared to the previous year and remained at minus 128.9 million rupees, making its ROE negative. NIC Asia Bank has the highest ROE of 26.25 percent by mid-January. NIC's ROE increased by 3.6 percentage points compared to last year. Nepal Investment Mega Bank is yet to publish its financial statements for the second quarter of this year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">President of Nepal Bankers Association and Chief Executive Officer of NMB Bank Sunil KC said that the rate of return is decreasing as the profitability of banks has been affected due to various factors. Addressing a press conference, KC said, “Banks provide most of their income to depositors and borrowers. Because of this, the rate of return of banks is decreasing.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war, the banks have been unable to expand their business. Similarly, the increase in bad loans of banks has also affected their profit. The total bad loans of banks increased to 2.29 percent till mid-January of the current fiscal year, which was 1.09 percent last year. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Anil Sharma, Chief Executive Officer of NBA, said that even though banks are accused of earning only profit, the figures state otherwise. He said that while the income of the banks from interest increased by 68 percent in the six months of the current year, their expenses on interest increased by 84 percent.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to Sharma, in the previous year, the commercial banks distributed an average of 14.3 percent dividend, but in the last year, they could give only 10.76 percent and the ROE was 24.42 percent in the year 2069/70, which was limited to 11.73 percent last year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Confederation of Banks and Financial Institutions (CBFIN), the umbrella organization of bank investors, also drew the attention of Nepal Rastra Bank, saying that the return of banks has been decreasing since a year and this has started to discourage investors.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In the report which was submitted after studying the condition of the banks since 2073, the rate of return of banks and financial institutions has been continuously decreasing and to manage this challenge, NRB has been requested to allow the interest rate to be determined according to the concept of open market, not to limit the spread rate, and not to limit the premium fee. According to CBFIN’s report, the return on investment of banks increased from 19 percent in 2068 to 23 percent in 2073. After that, it dropped to 12 percent in the year 2077.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-25', 'modified' => '2023-01-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16580', 'image' => '20230125031815_Banks.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-25 15:17:41', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16839', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Surya Nepal Provides Ambulance to APF Trauma Center', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 25: Surya Nepal Pvt. Ltd. handed over an ambulance to the Chitwan-based Prithvi Highway Trauma Hospital operated by Armed Police Force Nepal Disaster Management Training Academy.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">January 25: Surya Nepal Pvt. Ltd. handed over an ambulance to the Chitwan-based Prithvi Highway Trauma Hospital operated by Armed Police Force Nepal Disaster Management Training Academy. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">During an event on Monday, the company's Vice President for Corporate Affairs Ravi KC handed over the key of the ambulance to Superintendent of Police Anjani Kumar Pokhrel of APF Nepal Disaster Management Training Academy Kurintar, Chitwan.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Surya Nepal said that the company provided an ambulance to the trauma hospital under its corporate social responsibility as the hospital was facing difficulty to rescue the injured immediately due to the lack of ambulances.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the APF trauma center, the ambulance will be used to rescue the people injured in accidents along the highway.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-25', 'modified' => '2023-01-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16579', 'image' => '20230125022452_1674601856.Clipboard08.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-25 14:24:14', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16838', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NAC Captain Bishwakarma Refutes Suspension, says he is still in the Cockpit ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 25: Nepal Airlines Corporation Captain Nar Bahadur Bishwakarma has refuted reports about his suspension from regular duty.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">January 25: Nepal Airlines Corporation Captain Nar Bahadur Bishwakarma has refuted reports about his suspension from regular duty. Although it was reported that the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) had instructed to suspend five pilots of the Nepal Airlines Corporation, Captain Bishwakarma has clarified that he has not been suspended. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Captain Bishwakarma said that the CAAN had instructed to suspend pilots who disobeyed the instructions of the ATC during landing of an NAC plane at Hong Kong airport, but he was not involved in the flight, hence he was not suspended. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Bishwakarma however told RSS that he was in the same flight but only as a passenger when it landed at Hong Kong airport. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"I am dismayed over my name appearing on the list. Even today I am flying a NAC plane," he said before flying to Singapore on Tuesday night. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Meanwhile, Deputy Spokesperson of Nepal Airlines Corporation Ganesh Ghimire said that pilots Uddhav Ghimire and Rajesh Kushwaha, who disobeyed the instructions of the ATC while landing at the Hong Kong airport, and Prashanna Rana and YP Juwarchan who failed to follow the standard operational procedure during the flight from Kathmandu to Japan were suspended as per the instructions given by the CAAN. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He also informed that although pilot Nar Bahadur Bishwakarma was on the NAC flight to Hong Kong, he was not suspended. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-25', 'modified' => '2023-01-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16578', 'image' => '20230125013624_naccccc.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-25 13:35:44', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16837', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Narayangarh-Butwal Road Expansion Sees Dismal Progress ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 25: The widening of Narayangarh-Butwal road section along the East-West Highway has so far made only 23 percent progress with less than eight months left for the extended deadline to expire.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">January 25: The widening of Narayangarh-Butwal road section along the East-West Highway has so far made only 23 percent progress with less than eight months left for the extended deadline to expire.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The road widening project was supposed to be completed by August 2022 but the progress remains dismal even though it has been four years since the project started.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the China State Construction Engineering Corporation Limited, which is undertaking the expansion work, the widening of the road has been delayed due to complications brought out by COVID-19, tree felling, relocation of electric poles and mobilization of equipment. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Meanwhile, the Department of Roads had earlier concluded that the work was delayed due to the non-cooperation of the government, construction companies and local municipalities.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The department had even sought explanation from the Chinese construction company -- China State Construction Engineering Corporation Limited – as the progress was not satisfactory. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">A team of experts from the DoR led by Director General Arjun Jung Thapa had visited the site for inspection in early November and deduced that the construction was delayed due to three main reasons. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“It was seen that there was a delay in the work to be done by the Nepal government as well. The local municipality prohibited on buying of construction materials like aggregates, gravel and soil despite paying royalty to the local municipality. In addition, there were problems with the management of the construction company, leading to the delay in completion of wok on time,” Thapa had told New Business Age in an earlier interview.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Even now, the electric poles on the road that needs to be widened have not been removed. Thapa said that he did not get any help from the local municipality. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">An agreement was reached between the Department of Roads and the Chinese company to complete the 114 km Narayangadh-Butwal road upgrading work in 3.5 years in January 2018.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The 114 kilometres of road stretch was divided in two sections while awarding the contract through a global bidding process. The China State Construction Engineering Corporation Limited had won the tender bids of both sections considering its proposal to construct the road section at the minimum base rate. However, several complaints have been received on part of the construction company regarding the dillydallying of the project. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The department earlier warned to terminate the contract arguing that the travelers and vehicles have faced several issues including difficulties in travel, air pollution and others problems due to carelessness of the construction company. The locals in the affected area have also suffered while road accidents have increased. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">As the contract agreement ended on August 7, the government has extended the deadline for one more year at the request of the construction company. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The expansion of this road section is estimated to cost around Rs 16 billion. The project is running with concessional loan provided by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-25', 'modified' => '2023-01-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16577', 'image' => '20230125121853_20220926014301_road.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-25 12:18:16', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16836', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Call to Promote Nepal-India Startup Ecosystem', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 25: Stakeholders and experts have suggested that agencies should promote connection of innovation-based startup ecosystems between Nepal and India. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">January 25: Stakeholders and experts have suggested that agencies should promote connection of innovation-based startup ecosystems between Nepal and India. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">At an interaction on ‘India-Nepal Startup Connect’ organized by the Embassy of India, Kathmandu, in association with the Young Entrepreneur Forum of the Confederation of Nepalese Industries on Tuesday, the speakers called for further collaboration in financial technology to bring together the startup ecosystems of both the countries. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The event focused on fostering a connection between Indian and Nepali startup ecosystems, according to a press statement by the Embassy of India, Kathmandu. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">On the occasion, Governor of Nepal Rastra Bank Maha Prasad Adhikari said that 2023 would be the year for promoting the digital payment system and urged for further cooperation between Nepal and India on fintech. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He said that cross-border payment and QR payment should be advanced as the potential area of further cooperation. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Also speaking at the event, Naveen Srivastava, ambassador of India to Nepal, highlighted the importance of digital public goods in enabling financial inclusion and startups. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies Babu Ram Gautam delivered a presentation on “Startup Opportunities in Nepal”. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-25', 'modified' => '2023-01-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16576', 'image' => '20230125115120_startup.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-25 11:50:28', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16835', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'CIB Confirms Spot-Fixing in Nepal T-20 League', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 24: An investigation carried out by the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police has concluded that the recently held Nepal-T20 League was rigged.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">January 24: An investigation carried out by the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police has concluded that the recently held Nepal-T20 League was rigged.</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:"Times New Roman","serif"">The police have already arrested two people, including former national cricketer Mehboob Alam for their alleged involvement in spot fixing during the league held from December 24 to January 11 at TU Cricket Ground, Kirtipur.</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:"Times New Roman","serif"">Police investigation has revealed that a total of 10 people, including six foeigners were involved in the fixing scam.</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:"Times New Roman","serif"">Organising a press conference on Tuesday, the CIB said that the police made the arrests based on evidences collected from Whatsapp messages and phone call details of the suspects. </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:"Times New Roman","serif"">The second person arrested in connection to the scam is 20-year old cricketer Mohammad Aadil Ansari, who was instructed to throw a no ball and a wide ball by Mehboob Alam, the police said. Alam allegedly approached the player offering him financial incentives. As per the rules of the International Cricket Council (ICC), a player should report to the Anti-Corruption Unit of ICC if anyone offers them incentives for fixing the game. However, Mohammad Aadil Ansari's failure to report to the unit led to his arrest, said the police source adding that three other players had reported offers to fix the game to the Anti-Corruption Unit of ICC. </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:"Times New Roman","serif"">Former captain of Nepal’s national team Gyanendra Malla had earlier claimed during a press conference that one of the players of his team during the league was approached for fixing. </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:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) had entrusted an Indian company named Seven Three Sports for the overall management of the T-20 league, which courted controversy right from the beginning.</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:"Times New Roman","serif"">The organizers had revealed that a betting company was the main sponsor of the league, raising quite a few eyebrows. The Nepal T-20 league was also interrupted briefly after the players protested over salary issue.</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:"Times New Roman","serif"">CAN had banned other domestic T-20 leagues of Nepal to organize this league arguing that the country can have only one official T-20 league as per the international rules.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-24', 'modified' => '2023-01-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16575', 'image' => '20230124070811_CIB-Logo.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-24 19:07:32', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16834', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '5.9-magnitude Earthquake Jolts Western Nepal ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'An earthquake measuring 5.9 on the Richter scale jolted western Nepal at 2:43 pm on Tuesday. The earthquake having its epicenter in the Mela area of Bajura district was felt in various districts, including Banke, Kailali, Bajhang, among others, in Sudurpaschim Province. ', 'content' => '<p>January 24: An earthquake measuring 5.9 on the Richter scale jolted western Nepal at 2:43 pm on Tuesday. The earthquake having its epicenter in the Mela area of Bajura district was felt in various districts, including Banke, Kailali, Bajhang, among others, in Sudurpaschim Province. </p> <p>The powerful tremor had sent people out of their homes in panic. </p> <p>Information Officer at Seismological Centre, Surkhet, Tirtha Raj Dahal, said the earthquake of 5.9 on the Richter scale had struck the western Nepal with its epicenter at Mela of Bajura district, sending many residents out of their homes.</p> <p>The details of human casualties and physical damage are yet to come. </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-24', 'modified' => '2023-01-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16574', 'image' => '20230124052444_collage (85).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-24 17:17:33', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16833', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Community Campuses Face Financial Crisis in Parbat ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => ' Community campuses are experiencing a financial crisis in Parbat district. Plummeting students’ number and lack of government grant have put a total of 12 public colleges under financial strains. ', 'content' => '<p><br /> January 24: Community campuses are experiencing a financial crisis in Parbat district. Plummeting students’ number and lack of government grant have put a total of 12 public colleges under financial strains. </p> <p>Gupteswor and Shivalaya Multiple Campuses located at Parbat headquarters and Shankarpokhari Multiple Campus, Bahaki Campus, Janaat Sudarshan Campus, Navajagrit Campus, among others, located in rural areas have a minimum number of pupils. </p> <p>As a result, colleges have failed to collect fees from students as expected for their operation. <br /> Student number has plunged as some students have left for overseas for foreign employment, while others have gone outside the district to pursue education.</p> <p>“We are having a hard time running the campus due to the low number of students and fall of the government grant for the campus”, shared Campus Chief Suvash Panta of Gupteswor Multiple Campus.</p> <p>Shivalaya Multiple Campus Management Committee’s Chairman Bishnu Newar said that they had to face the financial crunch for lack of the campus’ credible source of income. </p> <p>Newar complained that they were operating the campus seeking help from various organizations at the request of party leaders, and playing deusi and bhailo. <br /> Tribhuvan University is yet to give permission of constituent campus to Gupteswor Campus, which is struggling financially for lack of a sustainable source of income. The college is hardly able to meet lecturers’ salary, infrastructure development, and miscellaneous expenses.</p> <p>Gupteswor Multiple Campus receives Rs 1.3 million annually, which is hardly enough to pay for the salary of two professors. <br /> Established in 2041 BS, Prabat Multiple Campus has a debt of Rs 15 million for want of source of income.</p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-24', 'modified' => '2023-01-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16573', 'image' => '20230124044449_collage (82).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-24 16:40:04', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16832', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal’s Import Volume Lowest in Three Months', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 24: Nepal’s import volume in mid-December to mid-January was the lowest in the last three months.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">January 24: Nepal’s import volume in mid-December to mid-January was the lowest in the last three months.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Analysts believe that the imports have declined due to the high interest rates of banks and the government’s policy to discourage imports.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">However, it has been found that export of goods from has increased in the same duration.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Compared to the same period last year, the overall trade of 6 months has decreased by 20 per cent and export by 32 per cent.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the customs department, Nepal imported goods of Rs 792 billion in the first six months of the current year. During the corresponding period of last year, the import volume was equal to Rs 1000 billion.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In the current fiscal year, the total volume of imports has decreased by 20.68 per cent.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Meanwhile, Nepal exported goods worth Rs 80.80 billion during this period. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In mid-December to mid-January alone, Nepal imported goods worth Rs 127.91 billion while the exports were worth Rs 13.5 billion. This is the lowest imports and highest export in the last three months.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">A large amount of money Nepal spends on imports goes to cooking gas and petroleum products. Nepal spent Rs 143 billion during the first six months on cooking gas and petroleum products.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Nepal spent Rs 18 billion more than last year for the import of cooking gas, diesel, petrol and aviation fuel. But the quantity has decreased. Due to the increase in the price of petroleum products, the amount of money spent on imports has increased, but the quantity has decreased.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In the first six months of the current year, Nepal imported cooking gas worth Rs 28.20 billion, diesel worth Rs 70.10 billion, aviation fuel worth Rs 11.24 billion and petrol worth Rs 33.53 billion.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">During the same period last year, cooking gas worth Rs 29.23 billion, diesel worth Rs 61.47 billion, aviation fuel worth Rs 5.33 billion and petrol worth Rs 29.27 billion were imported.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">This year Nepal imported 334.31 thousand kiloliters of petrol, 550.90 thousand kiloliters of diesel, 87.88 thousand kiloliters of aviation fuel and 247.90 million thousand kg of cooking gas.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Due to the government's ban on the import of luxury goods, overall imports have decreased by 20 per cent.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-24', 'modified' => '2023-01-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16572', 'image' => '20230124033007_import.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-24 15:29:28', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16831', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Price of Gold Sets New Record ', 'sub_title' => 'Hallmark Gold is Being Traded at Rs 106,300 Per Tola', 'summary' => 'January 24: Price of gold has hit an all-time high in the domestic market 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"">January 24: Price of gold has hit an all-time high in the domestic market on Tuesday. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">President of the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers Association, Manik Ratna Shakya, said the price of hallmark gold climbed to Rs 106,300 per tola (11.66 grams) on Monday. According to Shakya, the price of hallmark gold, which was traded for Rs 105,300 on Monday, increased by Rs 1,000 per tola on Tuesday. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Earlier on March 9, 2022, the price of gold had climbed to a record high price of Rs 105,005 per tola. According to NEGOSIDA, the price of worked gold has been fixed at Rs 105,800 per tola. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, price of silver has decreased by Rs 15 per tola and is being traded at Rs 1,365. The price of gold has increased due to the war between Russia and Ukraine due to which the central banks of different countries started increasing the stock of gold, shared Shakya. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The NEGOSIDA has been demanding 30-35 kg gold per day but the import is limited to 10 kg a day. Nepal Rastra Bank has capped the daily import of gold at 10 kg. Commercial banks are the only institutions licensed to import gold into the country. (With inputs from RSS)</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-24', 'modified' => '2023-01-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16571', 'image' => '20230124024612_gold.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-24 14:45:19', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16830', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Chobhar Dry Port Risks Turning into a White Elephant ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 24: The newly-constructed Chobhar Dry Port is likely to become a white elephant because the dry port on the southern outskirts of Kathmandu has not been active even one year after it came into operation.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">January 24: The newly-constructed Chobhar Dry Port is likely to become a white elephant because the dry port on the southern outskirts of Kathmandu has not been active even one year after it came into operation.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to government data, only 77 containers have entered the dry port since it came into operation while only three containers have left the premises.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Chobhar Dry Port was built with an investment of Rs 1.5 billion. It took three years to complete the construction of the dry port. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">It was inaugurated by the then Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba in last March. The port is spread over an area of 220 ropanis. The dry port can hold 500 containers.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Such a large dry port was constructed in Chobhar to facilitate the import and export of goods to and from Kathmandu, the largest city of the country, as well as reduce congestion at major customs such as Birgunj, and Bhairahawa. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">However, the disappointment in operating the dry port has led to concerns that the huge investment has been of no use.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Ashish Gajurel, executive director of the Nepal Intermodal Transport Development Committee, which is responsible for the operation of the dry port, says that the port is not running as expected. "There has been a problem in operations because the Kathmandu-Nijgadh fast track, which is close to the dry port, is yet to be built," he said, adding that there is not much support from the private sector. The government has not made a binding arrangement either.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to Gajurel, it will be easier if the government makes arrangements to bring certain materials coming into the valley through the Chobhar Dry Port. Most of the goods entering Nepal through the Birgunj customs come to Kathmandu Valley. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The road used by cargo trucks to enter Kathmandu from the dry port in Chobhar via Balkhu stretched up to ten kilometers and is narrow. The containers trucks are reluctant to come to Chobhar dry port as the route is more expensive and uncomfortable.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Containers coming to Chobhar have to go through the process twice -- at Birganj Customs and Chobhar Customs, the traders said. They also complain that the Department of Customs has imposed heavy fines on GPS.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">A fine of up to 200 per cent has been imposed if the lock of the GPS is opened while coming from the border crossing to the customs at Chobhar Dry Port. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“This is a very large fine. What can we do if the lock is opened due to some other reasons? Instead of Chobhar, it would have been easier to bring the goods through a checkpoint at Birganj or Bhairahawa customs," said Dinesh Shrestha, vice president of the Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industry.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to Shrestha, the letter sent to the government with suggestions on what should be done to run the Chobhar Dry Port properly has not been addressed. "Government’s readiness is not seen for the efficient operation of the port, which was built at such an expense," he said.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Department of Customs has said that the traders are doing business without using the Chobhar Dry Port. </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-24', 'modified' => '2023-01-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16570', 'image' => '20230124115624_Chobhar Dy port.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-24 11:55:47', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16829', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'CAAN Tells NAC to Suspend Five Pilots ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 24: The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has directed the Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) to suspend five of its pilots for disobeying the instructions given by the air traffic controller (ATC) of Hong Kong, China, while landing the plane. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">January 24: The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has directed the Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) to suspend five of its pilots for disobeying the instructions given by the air traffic controller (ATC) of Hong Kong, China, while landing the plane. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Spokesperson of CAAN Jagannath Niraula confirmed that the NAC has been directed to suspend five of its pilots for not abiding by the rules. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to Niraula, pilots Uddhab Ghimire, Rajesh Kushwaha and Nar Bahadur Bishwakarma did not follow the instructions of the ATC while landing the NAC aircraft at the Hong Kong Airport. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, the NAC has been directed to suspend pilots Prashanna Rana and YP Juwarchan for not following the Standard Operational Procedures (SOP) while taking off the plane from Kathmandu to Japan. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The state-owned flag carrier of Nepal must comply with the directive of CAAN and suspend all five pilots. After the suspension, the CAAN will interrogate them before taking further decision on whether to continue or end the suspension of those pilots, Niraula said. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-24', 'modified' => '2023-01-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16569', 'image' => '20230124115528_naccccc.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-24 11:54:46', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16828', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Two Cricketers Held on Charge of Match Fixing ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 24: The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police on Monday arrested cricketers Mahabub Alam and Mohammad Adil Ansari on charge of spot fixing and match fixing in the recently held T-20 League in Nepal. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">January 24: The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police on Monday arrested cricketers Mahabub Alam and Mohammad Adil Ansari on charge of spot fixing and match fixing in the recently held T-20 League in Nepal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A CIB source said that one of them was held from Biratnangar and the other from Rajbiraj and were brought to Kathmandu. The T-20 league was held in the Kathmandu valley last month. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The CIB had carried out investigations on match fixing and spot fixing during the league. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A police officer at the CIB told RSS that the team has completed investigation and will share the details by organizing a news conference on Tuesday. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-24', 'modified' => '2023-01-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16568', 'image' => '20230124110059_t20.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-24 11:00:17', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = false $xml = falsesimplexml_load_file - [internal], line ?? include - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 133 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
| Currency | Unit |
Buy | Sell |
| U.S. Dollar | 1 | 121.23 | 121.83 |
| European Euro | 1 | 131.65 | 132.31 |
| UK Pound Sterling | 1 | 142.47 | 143.18 |
| Swiss Franc | 1 | 124.29 | 124.90 |
| Australian Dollar | 1 | 71.69 | 72.05 |
| Canadian Dollar | 1 | 83.90 | 84.32 |
| Japanese Yen | 10 | 10.94 | 11.00 |
| Chinese Yuan | 1 | 17.17 | 17.26 |
| Saudi Arabian Riyal | 1 | 32.27 | 32.43 |
| UAE Dirham | 1 | 33.01 | 33.17 |
| Malaysian Ringgit | 1 | 27.36 | 27.50 |
| South Korean Won | 100 | 9.77 | 9.82 |
Update: 2020-03-25 | Source: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB)
| Fine Gold | 1 tola | 77000.00 |
| Tejabi Gold | 1 tola | 76700.00 |
| Silver | 1 tola | 720.00 |
Update : 2020-03-25
Source: Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers' Association
| Petrol | 1 Liter | 106.00 |
| Diesel | 1 Liter | 95.00 |
| Kerosene | 1 Liter | 95.00 |
| LP Gas | 1 Cylinder | 1375.00 |
Update : 2020-03-25
